chitownsportsfan

Some really good news long term: fWAR position player leaders: 1.5 Moncada 1.4 TA 1.1 Jose Abreu 1.1 Davidson .9 Yolmer There's something to build on there. I'm ready to trade Abreu if a good deal is there his hitting is amazing but he's aging and his glove hurts all the young infielders. I think the Red Sox will over pay for him or offer fair value come July. That would let Matt play every day at 1B and Palka every day at DH.

Everything we've read and heard about Madrigal, including from his college coach, suggests he can play any position on the diamond other than catcher and maybe CF. It will be really curious early to see if he's a legit MLB starting SS defensively. If he is, TA could be trade or position switch bait. There's a lot of ways this could unfold but I only really see upside -- you can't have too many good players.

So you'd be furious that your hypothetical contending team traded for a decent 4th starter or a quality 5th starter and gave up almost nothing, like probably a B- prospect that is the 4th or 5th best guy in your system and is probably years away from helping your big club? Ok then.

It's going to be a really hard decision and a good problem at the same time if that happens. Moncada is +2.5 runs 100 odd starts at 2B. I'm hoping for a Zobrist like impact from Madrigal. Start him at three spots in the IF and corner OF if he can handle it and get him 130, 140 games a year that way.

Remember all that "the White Sox traded for the wrong young Red Sox infielder", choosing Moncada instead of Devers? Devers, although still only 21, is at .1 fWAR with a wRC+ of 74 Red Sox really rushed Devers but I think it's clear the Sox made a good choice with Moncada. Moncada has proven he's a legit MLB 2B defensively. Devers has a lot of his future up in the air as it's not clear he's a long term 3B and will his bat play at 1B or LF?

Package him with whatever reliever the contender wants and try and squeeze a B- type out of it. Pay his freight if necessary.

Hopefully will look back at May 2018 as the rock bottom of the rebuild watchability wise.

The Sox will actually be fielding a decent pitcher more often than not starting soon! You can put it on the board, yes! Rodon Shields Lopez Covey Giolito not bad. Should make most of the games a helluva lot more watchable.

I really don't want Robert stealing bases too much down in the low minors.

The Sox played great baseball today for the most part. Really the only bad play was Yolmer and Jose's adventure. It was fun. Everybody knows how I feel about Gio but it was nice to see him find something late, even if it's the smallest of steps forward. Lopez is looking nasty. Nice to see him hold his stuff until around pitch 95 today. Never and I do mean NEVER let him pitch with Narvaez again. Narvaez can't handle his stuff. Cost him a couple strikeouts today imo.

I honestly would consider mushroom therapy. That or he picks up a board sport this offseason.

He's out three or four frames before he touches the bag.

He's out challenge.

Obviously if Dylan Covey can find 95mph almost any pro pitcher can in theory but again I'm with you 100% here. It's excuse after excuse. I'm reminded of Gordon Beckham's "swing tinkering" theory and how once he finally found a swing and stopped tinkering he'd be good again.

I'm with you there Caulfield, at some point "learning how to pitch" turns into "he just kinda sucks now". That said, might as well keep trotting him out there. If he sucks it helps the tank, it he's great, it helps the rebuild. It's not like Kopech is pushing for a promotion with his performance anyways.

Gonna have to agree to disagree here. Strikeouts and swinging strikes are by far the best predictor of a pitcher's success along with walk rate.

Agree completely. There's no "there there". On a side note, TA really needs to set and throw. He had plenty of time there and that's a play he's thrown wild on more than once. Gotta know the runner and gotta use fundamentals most of the time.

Ha, Anderson is no Moncada on those plays.

More strikeouts and I'd agree. But he finally just got one.

Why hte hell didn't the Twinkies just start this guy? His stuff is alot better.

lol, he's been bad. The Twins have failed to make him pay. You don't need FIP to see this is smoke and mirrors.

How much more can you simplify his delivery? He's got one of the simplest deliveries out there. Is Gio good any other sports? Like is he coordinated at all? He seems like a really stiff, unathletic guy.

Amazing what good defense can do for a pitcher.

Good lord. Fastball. Fastball. Fastball. Fastball. Fastball. 90-92, no command.