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
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 9, 2015 16:35:44 GMT -5
Tubbs, 6-5, 205, supposed to be a good defender, had his best season by far this year, .305/.393/.601/.994. Hit .194 with no HRs for Bristol in the Cape in 2013.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 9, 2015 11:56:00 GMT -5
I'd like Nix, Chalmers, or Matuella, but Demi Oromoloye really intrigues me as well. Also keep an eye on Team USA players, the Sox always take one, along with a JC player. Oromoloyee reminds me of some of the big muscular guys the Sox took chances on in the last several years, guys with a lot of power, poor pitch recognition, holes in their swings, etc, none of whom are still in the system. There just seem to be too many things here that need to be fixed.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 9, 2015 11:53:43 GMT -5
Before the draft he predicted that Benintendi might go high, even higher than 7th, that he had more helium than any other player. All I can tell you so far is the quote above, and that Benintendi is not listed under his "Picks I Love" section. I also think it's pretty obvious that Kieth can predict something and still not agree with it. I'm not in love with this pick either. Doesn't seem like much to dream on, and could be a bit of a tweener. That said, in Ben we trust (what choice do we have) and I'm sure I'll be proven wrong. I know what he wrote. I read him regularly. I suspect that his rating of Benintendi in part was due to his sudden rise. He doesn't have as long a record of outstanding performance as some of the others he outperformed this year. I really like this pick. Based on what I have read, I think this kid has a real chance to be very special. He made himself into a much better player. I like that kind of drive and prefer it to kids who have so much talent they don't try hard.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 9, 2015 11:27:45 GMT -5
Nothing regarding the Red Sox. Keith said "there are picks I liked more than others, with my big board my means for comparison." Given that Benintendi was at #21 on the big board, it's unlikely that he's going to love this pick, although it might be in his middle ground. Before the draft he predicted that Benintendi might go high, even higher than 7th, that he had more helium than any other player.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 9, 2015 11:26:15 GMT -5
The Matuella situation is interesting. While some pitchers come back in a year or so after TJ surgery, everyone is different and some take much longer. Sometimes it may be a mistake to come back too early (Dylan Bundy). The safe bet is that Mutuella will not be throwing like he did before TJ until 2017, assuming he makes it all the way back.
So then what really is his leverage?
If he does pitch some next spring almost certainly he won't be all the way back, and it still won't be known if he will make it all the way back.
If he plays the next two years then he will be out of options and two years older. He will be old for that draft class.
I don't see a scenario in which he commands anywhere near the kind of money he would have gotten before TJ, and each year his leverage goes down.
If he is realistic, and self-confident, he will sign with someone this year for the most he can get. That probably will be the most he ever can get. But if he makes it all the way back whatever bonus money he lost will be made up many times over.
Based on my readings of the reports on the other available players, I think he is the top player left and I hope the Sox go after him.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 9, 2015 1:31:04 GMT -5
I wrote a while ago that I thought the Sox would pick a hitter. It just made sense. And I think they got the best hitter in the draft. Time will tell but right now it looks pretty phenomenal. He definitely increases the Sox prospect talent pool.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 8, 2015 10:13:32 GMT -5
Johnson has such a good record because he has superior command and control, not because he has outstanding stuff. Kelly has outstanding stuff but inconsistent command and control.
My guess, and that is all that it is, is that Johnson will be a good major league pitcher, fourth or fifth in the rotation, but that Kelly could be an ace if he harnesses his command and control.
I think it makes sense to stick with Kelly as long as reasonable. However, I also think it makes sense to take a look at Johnson at an opportune time. It won't hurt anyone to give the other starters an extra day of rest to create an opening for Johnson.
If he did well, it sure would increase the options, and opportunities, for the Sox at trade deadline time.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 8, 2015 10:04:05 GMT -5
Where is he going to get better coaching and thus better development, the DSL or the GCL?
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 7, 2015 17:06:01 GMT -5
Well the Sox showed today what will fix the team: seven runs a game and strong relief pitching. Then, no worries.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 7, 2015 10:35:35 GMT -5
Scott Lauber @scottlauber 10m10 minutes ago Joe Kelly will remain in rotation and start Friday. Steven Wright to bullpen #RedSox
Scott Lauber @scottlauber 10m10 minutes ago Justin Masterson will make another rehab start Wednesday for Pawtucket #RedSox
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 7, 2015 10:34:36 GMT -5
Scott Lauber @scottlauber 10m10 minutes ago Joe Kelly will remain in rotation and start Friday. Steven Wright to bullpen #RedSox
Scott Lauber @scottlauber 10m10 minutes ago Justin Masterson will make another rehab start Wednesday for Pawtucket #RedSox
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 6, 2015 19:38:40 GMT -5
J.T. Watkins, a catcher, was drafted in the 10th round in 2012 out of West Point. The son of Red Sox scout Danny Watkins, he completed his military obligation. This will be his first pro experience.That's not true You are right. My mistake. I missed his time with Lowell in 2012.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 6, 2015 15:09:36 GMT -5
J.T. Watkins, a catcher, was drafted in the 10th round in 2012 out of West Point. The son of Red Sox scout Danny Watkins, he completed his military obligation. This will be his first pro experience.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 6, 2015 15:05:02 GMT -5
Sandoval not in the lineup today against a RH pitcher. Any info on why?
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 6, 2015 13:54:10 GMT -5
I think I also am in favor of Kelly going to the bullpen. I think it is the best way for him to improve his command. And if he does improve it, he could return to the rotation, or maybe become the closer.
If they do put Masterson in the bullpen, I am not optimistic he will last long there. Even if they don't think he can do it, they may put him there as a last modicum of respect and affection for a good guy. And from that standpoint it is the right thing to do.
Johnson probably is the replacement for Wright if he falters.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 6, 2015 0:02:37 GMT -5
You are talking to an empty room full of ears closed that flat out don't believe you, or are hesitant at best because they didn't see it with their own eyes Dan. They never saw people like Bobby Veale throw 95-100mph+ 150 pitches per game and well over 200 innings each year, every 4 days. Nolan Ryan even in his early days the same. J R Richard.. The list goes on. Thanks. I guess I didn't realize the epidemic of lack of historical knowledge had spread to baseball.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 18:19:02 GMT -5
There is something very strange about a team's leftfielder and rightfielder batting eighth and ninth.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 16:14:37 GMT -5
Like most players Holt is a streak hitter, but he tends to have those streaks when he doesn't play regularly. He is what he is - a really good utility player who should be used that way, not as a regular. At least not with the Sox.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 16:09:52 GMT -5
I just don't think you can assume that. The pitchers didn't look like they were throwing at max effort back then the way they do now. There's no possible way they could have thrown that way for 300+ innings. I don't even know how they could estimate what Walter Johnson or Dizzy Dean were throwing. It's not like nutrition and strength training were better back then. If I had to guess, every one of the great pitchers from long ago would not be able to throw more innings than anyone else today and every one of the great pitchers today would be throwing 18 inning shutouts and then start 2 days later if they could go back in time. Maybe they were throwing waterlogged balls and all the hitters were using 40 something ounce bats which weren't built for them. I don't know. But when I look at some of those 300 inning stats, I just can't help but thinking 'batting practice effort'. Not in my lifetime. I was covering baseball in the late 60s and early 70s as part of my work at UPI and those pitchers I saw and wrote about (one of my features on the Orioles in 1969, "The Happiest Ballclub," done with the great photographer Dirck Halstead, was reprinted in that year's World Series Program) were "throwing that way" all the time. And they were doing it every four games instead of five now. The Orioles had four 20-game winners in 1971, something never done before or since. Keep in mind that the casualty rate among pitchers was enormous. If a shoulder or elbow went that was the end. And many pitchers had very short careers. These fellows who managed ten to 15 years, or more, of regular pitching were amazing exceptions. Also, there is documentation of the pitching speed of Johnson and Dean and others. I just can't recall where I read it - it was a while ago. There was some science then. It didn't all start recently. There were people keeping track of things. There are a great number of eyewitness accounts. And there were films of baseball from the early 20s on, maybe even earlier. And speeds can be computed from film. I don't disagree that the overall quality of pitching was comparable to today's. All I am saying is that the really good pitchers would be really good today, maybe even better.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 14:45:43 GMT -5
Sandoval's knee injury probably was worse than publicly revealed. He was hitting pretty well - at least lefthanded - before that. He has not hit well since then.
He normally is a good hitter and defender and what we are seeing right now should just be temporary.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 14:37:23 GMT -5
There are always exceptions with body types. But I don't think you can compare pitchers of today to pitchers of 30+ years ago. There are a lot more pitchers today throwing 95 with ridiculous sliders, etc and a lot less Bob Stanley's with their 3.65 career K/9 throwing palm balls, whatever those were. Probably a bad example, since Stanley was huge. And I'd really love to know what the average velocity was for those pitchers who used to throw both games of a double header 100 years ago. I bet it wasn't more than 80 for most of them. That was probably a day when a lot of average joe's could have played baseball if they put the time in, but hell no to that suggestion today. It didn't pay much to be an average player back then, so probably a lot of the best players were off pursuing "real careers". 71 pitchers have won the Cy Young Award since it began in 1956 the year after Cy Young died. The average height of those pitchers is 6-2, the average weight, 200 lbs. The shortest winners were Steve Stone, Mike Marshall and Whitey Ford at 5-10. The lightest was Ron Guidry at 160 (with Pedro and Tim Lincecum at 170). The tallest was Randy Johnson at 6-10. The heaviest was Sebathia at 250. I don't think there is any question that the quality of pitching overall today is superior to what it was several generations ago. Not only are more pitchers throwing harder than ever before, there also are refinements and new pitches that were not around prior to WWII, including the slider and the cutter. The science of pitching is much better understood. However, the great pitchers of the past would be great pitchers today. Walter Johnson, who is second to Cy Young in wins, was said to have thrown in the 95-100 MPH range in the 1920s. Dizzy Dean threw in that range in the 1930s - along with many others. Bob Feller, Herb Score, and many others did so in the 1950s, when my memories start. I saw the great Oriole pitchers repeatedly in the 1960s and 70s and there is no doubt in my mind that Palmer & Co. would be among the best today. Relief pitching did not really become a major specialty until the late 50s and early 60s, and even then it was not used to lighten the burden and lessen the innings pitched by the starters the way it is today. It was used when the starters faltered. As I recall, the "closer" became an identified position and began to be widely employed in the late 60s. But even then, if the starer was going well he didn't leave the game. Consequently, the good pitchers completed high percentages of their starts. When Denny McClain won 31 games in 1967 he completed 28 of his starts and pitched 336 innings. The physical feat of being a successful starter in the era before the specialized RP and limited pitch counts means those pitchers had to have far greater endurance and had to maintain command and control far longer through many more innings than what is required today. So I don't have any doubt that the good ones then would be good today.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 14:16:43 GMT -5
The Red Sox had a pitcher, Greg A. Harris, from 1989-1994 who could pitch with either arm. The Sox would not allow him to throw lefthanded, but he got a chance in one game with the Expos in 1995. Until now he was the only pitcher in major league history to pitch with both arms in the same game. He had a glove specially designed with two thumbs that now is in the Hall of Fame.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 12:34:29 GMT -5
I think it's insane that someone with his lack of size could sit mid 90s at 17 years old. there's no question that even compact pitchers can carry the water if they've got the stuff. I get such a kick out of the prejudices that so many people have against heavy players, thin players, short players and too tall players. There are a whole bunch of players in the Hall of Fame who would be considered short by today's standards and some of them threw the ball pretty good. Others hit it pretty good. Randy Johnson could barely hit the side of a barn with a pitch when he first started. He scared the crap out of batters. Luis Tiant was chubby and he threw more complete games than any of the entire pitching staffs in the major leagues today. A major reason why baseball became so popular was that almost anyone could play it, and with natural skills, exceptional players did not have to be muscle-bound, 6-6, etc. That still is the case.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 5, 2015 10:36:12 GMT -5
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Jun 4, 2015 19:51:06 GMT -5
My Feeling behind Farrell is this, "your right" he cannot play for these Guys, but he can have them mentally prepared to play. Today, HRamirez on second ground ball to the 3B, Ramirez runs, out at third, a single later in the inning might have gotten you a run. To me, that is not being mentally prepared to play. That my friend is on the Manager.. I don't think they weren't "mentally prepared." These are veteran players with some significant achievements. They are always prepared but they don't always perform up to their standrds. They did some stupid things today, but this is not the kind of game that should be used to pass judgment. Too many crazy things happened. It wasn't normal. Forget about it. Also forget about Farrell being fired. Henry made it abundantly clear that it isn't going to happen now.
|
|
|