bmags

I think it definitely matters but the pool of infielders who switch hit/hit lefty successfully is so small the tradeoff is easier to stomach at 2b vs. RF. I like Segura because he is also bringing high contact (14% k rate), but also dislike him because he's another groundball hitter. Not choice 1A by anymeans.

This was probably the most helpful part of that. Looking forward to getting some news this week.

thanks for this, I should keep better track of these, none of these discussions have percolated down to my news feeds

I think Segura would also be interesting.

Right, I guess I'm just saying for Hahn if they are looking at upgrading those three positions, they know Reinsdorf feels comfortable paying the rates for the top DH, but doesn't for top outfielder. So it would make sense to go after the DH in free agency and trade there. Still think that puts sox at a disadvantage even though I think Schwarber would add a huge help.

I am still on this bandwagon. I just hate letting this walk for nothing. If Kopech is playing great, you can trade Rodon for other needs. You can also just have him allow a trade - he banked the contract he wanted and I'm sure he'd be open to any place he can start. But to just let him walk is disappointing. But, it's not that strong of an opinion for me, mainly because of health. What I mentioned above gets complicated if they don't think he can pass a physical. And the sox were not quite on the same page on Rodon at end of the year and it felt like Rodon was just adamant on starting (I wonder if Boras bullied them into it). Rodon showed us his peak is a great pitcher. And he may never get there again, but for next year, he could. Starting salaries for pitchers basically start at 11 mill and go all the way up to cole at 35 mill. It's completely reasonable, but absent context, it is pretty difficult to me to be all-in on what was right here.

I find this plausible (not advocating it, though I enjoy Schwarber), mainly because if the sox are going to spend it just feels like they always love targeting the DH/1b and closer markets.

In a weird way, if the Sox were going to break their seal in a record setting pitcher contract, I feel like it will be for someone old as hell.

This is such an embarrassing post

I’d give it a few minutes.

I don’t see how it tracks that they are okay picking up a Kimbrel option in order to trade but they wouldn’t do same with Rodon even if they didn’t want to keep him. Its a one year deal. Guys like Smyly were getting 11 last year on a lot less results the previous year. I don’t see an issue moving that.

Terrible Craig Kimbrel was still striking out 39% of his batters while on the Sox. If you think no fans look at that and think he’d turn it around, I’d say you are someone prone to reactionary opinions that you constantly walk back

The nice thing is this will have a nice ability to track how well people are predicting this scenario.

If only there was a pitching thread

My only thought is being forced to talk for 3 hours to my row mates sounds like hell. Poor TLR

Man bucks are some kinda out of sorts so far. Wouldn’t be shocked if budenholzer gets a short leash. Boylen is available.

Wish they would do some of the sessions on zoom.

extremely wish he was the host of jeopardy during this.

yeah I started looking it up after you mentioned it. I actually thought it was the complete opposite. It's interesting, I thought I could hone in on horizontal slider movement in b-s leaders but not sure it will capture it right. Hilariously sox had two of the top horizontal movement guys (Kyle Crick, Aaron Bummer) https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/pitch-movement?year=2021&team=&min=250&pitch_type=SL&hand=&x=diff_x_hidden&z=diff_z_hidden&sort=10&sortDir=desc

I thought that's what his curve was but whatever, if it's not on baseballsavant i can't tell a fastball from a knuckleball with my eyes.

I thought Joe Kelly needed TJS but it looks like a strain so far. Would f'n love Joe Kelly.

Bet his family thanksgiving is fun. Oh wait

I don't care that much about third pitches, I want to add guys who have a non-fastball primary pitch, one that is a credible strike. Hence two-pitch pitcher Rich Hill. Our team is very fastball heavy in the bullpen, especially. Would love to have Tepera back. I decided to make a cut off at 10% because baseball savant picks up a lot of lower numbers that may just be misclassified, and at some point a pitch is thrown too low to really be something a hitter is scared of, and because i was recording it by hand.

also main reason was to see if others had interesting other candidates.

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.