Lillian
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Posts posted by Lillian
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I've been hoping that they would promote Tyler Neslony. He has been destroying RHP in AA. I know that he's older, but has always been able to hit. Putting up the kinds of numbers that he has, in that ball park, VS. RHP is impressive:
129 AB-- 13 2B 3 3B 9 HR 30 RBI 15 BB 18 SO -- AVG . 388 OBP .463 SLG .744 OPS 1.207 And, he is a legitimate right fielder.
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23 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:
What happened between Charlotte and Chicago?
https://www.mlb.com/news/yoan-moncada-releases-music-video
Moncada told Bleacher Report in remarks translated from Spanish that his goals for 2016 are simple.
"Steal 100 bases and keep focused on reaching the big leagues."
FORT MYERS, Fla. — It's Yoan Moncada's turn.
After 90 minutes of fielding drills, the prospect one major league scout labeled "the closest thing to [Mike] Trout I've seen," per Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, finally gets to take batting practice.
With a chiseled, 6'2", 205-pound frame that Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly likened to a "friggin' inside linebacker," Moncada divides his cuts evenly between the right and left side of the plate. It's hard to see a weak side in his swing or when contact is made. The approach is a model of controlled anger. It is as fierce as it is fluid.
There are no BP home runs this day, but steady line drives to left, center and right from both sides of the plate give onlookers a taste of what they came to see.
…..
"I'm not sure we've ever had someone quite like him physically in our system," said general manager Mike Hazen, who has worked with the Red Sox since 2006. "Bo Jackson was a guy built that way. Of course, he played football, too. But no one we've had in our system."
How Moncada ever got listed as being 6' 2", remains a mystery to me. He might not even be 6'. That has always seemed obvious to me and continues to be perplexing.
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This is a relevant and very interesting podcast:
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This complete lack of production from Moncada and Grandal would be disastrous enough, under any circumstances. However, in that they represent the two left handed bats (switch hitters) that might have helped balance the lineup, their failure to produce has left the organization with one of the worst offenses in baseball. That magnifies the front office's misguided strategy, this last off season. Almost all of us recognized the need to acquire better balance in the lineup. Even Hahn acknowledged that need. Nevertheless, they did nothing to address the problem. This is a failure of huge proportions and coupled with all of the injuries, this season is fast becoming a lost cause.
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I would have preferred that Cease hit for himself, instead of Grandal DH'ing. That would have been much more interesting and entertaining.
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Just one other observation regarding ageing players: It's more challenging today, because of the high velocity pitches, being delivered so consistently. If a hitter's bat speed slows down just a fraction, it can render him much less capable of catching up to all of these mid, to high 90's pitches. It is only in recent years that so many pitchers have been able to reach the high velocity, we routinely see today.
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10 minutes ago, wrathofhahn said:
I don't really have issues with this offense or lineup.
They aren't hitting I get that but look at their career averages these players are better than their numbers right now.
Tim Anderson, Yoán Moncada, José Abreu, AJ Pollock, Luis Robert, Yasmani Grandal, Andrew Vaughn, Eloy Jiménez.
Part of it is injuries too but Moncada is not going to finish with a .432 OPS. Grandal with a .505 OPS. Eloy with a .590 ops. These guys are good hitters have some faith in them.
Yes, they have all been good hitters. However, Abreu, Pollock, Grandal and Harrison are all at an age when they could just be to near the end of their careers. I have more confidence in Abreu to still have a decent season, than I do the others but all four of them are precariously near the point where they are just not going to be able to match their career numbers.
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1 hour ago, FoxForce2 said:
Naquin probably is the best available RF/LH, but that's not really a 'jump start' to the lineup. He's been hitting a lot of GB both this year and last. Range Factor in the field has declined (if slightly), probably a result of a decrease in his somewhat above average running speed. Probably a decent pickup in an Engel kind of way. But then what happens with Jimenez, Vaughn, Engel, Sheets? I wouldn't move Engel for him, leaving Sheets as the odd man out - but that would be shedding one LH for another.
His Splits this year are pretty respectable, vs. RHP: AVG .276 OBP .343 SLG .520. Of course, it's a small sample size but that is similar to what he did last year. When Eloy is back, I would use Vaughn in LF, Robert in CF and Naquin in RF, with Eloy at DH. vs RHP. Naquin is a better and more established hitter than Sheets. Gavin may be a contributor, after Abreu is ready to retire, but for the rest of the this year, this team badly needs more dependable LH hitting. Engel could continue to be a defensive replacement and 4TH outfielder. I don't know what to do with Pollock. It's possible that he is just getting too old to be a really productive player. He had a great year last year, but he'll be 35 in 5 months. That is an age when some guys are just too far past their primes. Who knows? I wish there were better options than Naquin, but I can't think of any other realistic possibilities, can you?
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1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:
The scary part is I don’t know how you fix the offense. I just don’t see a ton of bats that will be readily available that are left-handed, play RF or 2B, and will not command a massive cost. At a minimum, the Sox should give Yogurt a look at 2B, but that’s going to move the needle much against good RHP. Hahn ignoring the need for a left-handed power bat for multiple offseasons is immensely frustrating.
Tyler Naquin is a LH right fielder, whom I suggested, before the season began. He hits RHP pretty well and is a legit right fielder. He'll be a FA, at the end of the season. He shouldn't cost much in prospect capital and could give his at bats, vs LHP to Pollock, or Engel. He's the best affordable option for a trade acquisition, whom I can think of bringing in, to try to jump start this offense. The Sox desperately need a legit bat, from the left side. Depending upon Grandal, Moncada and Sheets for that role has proven to be folly. It was always risky, but has gone about as badly as most of our worst fears.
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I've been a Sox fan since 1953. This entire Covid era has become just too tiresome, so I'm going to stop watching the games. Carry on and try to enjoy the season.
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When you analyze the decision to not make a qualifying offer, in light of Mr. Reinsdorf's aversion to giving pitchers long term contracts, you simply cannot justify it. This was at least a chance to retain him on a one year deal. It's just completely inexplicable. For that reason, I personally consider it one of the worst decisions this organization has made. Even trading Tatis Jr. could be explained by simply not recognizing the potential of a very young player, but failing to make the right decision, when given all of the "facts," is just inexcusable. It wouldn't matter if Rodon ended up with an injury and never pitched again, it was still a bad decision, because that is something that can't be predicted. Any pitcher can suffer injuries, at any time. If he was healthy at the time that decision was made, they had to at least make the QO.
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Eloy and Robert need to employ some kind of audio system, similar the one being used by the battery, in order to ensure that there is sufficient communication. They simply cannot have any more collisions. They're both big strong men and someone will likely get hurt, ....again!!!!
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The Josh Harrison haters will have to admit that he is one of the most energetic 35 year old veterans, we've ever seen. The guy looks like he's always jacked up on something. Certainly a refreshing change from last season's dead pan Cesar Hernandez. Cesar was the epitome of low energy, and no enthusiasm. This guy's greatest value may be what he is able to inspire his teammates to do. I thought Billy Hamilton was energetic, but Josh has him beat. Anderson and Harrison should keep that dugout and clubhouse pumped up, all season. It's easy to see how Harrison has been liked, at every stop in his career. With the Sox stacked lineup, he shouldn't be asked to do too much and if he stays healthy, I think we'll be happy that he's on this roster.
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2 hours ago, michelangelosmonkey said:
Chris Sale at the trade deadline? I think Boston is going to regress this year, will be far behind Yankees, Rays and Jays by the all star game. Sale will be out for two months with broken rib but he did pitch really well second half of last year. Boston still owes him $100 million and it probably won't cost a lot in prospects if you take on most of his contract (3 more years at avg of $25mil). He's a dominant lefty and probably has some fond memories of living in Chicago and Soxtalk. Gotta say that playoff starting rotation of Gio-Lynn-Cease-Kopech and Sale would be fun.
Do you think that ownership would be willing to take on that contract?
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2 minutes ago, Squirmin' for Yermin said:
Montas has pitched more than 100 innings once. I wouldn't be suprised if Vaughn this year has more value than Montas. If you trade Vaughn you better get someone with a longer and better track record.
Any suggestions?
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In my humble opinion, the Sox are one top half of the rotation starter away from being favorites to win the A. L. pennant. I love Andrew Vaughn and wouldn't be a bit surprised if he became a perennial .300 hitter, with 30 plus homers. Nevertheless, he is not needed for this window of contention. The roster is full of good right handed hitters and has first base and DH well covered, which are really the best spots for him to play. He has demonstrated that he's capable of playing LF, but he does not have the speed to ever provide plus defense, anywhere in the outfield. Vaughn is the best trade piece the Sox have and could be the bargaining chip needed to land a much needed dominant starter. If you could add Montas to the Sox rotation, even without Vaughn in the lineup, this team would be a serious contender, with no holes, this year and next. It wouldn't hurt to find a left handed reliever, to help fill the void left by Crochet's injury. Otherwise, there really isn't anything that this team would lack.
Lineup vs. RHP:
SS Anderson
CT Robert
C Grandal
1B Abreu
LF Jimenez
DH Sheets
RF Pollock
3B Moncada (he can move up in the order, if and when he starts hitting)
2B Harrison
Bench: Engel, Leury, McGuire, Adolfo/Gonzales
Rotation: Giolito, Lynn/Montas, Cease, Kopech, Keuchel, Cueto, Lopez, Velasquez (let's hope he's never really needed)
Bullpen: Hendriks, Graveman, Bummer, Kelly, Ruiz, Crick, LHP??
Many of you will argue that Vaughn has too much promise to trade for 2 years of Montas. That is a reasonable position to take. However, this is the best shot the Sox have to get a ring. Teams that are in such a position, but are unwilling to hand out big contracts to pitchers, sometimes need to make trades, like the one I'm proposing. The front office had a chance to sign a dominant starter, and they passed. The only viable path now is a trade. Let's see if Hahn is able to acquire that starter, at this late point. Perhaps they plan to wait until the trade deadline, and add then. That would be taking a bigger risk than I would prefer, as there is no certainty that such a pitcher would be available. But then I'm not the GM. We'll see what happens.
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Perhaps a new trend will soon emerge, in which more movement and less velocity is valued. The way hitters have adapted to the high 90's velocity, pitchers might be better served concentrating on getting more movement. However, until some "sticky substance" is approved, that is going to be very difficult. Someone should revive the use of the knuckle ball. That's a pitch that, when thrown well, always seemed to baffle even the best hitters and a guy like Wilbur Wood, not that there were others like him, could throw it all day long, with no wear and tear on their arm.
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I had always understood that Nolan Ryan's mechanics were very good, especially the way in which he employed that unusual very high leg kick. What was it about his mechanics that was considered "bad"?
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Yes, the offense could indeed be something really extraordinary, and there is decent depth there, as well. It might be the best Sox lineup I've ever seen, dating back to 1953, when I became a Sox fan. However, the starting pitching is very, very thin, and that's where all teams are most vulnerable to injury. The kinds of injuries which effect pitchers, are often season ending. The Sox have a great and deep offense, but a vulnerable and thin rotation. What is the obvious solution?... I've made the assertion several times; trade some of that offense, for a starter. So, whom could Hahn acquire and what would he need to sacrifice?
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Fernandez had a solid year with the bat, in just under 200 at bats, last year at Birmingham.
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Yes, he is a good defensive catcher. I wrote about him, last year, when everyone was asking who might be Grandal's backup. He was considered ready, at least defensively, when the Sox acquired him from the Royals, about 3 years ago. I've been hoping that he would get an invite to Spring training. A lot of people on this board seem to favor Perez, but I think Fernandez is intriguing.
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4 hours ago, Quin said:
Pollock has an .800 career OPS against RHP. Last year it was .902, Conforto's was .792.
So against RHP they could have:
Anderson
Robert
Moncada (S)
Abreu
Grandal (S)
Eloy
Pollock (Mashes Righties)
Sheets
Leury (S)A balanced lineup!
Yes, your point is well taken. Pollock does hit RH pitching well, so that helps.
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Given that I subscribe to the old maxim; "pitching wins championships," I can't help but fault the front office for their allocation of funds. I'm assuming that Tony La Russa has been very involved and influential in this process of roster management, and he should know better than to accept such a lack of starting pitching depth. Acquiring a few arms, who could eat some innings shouldn't have been that difficult. More importantly, they needed to replace Rodon, as one of the candidates to fill the role of a potential playoff starter. They entered the season assuming that all four of their Post Season candidates would be healthy and effective. Last year, the Dodgers had a very deep starting staff. Even so, they were really pressed after losing several arms. The old saw; "You can never have too much pitching" should have been their guiding principle, but unfortunately it wasn't and that mistake has already been exposed.
They also knew that they needed a better balanced lineup, yet they did nothing to improve that. Instead they focused on much less important issues. There was no hole at second base. Leury could have played there, with Romy Gonzales getting some opportunities. The best reason that it made any sense to add someone at second, was the potential to use that opening as a place to play a left handed power bat, along with RF, which also was not void of options, albeit all right handed. Therefore, the front office accepted a diminished starting staff , compared to last year and they failed to acquire better lineup balance.
At this point, they deserve their fate. They did not do what was necessary to maximize their window of contention. If now they are forced to give up someone who could be an impactful part of the future, in order to acquire quality rotation depth, so be it. I suspect that is what will happen, or they will, once again, fail to advance in the Post Season.
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8 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:
I would be curious how hard he has been working during the spring. I mean he totally could have been ramping up on his own, but I guess we will see.
That's the obvious question, which I've been asking myself. Does anyone know how hard he has been working, in anticipation of getting a contract?
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Yoan Moncada seven years ago
in Pale Hose Talk
Posted · Edited by Lillian
Do you think that there is any team that would trade an asset for Moncada, let alone take on that contract? It seems pretty doubtful. At this point, it might be worth his trying to retool his game. Forget about trying to be a power hitter, choke up on the bat and start trying to become a contact hitter. Use his speed and his good eye to get on base and run. Perhaps he might want to give up switch hitting for a while, to make the changes a little easier. Although he has actually looked a little better from the right side. Nevertheless, hitting from just the left side, might simplify things. He just looks lost. He is back to taking called third strikes, which he did twice today. Something in his game needs to change.
Jake Burger has earned a spot in the lineup and when Eloy comes back he is a better candidate to DH. Moncada has experience playing second base. Jake really has no position, other than third base. I know that it's not a popular suggestion on this board, but why not let Yoan play second and if he still can't even outhit Mendick, Leury and Harrison, then he probably needs to be benched. That contract is going to become a real albatross, if Moncada can't produce.