SoxProspects News
|
|
|
|
Legal
Forum Ground Rules
The views expressed by the members of this Forum do not necessarily reflect the views of SoxProspects, LLC.
© 2003-2024 SoxProspects, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Home | Search | My Profile | Messages | Members | Help |
Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
Recent Posts
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Apr 4, 2021 2:07:15 GMT -5
Hopefully to move this conversation in a more constructive direction: Now that we have really improved depth within the farm I wonder if we start to shift away from the quantity over quality strategy. Maybe the improved state of the farm system will be an incentive to take a swing for the fences while we still can (before Intl. draft is implemented). I guess what if really depends on is if you think we get more blue chip guys with 10 lottery tickets (10 is just an placeholder / estimate, you get the point), or with 1 or 2 big signings. Personally I’m not sure, but I think previously the state of the farm system has made it pretty easy to move towards the 10 lottery ticket side. As an aside, I think theoretically it’s better for a team with a lot of resources compared to the rest of the league to spread the money over 10 guys than drop big money for the top of the class. If we have the resources to have a competitive advantage in international scouting, we should have a more informed opinion on lesser know guys who will sign for less than other teams do. This advantage is probably not as strong for the high end / big bonus guys in the class. Might as well leverage the advantages we have. They did that, 2017 and prior with exceptions being penalty seasons of course. I can see them targeting perhaps 1 decent IFA kid, like they did Bleiss in the previous year, or preferably MLB gets it's act together and starts lumping all amateur players, under a certain age (20-21, whatever) as eligible for the June Rule 4 draft and gets rid of bundles of problems and corruption in one area of the world and 1 size fits all simplification of who ends up where. It even more than likely cuts down bonuses, which should be 1st and foremost on the mind of roughly 1/3 of the teams in the game constantly complaining about revenue. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Apr 3, 2021 10:43:04 GMT -5
Just in case some who may have skipped over that part of the post I wrote above and thought hadn't taken that into consideration. That said? Being a knucklehead/spoiled kid who is disappointed about getting sent down (should that be the case) is another matter.
As I am told quite often on this site.. It's not the 60's and 70's any longer. Family emergencies and health scares are not cause for being shut down without pay. Pouting, wanting time-out time more than likely are still, tho if the game continues to regress???
|
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Apr 3, 2021 8:39:39 GMT -5
It's not like Buttrey went to school or anything. What does he propose to do during his sit down strike? He made the pro rated amount last year of near MLB minimum and some on 2019, but is he expecting to live off of that? This seems as brainless as some of the IFA guys who pull this stunt, unless there are some underlying family issue/health of course driving it. Hope for his sake that if it's just a pouting situation over being optioned he gets over it, for his best interest. Angels are under no pressure to trade him if that's what he thinks and can let him sit in limbo as long as he wants/money holds out, or he feels like working at McDonalds. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Apr 3, 2021 4:54:49 GMT -5
That's often used as what defined Joe, but is what many Sox fans who didn't know him only saw as a large example of his no nonsense mentality towards the game and let me tell you as someone who did know Joe Morgan from his days way before getting the MLB job.. He didn't play favorites and he'd tell anyone of his players to their face when they stunk, were lazy and what he thought of them and their efforts.. I saw it more than 1 time during ST at the MiLB complex in Winter Haven when he was only the manager of the old Bristol AA team. Dog it running? I've seen it him meet them and go tell them to go run some more. Take half a$$ed swings at BP? I was in the middle of talking with Joe one time when he motioned me to hold on, then chewed out Otis Foster. No.. Joe was a LOT more than the little Rice_owen incident. he could have cared less what name was in the back and i tell u something else about him.. That half wise-ass crap he fed to the reporters was what they deserved. he was well spoken and not the fool they thought he was.. Then he was dealing with the Boston press.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Apr 2, 2021 22:05:01 GMT -5
By the offense will agree. How West anointed himself opening day behind the plate? usual bad game there with missing many for both sides. instance is cost Eovaldi extra 11 pitches in 2nd inning blowing 3rd strike on what would have been 3rd out, then batter gets on. It screams robotics call balls and strikes with him, Angel Hernandez, Tim Timmonds. Another thing is Cora using his inner Don Zimmer and refusing to drop certain guys in the order due to the "name" and what they have done previously, not lately. I mean mostly JD Martinez, who had no business hitting 3rd, like he had none hitting 3-4 last season after the 1st 30g or so. This was where ex Sox skipper Joe morgan had the guts to forget what name was on the back of a jersey.. Stop massaging the egos of ballplayers. It's big enough already. CVaz should have probably been higher, JD Lower. This isn't a popularity contest. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Apr 2, 2021 7:48:45 GMT -5
How many Spring turnarounds for opening day starters were there? Watching the M's-G's game.. Gausman looked brutal 2 games saw him in. He's still throwing mid 90's after 6 innings with 1 hit given up. Maybe Eovaldi can do same today??
|
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Apr 1, 2021 11:43:57 GMT -5
Time for my annual rant in favor of the common sense idea of starting all season-opening series in warm weather/indoor stadium cities. Toronto is starting at Dunedin this year, tho they do have that roof if not for the virus. Odd thing.. Virus stopping all teams (except Rangers) from having more than think it's 25% most any of the other 29 teams are allowing in.. Why should teams in frozen NE play home games there with so few in attendance rather than warm ST locales? It's not going to be attendance figures. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 30, 2021 20:18:45 GMT -5
I think sending him down is necessary to keep him stretched out though, and it provides a lower-risk environment for him to work on developing the split and command of the four-seam without getting punished for it at the MLB level. Remember, in MLB games last year that didn't matter at all he barely threw the splitter. Games this spring matter more - he's not going to throw the work-in-progress pitch more. If it's May and there are starters really, really struggling, then yeah, it might be different, but if this week told us anything it's that they're definitely going to be comfortable going to him when needed and that there is value keeping him stretched out. They already have two long guys in Andriese and Whitlock. I'm skeptical they can keep a third reliever stretched out. I mean, if you (not manfred specifically, just generally) weren't clamoring for him to be up when he walked 5 guys in his first outing that lasted 0.2 IP, or walked 4 and hit a guy in his 2.2 IP third outing, you shouldn't be now. He is both of those pitchers. Hell, it's not like he even outpitched Pivetta or Perez this spring, right? I don't get it. I totally get that, and I’m not adding sending Houck down to my Festivus airing of grievances. But.... the mantra around here is “it is spring,” so I’m not so shaken by early control issues if they are on a proper trajectory, just as I’m not ready to say anyone who is not performing now won’t straighten out. And I don’t think the question is has he outperformed Pivetta and Perez so much as where is he relative to Valdez or even Andriese. I guess I find it impossible to make the case that the staff without him is better than it is with him. If fielding the best team now is the goal, sending him down doesn’t reach that goal. But I get that there are other matters beyond that immediacy. I'd like to see him get the chance also, but to start and it probably wasn't going to happen unless someone got hurt among the 5 everyone in the Sox FO had pencilled in the moment Martin Perez resigned. For keeping him on the 26th man as a reliever? I think he's better than brice, valdez, brewer, but who gets called up to start when/if they need a starter? With Mata down, the choices are sickening as it stands should Houck be sent back to relieving and remember Seabold has only thrown 7 games at AA level, I doubt he gets a sniff of an MLB roster until the end of the year, if then. Houck is too important right now as the 6th starter to fool with is my 2c. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 30, 2021 6:52:21 GMT -5
It won't be long until Houck has Perez/Pivetta's rotation spot. He's just better than them. Why do people think only the good Houck is going to show up if he pitches in Boston? Isn't it more likely that the guy we saw in the last game will continue to Jekyll-Hyde with the guy who gave up 10 walks in six innings? I have great hope for him, but I think he requires patience. I don't think any serious fan thinks Houck will be "on" every time out, as in sporting the 94-6mph FB and locating the slider spot on. It's more of look at the rotation as it currently sits, minus Chris Sale.. It's "hope" this and "hope" for that. We can be pretty sure of *1* member of the 5, being Martin Perez as a consistent, back end starter, which is usually good enough, but right now? Boston needs a 2019 Eduardo Rodriquez, or a mid 2010's Garret Richards to anchor down the top spot and there are no signs of that happening, same with Eovaldi being consistent from game to game. Maybe it all starts fresh come Thursday and these inconsistencies go away, but picking on the Houck walks early, while turning a blind eye to 4 others who had issues is overlooking a problem waiting to happen. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 29, 2021 10:51:38 GMT -5
No predictions curve from me, but a prediction.. Steve Cishek has been available to 30 teams for several days now since being released by the Phillies from his 2m MiLB deal. i predict his 2021 MLB numbers will be better than Valdez, Brice, Brewer that are as of this moment, all occupying 40 man spots and better than anyone can see of the MiLB guys.. He has closing experience and he's still throwing low 90's this spring.
Is keeping proven relievers off the team more important than trying out these analytical guys, who probably none will ever amount to a hill of beans? Philly was bumping the cap. Shouldn't taking advantage of Cishek's availability be an easy take?
edit.. How easy forget.. It was Houston.. Looked and more info.. Houston at 203.5m according to story read with more moves possibly coming. Cishek himself requested the release.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 28, 2021 15:18:26 GMT -5
wasn't important
|
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 26, 2021 19:42:39 GMT -5
Dead arm refers to a labrum injury that prevents full extension of the arm in the throwing position. If there is any significant tear, then rest is frequently not curative. This is not just a tired arm. It is an injured shoulder, and it is a cause for concern, especially if ERod is not able to return after missing just a week or so. Jumping from "dead arm" to a labrum injury is a pretty presumptuous leap without any additional information. Most of the time dead arm is just a fancy term for fatigue and that happens to tons of pitchers during spring training. Your muscles aren't quite in the peak condition they'd generally be in during the season so you don't bounce back in between starts as easily. A little extra rest and conditioning takes care of this issue for most. I agree with this. Older fans will remember seeing/reading about many pitchers having a so called "dead arm" and nothing long term, just a few weeks rest and back to normal. Whether or not the term "dead arm" is being slung around in different terms now is another question, as in what the google search shows, but i remember many times reading of this issue, usually either very early, or very late in a season and myself? Not really worried about him missing a lot of time. It's not like it was in the 70's-80's when lots of guys went down with either labrum tears, or rotator cuff injuries. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 26, 2021 19:23:33 GMT -5
Is there any rational justification for Brewer to make the roster? His phenomenal spin rate has never translated into the ability to be a reliable pitcher. Time to end the experiment. Great spin rate...too frequently poor location. Tempting, tantalizing..but in the end, disappointing. I've been fed up with this so called phenomenon of "spin rate" for awhile. Why not just call it a good curve, or that guy has a good slider?? Why with the so called technical BS that means zippo? Either it works, or it doesn't. You take a kid, see what he has, watch him, work with him thru issues and last thing is throw some meaningless nonsense into the equation to fill his head. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 23, 2021 14:30:40 GMT -5
What I learned in spring training? The SP group is going to be painful to watch. If barnes is your closer over ott scrap the season now. We will score lot of runs. Bullpen might be above average this season. Wishing we targeted more SP instead of bench players. What free agent would you have liked the Red Sox to sign? Most were coming back from injury or had so so seasons in the last couple years. There were no David Price / healthy Chris Sales on the market. (I do not think Trevor Bauer qualifies). With me it's been relievers all the way. So many went dirt cheap on make good MiLB deals. I could name off several more than O'Day and Cishek, both who would be solid arms if healthy and they have looked ok to me in games seen this spring, Cishek especially is a guy always liked. Just a workhorse and he throws "sideways funk" that actually works. Think his 26 man spot guarantee is like 1.5m?? How much will Schreiber make? he's never done anything at the mlb level throwing sidearm. The little bit of cash was there in feb, when many of those guys signed. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 23, 2021 9:31:15 GMT -5
oregonnorm says After a couple of days with no strikeouts, Dalbec's K rate has dropped below 40%. He's down to 37.5% at this point. Small detail and not meant to diss Bobby or Norm, Dalbec is at 41.67% K rate. And answer me this, if there were no Dalbec, would we all be talking excitedly about the Chavis return as a power threat? Fan of Chavis also, but what shouldn't be over looked is he's been getting balls thrown into his zone this spring, like today with that blast.. Another FB down in the zone, which can count on drying up for the most part once the season starts. Chris and several others have said this numerous times. It's ST. We are seeing a lot of minor league pitchers, retreads and guys just tuning up. Let's not put a whole lot into the offensive numbers of either Chavis/Dalbec. Hold any judgement until around end of May and see if 1 or the other..Maybe both is on the 26 man roster, or played themselves off. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 23, 2021 8:07:00 GMT -5
Let's keep this discussion to Noah Song the baseball player. Thanks! Which begs the question.. What is the reason he's not currently *playing* baseball? He's not on some pilgrimage to nowhereseville, seeing how some obscure tribe of who know what builds huts. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 21, 2021 21:38:22 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing. Add Richards in there aswell Eovaldi, Perez, Pivetta, and Richards may not be consistently good, but it would be really hard for them to be as bad as last year. That being said, I will be looking forward to each of their next starts to see if they can right the ship enough solid average mlb pitchers. I have adjusted my expectations to be satisfied with “average-ish” form these four. Hopefully above average to all-star performances will come from minor leaguers graduating to the mlb Red Sox and from big FA acquisitions. I'm sure there is someone here (ahum...) who has a fair count on what pitch each of the 3 named used in each inning of the televised games. granted, several were on other than Nesn networks, with announcers babbling nonsense about useless rubbish, even more than Remy/Obrian have this spring with all these "hot interviews" during game and other garbage, but from the eovaldi start, what caught my attention early on and media was all over, without complaining, only highlighting positives of.. Is he fell in love with his FB the 1st 2 innings again, just like he did his 1st start if remember than ST opener correctly and only started using his curve later, after he had been beaten around and wtf happened to the nasty cutter? Either it was rotten his last game, or i only noticed a couple. Think Pivetta fell in love with his fb also last game saw him in, but looked like his issue might have been problems commanding it. It's still ST. Might be part of the plan for both eovaldi and pivetta and Martin? his velo, according to the atlanta tv gun was never over 92. Perhaps he is working on his commanding issues also. he did keep throwing the fb, time after time when it was being hit and hit hard. Just my 2c. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 20, 2021 22:00:56 GMT -5
Neither Leon/Plawecki had any history of hitting. Boston pitchers raved about Leon's defense and game calling ability. It was about saving a cpl million could be said and not offering up arbitration to Leon, but I've got to think if Plawecki turns into a .200 hitter, with little power, he better be one of the best backups in the game to stick another season.
Musical catcher time for backups again.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 20, 2021 19:09:13 GMT -5
If Plawecki reverts back to the way he hit in Cleveland, who do the Red Sox bring up? Wong or Ronaldo Hernandez? He's looked the part hasn't he? Kind of reminds one of the freak year with the bat where every pitcher gave Sandy Leon those meatball FB's he loves down in the zone.. Shame he never could hit anything else, but opposing pitchers that 1 year just kept throwing him the same thing over and over and over.. It's tough to count on a guy who out of the blue has a freak season when they have never produced. Ditto Valdez as well. We'll see if the league hammers that change in 2021. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 18, 2021 18:59:56 GMT -5
The simplest thing would be to simply rule that 2020 doesn't count against the Rule 5. Yeah, this would work. Should cover every player affected by the lost season and only those affected. I think. It's a logical solution. Agree with you, but it's got to go thru the MLBPA and potentially hurt a player's service time, meaning it will never fly unless the union gets something in return. Nothing is free these days, even if it makes sense and is for the good of the game. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 18, 2021 4:00:43 GMT -5
Listening to games on radio, as I did today, so reminds me of my youth when neighborhood buddies, after playing ball all morning, would gather 'round for dogs/cokes, listen to Curt G's dulcet tones and familiar refrains..."3 and 2, the big one's due". But to the present: E-Rod, in admittedly limited Spring innings, has displayed much better command and control....In prior times it seemed that he nibbled or was wild resulting in high pitch counts and exits after 5 innings...When his velo was up...94-96, there was less issue, perhaps related to increased confidence. But now, even with lower FB velos at 90-93, he has exhibited much greater efficiency. In nearly 12 innings, he has not walked a single batter!...and has still been very effective. Is this a short term aberration or a transformation of trust in his stuff? And, what do we have if the velo jacks back up? He's such a scary extension candidate isn't he? What do u get if the velocity goes back up, stays the same even. he's been so inconsistent/injury prone if take out 2019 for his entire career, fixed knee and all. Both the prime candidates really are scary in their own way.. devers and ERod. Devers because he's probably going to have to be moved off of 3b before long if he doesn't improve, but his bat should remain good for several seasons, so if the FO targets 1 of the 2? I'd go with him if they want the highest dice roll of who will provide most worth. It's harsh and ERod may stay healthy and remain not picky (turn into Doubront). The thought of paying ERod 100m over 4y just scares me. [/quote] |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 18, 2021 3:48:27 GMT -5
I repeat my point.....unless Song really wants a career as a Naval Officer (non pilot), he could have resigned after his junior years and had little to no commitment. My brother started at the Air Force Academy in a class of 4000 and at graduation there was only around 1000 remaining. Guys were cut for academics, could not pass basic training, could not officers training, or survival training.... Song has made it very clear that he wants both careers. I, for one, am unwilling to say that's beyond him. He seems laser focused, and that should serve him well as he works towards those goals. I respect him for this choice. Have s said numerous times at least a 4y hitch in any service is good for any US citizen to teach and responsibilities and maturity, which many lack. Only did a 4y hitch myself, plus some reserve time later and most was close to "home", but the things taught by joining will never be gained in civilian life and the messages remembered forever. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 13, 2021 19:11:19 GMT -5
Just listening to the radio it sounded like Groome threw well. 96 or so on the fb, decent curve and change, one weak slider. Will be nice if he rebuilds value. I'd like to ask a question if anyone knows about what Sox coaching may have done with Groome's curve? I saw him 1 game each in both 2016 and 2019 here in The Fort. Both times, his curve, which everyone would figure was his best pitch, but he had a larger break both times. Yes.. Today was an inning, like both previous times saw him, tho the one he threw today was a "tight" looking curve also, as well as what i call shorter. Have they modified his curve since he came back? Don't remember seeing him any other times since TJ, except here at Ft Myers until today and just wondering. |
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 13, 2021 16:14:01 GMT -5
Exciting, dominating game by the Sox overall.. Until Schreiber came in in the 9th and looked as bad as he did his 1st time out. Can this guy please be the next waived when a roster spot is needed? He looks worse than does Brewer and from the history have looked at, see nothing to look forward to as an improvement to hope on.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnsilver52 on Mar 12, 2021 4:49:28 GMT -5
That robot ump idea has been a tremendous idea and probably could have been put into practice 30+ years ago. Remember reading about it being tested in Ron Luciano's book many years ago.
Not only would it make every K zone the same, but do away with umpires who cannot really judge constantly balls and strikes.. Hernandez, west and the newer ones who surely will come along into the lifetime job.
|
|
|
