chitownsportsfan

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 07:39 PM) Wade Davis does not have Alber's athleticism, as displayed by the double play turned today. ... it was a nice play

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 07:31 PM) The Angels really aren't that good anymore (watch us get swept), but the Rays are the first real opponent the Sox will have this year. Oakland is 4-3 and looking good...partially because of the guys in the shark trade

well this is a nice change. Offense is going to be mediocre all year most likely but if the pitching and defense is this good, well, team might do something. Key will be making sure the offense is at least mediocre because the defense and pitching is legit it seems. Also, great baserunning today. Good job.

Matt Albers has a good Kenny Powers vibe going right now.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 05:52 PM) No one is saying Quintana's a perfect pitcher. But I think you're overstating his faults, blowing too many leads is not one of them. And Quintana is effective because of the nibbling, he doesn't have overpowering stuff. If he didn't nibble he wouldn't be good. exactly. Q is the man, appreciate having a top 20 pitcher in MLB as your #2.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 05:51 PM) God damn it Avi. He's such a conundrum. Showed great patience the last PA and got a walk. This time, goes after the first pitch and pops it up... Especially KNOWING he just led off Lawrie with a breaking ball strike. I COME ON THINK. Avi just seems like a low baseball IQ player. He should have been taking all the way there unless it was dead red outside fastball that he can drive.

QUOTE (Chris Sale @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 04:47 PM) Talk about getting squeezed, compared to those first inning calls for Gibson... no kidding.

Then a nasty slow curve. Q is fun.

Q has such amazing fastball command.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 04:40 PM) Nice work by the Sox to make a break pay off again this year. Certainly seems they have more guys capable of putting the ball in play and giving a professional at bat when guys are on.

Pretty good sequence to Navarro there, some nasty off speed stuff.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 03:23 PM) At times you have to go up there hacking. If it is the same for both teams, it's not BS. Call the zone as it's defined in the rulebook.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 03:21 PM) As long as Q gets it, fine. It's 38 degrees and windy. They want to get out of there as soon as possible. See, this is the sort of BS that screams "robots". There is no adjusting the zone based on the temp. Come on.

Should have been 3-0 to Jose. Ump missed three calls already. That call to Rollins was especially brutal.

So far half the pitches that were called strikes weren't even on the black, completely missed the zone.

f*** YOU UMP. Robots. Jesus.

The umps sure do love to extend the zone on Adam.

Oh great, c***ry Joe West on the crew for this series. Looks like he'll be behind plate tmr.

Avi so far only swinging out of the zone 38.3%. Walk rate is up a tick as well at 8.7% and K-Rate down to 21.7%. Some positive signs but he's got to sustain production. BABIP is only .200 so he keeps doing what he's doing that will rise and so will his line.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 02:33 PM) The number being used ("over 3") is 3.57. 3.57 is definitely not 30% less than 4. You're also assuming that he never improves. (Since OP said he doesn't put up a season as good as 2014 Rollins even at full ceiling, and someone decided to make WAR the only stat being talked about) ZIPS likes Tyler too though... projected for 1.4 fWAR in only 435 PA. I think Tyler is pretty decent but I like having Rollins as well. I like 'em both.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 02:35 PM) How can this be such a sure notion 22 PAs in, though? Because he's 37 and is playing SS and had .2 fWAR last year? There's no reason to play him like he's 27 and in his prime.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 02:28 PM) His WAR/162 was over 3 last year. bWAR really loved his defense. fWAR merely liked it. He should be getting more starts IMO. Rollins really does not need to play playing 90% of the games.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 02:25 PM) Valid point. I just hope they arent afraid to pull the plug if he isn't getting the job done. In the games I've watched so far, he doesn't have all that great of range at SS. The bat could definitely show up to offset his defensive inadequacies. These are my feelings as well.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 11, 2016 -> 01:33 PM) The MN lineup isn't that bad. Really 6-8 are the weaknesses. They have 12 runs in six games. Their team OPS is 640. Sox aren't much better so far at 647. I can see a 4-3 win or loss today.

OK that Twins lineup looks awful on paper. At least they are smart enough to put Buxton 9th. Has to be a lot of pressure on the kid to produce right away.