Chisoxfn

s***...great range by Ramirez and a poor throw but Swisher could have picked it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 04:04 PM) I still say the rebuilt swing from Anderson looks mighty fine, although I'm not a hitting coach. He just hasn't had the playing time to really get it working. Its a massive improvement, but its a swing that will be relying heavily on pure athletism to fix the existing flaws in it. However, I think the main problem with BA is a poor approach which is partially due to a severe lack of consistent playing time. I really believe Anderson should be down getting a full season in the minors so he can really see if the adjustments worked. If they do, the Sox could have found themselves with a legit CFer on there hands for next season. But now I don't know if they'll ever have that cause I don't think he's ever going to be given a shot to start (unless an injury occurs). It would be stupid for the Sox to hand him the CF job since he really hasn't shown anything in a couple years to prove he's worthy of being a starter (again, he hasn't necessarily had the chance either).

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:59 PM) That's what I'm saying in a nutshell. Good discussion. Now hopefully Walker can make the right adjustment to Fields or Anderson (both would be fantastic).

Great job by Danks to get the DP ball and a nice job by Swisher/OC.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:58 PM) I mean that Anderson was an anomaly. I would have to say that normally, when you have a swing as flawed as Anderson's was, it will be exposed by the time you get to AAA, where there are some good pitchers who just haven't made the majors yet. But there was no real evidence of any problems and Anderson raked all the way until his call-up. Except in the instance of very talented, toolsy players as they typically have the pure athletism to get away with certain flaws, imo.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:56 PM) Pitches for Verlander by inning: 1st: 18 2nd: 27 3rd: 38 Bash Greg Walker all you want...this is a team game plan on a pitcher and it's working brilliantly. I'm glad the bats have came around. I've long said Walker wasn't the problem but did say the longer the team went without hitting the more likely it was you just had to get rid of him to see if it would send a message (because its easier to fire a coach than the entire team). Walker is an asset to this staff (I know it sounds crazy but its the case, imo).

83 pitches through 3.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:49 PM) In fairness, I think Anderson is the exception and not the norm. I can't think of anybody else off the top of my head that had a mechanical problem that was hidden all the way to the majors, and got away with it since it didn't show in their stats. Jeff Francouer. Everyone knew he had strikeout issues but his minor league numbers were very strong and very few adjustments were made. He initially raked but I think most saw that he had major flaws to his swing and finally major league pitching took advantage of it. Again, Francouer is incredibly gifted (strong tools across the board) but because he had done so well in the minors, people didn't make adjustments. In most instances, I think if you look at highly rated prospects that had tools and raked in the minors and than failed in the majors, you can typically say its because teams saw flaws but were hesitant to fix them because they pretty much hit from the get go.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:49 PM) In fairness, I think Anderson is the exception and not the norm. I can't think of anybody else off the top of my head that had a mechanical problem that was hidden all the way to the majors, and got away with it since it didn't show in their stats. I'm assuming you are going to say that Fields K rate was what would show his mechanical flaw in his stats? I don't know if that is necessarily the case though cause you could make the case that he's just a pure power prospect whose k rate should fall as he continues to learn the strike zone. Again, its just a hypothetical. What about Jeremy Reed? You could make a case that he was the anti-Anderson. He freaking raked and raked and raked. Statistically I don't think you could see many weaknesses and his swing was pretty as can be. He had some untimely injuries which seemed to prevent him from getting hot and those injuries also caused him to make improper adjustments to his swing. Jeff Abbot is another guy who comes to mind. Tremendous swing throughout the minors, came to the majors and made a stupid ass adjustment and never figured things out again. I know Hawk always raves about Jeff Abbot, but I remember talking to a scout who said he thought Abbott was a sure thing (when it came to a guy who would flat out hit).

That was a good pitch by Verlander, just a tremendous swing by Dye. 56 pitches for Verlander right now (0 outs in the 3rd).

Dye goes back to back with Q. 4-1 Sox. That was DEEP too.

QUOTE (tommy @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:43 PM) Leadoff double for OC I wub OC. If the Sox resigned him I'd get his jersey in a heartbeat. He's the epitome of a "baseball player".

Carlos f***ing Quentin...WOOO

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:34 PM) Yeah... Brian Anderson says hi, Jerry Owens as well, since he admitted nobody ever taught him how to get a bunt down in the minors. See my post on BA. Its just really hard to make a significant change to a guys swing because you don't think it will work against major league pitching. Especially when all that guy does is produce throughout his progression to the majors (ie, his minor league production). I'd say at most the Sox instructors were helping BA with minor things because they knew no matter what they might have felt that you can't make a relatively major adjustment without legitimate reasoning (why the f*** would Brian listen or anyone else thats a constant pro). HEck there are many hitters who have flaws in there swing but there athletic ability helps them get away with that (hell, very few hitters truly have what would be described as a fundementally perfect swing).

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:33 PM) Good to see that our minor league instruction allows these large flaws in the swing to get through without any change. I should point out that he's only been playing for about 10 days since coming back from the DL so it could very well be something that he developed while sitting out (ie, something he'll just have to slowly work his way out of). This wasn't near as noticeable last season. Last year I'd have told you he had the ability to hit .270 as long as he could just improve his plate discipline and learn to swing at more good pitches (which is a pretty reasonable assumption to think he could make that adjustment). Now I'd say he has to make some minor altercations to his swing, although in just 5 AB's he seems to have a bit better eye at the plate. Again, its a very very small sample size so its hard to necessarily point blame at the minor leaguers. I know in Anderson case its pretty hard to really tear apart a guys swing or really make a major adjustment when all that guy does is rake (and thats what Brian Anderson did throughout his development). But watch AJ bring his hands back as his trigger and compare it with Fields. Fields goes slightly forward before bringing them back and that split second difference in timing is HUGE, imo.

I will say this, aside from that timing mechanism to start the swing, his swing looks good and he does a great job with weight shift and everything along those lines. I've seen many hitters have there timing mechanisms altered with a lot of success so hopefully Walk and Baines can work with Josh and get something figured out. Remember what Jeff Pentland did to Sammy Sosa.

Fields has no chance. Just look at his swing. He's bringing his hands forward and than back. There is no f***ing way he's going to consistently hit with that start to a swing. It makes it completely impossible for him to get a good fastball without completely cheating.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 02:38 PM) What's so bad about banking? Not saying I'm going into that field, but I am studying accounting. Oye Vey

Cool uni's. Man, I don't get how people can hit Verlander. He has such sick stuff. There aren't many pitchers in all of baseball that I'd take over Justin.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 03:33 PM) Yea, I would. Especially after I saw Fields at the plate yesterday. I remember just how terrible his swing is. He just doesn't have the quickness to hit good fastballs and that generally spells trouble. Fields may fall into the same boat as Anderson, ie, a player that has a breaking ball speed bat and not a fastball speed bat and those type of players generally don't have long term major league success.

Are you guys forgetting the Damaso Marte that was absolutely shutdown for the Sox for all but one season. The guy has had one down season since initially joining the White Sox. He has a plus slider and fastball and throws from the left side. Xavier Nady would be the Sox 3rd best offensive player (well now that Thome is hitting, 4th best, behind Dye/CQ/Thome). The Yanks gave up very little of actual value to themselves (aside from Tabata who could turn into a star, but again, this would be the equivalent of the Sox dealing an extremely raw player whose yet to prove much of anything, ie a Faustino De Los Santos). Albeit Tabata was a pitcher and is farther along than where Del Los Santos was. This is a freaking steal for the Yanks, especially given there needs.

I thought the suit was pulled when the city and ownership agree on a settlement which essentially kept the name and history of the franchise with the city of Seattle. Now Seattle is going to hope for an expansion team or to lure another franchise over.

Thats a good deal for the Tribe. The A ball catcher has good offensive upside while Meloan has a tremendous arm but is obviously still raw.

I would glady take Roy Halladay in that package. Sox would have to give up more though or at least I figure they would. Duscherer is not worth Floyd straight up, let alone him and Fields (I think Floyd's long term career with Sox better than what Dusch's would be). However, to get Halladay, you are talking about an ace for another couple years whose under contract and gives the Sox an even better top 4 of the rotation (one which you could easily afford to ease another rookie into the 5th spot to replace Contreras).

I'm a big Nady fan. Isn't Oldenhoff supposed to be decent. I know he struggled in the majors this season and I'm not saying he's a top prospect nor am I saying the Pirates got good value (Tabata has high upside but a lot of risk too). I'm really surprised considering just how good Nady has been, plus Marte has a very good arm and has done well with the Pirates. This deal makes the Yanks much better, imo. Again, I can't comment on the other guys too much cause I'm not super familiar with the Yanks system. I figure the Pirates could have gotten more in terms of big name minor leaguers.