BamaDoc

The magic of spring training, Smith back in bottom of second.

Is this the game thread? Smith doesn't make it out of the first. 25 pitches. Hope just bad day

Sosa saying he wants to be more aggressive and isn’t worried about improving a 3.3% walk rate is , I hope lost in translation/semantics or something. To me, it is his biggest issue as a hitter.

Orioles projected 3b and 2b out for some time.....................Sosa?

Robert Duvall RIP. A good run 95yo. Great actor

For pitchers, if drafted/signed by July, it is 7 1/2 months until spring training. Granted pitchers are throwing to get ready for spring training but I wonder, especially for college pitchers, if that is why many don't pitch in the year drafted? Perhaps some teams are focusing more on the strength/mechanical side of things.

Also the 60 man DL opens next week so expect a flurry of teams trying to get players through now before more 40 man spots open up. I wondered if WS would claim Victor Mesa Jr since he has 1 option remaining and we could have DFA'ed Hill or someone out of options.

A point I haven’t seen mentioned is Smith needs to develop his changeup. He used it rarely last year but a third pitch/something for right handed batters is a key to him making it as a starting pitcher. He can work on it in AA AAA. If he is in MLB bullpen, he probably never throws it and thus doesn’t develop.

So the MLB article talks of getting Taylor to 100ip but Venable hopes to use him to win games. I would be wary of back to back appearances or anything that could hurt him. It is interesting but you have three right-handers in Vasil, Taylor, and Hicks who have some starting experience/ability to go more than an inning. At some point it might make sense to use each every third game for two innings. 50g = 100ip. Getting a couple days rest might protect them a bit. If we are out of the race or post trade deadline, it might make sense. If someone traded(Hicks), you could add in one of the TJ guys or a youngster.

I hope your surprising prediction is wrong. I think moving Hagen Smith or for that matter Schultz to the pen now would be developmental malpractice. If they are close to their innings limit and aren't up starting, I could see bullpen for last month or 6 weeks to get a intro to MLB but otherwise the team really needs at least one of them to be successful starters.

I think the complicating issue with Paez as a PTBNL is that before he can be returned to his original team, he must pass through waivers where any team could claim him. I suppose you could work it that should he pass through waivers, he would be in the pool of players eligible to be picked by White Sox.

Anyone hear of any talk to try and make changes to Charlotte to make it more neutral for pitchers?

Exactly my point. Just hoping those who had heard about the trade in advance might be able to share generalities on this portion of the deal. Not exact names , just an acknowledgment that there is injury protection or based on performance etc. I have followed baseball pretty closely for 50ish years and can’t recall another 2 for 1 PTBNL. Aware of times a pool changed but the 2for1 seems unique. Probably really overreading that something major could be in the fine print but I remember when Dallas traded walker to the Vikings lol

Agree but the structure is a little unusual with 2 for White Sox and 1 PTBNL for Red Sox. Since some people on here seemed to have legitimate information, I wondered about it. Second reason to wonder was supposedly Sandlin failed medical initially so wondered if there was some form of protection in the class of players available (better pool if he breaksdown etc).

Jimmy, Baron. I will try again Anyone have any idea of the quality of the PTBNL? Contingent on health or performance? Total nothing burgers or could there be some king of legitimate prospects either way?

Don't remember exactly but I think he began in the off season for him (fall after majors over). He was often playing a limited schedule geared around majors so he could take whatever time he needed. Unfortunately , later he was also rehabbing injuries.

Anyone have any idea of the quality of the PTBNL? Contingent on health or performance? Total nothing burgers or could there be some king of legitimate prospects either way?

Best case is Hicks looks good and is traded before he earns the 8 million so JR makes a profit lol. Sandlin doesn't need TJ but did they see something on medicals?

This was in the MLB prospect write up and kinda scares me. "but also missed time with oblique and forearm strains.

Another thought on teams over the salary cap using Hicks as an example. Not sure what tax bracket Red Sox are in but potentially let's say the 100% bracket. Hicks makes 12 but they send 5 with him, saving 7. But look at the tax, if 100% he is actually costing them 24 so sending 5, they save 19. Some teams probably don't care about the money but saving 19 could be reallocated to some decent players. Like with the savings, they could have had Seranthony for nearly a wash. (His 10 salary has tax value of 20 - 19 saved =1 difference)

Interesting article. Observation #1. Quero looks to be in great shape. #2 They recommend coming at the start of the off season and they mention he just now came in. My point of reference would be competitive golf. Making a swing change and not getting enough reps to make it natural/grooved then playing a tournament/starting a season, could be a recipe for disaster. You can get caught in-between what you had and are trying to get to, which when you are under pressure can lead to a lot of confusion and overthinking. I certainly hope that is not the case for him and he does great. #3. Hopefully there is feedback with Sox hitting coaches. Certainly, they probably can see the 28 page pdf. It certainly doesn't help if they end up telling him conflicting things.

Now that Robert has been traded, does that pretty much end our chances of being able to acquire a tradable draft pick?

I liked Robert and really wanted him to be good here. Your third point says that is his floor. May I point out that in six seasons, Luis won one gold glove, hit over 20 homers once, played over 120 games once and never stole 40 bases. I actually hope he does at least that for the Mets this year but he didn't here.

Because he has spent so much time moving around, I hope that you put him with the defensive outfield coach and work all spring at predominantly one position. Can't imagine he doesn't get to decent. With his speed and if Acuna is in centerfield, you could actually cover a lot of ground in the outfield and help your pitching staff.

Do we know what was really offered? Not challenging just figure I missed it