chitownsportsfan

Fangraph's positional rankings are so stupid. (I realize this isn't the link in the OP's post) Like all they do is tally up projected WAR and then call that the rank. Ok, well I could do that in my spare time using their projections. Goodness at least try and add some playing time reality checks for some of the projections. They have the Sox getting 300 PA at 3B from Beckham, Bonifacio and Beckham. OK then. If there is one skill Conor has shown other than a decent hit tool it's health. I'd feel pretty good putting the over under at 500 PA for him.

The Sox' marketing f***ing sucks.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Mar 25, 2015 -> 01:08 PM) Sorry got ahead of myself there. But it is possible he could pitch at the end of the rotation schedule and not miss a start. I honestly think you're right. He threw a 75 pitch bullpen session the other day and I'm not sure how much more arm strength he needs to build. Sure you'd like to see him go 5-6 innings in a Cactus league game before the season but IMO that's all he needs. He could do that next week and come north with the club and be ready to pitch by the 10th.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 25, 2015 -> 01:55 PM) They want to keep hawkins in camp with Steverson because they have a great relationship, and they are rewarding him for his great play. Awesome, thanks.

The narrative on Hawkins has always been that he expected to just breeze into AA and the Sox aggressive promotions certainly didn't do anything to disabuse him of that notion. When he struggled the scuttlebutt at the time was yea, "he was humbled" so it makes sense. And props for actually using the word properly and not Lebron James style. But save me some time: why exactly did they keep Hawkins in spring camp so long? Just based on his performance or did they mention something else?

QUOTE (oldsox @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 09:41 PM) By that time a couple of players will undoubtedly play themselves off the roster. Just don't know who. Yet. Besides, Jones might hit a bump in the rehab road. They'd have to add shuck right? Who else? Penny I guess. What's it even at now 39 or something?

QUOTE (Señor Ding-Dong @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 11:03 PM) I disagree. Sanchez and Saladino are better defensively than Leury by a pretty decent margin. Leury looked pretty bad playing the infield last year. Yea seems like revionist history to me. Leury is far from a solid defender IMO. He's a jack of all trades but master of none. Plus, his bat is really, really, really, really awful. Compared to Garcia, Sanchez is f***ing Dave Kingman. Garcia is a fringe MLB talent at best imo. He's toolsy and can run, but so can a lot of guys. Can he either defend at a near elite or elite level at say 2B and then be solid in a couple others? That's the only way he has much of a career IMO. He's never going to hit anything more than 230/280/300, not in today's run environment. Edi: yea I feel bad others made this argument pages back which I read after posting. Great minds!

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 05:44 PM) "Beckham has played all three infield positions today. That is going to be one of the best deals Hahn has made this year." The joy in his voice was almost touching.

If you ever see Cleto ahead in a count run for the hills because the end is surely near.

Hawk and Stone are right on about kid's arms that's for sure. Teach your kid a good fastball and a good changeup THEN when he's old enough (probably 14) then teach him a breaking ball. Not only is that they way to get to MLB (good change good fastball good control) but it's incredibly important to protect the young elbow. My pops was exactly like Stone on this and they are right.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 04:36 PM) Melky having a nightmare inning. But I thought we were suppose to have the best defensive outfield in baseball this season Hawk? Eh, I don't want to make excuses for any pro player but on March 23rd in the 5th inning on a high sky day isn't exactly the most ideal circumstances to try and stay sharp. These guys are ready for real games and it's hard to keep that edge through 25+ spring games.

I thought they got rid of Viciedo?

Wow Gordon turned on a ball. Who is this pitcher he's throwing meatballs. I honestly think I could have done something with that one. Right down the middle belt high changeup Flowers takes it out of the park in that nice light air.

Uh, did Hawk just say Gordon in the best utility guy in MLB? LOL.

We've certainly got a lot of "hawkisms" already this spring. We've got: 1) Bo Jackson's 1 iron 2) fast baserunners stress pitchers more than home runs 3) baseball is the only sport where offense doesn't control the ball surely I've missed some as well. I'm so f***ing tired of him it's going to be a long season. And as I ALWAYS SAY -- Hawk is a legend, a boyhood treasure -- but put him out to pasture please.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 03:21 PM) What happened? Eaton fake hustled his way to an out with Jose up. Passed ball Eaton went to 3rd and made a huge ass turn and got cut down.

I really hope I never see that in the regular season. Heartburn inducing.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 03:13 PM) I feel like every pitch Danks has thrown so far has been letter-high. He's toast. Wish they would just pay his freight out of town. He had what, the 3rd worst qualified FIP in MLB last year? His FIP over his last 200 innings is 4.9. Injuries to shoulders really suck for pitchers. It's impressive he even came back from the capsule surgery and is still in MLB. John Santana I don't think has thrown even 100 MLB innings since his.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 01:19 PM) Leury Garcia is a player with decent potential, particularly on defense. Strong arm, decent skills, but extremely raw in every aspect of the game. It makes no sense to give him away. He may never see the big leagues again, but then he may also do so. If we were doing "what is best for the chances of developing him" he'd have gotten a full season in AA in 2013 and a full AAA season in 2014, he was instead on the big league bench. That's a setup where anyone not named Mike Trout should be expected to struggle. Personally I think he's a dime a dozen no hit all glove type that probably isn't elite enough at one position (say SS) to ever be anything more than a .5 WAR utility guy -- if that. That said, he's not costing them any real money and the 40 man isn't full so yea send him down and see what happens.

Huh, figured they would have just released Leury to clear a spot on the 40 man. Guess there's no rush but usually it seems teams "do a solid" to guys like that and just grant them release to see if they can grab a big league job elsewhere. Well maybe Leury just has no shot and everyone agreed AAA is where he'd best be served.

Thanks so much for the link. Jose is the man. I was on him early got his autograph last spring. Pretty much everything scouting and saber was like "this guy is gonna rake" so it's not like I was some prophet. Remember his "slider bat". Come on.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 06:32 PM) Trolling or stupid? obvious sarcasm in a throwaway post in a throwaway thread

I guess it doesn't matter but I would have liked to see it go to Q.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 06:32 PM) Good news is this spring has hopefully shown Montas he can't just throw 100 mph at this level without good command and be successful. Yea no doubt. Seems unless he has a major breakthrough he's ticketed for a career in the pen, possibly as an elite closer, but still -- in the pen. Secondary pitchers are as rough as advertised. They aren't even that bad stuff wise he just can't command them at all it seems.

Nice job MLB.tv