kwolf68

Watching some of the other games today, it would be joyous if our pitchers would actually PITCH INSIDE. I've never seen so many pitchers with electric stuff try to nibble on the outer edges. Miss 3 inches inside your target and blam....

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Mar 29, 2018 -> 12:16 AM) How do you think the Sox will fare in the other 16 games they will play? LOL...ties. I took tomorrow off so I'm drinking is my excuse. I think they go 71-91 this year... I could see them with 75 wins, but no way this team can finish .500 with the starting pitching they are rolling out this year to start. This is considering that their pen is better than we first though (I think it will be). If the pen falters, this is a 100 loss team...mind you I only say that because of pitching. The suck won't be here long.

71-75 is my vote only because I think they team will be great in the 2nd half. I think this team will be horrendous to start.... But....Rodon will get healthy, Kopech will be called up, Gio and Lopez will be settled in and who knows/cares who the #5 will be at that point and I think they'll actually be damn good team in the 2nd half. But holy cow man...the rotation as it is now is a dumpster fire. Against real MLB teams it'll be batting practice. Though Gio is the one bright spot.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 11:22 PM) In the beginning of the season I could care less about draft position. I want us to be better than expected and possibly fight for that 2nd wild card. No chance with this starting pitching. Shields is not quite awful. Gonzalez is awful. Lopez could be awful. Fulmer may be awful. Gio is the one legit S-pitcher this team has. Good thing is KC and Detroit are atrocious so that's 36 games against AAAA teams. And Minnesota isn't the 27 Yanks either though certainly better than the aforementioned creampuffs. Sox will get serious when they get these scrubs out of the rotation and get Rodon back healty and Kopech from the farm (assuming control issues are resolved)...THEN and only then do they have any shot of even mediocrity.

Just checking in to make sure I'm old as s***....Check!!! Carry on with whatever music this is...Justin effing Timberlake? As for me? Beatles bad Religion Rush Cure Chuck Berry Metallica Slayer REM U2 Killing Joke Clapton/Cream/Yardbirds Hendrix Who Buddy Holly Louis Jordan Live Rise Against Depeche Mode Simon and Garfunkel Dream Theater Skid Row Boston 10 Years After Dylan A.F.I. C.O.C C,S, N (and sometimes Y) C.C.R. S.T. D.R.I. The Clash Janis Joplin Hollies Bullet for my Valinetine among many others

QUOTE (Dunt @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 01:57 PM) He will be in WS most likely Thanks. I suspect he'll be in Birmingham at some point this year.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 10:16 PM) My favorite pitching prospect in our org (leading the fan club there). I'm stoked to follow up on him.

Plan the parade baby.

I know the Sox are probably looking at 75 wins this, but goodness I'm so excited for baseball again. Already working on my tickets to the May 15-17 series between the Sox and Pirates (as I live in Pittsburgh)....

Is ANYONE concerned about Kopech's command issues at this point? His stuff is terrifying, but if he can't command it at an elite status it will be tough to reach his lofty potential.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 03:51 PM) I think for the prospects it's the first time a lot get to see em in person. For hitters I think it can be misleading (courtney hawkins 2015 spring training), but man, having not really seen Cease's stuff before - it was exciting. This was my view. Yes it was spring training, but he has outstanding command of his fastball, it was electric. His breaking pitch, while not totally tuned in in the Seattle game, had a sharp bite. Once he hones it it, that's an out pitch. And unless I dreamed it he threw two change ups...BOTH were strikes as I recall, but he mostly stuck with the 1 and hook. Obviously to get big leaguer hitters out over more than an inning or two you'll need to tune up your secondary offerings, but I am ecstatic about this kid. He has the makings of an ace....high 90s heater, legit 12-6 curve and another solid secondary offering to keep hitters a bit off balanced.

Where was Cease assigned?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 28, 2018 -> 12:31 PM) You are not reading this right. Are you adding the "2017 total" line to the lines for each team he pitched for? He pitched only for South Bend (Cubs A Ball) and Kannapolis (Sox A Ball). 1-10 win/loss record, 22 starts. Yep you are right. I doubled everything. 93 innings, 1-10 record. But great era and incredible K rate. Your point is worth merit, bring him along slowly ... also no need to push him next year anyway. I don't think the Sox window opens until 2020, though they should be hella fun.

Holdon...Am I reading this right? Cease pitched across 3 teams in 2017... totaling over 180 innings pitched... 2 wins,20 loss? LOL......250 strike outs? Mid 3.s era?

Hitters be excited.

Conditioning? I never even though about that. Hadn't even looked up his numbers. Good points Balta. I hope he isn't destined for the pen, I just see a kid with amazing potential when I watched him this spring.

Ok with Soxtalk down, I was itching to talk about Dylan. I watched two of his Spring Training games and was impressed. His performance against Seattle was electric even though he did not have a completely consistent curveball. But what I noticed was he still had overall good command, a high 90s fast ball, a biting curve (though it was a slightly off) and even though I only counted it once or twice, a very capable change up. The ball explodes out of his hand and with 3 potential plus pitches he has high upside. If he can spot his breaking ball a bit better I am not sure I don't see a top of the rotation type starter here. With his stuff and demeanor I want no parts of talk of moving to the pen. When do we see him? I predict he goes to ST 2019 as a candidate to join the rotation and will join it, never to see the minor leagues again. Thanks Cubs!!

Good post. Totally agree. I think the bullpen will be the surprise of this year. Chris Volstad, who has been fairly useless for a few years now, was absolutely dominating this spring and still got sent down. A case could even be made that he was the Sox best pitcher this Spring. Other notes: -Nate jones looks awesome coming back from injury -Soria will be just fine -Avilan will be dominant, especially against lefties. I also think Bummer will do quite well Then journeymen types like Rondon and Santiago actually pitched quite well this spring. The Sox pen, I thought was a trainwreck 6 weeks ago, now looks like it could be a strength. Still wish we had Kahnle.

Cordell

Surprise: "The Bullpen". I think the pen will shock people this year. Soria and Jones will be capable closers. Avilan, Bummer and others will provide variety of necessary depth options. I am also still not sold Carson Fulmer doesn't end up in pen long term. Maybe focusing on fewer secondary offerings can allow his command to settle in Disappointment: Michael Kopech (I think command issues delay his ascension to Chicago) Dark Horse: Matt Davidson. We all know he'll hit for power, I think he goes for 30+ homers, but I think he lowers his K rate, improves his walk rate this year, leading him to being a much more viable bat. Maybe fools gold here, but I gotta run it.

QUOTE (Moncada @ Jan 18, 2018 -> 08:55 PM) Notice it's the entire AL Central and the Cubs lol. I'm sure someone will take them and put their flare on them so they are not as revolting as we all think. Haha, fer sure. I took the Pirates because I live in Pittsburgh and I do like to see the Bucs do well, but boy it's sad here with them. But it's a hell of a time to visit PNC, beautiful stadium, but people don't really go there expecting wins, it's just a nice way to spend the day, at the yard with family and friends. Can't wait to go see the Sox play here in May.

Coop will fix em. No, wait!!

QUOTE (Moncada @ Jan 18, 2018 -> 06:48 PM) Assuming I didn't miss one, these teams are still available Cubs Reds Indians Tigers Royals Twins Rangers Cubs will be sure to be hot property around these here parts.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 16, 2018 -> 11:57 PM) We need another Miguel Cleto just for entertainment purposes. 1/20 becomes a Kahnle. LMAO

QUOTE (Moncada @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 11:14 AM) Correct. The draft will be on the proboard site and then once it concludes I will enter the results on fantrax. Then we will be off and running. Cool. Like the others I'll just wait now.