hi8is

My crystal ball of baseball players past broke, sorry.

While I don’t agree with everything written here, a lot of it is valuable to consider and all of it is a good read... https://data.prospectslive.com/index.php/2019/07/20/nick-madrigal-and-baseball-preconceptions/ Madrigal, while still not striking out, did start the year a little slow at A+ Winston-Salem this season. As I note above, a lot of that had to do with an unlucky BABIP. Nonetheless, White Sox director of scouting Nick Hostetler commented publicly on Madrigal’s early plate approach: I was surprised to see Hostetler talking publicly about Madrigal’s failings like that. It stood out to me because I can’t recall many front office player development representatives discuss failings specific to a player’s profile like this. I think Hostetler put this out there because he wasn’t concerned that Madrigal would take it as a negative. Rather, he figured Madrigal would use this as a positive to make changes. Of course, as soon as Hostetler put this interview out there, Madrigal responded by hitting for more power and pulling the ball more. He was then promoted to AA Birmingham shortly thereafter, where he’s been on a heater ever since his promotion. Madrigal has been told his whole career that he’s too small to be much more than a grinder. And his whole career, he’s responded by exceeding expectations. He was the best hitter in college baseball in 2018. He’s been the 2nd best hitter for AA Birmingham behind top prospect Luis Robert this season. He’s been asked to make changes by the White Sox, and he’s made them. He has the 6th tool needed to become a successful baseball player at the Major League level. The article also includes references to Boggs and quotes from Omar Vizquel. Again, worth the read.

Let’s begin this conversation after he’s had 500 at bats, revisit the conversation after 1,000 at bats, and then draw some conclusions after he’s had 1,500 at bats. Can’t have a meaningful discussion after his first two games. I will say this... in 2018, he hit under .200 in rookie ball for his debut. In 2019 he had 1 hit in his first 14 plate appearances at high A. That same year he had 2 hits in his first 18 AAA trips to the plate. His history shows him to be a competitive, hard nosed, don’t give up, driven type of player with an ability to provide value to his teams in many areas. My guess is still that when the time comes to discuss his first full season in the show, we’ll be happy he’s growing into a long term role on the south side of Chicago.

@Yearnin' for Yermin, think Mercedes can be our next shortstop perhaps and when Tim is back he moves to RF?

What’s the lineup, Rickey?

If Manspread just straight up cancels the season in 48 hours, I hope they sick Joe Kelly on him.

Rickey Renteria falling asleep.

Yehaw.

McEwing isn’t third base coach anymore? Hah.

That’s on Joe for sending him. Didn’t like the turn he took at third either, cut the base pretty wide. Still only was gunned down by half a step.

Madrigal gonna be doing a lot of that small ball stuff. Where you at Timmah?

Exactly.

Exactly!! I’m still going, what... two innings later!?!

No.

Every time Jason or Stoney said the name of the Royals starting pitcher, I couldn’t help myself from loudly saying “BOO b****”. Anyone else experience this phenomenon?

Yes indeed to both of your comments @Chisoxfn and @chitownsportsfan

If the season ends just as we’re starting to witness all of new toys firing, it’ll be a sad sad day.

Sure hope not. In my naive opinion, if it happens it won’t be an iron clad immediate action but rather will amount to stages of repeated failure. For example, entire season postponed for 2 weeks... resume... see more clubs getting games postponed... potentially another stoppage... say they’re trying to get 45 games in, yada yada yada. If they see more than one cycle like that, we’ll get the knife. Otherwise, they’re committed to doing whatever it takes to get this in.

???

Nice article! This quote though, certainly deserves a “yea right...” “In Robert, who stands 6-foot-3 with a chiseled, 185-pound frame”

CeaseAndExit.

Yea Frank, what you said brother. ?

You said it! ?

Arguably we could have won the opener without the horrible defense at second and been 3 - 4. Even with the shortened season, it’s too early to place much emphasis on the record.

? fixed