*Official* 8/17 Nine is Fine Postgamer

[thomas35forever]

Glad they won handily, but it matters less than the fate of Bassitt. Hope he's OK.

[Zakath]

A's kind of mailed this one in after the Bassitt incident. Good to get the W and pull within 1/2 game of Houston for the 2 spot (Astros lost in KC), but that was one scary moment.

[HomeFish]

That's the least I've ever enjoyed a 9-0 Sox win. Just feels empty after the injury.

[FielderJones]

I know everyone's somber after the win, but, magic number is now —

[berwyn]

Got a sick feeling in my gut after a dominant win and the continuing emergence of a possible bullpen ace long man. I thought it hit him on the forehead, but it apparently was the cheekbone. Kid pitchers, protect yourselves on your follow through! MLB pitchers who don't protect themselves, and there are more than a few, are you crazy? What leads to embarrassment almost all the time can lead to tragedy too.

[PaleHoser]

I really hope Chris Bassitt is all right.

On the upside, Reynaldo Lopez has been a revelation. It's good to see him attack hitters and just shove.

[SOX ADDICT '73]

Hoping that the scans all come back showing no fractures - if Bassitt gets out of this with a few stitches and a nasty shiner, that's a win.

On a separate topic: why do I still let it bother me that, on the MLB.com site, the White Sox are always the "White Sox," while the Red Sox just get to be the "Sox?"

[ChiTownTrojan]

It's tough to know how much of the A's lackluster performance today was because their heads were in another place. It's good to hear that it was his cheek and not his eye. Still, there's a good chance of a fracture which would probably end his season I would think.

From a Sox perspective, if you told me a month ago that Lopez, Burr, and Mike Wright would combine to shut out a playoff team, I would never have believed it. Is Lopez working his way back into being an option for the rotation long term? What he's been doing is damn impressive. 25 innings with a 1.08 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and over a strikeout per inning. He very much looks legit.

[Lipman 1]

Didn't see the game tonight but heard about and saw the line drive. Bassitt is really fortunate that he turned and dropped his head just enough to not get hit square in the temple. Just a bad scene. Honestly hope he's OK, terrific pitcher and careers have been ended by pitchers coming back from this just becoming gun-shy and not pitching the same.

As far as the game itself reading the box score and seeing the highlights, for a "bullpen game" you can't ask for much more.

11th shutout this season for the White Sox staff.

[Kobo]

It's tough to know how much of the A's lackluster performance today was because their heads were in another place. It's good to hear that it was his cheek and not his eye. Still, there's a good chance of a fracture which would probably end his season I would think.

From a Sox perspective, if you told me a month ago that Lopez, Burr, and Mike Wright would combine to shut out a playoff team, I would never have believed it. Is Lopez working his way back into being an option for the rotation long term? What he's been doing is damn impressive. 25 innings with a 1.08 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and over a strikeout per inning. He very much looks legit.

Maybe? It's a small sample size right now, but maybe he's better off suited to being a piece of the bullpen who gets a spot start every once in a while. Not sure if he can be an effective starter, but right now he has a role on this team and that's more than I thought possible.

[StanBahnsen72]

My $0.02-

1. Prayers are with Bassitt- it will take real courage to get back on the mound after that experience
2. Really like how the outfield is rounding out- Eloy's surprising defense, Robert's development, Vaughn's ability to play credible defense in RF, Goodwin absolutely rakes vs. RHP and Engel's overall play- good depth and flexibility has emerged there.
3. Lopez is now a credible 6th option for the rotation- as well as a great multiple inning piece as a "bridge" to Crochet/Kopech/Bummer/Kimbrel/Hendricks. We now effectively received Giolito/Lopez/Lynn for Adam Eaton- nice work on that one Mr. Hahn.
4. Burr and Wright looked pretty good last night- more value from the Charlotte->Chicago shuttle- this is by far the most value the minor leagues has ever delivered to the major league club in my lifetime with call ups adding real value (i.e. Goodwin, Sheets, Burger, Zavala, Lopez, Burr, Wright, etc.)

[Chez]

I was at the game last night. The Bassitt incident was upsetting and I hope he makes a full recovery. The Sox benefitted from Oakland hitting into four inning-ending double plays. That said, kudos to Lopez, Burr and Wright. Sox are now 3-2 on the Gauntlet Tour with Lynn pitching tonight.

[Harwar]

I coached a Babe Ruth league team many years ago, and on a lark our best pitcher, who had a pretty good fast ball even at that age, tried to strike me out . after 2 strikes i hit a hard line drive inches over his head . i was horrified . last night's game brought that all back..

from his twitter . Jon Heyman, "News is encouraging on A’s ace Chris Bassitt. After being hit in the face with a liner last night he sustained a fractured cheekbone and maxilla (upper jawbone). Surgery will be in 3-5 days after swelling subsides. All other scans are clean. Most vitally: Vision is 20-20."

[Zakath]

Hoping that the scans all come back showing no fractures - if Bassitt gets out of this with a few stitches and a nasty shiner, that's a win.

On a separate topic: why do I still let it bother me that, on the MLB.com site, the White Sox are always the "White Sox," while the Red Sox just get to be the "Sox?"

Especially as we were the White Sox a full decade before they were the Red Sox (which is why, I believe, the White Sox just get to have "Sox" as their symbol).

[ChiTownTrojan]

I coached a Babe Ruth league team many years ago, and on a lark our best pitcher, who had a pretty good fast ball even at that age, tried to strike me out . after 2 strikes i hit a hard line drive inches over his head . i was horrified . last night's game brought that all back..

from his twitter . Jon Heyman, "News is encouraging on A’s ace Chris Bassitt. After being hit in the face with a liner last night he sustained a fractured cheekbone and maxilla (upper jawbone). Surgery will be in 3-5 days after swelling subsides. All other scans are clean. Most vitally: Vision is 20-20."

Best case scenario, really. I'm no doctor but I'm sure he's done for the year, which is a tough blow to the A's.