Abbatacola and Rozner both criticize Ventura

[kitekrazy]

What does North think

 

North and think can't be used in the same sentence.

[RockRaines]

More relevant opinions on baseball are found on this board compared to those guys.

[Kyyle23]

North and think can't be used in the same sentence.

 

What does North say about this without thinking

[The Ginger Kid]

No amount of coaching can make up for a lack of talent. Bottom line, Sox lack talent. A few years ago this board was on fire for how pathetic the farm system was. And they were right, as evidenced by a lack of homegrown talent on the field right now. The chickens have come home to roost. When you're picking up pieces like Sierra off the scrap heap can you really hope to be competitive? I applaud the turnarounds they've produced with guys like Gillaspie and Noesi, but they are exceptions to the rule.

 

We're in the dark days of rebuilding a farm system and hopefully developing that talent. Tough to endure but it has to be done. If anything, RV should be commended for taking it on the chin for the organization.

[caulfield12]

The problem is that Danish and Montas are probably 1 1/2 years away as it stands right now.

 

Rodon, of course, should arrive sooner.

 

And then you have Adams hopefully in 2 1/2 or 3 years.

 

 

The problem is the franchise getting through 2015...they simply have to be able to promote the realistic possibility of a playoff run when they're selling 2016 season tickets.

 

It's also far from clear when/if Anderson, Hawkins and Davidson will be making any type of contribution. We've had so many debacles with Mitchell, Walker and Thompson's pretty much fallen off the prospect map as well...too many misses.

 

Then you have Semien, Erik Johnson, Davidson (again), Micah Johnson struggling to feature his #1 asset with the lingering hamstring issues....Daniel Webb's gone backwards, Anderson and Montas hurt, not to mention a lot of the guys having surprising seasons like Sanchez, Wilkins and Ravelo are still basically "fringey" candidates for everyday play at the major league level. Beck hasn't progressed as hoped/hyped. Nobody's expecting All-Star appearances, that's for sure.

Edited August 11, 2014 by caulfield12

[1dog]

Of course, those who defend Garcia and his hitting Beckham or Garcia up in the order (leaving nobody to get on base when Eaton's out for Abreu) is, who do you put there?

 

Alexei Ramirez? Well, he's more comfortable in that #5-6 RBI position.

 

Conor? He's not much of a threat on the basepaths, at all.

 

DeAza...well, maybe, but certainly not against LHP.

The having to be a "threat on the base paths" to bat higher in the order doesn't really make a lot of sense. Yes, you would like the guys batting 1 and 2 to have some speed, but the most important thing has to be their ability to actually GET ON BASE. Bat Conor second, for f***'s sake, it's not that tough.

 

Or, just this...

Literally any other position player. It's not hard

 

Edited August 11, 2014 by 1dog

[Balta1701]

The having to be a "threat on the base paths" to bat higher in the order doesn't really make a lot of sense. Yes, you would like the guys batting 1 and 2 to have some speed, but the most important thing has to be their ability to actually GET ON BASE. Bat Conor second, for f***'s sake, it's not that tough.

 

Or, just this...

There is an actual problem with Connor 2nd as the lineup is currently constructed. L - Eaton. L - Gillaspie. Righty, righty, righty, righty, righty, righty, righty. Perfect setup for a bullpen to devastate the team with specialists.

[caulfield12]

There is an actual problem with Connor 2nd as the lineup is currently constructed. L - Eaton. L - Gillaspie. Righty, righty, righty, righty, righty, righty, righty. Perfect setup for a bullpen to devastate the team with specialists.

 

 

That's why the devastating Beckham and Leury Garcia can nullify those lefty specialists...(please Dick Allen, save your breath about his stats against lefties when he's hitting .180 or .190 against RHP, which is the majority of mlb pitching).

Edited August 11, 2014 by caulfield12

[Eminor3rd]

There is an actual problem with Connor 2nd as the lineup is currently constructed. L - Eaton. L - Gillaspie. Righty, righty, righty, righty, righty, righty, righty. Perfect setup for a bullpen to devastate the team with specialists.

 

I always thought this was overlooked. In that other thread where we talked about lineup: the distribution of talent has shown not to make a huge difference, but I think the handedness is a much bigger factor. I love the idea of alternating when possible, and I'd probably set the lineup like this:

 

L Eaton

R Ramirez

L Dunn

R Abreu

L Gillaspie

R Viciedo

L De Aza

R Flowers

R Beckham

 

You can swap Dunn and Gillaspie if you want to be more traditional; I tend to favor the Tom Tango model that argues low contact HR threats should be third and higher contact hitters should be fifth, but it's splitting hair either way.

 

With Eaton on the DL, I'd probably go:

 

R Ramirez

L Gillaspie

R Abreu

L Dunn

R Viciedo

L De Aza

R Flowers

R Beckham

S Garcia

Edited August 12, 2014 by Eminor3rd