WestEddy

You're implying that moving on from Maldonado, DeJong, Nicky Lopez, Soroka, and Eloy is "destruction"?

5.23 in the 8th, 1.50 in the 9th. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=kopecmi01&year=2024&t=p

That's probably the best you can hope for out of Maldonado. A 9-pitch strike out. Tire the pitcher, and no double play.

Jim Bowden put out a fluff trade candidates column for The Athletic. Besides breaking no more news than somebody who could just read Twitter, he's crafted this gem: Catchers: A contending team looking for a veteran backup catcher with a winning track record of calling pitches could make a move for Martín Maldonado, 37, though he’s in significant decline and provides zero offense. But a team seeking a mentor for a younger catcher might take a flier on him.

https://x.com/VinnieDuber/status/1794418103973249127

https://x.com/JRFegan/status/1794406802924421504

In ST, I thought there was a chance that Eloy would improve, but not impress enough to be traded to a contender, and the Sox would pick up his relatively cheap option for next season to see if the improvement progressed. At this point, I think he's just fried. He won't be here next year.

If Grifol just started Remillard in LF, we'd probably have a run by now.

I always thought the win probability thing was dumb. Like, thanks for telling me during an 8-0 game with 2 outs in the 9th that the win probability is almost 100%. I could have never guessed. Hey, some dudes like porn. Others like equations.

Whereas, Benintendi leads in pop-up times.

Life is a lot of good and bad.

Counterpoint: Iloy being out removes a .630 OPS bat from the lineup for more opportunity.

I don't really see how I'm disavowing it. Here's the statement I made, again: I then provided evidence of top 10 picks we seemed to have fumbled, and lower picks that are among our top prospects. If you're calling it coincidence, sure, I don't disagree. I think Getz might be a steadier influence on draft day than KW/Hahn were. We'll see. I also think Shirley's a better draft coordinator than Hostetler. It is pretty funny to see the way you, Quin, and that other guy just freak out over an 11 word sentence that really isn't saying much of anything. LOL. I'm actually impressed at how much of a threat you and Quin see me as in destroying your long crafted narratives. Every time I say something out of the box, you guys swarm like bees at the threat of somebody saying something provocative.

It was a very smart observation on my part. Again, if you have a point to make, make it. If you're just going to heckle me for saying something that is obviously above your ability to ponder, maybe your time would be better spent chewing peach pits.

And rereading this, one doesn't necessarily have to think in terms of "removing the ten best players", just the ten players that have the most upper first round hype. In a particular draft, there's only a small handful of players who are conceivable as a #1, or top 5. My thought is that under the KW/Hahn/Hostetler (Laumann) regime, the pressure to select the best remaining consensus pick was too great. That's Madrigal or Vaughn. When they're picking #15, or so, there's a much greater pool to pick from in players who wouldn't be questioned at #15. KW was a low ceiling/high floor guy. Hahn was preoccupied by hype, either in draft choice, international signings, or trades for prospects. I believe Laumann goes back to the days the White Sox relied on the MLB scouting agency for their draft prep. Hostetler did draft Larry King's 2 sons. And a water volleyball player.

Hostetler had 3 drafts - 2017-2019. I think they got lucky/unlucky with Burger. Vaughn and Madrigal were both loved by all the draft day prognosticators as "best top pick available". Gonzalez only fits with those other two in that they were most probably products of KW/JR meddling. I'm not sure if he's 5 tool (not really fast), but yeah, a lot of bad picks on low ceiling, high floor college guys who could fill a hole in a year. Shirley's a lot more out of the box, and they seem to have a clearer plan with development on what they're going to do with the picks.

Here's what I said: Here's some BS Quin blurted out, to cram a simple observation into his "Getz is really Hahn and KW in a long overcoat" narrative: I'm sure you, Quin, and this Hi9is guy have it in you to make a point without being a boorish moron, or lying. Are we buddies, yet? I need someone to take me grocery shopping.

You've told me my logic makes zero fucking sense three times, now. I'm sorry that a simple observation makes you so angry. Perhaps it's because you're too dumb to understand English. That's where my money is. Now you can carry on fucking off.

I read your post after my previous. That's what I'm thinking. Shirley seems to be a lot better at this than Hostetler. From interviews I've heard of Hostetler, he hadn't impressed me as much more than a toadie.

Maybe they're forced to get more creative when the pick isn't basically made for them by all the bloggers and mock draft guys.

No, I haven't made an argument at all. Just pointing out that in the last 11 drafts, or so, outside of Rodon (3, 2014), we've done better with guys picked at 11 or later. Just an observation. You don't have to seethe and argue with that.

Fulmer (8), Collins (10), Madrigal (3), and Vaughn (4) were all top ten picks. Sale (13), Anderson (17), Burger (11), Crochet (11), Montgomery (22), Schultz (26), and Gonzalez (15) weren't. Rodon's the only top 10 they've hit on, recently. You're welcome for the knowledge.

It's been pointed out that Paddy didn't get the same title as the other "directors". He's not so made.