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Post by azblue on Dec 16, 2013 10:03:19 GMT -5
Has anyone watched Swihart play? I know that there have been several televised Portland games, but I've not seen Swihart and am relying on scouting reports and stats to get a sense of his skill set and potential.
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Post by azblue on Dec 6, 2013 23:09:49 GMT -5
One scouting report that appeared on this board last summer indicated that Swihart's arm had become a "real weapon."
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Post by azblue on Dec 6, 2013 23:02:30 GMT -5
Hart plus a high draft pick for losing Napoli was an attractive alternative to re-signing Napoli.
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Post by azblue on Dec 1, 2013 17:24:33 GMT -5
The crowd seem to be fairly engaged in the game, doesn't it. :-)
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Post by azblue on Nov 24, 2013 11:52:37 GMT -5
The acclimation of Venezuelan players to the US is typically a smoother path because Venezuela has a much better educational system and does not have the profound depth and breadth of the poverty seen in the Dominican. This is another factor in scouting Venezuela. Talent, of course, is the most important consideration, but do not underestimate how hard it is for athletes from some cultures to adjust to the U.S.
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Post by azblue on Nov 12, 2013 9:34:28 GMT -5
I saw the Surprise game yesterday. Cecchini hustled his way to an infield single on a slow bouncer to short, hit a sharp ground ball to right field and hit a line drive to left center for his three hits. He walked twice (once with the bases loaded). He was caught attempting to steal second (but appeared to beat the throw drawing immediate reaction of surprise from the crowd about the out call). I forgot to mention in my report on the Friday game that he was picked off first base (again, it appeared to be a bad call). In the field, he had a nice assist from behind third base (a step in foul territory) to throw out a batter and dove to his left for a ball and easily threw out another batter. His throws are 3/4 overhand and on a line, not the loopy sidearm throws that we have seen from several Red Sox third basemen.
Cecchini again looked uncomfortable on off speed pitches. He swung and missed early on three and fouled off one.
Betts had a single to center on a high bouncer and lost another hit up the middle (this one hit very sharply) when the runner at first, Tyler Naquin, ran on the pitch and drew the second baseman to the bag. The second baseman reached back toward first to field the ball and tagged Naquin out. If Naquin had not run on the pitch, it would have been a certain hit for Mookie. Mookie fielded two ground balls cleanly and threw out the batters before I left and handled a popup. I was not there in the bottom of the ninth for his third assist. Mookie is very confident at the plate and in the field. He is almost as patient as Cecchini. Mookie made hard contact on all but one ball that he put in play in the two games (the single to center Monday being the exception). He also hung tough on two very close force plays at second base. None of the balls hit to Mookie gave me an opportunity to judge his arm strength.
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Post by azblue on Nov 9, 2013 20:18:04 GMT -5
Holt, Hassan and Castellanos are the kind of players who are easily replaced if they are DFA'd or traded.
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Post by azblue on Nov 9, 2013 10:44:42 GMT -5
Forgot to mention Jorge Soler. He seemed indifferent in the field. The fans were sarcastically calling him "Jorge Hustle." On the other hand, the sun problems may have caused him to be tentative. Brian Goodwin and Addison Russell were impressive for the Mesa team (three hard hits for each).
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Post by azblue on Nov 9, 2013 10:41:22 GMT -5
I watched the Surprise-Mesa game yesterday. Mesa won, 6-1. Betts, Cecchini, Shaw and Couch played. It is difficult to assess any player based on SSS (Cecchini--several television games and one live game; Betts two TV games and one live game; Couch one live game; Shaw 2 TV games and one live game). I'll just make cautious observations.
Cecchini: He had two AB's against Sammy Solis (Nationals). Solis is left handed, about 6-4, 220, with a very live arm who was the most impressive pitcher for either team. Cecchini had a short fly to right field and a strikeout against Solis. He froze several times on off speed pitches (but he was not the only one who had trouble with Solis's mix). He walked twice (once with the bases loaded). As Cecchini said in a recent interview, he is working on adjustments to more advanced pitchers who do not throw fastballs in hitters counts. In the field, he had two scorchers hit right at him (one by Kris Bryant) and he fielded them cleanly. He had one other grounder slightly to his left. He bounced one of this throws to first, but the other two were accurate. Showed good arm strength. Cecchini lost a popup in the sun in foul territory (not scored an error) and the batter hit a 2-run double on the next pitch. Several other defenders for each team had trouble with the sun which, because of the layout of the field, was directly in the eyes of the fielders. Three other catchable balls were missed in the feep outfield. Cecchini plays very upright on defense (SS habits are still being unlearned). I have a better understanding of why some evaluators have suggested left field as his ultimate destination. He is reasonably athletic and capable of playing third base, but he has much work to do (as he has said himself).
Betts had a single past the second baseman. Very hard hit ball. He had a walk, a strikeout and hit into a double play with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning. Only one chance in the field. He caught a popup.
Shaw. Not very athletic. Walked twice. Did not hit the ball hard. DH'd. Had a good game the day before (4-5).
Couch. Meh.
I'll probably watch them Monday as well. Based on the lineups that have been used for the past couple of weeks, I expect the same group of Boston position players to be in the lineup for the Monday game.
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Post by azblue on Nov 7, 2013 12:04:52 GMT -5
The Japanese ball has higher seams.
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Post by azblue on Nov 3, 2013 14:21:20 GMT -5
Sox minor leaguers play for Surprise.
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Post by azblue on Nov 3, 2013 10:02:12 GMT -5
I second Oregon Norm's motion.
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Post by azblue on Oct 26, 2013 9:49:19 GMT -5
Perhaps the Sox can "release" 25 pounds of unneeded weight on De La Rosa.
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Post by azblue on Oct 4, 2013 9:40:38 GMT -5
Look at Sandy Koufax's record through his first four years in the majors. He evolved into having one of the best strikeout to walk ratios in the majors.
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Post by azblue on Sept 26, 2013 9:53:34 GMT -5
I think a 10-year, $300 million deal would be a great sign for the Yankees...and the Red Sox. I'm sure we all love the deals with ARod and Tex, too.
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Post by azblue on Sept 23, 2013 22:28:59 GMT -5
The thing about Jason Parks' analysis that puzzles me is his claim that Owens will not be able to improve his fastball command. Really? He can project that no amount of physical maturity, hard work and good coaching can overcome the current lack of consistency in command. What would he have said about Randy Johnson or Nolan Ryan at the same age?
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Post by azblue on Sept 4, 2013 16:01:45 GMT -5
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Post by azblue on Sept 4, 2013 15:51:06 GMT -5
Sign Salty for three years. When Vasquez and/or Swihart are major league ready, trade Salty. Lavarnway/Butler can backup.
The excitement about Swihart should not overshadow Vasquez, who will likely become an above average hitter for a catcher and provide elite defense.
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Post by azblue on Aug 30, 2013 9:54:00 GMT -5
"This thread combines two of the worst types of discussions that continually re-occur on these boards-- "what is an ace" and "what is his ceiling". Lets move away from these mostly semantic discussions. Thanks."
I found Eric's explanation of why you cannot place an arbitrary ceiling on Owens quite enlightening. It was not at all a "semantic discussion." Eric was making your point that Ceiling caps do not make a great deal of sense.
Keep up the good work, Eric. SoSH has become stale. Glad you are investing time here.
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Post by azblue on Aug 25, 2013 11:41:30 GMT -5
So the starting pitching was extremely good last night. I broke it down in this morning's Cup of Coffee. Can anyone remember a night with better performances across the board than this? I assume that you are referring to this season, because "unprecedented" as you called it in "Cup of Coffee" covers more than 100 years.
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Post by azblue on Aug 24, 2013 21:43:12 GMT -5
A feeling? Based on seeing him play many times or statistics and opinions of others? What is the factual foundation and the methodology for projecting those percentages of likely success?
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Post by azblue on Aug 24, 2013 11:09:05 GMT -5
Our 2011 draft class is just stupid good. The 2010-2013 drafts were spectacular compared to Jason McLeod's last draft in 2009.
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Post by azblue on Aug 23, 2013 9:13:00 GMT -5
"...but I've been hearing that the blocking and game-calling aren't at that level at all yet."
Every story that I have read (including quotes from his manager and coaches) have been complimentary regarding all aspects of his defense. Do you have a link to any manager, coach or scout questioning those aspects of Vasquez's defense?
Also, saying his blocking ability and pitch calling are not the best in the minor leagues is hardly criticism.
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Post by azblue on Aug 16, 2013 22:48:27 GMT -5
ERA's and batting averages in the lowest levels of A ball are sometimes a function of the official scorers. I remember when the Red Sox and Mariners had a shared team in the Arizona Summer league. The official scorer never saw a play that he thought was an error and most of the players on the Sox/Mariners team had extraordinarily high batting averages and, of course, the fielding percentages were quite high. The ERA's suffered greatly. I haven't seen any GCL games and am not commenting on the scoring. I am just pointing out that there are variables that do not exist at higher levels.
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Post by azblue on Aug 12, 2013 15:10:35 GMT -5
I watched Devin Marrero play at ASU, perhaps 5 times. He is very solid in the field. Stephen Drew is a better comp for Marrero than Jose Iglesias, but Marrero has a better arm than Drew. I would be interested to know the qualifications of the person who claimed that Marrero is a better fielder than Iglesias. Iglesias is a rare talent who is considered being one of the best defensive SS's in the majors.
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