CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 07:46 PM) It's definitely a rotation you could hang with if the offense was putting up 4-5-6 runs a night. Which is why I never understand when i see posters use the rebuild word.

Seeing Cespedes' swing makes me wish Frank Thomas would work with Viciedo . Is it just me or does Viciedo's swing seem choppy like he's hacking ? He needs more of an uppercut swing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 10:47 AM) The sad thing is we heard all last year how Robin needed to move Rios to the 3rd spot instead of Dunn because Rios was the most consistent hitter. Things change from year to year and adjustments and flexibility is the key.

Robin's been kind of inflexible as a manager. He trots out basically the same line up every day . Then if a player gets hot he says I don't want to move him because he's had success in that spot. I know the production as whole hasn't been there and we strand a lot of runners. I think a manager has a lot more to do with outcomes of games than people think, not on strategic decision making but on the line up construction. Group the hot hitters together , play matchup, show some creative thinking. The tried and true lineup hasn't hit and more than likely pretty much any line up wouldn't hit either so why not experiment with it ? Rios hasn't hit all year with RISP but he is always 3rd in the line up and lately he takes the 1st pitch constantly and is always behind 0-1 and often 0-2. De Aza is our 2nd best HR hitter and maybe our best hitter with RISP and only hits lead off. Robin hardly ever pinch hits against AL teams . How many times do we have to see Flowers making outs in the 9th of a close game ? Seems like Robin thinks he's dealing with a bunch of babies who can only hit where he puts them and couldn't hack being moved up or down in the lineup or being PH for.

Good luck Matt . You had some really good years with the Sox and it was appreciated.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 09:07 PM) It's getting harder to imagine him being healthy enough to pitch well and raise his stock before the deadline. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,3112864.story I'm not overly optimistic about Crain coming back before the trade dealine either especially when he's got free agency coming. He'll want to show he's healthy but only when he is throwing with no discomfort and that looks like it will be after the trade dealine passes more and more every day.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 07:24 PM) It's almost like they have to do something with Hawkins right now, but what? Can you just pull the plug on his season, send him to Instructional League, and start all over next year? When a player shows a high likelihood of never getting it together ( and I'm not saying Hawkins is in that category) I think you have to tell him he needs to change his whole approach and or technique. Hire a private hitting instructor to work with him trying all kinds of different batting stances, bat positions , crouching , standing up straight and everything in between. Give that instructor some resources to hire amatuer pitchers of different abilities to throw to him if thats possible and/or legal. Work on just making contact with a player with high K rates but a lot of strength. Break him down completely and start over. There's too much invested in Hawkins to care about hiring an instructor for say 50K for the offseason and giving him another 25K for expenses. Tell him every penny of that 25K must be documented with receipts. I'm sure some savvy independent league pitchers would be willing to make a few extra thousand .

Winner !

Can we get Ruf ?

Way to go JR !

Nice 2 out extra base hits to net a run . Up to Reed to hold it.

QUOTE (JoshPR @ Jul 13, 2013 -> 07:19 AM) My point exactly Your point exactly is what? You rather have player's without tools ? Those are called accountants.

Get used to this in the 2nd half once the bullpen is shipped out.

QUOTE (Noonskadoodle @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 06:11 PM) What is Phegleys listed height? He is built like a brick s***house. 5'10"

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 06:28 PM) What a bum He's a journeyman for sure.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 06:26 PM) I don't know if Purcey is much of a prospect, but you have to think he is very nervous making his debut. His debut for the Sox but has spent time in the bigs . Nothing since 2011 though.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 06:21 PM) How has Phegley been behind the plate? Pretty solid blocking curve balls in the dirt and wide.0-2 in throwing out base stealers but stolen more on the pitchers.

Hellickson good control of his fastball and changeup tonight. Mixing it up well.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 05:19 PM) How did Tekotte get caught stealing? Not one pitch Hellickson threw was a strike but got 2 strikes called forcing DeAza to swing at a 3-2 also off the plate outside. He missed and on a close play at 2nd Tekotte was called out though replay shows he barely beat the throw.

Umpire induced DP Home plate ump bad Tekotte safe at 2nd.

Outside and in the dirt and Phegley got his body in front of it. No backhand .

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 02:56 PM) I'd call it a 2013 thing. For sure. This year so much has gone wrong you start to wonder about stupid stuff like the odd number year jinx, the unlucky #13, and other twilight zone crap, anything other than facing the reality that the Sox suck just to be able to cope with it.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 01:56 PM) The ability to walk and hit for power. He could very easily be a .725-.750 OPS bat off the bench that can play all 3 OF spots. He's been hitting the piss out of the ball in AAA (.938 OPS over previous 30 games). May as well give him a shot. When your name is Blake Aaron Tekotte (BAT) you should be able to hit.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 01:58 PM) Are we not allowed to give out multi-year deals? I'd like to lock up one of Morales/Pence/Choo to about a 3 year deal. Signing two (would have to Morales + another) might be a stretch, but we'll have the money. Will be interesting to see how the market goes. I'd like to try our best to keep him in the OF as long as possible. Moving to 1B is always an option, but moving back to OF from 1B is not something you see go well very often. He's bad, but he's not unplayable in the OF at this point. I'd feel more comfortable with him at 1B if we had more certainty with his bat; we don't. You don't want to give up on Dayan, but you don't want a 1B that can't hit. I'd much rather have a bad LF than a bad 1B. I know you're looking at the Sox competing next year and surely I'd love for that to happen but chances are it won't. Just too many holes to fill and question marks. After the trade deadline chances are the only thing the Sox will have going for them is starting pitching. Everything else will a big IF and 3 year deals to 30YO+ players shouldn't be considered unless the Sox pick up some sure things at the trade deadline ,which likely isn't happening.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 5, 2013 -> 01:41 PM) I'm still not sure this isn't too early to give him the callup. I added a 5th reason in my edit before I saw the last 2 posts. Took me a few minutes to finish the research which goes hand in hand with my 4th reason. If the Sox had gone 12-4 instead of 4 -12 Phegley might still be in the minors.