chitownsportsfan

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.

they have access to private funds and it shows. their vision is long term, to be something as profitable as Bar Stool, except for adults. they will gladly take some quarterly losses to gain eyeballs and attract more top writing talent. their writers are good man. like in a world of online writing that is just crap, even at places like SI, ESPN, CBS Sports, you name it, even fan blogs, good ones, don't come close to the writing quality at the Athletic. Feagan is a blessing for Sox fans.

Why haven't you gotten your Athletic sub yet?

My hope is that once 70% or so of people are vacced and the virus is basically stopped dead and people see full stadiums and bars and concerts -- they realize it's safe to step off the ledge.

You don't get COVID being outside and furthermore by the time the season starts nearly 50% of Americans should be vacced. The CDC keeps slow playing the benefits of the vac. IT'S MADDENING! This is the arguably the greatest human achievement ever in medicine and yet all we fucking here from the screeching media and CDC is how cautious we should still be even when vacced. GTFO. The vaccine was created to get us back to FULL NORMAL life. There are people that want COVID lockdowns to continue indefintely to serve a political agenda. These people can fuck off. We aren't going to have UBI because you got laid off at Starbucks last spring. It's time to get on with normal life and economic activity.