This one goes out to you, Mr. Bannister. Pitching development has been atrocious. Schultz and Hagen Smith look bad and their stuff looks mediocre. There isn't much legitimate help on the way in the minors either. The Sox will have to sign good starters or trade some of their big time hitting prospects for help.

2 minutes ago, ron883 said:

This one goes out to you, Mr. Bannister. Pitching development has been atrocious. Schultz and Hagen Smith look bad and their stuff looks mediocre. There isn't much legitimate help on the way in the minors either. The Sox will have to sign good starters or trade some of their big time hitting prospects for help.

Grant Taylor.
Jordan Hicks.
Bryan Hudson.
Sean Burke.
Trevor Richards.
Tyler Schweitzer.

That said, Bannister isn't their pitching coach. He isn't anybody's pitching coach.

I thought the off-day pitchforks were being used for the Tim Anderson retirement commemoration announcement.

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by 77 Hitmen

My pitchfork is for Ron, for mushing my streak

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

Grant Taylor.
Jordan Hicks.
Bryan Hudson.
Sean Burke.
Trevor Richards.
Tyler Schweitzer.

That said, Bannister isn't their pitching coach. He isn't anybody's pitching coach.

Not 100% sure Richards and Schweitzer would even be claimed on waivers...

Not Newcomb or Martin?

Doesn't Ryan Fuller get credit for hitting successes at all levels?

2 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Grant Taylor.
Jordan Hicks.
Bryan Hudson.
Sean Burke.
Trevor Richards.
Tyler Schweitzer.

That said, Bannister isn't their pitching coach. He isn't anybody's pitching coach.

So what does he do in the organization?

2 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Grant Taylor.
Jordan Hicks.
Bryan Hudson.
Sean Burke.
Trevor Richards.
Tyler Schweitzer.

That said, Bannister isn't their pitching coach. He isn't anybody's pitching coach.

The only thing Schweitzer is proof of is that luck exists in baseball.

2 minutes ago, ron883 said:

So what does he do in the organization?

It's been thoroughly discussed here a few times. He's the Director of Pitching for the org. He's not logging pitches in the Kannapolis dugout. He pow-wows with Getz about what type of traits they should be scouting the waiver wire for that are easy to accentuate or work with. He might show up to Arizona to watch Christian Oppor throw a few sides, but he's not a coach, anymore. He sets policies with Getz, scouting and the stats dudes on what to pursue and develop.

7 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

It's been thoroughly discussed here a few times. He's the Director of Pitching for the org. He's not logging pitches in the Kannapolis dugout. He pow-wows with Getz about what type of traits they should be scouting the waiver wire for that are easy to accentuate or work with. He might show up to Arizona to watch Christian Oppor throw a few sides, but he's not a coach, anymore. He sets policies with Getz, scouting and the stats dudes on what to pursue and develop.

Exactly. He deserves some blame for the what has happened with Schultz and Hagen Smith. We've all read about how much they have tinkered with Schultz. Him and Hagen Smith look awful. Oppor has completely fallen apart. The org has become awful at developing pitching.

Every day is pitchfork day for you.

2 minutes ago, ron883 said:

Exactly. He deserves some blame for the what has happened with Schultz and Hagen Smith. We've all read about how much they have tinkered with Schultz. Him and Hagen Smith look awful. Oppor has completely fallen apart. The org has become awful at developing pitching.

Oppor has developed the yips. That's sports psychology. I'd love to hear what exactly Bannister "did" to Hagen and Schultz that he needs to be "blamed" for. They're trying to make their deliveries repeatable and keep them healthy.

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Not 100% sure Richards and Schweitzer would even be claimed on waivers...

Not Newcomb or Martin?

Doesn't Ryan Fuller get credit for hitting successes at all levels?

Pitchers brought along by the coaching staff who are having consistent success. Did the staff develop Newcomb? Should Davis Martin be included as someone who is enjoying regular, consistent success right now?

7 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Pitchers brought along by the coaching staff who are having consistent success. Did the staff develop Newcomb? Should Davis Martin be included as someone who is enjoying regular, consistent success right now?

A 2ish fWAR is still a success overall for Martin, as he basically carried the rotation in the first half, just like Shane Smith last year.

How are differentiating Hicks from Newcomb, then?

9 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

A 2ish fWAR is still a success overall for Martin, as he basically carried the rotation in the first half, just like Shane Smith last year.

How are differentiating Hicks from Newcomb, then?

Dude, I didn't write a listicle that I'm sending to Oslo for a Nobel Prize. It's a random list of mid-pitchers they worked with and have found success with. Some pitchers respond to a new system, others don't.

1 minute ago, WestEddy said:

Dude, I didn't write a listicle that I'm sending to Oslo for a Nobel Prize. It's a random list of mid-pitchers they worked with and have found success with. Some pitchers respond to a new system, others don't.

So Brain Bannister will be gifted the prize by the Venezuelan VP?

Also, you don't "submit" materials to Oslo, you have to be nominated.

Btw, Devil's Advocate Ron is more fun and engaging..

Pitchfork item for me. Why dress as Spiderman to see the Odyssey? It makes no sense. Vargas and Antonacci need their head checked.

14 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Grant Taylor.
Jordan Hicks.
Bryan Hudson.
Sean Burke.
Trevor Richards.
Tyler Schweitzer.

That said, Bannister isn't their pitching coach. He isn't anybody's pitching coach.

Ian & Jimmy pointed out that Cannon has got his walks down but still doesn't strike out enough batters. Cannon's last 6 games he has issued a total of 0 walks. If he can keep that up, he could be a in house low leverage arm in the pen next year. I gave up on Cannon but he might have value, who knows.

They went dressed as Spiderman and demanded to see the movie starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal!

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Bob Sacamano

14 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

So Brain Bannister will be gifted the prize by the Venezuelan VP?

Also, you don't "submit" materials to Oslo, you have to be nominated.

Btw, Devil's Advocate Ron is more fun and engaging..

Thank you caulfield. I've been enjoying your posts lately too.

You think Devil's Advocate Ron is good, wait until you see Devil's Advocate WestEddy.

2 hours ago, Bob Sacamano said:

They went dressed as Spiderman and demanded to see the movie starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal!

I get it. The joke here is because all of the actors/actress are in both The Odyssey AND the new Spiderman

Edited 42 minutes ago42 min by ron883

16 minutes ago, ron883 said:

I get it. The joke here is because all of the actors/actress are in both The Odyssey AND the new Spiderman

22 minutes ago, ron883 said:

Thank you caulfield. I've been enjoying your posts lately too.

You think Devil's Advocate Ron is good, wait until you see Devil's Advocate WestEddy.

Is that comparable to the Anti Anti Social Club?

14 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Oppor has developed the yips. That's sports psychology. I'd love to hear what exactly Bannister "did" to Hagen and Schultz that he needs to be "blamed" for. They're trying to make their deliveries repeatable and keep them healthy.

Watched an interview with Rick Ankiel a couple days ago. He seemed interested in talking about his anxiety and even how he tried taking shots before a game to try to settle himself. Didn't work (it never does). Hope for Oppor's sake it's a mechanic thing and not a psychological one. The former seems easier to correct and probably less impactful on his day-to-day life outside of sports.

Also, reminded me Roger Angell's essay on Steve Blass. Very much worth reading if you never have: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1975/06/23/down-the-drain