P.O. Sox: How much can we extrapolate from the White Sox’s first series?

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karkovicefanclub

The Patreon is buggy

SoxCauldron

Agreed – I’m having trouble also

Michael

Mine is buggy too

fustercluck

welcome, Mr. Reinsdorf

asinwreck

Had the call for questions opened Monday evening, after the Charlotte game had started, I would have asked this question:

How many games do you expect Lenyn Sosa to start at second base for the 2023 White Sox?

Augusto Barojas

It won’t take too long to start hoping that number (or the number for Romy) is bigger than the number Andrus starts. He will surely hit better than .105, but I highly doubt Andrus comes close to duplicating his 40 game miracle hot streak at the end of last year. His WAR for 2019/20/21 was under 2. He still might be better than what they can get from Sosa/Romy in a full time role this year, realistically. Too early to make a switch.

There will never be any getting around that Semien was the guy they needed, not the Andrus/Hernandez/Harrison’s of the world. At 25M a year for a 5-6 WAR player, Semien would have been a bargain.

As Cirensica

It might be possible that playing out of position is affecting Andrus a bit. Sometimes these things have impact. Not long ago Andrus was a full-time SS for years. I expect Andrus’ leash is a very long one.

DocGreedo

Semien got off to a horrible start last year as well. Though I think it was his second year at second.

Augusto Barojas

Semien’s WAR either of the past two years is higher than Andrus cumulative since and including 2019. This is Andrus age 35 season. The only thing he has in common with Semien is the position he plays.

DocGreedo

They both are former shortstops; both bat right; throw right..

ParisSox

Both of them have dogs named Boner. True story!

DocGreedo

comment image

FishSox

Pinning our bases stolen against record on the catchers is ignoring that our pitchers SUCK at holding runners and have for quite a time.

ParisSox

Logged right in to PO Sox this time. Nice.

I think teams will start running wild. With the pitch clock and bigger bases, more pressure will be on the pitcher to hold the runner, which will be difficult with the pitch clock.

Also I don’t think any team proactively chooses small ball. When they don’t have power then they need to adjust and small ball is the next best option, assuming they have speed and defense.

Greg Nix

A lot of dumb GM’s and managers (including multiple people who have run the White Sox!) think small ball is some sort of platonic ideal that simply must be pursued.

For example, that’s how you end up dumping Jim Thome for Mark Kotsay.

ParisSox

This

Augusto Barojas

Should we be surprised, or surprised that he lasted 5 games?

HallofFrank

Well, it didn’t take long to kill the early good vibes… to make matters worse, the Astros have lost both games to the Tigers since the Sox series, making the split seem a little… less impressive.

Augusto Barojas

The Astros were without Altuve, and Alvarez didn’t start the final game the Sox won. That doesn’t take away the positives from Moncada, Robert, and Cease, and their starters, but the series isn’t evidence that the Sox are suddenly on par with the Astros, as if by magic.

On a positive, Burger at DH is probably their most adequate backup at any position. If Tim or Robert joins Eloy on the DL, or any of their starting pitchers do, this team is done. I think it’s time to question how much value Eloy is going to actually have. Burger can hit, probably not Eloy’s level, but he might wind up their longer term DH if Eloy can’t stay on the field. 5 games and Eloy on the DL. He hasn’t even played OF yet!

HallofFrank

I mean sure but the Sox were without Liam and Crochet, arguably their best bullpen arms, in a series in which their bullpen struggled mightily. I didn’t say they were on par with the Astros, only that it was an impressive split. They’ve always played bad in Houston.