Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 04:53 PM) That may be true but if a player is really struggling, you need to help them. I agree on not dropping the switchhitting ( he is struggling from both sides) but changing the spot in the order may change his mental approach to hitting. By saying we don't want to do anything in case we hurt his confidence, that infers winning is not a priority. In a rebuild, we have to expect less quality but the team still has to try and win. You have to live with young players going through growing pains but you disregard trying to win also. I know there is a fine line and some decisions are difficult to make. From the left side: 15.8% BB rate, 36.8% K rate, .156 ISO, .717 OPS, 110 wRC+ From the right side: 10.5% BB rate, 52.6% K rate, .059 ISO, .387 OPS, 13 wRC+ I wouldn’t say he’s struggling from the left side. Could he be better? Sure. Does he need to be better to offset his right handed issues? Most definitely. But I think it’s clear where the largest problem is stemming from.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 10:38 AM) Not true anymore. It is actually quite the opposite in most sports now. Either a player is good right away or they're no good at all. There is no margin for error anymore. Trout, Bryant, Lindor, Correa, are among baseball's top players and they came up, got on top and are staying there. Not to say that a more traditional development path can't still be successful, but if a player comes up and struggles he's more likely to completely wash out than become a star eventually. Jack, I like you bro, but this viewpoint is insanity. Here is one example that took five seconds to think of. I’m sure there are dozens of others I could think if I spent the time. Jose Altuve 2011 (21): 234 PA, .654 OPS, 80 wRC+ 2012 (22): 630 PA, .740 OPS, 102 wRC+ 2017 (27): 662 PA, .957 OPS, 160 wRC+ Yoan Moncada 2017 (22): 231 PA, .750 OPS, 104 wRC+

QUOTE (Footlongcomiskeydog @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 09:25 AM) The Cubs didn't trade the best pitcher in the history of their franchise for Kyle Schwarber. Huge difference man. The Sox need Yoan to be a stud. I don’t disagree we need Moncada to be a stud, but development is development. If Yoan ultimately needs two weeks in Charlotte at some point to figure his s*** then I’m all for it. This idea that Yoan must “sink or swim” at the major league level is ludicrous. Sometimes working through adjustments against lesser competition is more effective than trying to do so at the major league level. I don’t think it will come to that but everything should be on the table when it comes to solving Moncada’s swing & miss issues. The good news is it’s only been 12 games so there’s plenty of time for Yoan to show some improvement before we have to consider that path.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 08:57 AM) Who has great WR depth? Just as the Bears will be screwed without Robinson and Gabriel... Minnesota would be screwed without Diggs and Thielen Atlanta would be in trouble without Jones and Sanu Rodgers would pull his hair out without Adams and Cobb Wentz would struggle without Agholor and Jeffery The idea isn't to have WR depth anymore. It's to have versatile pass catchers, and the Bears have 5 of them. That's plenty. Taylor Gabriel has never topped 37 receptions or 629 yards in a season. Pretty scary to think we’re screwed without that guy, but you’re right since Kevin White & Josh Bellamy are next on the depth chart. But hey, we got a bunch of unproven TEs and a 5-6 RB to save the day. And I’m optimistic about Burton, but you seem to have a lot more faith than me that he’s the second coming of Travis Kelce. I hope you’re right, but it still doesn’t seem like a risk worth taking when we’re flush with cap space and could have retained Meredith for $3M.

Please ban ron and burn this thread to the ground!

QUOTE (Footlongcomiskeydog @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 09:05 AM) Rick Hahn should be handed his walking papers if Moncada ends up back in Charlotte this year due to poor play. The kid was supposed to be a can't miss prospect. He has nothing left to learn in the minors. It is time to sink or swim with the big boys. Kyle Schwarber had to reset down in Iowa last year, should Theo be fired? Baseball is a hard game and sometimes you need to put players in a position to succeed to help overcome mental, physical, or mechanical hurdles. I’m not suggesting that will be necessary for Yoan, but it’s a real option to consider if he’s still striking out over 40% or the time a month from now.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 13, 2018 -> 07:30 AM) Ti'Quan Forbes has 7 walks already (only 2 strikeouts). For a kid whose plate discipline coming in was suspect, that's pretty impressive. Yrizarri has also been impressive. Only one walk so far (which is improvement), but he’s cut the K rate down to 8.3% and he’s actually demonstrating some power. I mentioned it the other day, but Yrizarri & Forbes are exactly the type of fringe prospects you want filling out rosters rather than the typical low ceiling org guys.

Moncada is no doubt a mess at the plate right now (69% K rate these past three games). Ricky needs to give the kid a day off and let him clear his mind. Even if the entire weekend series is postponed, I’d still have him on the bench this Monday is Oakland. After that, I’d return him to the leadoff spot for a week and see how things go. I doubt batting first is the issue, but moving him out of that spot would be my next remedy. If he’s still struggling like crazy come mid May, I’m not against him spending some time in Charlotte. I’m not expecting that to be necessary by any means, but I’m not completely against the idea if we’re seeing zero improvement with the swing & miss issues.

Caulfield, I’m just teasing bud, but you could have summarized the arguments in the article or added your own viewpoint. I do give you style points for listing all the positional players in a vertical format and the pitchers in a side by side format.

Caulfield has just took name dropping to the next level. Literally a post of like 40 names without a single other word. Well done my man.

So basically we just got to hope that Berrios is pulled after the 7th and the Sox can get three of their bullpen.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:47 PM) Best sequence of the year for Giolito He looked pretty good there.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:42 PM) I think they are good scouting minor league talent but have been amazingly bad trading/signing big league players. The draft scouting is also very questionable I agree with this. I think we’ll know more about Hostetler in a couple years. Still early to judge him, but a couple of his picks look questionable at the moment.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:41 PM) Or feel free to panic, you're just gonna drive yourself insane. Also, an insanely long review and we win a bad call. Maybe Narvaez can make them pay for that.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:35 PM) I know I need to be patient, but it seems that those who become good to stars come up and light the world on fire and don't look back. No struggles at all. It also seems like anyone, once they struggle, never seem to recover. I don’t think that’s the case at all. I’d say most young guys take some time to figure s*** out at the major league level. The Aaron Judges of the world are the exception. Moncada was always going to require a development curve because of his swing & miss issues. Giolito was always going to be a work in progress because of his mechanical issues. Doesn’t make watching this s*** any less painful and it’s easy to panic, but it’s only been 11 games. Things may not ultimately work for these guys but give it more time.

Benetti is really annoying when things are going south. Reminds me of my retired dad who would call me up and wish me a “Happy Monday” each week. At least with Hawk he conveyed the same emotion you were feeling.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:28 PM) At this point, it seems like the Sox still can't identify talent. Those who didn't trust this front office to pull it off seem correct. I Had been a huge fan of both Moncada and Giolito, but it seems as if the Nationals and Sawx are laughing to the bank. They both look like AAAA fodder currently. Lol Jack, we need to get you on some uppers. You are way too pessimistic bro. Obviously they both look like s*** right now, but it’s not even halfway through April. Let’s give them some time before we declare trade winners.

QUOTE (StrykerSox @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:18 PM) So his bat sucks, his arm sucks, but he’s fast and makes highlight reel catches every once in a while. Dewayne Wise did that just one time and I’ll remember his name forever as a result, but he wasn’t exactly a long term piece. I’d give Leury the job until someone from AAA shows they deserve a shot. Engel is never going to be a major league regular no matter how our org wishes it.

Cordell now 0/3 with three strikeouts. He’s really blowing a golden opportunity with Engel’s struggles. And talk about rough nights for Stephens & Vieira.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:14 PM) I watched his spring start vs the Cubs and this looks like a completely different guy. I don't know what happened but he seems to have lost everything when he flew north. This guy looks worse than Shields if that is possible. He was back to mid 90s with the heater, was showing the wipeout curve and hitting his spots. I honestly don't know what happened to him. I agree, looks like a completely different pitcher.

QUOTE (StrykerSox @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 08:05 PM) I usually use the enemy’s at bats as my time to take s***s, cook dinner, rough house with the kids, and so on. I hear Engel is a great defender. So, does his arm always suck that bad or was that pop up an exception? Also, why are we being stingy over one run in the 3rd inning. Get the out, please (and of course, it comes back to bite us). His arm is pretty bad TBH. He’s had a few embarrassing throws this season.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 07:52 PM) Yoan is fouling off too many fastballs over the plate instead of squaring up. Maybe he needs a pair of those Tyler Flowers magic glasses.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 07:51 PM) He never said anyhing about his physical gifts or his talent. The argument is that s*** doesn’t matter if he keeps striking out Moncada has plus-plus bat speed, plus raw power, plus-plus speed, walks at a double-digit rate, and has a strong ass arm. Those tools/skills will allow Moncada to be a damn good player despite a high K rate. That’s our side of the argument. That and the fact that he’s 22 years old and will f***ing get better.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 07:36 PM) Who is talking like he isn’t physically gifted? I don’t think anyone cares if he was physically gifted or not. We just want him to strikeout less and get on base more. Um, the guy whose post I just replied too? Maybe you haven’t followed his posts in these game threads, but he talks like Moncada is a talentless hack. The strikeouts are an issue that need to be addressed, but Moncada can still be a damn good player with a higher average K rate and Stryker doesn’t understand or believe that.

QUOTE (StrykerSox @ Apr 12, 2018 -> 07:27 PM) Dude, you can’t be pessimistic about the young guys. This organization has failed to spot actual talent for over a decade, and yeah, their current prospect crush has a terrible strikeout habit, but you gotta have faith. Our front office has earned the right to not be questioned by the likes of you, thanks very much. By all means call out his strikeout rate, but you sound like an idiot when you talk like Moncada isn’t one of the most physically gifted players in baseball and wasn’t a consensus #1 overall prospect like a year or so ago. If he fails it won’t be because the organization failed to identify talent or developed a “prospect crush”, it will be because they still haven’t figured out to develop players with swing & miss issues.