turnin' two

QUOTE (Scoots @ May 20, 2017 -> 02:56 PM) Good to know...yeah, it will be interesting to see how he will handle our pitchers. What do you think of the possibility of a September call-up? No need to rush him. He is 19 and has never played stateside. If he makes Birmingham this season, that would be crazy.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 20, 2017 -> 09:11 AM) Yea he says the Cards offered more money. He did not say that. He said the Card's offer is significant. He says nothing about the Sox offer, but two lines down, Jon Greenberg say the Sox offer is "phenomenal". So you are left to read between "significant" and "phenomenal" from two different guys.

QUOTE (bmags @ May 20, 2017 -> 10:08 AM) I mean, pretty good odds he goes with best offer. Certainly, but to this point there is nothing more than rumor and innuendo as to who has made that offer. From all the information available it seems that both the Sox and Cards have been pretty aggressive with Robert. There is no point in sensationalizing every tweet made about the situation. Or there is. Whatever. Haha.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 20, 2017 -> 09:01 AM) I didn't see this last night, but it sure seems like McGuffey believes it will be the Cardinals https://mobile.twitter.com/RyanMcGuffey/sta...773046656897024 Huh? Doesn't he say "could go either way". Not getting how he believes it is the Cards from that conversational thread.

QUOTE (Footlongcomiskeydog @ May 18, 2017 -> 04:45 PM) Colome is a stud. I'm sure he is the guy that Rizzo is after. Herrera from KC is probably option #2 on their list with Robertson coming in as #3. The Nats will take their time on this since the NL East is so bad. That just leaves more time for Robertson to decrease his value by pitching poorly and/or get hurt like Jones, Putnam, Petrickia, etc. Herrera is only arguably an upgrade. More H/9, a lot fewer K/9, higher ERA. 83% conversion ratio the last 2 years (0-7 the previous year). If you believe in FIP, Herrera's is a horrendous 5.23. Robertson's is pretty tidy at 2.40. Colome also brings a higher FIP, inferior K/9, K/BB. Robertson has never had a K/9 less than 10.4. That kind of K ability is something that could be extra valuable in the playoffs. The downside, is that Robertson also brings the highest BB rate to the mound. Not that there aren't reasons for the Nats to prefer either, but really, neither Colome nor Herrera are clearly superior options to Robertson. It may well come down to each team's demands. The wildcard the Sox hold, is being able to add in a guy like Swarzak or Kahnle. The Nats likely need more than 1 pen arm.

QUOTE (shipps @ May 18, 2017 -> 03:48 PM) They should go hard of Robles as if thats all they will do it for with all the intentions on getting Kieboom or Soto as the "compromise". See, its easy. Or you start your ask with both Soto and Kieboom.

As someone else already mentioned, I think a Soto or Carter Kieboom could be targets, and if either were available, the Sox should jump at it (at least I were if I were running things... hmm.. too bad I'm not, for me anyway).

Since becoming a full tine closer, Robertson has a save % just above 85%. The NL East: Jeurys Familia is 86% AJ Ramos is 82% Jim Johnson is 80% Hector Neris is 55% (very few opportunities) So, Robertson would pretty much become the best closer in the division. Some others, for reference. Kenley Jansen has a % of about 89% Francisco Rodriguez is about 85% Huston Street is 86% Roberto Osuno is 83% Zach Britton is 94% Aroldis Chapman 90% Seung Hwan Oh 85% Wade Davis 87% Mariano Rivera 89% So by comparison, Robertson is a serviceable closer, and more importantly a huge upgrade over anything the Nats currently have.

QUOTE (Footlongcomiskeydog @ May 18, 2017 -> 02:54 PM) There is no way in hell that Robertson brings back Robles. Rizzo would hang up the phone on that ask and instruct Hahn to call back when he is serious. Robertson is severely overvalued around these parts. He is not that good and won't bring back much at all. Yeah, I don't know about that. He is at very least a middle of the road closer and a dynamic set up guy. Those guys always have decent value.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ May 18, 2017 -> 02:20 PM) Let's say Robertson is performing well... when looking at what some teams have paid to get closers at the deadline for playoff runs, is Robles really too much to ask? Yep. Well, I mean you can ask. But it would seem he is far too well regarded to expect. Yeah, Chapman and Miller brought back returns of similarly ranked players, and while Robertson is a top tier reliever and even a good closer, he is not in the same category as either of those two.

Sanchez is younger now than Saladino was when he made his debut.

QUOTE (shipps @ May 16, 2017 -> 02:26 PM) So let me get this straight. Everyone wants the Cubs three best prospects in return and are a no on Schwarber? "Babe" has a career slash line of .149/.260/.276 against lefties. Still not a ton of PA, but the reality may be that he is a platoon player.

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ May 13, 2017 -> 05:26 PM) That guy is incredibly lucky. Started two guys who didn't play during his streak who were NL players who didn't play that day and didn't end up with a pinch hit AB, which would have likely ended the streak. But because they got no AB's his streak was preserved. My longest streak is around 16-18 twice. The game is pretty much impossible its much harder to win than a mega millions or powerball jackpot. Hahah, this really sounds like some sour grapes going on.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ May 8, 2017 -> 10:21 AM) Yeah someone like Asche would likely get cut I think. They'd likely want to hold onto both Saladino and Sanchez. I certainly agree. While neither is a star, both are useful players. Good defensively, can play anywhere on the IF, neither seems completely helpless at the plate. Not guys to just get rid of. While they offer a lot of the same skills, no reason just to cut one of them loose at this point.

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ May 8, 2017 -> 12:39 AM) Let's be real - guys like Danish aren't going to get a look at starting once Fulmer, Giolito, Lopez, and Kopech are up by next year. Could easily see all 4 in our rotation by early next season. Might as well see what we have now. Good point, I always seem to forget that all prospects pan out and that pitchers never get injured.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 7, 2017 -> 06:28 PM) He needs to give them innings though. Can't be going 4 innings like last night That is true, but even last night wasn't terrible. It is good for Beck to get extended work too, and he likely wouldn't be used in higher leverage situations at this point.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 7, 2017 -> 05:48 PM) 5.2 IP, 7H, 8R, 5ER, 2 BB Ah, I see, judging him by a single start. Prudent.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 7, 2017 -> 12:09 PM) The Sox had plenty of second-tier position and bullpen guys who had performed reasonably well in AAA to give them an audition spot on the roster. Some of them are playing pretty well: Kahnle, Davidson, Leury, e.g. But there aren't any starters like that. Thus the Sox had to sign Pelfrey. This would have been a nice year for a Junior Guerra to pop up, but one hasn't. Danish would qualify, but he's not pitching well. Who else is there? Can Beck be stretched out? Does he have multiple pitches? If there is no one, it's not like Covey is causing a lot of harm. Source? 3.14 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 3.2 K/BB, less than a H/IP, 1.6 BB/9. Not sure what any of that adds up to "not pitching well". With that being said, I think he was criminally rushed last season and is still 22. Burdi is the only pitcher on the roster that is younger than Danish. No reason he should be thrown to the wolves. As for Covey, he is being thrown to the wolves. He has only made 6 starts above A ball. Maybe he will never be a decent MLB pitcher, but he is just finding his way. If not for being a rule 5 pick, he would likely be in AA.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Apr 26, 2017 -> 10:23 PM) And a healthy Shields, Petricka and Putnam. Pining for Shields, never thought I'd see the day.

Great article. Well written, informative and funny. Thanks!

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 08:29 PM) Not a lot outside of what's online but I do have common sense. And that says a 19 year old who already 205lbs, is probably not done filling out yet and he'll probably lose a step or two once his body finishes maturing. So while he might be able to play center field now, he's probably a right fielder in the bigs. 6.15 speed says he can lose a step or 2 and still have plenty of range in CF.

Anyone here have any insight into Brent Rooker? Mississippi State OF, drafted last year as a red-shirt sophmore, a little old for a college player maybe (22), but his numbers are quite eye catching. He is being projected in drafts now, but not necessarily early. Any insight would be appreciated. .400/.505./.877 16 HR, 16 SB, 20 2B 28/33 BB/K http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/pro...?P=brent-rooker Thanks in advance!

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Apr 25, 2017 -> 02:41 PM) Robert will be a corner guy in the bigs Seen him play a bunch?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2017 -> 10:29 AM) Cole is a free agent in 2020. Sorta like Q?

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Apr 23, 2017 -> 04:11 PM) I don't want to be the guy that reminds everyone that he called for the Sox to demand Perez in any trade involving Q with the Astros as far back as the Winter Meetings. I'd hate to be that guy. Plus, no one would care. At all.