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Post by ikonos on Jun 6, 2013 16:57:04 GMT -5
Any place to watch the draft live online?
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Post by ikonos on Jun 6, 2013 16:49:21 GMT -5
I would think that Xander is in Boston this year by mid-to-late August or as a September call-up. I was thinking permanently and not just as a callup. For service time reasons they might keep him in minors next year to start the season and bring him up in May/June time frame. Given that he is not used to playing in cold as much, he might not start as hot in AAA next year warranting them to promote him in April.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 6, 2013 16:37:54 GMT -5
I started following Xander since June 2010 when he had a 341/473/545 line with 1.018 OPS in his first 44 ABs to go with 10BB/8KO. I think he will get close to 150-200ABs at AAA this year. He has been a special player to follow these last 3 yrs and I cant wait to see him playing for Sox hopefully by next June.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 6, 2013 12:43:29 GMT -5
Corrected.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 6, 2013 11:56:38 GMT -5
Great point. In fact I think I remember reading some study a couple years ago that specifically looked at the angle of the bat in the swing path. Basically said that the optimum swing path to generate loft to make balls carry had to include a path that rose in a 37 to 45 degree angle. When you hear "flat swing" or a guy has no loft in his swing (Lars Anderson, Sweeney) it is often because he is not generating this strike angle at the point of contact. All else could be perfect, but the result will be ground balls or line drives that do not rise as opposed to rising line drives or arcing fly balls. If I can find the study, I'll pass it along, but I think this was also cover in that book "The Physics of Baseball" - which, btw, has a great quote in it regarding bat size vs. bat speed. The basic assertion was bat speed was much more important to hitting home runs or long drives than bat size. So the question is asked,: "Then why do these power guys try to swing the biggest bat they can handle?" the researcher's answer: "Because they're stupid." There is something to be said for Physics by itself and Physics with a human psyche attached to it. Its possible a heavier stronger guy may not be able (or feel) to control the lighter bat to his optimum comfort level to generate the same bat speed while he could do it with a slightly heavier bat. With lighter bat he might be getting ahead of the ball? It may not be as simple as them being stupid but if I were the researcher I will also think the same of those "stupid under-educated jock" ball players.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 6, 2013 11:49:34 GMT -5
It's outsie the box, but is there anything that presents the Sox from lowballing their first round pick, using the extra money to sign tough signs later in the draft (like Manaea) and then getting the 8th pick in the 2014 draft (which is supposed to be better) if the first rounder doesn't sign? UGH.. we have already talked about this at length.. If you don't sign your first pick, your lose that money, it can't be reallocated. The Red Sox are not picking a player at #7 with intentions of not signing them to get a pick next year period. You are right you cant use the money to sign later picks in the draft but if 2-3 of the players they are targeting for that pick are gone they might as well employ this scenario and take tougher signs later in the draft. If it works out they get a player for cheap at the top and probably a better player later in the draft. If it doesn't you step down one spot and lose having the player in your system a year early but Sox will get 8th pick next year in a deeper draft and the pool money associated with that pick. Teams usually dont do that as they value having the player in their system early more and if they dont negotiate in good faith it ruins their reputation and am sure teams dont like that up to some extent.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 5, 2013 13:14:35 GMT -5
I dont mind any one RedSox picks but just for discussion, Scouts say Frazier pretty much filled out his frame and could that be the reason for his bat speed and power advantage over Meadows at this point? If he pretty much filled out his frame this young and has a violent swing (not sure if this is true), is that a cause for injury concern? May be meadows being smooth and not yet filling out is better in the long run? Any comments?
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Post by ikonos on Jun 4, 2013 18:48:56 GMT -5
I am sorry but I am not feeling Lil'Yaz. You just know the Red Sox are going to take Mike Yastrzemski somewhere on later on day 2. I am not so sure about it as they already took him once and didn't get to sign him.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 4, 2013 18:44:03 GMT -5
I think if Stewart goes then Sox will go for Meadows. From what I read he has a smooth swing with balance (not many moving parts) which enables him to be consistent. Nothing to worry about his power as he fills in to his frame he will get his power. IIRC he has a better hit tool than Frazier and if that is true he will do well and will have a higher floor than Frazier and potentially equal Ceiling. Frazier on the other hand has gamer written over him which could mean he may not be as risky as it sounds, but I dont think he will be there for Sox and possibly Meadows camp wins out.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 1, 2013 23:30:36 GMT -5
lol Can't help thinking of the singer Julio Iglesias when I think of Jose. Yeah, Jose will be able to turn it, but it is the idea of runners coming straight ahead at you that could of concern at this start. It could take a little time to adjust . That was my concern about Jose at second, at least for now. Its not always the 2B that turns the DP. As a SS am sure he is used to runners coming to knock him off his feet. What Jose needs to show is if he can pivot and make accurate throws to 1B. He seems to be playing pretty good 3B so there is no reason to doubt if he can adapt to 2B. He just seems to be a good athlete and comfortable out there on the field.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 1, 2013 19:05:29 GMT -5
X- Man and Almanzar are making a very good one-two punch in Portland. I wonder why X-Man is batting second and Almanzar clean up, with Thomas, a journeyman minor leaguer, batting 3rd? Whatever,it is working and X-Man is walking more, with a much better walk to k ratio. Maybe he is in the second hole to acquire these skills? Almanzar's ratio has also improved from last year, so far. Not sure of the reasons but I would think to get more AB? I am not sure they follow the big league style lineup in minors as they are mostly for developing players.
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Post by ikonos on Jun 1, 2013 18:55:24 GMT -5
Xander 2 for 2 with a 2B and 2BB so far today. He must be in a zone these last few games. Any one at the game comment on the kind of pitches he is getting? Are the pitchers challenging him? Off speed pitches? Working around him?
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Post by ikonos on May 31, 2013 20:02:07 GMT -5
YES!!! That's the one. If we get Stewart then fine but most of us prefer Frazier to Meadows and if we choose Meadows and Frazier turns into what we think he could for Toronto of all teams that would hurt. I am sure it will hurt the same if they pick Frazier and Meadows becomes a better player than Frazier. As some one mentioned earlier, may be the internet buzz for Frazier is getting beyond what scouts see. I am sure there are HS players before him with similar bat speed who failed to become good players. Scouting, drafting and developing players at best have 10% (number came out of my behind) success rate. Trust the decision making process that goes behind picking a player who ever it is that Redsox picks. They have their reasons for picking them which may not always make sense to us.
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Post by ikonos on May 26, 2013 18:39:39 GMT -5
Don't forget the league can follow NFL route and impose sanctions on a team for violating the "spirit" even if they dont break rules. As much as it could be an interesting approach, teams might push the limits but they dont like to blatantly violate league norms.
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Post by ikonos on May 26, 2013 16:16:03 GMT -5
At the start of today's game Drew was a career 263. hitter in the majors. Iglesias was a 228. career hitter in the majors. I'd like to see a poll of major league pitchers. Would you want a good defensive SS that hit 263. or a great defensive SS that hit 228.? Heck ,I'd lower it to a 200. career average and ask the question. I do want Iggy to hit enough to take over the SS position but the question should be do you want a good SS with 750-800OPS or a great SS with 600-650OPS
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Post by ikonos on May 24, 2013 22:24:46 GMT -5
Lackey pitched very well this year. Even in the first few starts he would pitch well and then stink up an inning o two. In couple of starts errors doomed the team. If he continues to pitch well this team can do very well this season.
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Post by ikonos on May 24, 2013 17:55:44 GMT -5
Well Temple you are famous. People are signing up just to knock you. Its probably a regular who want to make that point but dont want to give up their identity albeit a pseudo one
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Post by ikonos on May 24, 2013 16:34:18 GMT -5
Its also possible that they want Iggy to get used to playing at 3B and 2B along with SS as a super sub which most likely is his quickest path to stick in Majors. He wants to be in Majors and he probably is ok with that path.
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Post by ikonos on May 23, 2013 17:59:47 GMT -5
Is it understood that Masterson is Indians Ace and Buccholz is for Sox? That 2005 first round draft by sox is turning out to be more impressive than ever. I wonder if he would have had the same success in Boston though.
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Post by ikonos on May 23, 2013 17:55:15 GMT -5
Not long ago there was a shot that Gonzalez would be there for thd sox' second pick, so any claim they were thinking of him for 7th would have to come from someone explicitly saying that, not from the mere presence of sox scouts at a game along with 49 other scouts. Right? It could as well be misinterpretation of glowing remarks by sox scouts. May be the scout has the second pick in mind while the person listening thought it could be first pick?
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Post by ikonos on May 23, 2013 13:36:15 GMT -5
If one of Appel, Gray, or Bryant were to fall to 7, I think it would be stupid not to take them. I also think the odds of that happening are slim to none, depending on what decimal point you are rounding to. Outside of those three, the only one I think I would be happy with at #7 would be Fraizer. I wouldn't be terribly upset with Moran either. I think the rarity of having a high pick we have to put a little more weight in ceiling and less in floor or need. It is interesting to think, if we failed to sign our top pick, we could have up to 3 qualifying offers with Ells, Napoli, and Drew. Best case scenario 5 picks out of top 40. We could sign a good players below slot at #7 and have room to take some high upside guys in the compensation rounds. Given their injuries last year, I am not sure Ells and Drew will net you type A picks. Also if his season continues as it did this year, Ells might just take the offer to re-establish his value next year. Napoli is a good case for that but does any one know if he has language/understanding that the Sox wont tender him?
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Post by ikonos on May 20, 2013 12:59:53 GMT -5
I would say it's a given with the only mitigating factor being Iglesias' presence since they obviously want Xander playing SS as much as possible. I dont know when the PawSox season ends but if it stretches in to September Iggy could be called up and Xander can be moved up. On the other hand, with Drew only signed for this year, they probably want to see what Iggy can do at the major league level for an extended period to decide what they want to do for the SS position next year. Either way the chances of Xander in AAA by the end of the year are high if he does well at AA.
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Post by ikonos on May 19, 2013 4:09:37 GMT -5
Confirmed: bit.ly/13DxRRAMade me lose some respect for Farrell. You play to win the game. Period. Sox lost at least 2 and prob more games in 2011 trying to get Wakefield a "W" and how'd that go? I can see giving a guy the chance early on in an inning when they has a good- sized lead, but this came perilously close to 1) hurting the team in the immediate sense by putting the lead in jeopardy and 2) creating longer term damage by having an older pitcher, who was also off in his last start, throw what was basically an extra inning after his usual pitch length had been reached. And with no success. He actually looked gassed after the fourth. Hope we don't see much more of this. It was dumb. Some one (Pete Abraham I think) wrote on the globe that Buccholz said that all the starting pitchers appreciated that Farrell left Dempster in the game to get the W. If they lost the game, it would have sucked but as a new manager he probably ended up doing the right thing in the long term?
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Post by ikonos on May 18, 2013 23:37:49 GMT -5
He hit his 7th HR today. I dont remember Lin displaying that kind of power at any level. Mookie might just be gaining strength with professional training regimen and diet. The height and weight in the bios have been off frequently enough to ignore. Hope he continues to produce.
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Post by ikonos on May 12, 2013 11:36:18 GMT -5
By the logic that our second pick s very close to where our first picks usually are, doesn't it make A LOT more sense to swing for the fences with the first pick rather then be conservative? I don't agree with the logic that this point matters in the least, but if you subscribe to it then I don't know why you wouldn't go for the gusto. I'm not sure why people at still concerned with the organizational depth chart with the 7th pick. That is the worst thing the front office could be worried about. All of a sudden 3b isn't a worry because of our sophomore who's deficiencies are seemingly catching up to him and our new phenom in A ball? This coming from one of WMB and Cecchini's biggest fan. Points are two fold: 1. Things change quickly especially when talking young players 2. You draft best available talent this early. Position should only be used as a tie breaker with pitching probably weighted a little extra. I am one of those that mentioned this in the last few posts, but I wasn't suggesting they should be conservative. I am saying they should swing for the fences but at the same time avoid Stewart because of his medical condition.
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