witesoxfan

QUOTE (oldsox @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 03:08 PM) Are they going to move Mitch Boggs, who got lit up again yesterday? Perhaps. It's the minors though, they like his arm, and they want to see if he can work through these struggles. He's had success in the majors before and they are going to see if he can find it again. If he can't, it's not a big loss.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 02:34 PM) Saw a few innings of Boston/New York last night. Kaat was saying basdeball has started to see a change this year where players are starting to hit against the shift. The Red Sox shifted on McCann as most teams do. But the stat they showed was that more than 50% of his hits this year are to left instead of right. On that play he flied to warning track in left. Kaat said some teams are starting to reconsider shifting for some players they normally shift on. With many players, their ground ball splits will indicate pulled balls but their flyballs are sprayed pretty well over the outfield. Hitters will try and shoot balls the other way, but with mixing speeds, they'll get caught out in front and on top of breaking balls and pull them anyways.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 02:47 PM) Let's face it, the experts probably were right. His motion meant an injury waiting to happen. Good luck to Sale. He could really deal a fastball when healthy. Jesus, he didn't die greg. And I have no idea what experts you're talking about, unless they are the self-appointed experts who say his motion is awful or scouts who say "I SEEN GUYS WITH THAT MOTION AND I KNOWS THEY GET HURT AND SALE HE GONNA GET HURT TOO WITH THAT MOTION." Most of those people don't know what to look for. Pitchers get sore and they're taking it easy with him. If he gets hurt, he gets hurt. Throwing overhand or side arm are not natural motions anyways.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 02:44 PM) Leesman gets David Price this weekend Sale gives the Sox a much, much better chance in those games, but as a baseball fan it sucks not seeing those matchups. Sale/Verlander and Sale/Price are games that can be instant classics pretty easily.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 02:40 PM) There will likely be a few guys that slid sitting there when the Sox pick in the second, and probably without as much of the baggage that you mention. I thought Cease was interesting as some guys had him rated in the top 10. One of Touissaint, Gatewood, Chavis will likely still be there. I think Gillaspie is more likely a 3rd round target due to his defensive limitations. Agree about Gillaspie, as a 1B prospect has to be really, really good offensively to be considered that highly.

I don't mind taking him in the 2nd, just that he's a guy that concerns be because of the baggage and other risks involved.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 10:12 AM) But there is good weight and bad weight, that looked like bad weight. Of course, but it certainly could have just been that Shea wanted extra weight on him and maybe he wasn't working hard enough to build it into muscle. Just that he wanted the extra weight on him.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 05:03 PM) http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y20...=mm_mlb_players MLB Write up on Cease Scouting Grades* (future): Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55 Cease is one of the hardest throwing high school pitchers in the 2014 Draft class, but he was dealt a significant setback this spring. He suffered an elbow injury that has kept him out for several weeks and could ultimately require him to undergo Tommy John surgery. When healthy, Cease throws his fastball from 91-95 mph, topping out at 97 mph. He doesn't have a physical frame, instead generating his velocity with athleticism and arm speed. There is some effort to his delivery, and the rest of his game may remain inconsistent until he refines it. His mid-70s curveball will range from a below-average to an above-average pitch, and his changeup shows flashes of becoming an effective offering, but he'll need to throw it more often. Cease, who plays with his twin brother at Milton High, is committed to Vanderbilt. Fisher: Scouting Grades* (future): Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 40 | Field: 40 | Overall: 60 One of the top high school hitting prospects in the 2011 Draft, Fisher lasted until the sixth round because of signability concerns and turned down a substantial offer from the Rangers to attend Virginia. He failed to hit .300 in his first two seasons with the Cavaliers but took a step forward in the Cape Cod League this summer, cutting down on his strikeouts and leading the best summer college circuit with a .453 on-base percentage. He has shown more pop at Virginia than he did with wood bats on the Cape, and he projects as a plus hitter in terms of both average and raw power. Fisher's bat will have to carry him, because he's a slightly above-average runner who figures to lose a step, and he's a below-average defender. His lack of arm strength and defensive instincts limit him to left field. Cease sounds like an incredibly talented player, but I don't like reading about high schoolers already needing Tommy John, I don't like seeing a non-physical frame with most of it generated via athleticism and arm speed, and I don't like seeing high-effort delivery. Some of those things can be altered to improve, but that's a ton of risk.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 05:35 PM) In his defense, he probably felt he needed to put on more weight to stay on Dline, now that he is LB he probably felt more comfortable going down to 250. Nobody replied to it, but this is a really, really good point.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 09:31 AM) We'll see on Flowers. I can't help but think he's just getting lucky right now, but I'll defer to those with greater knowledge on swing mechanics. He's absolutely getting lucky now, but his game has improved overall.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:50 AM) I'm guessing you'll see Paulie ease his way into a role with the Sox. This year he is basically a bench manager already. Be a Spring Training instructor and then do the ambassador role and then he'll eventually begin to take on more responsibilities and maybe within 3-4 years of retiring, he's on the bench full time in some capacity.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:30 AM) That's the thing. If it truly is a flexor strain, maybe it a week or two thing. And perhaps the other example of a flexor strain, like Gavin Floyd in 2013, really wasn't a flexor strain. That's exactly it. The guy finds 4 examples of guys who had flexor strains at one point that became Tommy John surgery and 1 example of a guy who did not need it but took longer to return, and he finds correlation that Sale is going to need it. That's not how this works.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:23 AM) There will be injuries and Paulie will get more at bats. Now when the increase comes, he may decide he does not want to continue. Then again, he could also get an injury and hang them up sooner. He could also get more playing time, go on a tear and sign again for next season. He may be the manager next season. Ventura just signed an extension and Konerko has said he does not want to get into coaching right away.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 06:49 AM) Don't read this: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/73018...still-worrisome That is all fine and dandy, but how much medical experience does that guy have and what access does he have to Sale's medical files?

QUOTE (Hawkfan @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 11:52 PM) Anybody who truly thinks like that, I don't want them on my team. This is ridiculous. Konerko wants to play, but he doesn't want to play as much because his body can't stand the rigors of a full season of play again (or that's how he believes). He believes he can contribute against lefties and as a mentor to young players. If anything, I applaud people that want to play like that, because he could have been very stubborn about the entire situation and asked for a lot or could have gone to another team for more playing time or money, but he stuck around here to do exactly that. I will say that I think the possibility exists, but I don't think he will. I didn't expect Griffey to retire either, but he hung it up too.

I think Hinrich is the LVP

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 10:01 PM) Saladino. Not a bandwagon pick either, was a good looking prospect for a couple seasons until injury bug bit him. He's shown a pretty decent power/speed combo for a middle infielder and looks like he's finally putting it together this year. He's been a favorite of mine for a while now, hoping he can keep healthy. I like that pick, and you're right, he's having an absolutely phenomenal year thus far. If nothing else, the Sox middle infield depth is looking really solid right now.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 03:29 PM) Yeah, that was kinda what I said. It is high, but given the other measures, it isn't out of reasonable range. Yes you did, but I like to say nice things about Courtney QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 03:32 PM) Anderson's BABIP at .370 should see some regression but it's not alarming considering his speed. His speed is going to allow him to live with higher a BABIP. He actually finished with a .392 BABIP last year in 301 PAs. I am very happy with how Anderson has come along even if the stats aren't there yet. All indications have shown he has great hands and the fact that he can hang with the off speed stuff is amazing. I would wager there isn't a player in all of the minor leagues with less amateur at bats than Anderson. This kid is RAW. The way he has handled off speed along with how he has gone to opposite field while not great, is very encouraging considering the circumstances. Obviously the walks are a bit alarming but Anderson is a guy who is in the infancy stage. He's learning on the fly and is holding his weight. This seems like one of those situations where challenging a guy has worked out. He hasn't been overwhelmingly great, but considering how well he is playing for how raw he is is an incredibly encouraging sign.

I don't think Hawkins' BABIP is that high. A .350 BABIP, especially for a guy who hits the ball as hard as Courtney, is perfectly reasonable.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 10:46 AM) Hell, microscopic chance, but if Trey fell in the early second round, and we nab him, I'd do cartwheels. As would I. People talk about him as a utility infielder, but his ceiling is pretty high and even if he's just a utility infielder, that's still value from the draft. Most 2nd rounders never make the majors, so that'd be awesome for the Sox.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 01:26 PM) Then explain to me why all the points you guys just made didn't add up to Thibs winning the title. Y'all just spent several posts explaining why he should have won. You can have the fastest donkey in the world, but it's still not going to win the Kentucky Derby.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) One thing to remember with San Fran is...they have so many picks there's a very good chance that if they used them all, they could not keep people on their roster. It's not like they're starved for talent already and they're sitting on enough picks to fill out 20% of a roster. It simply makes sense to move up on some of those for no other reason. Also...if a number of teams are considering moving down, that might push the price they need to pay to move up even lower. I should say that I wouldn't doubt that they do move, just that they're not going to give up 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for it.

Why on earth would San Fran give up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for the 14th pick? I understand the draft pick value, but that's a ton to give up in a draft that is absolutely loaded with talent. Their biggest needs moving forward are probably a rush linebacker because Aldon Smith is a psycho and defensive end because Justin Smith is getting older. They can satisfy both of those needs later in the draft. Frankly, I think EVERYONE wants to trade down in this draft. EDIT: The Niners could use a receiver too, but again, they can get that later in the draft.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 10:46 AM) I was thinking about fandom last night as the game thread was ripping apart our offense. As mad as we were to not hit against sanchez, how much worse do you think Tiger fans were only scoring 1 run against the top 5 worst pitching in the league? As mad as a pig without mud.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 06:48 AM) The kid I have a long wait for is Micker Adolfo. Emphasis on long.