Lillian

It is hard to understand how the front office thought that it was a good idea to rush Anderson to the Big Leagues, when they completely understood that he was "raw". You would think that he would have been kept in the Minors, while he was learning the nuances of the game. What was the big hurry? I guess that was when they thought that they were going to be competitive, before they committed to a rebuild.

Rose has been on fire, since they put him at third. I wondered, at the time of the trade, if he could play there, as he had some previous experience at the hot corner.

I don't understand how Gonzales is rated above Basabe. He's a year older and putting up lesser production, at a lower level. I like him, but Basabe is really off to a great start. I'd rate Basabe over sheets, as well.

Thank you "Jose Abreu," for clarifying my remarks. You interpreted them in precisely the way that I intended. Tim was indeed a basketball player, whom scouts described as being a "raw" baseball talent. He possesses intriguing tools, and is a gifted athlete. However, he is still learning the game. I use the term baseball "acumen," which I believe is a better word than "IQ". Acumen is defined as; "skill in making correct decisions and judgments in business or in a particular endeavor." The implication is that it is an acquired skill, rather than an innate ability, such as IQ. This article should reinforce the perception: http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-white-sox/growth-spurt-how-tim-anderson-developed-blossoming-star

Power hitters are streaky. Those who insists that he may go through stretches of looking hapless, are absolutely correct. To which one might respond; "So, what else is new?" Of course he will occasionally struggle, especially against really good pitching, and so will most of the rest of the team. The point is that he is establishing himself as a significant run producer and presence, in the lineup. What are we supposed to do, panic every time he has a slump? He isn't going to keep up this pace, to which again, one might respond: "So what?"

I just watched this video, breaking down Madrigal's swing. Never mind, not with the 4TH pick:

Agreed.

No, not at all. I'm saying that there is no reason not to draft Madrigal, if he is the best player, solely because Moncada blocks him at second base. The scouting report says that he has the ability to play SS, at a high level. Therefore, if the Sox draft him, and he earns the starting SS position, in three or 4 years, they could then trade Anderson. The Sox have options to resign Tim, for 2023 and 2024, at $12.5 M and $14M, respectively. If Madrigal were ready before then, Anderson could be traded, with that contract. If Anderson has flopped, the Sox would simply not pick up the team options, which would only cost them $1M, for the buy out, in either year. It should also be noted that Anderson is not a "star" yet. He may well become one, but I wouldn't attach that moniker to him, just yet.

Here is what John Sickels, of Baseball Nation had to say about Madrigal, just last week: "Speed is the best tool overall, with grades between 60 and 70 depending on the source. You can split the difference at 65 if you like, but everyone agrees that he’s an excellent baserunner with an ideal combination of instincts, athleticism, and aggression. Speed doesn’t matter much if you can’t get on base but Madrigal excels in that department, with a superior batting eye and contact ability. There’s plenty of bat speed and his power production has improved steadily. He should hit a substantial number of doubles and triples and has a shot at hitting double-digit homers down the line. He can bunt, too, if you’re interested in small ball. Madrigal plays second base for the Beavers due to the presence of Cadyn Grenier at shortstop. Madrigal is a tremendous second baseman, MLB.com going so far as to say he could be a Gold Glover someday. His arm and range are good enough for him to be a plausible shortstop, too. To top it all off, his makeup is considered superb." Well, there is your SS and lead off hitter, allowing Moncada to move to the middle of the order. Let him take Anderson's place, when he's ready. If Anderson becomes a star, he'll net something very valuable, in a trade, with that contract.

Everyone is wise to temper their enthusiasm. However, let me just say that 9 homers, in 76 at bats, shouldn't be minimized. I don't care where he hit them, or against whom, that is one impressive display of prodigious power. That is one HR, for every 8.5 AB's. That is the highest in baseball, after one month of play. Just to provide another perspective; 6 home runs, per month, the rest of the season, nets him 40 on the year. Remember, most sluggers hit the majority of their home runs off of lesser pitchers. It is the rare Super Star, who can dominate versus the best arms.

Madrigal hasn't struck out once yet, in 41 AB's. He's hitting over .500, which suggests that his injury has not set him back, in the least. Is he considered a legitimate SS, or does he profile as a second baseman?

That's probably what you should expect, when you sign a basketball player. Let's hope that the experience, which he is acquiring, will raise his baseball IQ. Baseball acumen is not genetic. It takes time to develop.

Matt is striking out at about the same rate as some of the other A.L. sluggers, such as J. D. Martinez, Stanton, Judge, Encarnacion and Gallo, but he is hitting more homers than most of those players. He is hitting both righties and lefties and taking lots of balls very deep to RF. He looks terrific, with a short, compact swing. It is very apparent that the time he spent with Konerko has really helped him. His approach looks a lot like Paulie's. I guess that I'm more optimistic than most of you, but it wouldn't surprise me if he becomes one of the game's premiere sluggers, this year. If he does put up big power and run producing numbers (40 HR's and 100 RBI's) that speeds up the rebuild. Now, if Moncada can continue to produce, the only thing holding this team back is pitching. We know that Rodon and Kopech will likely join the rotation, before too long. A front four of Rodon, Giolito, Lopez and Kopech is good enough to be very competitive. Add one more solid reliever, and the bullpen might also be adequate. The next couple years could both be years of contention, while keeping some of the future talent, down on the farm. That would be wonderful, as it would delay the clock on free agency, for guys like Jimenez and Robert.

I expect Royal's pitching to start going around Matt, for the rest of the series. I hope that he will pile up the walks, if they do.

Regardless of what any of us think, it's pretty apparent that management plans on Anderson and Moncada being the keystone combo for now, and well into the future. Centerfield is going to belong to Robert, or Basabe, in the event that Robert moves to LF, which would be a waste of his speed. By the time Tim learned how to play the position, the next wave of players would already be on the MLB roster. Therefore, while the idea might have merit, it almost certainly will not become reality.

Looking at the Team Pitching stats, for the American League, so far this year, and it doesn't suggest that the Royals are giving up that many long balls. If you reduce Matt's total of 7 to a more reasonable 2, they are right at the League average, for homers allowed. He has been a one man wrecking ball to that pitching staff. He has 7 of the 33 home runs, that KC has allowed, which is 21%. So, you can say that he has been amazing, or stick to the argument that KC's pitching is terrible. I'm not sure which is more accurate, maybe both.

It is probably a combination of KC's poor pitching and Matt being "locked in". He does not have a history of hitting homers in that ball park, which is not an easy place to hit home runs. Moreover, the weather in that first series was not at all conducive to hitting, whether for power, or for average.

Remember that stretch of 10 games in June, last year, when he hit 7 homers, vs. Baltimore, Toronto and Minnesota? He is streaky, as are most sluggers, but capable of some pretty impressive power surges. Streaky yes, but I don't think that this is a fluke. While trailing only Gregorious and Trout, by just 1, for the MLB Lead in homers, he is hitting them at a higher rate than any player in the either League. Nine homers, in just 76 at bats, is pretty remarkable.

It might be time to talk about Matt's future in this organization. He is young enough and won't be a free agent until 2023. That makes him potentially a significant piece of the lineup, during the anticipated window of contention. He is beginning to realize his original highly touted potential, when he was drafted in the first round, by the Diamondbacks, back in 2009. Here are some things to consider: 1) He has learned to take walks, which could very well increase, now that he is gaining respect as a legitimate home run hitter. If he can stay patient and take pitches, which are out of the zone, his OBP could very well be good enough to outweigh his sub par batting average. The strike outs will likely remain high, but that has become the norm for baseball, especially for sluggers. 2) Is there any position, which he could adequately play, or is he destined to remain a DH? First base seems to be the only place where he can play passable defense. 3) What team might be willing to trade a player of value, who could fill a greater need for this team's rebuild? Right handed power is something which this team seems to have in excess. There are certainly many other factors to consider, but this is merely an attempt to begin a discussion of Davidson's future role on this team.

Who will be the first Winston-Salem outfielder to get promoted to the Barons? That outfield is leading the Carolina League in hitting. Adolfo may yet be shut down for surgery on that elbow, but that still leaves Basabe, Rutherford, Booker and call. I'd like to see Basabe moved to Birmingham, to replace Mason Robbins, whom I don't see as being any part of the Sox future. Basabe will be 22 in August and is repeating Advanced A ball, after being hampered by an injury, last season. I understand that it may be premature, but I'd love to see what he could do. at AA.

He continues to pummel right handed pitching. It is still debatable as to whether he will be able to do anything vs. lefties. I recently suggested that he try choking up, a little, on the bat. Perhaps when facing left handers, would be a good time to experiment. Just trying to make contact and get on base would be an improvement over what he has done so far, in his limited appearances vs. rhp. Having a power stroke, from the right side, and trying to murder the ball, might not be the best approach.There is some thought that he has simply not faced enough LHP, to get on track. I hope that's the case, but the dramatic disparity in his splits is cause for some concern. Another possible strategy would be to try not to pull the ball, from that side, but instead, to attempt to hit more to right field. That would afford him a little extra time to see the ball.

Wow!! What a difference a week makes. It wasn't that many games ago, that many were wondering if Moncada was a bust.

Rodon, Giolito and Lopez will not be too young and inexperienced to be near top of the rotation quality starters, next year. I agree that Kopech being ready to step up to that level, as early as next season, is a little bit of a stretch, but he has the ability and the mental make up. It wouldn't surprise me. I think that it probably depends upon how good and consistent his change up is. I suspect that we will get some indication, later this season, when he is called up, which I expect him to be.

Regarding Moustakas: I wonder how much the Sox would have to give up, at the trade deadline, to acquire him and then extend him. That would avoid having to give up a draft pick, which is likely to be a pretty high one. That strategy, could turn out to be better than signing him, this last off season. The Sox would have saved the contract's first year salary, when they weren't competing, while also eliminating the need to give up a draft pick. Of course, this scenario assumes that the Royals will not be in the race. If the pitching develops quickly, it could make sense, as the team might be ready to compete next year, with a couple of free agent acquisitions. Insert Eloy and Moustakas in this lineup and the offense could be good enough to compete next year. Again, it all depends upon how fast the pitchers develop. A rotation of Rodon, Giolito, Lopez and Kopech (There are your four #2's or better), plus whoever takes the 5TH spot, could very well be ready next year.

If the Sox need to sign a top of the rotation starter, in order to be competitive, when the window opens, I agree that the rebuild will have failed. They only need 3 or 4 starters to be #2 caliber arms, in order to have a solid rotation. If they also have an Ace and, or a really good 5TH starter, that would be a bonus. Out of Giolito, Lopez, Kopech, Cease, Hansen, Dunning and Fulmer, plus Stevens, Adams, Clarkin and whomever they draft this June, they better end up with at least 3 number #2 starters and 1 or 2 bottom of the rotation arms. Even if the last couple spots turn out to be weak, filling out the rotation, at the 4TH and 5TH spots is not that expensive. Then there is the question of Rodon and whether he is traded for a promising young arm, or resigned to be part of the contending rotation. As so many have pointed out, we do have a good track record of developing pitching and this is the best crop of young arms, that this team has assembled, in a long time.