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A lot of the posters are mis-applying things like K-rate to say Collins won't succeed. Most guys with high K-rates are free swingers. Collins is the opposite - if anything he sees too many pitches. His strikeouts aren't due to a lack of contact skills. You can teach a guy to be more aggressive early in the count. You can't teach a guy pitch recognition, and by all accounts Collins is great with that. If he can adjust and swing more early in the count his contact rate and ISO should skyrocket.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 5, 2017 -> 12:31 AM) http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=...=&players=0 Still 21st in fWAR, last debacle including two runs on the Lucroy blooper against Swarzak didn't hurt him that much. 4.07 fip, 4.21 xfip For the moment, no way the Royals trade everyone just 1 1/2 gb and tied with the Twins....so Vargas and Moustakas and Herrera being unavailable helps Q, Frazier and Robertson to a large extent. Shark is expensive and more of a 3 than a 2, at his best. The wild card here continues to be Yu Darvish as an impending FA, and Verlander for rich teams who'd rather take on a big contract than lose top prospects. Don't have the link but Rangers supposedly not interested in trading Darvish. Really want to extend him even if they fall out of it.

He's been pretty unlucky recently, his FIP until today was dropping still despite the ERA spike. Was the victim of some duck snorts and infield hits the last few times. More worried about velocity drop but hopefully just a small fluctuation. He'll be fine unless he starts walking people.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 30, 2017 -> 06:46 AM) It might impact their decision-making, but they still have a full OF once Hicks gets off the DL and all four of their starting caliber OFs are controllable through next season. IMO, this probably doesn't take Frazier off the table for the right TOR starter. That's still a bigger need for them than OF depth. Yeah I think you're probably right. Another option might still be including Fowler in the package (if it's more depth oriented). Kind of a unique situation because the Sox team doctor actually did the surgery, so they might have a better feel for his outlook/more willing to take a risk.

QUOTE (BamaDoc @ Jun 29, 2017 -> 01:42 PM) Let me preface this with I am not a scout. Here are some observations. The Yankees need an outfielder and called up a 22 year old from AAA. This outfielder has caused another highly rated prospect to be moved from center field to a corner outfield position so I am taking this to be they think the centerfielder is a better defender. The batting line for the corner outfielder is .257 .344 .478 .822. He has 12 HRs and 9 SB. 10% walk rate and 22% k rate. The line for the centerfielder is .293 .329 .542 .871. 13 HRs 13 SB. Walk rate 5% K rate 21%. Obviously this if Frazier vs Fowler. I think they may be a lot closer as prospects than people may think. Only current advantage to me is his walk rate. I looked back over previous years and Fowler's is always pretty low. Fowler is given credit for hard work on his defense and Frazier has had attitude questions. Fowler hits Lefty vs Frazier Right. I think either is a fine prospect and could be in play in a Q trade. It may be interesting when the guru's midseason ratings come out to see if the gap is narrowed. Both fit many peoples suggestions of higher level positional talent. I'm a bit worried about the implications of the Fowler injury last night. The Yankees glut of OF prospects was really the big basis for a trade - as they could make a trade while still not emptying the farm. Fowler seemed either likely to be in a potential deadline deal, or at the very least his success at AAA theoretically would've made trading Frazier easier (both for this year and next). A Patellar Tendon rupture is about as serious of a knee injury as there is. For a player that derives some of his value from being able to play center field that's not good (look at Tilson on a much less serious injury). In the very least it means the Yankees might need Frazier this year, and at the worst it clouds their long-term OF picture enough to make them back off on unloading OF depth. Edit: apparently the recovery track record is pretty strong in baseball players. CarGo tore his PT in August of 2014 and made a full recovery and played 153 games the next year. Hopefully the kid is totally fine.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 29, 2017 -> 10:53 AM) I missed this, good stuff. Tough decisions. Having seen what's happening with the Cubs this year (and the rest of the league) I'm starting to re-consider the need to focus on position players. Even the best core of hitters can't win without the pitching behind it. Young pitching is in demand more than ever, and to be a winner year in and year out you have to have a ton of it. If we end up with an imbalance then we just trade our pitching surplus and/or sign guys to supplement. Plus, then you don't have to overpay for pitchers on the FA market or trade market.

Guerrero 6 IP 1 ER 4 Ks 0 BBs. Looking his resurgence.

Grounder to Davidson had double play written all over it. Sucks to have those runs charged to Davidson. Also Melky is an atrocity in left field.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jun 25, 2017 -> 01:25 PM) Anyone else having issues with the sound being heard before the action on TV? Yep, thought it was my tv haha

Urias down with a potentially career threatening shoulder surgery. Gotta think the Dodgers' interest in Q makes more sense now.

For all the complaining about Collins we forget he went straight to A+, and he's been markedly better than the other highly touted prospects in that class we had a shot at. Ray has seriously scuffled at A+ and Rutherford isn't lighting the world on fire at A (I know he's young). Once the BABIP stabilizes the Average-Obsessed crowd will relax.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 08:07 AM) I don't disagree with your first sentence, but I don't know how well it would go over in NY if they are in a tight race with Boston and they just half-ass it because they are afraid to move a prospect. Not saying I disagree with Eminor and that Cashman will go on tilt or something, but if there is an opportunity, I have to think he won't be afraid to move a few pieces, even from their top tiers, to try and make some noise in the Postseason. Plus, with the emergence of Judge, Hicks, Didi, and company, they don't have room for everyone. Look at their outfield prospects. You can't fit Judge/Hicks/ Frazier/Rutherford/Fowler (and potential FA adds like Harper) all in one outfield. Same goes for 3B - Torres is likely blocking Andujar. As some has said they're also facing some tough roster realities. They'll have a real 40 man roster crunch this offseason, which cost them a few solid prospects last year and stands to hurt them again. The pitching market looks extremely weak this offseason, as well, incentivizing them to land a long-term piece via trade. I really think it's telling that Joel Sherman believes the Yankees will land a cost-controlled starter. I live in Manhattan right now and he's about as plugged in as they get. Yankees fans are also pretty ready to add from what I can tell.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 07:24 AM) I don't see Abreu getting moved before the deadline. Even a rebuilding club needs some veterans to hold things together and provide an example for younger players. Yeah I think he's the one guy that hangs around, and eventually ages out to DH (some would like to see that now). The Cuban connection really helps with Moncada and Robert coming, and by all accounts he's a leader. Heyman also said in a recent piece that the Sox are supposedly not interested in moving him. He's definitely helped his value this year though if they do end up changing course. And that Yankees 1B slot has been such a black hole.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Jun 22, 2017 -> 07:28 AM) Lol. What do you think the last 3 seasons were about? This is still the early stages of a rebuild and the way that you build something sustainable is by continuously adding talent to the minor league system. Based on the players that have already been acquired, it's safe to assume that the Sox don't have any intention to win much this season or next. Their window is 2020 and beyond. Avi doesn't necessarily fit in that plan. But the guys that he could bring back in a trade would. ^ this. If you could snag Carson Kelly and some more interesting pieces you have to at least think about it. I love Avi and think he can sustain a good portion of this improvement, but filling catcher with a potential 22 year old cornerstone would be huge. Guy has golf glove potential and is coming into his own with the bat.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jun 21, 2017 -> 12:54 PM) He had also only given up one hit to that point and had two outs. Ended the game with 121 pitches. I mean just watching the broadcast you could tell he was gassed. Was quickly losing control and threw the ball 5 feet over the catcher's head to the backstop to tie the game on a wild pitch. No chance Dusty leaves him in if he's got a real closer. Check all the angry tweets by Nats fans pinning this one on the lack of a bullpen. The frustration is real.

Dusty just left Scherzer in at 120+ pitches to face Giancarlo Stanton with the bases loaded to avoid the bullpen. Predictably didn't end well You can't make this stuff up. I was watching the home broadcast and they kept talking about how Dusty would've clearly gone to a closer if he had one.

QUOTE (BamaDoc @ Jun 20, 2017 -> 12:05 PM) I'm sure nearly everyone will be shopped but I would put a high price on him. I think you value him like he is for real and teams won't want to pay that price. If he takes Robertson's place and is for real, next trade deadline you could get a haul greater than Robertson as he will be under control thru 2020 and cheap. Yeah this ^. Guy has Chapman-like stuff and has 3 years of control (and to our knowledge isn't a piece of crap human). If you don't get a high price he's worth keeping for the potential monster package if he can close.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 20, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) His record is pretty consistent over 4 years or so (2014-17). I'm not sure of two things, tho: Why did Rockies let him go, and why did Sox send him down last year? Cannot remember. Don't forget, he has always been on s***ty teams. He was a high draft pick (4th round) that always had serious potential and high K rates in the minors. Had a pretty good rookie year even at Coors, then ran into some control issues. Sox gave up Yancy Almonte (a pretty good prospect) for him, and Coop made some mechanical changes (follow-through and head jerk specifically) that Kahnle has attributed to the control improvement he had end of last year and into this year.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jun 20, 2017 -> 11:23 AM) Kahnle is worth 2 top 100 prospects in the 50-100 range and a interesting piece. He is right up there with Jansen and Knebell in k/9 and has 3 years of control, he is beyond a "sweetener" if he gets moved at the deadline expect a slightly lesser package than Giles. If he gets moved in the off season and takes over for the departed Robertson his value is only going to go up from there. I'm so intrigued to see whether Hahn shops him or keeps him. Such a good case either way. Merkin recently mentioned him among the guys that will get discussed a lot at the deadline. I'm with you on the value though. He makes so much sense for the Nationals, especially with the control. Have to think they'll be guy shy about emptying the farm, but they'll most certainly address the bullpen somehow. And the sox can fill 1-2 holes at any level of the bullpen in any number of ways (Closer, Set-Up, lefty, middle relief).

Interested to see where they assign him.

Deadline fluff by Merkin: http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/237...opicId=27118146 Not sure how much inside information he gets but the players mentioned as likely being in trade talks is interesting. Merk seems to think Leury Garcia and Kahnle will be talked about in addition to the usual suspects (Q, Robertson, Swarzak, Melky, Frazier, the other non-Rodon starters).

QUOTE (daggins @ Jun 19, 2017 -> 03:29 PM) He injured his elbow on a slide, not throwing. I don't think this affects Q's market, but it might affect Toad's. Yankees might try Andujar or Wade instead of going outside, though. Yeah Todd makes a lot of sense because he can be a 1B option for them too, which has been a black hole. Only problem is he really hasn't outplayed Headley much.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 19, 2017 -> 12:16 PM) They want to come in below the luxury tax threshold next year, so buying quality starting pitching at market rates is going to be a challenge for them. Meanwhile, Quintana only comes with like a $5.2M charge next year for luxury tax purposes. There are a lot of reasons why they'd be willing to trade in their prospect currency for a starter like Q, who fits both short-term & long-term needs. Yeah and they need to remain flexible for the monster 2018-19 free agent class. God forbid even if Q doesn't rebound and he's more in line with his peripherals (4.3ish FIP), he's still an extremely cheap #3/4. He's still almost top 30 in WAR for starters. Plenty of value for a team looking for payroll flexibility.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 19, 2017 -> 09:21 AM) Ben Lindbergh did a nice summary: https://theringer.com/2017-mlb-home-run-spi...al-155cd21108bc He also does a good job of showing that behavior can change too from a juiced ball that could exaggerate the effects. Wow thanks for sending, this is awesome. Definitely makes sense that it could be a few factors playing off each other.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 19, 2017 -> 08:05 AM) Best case for us is for Quintana to start pitching like Quintana again. BTW, just a side thought, but I'm pretty convinced the ball is freaking juiced this year. Been saying the same thing to my buddies ^. So many random players out of nowhere developing massive power. Home runs up like 50% compared to 2014. Honestly though, I feel like the game is in a good place. Feels exciting again.