SoxBlanco

What exactly does focusing more on defense instead of offense look like? I’m genuinely curious, because I’ve seen a lot of people mention it, and I’ve always found it odd to claim somebody goes into a slump because they aren’t “focusing” on offense. Do you mean mentally? Or actually doing less BP/hitting drills in order to get more defensive drills in?

I think the change up looks much better today. He still hasn’t been consistent with it (a few that float up in the zone), but the good ones look a lot better to me. Fastball has looked outstanding. Command has been great with the fastball.

Scouting Report via MLB.com: After pitching sparingly in three college seasons at Southern California, Flores signed as a seventh-round pick in 2016 and quickly established himself as the best left-handed pitching prospect in the White Sox system. Then his stuff regressed in his first full pro season, which ended three weeks early after he strained an oblique. Working with diminished velocity helped him become a better pitcher, however, and he has consistently registered quality starts throughout '18. Flores' fastball velocity fluctuated from 88-97 mph with the Trojans, parked at 92-97 during his pro debut, but sat around 90 mph in 2017. He's working at 90-94 mph this year, giving him more separation from a quality changeup that can be a well above-average pitch at its best. He has tightened his curveball in '18 and also will mix in a slider/cutter. Flores' control was as inconsistent as his fastball in college, but he has pounded the strike zone throughout his pro career. Though he doesn't have a plus pitch and doesn't miss a lot of bats -- both of which limit his ceiling -- he has a reasonably high floor as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Are you saying he doesn’t miss enough bats to be successful in the majors? Or he doesn’t miss enough bats to be a highly ranked prospect?

Another great start by Flores. He continues to produce since getting promoted to Birmingham. He’s slowly becoming one of my favorite prospects.

Pardon my ignorance, but when GMs play the service clock game, do they really tell the players that’s what their plan is? I always assumed it was something that was never admitted, even though everyone knows what is happening, and the GMs know that everyone knows.

“Didn’t we learn with Moncada? Why would we rush Eloy in a year when the games didnt matter anyway? So stupid to bring him up so soon.”

Interesting. Just having one of those years where everything goes right? Or could he have figured something out? I have not looked at a single advanced stat on him. I was just shocked by the 0.53 ERA and the fact that I’ve never seen him mentioned around here.

What’s the story with this guy? I know he’s 27 years old, but he’s pitched 33.2 AA innings this year and has given up a whopping 2 ER. Any chance he’s a future bullpen piece?

He was seen in the dugout with a giant poster board that had big boxes on it, and he was checking them. It was kind of like the jump to conclusions mat from Office Space.

I think Flores can be that guy that we weren’t counting on who makes it into the rotation. I’m also really curious to see what Stephens can do against major league hitters.

That is not what is best for his development.

Call’s resurgence is making our outfield situation even more crowded. Which three of these players will make up the starting outfield in our competitive years? Avi, Eloy, Robert, Basabe, Gonzalez, Rutherford, Call, Booker, Adolfo, Cordell Who else am I forgetting?

This is getting ridiculous with Eloy.

Kopech with no walks through 5. Gave up a 2 run homer in the second, and that’s it so far. Hopefully he can get one more clean inning in, and then he can start packing his bags with Eloy.

Did Fulmer “start” the game today?

Yeah, I wasn’t talking about the order...just the fact that it consists of nine guys who aren’t automatic outs.

That’s one of the best looking lineups we’ve had all year (not that it’s any good compared to actual major league teams)

So far, with his new role in the bullpen, he has made five relief appearances. These are his stats: 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 K, 3 BB

If Hansen faced Collins, is there any chance the at bat would result in something other than a BB or a K?

Looks like it was changed to an unearned run, as it should be.

Yeah, that run doesn’t score without the error. So earned/unearned runs are scoring decisions?

Can the determination of whether a run is unearned be left up to the score keeper (like a hit vs. an error)? Or is it always a black/white situation?

1 inning, 3 ER, 5 hits, 0 BB, 0 K

Basabe with a solo shot.