caulfield12 Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 https://www.mlb.com/news/eloy-jimenez-works-to-improve-defense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonofaRoache Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 He can become serviceable, but either you have it or you don't. He just seems to be a clumsy runner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GermanSoxFan Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 1 minute ago, SonofaRoache said: He can become serviceable, but either you have it or you don't. He just seems to be a clumsy runner. I was also pretty sure that Carlos Quentin would suffer a fatal injury in the outfield but he improved to become a below average fielder instead of a hazard. So maybe there is hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownsportsfan Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 I don't think he'll ever be any good, frankly. Eloy makes Palka look like a gold glover. The route and clumsiness on that Yelich ball would shame most low level college players. That ball wasn't hit more than 30 feet to his right and he wasn't even particularly close to the fence. Depending on what happens with Vaughn a conversion to 1B should at least be considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 Just now, chitownsportsfan said: I don't think he'll ever be any good, frankly. Eloy makes Palka look like a gold glover. The route and clumsiness on that Yelich ball would shame most low level college players. That ball wasn't hit more than 30 feet to his right and he wasn't even particularly close to the fence. Depending on what happens with Vaughn a conversion to 1B should at least be considered. Couldn't agree more on his liability in the field. Question is whether the bat warrants DH only (vs. possible trade bait). Assuming defensively challenged players should/could be moved to 1B badly underestimates the importance of having a good glove at the position. Watch Rizzo, Votto, Hosmer, Goldschmidt and the rookie on Seattle, White, play 1B and see how many errant throws and short hoppers they dig out that translate into runs saved. We're sensitized to bad 1B play and assume the position lacks importance. I can see know way Eloy would be anything but a liability at 1B...even more so than OF. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted August 8, 2020 Author Share Posted August 8, 2020 (edited) https://theathletic.com/1980278/2020/08/07/eloy-jimenezs-latest-defensive-gaffe-doesnt-mean-he-will-no-longer-play-left/?source=weeklyemail “I saw a route that took him to the line,” said manager Rick Renteria, who defended Jiménez’s effort level. “The ball started fading toward the line more and dying, actually fading in toward the infield. It looked like he was chasing it a lot. His momentum continued to carry him unfortunately into the stands. That’s a big man to try to get up. Was it a tough play for him? Yes. Could it have been made? Should it have been made? It’s possible. But he did everything he could to kind of corral it.” In 133 games in the majors, Jiménez has had numerous misplays in left field, three of which have resulted in injuries. But Thursday’s gaffe was probably the worst of them all — at least in terms of impact and its potential to make the rounds on Twitter and TV highlights. “The last thing I’m going to say or allege is he didn’t give a good effort to go after and retrieve it,” Renteria said. “I don’t think he’s a young man who dogs it. I’m sure he was embarrassed that the ball wasn’t able to be caught.” ... The White Sox have a surplus of slow-footed sluggers — good ones, too. Among them, Jiménez’s above-average foot speed (no, really!), outfield experience, work ethic and appetite to improve his fitness levelwhen called upon stand out. He simply is a much more realistic option to develop into a suitable left fielder than Vaughn, Zack Collins or Yermin Mercedes, who are all multiple grades slower. Hoping Adam Engel hits enough to be a full-time player in a corner outfield spot isn’t realistic, either. The glut of outfield prospects who once flanked Jiménez in the minors — Micker Adolfo, Blake Rutherford, Luis González — have yet to conquer Double A and were denied the chance this season by the pandemic, which also contributed to Luis Basabe being designated for assignment. As it stands, pushing Jiménez out of left would force a viable above-average hitter out of the lineup — blocking prospects such as Collins, Vaughn and Mercedes for years to come — while inserting a decidedly below-average one in his place. Edited August 8, 2020 by caulfield12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusguyman Posted August 8, 2020 Share Posted August 8, 2020 3 hours ago, caulfield12 said: https://www.mlb.com/news/eloy-jimenez-works-to-improve-defense How many times have we heard this already? This is just the BSOHL story for Eloy (and Tim) and I am at the same point for both of them - they can talk all they want but I won't believe it until I see it now 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominikk85 Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 (edited) He is not a burner but his sprint speed is actually about average (27.7 last year) which is faster than some pretty good fielders (Kepler for example). He doesn't look good out there but his speed is actually ok for LF at least for the next 2-3 years. He "just" needs to improve his routes and general awareness in the OF. Not an easy thing to do of course. Edited August 9, 2020 by Dominikk85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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