7/28 vs. Oakland

[VA Sox Fan]

This.

 

Some people value their own comfort while watching a Sox game above how well Wakefield performs.

 

 

[a700hitter]

Its a fairly widespread belief that Wakefield was DL'ed at least in part to get Buchholz some time in the majors. I'm not at all concerned about him.

 

In the playoffs, you need 4 starters. Beckett and Lester are Beckett and Lester, Penny's performing well, and we'll have Wakefield back unless something completely insane happens.

There are people on this site, including me, who will have to be sedated if Wakefield gets another post season start.

[BoSox21]

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

4. David Ortiz, DH

5. Jason Bay, LF

6. J.D. Drew, RF

7. MIke Lowell, 3B

8. George Kottaras, C

9. Nick Green, SS

-- Clay Buchholz, SP

[The_Destroyah]

I feel good about tonight, I dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing.

[Teddyballgame10]

Do the Halladay rumors involving Clay effect him tonight?

[The_Destroyah]

Do the Halladay rumors involving Clay effect him tonight?

 

I seriously doubt it...

[VA Sox Fan]

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

4. David Ortiz, DH

5. Jason Bay, LF

6. J.D. Drew, RF

7. MIke Lowell, 3B

8. George Kottaras, C

9. Nick Green, SS

-- Clay Buchholz, SP

 

I had ALREADY posted this at 4:00PM!!!!

 

You START the GT and POST the line ups??

 

YOU ARE OUTTA CONTROL!! :lol:

 

I don't think the rumors will effect Buch negatively, he wants to pitch in the Bigs every day and he'd have more of a chance with almost any other team.

 

WIN WIN WIN!!!

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

How is trading a pitching prospect for a middle of the order bat unnecessary?

 

Said pitching prospect is the top prospect in our organization and projects to be a future ace. And, he's not the only piece of value going back to SD in the deal. And, we also don't need Gonzalez (regardless of what the prototypical Bahstin fan wants you to think), rather we want him because the fact that our bats are slumping creates the illusion that our offense somehow sucks.

 

Gonzalez just turned 27, why would you think that would hinder the team's future?

 

Buchholz and the other top/soon-to-be-top prospects they'd be giving up are all a lot younger than 27.

[BoSox21]

I had ALREADY posted this at 4:00PM!!!!

 

You START the GT and POST the line ups??

 

YOU ARE OUTTA CONTROL!! :lol:

 

my bad

 

Buchholz and the other top/soon-to-be-top prospects they'd be giving up are all a lot younger than 27.

 

But they all will be around 27 by the time they reach their peaks....if they ever reach their peaks. We'd be getting Gonzo just as he's entering his prime and we'll have him for another 10 years.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

But they all will be around 27 by the time they reach their peaks....if they ever reach their peaks. We'd be getting Gonzo just as he's entering his prime and we'll have him for another 10 years.

 

4 good-great players at their peak > 1 great player at his peak.

[BoSox21]

and what are the guarantees that they'll be good-great players?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

and what are the guarantees that they'll be good-great players?

 

With our development system, the odds are a lot better than most.

[BoSox21]

so say every prospect we have succeeds and makes it to the bigs over the next 3 years, there's no room for Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Bowden, Tazawa, Kelly, Doubront and Hagadone. so why not trade a few of them?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

so say every prospect we have succeeds and makes it to the bigs over the next 3 years' date=' there's no room for Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Bowden, Tazawa, Kelly, Doubront and Hagadone. so why not trade a few of them?[/quote']

If the Padres want to take Doubront and Kelly for Gonzalez, terrific.

[The_Destroyah]

If the Padres want to take Doubront and Kelly for Gonzalez' date=' terrific.[/quote']

 

So we can give up the "Buchholz's" of the future?

Kelly could end up being as good as buck in a few years...

im on the fence about this im just getting some convo. going.

[TheKilo]

Tito can go f*** himself for taking LaRoche out of the lineup.

[The_Destroyah]

who is pitching for the Mighty Athletics tonight?

[Cocos Disciples]

Vin Mazzaro.

[The_Destroyah]

Vin Mazzaro.

 

any ametuer scouting reports on Mazzaro?

he obviously isnt "great" 2-7 4+ ERA

[Cocos Disciples]

Prospect Profile: Vin Mazzaro

 

Oakland drafted Mazzaro in the third round in 2005, out of high school in Rutherford, New Jersey. He signed late, and based on scouting reports I gave him a Grade C+ in the 2006 book. Scouts liked his 90 MPH sinker, and felt both his breaking ball and changeup had the potential to improve a great deal. It was also hoped that as a cold-weather high school pitcher, his arm had fewer miles on it than guys from warmer climes.

 

He didn't make his pro debut until 2006, going 9-9, 5.05 with an 81/42 K/BB in 119 innings for Kane County in the Midwest League, allowing 146 hits. His control was OK, but his strikeout rate was below average and he was very hittable. Scouting reports indicated that he had a solid 90 MPH sinker, and that his curveball had plus moments, but that his changeup needed work, his command within the strike zone wasn't the best, and his stuff tended to flatten out when he overthrew. The numbers were certainly unimpressive, and he got hit around pretty bad in one Midwest League game I saw, showing poor command of below average stuff in that game. I gave him a Grade C in the 2007 book, writing that gradual improvement was more likely than a big breakthrough.

 

Mazzaro moved up to Stockton in the California League in 2007. Once again his performance was mediocre: 9-12, 5.33 with a 115/71 K/BB in 154 innings, 159 hits allowed. His strikeout rate rose slightly, but his walks were up significantly. Scouts reported his fastball at 88-92 MPH, still with the good sinking action, but his curveball and changeup regressed and his control was less reliable. I gave him another Grade C in the 2008 book, writing that there was "no objective evidence of a turnaround on the horizon," but that given his youth it was always possible.

 

Things turned around quickly in 2008. He began the year at Double-A Midland, an aggressive posting after two poor A-ball seasons, but he responded to the challenge by going 12-3, 1.90 in 22 starts with a 104/36 K/BB in 137 innings, 115 hits allowed. His velocity improved from 88-92 into the 90-93 range, hitting 94-95 when he was fresh early in the year. He added an improved slider to replace the weak curve, and showed better feel for his changeup, though it remained a so-so pitch overall. He also improved his command and pitched with greater confidence. On the other hand, a late trial for Triple-A Sacramento went poorly: 6.15 ERA with a 27/9 K/BB in 34 innings, with an ugly 49 hits allowed. A late report in Triple-A indicated his velocity was down again, his breaking stuff lacked crispness, and he looked tired late in the year.

 

I raised his grade to B- in the 2009 book. I was impressed by the Texas League performance and the improved slider, but the Triple-A struggle worried me, and I had a nagging suspicion that he would fall back to Earth this year. I wrote "He's got two and one quarter seasons of bad pitching under his belt, and three-quarters of one good season to his credit." I also wrote that he still had youth on his side, and that learning how to fail and then rebound was an important skill.

 

It looks like my suspicion was totally off-base. Mazzaro was very strong in Triple-A this year, posting a 2.38 ERA with a 44/17 K/BB in 57 innings, allowing just 42 hits and a .205 average against. He won his first major league start this week, and given Oakland's need for starting pitching he will be given plenty of additional chances. I still have some concerns: he walked four guys in his 6.1 innings, with just one strikeout, and a ratio like that won't lead to success over the longer term. But it's clear he's made substantial improvements improving his stuff and refining his command, way ahead of where he was two years ago. I think he can be a solid number three type starter if he continues to refine his secondary stuff and if he stays healthy. He has made my predictions look pretty bad the last couple of years, so we'll see how that expectation holds.

-John Sickels

[Cityofchampions33]

For the retirement, Don and Castiglione will start off, followed by Rice accompanied by his family walking towards the first base line. Don and Joe will the narrate his career and through the dialogue, will introduce renowned players who played with him, maybe Yaz, definitely Freddy Lynn. Pesky will pull off the red covering of his number. Rice will throw the first pitch, and his daughter will yell "Play Ball!"

[TheKilo]

He's sucked ass lately though.

 

Last 7 decisions:

 

0-7, 6.31 ERA, .902 OPS against

[Cocos Disciples]

He's sucked ass lately though.

 

Last 7 decisions:

 

0-7, 6.31 ERA, .902 OPS against

 

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

So we can give up the "Buchholz's" of the future?

Kelly could end up being as good as buck in a few years...

im on the fence about this im just getting some convo. going.

They aren't the assets that Buchholz is right now.

[Youk Of The Nation]

My prediction. Sox win 11-2. Buchholz goes 6, gives up 2 runs on 8 hits, walks 3, Ks 6. Youk and Bay go deep.

[The_Destroyah]

My prediction. Sox win 11-2. Buchholz goes 6' date=' gives up 2 runs on 8 hits, walks 3, Ks 6. Youk and [b']Bay[/b] go deep.

 

[TheKilo]

 

Quoi?

[TheKilo]

This is pretty cool.

[Cocos Disciples]

Quoi?

 

It's just laughably awful.

[The_Destroyah]

Bay goes deep?

i feel that if i go in expecting him to have an 0fer then i will be happier when he does go deep or less dissapointed if he does blow again.