caulfield12

But I wasn't wrong...lol. I've also been 100% behind Robert and Madrigal from the very beginning, for example. Now pitching is MUCH MUCH more difficult to predict. For example, Jack Parkman has gotten credit for supporting Giolito, but there have been individual strings of doubts expressed along with the positive ones, for example. Now we have a smash off Moncada's knee. That might make the DL even more likely. 107 MPH top spin, couldn't get a glove on it.

Ummm...are you sure you don't work for the Soviet or Chinese press? Doesn't mean it's not at least worth discussing, it's like talking about RR's eventual fate pretty much every single game. Giolito with a mistake pitch right down the middle...O'Hearn couldn't do anything with it.

In the last 20-30 years? Or entire franchise history? Because he'd be Top 10, but still hasn't only had a 6+ year career with the White Sox. https://thisgreatgame.com/chicago-white-sox-top-10-hitters/ This last has Abreu at #8 coming into 2020. Baines, Appling, Dick Allen, Shoeless Joe, Eddie Collins, Minoso, Big Hurt ahead. Ahead of Konerko, Nellie Fox, Aparicio, Ordonez, C-Lee, etc.

I guess Ron has been forced into exile, or changed his screen name again? There's the danger in staking your entire claim on one player's success or failure... And why isn't Moncada being DL'ed when even national publications are running the story of how he still doesn't feel close to 100%? The playoffs seem to be pretty much guaranteed, will playing Mendick there for 7-10 days really make more of a difference (to the W-L record) than a healthy Moncada for the post-season?

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/05/college-coronavirus-outbreaks-sick-kids-home-409262 Colleges’ dilemma: Fight outbreak or send sick kids home? As of Friday, at least 51,000 students have been infected and thousands more are quarantined, according to a survey from The New York Times. Public health experts fear the numbers could surge when the weather turns cold, forcing students to spend more time indoors where the virus can spread more easily . Experts caution that mass testing of student populations needs to be done as part of a larger strategy with contact tracing and isolation in order to prevent outbreaks. “Testing is very important, but it has important limitations,” said Tom Frieden, the former CDC director in the Obama administration. “It's only as useful as what gets done with the testing results.” Some schools have hired their own contact tracers and isolated infected students in hotels. But that plan doesn't account for what happens afterward, said Tom Inglesby, director of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Health Security. “There isn’t a good strategy beyond that,” he said. “Unfortunately, that does mean people going home and bringing the virus with them.”

American League 1. Luis Robert, CF, Chicago White Sox Age: 23 Height: 6-2 Weight: 210 B: R T: R Stats: 2.0 WAR; 145 OPS+; .278/.331/.586; 8 2B; 11 HR; 27 RBI; 4 SB Robert is an elite defensive center fielder, currently leading the majors in defensive runs saved with above-average range in all directions. He’s a true five-tool player, a special athlete with incredible strength and power throughout his game. Robert has an unlimited ceiling and I consider him the best overall rookie in the sport both short and long term. Rick Hahn, White Sox GM: “Even with all of us entering the year knowing what Luis was capable of doing given his tools and makeup, I think, candidly, that he has exceeded our expectations. His maturity and ability to adjust have both stood out early. Part of the fun is also knowing that he’s not a finished product. He’s just getting started.” https://theathletic.com/2042415/2020/09/05/bowden-the-2020-mlb-rookie-tracker/?source=weeklyemail

Dr. Dane Dunning... Clothier for the elite? Australian detective? Accounting/law firm...partners' names?

Gio, Keuchel, Kopech, Dunning and ??? Good play by Madrigal there. 0/22 string by Mondesi broken with that single.

https://www.mlb.com/news/luis-robert-is-already-an-elite-defensive-center-fielder

https://www.mlb.com/video/luis-robert-s-no-doubt-home-run

Ozuna has had a huge season, too.

https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-midseason-farm-systems-rankings

I thought JR was adamantly opposed to signing 15 year olds....? Well, they already have Enoy Jimenez, and who can forget the Danks brothers...?

Is it any different putting White Sox with Dodgers? Myers is raking this year. Ive watched more White sox games this year than last 3-4 combined. I think I can say its for sure best since 2012 already. ER was now a flier? Revisionism there? Pomeranz is increasingly impt with Yates out. No mention of Machado?

https://www.mlb.com/video/luis-robert-s-449-ft-home-run https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/video/luis-robert-comes-clutch-win-go-ahead-9th-inning-run

Cy-Hawk Trophy definitely up for grabs...

And Mazara, EE, Gio, Grandal, Cishek? He’s made two good moves in last five or six years of free agency...McCann, who we pretty much can’t retain due to Grandal or get anything back for, and Keuchel. We also didn't add to outfield or LHR options when there were plenty of options that wouldn’t have cost Madrigal, Kopech, Vaughn, Dunning, Cease, Stiever .... etc. Also left Garrett Richards off Padres’ starters list...ooops. Clevinger, Paddack, Lamet, M.Gore, Richards, Davies.

If Marco Paddy and KW were not around...we still sign Abreu/Robert and know to trade for Moncada (instead of Devers/Benintendi) and Jimenez/Cease as well? Not buying that. We’re also very fortunate Giolito was mostly fixed by someone outside the organization in the 2018-19 offseason. But, more than FA signings, having Renteria lead the way might be the biggest risk of all.

Depends on Seager, Bellinger and Betts all staying healthy. And that LAD starting pitching staff (Urias/May/Gonsolin on back end). With Gore and Clevinger on the way, and Lamet coming out of nowhere to look like a Top 10 Cy Young award candidate, they're not as far away as you'd think. And they've played and Dodgers more competitively the last series or two than any time in the last decade.

It's not possible to have a favorite team in each league? Okay, then move it to the Diamond Club. It's the biggest story in MLB today, is it not? And it also involves the Indians, one of our biggest rivals. But that's fine, do whatever you want, it doesn't matter and I'm not going to be in the least bit upset. People can read and understand about other teams in MLB...I was gone the first three months here last year, so I had almost no choice since there are no other decent Sox boards and I still enjoyed discussing baseball, and there's a lot to learn from following other teams, other announcers, radio pairings at MLB Gameday Audio or MLB.TV, etc. You'll note I also started the Luis Robert THE LEGEND thread. Not only that, but one of the biggest and most consistent backers of Nick Madrigal. You won't see a negative word from me on here about either Robert or Madrigal, fwiw. People get so salty in here. The Padres are constantly tinkering, the White Sox playing it conservative once again. Just interesting to watch the two diametrically opposed approaches play out. Of course, if we had a team like the Dodgers or Cubs in our way with unlimited pockets, it would be tougher going. In that sense, the White Sox are QUITE fortunate to be in the AL Central, even though they've gone a decade without being able to take advantage of it.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-clevinger-padres-trade-deadline Clevinger deal caps Padres' astounding haul RHP Mike Clevinger, from Cleveland OF Greg Allen, from Cleveland C Austin Nola, from Seattle RHP Austin Adams, from Seattle RHP Dan Altavilla, from Seattle DH Mitch Moreland, from Boston RHP Trevor Rosenthal, from Kanas City C Jason Castro, from Angels Player to be named, from Cleveland The biggest losses here are Trammell (acquired from Reds, but underachieving, he was supposed to replace Wil Myers) and Quantrill (basically similar to Dane Dunning). Probably Andres Munoz #3, that guy can throw 99-102, touching 103. France and Naylor are NICE bats to have, but nothing amazing or irreplaceable IMO. Padres still hold onto CJ Abrams (who can play anywhere) as well as Top 5-6 pitching prospects (including Mackenzie Gore, best LHP prospect in the game and Anderson Espinoza, who was their #1 prospect as recently as 2017, throws 100+ but has had a slew of injuries/setbacks in his young career. OF becomes Pham in LF (they've gotten very little out of him THIS year so far, recently injured), Trent Grisham (trade with MIL for Urias/SS-2B) and Wil Myers (Profar and Naylor mixed in there, as well as INF for Jurickson) Machado, Tatis, Jr., Cronenworth and Hosmer (Moreland becomes DH/1B/PH, replacing France/Naylor spot) Catcher is dramatically improved, with Nola/Castro/Mejia (will sit on him and let him slowly develop year by year, still has a ton of potential IMO, especially LH bat with pop.) Future rotation of Clevinger/Paddack/Gore/Lamet and any number of 5th starters (tons of prospects along with Kyle Davies, who came over from MIL in offseason) Greg Allen becomes their version of Adam Engel Altavilla, Adams very nice (and needed) reinforcements for bullpen....with Yates out, Pagan/Rosenthal/Pomeranz/Stammen/Strahm really need to pick up the slack. Lots of talent out there, plus all the spillovers from starters who can't make the rotation (Patino/Baez/Morejon/Weathers/Espinoza, etc.) The biggest needs going into today were a veteran DH/1B bat (Moreland), shoring up the catching spot (Nola/Castro) and bullpen (numerous additions.) They managed to do all three, as well as adding a capable defensive outfielder in Allen to back up in late innings and PR. Now with Profar, Castro, Mejia, Moreland, etc., they've really got a much more experienced, veteran mix on the bench. They're still ONE year off from closing on the Dodgers, but narrowing the gap...and quickly. Especially if Machado's back to being a 1.000+ OPS hitter and carrying the team on his back, like recently.

They are the KW Swinging Di—s, Riverboat Gamblers or Hunch Players right now. Hahn has always been so much more conservative. And, other than McCann, EE...Mazara...and especially Chisek have disappointed. Keuchel has been great, so far. Grandal just so so for biggest contract in history, plus mixing/matching playing time complication germinating with too many bats and Collins/Vaughn blocked atm. Will take his walkoff and hope that wakes him up. Luckily, so much talent in lineup not even Hahn can screw it up. Abreu/Robert/Moncada/Jimenez were all heavily scouted by Paddy and/or KW. The Eaton trade looks like a huge win other than Lopez, huge cloud of doubt imo hanging over Kopech. Same with Q deal.

They like Florida a lot more as home base, fwiw...or the Dominican. Just hope Jeter doesn’t get to spend any real money.

Padres still retain core of their young pitching prospects, which are Gore, Patino, Morejon, Baez, Weathers. Quantrill 5th starter, swingman. Miller is a bit like a gritty Madrigal/Hoerner fringy 2B but without the upside of those two. Illinois Stater. Overachiever. Hedges couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag but great defender. Interesting how Padres now have Mejia...who was Indians’ top ranked prospect and catcher. Mejia needs/needed everyday playing time or to be shipped out/traded/AAA. Mejia the LH bat who should now get more opportunities unless they make yet another move or PTBNL is a veteran catcher. Poor overall defender but cannon for an arm. Reminds me a bit of Miguel Olivo. Naylor has upside but hasn't translated offensive potential into high MLB power numbers. 800ish ops, not a great defender in corner OF, more a DH or 1B. They killed (so far) the Grisham for Urias deal...Milwaukee GM seldom gets taken to the cleaners. Lots of names Involved here, but none really stand out at all. Emergence of Cronenworth has mitigated the need for guys like Naylor and France, and they seem determined to push forward with veteran Profar due to experience and versatility, perhaps better clubhouse chemistry/fit.

Isn’t Ray’s velocity down quite a bit this year?