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Ok. So why aren’t they playing their natural positions again? Remind me?

I know it’s cliche to say we are underrating something but I just can’t believe how good Basabes numbers are, especially how it seems every time I look he has two walks.

What exactly is your concern here?

That just does not sound like a recent white sox pick in the draft, though I suppose you could make an argument for Luis Gonzalez.

That's abhorrent. If players were involved you'd expect action right away (though I can't recall what happened in the vikings cruise thing), but this would hit org level/ownership.

All this "can't wait until he doesn't have to hustle" reminds me a bit of Wil Myers learning from James Shields that he didn't need to coddle injuries anymore, his time was now, and Myers finally put together a "healthy" season with lots of at bats. He tweaked something. It sucks. Having him play the game half speed for some unnamed future date means you'll just never get to see the real moncada play

they did not.

please get a run.

That's exactly what I thought of. And honestly I'm fine with it if MLB just instead says "we're fine with pitchers using pine tar to increase grip" as they do with resin. But if it turns out it was way more effective than they realized for all pitches, then they should make an actual choice there. Not the current "it's illegal to use substances on the ball but also we don't care"

fangraphs chat crashes my browser every time.

I'll just leave a scouting report quote on Madrigal: And the failure of imagination with finding playing time with depth is amazing to me considering how teams like the cubs and dodgers have operated. He has a 55 arm and quick hands. I heard for years that Sanchez couldn't play SS or 3b because his arm was too weak. That's why his baseball instincts being so good is helpful. He's not a type that you worry about "ruining" by asking him to move around the field.

I agree to an extent (I would like Adam Eaton level power at least), but I mainly care about making sure his defensive versatility exists. It appears it does, with the possibility of him being a plus to elite defender at 2b. His arm will be difficult in OF, but if not full time it can be mitigated. Like Albies, he gets a lot of the remarks about how they are just a great baseball player that will just find a way to make it work. I love those descriptions.

Have we noted yet that the last 2b this board was worried about their size limiting their power ceiling has 9 home runs in a month and like a .340 ISO?

I don't mind higher upside HS players in 11+ range. But I just do not want a HS pitcher this high. If they were getting "best pitching prospect ever!" stuff obviously you work through it. But safest pitching prospect? heard that about Aiken. I think the guy I liked most was Hunter Greene, and obviously AJ Puk became a star and then we'll see. I know I'm not playing the percentages with a 5'7 primary 2b with little power but am with HS pitching, but meh. That said the one "there is consensus" thing that I think is off is I just feel like this swaggarty top 5 stuff is gonna end up being wrong.

Pitchers have always used a lot of things, lotion, resin, yes. The article talks about how pitchers feel pine tar specifically is leading to a measurably increased spin rate on 4seam fastballs. And with the obsession with spin rate in the league right now, that may be leading to exploitation. The use is obviously a "against the rules, but rarely enforced" part of the game. But if pine tar specifically helps increase spin rate and spin rate has shown to make pitchers more effective, I think it needs to be regulated above board (either say it's good to use or not good to use). But it's not actually known yet whether that is true. All of the claims are by bauer and he himself may be trying to prove it. Other pitchers that aren't crazy wouldn't really make this fight. But Bauer is crazy.

I'm positive on him. He was moved up despite not dominating low-A at all, and the early returns show he is making good contact. He's at less than 100 PAs still and power can be streaky. Adjustments can be made. Fully expect Sheets to hit for more power but at this point he has not, but I don't see the handwringing over him yet.

Yes 100% It was a flyer he could translate his power and that trait was certainly one of the most interesting ones left. But he’s a flyer that needs to overcome a lot of swing and miss. But if he does, (see power above)

7th round pick a “wasted pick” and less than a year into their career. Never change soxtalk.

A truly fascinating article from Eno Sarris. It breaks down allegations from Trevor Bauer that a player like Gerrit Cole is using something like pine tar to increase spin rate (and alleges Bauer himself may have used it to prove it)

that does sound like good news but man Roberts recovery for that seems so excessive.

Ideally two would go up, frankly. Basabe/Rutherford/Robert with no available DH should be it. Maybe they could try Booker at 2b or something. Call is someone, like Fisher, that I don't mind pushing. I have low expectations and don't mind seeing if they can handle it and being pleasantly surprised.

So I was listening to this. It doesn’t sound like it was a trade discussion, more that Licht called him to let him know Bills moved up because they are friendly

The veteran catchers that get a reputation like perez and molina have become insufferable. Basically are the hallway monitors of the league. They can cause fights and shove umpires without punishment, and yet get to act like they are the epitome of baseball.

For example check out the KCR writeup https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/top-24-prospects-kansas-city-royals/

The one thing that has calmed me down with Collins is as opposed to someone like Rutherford, in-person reports on his hitting have been pretty good. Not Jimenez stuff, but of the "he's working through some stuff, still believe in the power and the approach". Baseball's hard. He's in an advanced level. Until he completely craters losing patience or sox move him to 1b, I'm just gonna let the process play out.