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Renteria says that Kopech is throwing the ball the way I like my women...

SouthWallace, whatever you do for work, it must be the greatest job in the world. Thanks for the updates.

just to triple iterate that why the hell do you trade a critical backup catcher for a bullpen piece right now?

I’d rather keep McCann since he’s a better defensive option than Mercedes and Collins.

Additionally I have no idea how you are managing to turn Madrigal's k-rate into a negative thing. Madrigal doesn't "not k" because he's bunting or throwing his bat haplessly at the ball just to touch it - he doesn't not k because he's hitting endless pitchers pitches. He doesn't K because he has the ability to cover the entire plate and he has great hands. This assumption that if Yolmer only struck out 10% of the time instead of 20% that those extra 10% of balls in play would be weak ducks because they would come off pitchers pitches is just wrong and I have no idea where you read it. Of players with the 10 lowest k-rates over the past decade, the average BABIP for that group of players was 299.2; right around league average.

Yolmer "Drives the Ball" Sanchez had the lowest ISO among qualified hitters in baseball last season by nearly 30 points. 12 pitchers (min 50 PA) had higher ISO than Yolmer last year. It's fine if you are low on Madrigal, but obviously if he has less power than the worst power hitter in baseball his career isn't going to be anything special.

Ricky not trying very hard to put this one in the W column.

Grandal had a 138 wRC+ vs LHP last year. If James McCann is the opening day catcher, Rick Renteria should be fired.

Collins hands have legitimately looked better behind the plate this spring; I have not seen Mercedes back there so tough to say. Collins hands have looked much softer and more receiving, and his "framing" is not nearly as jerky as it looked last year. I'm not going to say he's good at it, but he doesn't look like an emergency catcher quite as much this year so far.

Your observations are well taken. And I concur. If they choose a LH the others are more logical. Reed had his shot and regardless of any injury he did not get the job done. At this point the LH are Delmonico and Palka while if a RH who has upside with power is Mercedes.

Yeah. Unless he's requested a trade ... I need to see Yermin, Collins or even Zavala absolutely crushing the ball before I want to move McCann for bullpen help unless we're getting a good reliever + a prospect. Like, there's just not an urgency at the moment unless we're getting a really good offer from the Astros or Rockies.

What I’m saying is there is zero chance Reed makes the OD roster because he offers zero defensive flexibility and the bat has shown very little in his time with the Sox. Both Delmonico & Palka would be added over him if a lefty was needed for that last spot. Discuss all you want, just find it a little odd that you’ve mentioned his name in multiple threads now. I mean, the dude wasn’t even invited to big league camp.

I was excited too, unfortunately I was informed by other Soxtalk members that Yermin is unlikely to amount to anything. Supposedly, because previous 25yr old+ AAA players in the Sox organization that have put up .850+ OPS have failed, that Yermin is doomed and we shouldn’t get so excited. That being said, I’m hoping those in the organization have more sense than this shallow thinking:)

LET THE MAN PLAY! Plenty of folks here will be eating crow

Just came here to say the same thing!

Hung It and Hurt It!

If Mercedes is fitted for a Corner OF glove, how bad can it be defensively? When taking into account the 2 statues already there.

No one reply directly to the post. Will be a pain for those of us who use our phones for the site.

I actually agree with the low k rate as a negative hypothesis. I think that by definition in order to have a K rate as low as Madrigal you have to be doing one or both of two things: a) attacking early in the count and rarely allowing yourself to get to 2 strike counts b) swinging at pitcher's pitches and making outs some other way. In the end, an out is an out over the course of a season.

You're comparing a 60 baserunner to probably the greatest of all time, that's what's going on here.

YAY YERMIN MADE IT! hahah

Too bad one of those “best prospects” can’t hit or run... according to some.

Rick Hahn isn't going to come out and say "Yermin sucks behind the plate." He's also said Collins can catch and defensively improved.

We need the spring training champion trophy and banner

I agree. Strong behind the plate is a great asset. They both will be improved for more rest. It is a really long season what with the beating any catcher absorbs.

I’ve always felt he would be traded at some point the moment we protected Mercedes. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to trade for a bench piece though unless they are young / controllable or we should have just signed one of a half dozen free agents.

I'm thinking when we get down by 3 or 4 runs there will be no reason to feel the game can't be won. I think starting pitching will be somewhere better than good depending on Lopez & Cease. I have high hopes for Grandal helping greatly along those lines.

Seems like a pretty small opportunity with EE in the fold.

Third catcher role on this team seems made for Mercedes. It's best for Collins to get more work at AAA. Along with a big bench bat...3rd catcher is mostly serving backup role to whoever is starting catcher when Grandal or McCann is playing DH.

Not much, but I didn't see him catch much last year either. He looks better behind the plate though - threw a guy out today and he looked better catching the ball in his start but you're right that I have nothing to really support that outside of eye sight that can be deceiving so it doesnt really while much weight.

How much have you actually seen Colins catch this year?

Scandalous

Theres no way Seby Zavala is in play. Mercedes and Collins are just fine as third catchers

I want it to be Yermin because he deserves it. Dude more than paid his dues in the minors.

I think the Jays can make a legit run at the division this season.

It's thinking like that that led them to pass on Jarred Kelenic.

I liked Gavin; think he could have been better than he was, but he let the game get in his head a bit too much. Gavin would have been a guy who benefited greatly from modern tech to analyze his release point and etc. I feel like he lost his feel far too often and was searching for it more than he actually had it. When he had it though, he was absolutely filthy.

Do people want these lists to just confirm what they believe or tell them something new? Is Law a crank when he stays with Giolito despite performance or when he leaves off Madrigal (despite never being much of a fan)? These lists are more fun to let you know about players you can't get many looks at...that's not madrigal. We know a lot about him and what he needs to succeed. We don't really need a writer to tell us more.

So I guess that's a no on ticket info then?

If Crochet is healthy, still in the high 90s, and available at 11 they should take him. They really need a high impact LHP.

The Cubs really seem to be waging a multi-front war on their fans over the last couple seasons.

I hope they cease to exist

cool keep us updated.