First Pitches: White Sox at Royals doubleheader

Kauffman Stadium (Photo by Corey Seeman)

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Game 1 lineups:

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Malkatraz

Great! Pollock is leading off, at least he’ll see some pitc… oh. damn.

OK, Luis, take a pit… shit.

Augusto Barojas

Finding dark humor when it takes all of 6 pitches to retire the Sox first three hitters.

Last edited 1 year ago by Augusto Barojas
a-t

Can’t blame Pollock for having a go at that one, right down the middle, hit pretty hard but right at Isbel.

Joliet Orange Sox

At the end of the 5th, the Sox have hit 6 balls over 100 mph that were outs. Those balls had xBA’s of 0.570, 0.730, 0.690, 0.700, 0.390, and 0.650. Those aren’t bad at-bats.

As Cirensica

I am so tired of this. I mean, if it happened here and there, fine. let’s talk about how unlucky our guys are, but when this is a game after game thing, then I just have to think that the White Sox are a very predictable and the EV matters nothing if the fielders know where the ball is going. Maybe Jim can do an analysis on this because this is a consolation (they hit the ball hard) that does not not even console the consolers (the White Sox still lost)

Joliet Orange Sox

I agree the Sox chase a lot of bad pitches and need serious improvement in plate discipline. I think the offensive problems this year are much more than bad luck. That said, I think it is important to recognize the difference between a game like today and the game against Dunning when the contact was weak.

upnorthsox

I believe the only stat that matters is that its the first game of a series and we are not allowed to win that game.

We may not be allowed to score more than 2 runs too but I’ll have to check the rules on that.

upnorthsox

Took me a while to find the rule but yep the Sox are not allowed to score more than 2 runs in any series opener.

God I cannot wait until the balanced schedule starts so i get to watch fewer games with the royals in them

Augusto Barojas

They’ll get the Astros in about a week for 4 games. That should be fun to watch.

funkerdan

you mean painful?

As Cirensica

Losing against the Astros is not painful. Losing against the Royals is.

All counts the same.

Per Gameday, Jerry Meals is off to an interesting start…

White Sox you may want to stop advertising 2022 ticket packages during your broadcast since they are no longer on sale

a-t

Lotta hard contact turning into outs so far.

a-t

That’s not get caught, attaboy Harrison

President Harrison!

What is the injury delay?

Malkatraz

Pollock fouled a ball of his foot.

Right Size Wrong Shape

Thanks.

As Cirensica

We are so losing this game, right?

funkerdan

I don’t expect to win (even before both homeruns)

funkerdan

and Grandal ending it, yup. predictable.

HouseOfTheRisingSox

Sox hitters really in a hurry to get this game over with.

hellotowel

Losing these two games could very well put us out of contention – so of course TLR is going to put out punt lineups. That’s what Hall of Fame baseball people do.

Right Size Wrong Shape

Out of contention?

As Cirensica

2 meager hits by the 8th and 9th hitter
These series opener have been fan murdering lately.

As Cirensica

Brady Singer not even at 60 pitches for 5.1 innings

I can imagine the scout report and game plan for the opposing team when facing the White Sox. Just throw whatever around the strike zone. It will get the job done.

a-t

They are making a lot of very loud contact. The Royals are too tbf, but Kauffman’s dimensions are the only thing making this game a pitcher’s duel instead of a slugfest

As Cirensica

So I have been told.

soxygen

Kind of like how gravity is the only thing keeping me on earth!

As Cirensica

Yup…this is a 500 team. We are fooling ourselves thinking that this team is about to turn a corner and win consistently. This team will be around 500 until the end of the season. We won 6 games in a row very early in the season (in May). Since then, I think the longest winning streak has been 3 games, and we did that once or twice. That’s it.

As Cirensica

Maybe Brady Singer has enough in the tank to start the 2nd game.

Did he fall out of his truck onto his bicycle?

https://www.mlb.com/news/chris-sale-to-miss-rest-of-2022-season

funkerdan

that guy has only caught breaks.

calcetinesblancos

You think Tony will have time for a nap between games?

funkerdan

At this speed yes, he might actually remain awake during the first one and THEN fall asleep.

Augusto Barojas

That might make sense, but his preference is to nap during games, not in between.

As Cirensica

Nothing like the humming sound of the soft hustling to first base for a sure out to nap

Malkatraz

Cuas with a 5.56 bb/9. Harrison with a 5.6% walk rate.

The old unstoppable force vs. the immovable object.

a-t

Not sure why Vaughn is running for himself at 2B still. Engel would replace him in RF anyways if they tied/led from here

a-t

Sox put TA on the IL between games, which seems to confirm the idea that this first game did count towards his suspension.

upnorthsox

Sosa is starting 2B not SS.

Anytime these guys want to score in the 1st inning again I’d be all for it.

upnorthsox

Jeez Heasley sucks and yet career against him only Jose has a hit.

ForsterFTOG

Well he is right handed.

Whoom

Wow, this second game lineup is impressively ugly. Somehow Engel is the 3rd best hitter in the lineup (by average, 4th by OPS). Either way…. UGLY!

Foulkelore

This team kind of deserves to end the season with “starting shortstop, Leury Garcia.” I’m not sure we all do, but it’s possible we’re all horrible people.

upnorthsox

If not horrible, probably pathetic.

Foulkelore

Play Sosa

funkerdan

“Don’t ******* bench me” Sosa

a-t

Sosa in the fountains!

calcetinesblancos

And it was on a curveball no less.

upnorthsox

Woohoo!

Foulkelore

Maybe Sosa can teach our veterans how to hit home runs.

Augusto Barojas

Sosa’s homer run was the highlight of this season other than Cease. I don’t care to debate whether it’s best for the team or not, I’d like to see Sosa play every game and Leury play as close to zero as possible. Sosa might be part of a team that wins in the future. Leury, no.

LamarHoyt_oncrack

Amazing what can happen when you give somebody who hasn’t sucked all season a shot.

hankthetank35

Benetti is pissing me off talking about how much the sox need Leury, especially an injured leury which was what he was suggesting.

HallofFrank

Yuuuuup. A Leury IL stint may be just what the doctor ordered.

As an aside: I’ve found myself feeling sorry for Leury lately. A fun guy who plays hard and plays a lot of different positions well enough. But he’s the subject of the ire of Sox fans—including my own—because of the ridiculously trash decisions by the GM and Manager.

Augusto Barojas

Sosa might be this team’s best hitter.

soxygen

Yoan Moncada putting on a show here with a fine pick and then a home run

a-t

Yoan’s been crushing the ball today, finally broke through. Really encouraging stuff from him.

Right Size Wrong Shape

Don’t tell charlie.

funkerdan

Charly says, always tell your mum before you go out somewhere.

Great, now that’s going to be stuck in my head all night.

funkerdan

nvm

Last edited 1 year ago by funkerdan

Fuck that guy; he bit me.

Is it too much to ask for Andrew Vaughn and Josh Harrison to take these next two at bats?

Apparently it is.

Gonna let the top of the order see Martin again. Okay…

So Diekman comes in and walks a lefty without throwing him one slider?