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Lillian

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Posts posted by Lillian

  1. Let's just hope that a Twins pitcher doesn't throw at Mercedes and he either gets hurt and, or a brawl breaks out, resulting in injuries and suspensions. 

    Who needs this ridiculous drama. Just play the game. If La Russa doesn't approve, it would be better if he handled his displeasure in a more subtle way, and kept it entirely within the clubhouse. Coming out of the dugout and gesturing at Mercedes was probably not the most prudent way to express his displeasure. The Sox seem to be winning more in spite of La Russa, than because of him. I don't remember this many incidences in an entire season, under Renteria and the season is only 25% completed.

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  2. If the issue is some nebulous nonsense about "respect for the game," or respect for the opponent, then where is the respect in putting a position player on the mound to throw a 47 MPH "pitch"? One could argue that such an act is disrespecting the Sox and Mercedes. After all, it could just as easily be considered insulting to the batter; "Here is what we think of your ability to hit". Do fans really pay to see a non pitcher throwing a ball slower than a 16 inch softball player? If teams are going to save their bullpens with such nonsense, then don't ask a hitter to embarrass himself, by failing to produce against such a pathetic pitch. Who would be disrespected and embarrassed more; the hitter who can't hit a 47 mph lob toss, or the position player, who gives up a home run? If it were me, I'd rather be the guy who someone hit a homer off of my ridiculous lob toss, than the hitter who struck out on such a pathetic pitch.

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  3. How much of this improvement in the quality of at bats do you think is attributable to Menechino? Grandal has always drawn a lot of walks and Madrigal was advertised as a exceptional contact hitter, but the entire team seems to be improving, in this regard.

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  4. Admittedly, Sheets is a big unknown, but that outfield has little offensive thunder and leaves the lower 3RD of the order pretty unproductive. If the kid can play RF, it might be worth taking a shot. The current production isn't a very high bar to exceed. This organization has a history of rewarding good Minor League performance with Major League opportunities. Given how hard Sheets has worked, to prepare and how well he is hitting, he should be given a chance, if he can continue to produce at AAA. Perhaps when Engel comes back. Engel in CF, with Sheets in RF might provide enough defense, as well as more time for Sheets to demonstrate a measure of sustainability to his torrid start.

  5. 6 minutes ago, Chick Mercedes said:

    Well the scales might be balanced at this point, but you put 2 first basemen in the corners and I think the thing  eventually collapses. And again you should just stick Mercedes out there if you are implementing this line of strategy. Sure, Gonzales, go for it. Wouldn’t mind Rutherford either. Its never gonna be ideal, but…. Yeah, if imperfect plugs are being used, at least let’s get a real outfielder imo.

    Sheets has slimmed down and has worked very hard to add the ability to play the OF to his "resume". His father spent a lot of time in the off season working with him to become an outfielder. I have no first hand knowledge of how well he is fielding his position, but they are using him in RF in Charlotte. Comparing Sheets to Mercedes as a RF option is not justified. If Yermin lost some weight and spent a considerable amount of time learning to play the outfield, perhaps that would be a plausible strategy, but not under current circumstances.

  6. 17 minutes ago, manbearpuig said:

    Goodwin and that .148 average should not be seeing Chicago anytime soon.

    Yes, he hasn't done anything at Charlotte to justify being called up. However, it's a very small sample size and he does have a Major League resume. If he can shake off the rust, I suspect that he is the guy, whom they will call up, unless they acquire someone else.

  7. 1 hour ago, manbearpuig said:

    Time for a cup of coffee in the MLB with an Eaton IL stint?

    I would guess that there are at least 2 guys at Charlotte ahead of Blake, in the event that someone is called up, to play RF. Both Sheets and the newly acquired Goodwin would be more likely than Rutherford. He still has a lot to prove in his disappointing Minor League career. Nick Williams may also be ahead of him, on the depth chart. They really could use someone from outside of the organization. 

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  8. Is it possible that La Russa, Hahn, or someone else in the organization, is using Stone to deliver a message to Moncada? Perhaps he has been criticized by management, but it hasn't been effective and this is simply another way to make the point. I have no idea, just wondering. This has to be coming from somewhere. I don't believe that Stone is simply inventing this public criticism, all on his own, for no reason.

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  9. 4 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

    Let’s not forget he was naturally a SS.

    Then a failed 2B.

    Then 3B, three positional changes.

     

    Screams laziness and lack of will to win.  Did he ever complain?  Remember, he was the top prospect in the sport 2016/17.  Naturally, anyone would find it east to get to their head a little.  Then he had one season he was so bad from the RH side many wanted him to give up switch hitting.   Then he was too patient early in the count, took too many pitches, etc.

    Then he had that year of getting screwed over on something like 30-40 strike three’s.

    No it’s that he has 30/30 or 40/40 talent but not a natural basestealer or gets banged up too much running and especially diving or sliding into bsses.

    Sounds more like you are making points for the critics. "Not a natural base stealer". So, he isn't going to put in the work to learn to become something, at which he isn't already so gifted that he can't accomplish it, just on his talent. "He gets banged up too much running and sliding...."  Oh, so sorry. We wouldn't want him to get any burns or bruises, from sliding, would we? You may want to reconsider your argument. Those points aren't very convincing. Look, I admire the guy's talent and hope that he becomes a super star. So far, however, he definitely isn't. 

  10. 6 minutes ago, iWiN4PreP said:

    we saw this coming miles away

    when he should have been focused on reaching the next level of his baseball career, he decided to make a music video.

    He's going to never reach that high potential. He'll be good just based off talent, but he's fine keeping it at that level. 

    And, he'll be a very rich man, while doing so. Maybe having made all of that money, in his early 20's isn't a problem, but it's not implausible.

  11. Swagger, or emotion, are not very indicative of this issue, one way or the other. There are lots of things that go into being one's best, on the field, which we fans never see. As fans, we are not privy to things such as studying pitchers, but they can be very important in determining the results on the field. One thing no one has mentioned is his lack of attempted steals. It is understandable that his bout with Covid, sapped his energy, last year, and there is the issue of taking the bat out of Jose's hands, by vacating first base, with Abreu on deck. However, a guy with his speed, who is not hitting for much power, might be expected to have attempted at least a few steals, especially with all of the walks that he has received. I had great expectations that he would develop into a dual offensive threat of power and speed. but so far, that hasn't been part of his game. Perhaps it doesn't have anything to do with the issue which we are discussing, but it's worth considering.

    Regarding Steve Stone: One's opinion of Stone is really not all that relevant here. It seems like that old trope about "shooting the messenger". Either this criticism of Moncada is valid, or it isn't. Unless, there is some disingenuous motive to Stone's comments, perhaps we should not try to reduce this discussion down to our respective opinions regarding our TV color broadcaster. The issue here is; Is Moncada giving sufficient effort to his game, or isn't he. 

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  12. 4 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

    Not everyone can emote like Hendriks, Hamilton, Yermin and TA out there...Ozzie and Juan Uribe, etc.

     

    This was a rap on Carlos Rodon too, about not being as emotional or into games, Jon Garland too.

    But we have really seen Carlos come out his shell this season.  He was misunderstood by a lot of his detractors.

     

    And there have been a lot of times Abreu dogged it down to first or made lackadaisical plays on defense.

    Demonstrable emotion and burning intensity are not necessarily the same thing. One can be very driven, but not outwardly emotional.  

  13. The long grind of an entire baseball season is a challenge for any player. Having an extremely competitive nature, and a ceaseless drive to be the best are not easily attainable traits. He may just not be one of those exceptionally driven players, when it comes to baseball. There are many other things in life, and not every player is obsessed with being a baseball player. Unfortunately, that's probably what it takes to be great at the game.  

    There might be an inverse relationship between natural talent and relentless drive. The more talent one has, the less they have had to rely upon that competitive drive. Yoan certainly has plenty of natural talent. He is an exceptional athlete. You can look no further than a couple of his teammates, to find the opposite. Vaughn and Madrigal are two guys who have probably always had to work harder than others, to get to where they wanted to be. Again, it's just human nature.

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  14. 4 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

    Somehow I have a feeling nobody will say the same thing about Kelenic or Lucas Giolito if they sign extensions.

    Each Latin American player is different.  Sal Perez was given a second extension because he was outperforming the first, something like $7 million for five years...which he signed simply to guarantee a better future for his family.  He got yet another one recently and is having one of his best all-around seasons so far in his career.

    Not every Cuban is Puig or Yoenis Cespedes, for example.

    If you remove the Covid-19 year...let’s assume he ends up somewhere between 750-825 OPS, maybe 850, he’s one of the 25-30 most valuable players in the sport due to his defense.

    Was Abreu coasting after the first couple of seasons of his first deal?  His 2014-15 numbers seemed almost like outliers or anomalies until 2020.  

    Just to clarify: My suggestion that Moncada may not be the kind of guy, who could remain highly motivated after getting a huge contract, has nothing to do with his being a Latino. That is why I said that Abreu was such a great mentor, and I might add role model. In fact, it is only human nature to be a little complacent, once one is guaranteed a fortune. It has nothing to do with his nationality, 

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  15. Let's hope that he can correct whatever issues he has. If the season were to end right now, he would not be the best option to join the starting rotation for the playoffs. Rodon, Lynn, and Kopech are all in front of him, at this point. And Cease might get there, if he can be more consistent. Giolito is certainly not pitching like the Ace of the staff. You would have to think that Katz "will fix him". No one knows him better.

  16. Moncada strikes me as the type of guy who might not be able to stay highly motivated, after getting a big long term contract. I hope that's not the case, but he has already locked up a fortune, at a much younger age than the typical free agent. Let's hope that he still has the strong competitive drive to get the most out of his exceptional natural talent. Abreu is indeed the perfect mentor to have around all of the young Latin players on this team.

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  17. 40 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

    The guy will be a star by years end. He is a shoe in for ROY as he'll continue to improve. Glad engel had set backs honestly because larussa would have fucked vaughn out of a chance to show his worth.

    A Mr. Mercedes may not quite agree with you.

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