ScottyDo

QUOTE (Elgin Slim @ Mar 29, 2013 -> 08:18 AM) Given that you are laughing, I really don't think you do. You have reason not to, because that was just the best explanation that I can give given the fact that I am no expert. I was speculating, and I should have said that. I honestly don't know why the fastball-change speed difference gets smaller after shoulder surgery, just that it does from observation. I think this would be a good question to ask Don Cooper on one of his shows on WSCR after Sunday games this season. No I'm satisfied with the explanation, I am even less of an expert than you! It would definitely be interesting to hear from an actual pitching coach about the mechanics of it. Or even ptatc might know, with his rehab history.

Also, at the worst, you're accusing the 11th most profitable team of stinginess for having the 11th highest payroll. (http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/salaries)

QUOTE (Elgin Slim @ Mar 28, 2013 -> 09:21 PM) The grip for a changeup is meant to gain the 8-10 mph difference from the fastball. When a pitcher loses significant velocity, the gap between fastball and changeup speed is closed, because the grip was created for a healthy arm. (and the speed/mechanics of that arm) The grip basically fixes the speed of the ball coming out of that pitcher's hand to the ideal speed. When the pitcher's arm speed/mechanics changes, the grip can become useless due to the change in speed of the arm/mechanics. Most pitchers that I have seen have kept their change speed within 1-3 mph of their pre-injury speed.(I used to pay attention to this stuff a bunch a few years back, when I had more time to watch other teams) Take Peavy for example. Before and after he got injured his changeup speed was the same. He was lucky that he did not have to mess with the grip because he didn't lose more than 2-3 mph off of the fastball at top speed. Danks as of right now has lost 5+ mph off top speed. His grip probably needs to be reinvented if he does not gain his velocity back. I mentioned that in the original post. This tends to only be a problem with shoulder injuries rather than Tommy John though. Ok cool, I buy it

QUOTE (Elgin Slim @ Mar 28, 2013 -> 08:05 PM) What makes the changeup slow is the grip, rather than arm speed. You want the arm speed to be the same for both otherwise you tip your pitch. Every pitcher who throws one has their own grip for it.(as far as I know) There was an article on either ESPN or SI a few years back that showed 10 pitchers holding a change, and they had 10 different grips. your standard 2 or 4 seam circle change is the most basic grip, but nobody in that article had that grip. I am a pitching junkie. It is my favorite part of the game. When I watch baseball I learn pitchers stuff and try to think along with them. I read a ton of articles on the subject during baseball season. I am by no means an expert or a coach, nor have I ever been a pitcher, but I try to learn as much as I can. I know, but the grip takes the speed off an arm motion that is identical to the fastball, which is why it's convincing and deceptive. So if it's the same arm motion that's slowed down due to injury, and you have a changeup grip how could it possibly go the same speed as his fastball? That would suggest a problem with his grip.

QUOTE (Elgin Slim @ Mar 28, 2013 -> 07:24 PM) But the thing is, velocity is his problem because of the FB-changeup difference. There was an article a while back that stated for a changeup to be most effective it should be 8-10 mph slower than the fastball. Danks's change is his out pitch and if there is probably very little difference right now from his fastball. Danks at his best was pitching anywhere from 91-94 with the fastball and 82-85 with the change which falls into the 8-10 mph difference, hence making it very effective. I am speculating that Danks is pitching 85-89 with the fastball, but the change is staying the same. That is why he couldn't get anyone out this spring. His change is now just like a batting practice fastball, rather than a true change. Danks is left-handed which is his saving grace if he doesn't regain his velocity, but if that becomes the case, he is going to have to learn a new grip or something to slow the change to the 75-78 mph range, and learn a slow curve or something like that to keep hitters off balance. I'm no expert, but I don't see how this makes sense mechanically. If he is having trouble generating arm speed due to shoulder problems, he won't be getting to full arm speed on either pitch. I bet his change is still significantly slower than his fastball (maybe not the 8-10 ideal), but his fastball is just eminently hittable so you don't have to adjust for it.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 28, 2013 -> 05:14 PM) You should have worked on a better pose. Ha Disagree, that pose is awesome

Marty, what you're always advocating is adding extreme risk in the hopes that you will get extreme rewards. Operating at a loss in the hopes that the attendance gain is enough to offset it is an extreme risk financially, and your alternative plan is to proceed with a complete teardown which carries extreme risks in its own right. Numerically, if risks and rewards are even in magnitude, you'd need greater than a 50% shot at the upside to even CONSIDER using the plan. In reality, a wise and risk-averse organization would need much better odds than that. Which makes me ask: what's your paradigm here? Because I can name you a dozen teams that have failed to rebuild after a teardown in a timely fashion, or that have failed to compensate for a spending spree with increased ticket revenues. How many can you name that have succeeded in these endeavors? Which among them is your ideal performer?

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Mar 28, 2013 -> 11:44 AM) This was this morning at NASDAQ. It's pretty cool if you're into that sorta thing. Dude...your face is OVER A STORY TALL! Let's win it all this year so you can have a bobblehead, too. If that doesn't motivate Dunn, what will?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 27, 2013 -> 08:42 PM) When the Sox put 30K a night in that park for a 3-4 year stretch they'll be swimming in money. Operating income of $23M with an average of 24K while having a $115M payroll is pretty impressive. One thing that would ensure this doesn't happen is tearing down completely and accidentally becoming the Astros.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Mar 26, 2013 -> 12:50 PM) 3rd catcher's going to be about as good as 1st catcher Wait, you don't like Tyler Flowers?

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 25, 2013 -> 09:33 PM) Actually I'd say his at bats are about the funniest we've had since Juan Uribe as well Beckham's perpetual 0-2 count is sometimes funny

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Mar 25, 2013 -> 09:23 PM) which is what I was (lamely) referring to. Injuries to Rios and Crain. Oh, got it

Yeah, put me in the camp that would rather see Santiago get the starts than Axelrod or any of these three (assuming they cost anything). I'm not going to bury Hahn and Co. over it until we see how things play out, though. Hold your horses there, Ultimate.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Mar 25, 2013 -> 07:35 PM) ...stumbling out of Glendale... It's Spring Training. There is no amount of value in performance at any time. Only injuries matter.

8 games back in the Cactus League...time to panic?

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 24, 2013 -> 11:00 PM) Brandon Paul came to play tonight ladies and gentlemen. When he does this, Illinois can stay in any game. Time to close it out!

Man, that normal curve is pretty normal

Just tuned in, why no CF camera?

QUOTE (southside_hitman @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 09:35 PM) I saw the conversation but there still seems to be some question about what exactly was done in the surgery and how that specific surgical procedure will impact throwing ability. Ventura himself was apparently misinformed or mistaken about the relative severity of this kind of injury and the prognosis, and that is somewhat surprising. Maybe others in the organization shared Ventura's belief that this particular injury was minor in comparison to other shoulder injuries and Ventura's false expectation that Danks would be ready for opening day. The gist of one of the articles I cited is that this kind of injury and surgical procedure for pitchers is somewhat rare. There aren't enough cases to be able to determine the effectiveness of the surgery or a full recovery from it with any degree of certainty. If Danks is not throwing at a progressively higher velocity over several starts, there may be no point in running him out for rehab starts in the minors. Perhaps the best course would be to shut him down for a few months and begin in some strengthening program for his shoulder before allowing him to throw from the mound. ptatc talked about this back when it happened. Essentially, it's uncommon for a pitcher to damage only his capsule and nothing else, which has been mentioned by other posters, but capsule repair by itself has an extremely positive prognosis. I fail to see how RV was wrong in the quote you provided? Capsule is far superior to labrum.

QUOTE (SAVVY18 @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 04:37 PM) I'm on Comcast and haven't had any issues either. Well damn...I am at my fiancee's place in Cincinnati and it's choppy, and it's usually choppy in Champaign too on multiple computers. Speedtest.net says I'm good. I dunno, I'll just rely on the Soxtalk PBP haha

Man, the Sox have really gotta get this bandwidth issue under control if they wanna webcast in HD

YES! Hell yes! Awesome!

Insensitive language aside (guilty as charged), I don't know that we've been providing a particularly disparaging criticism. Every pitcher has weaknesses, and I think his is losing focus based on what people who know the guy have said, and the fact that his numbers are consistent with the hypothesis. I don't think we should get rid of him, nor would I be against signing him for the upcoming years. Just because people are pointing out a flaw doesn't mean they want him thrown to the wolves or something. I just think nobody should expect anything great out of him. Perhaps one season circumstances will work out such that he feels really comfortable and puts it all together, but I don't think you will ever see a switch flip on permanently. He is who he is.

I could be wrong about this, but hasn't Floyd himself said that sometimes he loses concentration and that's part of his problems?

Several media members have intimated that Floyd is a headcase through interactions with him, and that the Sox go through gyrations trying to keep everything consistent for him between starts. I don't know if that's concrete evidence, but it's certainly the best you're going to get when looking for evidence of mental midgetry. Certainly no numbers can actually prove it.