BamaDoc

After digging, for those wondering, Castillo doesn't count against the 40 man roster while suspended. Think he can actually do 15 days in minors prior to coming back as well. So no-one has to be dropped from 40 man to add Gonzalez.

I did some digging and I believe players suspended for PED do not count on the 25 or 40 man rosters so that should allow adding Gonzalez without having to cut someone from the 40. Tilson already on 40 so he simply replaces Leury(DL).

Stat heads I need help. With at least 100AB in a season, did Engel have the lowest batting average to have a 4-4 night? I give him grief but would like to recognize him if he has done something historic. He also has been streaky in the minors so maybe we are going to see a good stretch for him.

The front load only works if there isn't an opt out which he will probably have several. Frankly, any big star coming here probably requires opt outs in case rebuild not working and/or it is to their advantage.

BOOOOOMMMM goes the Mendoza line!

Approaching .200!!!!!!

About half that team needs to move up! Some great performances and several are a bit older.

Since a seven inning game Gavin doesn't get a chance to hit for cycle. Micker 1-2 with a walk

Sadly, I fear he may be this bad a hitter.

Would you take a chance on Mize if you knew TJ surgery was very likely? At slot or under or pass?

I would think/hope that swing tracking technology (used a lot in golf) is done in practice sessions and preseason especially where you could try different bats and lengths. The weight/mass of a bat also impacts the speed and control as it is easier to accelerate or decelerate a lighter object than a heavier one. Many anecdotes of players going to a lighter bat when tired/later in the season. Nowdays you don't have to guess or feel if it is different, you can get objective data. You should be able to find the optimum speed mass setup to produce the most force/power. Thinking back I remember........force= mass x acceleration Sorry if hijacking. I have heard our minor league pitchers talk about being given pitching data. It would be interesting to hear if our hitters are doing higher tech stuff. At one time, it was high tech for all guys to get eye exams, know routine.

There is a simple rule at all levels of baseball......If you hit well enough, they will find a place for you to play. That adage works for guys who are defensive butchers. By all accounts Madrigal is very good at second, could possibly handle SS and is the kind of baseball rat who could learn/handle the outfield(have you seen the defense of our major league outfielders this year?) If we are talking possible batting champion or high OBP leadoff man you take him and figure it out. Players get hurt, traded etc. I would love a high OBP leadoff guy with good speed. It would allow Moncada more RBI chances and frankly we really don't have a lot of leadoff type guys. Maybe he becomes a Zobrist type playing everyday but all over the field as you rest/rotate players thru DH?

Tilson .262 BA over last 10 games. Maybe some rust coming off? Heck if he hits .300 for a week, I'm about ready for his shot. Is this the year Eddie Alvarez gets a Sept promotion for a feel good story?

Expecting our pick this year to be contributing next year is a little far fetched. That kind of rushing is what was done in the past. Those expectations would virtually eliminate all high schoolers drastically hurting the ability to get the best talent. I like you said PO drive next year. I am an optimist and I can't put us in unless you consider .500ish contending.

A couple other differences. Some pitchers may lose velocity or their ability to locate the pitch where they want it, the longer they pitch. These pitchers may be fine for one or two innings hence they are relievers. A slightly different concept is that as a starting pitcher, if you pitch deeper into the game, the same batters are seeing your pitches for the third or fourth time. Starters generally need at least three pitches to show/confuse a batter. The pitches will differ in velocity and in how they move vertically, horizontally, or both. A pitcher who has one outstanding pitch or two pretty decent ones may get by if he only faces a batter once in a game so he would be a reliever. Another matter is how a pitcher's arm recovers physically after exertion. Some people need more rest between pitching appearances than others. A closer(guy you use to end the game or get late critical outs) will rarely pitch more than one inning or more than three days in a row. A starter will generally pitch every fifth day and throw around 100 pitches in a game. Of course some people are different and there are exceptions to all of these statements. Later in a game, the use of relievers may depend on the situation. In general, there is an advantage for a pitcher to throw to a same sided hitter. By this I mean a left handed pitcher(LHP) often has an advantage against a left handed batter(LHB) so this is where strategy is involved by each team to try to get the matchups they want. A team may bring in a LHP to pitch to a LH batter but the original batter could be pinch hit for (taken out of the game and replaced by) a right handed hitter (RHB). When you see people talking about a pitcher or batters splits that is what they are referring to. Another example, a LHB may hit .300 vs RHP but .150 vs a LHP so if it is later in a game and you are bringing in a reliever to pitch to him it would statistically be to your advantage to bring in a LHP. The opposing team might then take him out and replace him with a right handed batter. It can become a bit of a chess match where each side is trying to work the odds to their favor. Also, once a player is taken out, he is out for the game, so if you go thru the above scenario in the seventh inning and take out your good left handed hitter, his spot might come up again before the game is over when the other team now has in a RHP. In some regards it is a very simple game, nine innings, three outs per side per inning, but the nuances can make it very beautifully complex.

I see Melky is at Cleveland's AAA team batting cleanup for about ten games. I wonder if his contract has an out date or out if another team wants to put him in the bigs. He would at least be a professional bat to put in left. I wouldn't trade for him or at least give up anything of value. Heck if he does hit, you might be able to flip him in July as other guys return from injuries or move up. Right now Palka, Engle, Thompson and even Delmonico were/are down right embarrassing to put 2-3 in a lineup.

Oddly, fill in vets now may represent a market inefficiency. Not advocating it now as we need to try out and see which scraps may be useful but what we traded prospects for in the past now are readily available in the spring at a discount. I think you will see the market stabilize as non all-stars take the qualifying offers, exercise player options, or accept discount deals from current team rather than hit free agency. There may be teams that get burned giving qualifying offers to players hoping for draft picks but get "stuck" with the player.

This is fun/what depth looks like. You can always find someone doing something. I am a little held back by a lot of 23-24 year olds in the A levels. Soon or after draft, a lot of guys need to be challenged. Just as the second half of the season should bring players to Chicago, Charlotte and Birmingham should see an influx of talent as well as jettisoning some non performers.

Some great discussions and thanks for everyones input. A different question I haven't seen specifically is what has happened to Giolitto? In spring training his numbers and reports had me expecting him to turn the corner and be an anchor in our rotation. Not so in season. I haven't seen him on tv etc. Is there anything anyone has spotted mechanically? Physical? Mental?

Nice article. I was never that concerned re HRs because everything else looked fine but I do wonder about making changes at higher competition levels messing someone up. I am fine with a team of guys who don't k but have OBP of .800

A worse Adam Dunn. If you can move him for a decent prospect do it. Right handed bat, mainly dh is the easiest piece to put into the puzzle in a couple years.

Don't disagree with you at all. The Sox have always had a budget. In the past that led to us trying to compete by bargain shopping and trading young talent. Hopefully, with a younger/cheaper core, there will be more money available to get better players and/or the budget will be bigger.

I am cautiously optimistic, but there is every outcome possible. The rebuild may not bring a champion but we could be anywhere from bad to good.

I wonder if he has to have the surgery, if he would be able to dh prior to playing the field? Same concept as now but in reverse.

And Yolmer ks on a ball above the shoulders.