chitownsportsfan

If you're teaching a kid to hit, don't teach him like Todd. He's like the Jim Furky of successful hitters.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 28, 2017 -> 07:40 PM) Nice pick by davidson It would have hit Jose in the inner thigh.

I think we can say that Avi is now closer to a true talent 280/330/470 guy than a 250/310/400 guy. That's a great improvement. I checked his peripherals entering the game, there's enough improvement across the board, including in outside zone % percent and GB/FB ratio to believe that he's changed somewhat.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Apr 28, 2017 -> 11:59 AM) Trade can be win win for each club I wish Sale the best He looks good but the 2nd half has always been when he fades into a mere mortal. It was fun watching the game last night Tanaka and Sale both dominated but in completely different ways.

Nice article, I love Jeff Sullivan. I think that Kahnle is also driving more with his legs this year from looking at the videos. Looks like they really worked with him on not just squaring up to the plate but also extending his stride length.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 27, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) It's not saying he's been meh, it's asking whether he has started doing something substantially different to get this substantially different output, or if he is just on a hot streak. The above article was not "he's done nothing different", he is striking out less, hitting more elevated balls, and swinging out of the strike zone less. But not starkly different. 2017 Avi is likely going to be the best version yet, but still unclear if that means he is an established MLB starter. I posted yesterday that I didn't really see much in the peripherals to indicate a major change in approach or skill but I think the Fangraphs blurb was a little too negative. As you noted, he has made SOME improvements, including on important indicators like fly ball rate and outside zone swinging %. But the changes he's made will make him a 260/320/450 hitter, not a 290/350/530 hitter, or thereabouts. He is defending better as well, so if you take a merely mediocre RF and put it with a 770 OPS you have a 2ish war player instead of just replacement level dreck. I'd be happy with that. It means one less spot to fill on the next playoff team. You win with a lot of 2 win starters.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 06:40 PM) By their 4th start the TOR guys should be going over 100. If you keep all of the pitchers that low, the bullpen will be useless by the all-start break. For sure, but didn't he notoriously push Sale past 120 last year in April? edit: was 120 exactly, on May 7th.

Renteria is really a breath of fresh air: Good to see he's thinking about the long haul. I never liked seeing Q and Sale over 100 or so pitches early in the year.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 06:22 PM) Lol, a bit premature. Who else is going to be there? Seriously, he's earned at least another month of starts.

35 hits this series. Sox moved from 2nd to last in wRC+ into the middle. Good job offense! Also, it's nice to see Todd coming around.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 04:43 PM) Why would this do it? Straw, Camel, that kinda thing.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 05:27 PM) Why Willy Garcia over Delmonico or Hayes? Seems they could just move Frazier to first, Saladino to 3rd and SANCHEZ at 2b. Or Davidson at 1b works, too. If Leury and May both looked like garbage, okay. Even though W Garcia can't play CF well..I suppose they could push Avi to first, but why mess with him now? CF is Leury's the rest of the year, unless he completely goes into the tank. He's earned it.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 05:23 PM) Yeah, guys, we aren't going for it. That said, I would have to imagine the two traits of teams that overachieve would have to be defense and relief pitching. Truly terrible teams always seem to have truly terrible bullpens. I imagine we will overperform our predictions if we really have two plus pitchers in Kahnle and swarzak (and Burdi on the way) Coming into today the Sox were first in DER at like 74% of in play balls turned into outs. Defensively they'd been really solid. I don't think they will keep it up though.

Glad it's just a mild strain but hopefully this convinces everybody he's a DH.

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 05:17 PM) I really dont think we have anything to worry about as far as that being an issue. The sox record will come around to bad enough eventually. The offense still has a tendency to not show up for long periods of time. The bullpen will normalize. Remember how great they were for the first month or so last year? Even if they have a decent record I cant see the FO having any delusions about who they are this year. The SP is going to regress big time at some point, hopefully they can get Rodon up here a long with Fulmer and inject some life into it around June.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 05:12 PM) Same thing happened last year with this pen. Then it turned into our biggest weakness after April. Yea but this crew is just more talented. They won't be this good all year but I see no reason to predict a melt down. They have some really good stuff back there.

1/8 of the way through the season and the Sox are on pace for 88 wins, cool.

Sweep! Good job boys!

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 03:49 PM) Pretty funny that we have the greatest bullpen of all time on a rebuilding team It will net something come July, hopefully.

Hopefully Jones has his breaking ball today.

looks like Delmonico will get the call up, no?

Good job Q.

Dad gumit.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 02:26 PM) What happened? fairly routine bouncer to the hole between 1b and 2b, Abreu, sloth like, moves over to get it, fumbles it, falls on his ass and hurts what looks like his hip. Should have been one down runner on 2B, instead it's nobody out runners on 1st and 2nd.

just great, Abreu can't make the play and injures himself.