chitownsportsfan

That was a strike but with the awful frame it didn't even look close. Hard to blame the ump for not calling the low strike when the frame is that awful and the catcher is shifting all over the place like it's a bad pitch.

what a fucking joke. We have no MLB quality catchers currently. Really makes it hard on a pitching staff.

is the CF camera operator still drunk from last night?

Why would I place a bet on something I have zero information on? I have no idea what Hahn is thinking. Eloy is his own case, I'm not sure what Kris Bryant has anything to do with him.

We're obviously talking over each other. I'm excited Collins is doing well. Whatever changes he's made have worked. I remain mostly unchanged on his long term outlook. He's always been a B type to me, he'll remain that throughout at least mid summer, barring a changed report on his catching ability. Beer is on me.

*sigh* Simple math tells us (and so does like, baseball, and following it and playing it) that not many players turn into 280 hitters at age 23 after being 240 hitters (or thereabouts, level appropriate) for their careers. How many "mechanical adjustment" stories do you hear that work out in pro ball, all levels? Not a lot. It's because EVERYBODY IS ALREADY REALLY GOOD. Good lord, if it was that easy everybody would do it. Everybody at this level works hard, gets the best coaching and puts in the effort -- the difference between a great hitter and a poor hitter isn't something you can sum up like 2+2 = 4. When I say I put "almost no stock in mechanical adjustments" what I mean is simply -- show me. Show, over the course of 300 or so PA in AA that you really are a 280 hitter now. Sure, when Collins is hitting 280 in MLB, after 1000 PA and is coming off a 4 WAR season batting 5th for your 95 win, Pennant winning Sox team come remind me about his mechanical adjustments made at 23 in AA, but until then let's just cool it. All players make adjustments. Some are more successful than others.

I don't think Eloy jimenez, carrying a career 175 wRC+ in AA before age 22, who has already stated that he is "mostly not challenged" by AA and has also said feels he is ready for MLB pitching gives half a shit about a AA all star game. "the bess" isn't concerned with no trifles. The point is you call him up when it's the right baseball move -- no more, no less. There is an argument he's ready for MLB now. I can't see a single argument against moving him to AAA within the next few weeks -- a AA All-Star game? Come on.

@Dam8610 Anybody that thinks Collins is now a sure fire MLB hitter is as deluded as anybody that thought he was a bust prior to this hot streak. It's a SSS and his overall body of work as a prospect is promising -- but because he's not a surefire catcher he's got a pretty low floor and could top out as a AAAA player. I don't really take much stock in "swing adjustments", but hey, if he's improved his true talent level awesome. It's too early to say however.

Hard to extrapolate a walk rate from AA into MLB. I'd expect him to maintain a walk rate of 8-10% in MLB but it's not going to be in the 12-15% range unless he dramatically improves his contact rate. MLB pitchers just aren't going to mess around with 2 strike or 2-2 or 3-2 counts like AA pitchers, who might not have the confidence or command to challenge him on the black or even down the middle with a good heater. At this point I don't think there's much question about his bat playing in MLB. So, is he a catcher, even part time? If he can catch 50 games a year and DH/1B another 80 and hit 250/330/480 that's a solid guy to have around. If he's not at all a catcher then he's a lot less valuable as a DH/1B type only.

Seems like the injury got him out of his groove at the plate. He's had some really poor swings the last week, even from the left side. He's dipping his front shoulder on balls middle out and producing a lot of weak flairs into left and center. I think he'll get hot again. He seems like a guy that is going to go through some slumps and some tears in his career, especially when he runs into a stretch like this past week where he's gotta take more at bats right handed. I have no solutions for his right handed woes other than more reps. No harm in letting him get every rep he can now. In a couple years if he's still a 600 OPS guy against LHP then maybe you consider having him drop switch hitting.

Trust me, I do. Every 4th or so game I go back to the "home team" broadcast to see if it's improving. Every 4th game or so I learn it's not.

Yoan is not good as RH. He has zero timing.

I just smoked a really nice blunt so imma be nice to Jason and give him two options, he can only choose 1: a) he learns the rulebook b) he gives up every corny joke and pun in his notebook I will settle for either. I'd probably prefer he learns the rulebook tho.

What you mean being completely confused about a common dead ball ruling and then referring to a boat as the "marine version of Yolmer" isn't doing it for you?

Good lord Jason has no idea how baseball works.

Nice to see Yolmer break out against LHP, even if it's Hardy, who stinks.

Good win but just when you think TA has put his concentration problems behind him he pulls a today. That said, keep hitting dude.

You are the joke sir. Not even the Sox can screw up a top 3 pick most of the time. There is, as teams have learned, a huge premium at the very top top. Sure, you can find a Trout in the 20s -- but the stats say when you do, you got lucky.

I want the Sox to be good again BECAUSE I'M SICK AND FUCKING TIRED OF GOING TO ESPN.COM, CLICKING MLB SCOREBOARD EXPAND, SCROLLING RIGHT AND NOT SEEING THE GAME BECAUSE OUT OF 12 OR SO GAMES THEY CAN ONLY SHOW 11 EACH DAY AND THE SOX SUCK ENOUGH TO MAKE ME CLICK AGAIN. ya'll have a great night.

Fuck this shit.

TA has been using FUNDAMENTALS! Awesome. Did not round that shit off and backhand, he took his time, got in front, got down into a throwing position and delivered. This game has been a lot of joy.

Blaze, watch this video the fuck happened? From free and easy and smooth...to whatever the hell he's doing now. the worst thing you can say about that delivery is that he's not getting good leg drive and is rushing home a bit, but to add in a glove pump and a leg hitch? Whose idea was that? Was it someone in the Sox org? If so I don't get it.

Did you see the delivery video that was posted? My comparison to Barkley's golf swing didn't come out of nowhere. He's doing the glove pump and the leg hitch and he appears to have never stood on a mount prior to tonight. He was awful. Warming up he looked awful.

And that's why you always know who is running. He had all day to make that play, should have taken the long hop. He's got plenty of arm to throw out the beer leaguer.

Hey, Yoan knew who was running! mental acuity, leveled up!