ChiSox
Here we are Sox fans, 10 games in to this crazy 2020 season and we are finding out how good these guys are on the field.
Moncada is now the stud everyone thought he would be. Great to have him at the hot corner for a while. Tim Anderson is what he is. The guy can hit and he can pick it but will always have more errors on the field than any of us want to see. At second base it gets interesting. We were stuck watching Leury Garcia start the season there and was looking like he had his glove on backwards. He is better than he showed. But now we get a real look at Nick Madrigal, the #4 pick in the 2018 draft. Through his first week or so he is hitting .294 with 1 walk. Glad to see him shoring up the right side of the infield. Finally #79 at first base. Jose is as solid as they come and will be a force in the lineup with protection around him like he has never enjoyed in Chicago. The outfield is set in LF with Eloy and CF with Luis Robert. Two young guys with massive upside and they are showing just how good they are. Robert can cover 2/3 of the outfield by himself, allowing for a lesser defender in one of the corners. In RF we are getting our first look at Nomar Mazara, the off-season addition from the Texas Rangers. At catcher, arguably the best position on the field, Yasmani Grandal and James McCann in a bit of a platoon. Best combo in the MLB. Too bad it is a short season, we really won’t get to see all of the benefits they can bring. And then there is the DH, Edwin, ‘nuff said. No easy outs when they all play.
I will leave the pitchers for another time, but suffice to say, these guys can hit enough to make up for shaky pitching. Our bullpen is solid. Too many injuries so far on the rotation. We will have to see how that plays out and who rises to the top. Early odds are on Lucas Giolito and Dylan Cease being the 1-2 we need this season.
Best of all, this group looks to have some chemistry and just need some time to gel as a team and figure out how good they can be together. Now can our Manager rise to the occasion and be the elite Manager we need him to be? Open question. This is going to be fun to watch Sox fans.
Article contributed by Dave Schaefer