Chicago White Sox Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 The kid has looked fantastic so far this year IMO. Has been a real bright spot for us. I know the command hasn’t been perfect, but there’s no doubting the stuff or his ability to battle. So what do people think we have in this kid? Is pretty much everyone now convinced he can make it as a starter? If so, what is his ceiling? To me, if he can continue to improve the slider & curveball he has a chance at being a legit #2 starter. Also, I haven’t seen it mentioned here anywhere, but apparently Lopez was battling a stomach bug today and it was it was affecting him a bit. Got to give the kid props for five gutsy innings against a stacked lineup while under the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Abreu Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 I agree that he's a 2 starter at best, competent reliever at worst. I still think he may not have enough to go deep into games, which may eventually relegate him to the bullpen. But he'd be a terrific closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogsplash31 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 Still think ends up in the pen or back end starter. Still walking too many and has got real lucky this year stranding runners. I fear that once the regression fairies get done with Avi, they will visit Lopez. Hope I'm wrong though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogan873 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 I think he'll stick as a starter. Needs to work on his command, but that'll come over time. He needs to keep going out there and doing what he does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted April 23, 2018 Author Share Posted April 23, 2018 6 hours ago, frogsplash31 said: Still think ends up in the pen or back end starter. Still walking too many and has got real lucky this year stranding runners. I fear that once the regression fairies get done with Avi, they will visit Lopez. Hope I'm wrong though. He also hasn’t had the best pitching conditions. His second start was really cold, his third start was on seven days rest, and yesterday he was battling a stomach bug. His first start which was in a dome he only gave up two walks in six innings. These may be excuses to some extent, but the reality is those factors could have had some impact on his command. He’s also a young pitcher who should hopefully improve over time. And despite averaging 5.63 BB/9 his FIP is only 4.20, which demonstrates how teams haven’t been able to square up against his stuff and just how good he could be with even moderate improvement in command. There’s still development to be had here, but I fully expect the command issues to improve as the weather gets warm and as he gets on a normal pitching routine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 20 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said: He also hasn’t had the best pitching conditions. His second start was really cold, his third start was on seven days rest, and yesterday he was battling a stomach bug. His first start which was in a dome he only gave up two walks in six innings. These may be excuses to some extent, but the reality is those factors could have had some impact on his command. He’s also a young pitcher who should hopefully improve over time. And despite averaging 5.63 BB/9 his FIP is only 4.20, which demonstrates how teams haven’t been able to square up against his stuff and just how good he could be with even moderate improvement in command. There’s still development to be had here, but I fully expect the command issues to improve as the weather gets warm and as he gets on a normal pitching routine. I get it and conditions could be a very legitimate excuse, as the entire Sox staff appears to be walk happy. I just wonder why White Sox opponents aren't having the same issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted April 23, 2018 Author Share Posted April 23, 2018 7 minutes ago, Dick Allen said: I get it and conditions could be a very legitimate excuse, as the entire Sox staff appears to be walk happy. I just wonder why White Sox opponents aren't having the same issue. I can’t comment on the cold, but we’ve played less games than pretty much every team in baseball. Having those three games cancelled in Minnesota reallly screwed us. I fully expected our guys to be rusty pitching on so much rest. As for yesterday, I’m obviously just speculating that the stomach bug could have impacted his command, but Lopez did specifically say it hurt his stuff a bit. Look, I don’t think he’s suddenly going to have perfect command because he won’t, but I think there is reason to be optimistic with him. As for the rest of the staff, I don’t know what’s going on there, but it’s obviously a huge problem and needs to be addressed ASAP or this will be a historical season for the wrong reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 He has great stuff. Once he learns to harness it a bit better, he is going to be a front line guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 The White Sox as a team, have a pretty decent walk rate, yet they have walked 39 times less in 18 games than their opponents. Unexceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 That spellunk is unacceptable. Anywho, the White Sox have a poor walk rate from their starting pitchers because 3 of them are extremely young. Saturday's opponent, Dallas Keuchel, remains a good example. When he came up at age 24, he averaged 4 BB/9. 3 years later when he won the Cy Young, his walk rate was 2BB/9. People learn stuff sometimes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 3 minutes ago, Balta1701 said: That spellunk is unacceptable. Anywho, the White Sox have a poor walk rate from their starting pitchers because 3 of them are extremely young. Saturday's opponent, Dallas Keuchel, remains a good example. When he came up at age 24, he averaged 4 BB/9. 3 years later when he won the Cy Young, his walk rate was 2BB/9. People learn stuff sometimes. I will either come with repetition or the next guy up will replace them. Unless you are Randy Johnson, that kind of walk rate isn't sustainable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 I'm not concerned; He's the one guy on our staff that I'm not worried about. I think Gio will turn it around as well. The real question will be what is there upside. In the case of Rey Lo, we are talking about a guy who has thrown just over 90 innings professionally at the big league level. I'm excited that he seems to be getting guys out and his stuff clearly plays. Pitchability and going deeper into games will come with experience. It isn't like his stuff deteriorates around the 80 pitch mark or something...this is more about him just learning to pitch more efficiently. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusguyman Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 So. How worried are we about ReyLo at this point? He seems to have regressed to 2016 Nationals Lopez. I mentioned it in the game thread, but his stats this season: vs Bottom 5 offenses (5 games, DETx2, CLEx2, TOR): 31.2 IP, 7 ER (2.02 ERA), 2 HR, 8 BB, 31 K, 24 H vs Everyone else (6 games, KCx2, SEA, TB, BOS, MIN): 28 IP, 33 ER (10.61 ERA), 12 HR, 19 BB, 26 K, 37 H It isn't like he faced MIN 6 times either. Gio's resurgence this year makes it easier to be patient with Lopez, but it is frustrating to see him taking a major step backwards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 he needs to make some sort of adjustment, but that's what the coaching staff is for whatever he's been doing lately, it isn't working his command is awful, he's all over the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingandalongonetoleft Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Don't really have high hopes for Lopez. Fourth or Fifth starter is my guess at best case scenario. Hope I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradMc Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 (edited) 6 hours ago, Real said: he needs to make some sort of adjustment, but that's what the coaching staff is for whatever he's been doing lately, it isn't working his command is awful, he's all over the place But this is exactly why we only gave up Eaton to get these guys. Lopez and Gio have a lot of promise but they couldn't be relied on for a team in win-now mode like the Nats. I think Lopez would be an awful closer. The Sox need a pitching coach these young guys can relate to. Time for Cooper and RR for that matter to move on. Edited May 25, 2019 by GradMc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcq Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Failed challenge with a 4-1 lead. Be better prepared next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Have McCann catch him the next few times. Might be educational. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneDog847 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Way too early to give up on this kid. This year and next are still tank years. Let him make another 50 or so starts and evaluate then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 He’s been frustrating but you just keep running him out there. The talent is there. I think he’ll have an era in the mid to low 4s before it’s all said and done. I too would let him have a turn with McCann. Can’t hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boopa1219 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 He needs to learn how to spin the ball and how to induce more grounders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Hibbard Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 (edited) I just don’t know if I would completely change my opinion on López based on his inability to get shut down two of the AL’s best teams / offenses. He has otherwise looked really good - Boston and Minnesota. Minnesota is a buzzsaw right now. Outside of those two starts he has been very good Edited May 25, 2019 by Greg Hibbard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Parkman Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 4 minutes ago, Greg Hibbard said: I just don’t know if I would completely change my opinion on López based on his inability to get shut down two of the AL’s best teams / offenses. He has otherwise looked really good - Boston and Minnesota. Minnesota is a buzzsaw right now. Outside of those two starts he has been very good You didn't watch his first 3 starts against KC, Seattle and Cleveland then did you? He got rocked in all 3, and that was before Lindor was healthy for the Indians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share Posted May 25, 2019 I honestly believe if the Astros or another competent organization got their hands on him he’d quickly turn into an effective #3 type starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcq Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 The absolute key is to correct mistakes from each outing. We can only hope he knows what to work on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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