Of all the places to have to go pre-bubble...

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Oakland got this

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Sox lose a tough one Tues
Win a close one Wed
Win 9-3 Thurs

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Took the Sox +110 for the Series. Lets do this!

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A few thoughts ahead of the A's series

Sox should be facing 2 lefties in a 3 game series here so that's some great news off the bat (unless the A's opt for a 4th or 5th starter righty with a 5+ ERA to avoid putting a lefty out there)

If Eloy is unable to play the field then he should absolutely be DH'ing. Having Engel in Left in a cavernous Coliseum may not be a bad idea anyways and Encarnacion has no business getting any AB's this series with his Adam Dunn numbers. The man had a great career but age caught up to him and he cannot and should not play when a loss in bat speed means he can't catch up to a 92 mph fastball.

If Eloy can play the field, then McCann needs to DH or Abreu needs to DH with Grandal at 1st. If you're worried about having a catcher at DH, then it's worth using one of the 28 roster spots for Collins as an emergency catcher. Once again, Encarnacion cannot and should not get any AB's. He is a liability in the line-up.

Also if Eloy can play left, then Engel needs to be in RF. Engel being in RF helps because he has a better bat than Nomar and his glove would be a plus in that giant OF. It also allows Robert to shade a bit left to help Eloy out.

With all of this said, watch Ricky completely screw up and have Encarnacion bat 4th or 5th while one of his 2 all-star catchers is on the bench.

Even with their recent struggles, the Sox have to be the favorites here if they use their best line-up. The problem is, I have no faith the manager will put his best line-up out there.

If Eloy is healthy for DH, this is my line-up

SS: TA
3B: Moncada
C: Grandal
1B: Abreu
DH: Eloy
CF: Robert
LF: Engel
RF: Mazara
2B: Madrigal

If Eloy can play the field, this is my line-up:

SS: TA
3B: Moncada
C/DH/1B: Grandal
1B/DH: Abreu
LF: Eloy
DH/C: McCann
CF: Robert
RF: Engel
2B: Madrigal

Sox in 2 with Giolito and Keuchel on the bump. If we need a game 3, Cease might not actually suck in a pitcher's ballpark.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Yep, yep, and yep.

Quick White Sox exit. Get training for next year.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

not with 2 lefties in a 3 game series.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

I agree Ogie, but I fully expect Ricky to have Grandal at C and EE hitting 5th as the DH.

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McCann should be in the lineup when giolito pitches

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Agree. He should catch all postseason.

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When is he gonna learn? He's Dan Pasqua.

He's 2011 Adam Dunn

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Ogie's got this absolutely correct.
No Grandal behind the plate. No EE at all. Engel in the outfield and Eloy in the outfield only if absoluately necessary.
Ricky will fuck this up.

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I know the OG knows this but for others, the Sox went 14-0 against lefties this year.

Oakland is projected to start Manaea in game 1. A low strikeout lefty sounds like something that heavily favors the Sox.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

A's beat writer is worried

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Id even consider Dyson in LF and Engel in RF. Mazara sucks and against a lefty he is an automatic out.

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Id even consider Dyson in LF and Engel in RF. Mazara sucks and against a lefty he is an automatic out.

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It's also important that the A's are without their top everyday player in Chapman, who is injured.

Game 2 is probably a soft tossing righty in Bassit. The currently slow bats should like that option.

This sets up well for the Sox on paper.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Manaea's my guy, too. Wish he was on the Sox.

Luzardo Game 1 starter, RIP Oakland

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

Adam Engel splits against LHP this season .303/.343/.424, so obviously Ricky would have to be brain dead not to start him in 2 of the 3. On the other hand, surprisingly enough Mazara was .333/385/417. Neither had a ton of AB.

My guess would be Eloy makes a go of it for Game 1. Engel in right, McCann catching Giolito (also killed lefties at 429/528/714), Grandal at 1B.

Mazara and Encarnacion earned their sitting

If Eloy can only DH, it MUST be McCann catching game 1. It sucks that our big free agent signing sits in the playoffs against LHP but that's life. He catches game 2 against Bassit.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

Gm 1
Sox 7
A's 4

Gm 2
Sox 9
A's 2

"Best player out matters"

As usual top notch analysis from gd

"Quarterback with sore shoulder will have trouble throwing footballs"

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The A’s don’t impress me. Luzardo is their best starter, and while he has a bright future, his stats this season are merely above average. Manaea and Bassitt are decent mid-rotation guys. Montas is having a horrible year. Team batting average is .225, team slugging is .396. OPS is middle of the pack because they’re up there with the league leaders in walks. Their team strength is relief pitching. I’m not scared.

I forgot that Bassitt was traded along with Semien for Samardzija. He was a no-name up until last year when he finally became a competent starter at the age of 30. So let’s hear it for Kenny Williams, I guess.

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EE has to be a pinch hitter throughout the playoffs.

I may be in the minority here but I like having Grandal in the lineup everyday. Sox just don’t have a ton of guys who work a count and see pitches.

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EE should not even be on a playoff roster.

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