Balta1701

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 08:14 PM) Bulls are winning it all. They're totally taking the simulated game title away from the Cubs this year.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 04:10 PM) Olney just tweeted that Abreu's deal could be up to 70 million and that the Astros White Sox and Rangers are the front runners. Ill do 6/70 QUOTE (Dunt @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 06:54 PM) @Buster_ESPN: Bidding on Cuba defector Jose Abreu is expected to be for a $70 million deal, sources say. White Sox,Astros, Rangers viewed as frontrunners.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 07:27 PM) Bald host guy on sports talk live.... C-McCann/Salty/AJ 1B- Dunn 2B- Beckham 3B- Viceido SS- Lexi RF- Garcia CF- Dejesus LF- Cruz DH- Didn't say. "If Miggy can play 3B so can Dayan" If it helps, there's a good chance Viciedo would not be the worst infield defender in that lineup.

I'm only posting the quote because you asked.

Here's his velocity chart. You can see the place where he pitched those consecutive games where there are all the overlapping dots late in the 13 season. I don't see an obvious drop in velocity afterwards, in fact it might have started going down beforehand.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 05:33 PM) We NEED him worst than any of the other teams. I know Houston is a worse team, but he doesn'e help Houston like he helps us. I agree wholeheartedly with this...with one caveat...the scouts have to say he's worth it. If the people who saw him say he's legit, then I'm content with that price range.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 05:22 PM) It's unfortunate that the general idea is that any soft tossing lefty is immediately compared to Buehrle. Like I said, he doesn't throw hard, but his repertoire and command are exceptional. You just don't put up ERAs in the 3.50-4.25 range for 13 years (save 2006) while consistently making 31+ starts and throwing 200+ innings if you are a mere soft tossing lefty. If this kid could do it once, it would be incredible. Out of the bullpen, soft tossing lefties can be quite effective, but they typically are limited in their jobs to being LOOGY's in my eyes. There's nothing wrong with that, a lefty throwing in the high 80's with good control and a decent offspeed pitch can have a 15 year career in this league.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 05:18 PM) That's what I meant! Got a really good italian sandwich and calzone about a hundred meters from the state line

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 04:54 PM) Bristol, NC Technically the city straddles the line between Virginia and Tennessee. The ballpark is actually in Virginia but it's about a mile from the state line; the line runs right through the city so there is a Bristol in both states.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 03:37 PM) Wisconsin is physical in the paint. Purdue hacks on the perimeter. MSU is dirtier than both especially in the paint. All Big Ten teams are physical compared to other conferences. However I can see how an IU fan would perceive playing defense as being unfair.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 03:43 PM) Bulls are already in playoff form. My thoughts exactly.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 04:16 PM) In reality then, isn't he dangerously close to being just another pen arm considering his velocity arrow is pointing down. No.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 03:14 PM) Do you believe Addison Reed is an elite closer? I'd say he's above average. He pitched more innings than anyone in the league with more than 30 saves, he saved nearly 2/3 of his teams wins, and compared to other closers his K/9, K/BB, and WHIP are currently about average. And of course, that's as a 24 year old in his 2nd season.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:51 PM) More solid than Beckham, IMO. (Beckham defenders, those of you who are left, please feel free to jump into the fray.) (He gets one more year.)

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:44 PM) Seems like he's probably saying Webb... I'd have no issue with him dominating and stealing the job from Reed, but he's still definitely a work in progress. Reed appeared a lot more polished when he came up to my eyes, even though their first "cup of coffee" performances were similar.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:37 PM) Personal preference, B. Either way I think we both can agree 83% save percentage needs to be bettered by whoever the closer is. And I think Chris Sale's 8-11 record needs to be bettered by whoever the #1 starter is as well. Every single measurable from Reed suggests his body of work last year is poorly reflected by his below-average save percentage. If that's the only thing you're looking at then you're just finding excuses not to like his performance.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:38 PM) No, I don't like Nate Jones. Got it, so you want the team to forfeit all games after 8 innings.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:39 PM) And, finally, is DeAza actually a good deal at $4.4 million? How would other teams perceive him on the trade market? As a starter for 4th outfielder. Because it's not wise to pay Jeff Keppingers and DeAza's of the world that kind of money to be bench depth/back-ups. If you're a playoff contender, it's a different story. Yes, he's a solid deal at $4.4 million.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:31 PM) You like Reed as closer more than I do. I want a guy who after Coop takes their velocity away still throws mid-to-high 90's closing. I want a guy who holds opponents to a .600 OPS overall.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:20 PM) It's as detailed as needs to be given your point. Bullsh*t. Either make a useful point or go away.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:18 PM) No. Wow, that is a detailed refutation of my point.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:17 PM) What about the save percentage? Sox would have been better served going with a closer by committee. And Chris Sale should have been sent to the minors, after all he lost more games than he won!

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:10 PM) That's all well and good, but that 83% save percentage says maybe he should keep the velocity, B! This is of course roughly equivalent to saying that Chris Sale is useless, after all look at his win-loss record.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:05 PM) Thankfully we don't have a pitching coach with a record of teaching people how to give up a few miles per hour on their fastball in exchange for better movement and control, because if we did you'd probably feel pretty dumb for writing that. To illustrate this point, in 2012 batters hit .273 with a .765 OPS against Reed's fastball. In 2013, batters hit .180 with a .544 OPS against Reed's fastball. There was also a significant and measureable increase in how much downward movement his fastball showed in 2013. His Home run rate on the fastball went down and his ground ball rate went up. Also worth noting...the performance of every one of his pitches showed marked improvement in 2013. The slider was only slightly better, but his change was more effective as well, holding opposing hitters to a .238 OPS (yes that's right). So even though he may have sacrificed some velocity, it did not impact the effectiveness of his other pitches.

Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy are now game-time decisions for the Bulls preseason game tonight, Butler with a leg injury, Dunleavy after colliding with a teammate in practice.