March 22, 20196 yr Last year's list was ... not great, Bob. American League Cy Young winner Blake Snell was my best pick, and Xander Bogaerts also did what I hoped he'd do in a healthy, full season. I still think some of those guys are good breakout candidates for 2019 -- Max Kepler for sure, Nomar Mazara again, Byron Buxton forever, Lucas Giolito now that he's healthy and has his velocity back -- but for this column I'll stick with new names. (behind paywall) http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/26316165/keith-law-mlb-breakout-players-2019
March 22, 20196 yr 20 minutes ago, ron883 said: Keith Law isn't half bad Keith is one of those guys I want to hate for acting like he’s always the smartest guy in the room, but he probably is more often than not.
March 22, 20196 yr 17 minutes ago, mqr said: Keith is one of those guys I want to hate for acting like he’s always the smartest guy in the room, but he probably is more often than not. if he was, he wouldn't be a former guy in baseball now writing about it. He's good at being loud.
March 22, 20196 yr 9 minutes ago, Harper2Sox said: He must not have seen Giolito’s last outing. He’s bad. Just to make sure I understand how spring training works: If you are good, it doesn't mean anything. But if you are bad, it means you are bad. Is that accurate? (My hopes certainly are not high for Giolito, but I just want to make sure I understand how spring training results work)
March 22, 20196 yr Just now, SoxBlanco said: Just to make sure I understand how spring training works: If you are good, it doesn't mean anything. But if you are bad, it means you are bad. Is that accurate? (My hopes certainly are not high for Giolito, but I just want to make sure I understand how spring training results work) Did you erase last season from your memory when he was one of the worst starters in baseball? No one needs Spring Training stats to support this statement.
March 22, 20196 yr Just now, Harper2Sox said: Did you erase last season from your memory when he was one of the worst starters in baseball? No one needs Spring Training stats to support this statement. I did not erase last season, which is why I said my hopes are not high for him. Why did you ask if Keith Law saw his last outing?
March 22, 20196 yr 7 minutes ago, SoxBlanco said: Just to make sure I understand how spring training works: If you are good, it doesn't mean anything. But if you are bad, it means you are bad. Is that accurate? (My hopes certainly are not high for Giolito, but I just want to make sure I understand how spring training results work) The amount of hot takes driven off some spring training outings is pretty nuts around here. This shit is more or less meaningless, especially for pitchers IMO. Edited March 22, 20196 yr by Chicago White Sox
March 22, 20196 yr 2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said: The amount of hot takes driven off some spring training outings is pretty nuts around here. This shit is more or less meaningless, especially for pitchers IMO. Exactly. And we even saw it first hand with Giolito last spring. If I recall correctly, he was pretty good last spring...then not so much during the regular season.
March 22, 20196 yr Hot take... he’s bad regardless of Spring Training. That’s not really going out on a limb. Next step will be seeing if he can be a reliever.
March 22, 20196 yr 42 minutes ago, Harper2Sox said: Did you erase last season from your memory when he was one of the worst starters in baseball? No one needs Spring Training stats to support this statement. If you have already decided what is going to happen and this doesn't matter, why are you wasting your time watching spring games?
March 22, 20196 yr Is his velo really "back" ? Last I heard he was still low 90s on the FB most of the time.
March 22, 20196 yr 32 minutes ago, Harper2Sox said: Hot take... he’s bad regardless of Spring Training. That’s not really going out on a limb. Next step will be seeing if he can be a reliever. Keith Law said that he still believes Giolito can have a breakout performance because his velocity has returned. You said “has he seen his last start”. Either that’s a hot take or you’re moving the goalposts.
March 22, 20196 yr 2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said: Keith Law said that he still believes Giolito can have a breakout performance because his velocity has returned. You said “has he seen his last start”. Either that’s a hot take or you’re moving the goalposts. His velocity returned last spring too. Giolitos problem isnt his velocity - its that hes not very good and his pitches fool no one. Spring doesnt matter but when you can't get anyone out last year... then you look even worse in spring... it usually doesnt bode well.
March 22, 20196 yr Just now, Look at Ray Ray Run said: His velocity returned last spring too. Giolitos problem isnt his velocity - its that hes not very good and his pitches fool no one. Spring doesnt matter but when you can't get anyone out last year... then you look even worse in spring... it usually doesnt bode well. He was really good last spring, it's just that as soon as the games counted, he wasn't. I can't explain Lucas Giolito but I definitely don't have much faith in him.
March 22, 20196 yr 10 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said: His velocity returned last spring too. Giolitos problem isnt his velocity - its that hes not very good and his pitches fool no one. Spring doesnt matter but when you can't get anyone out last year... then you look even worse in spring... it usually doesnt bode well. Sure, but Giolito’s last start should have nothing to do with whether you’re optimistic on him or not. And unless his velocity was down in his last start, it shouldn’t be used an argument against what Law said. I’m down on Giolito right now, but that’s entirely because he’s a headcase who was the worst qualified starter in baseball last year and not because of some spring training appearances that basically mean nothing.
March 22, 20196 yr 2 hours ago, Harper2Sox said: He must not have seen Giolito’s last outing. He’s bad. The only thing bad is this post sir. Christ.
March 22, 20196 yr Keith has been cautiously optimistic for some time now on Giolito. From the beginning of last year's spring training at least. Consistently mentions the White Sox trying to undo what Washington did to his mechanics/delivery.
March 22, 20196 yr Also, Giolito needs to learn how to pitch from the stretch. Once one guy gets on base, all hell breaks lose.
March 22, 20196 yr Author He was at 94-96, touching 97 once or twice. Herrera at 96. Ruiz consistently 97-99, to give you idea of a “hot” gun or not.
April 1, 20196 yr One start isn’t enough to claim he’s turned a corner, but it was a promising start. The new mechanics seemed to be working for him today, but I think the true test for him will be maintaining them consistently.
.thumb.jpg.2b5d9338fbaecb392889b9f85a94ba84.jpg)
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.