White Sox/Tigers Midweek Redux

[richig07]

Serious question. Which do you think is more valuable. An 18 game sample size in a season with no spring training? Or an 879 game sample size? Lol. If you don't mind - I would like a direct answer to this question.

You have to be trolling. No one is this dense.

He is undoubtedly and without question... one of the best two catchers in baseball. He's top 3 in every Fangraphs defensive metric and MLBN just had a debate on the best offensive catcher in baseball. Grandal vs Realmuto were the only two guys worth showing a graphic for. Most of the separation is due to one starting cold vs one being red hot.

The only thing Grandal hasn't done this year is hit HR's like he usually does. His OBP is right on par with his career and is extremely valuable on a team that never walks.

In the entire league, this is the only guy you would be right in saying is better than Grandal. And it's very close.

The graphic does not even include OBP. Which Grandal is superior in in. Which, again, far more valuable than average.

Grandal has also passed Realmuto in OPS since this graphic. Which was run a few days ago.

 

[richig07]

New White Sox hitting coach - still batter after batter looks at the 1st pitch strike - then swings for the fences.

Not to go all Hawk Harrelson on everyone. But these guys in our lineup are nearly all Cuban/Domincan. Which are notorious for that type of aggressive approach. Anderson is not - but he has had this exact approach for his entire baseball life. He actually has shown growth in extending AB's, though.

It's going to take more than 23 games in a year with no spring training to fix it. A hitting coach might be able to make a tweak in your swing during that time... but retool your entire approach and philosophy to hitting? That happens slowly over a long period of time.

Also, this team? By and large, they should be swinging for the fences. It's what most of them are built for. You want to see them be a bit more selective in doing so. However, that's what our team is. Home run hitters. This is not "Ozzie ball". That stuff is long gone.

 

[Mingo]

If you are wanting to hit HRs -

Not to go all Hawk Harrelson on everyone. But these guys in our lineup are nearly all Cuban/Domincan. Which are notorious for that type of aggressive approach. Anderson is not - but he has had this exact approach for his entire baseball life. He actually has shown growth in extending AB's, though.

It's going to take more than 23 games in a year with no spring training to fix it. A hitting coach might be able to make a tweak in your swing during that time... but retool your entire approach and philosophy to hitting? That happens slowly over a long period of time.

Also, this team? By and large, they should be swinging for the fences. It's what most of them are built for. You want to see them be a bit more selective in doing so. However, that's what our team is. Home run hitters. This is not "Ozzie ball". That stuff is long gone.

At least Timmy Anderson won't waste a 1st pitch strike. I'm not complaining about swinging for the fences so much as watching the 1st pitch strike grove the center of the plate - giving away one strike.

 

[richig07]

If you are wanting to hit HRs -


At least Timmy Anderson won't waste a 1st pitch strike. I'm not complaining about swinging for the fences so much as watching the 1st pitch strike grove the center of the plate - giving away one strike.

Well, of course, I want to hit home runs. It's the most surefire way of creating runs. More HR's = more runs. Not less. "Hit em where the ain't" is the old adage. I'll tell you right now - ain't nobody defending the seats in the damn bleachers. lol

While I understand and share the frustration of our guys falling down in counts. You can't have everyone swinging at the first pitch either. We also want these guys to be more patient and walk more. We want to get into teams bullpens. We want to put guys on-base (imagine if all of our HR's weren't solo shots, lol). I think the "look for one pitch, in one spot approach" pertaining to first pitch swinging is correct the majority of the time. If guys don't get that hanging breaking ball or fastball where they want it. No point in swinging, really.

In the long run, taking more is going help our guys bring our K/BB ratio to a rate that isn't so vomit inducing. In short, they just have to learn to see the strike zone better. It's a young team and that will come in time, I believe.

 

[Mingo]

Well, of course, I want to hit home runs. It's the most surefire way of creating runs. More HR's = more runs. Not less. "Hit em where the ain't" is the old adage. I'll tell you right now - ain't nobody defending the seats in the damn bleachers. lol

While I understand and share the frustration of our guys falling down in counts. You can't have everyone swinging at the first pitch either. We also want these guys to be more patient and walk more. We want to get into teams bullpens. We want to put guys on-base (imagine if all of our HR's weren't solo shots, lol). I think the "look for one pitch, in one spot approach" pertaining to first pitch swinging is correct the majority of the time. If guys don't get that hanging breaking ball or fastball where they want it. No point in swinging, really.

In the long run, taking more is going help our guys bring our K/BB ratio to a rate that isn't so vomit inducing. In short, they just have to learn to see the strike zone better. It's a young team and that will come in time, I believe.

LOL - so can we agree - that being predictable on the 1st pitch strike is bad?

 

[idseer]

tim starts it once again. i might be forced to admit the chance of a possibility that anderson might give this team life ..... or some reasonable facsimile.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

TA en fuego

 

[idseer]

i thought that mazara was at least a good fielder. so wtf is he good for?

 

[idseer]

they keep talking about cease being a top of the rotation pitcher. ... i don't see it.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

i thought that mazara was at least a good fielder. so wtf is he good for?

My guess is they think he can hit a lot of HR if he could connect more.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

they keep talking about cease being a top of the rotation pitcher. ... i don't see it.

Needs to hone his skill a bit. Needs to keep his pitches lower in general. Seems to have release point issues here and there.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

I really really hope Robert didn't just injure himself going for that ball in CF.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

Oh no

 

[ChiSoxFan]

IL’s very own Burdi looking shaky.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

 

[ChiSoxFan]

TA with 4 hits.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

Now Moncada is limping. This injury madness needs to end.

 

[richig07]

LOL - so can we agree - that being predictable on the 1st pitch strike is bad?

No, I don't think so. I don't think one pitch, one spot is predictable. It can change with each pitcher and each AB. I've seen all of our guys be aggressive first pitch at some point.

Wade Boggs never swung at a first pitch in his entire career. I don't recall guys like Frank Thomas or Bonds doing much of that either. Generally, you should be taking more first pitches than you don't. I don't know who would argue that or why they would.

 

[richig07]

Bats are really coming alive. Pitching is improving. Albeit, vs poor competition. We'll see where we're truly at versus the Cubs.

Honestly, roughly our next month is rather poor competition. If we keep doing what we are doing - we should be able to stack some wins and position ourselves well for a tough stretch run in the final two weeks.

 

[idseer]

good start with 2 to go.