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He's been on a long (time) throwing program though. He was at 65 pitches in the first start. He shouldn't need too many more.

You would think they would have gone to all curveballs to try to straighten out his mechanics. He was pulling everything down and to glove side or leaving it up and to the hand side. It's just a mechanical issues. It looks like it's just over throwing.

He is far to worried about velocity. On the fastball you can see him muscling it and trying to throw it thorough a wall.

Not when he'll be blocking Zavala and Collins in 2 years. Unless he'll take a deal shorter than that.

All you need to do is look at which ones pulled their ads last year. I don't remember who they are but their were a couple of significant ones. It was publicized last year. It remains to be seen if the NFL can attract them back or gain new ones to take their place. It's all about generating the revenue. I would guess there isn't a large enough group that will boycott to make that big of a difference. By mid-season the controversy will be gone IMO.

How long before the posters want to send Tilson back to AAA? 6th inning or Saturday?

I think the sponsors wanted them to do something to get this off of the telecasts. This is probably the best way. It may not work but they needed to at least seem to do something.

True.

Exactly. The pitchers are familiar with those 2. so the development of the young pitchers won't be as much of a risk as bringing in a new guy 1/3 of a way through the season.

I would disagree here. The purchasing power of the Trump allies far outweighs those of us poor shlubs. We may be jerseys. they buy sky boxes and rent out stadiums for corporate events. Quality vs. quantity.

sure they will. But they also spin it. According to the NFL, they really didn't have much lower rating due to the usage of other devices other than standard TV rating. They has 100,000 people show up for the draft. Of course taking any stance on a controversy is not going to please everyone. There is no guarantee that it will work, but they had to do something. The out of sight, out of mind theory was probably the best compromise for the NFL to appease the sponsors.

There is no doubt that Trump is seizing the opportunity to create controversy. He enjoys that. But I don't think this is why the NFL did it. The only way they would do it is if they thought it would increase profits. The NFL is all about decreasing controversy and problems. doing things to appease Trump would be the farthest thing from that. it will help the ratings because the people at home won't see the kneeling. Out of sight, out of mind.

Exactly. They are getting the controversy out of the way now so it won't be much of an issue other than the first couple of games it's implemented when the announcers discuss it. The teams won't have that many players staying in the lockeroom. Even if they do it will fade over time.The key is that when the sponsors see the telecast, they won't see anyone kneeling. No controversy.

Even a better reason to use Gonzalez for the few games until Smith is ready.

This has nothing to do with Trump. It has everything to do with revenue. Sponsors were pulling out last year due to the controversy and this is their plan to end the controversy and bring back the revenue.

I think it is directed more toward sponsored who want less controversy, no matter the topic. When people don't see the kneeling, the controversy will go away. This is their goal anyway.

Exactly. They care only about one policy: profit. It is a business.

I really don't think they did it to side with Trump. They did it because they sponsors were pulling away and it was costing them money. I think Trump just piggbacked on it being the opportunist he is.

May as well. He wont play many games and its not worth the cost of signing someone.

Really? Its really only for endurance athletes. Maybe he thought itwould help him last the whole season behind the plate. Since they banned amphetamines maybe this is the new way to play and focus more. to be honest Im suprised the MLB put it on the banned list.

Yes. Time to see if he has anything. Put him in CF and let it ride. He does have an MLB lifetime .500 BA and an OPS of .1000 ?

I dont understand your point. Ive previuosly stated that they should wait until the next sevice time deadline which I believe is in July, maybe its June. Ive nevrr said he should be up now or even before the Sox believe he is ready which could be next year.

Randy Johnson still had a poor walk rate when they called him up. So you are advocating keeping Kopech in the minors until his wlk rate imporives. This could be in 2 years or never because if they waited until he deveolped alower walk rate he might never had his HOF career. But back to the makn point. You might thjnk that at the very least they would wait until they were sure he could average t innings per start. That has been my point all along. THEY should bring hi m up whrn they think he is ready NOT wait until next year if they think he is ready now. They have a better idea on how his stuff both mentally and physically willmplay in the MLB. I ve never said he has to come up now. Only that they will look at factors othger than ERA and walks to determine if he is ready.And that I would undrrstand thgeir justification for the bene fits of seeing time in the MLB this year.

Will you say the same thing if the sox bring him up in july to develop more in the MLB? Ive never had the position that he needs to come to the MLB now. Ive stated repeatedly that, if they Sox feel he is ready then he should. They should not leave him down just because of his contract status.

I think it got the fans who disliked the kneeling and more importantly to the NFL the advertisers who responded to those fans back on board.