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Post by adamoraz on Aug 14, 2019 0:23:49 GMT -5
I just finished "K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches." Very entertaining with a lot of good stories about many of the games most famous pitchers and guys who no one's ever heard of. It's laid out with a chapter each on some of the games most famous pitches (slider, fastball, curveball, knuckleball, sinker, splitter, changeup, screwball, spitball, cutter) and talks about their origins, pitchers known for using them and famous moments involving each pitch. It was interesting to see nearly the entire Sox 2004 rotation highlighted (Schilling for his splitter, Derek Lowe for his Sinker, Wakefield for the knuckleball, and of course Pedro for the changeup).
Interesting moments:
Christy Matthewson's famous fadeaway pitch was actually a screwball.
Advice for hitting a curveball "Don't miss the fastball"
Why'd they ban the spitball: "Really, it was just gross."
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Post by adamoraz on May 30, 2017 13:22:09 GMT -5
Per the Boston Herald, the MRI revealed no structural damage to Pedroia's wrist.
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Post by adamoraz on Oct 11, 2016 18:42:23 GMT -5
Also, while trading Leon would definitely be selling high, I just don't see them doing it. Even if his production takes a major hit next year, he's the only catcher they have that has shown that he can hit major league pitching at all, he's strong defensively and the pitching staff loves him. That's a guy you don't just toss away.
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Post by adamoraz on Oct 11, 2016 18:35:54 GMT -5
Considering that Blake was A) pulled from the starting catching job very early in the season even though the Sox didn't have a very good backup plan at the time, B) Was sent to the minors and instead of working on his defense was immediately switched to the outfield and C) Was told by the Sox to prepare for next season as a catcher and an outfielder, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they really don't trust him behind the plate at this point. so even if he hadn't missed so much time with the ankle injury I doubt they'd use him as their starting catcher to start the season next year. Thinking outside the box, if they want his bat on the team next year I would say use him as a utility player. He's already stated he'd be willing to take that roll, he certainly has the athletic ability to play multiple positions and it would give the team a lot more versatility than say Travis Shaw, a corner infield only guy who's poor hitting dropped him from being an every day player at the start of the year to a platoon player in July to fighting for playing time in September to finally being benched in October. And considering that the team will already feature Hanley at 1b/DH, Sandoval (chances of getting anyone to take that contract before he plays a single game are between slim and nill) at 3b and whoever they get to replace Papi (And they're definitely going to go after someone, absolutely no chance that they stand pat) I think they'll need all the versatility they can get.
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Post by adamoraz on Oct 3, 2016 23:00:37 GMT -5
(Also, my god if that team had only had a half-competent bullpen... yikes. My goodness were they loaded.) Absolutely. It seems like the bullpen was always the Achilles heal of those Tigers teams. Probably one of the reasons Dombrowski was so willing to give up so much for Kimbrel.
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Post by adamoraz on Oct 2, 2016 15:39:15 GMT -5
I didn't say trade for a starting pitcher, I said when was the last off season he didn' trade away a starting pitcher. He's never been afraid to trade part of his rotation to fill other needs and I'm sure that won't change now. I highly doubt the Sox will make it to opening day with 6 starters.
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Post by adamoraz on Oct 2, 2016 0:08:41 GMT -5
Only one problem with this. When was the last time DDo made it through an entire offseason without trading a starter?
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 13, 2016 18:41:10 GMT -5
Here is an interesting one. on April 9, 1916, the seed Sox coming off a 100 win season traded 28 year old Tris Speaker for Sad Sam Jones following a contract dispute. They obviously did win two more World Series after this trade, but Speaker continued to produce through the 20s. Unfortunately I think we can answer the what if on this one. If they hadn't traded Speaker in 1916, then he would have kept hitting well for them, but then Harry Frazee would have sold him to the Yankees a couple of years later like he did with everyone else on that team. Here's another one. What if they hadn't listened to Pedro and never signed David Ortiz after he was released by the Twins?
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 13, 2016 18:36:10 GMT -5
Ockimey and Dalbec on the same squad? That could be fun.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 13, 2016 17:53:48 GMT -5
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 12, 2016 18:03:14 GMT -5
What if they hadn't traded Bagwell?
What if they HAD traded for Arod?
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 10, 2016 0:28:52 GMT -5
With Papi retiring, one approach could be to not have a dedicated DH and just try to have flexibility and depth. Swihart could be a part of that. Having two SH C, including one who can play other positions, provide a lot of flexibility, assuming that Leon is a decent hitter over the long haul. Leon would be the starter but could also get a lot of starts against RH P as a DH with Swihart doing the catching. Swihart would serve not only a backup C, but also as a spare OF and 1B. With teams insisting on carrying 12 P (which a I hate), flexibility is important. Spend some money on a decent RH 3B - preferably one who can play other positions - to platoon with Shaw and you'd have C. Young, Holt, Swihart, and the RH 3B. Get a decent player for the remaining bench spot and you'd have a deep, flexible roster that lets the manager mix and match the lineup based on the other team's opposing P. I'm thinking here of a late 1990s MFY approach. Just about everyone who got in a game was a solid Major League player. None of this Ryan LaMarre stuff going on. Yeah that's kind of what I was thinking. Especially if they can't get a solid replacement for Papi. Even if they do though, I think it might be worth giving Swihart a look as a utility guy. He already said that he'd be happy with the utility role if it gets him back to the big leagues faster and I'm always a bit hesitant about having to many corner infield only guys clogging up roster spots and if Swihart could play some infield, some outfield and catch I think it would give them a lot more options. Besides, the speed with which they switched him from catcher to LF this season and the fact that they're having him prepare for next year as both a catcher and an outfielder, make me think that A. they have at least some questions about his ability to catch at the major league level and B. that they value his bat enough to find a place for him. If his bat projects best at catcher for a starting gig, then the next best option would seem to be a utility job.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 8, 2016 19:11:56 GMT -5
Does anyone think the team would be willing to train Swihart at another position next year, maybe 1b or 3b? I know he has the athletic ability to play anywhere, and considering how quickly they moved him to the outfield this year, it seems that they probably value his bat more than his catching abilities. I'm just thinking that if he could play some infield on top of LF and catcher, that instead of sitting in the minors he would be a more versatile bench player and probably a steadier hitter, than either Shaw or Sandoval.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 8, 2016 18:13:55 GMT -5
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 6, 2016 17:24:28 GMT -5
Personally, I can't wait to see how Kopech and Devers do in Portland after dominating Salem in the 2nd half this year, what Groome looks like in his first full season and whether or not Moncada will stick immediately in the majors or if he'll have to spend some time in Pawtucket to work out the kinks. Outside of the big names I'm looking forward to getting Sam Travis off the DL and seeing how Basabe does in Salem next year. He had a strong 2nd half and gave a good performance in his few games after his promotion. He's got tons of talent so it will be interesting to watch how he does. I'm also excited to see how some of the guys who had breakout seasons this year come back next year. Mauricio Doubon, Bobby Dalbec, Roniel Raudes and Josh Ockimey (Though he slowed down considerably at the end of the year). Some other draft picks like Mike Shawaryn and CJ Chatham and a pitchers like Pennington and Cosart will be worth keeping an eye on as well.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 6, 2016 17:07:03 GMT -5
Definitely, great video and scouting info. A lot to be excited about here. I love watching him smash that home run to right field.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 18:00:41 GMT -5
Disappointing outcome. But what a game by Erod!!!
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 17:31:25 GMT -5
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 17:17:43 GMT -5
Let's hope he's not another Jack Baker- (anyone here remember him ?) big strong righty first baseman in A ball with Jim Rice, great numbers but got exposed at the highest level. One thing has me enthused that he's got a shot- Ian pushed hard to have him placed higher in the rankings- and that's on the basis of his not yet public scouting. Yes, I'm very interested in seeing more of the scouting information. I believe Chris Hatfield mentioned that it was pretty good, so we'll see what they say about his swing there. I'm also interested in seeing what they say about CJ Chatham, though he hasn't performed quite as well so far. Ha! Ask and you shall receive I guess. I'll be looking forward to seeing that scouting info this week! And Groome too.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 13:15:36 GMT -5
No matter who was picked to PR, a coach should have told him not to try to be Ricky Henderson out there and get huge secondary leads. He should be running like Papi. Stand near the base and don't slide unless your life depends on it. Because not getting hurt is the #1 through 10 biggest priorities for a starting pitcher on the base paths. Maybe #11 is scoring a run. Totally agree. They should have told him to just stand on the bag and take direction from the 3rd base coach. He should never have been taking any kind of lead. This is just more proof to me that there is nothing entertaining about watching pitchers try to hit and then blunder around the bases.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 13:06:45 GMT -5
Actually, I don't even know if your last statement is true. Dalbec strikes me as one of those guys for whom AA, and AAA for that matter, could be huge challenges no matter how well he does up to those levels. He has contact issues that at any level could be exposed to an extent that could stymie him from going further up the ladder. He sort of strikes me as a similar circumstance to Henry Owens for sort of the opposite reasons: Dalbec is power and strength potentially stymied by swing and miss due to the subtleties of better pitching; Owens has been finesse and deception potentially stymied by lack of command and velocity. Interesting parallel, and feels accurate to me. Dalbec is going to have to make adjustments constantly, is my guess, especially once he reaches AA and beyond. True, but that's not exactly unusual. Anyone that wants to be successful needs to keep making adjustments, that's just the way the game works.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 13:02:21 GMT -5
Let's hope he's not another Jack Baker- (anyone here remember him ?) big strong righty first baseman in A ball with Jim Rice, great numbers but got exposed at the highest level. One thing has me enthused that he's got a shot- Ian pushed hard to have him placed higher in the rankings- and that's on the basis of his not yet public scouting. Yes, I'm very interested in seeing more of the scouting information. I believe Chris Hatfield mentioned that it was pretty good, so we'll see what they say about his swing there. I'm also interested in seeing what they say about CJ Chatham, though he hasn't performed quite as well so far.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 8:06:19 GMT -5
Nice to see Basabe having a strong game right after his promotion. Can't wait to see how he does in Salem next year.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 4, 2016 0:05:16 GMT -5
I would think with Buchholz having bullpen experience already this year, and Erod's success since the all star game, that as long as Erod is healthy he'll be the 4th starter and Clay will work out of the pen. Of course, that assumes Wright is definitely out and that Pomeranz pitches well the rest of the way. Now here's hoping we can avoid that wild card game.
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Post by adamoraz on Sept 3, 2016 22:41:15 GMT -5
Aarghh National League baseball. This is very bad news. Here's hoping he makes a strong recovery, even if he doesn't return until next year. Now I really hope Erod's hamstring is fully healed.
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