*Official* 8/3 KC Killers Postgamer

[Mohoney]

Did Leury steal your dog, or what?

No, just lots and lots of my viewing hours with his ****ty baseball.

Every step of the way, I have been promised “Leury will start playing less on x-day or y-day.”

Well, I’m getting sick and tired of x-day and y-day never arriving.

I’m with Frater. The fact that they keep playing him in open defiance of superior options makes it seem like finding playing time for him is a priority, not a necessity.

[Mohoney]

Yep, last I checked our division lead hasn't evaporated. No reason to run our regulars into the ground ala Leo Durocher and risk aggravating their injuries just because fans on the Internet can't get over their blind hatred of one player and his low OPS.

I'm also all for giving more spot starts to players who don't belong on a playoff roster like Lopez and Lambert too to keep our starters from being totally out of gas come playoff time.

As long as he’s nowhere near this team come playoff time—and I’m starting to get the sinking feeling he will be, and a prominent part at that—do whatever you see fit.

[XplodingScorbord]

Jake Lamb. Billy Hamilton. Yasmani Grandal. Luis Robert.

And those are just off the IL…

From Charlotte:

Jake Burger. Tim Beckham.

Ti’quan Forbes…

Marco ****ing Hernandez…

Anybody…

Did Leury steal your dog, or what?

[berwyn]

I guess it’s considered a knuckle-curve, like Mike Mussina and Gerrit Cole.

Speaking of which, I think interviewers should ask pitchers about their pitch grips while the camera is running. They can flash the grip quickly in front of the camera, talk about it for about 30 seconds, and the fans at home would have a better idea of what actually influences the behaviors of differently-pitched baseballs.

Lynn’s segment obviously would be explaining his 4-seam/2-seam/cutter grips, Giolito’s would focus on the changeup, Cease’s would focus on the knuckle-curve, Keuchel’s would be a class in keeping the ball down to induce ground balls, Rodon’s would focus on the slider.

The best thing about it? This pitching staff is basically a 2021 reboot of The Muppet Show. Even kids and casuals who find the subjects beyond their ability to comprehend would listen to these guys read a phone book and be happy to hear it. Now imagine hearing them get into the nitty-gritty about pitching.

Cough, cough: Jim Deshaies does it for the Cubs. Does it very well. But he doesn't have our guy's great sense of humor (cough, cough).

[Mohoney]

With who?

Jake Lamb. Billy Hamilton. Yasmani Grandal. Luis Robert.

And those are just off the IL…

From Charlotte:

Jake Burger. Tim Beckham.

Ti’quan Forbes…

Marco ****ing Hernandez…

Anybody…

[Krs1]

20 AB a week is 5 games a week. I’m okay with that. Must have misinterpreted “a few” which sounds more like 2-3.

Semantics, I always thought of 2 as a couple and a few as 3-5.

[voodoochile]

And they'll get there come the stretch. They'll be fine easing into action, rotating at DH and getting ~20 ABs a week. The main focus for the immediate future is health and regular, frequent rest will be the main ingredient for them.

20 AB a week is 5 games a week. I’m okay with that. Must have misinterpreted “a few” which sounds more like 2-3.

[blurry]

OK. If he’s replacement level, then let’s go ahead and replace him.

With who?

[Krs1]

That’s a mistake Eloy and Robert need to get their timing back.

And they'll get there come the stretch. They'll be fine easing into action, rotating at DH and getting ~20 ABs a week. The main focus for the immediate future is health and regular, frequent rest will be the main ingredient for them.

[voodoochile]

The obsession with our utility guy that our HOF manager has deemed useful is such a ****ing joke. You want to know what would really sink a season? Not having a guy to spell all these guys who actually matter coming off leg injuries.

Continuity matters, chemistry matters, versatility matters, utility players matter.

You know why Engel isn't playing every day? A major leg injury followed by a relapse. Ever consider his wild success as being in part due to usage?

Rest and usage matters.

I hope Eloy and Robert only play a few times a week these last couple months and we give everyone regular rest closing out their first 162 game season in two years. Leury will continue to be a big part of that, so for your own sanity and mental well being, put down the...

]

That’s a mistake Eloy and Robert need to get their timing back.

[Hitmen77]

The obsession with our utility guy that our HOF manager has deemed useful is such a ****ing joke. You want to know what would really sink a season? Not having a guy to spell all these guys who actually matter coming off leg injuries.

Continuity matters, chemistry matters, versatility matters, utility players matter.

You know why Engel isn't playing every day? A major leg injury followed by a relapse. Ever consider his wild success as being in part due to usage?

Rest and usage matters.

I hope Eloy and Robert only play a few times a week these last couple months and we give everyone regular rest closing out their first 162 game season in two years. Leury will continue to be a big part of that, so for your own sanity and mental well being, put down the...

Agreed. Like it or not, we'll be seeing plenty of Leury in the lineup as long as the Sox have a comfortable division lead since he can be used to give so many of our starters a day off. If done right, he'll be on the bench for the ALDS and beyond cheering on our healthy regular starters. If we DFA him now because RH and TLR have been convinced that he's utterly and totally useless, that means less rest for our starters and a greater chance one of them will be sidelined when the playoffs start.

It's not easy to find a replacement level bench player that can cover six different defensive positions on the diamond with plus speed on the basepaths. The issue is not Leury Garcia's presence on this roster, it's the quantity of starts he has received. When Robert comes back, start him once a week, use him as a pinch runner or late inning defensive sub for Sheets or Eloy.

Other bench players may not be able to cover 6 different positions, but THEY'RE NOT LEURY!!!!!!

[Hitmen77]

This “****ing scrub” as you call him has played a ton and, whoa, lookie there, we have a 9.5 game lead in the division. I don’t think he’s derailing anything. Climb off the ledge.

I got very worried reading this thread. I thought I fell asleep and it was 2031 and the Sox were in a new rebuilt. I went to MLB. com for a reality check and found this:
Baseball Standings | MLB.com

All is good.

Yep, last I checked our division lead hasn't evaporated. No reason to run our regulars into the ground ala Leo Durocher and risk aggravating their injuries just because fans on the Internet can't get over their blind hatred of one player and his low OPS.

I'm also all for giving more spot starts to players who don't belong on a playoff roster like Lopez and Lambert too to keep our starters from being totally out of gas come playoff time.

[Foulke You]

OK. If he’s replacement level, then let’s go ahead and replace him.

It's not easy to find a replacement level bench player that can cover six different defensive positions on the diamond with plus speed on the basepaths. The issue is not Leury Garcia's presence on this roster, it's the quantity of starts he has received. When Robert comes back, start him once a week, use him as a pinch runner or late inning defensive sub for Sheets or Eloy.

[Mohoney]

Give me a break. He's replacement level with adequate defense and a bad bat. He isn't "useless". Enough with the hyperbole.

OK. If he’s replacement level, then let’s go ahead and replace him.

[hoosiersoxfan]

I know he missed the ball on that triple last night but did anyone else notice how high Engel jumped? His head was above the center field wall. He looks healthy to me but I don't mind them easing him back in considering the large division lead. Leury is fine as a fill in to keep everyone else fresh the last 2 months. If everyone is healthy I don't think we will see him starting any playoff games.