First Pitch: White Sox vs. Royals
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Lineups:
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Lineups:
Lineup change:
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 20, 2023
SS Anderson
LF Benintendi
CF Robert Jr.
3B Moncada
1B Vaughn
DH Burger
2B Alberto
RF Haseley
C Zavala
Jordan Lyles heads to the mound as we look to even the series vs. the White Sox.#WelcomeToTheCity pic.twitter.com/VLHcWpqOpA
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 20, 2023
Writing about the White Sox for a 16th season, first here, then at South Side Sox, and now here again. Let’s talk curling.
Two Royals cut down on the bases in as many innings. Not used to good defense favoring us but I’m sure happy about it.
Terrible baserunning from Pratto though. With Moncada converting the putout, there’s two outs; there’s no tagging up or scoring from 3rd on a groundout, and since there’s 2 down he’s running on contact and scoring on just about any hit anyways.
Lol, Steve Stone in the first inning, “There will be no complete game today for Lyles” as he threw pitch 26. 20 pitches later…he’s through 3 innings.
Never underestimate our hitters
nice escape from that jam gio
Getting nervous for Yoan. He came up funny on that Pratto double. Wincing and limping. Kind of had the same limp on his swing this inning. He makes such a difference on both sides. Need to build a giant bubble to keep him in
Hard to tell with him. He is always wincing and limping
This string of consecutive quality starts is so refreshing. Seeing what it could be. Plus our pen has been downright good when they aren’t overtaxed.
it’s a very talented pitching staff. issues with walks and depth but there’s a high ceiling here
I have a feeling we’re gonna need more than two runs today
that’s more than 2!
I have a feeling we’re going to get more than two runs today.
I was wrong. Two were enough.
Robert’s been getting that catcher’s interference a lot
Vaughn strikes out silly with ball four and bases l8aded with no outs.
Have I said that I am still waiting for Vaughn’s breakout?
I really like Vaughn. But if we were full strength (insert laugh here), and we have Eloy, Burger, Sheets, Vaughn to fill Rf, 1b, Dh…Vaughns the one sitting
I am OK with that
Or the one traded?
RISP
Vaughn .417/.917/1.417
Eloy . .333/.481/.881
Burger . 300/.700/1.048
Sheets .318/.727/1.194
So you want to sit Vaughn? Is your aim to score fewer runs?
2023 wRC+
Vaughn 102
Eloy 103
Burger 185
Sheets 111
So if your aim is to score fewer runs, Vaughn has been your man so far.
Baseball games are decided by runs on the board, not stats. You are using a stat to make a false presumption that Vaughn contributes fewer runs on the board when the actual evidence, is that when runs are available to be scored, RISP, Vaughn delivers better than any Sox player and also most of MLB.
wRC+ uses an imperfect/arbitrary formula to try and achieve a measure of relative worth. I’m not claiming it is bad, has no value or isn’t a good indicator, just that it’s not imperfect. RISP uses absolute numbers to show who actually drives in runs when the opportunity presents itself. None of those players does that with the proficiency that Vaughn does. If you put any of those players up to bat with RISP, they will deliver less productivity than Vaughn.
What drags Vaughn’s wRC+ number down are his pedestrian numbers without RISP. But to believe you don’t need an RBI producer in your lineup everyday, hitting behind the guys setting the table, is to ignore the truly human aspect of clutch hitting, which Vaughn demonstrates that he’s better at than any of the players mentioned.
Have any of you looked at his numbers with risp? He’s an rbi machine. BA .417 Ops 1.417, with 2 outs BA .583, ops 1.956, bases loaded BA .333 OPS 1.000.
Those are elite, top of mlb numbers, 7th in the AL for BA RISP. And you want to sit him? Wtf?
Serious question: do you believe Vaughn will keep up that kind of production or exhibits a special skill of hitting well with RISP?
Stats like wRC+ are designed to eliminate some of that noise, like things he can’t control (i.e. whether runners are in scoring position).
a little touch and go, but ultimately a good outing for reylo
Boy, TA has been a disaster on this home stand. Both sides of the ball
Good luck against Joe Kelly right now. Sheesh.
I’m so jealous of the fans who got those track jackets.
Good stuff. That felt like a ‘21 game, in a good way. Strong pitching staff holds down a crappy ALC opponent, while a lineup of 6 good hitters and 3 automatic outs generates sufficient run support for a cruising win. +14 run differential over these 5 home games.