bmags

The pun is about how to turn the pitching into a group that can counter the weaknesses of different teams in the post-season. My feeling after the Astros series was that the Sox this year vs good teams struggled most in pitching because we were very one pitch. Or maybe, too two-pitch, in our offerings. I'll show the repertoires of our staff, but for good hitting teams, they seemed perfectly capable of avoiding the (sometimes great) secondary offerings which are often incapable of finding the zones to time the staff's fastballs. White Sox Staff, and top offerings (% usage) (this is using baseball savant): FB - 4seam CH - Changeup SL - Slider CT - Cutter SN - Sinker CU - Curveball Giolito - 44% FB, 32%CH, 21% SL Lynn - 42%FB, CT- 31%, 20% SN Rodon - 59% FB 28% SL Cease - 47% FB, 30% SL 15% CU Lopez - 58% FB, 34% SL Kopech - 64% FB, 30% SL Crochet - 64% FB, 28% SL Bummer - 62% SN, 30% SL Hendriks - 70% FB 21% SL 10% CU Kimbrel - 60% FB 40% CU Tepera - 45% SL, 33% FB, 10% SN, 10% CH Ruiz - 60% FB, 36% CU Obviously, this won't end up being a science, I don't know how many specifically X pitchers we'll need. The Braves had a lot of success with their bullpen. Here were some of their repertoires: Tyler Matzek, the star, 70% FB, incredible rise. FB is still a great pitch! Will Smith - 47% FB, 41% Slider Kyle Wright - 38% SN, 28% SL, 14% CU Luke Jackson - 53% SL, 36% FB, 11% CU Jacob Webb - 46% CH, 44% FB, 10% CU AJ Minter - 44% CT, 42% FB, 13% CH So, you have a FB guy (Matzek) a Slider guy (Smith, Jackson), a Changeup guy (Webb), a Sinker guy (Wright) and a Cutter guy (Minter). I like the idea of having some more guys that can come in and do a McCullers in 2017 - just throw curve after curve (diff pitch after diff pitch) for strikes - when the other team seems to be all over the fastballs that day. Especially if the velocity doesn't seem to bother them. Here are some targets, and because we have so little represntation of it, I especially wanted some curve ball guys. FA: Rich Hill - 47% FB, 44% CU FA: Collin McHugh - 53% SL, 33% CU, 11% FB FA: Marcus Stroman - 42% SN, 23% SL, 21% Splitter (I used to hate sinker slider guys, I think we need one. Obviously, this is expensive) FA: Drew Smyly - 47% FB, 42% CU, 12% CT (would like him in bullpen, which may not be an option) Trade: Chris Stratton - 48% FB 25% CU 14% SL 13% CH Trade: Pierce Johnson - 68% CU, 33% FB (assuming option picked up, but he could be a FA) (I really wanted Joe Kelly, but sounds like that injury may not make him an option, would love to know if anyone knows anything different) (Jimmy Nelson too ) Also, would love Tepera back for this reason. So, and yes, I know some of these guys aren't "better". I know, our guys aren't bad just because of this. I'm just looking to ADD with some more options. Add add add, don't subtract.

Pretty sure it's just a reporter zoom call

that makes sense too. Embarrassing but i've been putting together some stuff on this topic, hope to post it today.

lol people are actually getting mad at these answers.

I thought he looked better in his starting games. Considering what we know, I think he is someone who probably appreciates the prep vs. getting thrown into games.

HE literally won the MVP in 2015.

Even in his middling years, the guy just guarantees a .370 obp and likely a .400+. I will say Yaz did recreate a portion of this, but his catching deficiency trade off is rougher than just a guy in RF.

oh so this is happening right now eh.

that's interesting on severino.

I think a team could know they could move someone without needing another team to tell them they will trade for them. I think understanding player market is part of their jobs.

I don't think these imagined conversations people are having have happened at all. I think the sox felt that they'd rather have Kimbrel and the ability to either trade or keep him then pay $2 million and not have Kimbrel. And if you are a fan that hates Kimbrel and just wants him gone and have $14 million back, than I think you could easily trade Kimbrel where you net $14 million and $2 million in garbage offset. And if the sox choose to kick in $4-$6 million of his contract, they could probably get something more useful than $4-$6 million would get you in free agency. Whatever you believe, certainly there is some threshold of additional money kicked in to trade kimbrel that a good market will appear. And that starts at $2 million, since that was the buy-out. I get the whole Jerry doesn't kick in money stuff but I don't really care and we'll see what happens. but I think it's easily defensible on the merits.

True, but depending on their salary clearance, the worst case scenario is they are trading a Kimbrel at the deadline with a 50% contract. Even if he's bad that will go easily and likely get back a reliever swap or a depth piece. As crap as it was, teams will still see a guy that strikes out batters 40% of the time. The other 60% he was getting hit hard with us, but that is still valuable.

I don't know timing, but if I'm MN I would just take Vuc. I like Edwards a lot and I don't think it serves him to just rip the roster down to the studs. Vuc is worse than KAT, but he's also cheaper, aligns the franchise around edwards without issue, and you still get picks and the option to shed Vuc for something else. Danger for a player like Vuc. He is good to great, and signed a "good" contract, which makes him a total piece of math.

The going rate now is 3 picks and 3 swaps. I can't remember now, I think maybe they can do 2 picks (hou + 2027?) plus 3 swaps. So they are at a disadvantage. However, I do think if you use Vuc, who has a very tradeable contract, it gets you closer. And as @Chisoxfn mentioned, there is too much overlap there. KAT is better and younger so it's a no-brainer, but if its Vuc +2 picks + 3 swaps I unno. Is Lavine + Towns + Ball + DeRozan a champion? I think it at least opens the door but then you'd be completely, completely out of anything to improve. But, as OKC proved should you decide to, you can end up with like 40 picks if that's what you want.

See for me this is the thing. I don't think it would be a steal, I think it would be about what these types of 2nd baseman have been getting.

cool story. Love soxtalk negotiating fanfic. This benefits the Rays how?

Maybe, I think this is worth the gamble though. I am still open to him coming back.

the question for them then is do you pay $2 mill and the roster spot +$14 mill savings, or pay an additional $4mill for some value back, $10 mill in savings and a roster spot. I don't think they are wrong if they eat it. and if they go 50/50 they could probably find very good value.

I once again find it funny that we just finished the season saying “we are too redundant, too full of right handed corner players that hit too many ground balls “ and then two weeks later people are like “we should sign Avi”.

After you hit paste, wait a sec, a black bar of text will appear at the bottom. Click “post as plain text”. Then it will load. Basically when you paste the link the extra formatting sometimes prevents the site from recognizing it’s a Twitter link and embedding it.

Can’t think of a worse trade concept than that.

I feel like if you bring in KAT you are trading Vuc to make it happen tbh.

funny referencing eaton money and depth and a 35 year old outfielder

Yep, I think he'll still be an asset on the bench. But it's not working to start games, and they've been way too sluggish multiple games in a row.