Look at Ray Ray Run

He's also only run a k-rate this high for this long two other times in his career (both to start the season though), he's never had a stretch quite this long with a contact rate this low in his career - it's down 6% from his previous career low but only 2% from previous low 30 game rolling avg's. He's swinging more (swing rate up 2%), making significantly less contact, and when he does make contact he's hitting the ball 4 MPH slower on average than his previous career low EV. Lastly, this is the least effective he's been vs the fastball in 10 years (grading out near avg to below avg for the first time). It's the last two points that concern me more than the start; when he does make contact, it's softer, and he's getting beat by fastballs while in past struggles early season he was getting beat by off-speed stuff. Edwin has started slow every year of his career, and in 2018 he had similar struggles in Mar/Apr - his K-rate was 29%, so not quite where it is but still inflated. He had a 55 wRC+... but this does feel a little different because of the struggles vs fastballs and the down EV. This moment is when he usually turns it on - his struggles have never really reached the 40 game mark, or the 125 AB mark, so this week ahead may be bigger for Edwin than we know.

you are correct; sox played 17 games in 17 days last year between July 12th and July 28th and again in August. I was wrong. I guess it just feels more draining given the lack of off-days outside of the 4 collected together. Pitching injuries moreso related to lack of lead up to the season and not sure anyone has caught their legs yet.

Harry, I don't know if you've noticed but no one feels more fresh. Pitching injuries are at a historical high. 17 games in 17 days never happens in a regular 162 game season (wrong). I have no idea why baseball gave 4 off-days in such a short span the way they did. Some of the veteran starters may feel a bit more fresh for the playoffs if they have their legs under them finally. I think the majority of bullpen arms across baseball are not feeling great though.

There might be another reason why a few people don't like Grandal but do like McCann... I'd like McCann to stay, but I also would like him to go get a starting gig and get himself paid one time; which I'm sure he's excited to do.

He drops 2-4 pitches a game? Huh

Didn't regress much despite the score. Civale wasn't great but gave up 4 in 6. They had one reliever blow up pretty much. I'll say this, the most important part about this year for me is the Sox showing an ability to close something out. The season may not be normal but the race is going to feel every bit as intense and they play some good teams. They're in the playoffs almost automatically, but go out there and play high level winning baseball to close the year out and show you're here for real. Ready to play and knock off the best. A less than .500ish finsh the rest of the way would get them in, but feel unfulfilling for me.

Nicky Big Stick is the nickname and it's a final answer.

If McCann didn't play nearly half his games and at bats vs lefties his numbers likely would not be better offensively. This is the aspect people seem to be missing when comparing the two statistically. McCann has played in more successful situations for him, because he's the back-up. Grandal has to play everyday so he doesn't get to avoid his weaknesses.

I have been one of the biggest Madrigal supporters on this forum; relentless in my crusade against Harold and his hatred of Nick. That doesn't mean he should be absolved of criticism on elementary mistakes. Again, SS2k called it hyperbole and it absolutely is not... there are many smart players who will never ever run into an out at 3rd base with the ball hit right in front of them to the SS. They will go their entire careers without doing it. Because it's stupid and inexplicable.

I've actually heard this given as a reason before; he is so still and soft with his hands that he doesn't react as well late. I'm not sure how much validity there is to it, but I'm willing to listen.

Giolito was one of the only pitchers in MLB history to go from the literal worst pitcher in baseball to one of the best. McCann had a 733 OPS in 2017, and catchers historically develop slower than every other position; most specifically, their bats due to the amount of work they have to put in on other areas in the minors and early MLB careers. There are a lot of catchers in MLB history who got a lot better in their late 20's. Hell in the past 10 years the SOx have had 2. Tyler Flowers took off at 30-31, and James McCann took off at 29. McCann is a nice story, but Giolito is a historically rare turnaround story.

Nicky Big Sticks

Who is shitting on him? He's been great, and I don't think these issues will continue but if they did that would be a major problem.

lol the pro's, i wasn't good enough to be below avg in an average conference. should have had me handing out gatorade.

it means a guy who has overcome his anti-small bias in the game to become an elite prospect and top 5 pick is not a moron of a baseball player. It's very much at the core of the discussion. It's not subconscious, it's how the game and scouting work.

He's done 3 things this season that dumb players won't do in a year. He's done 3 things this year that some players will go their entire career without doing.

You might be right, but that first pitch is inside a little and not a strike but it's not egregious. He turned around after that strike three and complained. It's the second time I've seen him do that on an obvious strike. That 2-1 strike changed the AB, so maybe he was still b****ing about that.

The pitch he argued, that was called strike 3, was 2 inches off the heart of the plate. The entire ball caught the outside corner with about an inch to spare. It wasn't close. You don't want to get in the habit of complaining about strikes; shows a lack of strike zone awareness.

Yes, it is easier to hit against people you see more often. I don't know why this is breaking news to you... familiarity benefits the hitter more than the pitcher. If I see a slider and fastball from the same angle, same pitcher, same velo day after day that benefits me. I become comfortable with the release and the angle the pitch comes in.

There is literally zero excuse for his decision making outside of this season is weird and he's not thinking right. He ran to third on a ball hit right in front of him; you don't do that in little league. He tried to extend a double into a triple with ZERO outs. That is another thing not even a little leaguer does. He blew threw a stop sign and was hosed easily with the heart of the order coming up. Last night he argued an obvious strike with the umpire; the second time he's done that. That's another thing you just don't do and you look like a moron when you do it. I have no doubt 5'8 Madrigal is a smart baseball player, but so far he's played nothing like one.

Nick Madrigal is the dumbest "smart" baseball player I've ever watched. Madrigal has made more outs at third base in this short season than I did in 16 years of my life playing baseball. He's made more errors than I thought he'd make in a year. Nick has been awesome and will be great, but he has played absolutely idiotic baseball so far but I'll use the whacky season and him being amped for making the big leagues as the reason.

I don't really feel like going back and looking through everyone on the Mariners roster, but the Texas League last year (where Kelenic plays) has the Dodgers AA affiliate, Cardinals, Oakland, Houston, Padres, Royals and Rangers. Those AA pitching staffs encompass way more top prospects than the Mariners system on it's own. The funny thing is Clayton Kershaw also made a start in the Texas League last year. It is easier to play vs your teammates - even if they are better in some cases - than it is to play against other teams series after series.

The homer he hit last night was a welcome to the show moment for Brubaker. He threw that slider exactly where he wanted to; low and away on the paint. McCann took it out to CF and Brubaker just shook his head in amazement.

The entirety of the minor leagues has significantly more pitching depth than a single organization; you also don't see the same guy over and over again which is a big advantage to the hitter. When you pair familiarity with the depth fact it means a much more friendly hitting environment. Vaughn better be raking, as should be Kelenic.

What are you arguing? What are your eyes telling you? I think there's something to Grandal not being a great receiver; I have argued that same thing on this site. The industry is definitely torn on how good Grandal is as a catcher, and I am one who leans towards he's not a great defender class, but he's still an elite overall catcher and the future of this team at the position. McCann has been put in situations for him to best succeed. If you want to compare catchers ERA, which is much better for McCann (2.52) than Yaz (4.72) you need to compare the opponents and the pitchers he is catching. McCann has been put in a position to look as good as he can, and that's good coaching btw. Last year, Grandals catcher's ERA was also higher than his team ERA in Milwaukee but the year before with the Dodgers they were near identical. In 2017, his ERA (3.22) was better than the team ERA (3.48). The point is, that number jumps around and has more to do with your opponents and who you catch than it does your own abilities.