First Pitch: Yankees vs. White Sox
TV: NBC Sports Chicago / MLB Network (Out of market)
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TV: NBC Sports Chicago / MLB Network (Out of market)
Josh Nelson is the host and producer of the Sox Machine Podcast. For show suggestions, guest appearances, and sponsorship opportunities, you can reach him via email at josh@soxmachine.com.
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Josh Nelson is the host and producer of the Sox Machine Podcast. For show suggestions, guest appearances, and sponsorship opportunities, you can reach him via email at josh@soxmachine.com.
I just realized for those thinking it is still early, the White Sox are almost 10 games behind the Yankees. It is not even mid May.
Crap, I had them winning the AL East this year, too.
oh no! the white sox are in terrible shape for winning the al east!
That’s not my point, and you and Tommy know it.
so what is the point? that the white sox have had a cold and oft-injured first month, and the yankees a fully healthy and hot first month? if the sox have to worry about the yanks being better it’ll be in october
My point was kinda saying that after 31 games played, the Sox, who are supposed to be contending, are already almost 10 games behind a team. Maybe not you, but I find that a bit worrisome.
yeah the sox need to play better, obviously. what does the yankees being white-hot in may (17-2 recently) have to do with the white sox contending or not lol
Nothing. Forget what I said.
The Sox were really bad mid-September in 2005 and… wow, pretty good after that!
The Point is making the playoffs and playing well in October, not mid-May.
Yankees are better now, no argument.
finally a first inning without a stanton 2 run bomb
Keuchel of course is gonna pitch a gem
he sees cueto in the rear view mirror
He also saw VV yesterday and felt safe
Now pitching for the Yankees, Jeff “rain delay” Montgomery.
I meant Jordan.
Keuchel with two scoreless, is a CG shutout in the works? If somehow they wind up splitting this series it would look a lot better than losing 3 or 4.
Somehow someway a win this weekend is okay. Rough series, let’s not get greedy.
How nice would it be if Yoan has his 2019 power back?
I believe he does. He looks buffed.
As long as his power isn’t from eating twinkies! His eating 80 twinkies a week regularly years ago is still one of the funniest stories I’ve ever heard. I’m guessing he liked to get high and had the munchies! Dude is lucky to be alive lol.
I haven’t eaten a twinkie in ages. I remember that story. I think it also said that Yo bought 7 cars so he could drive one different car every day of the week.
Moncada’s presence is goona be big
Is Dallas Keuchel fixed?
Just checked his game log. 3 of 5 games were decidedly average, the fourth wasn’t a blowout, and he really only had the one disaster. Unless he blows up tonight he’s going to have 4/6 average or better starts.
He may already be fixed but the scabs from last year were reopened when he gave up ten runs in an inning but he’s been perfectly back of the rotation quality so far.
I have said before that VV is the odd man when Cueto gets the call. I think the Sox have until tomorrow
I’d like to keep them all somehow. No one wins with 5 starters anymore. Wouldn’t mind having seven guys make double digits starts.
If you throw out his disaster outing against Cleveland and include tonight, his ERA is like 3.4. I don’t put too much stock in that because he’s allowed a ton of baserunners, but still he hasn’t been awful all of the time by any means.
I like his chances of mediocre success better than Velasquez just because Keuchel has had a pretty successful career (ditto Cueto), where success would basically be something completely new for VV.
Buehrle was able to pitch a few years while allowing a lot of baserunners.
Keuchel is gonna have bad days and ok days. I think the same is true for Velasquez and Cueto. That’s what 5th starters do. I think analyzing every fluctuation in their mediocrity is a road to madness.
It was just a couple days that I was defending Keuchel as a similar level of mediocrity as Velasquez when many posters were sure VV was the better option. If Keuchel is ok tonight, there will be some (not the poster I’m replying to who I think is just wondering aloud in a gamethread) who are convinced DK is the better option.
Last year was the only year out of the last 5 that Keuchel had an ERA over 4. VV has never had an ERA under 4. The last time he had an ERA under 4.5 was 2016. VV has a long and terrible track record. His chances of success have to be way less than DK or Cueto. Pretty sure he will be the odd man out like Cirensica said, he certainly should be.
But I think the hope is that one of these 3 guys *won’t* be a 5th starter. I wouldn’t bet on any one of them being what we might call a “reliable #4,” but each of them has enough going for them that they could. The hope is that one emerges as that option instead of all three being different brands of bad.
Plus, I think Sox fans are especially interested in how to rank VV, DK, and JC right now because they know a decision of some sort will need to be made soon. And the decision could result in one of these guys being let go.
I hope one of them emerges too but I think there’s a good chance it doesn’t happen.
I think the Sox will put off a decision with bullpen arms having mystery soreness for IL stints.
When Lynn is back, one of them has to go no matter what. And one of Cueto or Keuchel will go to the pen unless there is another injury. VV will be long gone.
For those who think VV has a shot….well:
https://twitter.com/SoxMach_pnoles/status/1524957955564650528?s=20&t=aXoTGU-POMjC4a26k9rBhw
They’re not letting Keuchel go after tonight, at least not in the short run. Unless they don’t want to pay Cueto (always possible knowing Ebeneezer Jerry), there is no way he isn’t getting called up. VV should wind up in the bullpen or cut pretty shortly once Giolito gets back. He does not belong in their rotation.
It’s very encouraging. It’s also worth pointing out that, coming into tonight, Keuchel’s expected stats are significantly outperforming his actual stats. If he holds steady tonight, I think he’s gotta leapfrog VV in the Sox SP power rankings.
Pollock with a bullet….to Gallo’s glove. He is hitting the ball so much better lately
Yankees outfield defense is very impressive, at least to me since I haven’t paid attention to them at all. Thought they were lumbering bombers but all of them can flash the leather.
Gallo is a gold glove winner
I only pay attention tot he Sox so the only thing I knew about him was that he seemed to be a popular trade target for a couple years.
😱
https://twitter.com/JayCuda/status/1525635607715799044?s=20&t=Ty4Dd2WmR5ArxwxK7fyLFg
I don’t like this at bat with Judge. Nervous….come on Keuchel! You can do it
Rizzo better be the last batter for Keuchel
That’ll do, Dallas, that’ll do.
thank god dallas got outta that one
poll: is that his last hitter or do you send him out for the sixth? the bullpen has been taxed pretty heavily, personally i’d give send him out there but have a quick hook in the event of a walk or hard contact
Keuchel has thrown 86 pitches.
The next batter is Stanton who has a career OPS of 0.994 against LHP (compared to “only” 0.872 against RHP).
Pulling Keuchel is a no-brainer to me.
yeah looking at the next three up of stanton, donaldson, and torres i agree now
Graveman is ‘cuchillo’
ok Kelly please do not repeat Thursday
Tony too, I want to know that Liam is warming, just in case, and Tony isn’t just assuming the 8th is Kelly’s, even if he gets into trouble.
Joe Kelly again with Bummer babip luck
Tony need to take Kelly out NOW
Reminiscent of Astros series last year – Sox pitchers/catchers can’t keep runners in check so run!
Whew, Hendriks clutch there to get out of that.
thank you liam, that’s what you’re paid to do
Phew…one more inning to go
Oh boy…. here we go again.
It seems Hahn didn’t spend enough on relievers
can liam still not throw a damn breaking ball for a strike
could he not have done that BEFORE he blew the damn lead
Bottom of the order vs our top reliever and failing. This is happening a lot this year.
Steal second, Sox have no answer.
Kiner-Falefa made a bad decision to try to take 3rd but I’m not sure any Sox third baseman other than Moncada makes the play to make him pay for it. Yet another reason to be glad Moncada is back.
La Pantera!!!
All’s well that ends well.
that’s a fun ending!
Sox top of the order with Anderson, Moncada, and Robert: 7 for 13, 2 BBs, all 3 runs, all 3 RBI.
Very well played game. And it sure is nice to have Anderson, Moncada, Robert in the top 3. They are lethal.
It’s no Harrison/Haseley/Garcia, but it will have to do.