chitownsportsfan

Are you crazy? Dude Leury is the best backup super sub in my lifetime as a Sox fan. We are spoiled. Mendick has .5 fWAR in like 150 PA.

I think it's been awhile since the Sox have contended because this is the normal. The situation in LA or SD is not the usual.

It looks like Katz has most our guys working lower on the vertical plane. I have no idea if that is good or not but it seems to quite the difference from Cooper.

Why? Nobody is going to be go balls to the wall right now. It's a good sign that he's not trying to be big dick nick right now.

Has Mendick played much SS this spring? For the first time in a long time the Sox have some interesting roster decisions.

Wonder if Katz has Kopech making some changes that led to the calf soreness. Could just be typical spring training aches and pains as well. I'd imagine Kopech is doing more than his fair share of running and conditioning after opting out last year.

I've been thinking this as well. I still think they are going to try and get Collins 10 PA a week. I think Jose is going to be sitting more this year. He doesn't need to play 150+ games. Sox have depth and can afford to let him rest more. Same with Grandal IMO. You can move Grandal to 1B and rest his knees and let Collins and Lucroy catch at least once a week.

Yup 18 or so spring training PA seals the deal for Vaughn. Spring training narratives are a hoot.

Did you listen to the Fangraphs season preview pod with Feagan? Feagan isn't that great on the air but he did note how within the industry most considered the Sox the most "traditional" team, and it wasn't complimentary. That they are doing the move to Katz and continuing to revamp the scouting and development under Getz while also hiring TLR is quite the operation. We'll see if it works out. I'm cautiously optimistic after hearing how TLR is running things early.

So far so good. That said, the first team wide slump will be the first challenge.

Eh he was also fouling off good pitches to hit after the first 40 or so games, he got in between, can't have that happen this year.

Thought I was listening to the cubs for second.

At this point he is what he is: a guy that was playing Indy league baseball last year and away from the team for a long time. They are 100% rewarding him for working hard, which I don't begrudge them. But that said, his level is probably high A or AA right now. He's a year away from being a year away, if ever.

I''m wondering what the plan is for Jake after this little "reward" they are giving him for sticking it out and trying to make a comeback, including playing in that Indy league last year. I wonder if he will get assigned to Birmingham or if they want him to stick around the complex in AZ for a bit longer and maybe play in some back field games. Maybe both if the Minor League season is delayed I guess.

other than grandal nursing his knee or whatever it's been good so far. I'm literally knocking on wood as I type this.

pro tip: the only way spring training isn't pointless is from a lawn seat with a beer in hand. I'm serious. Just relax and get ready for opening day and hope nobody gets hurt.

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think Cooper has any interest in that. Don Cooper serves Don Cooper. He doesn't GAF about analyzing baseball he cares about grinding his axes against whoever he thinks in MLB has wronged him.

A lot of what my dad taught me about pitching was from the Don Cooper philosophy, which is now horribly outdated. Glad the Sox moved on.

I'm trying to imagine him working with a young stud like Giolito and I just can't. How did he even interact with these guys?

What a complete asshat. He's ruining his legacy if he hasn't already. He should have been shit canned long ago if this is any indication of how he's been going about his profession.

Maybe I'm misremembering but didn't Cooper have him pitching from the stretch at all times as well?

I just poured over Lopez's pitch type info and the only chance he has at success is improving his command. Good luck. Rarely do guys that can't command even a fastball suddenly master their arsenal after 4-5 years in the league. It's not even like he had a bad arm injury or anything he just can't command any of his pitches and they get hammered. That said, Cooper had him trying to throw way too many fucking changeups. More curveballs can't possibly hurt, can it?

Cisheck is a real insider, ain't he?

I already gave it to JR.