Eminor3rd

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 10, 2015 -> 02:28 PM) Colleen Kane ‏@ChiTribKane 3m3 minutes ago White Sox manager Robin Ventura will miss the Rays series this weekend to attend his daughter's college graduation. Mark Parent fills in. Oh this is going to be fun.

I just hope he actually CAN improve his command without substantial mechanical changes. Not sure if this is behind a paywall, but if it is, everyone should consider getting a BP subscription SOLELY to read Doug Thorburn pieces: www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=26343 Throburn provides the most complete analysis of pitching mechanics I've seen anywhere, and it almost could not be more interesting, IMO. A couple excerpts from his conclusion section: Anyway, if Thorburn likes his mechanics, then I do too. He worked for some private company that did a ton of biomechanical research for teams.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jun 10, 2015 -> 09:28 AM) Alright, that's it. I want Eminor3rd sitting next to Stone doing broadcasts. Hawk is now retired. I like your thinking here and the only thing I can add is that Sale shows you do not need a deep repertoire of pitches to be elite. Just imagine this rotation if Rodon (same pitch selection as Sale) follows in Sale's footsteps with the change up and overall command of his pitches. That would make two elite #1's at the top of the rotation with Q pitching #3 who is more of a #2. And hopefully in due time, Fulmer will be in that mix setting this rotation up for some really good years to come. Sale is well on his way to being a mentor and that you cannot put a price on. Definitely, especially with how much Sale has INSISTED on getting ahead in the count. I think that;s the absolute key for Rodon's success. To me, Rodon's is just a completely different pitch than Sale's, because Rodon's comes in on the same plane as his fastball before breaking really late. Rodon's slider is a "foo you" pitch, whereas Sale's is a "just go ahead and try to make contact with this because you know it's going to be bending through the zone at some point" pitch. So for Rodon, it's essential that the batter has to be protecting the plate on the slider, because they ALL know it's there, but they've got to guess anyway because they can't afford for it to be a fastball because of the count. I'm not sure of the numbers (if these are available anywhere), but it really seems like a lot of Rodon's walk come in the 4-straight-balls category or close, because when he gets behind, hitters just let that slider go since it NEVER lands in the zone and they have strikes to give up in case it's actually a fastball.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 10, 2015 -> 09:03 AM) It's like the least least surprising thing ever how much better he is with a proper 3-pitch mix rather than using the slider less than 10 percent of the time Three pitches, I think, is the ultimate requirement for consistently being able to pitch well deep into the game, because it gives you a weapon for the third time through the lineup. The other night we saw him go fastball/slider almost exclusively the first time through, start adding the change in tough spots the second time through (and honestly it didn't look real good at first), and then start to lean on the change as a wipeout the third time through (and it looked fantastic). I'm starting to wonder if there's a correlation between those "one bad inning" guys (like Edwin Jackson, John Danks, etc.) and the number of legitimate pitches they have. Maybe if you only have two good pitches, you're constantly going to be at risk for a meltdown the third time through the order.

Basically, all three of Chris's pitches are elite this year: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/chris-sale-...h-by-diversity/

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 03:47 PM) What the hell is that lineup Seriously why would you EVER DH your terrible hitting catcher? Don't you want to give them as much rest as possible?

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 04:36 PM) So, most of these guys seem like Slot or underslot signings....who are they saving for? Probably Fulmer, honestly. Don't forget that the Sox have no 2nd or 3rd round cash to play with. That's a huge chunk of the pool.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 04:33 PM) Probably. I wonder if there's a successful pitcher in the majors who gave up more walks than strikeouts in college. If there is, I doubt he's a starter.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 04:17 PM) That doesn't sound right. How do you have a higher batting average than BABIP? Dingers

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 04:30 PM) Not sure on the point of this guy, even as a senior sign. His numbers are terrible. They probably see something mechanical they think they can fix.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 11:05 AM) I wanted Fulmer all along, but after reading all the post draft fluff, I'm even more tickled. Same. The stuff looks ML ready. No idea if his control needs work or if he's consistent enough, but it looks to me like the only question mark is whether or not his body holds up with that delivery.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 9, 2015 -> 10:50 AM) Those are good stats to know. But, I think the Sox see something in Gillaspie based on last year. You hope it wasn't a fluke year at the bat. But, his defense is not all that great Gillaspie isn't a long term solution, unfortunately. And really, he only had a good HALF last year. He's a placeholder -- I'd give any guy with some upside a real shot if I was the White Sox.

I think that was as good as I've seen Sale. Slider was as elite as it gets, FB touched 99, changeup was off early but he found it the third time through the order. Back-door sliders all night to get ahead, dotting to lower outside corner with the FB. Completely unfair.

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Jun 8, 2015 -> 01:53 PM) The Sox need to pick a guy that they can develop and bring up quick. There's no time for the Sox to give a guy 2, 3, or 4 years to develop. They need major contributors NOW. Of course there's time. The Sox are trying to build a sustainable winner.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 8, 2015 -> 12:50 PM) All the lefties. Stone did say he thought Jay could be in a major league bullpen this season, and the Sox could use another lefty. Then have him work on getting stretched out this winter and go back to the minors. There's just something about the fact that he's not even starting in college that makes me afraid of him. I know the Sox can change a lot about his mechanics, but I'd feel much better if I at least had SOME evidence that the stuff works for multiple innings.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 8, 2015 -> 12:51 PM) interesting draft, seems like anybody can go anywhere and it's not even because of signability. Unfortunately, it's because they ALL have warts

I believe we will have Fulmer.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 8, 2015 -> 11:10 AM) He doesn't strike out as much as I would have thought he would. 20% k-rate last year, 16% the year before. He also doesn't walk much either, or hit for a very good average. I don't know what his defense is like, but if he's an above average fielder, I'd give him a flier for sure. EDIT: Apparently he was known as a defensive wizard in the minors, Goldstein at one point calling him the best defensive 3B in all the minors. Apparently that sentiment has not translated in to glowing advanced metrics so far, but he seems to pass the smell test. One reason for the metrics not loving him are that the Astros shift a TON and shifts aren't accounted for in fielding metrics, so that could skew his numbers poorly. Yeah he was supposed to be glove-first when he was coming up with the Marlins. I'd certainly give him a flyer but maybe I'm just falling for the name, as I remember when he was a legit prospect.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jun 7, 2015 -> 06:10 PM) Here's a potential problem. What if Samardzija accepts the qualifying offer? I'd GLADLY gamble 1/15 on Samardzija next year at this point.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 5, 2015 -> 08:34 PM) Maybe that's more of an indictment of the philosophy of trying to rebuild through FA and win-now trades than it is an issue with teams gelling. Or it's just more of an argument that this was never going to be a one-year turnaround. And I still don't think it is. If the Sox end up 81-81, it's a huge win, IMO. You get a draft pick for Samardzija, keep everyone else, and you enter the offseason needing to add 4-6 more wins to be a playoff team.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jun 5, 2015 -> 09:30 PM) A win's a win! If we end up anywhere near .500, this should be the motto for the season.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jun 5, 2015 -> 04:56 PM) i still think this signings except for 1 is Hahn's doing. my question is why hasn't they gelled??? they are vet's and not young players, something is not happening. 10-15 teams ask that question every season.

McDaniels' latest update: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-mock-dr...placement-post/

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 5, 2015 -> 10:33 AM) Walter O'Malley. Thanks!

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jun 5, 2015 -> 11:17 AM) The fact the Rangers have one leftie in the pen and our left handed hitters did not pinch hit last night still irks me. Especially for Ramirez or Cabrerra and probably should have for Beckham and FLowers as well Also if Ventura is only going to use Robertson in save situations, he has no need on the team and will get rusty more times than being sharp. Has he pitched in the last week? When he blows his next opportunity (ala Toronto after a week lay off) this can be the number one reason. Ventura is not getting better at his job. I actually agree with the Robertson sentiment, but there are very few managers who would have done it any differently. That's just an "old school cardinal rule" thing.