Game I ALDS Gameday thread

[Dumpjerry]

I guess everyone was too shy to start a thread, so I'll do it. Check out this stuck thread at the top of the forum for how the gameday threads will be managed during the post season:

Post season gameday threads announcement - Forums (wsiforumstoo.com)


Let the discussions begin.

[Cbone]

Giolito or Lynn, we find out today. I'm thinking Gio.

[HomeFish]

I had a dream last night that the Sox lost this game 8-2. The dream began in the second inning, Houston had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Ground ball up the middle, Cesar Hernandez made a spectacular play to throw the runner out at third. So it was 1-0 Astros with 2 outs, looked like they would get out of the jam with minimal damage. Nope. Next batter hits a double down the line for a 2-0 Astros lead. Bullpen gave up a lot of runs late and Sox offense never showed up.

[StanBahnsen72]

I cannot wait for the 1st pitch- we have showed glimpses of reaching our potential and we seem to have a number of guys who really rise to the occasion on the big stage (i.e. TA, Abreu, Eloy, Robert, Grandal, Giolito), BUT we're still a very inexperienced team when it comes to the post season- and this will be their first "real" post season experience in front of capacity crowds, etc.- here's hoping tomorrow is more like ALDS Game 1 of 2005 and less like ALCS Game 1 of 2000.

[Kobo]

The Sox have changed parking for the playoffs. The price has increased to $45 per vehicle and you have to buy a parking pass online before the game. You will not be able to drive down and purchase parking at a lot day of game.

Passes are gone for Sunday. This kind of stinks. My Dad and Brother are coming up from Southern IL, need to figure out where to have them park now.

[Bird Of Prey]

The Sox have changed parking for the playoffs. The price has increased to $45 per vehicle and you have to buy a parking pass online before the game. You will not be able to drive down and purchase parking at a lot day of game.

Passes are gone for Sunday. This kind of stinks. My Dad and Brother are coming up from Southern IL, need to figure out where to have them park now.

Can you just take the train to the game?

[ChiTownTrojan]

Can you just take the train to the game?

Tough to do from Southern Illinois.

But yeah I think this is the team telling everyone in advance that there isn't going to be enough parking around the stadium, and you're better off parking further away and taking the train in. As someone who was 2 inning late to the only game at GRF that I attended this year even though I left for the stadium 3 hours ahead of time for a 40 minute drive, I appreciate that.

[Lipman 1]

Wishing the Sox well. Most of the "experts" that I've read see Houston winning in four or five.

My hope is pretty standard, win at least a game, don't get swept, make it a competitive series.

Anything over and above that is gravy especially coming off a remarkable season that saw them win 93 games despite almost constant injuries.

[ChiTownTrojan]

Wishing the Sox well. Most of the "experts" that I've read see Houston winning in four or five.

My hope is pretty standard, win at least a game, don't get swept, make it a competitive series.

Anything over and above that is gravy especially coming off a remarkable season that saw them win 93 games despite almost constant injuries.

I for one would be very disappointed if the Sox didn't win this series. Not because I think this Houston team is a pushover, but I do think the Sox team is better and that their time is now to make a deep postseason run.

FWIW, the good folks at Fangraphs think very highly of the Sox chances. In fact, 6 of the 28 writers they surveyed have them wining the World Series, which is tied for the most in baseball with the Dodgers.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/heres-whos-going-to-maybe-win-the-2021-world-series/

[Dumpjerry]

The Sox have changed parking for the playoffs. The price has increased to $45 per vehicle and you have to buy a parking pass online before the game. You will not be able to drive down and purchase parking at a lot day of game.

Passes are gone for Sunday. This kind of stinks. My Dad and Brother are coming up from Southern IL, need to figure out where to have them park now.

They will have remote parking available with shuttle buses. Nothing has been announced for the locations and logistics (I bought my tickets for Sunday from the Sox, so I was getting their emails about the parking), check the Sox website or call them for information.

I will be parking downtown and taking the Red or Green Line to the game. $45 is too rich for my taste when it means sitting in the car for 45 minutes before the game to get into the lot and 45 minutes post game to get out.

[voodoochile]

Park at Monroe street garage walk the 1/2 mile to the subway and take it to the game.

[Lipman 1]

I for one would be very disappointed if the Sox didn't win this series. Not because I think this Houston team is a pushover, but I do think the Sox team is better and that their time is now to make a deep postseason run.

FWIW, the good folks at Fangraphs think very highly of the Sox chances. In fact, 6 of the 28 writers they surveyed have them wining the World Series, which is tied for the most in baseball with the Dodgers.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/heres-wh...-world-series/

They may be one of the few ones doing it, the five MLB writers at CBS Sportsline all pick Houston for example. The writer at the MLB.com site today breaking down the series position by position has Houston winning in four, despite a real closeness in many areas between the two teams. He feels the difference will be Houston's ability to grind down pitchers, the way they have beat up Lynn in the past and the fact that they haven't lost a first round series since 2015.

But that's why they play the game on the field and not on a computer in someone's basement.

Here is the link to the position by position breakdown just FYI:

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/white-sox-astros-alds-position-breakdown

[longtimefan]

I had a dream last night that the Sox lost this game 8-2. The dream began in the second inning, Houston had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Ground ball up the middle, Cesar Hernandez made a spectacular play to throw the runner out at third. So it was 1-0 Astros with 2 outs, looked like they would get out of the jam with minimal damage. Nope. Next batter hits a double down the line for a 2-0 Astros lead. Bullpen gave up a lot of runs late and Sox offense never showed up.

That's not a dream; it is a nightmare.

[KenBerryGrab]

Tough to do from Southern Illinois.

But yeah I think this is the team telling everyone in advance that there isn't going to be enough parking around the stadium, and you're better off parking further away and taking the train in. As someone who was 2 inning late to the only game at GRF that I attended this year even though I left for the stadium 3 hours ahead of time for a 40 minute drive, I appreciate that.

This year, we had good luck parking for free across the expressway north of the park near the viaduct. It's a little bit of a hike, but....free.

[Dumpjerry]

So, among all the "experts" who are saying the Astros will win the series, how many of them back in February had the Padres winning the World Series? 95%? How many had the Giants sniffing at even 95 wins? 1%? How many had the Giants winning the division despite the presence of the Dodgers and Padres? I bet 0%.

Play the games.

Most of our losses were when we were without Robert, Eloy, etc.