Jack Parkman

Yeah, we know that. Lopez's normal "all out" is 97-99 and he'd sit mid 90s so that's why it is a bit concerning. In case you didn't know, this article is why it is a big deal. https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/velocity-pitch-mix-changes-opening-day/

Yeah me too. Still worth noting though.

I hope he's just having trouble getting loose, but Lopez is sitting 92-93 here in the 1st. That is no bueno.

Sox are the only team in baseball that can't hit a fucking sinkerballer. The remainder of baseball torches sinkerballers but the Sox just continue to beat the ball into the ground.

Dammit Abreu.

Nice Moncada.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Beltre is probably the best all around 3B of all time. He didn't hit as many HR or win as many Gold Gloves as Mike Schmidt, but Beltre was a much better hitter. 477 HR and 3K hits 5 GG. His resume speaks for itself. IIRC Beltre is 2nd all time in HR by a 3B, behind only Schmidt.

Arguable, at the very least. Maybe you can take into account the Sox having a ridiculous number of legit OF prospects, but there are plenty of people who'd argue what Gonzalez did at age 23(get that right) at A+ isn't that impressive.

Mikolas was rocking the 80s style porn stache.

It would be nice, but I'm not counting on Sox baseball until Sunday. Apologies for being Eeyore here. It just looks too shitty.

Nah

Just my opinion, but there is too much talent on this roster for them to win fewer than 70 games this year. I'd say the'll win somewhere between 72 and 84 games, with most outcomes being in the 76-79 range.

Schtaaaaahhhhp.

77

Seconded, with Collins leaning toward floor to me. The only ceiling pick they made was Hansen and he almost hit before completely losing it last year.

What's so confusing? The only time the Sox ever picked risky guys were Hawkins and Anderson. They only did that because 2012 and 2013 were the last two seasons before draft slotting. Neither player should have been a first rounder, but they picked them there anyway because tools. Since the draft slotting has been introduced, they have gone back to their MO of low ceiling high floor picks. We'll have to agree to disagree. There was risk with Fulmer, but he was supposed to be a damn near guaranteed back end reliever, with an outside chance to start. All of the risk with Fulmer was supposed to be whether or not he'd stick as a starter, not whether or not he'd be an MLB pitcher. Same with Collins about C/1B. The Sox seem to be contrarians with the consensus, which is why they suck so badly at player development. It worked once with Sale and it has emboldened them to think they're right and everyone else is wrong.

They're not high ceiling. High ceiling means that if a lot goes right they're top 20 prospects in the game. None of those guys were ever that good. High floor means they still have an outside shot of being a MLB player even if they don't hit their intended ability. That is why both Collins and Fulmer were high floor picks. Both were unlikely to start/catch, but they were still supposed to have an outside shot at sticking as a 1B/RP. They were, in fact, low ceiling/high floor picks that were somewhat disguised as high ceiling picks. If you take a college reliever in the 1st round that is also 100% a low ceiling pick. You do that, you better be damn sure the guy stays healthy and reaches the majors quickly.

The only guys I'll give you on that list are Anderson and Hawkins. I completely disagree with you on Fulmer/Collins. Fulmer was safe because he was supposed to have a "backup plan" as a reliever. Collins was supposed to be a better hitter than he ended up being. Mitchell probably would have ended up ok if he didn't destroy his leg a couple times. He ended up losing too much development time due to injury.

Fulmer, Collins, Burdi and Madrigal all fit their draft MO. They are the definition of low ceiling high floor guys, at the time of their draft. It also fits their MO of drafting those type of players and having their ceiling end up being so low they can't make it to the bigs. Fulmer was supposed to be a starter that if he couldn't start would end up being a decent reliever Collins was supposed to be an advanced college bat. He had questions sticking behind the plate but high OBP. with some contact issues It looks like if he doesn't catch, he's not an MLB player Burdi was supposed to be a quick moving reliever. Surprise! he got hurt Madrigal can hit but he has no power. A complete waste of a top 5 pick.

I was talking about the draft, not the guys they acquired via trade. I hope you read my edit. I actually commend them for what they did in trades because it was completely out of character.

Hahahahaha. The Sox have a history of high ceiling low floor guys, in the draft. You couldn't be more wrong. The guys they acquired in their trades were high risk/reward but in the draft they tend to go the opposite direction. Everyone was shocked with the guys they acquired via trade, and some of these guys need to hit big otherwise they'll just get super conservative again.

In case you didn't know, since they're in an MLB ballpark they have Trackman data. Santana is sitting 88-90, T91 for anyone who's interested.

Was there a better player than Dustin Johnson that choked in big moments as much as he does? I guess most would say Greg Norman, but didn't he win 4 or 5 British Opens? At this point I consider it a minor miracle that he got that one US Open. I see the guy at the top of the leaderboard often, but he never seems to finish, and a lot of times goes backward.

I disagree. Colome in 19 and 20 does more for the Cubs to maximize their window than keeping Happ around does.

Colome isn't trash.