A Realistic View at 2020: Part II

[mvp 78]

He was the only one I noticed. I had to look up Taylor and Walden.

 

But I just knew no way in Hell was Chris Mazza making the roster without a glut of injuries involved...

 

He's the only guy who had a shot that I could think of and that's only because of him being trashed on here.

[notin]

Can't believe I forgot Darwinzon. That guy is a beast and fun to watch.

 

Also worth noting, with the delayed start to the season, Verdugo might be ready to go. If so, who is off the roster?

 

If the Sox can make a deal with Houston to keep Arauz, problem solved. But if not, DFA Lin? Or do they send Arauz back? Or who contracts Fenway Fever and hits the IL?

[notin]

He's the only guy who had a shot that I could think of and that's only because of him being trashed on here.

 

Seeing Johnson was a real downer for me. But unless McHugh is ready, he’s certainly a strong possibility. Still wouldn’t mind seeing Bloom roll the dice on Buchholz or Cashner. Or even Matt Harvey. These injury-prone guys become less of a liability in a shortened season...

[mvp 78]

Also worth noting, with the delayed start to the season, Verdugo might be ready to go. If so, who is off the roster?

 

If the Sox can make a deal with Houston to keep Arauz, problem solved. But if not, DFA Lin? Or do they send Arauz back? Or who contracts Fenway Fever and hits the IL?

 

Lin goes IMO.

[mvp 78]

Seeing Johnson was a real downer for me. But unless McHugh is ready, he’s certainly a strong possibility. Still wouldn’t mind seeing Bloom roll the dice on Buchholz or Cashner. Or even Matt Harvey. These injury-prone guys become less of a liability in a shortened season...

 

People were saying that Johnson's velo is up, but he wasn't pitching all that great. I think Cashner's agent is now saying he's a relief arm.

[moonslav59]

It's a 26 man roster, now, so that will help a little.

 

soxprospects.com has this:

 

SP: ERod, Eovaldi, Perez, Weber, Johnson

RP:Workman, Barnez, DHern, Taylor, Brasier, Walden, Hembree, Brice

C: Vaz, Plawecki

1B: Moreland, Chavis

2B: Peraza, Arauz

3B: Devers

SS: Bogey, Lin

LF: Beni

CF: JBJ

RF: Pillar

DH: JD

 

IL: Sale (will be 60 day), Verdugo & Pedey (60 day)

OPT Out: Lucroy

 

Others on 40 man roster:

C McHugh (out of options),Hart, Mazza, Brewer, Osich, P Valdez, Shawaryn, M Hall, J Springs

Dalbec, Chatham, M Wilson (AA), Y Abar (A)

 

[mvp 78]

Lucroy doesn't have an April 1 opt out. He can go to AAA for a little while.

[notin]

People were saying that Johnson's velo is up, but he wasn't pitching all that great. I think Cashner's agent is now saying he's a relief arm.

 

I’d take Cashner in the bullpen yesterday. Demote Brasier...

[notin]

Lucroy doesn't have an April 1 opt out. He can go to AAA for a little while.

 

I actually like Lucroy as a RHH option for 1b. But it will be tough to get him rostered if Verdugo is healthy and they like Arauz but can’t work anything out...

[mvp 78]

I’d take Cashner in the bullpen yesterday. Demote Brasier...

 

Brasier was great in 18. Cashner hasn't been that good since 14.

[mvp 78]

I actually like Lucroy as a RHH option for 1b. But it will be tough to get him rostered if Verdugo is healthy and they like Arauz but can’t work anything out...

 

Does that make Chavis a 2b/LF guy? I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to move Chavis.

[Kimmi]

I prefer technology to incompetence

 

Fair opinion.

[Kimmi]

Incompetence is part of the game. Incompetence is what makes games a game.

 

I wouldn't call it incompetence, necessarily, but rather human error. And yes, it's part of the game.

[Kimmi]

If you are pro umpire incompetence, you can never complain about an Angel Hernandez game. In fact, you probably wish Angel was the ump every game if you think that umpiring incompetence is just "part of the game."

 

If there are umpires who think they are bigger than the game, they need to be replaced. Or umpires who really are incompetent. I am positive that umpires would improve in their calls if they were held more accountable.

 

That said, I don't expect any umpire to get every call right. I'm okay with that.

 

Will I yell at my tv when an umpire blows a call against against the Sox? Absolutely. But it's part of the game and part of being a fan.

[Kimmi]

And even the best umps are 'incompetent' in calling balls and strikes with perfect accuracy. So they need the technology.

 

Perhaps they need to get rid of the K-zone boxes around the strike zone.

[Kimmi]

I couldn't name half of the pitching staff most likely, but I'm going to give it a shot without peeking.

 

mitch

chavis

arauz

plawecki

vazquez

bogey

devers

jd

jbj

benny

parada (sp?)

verdugo (il)

lin

pillar

 

14 players less 1 IL (didn't include pedroia)

 

13 pitchers:

sale (il)

mchugh (il)

perez

erod

weber

eovaldi

johnson

brice

workman

braizer

hembree

barnes

mazza

 

Can't remember anyone else at the moment.

 

We have a good bullpen! At very little cost!

[mvp 78]

We have a good bullpen! At very little cost!

 

It's fine.

[Bellhorn04]

Perhaps they need to get rid of the K-zone boxes around the strike zone.

 

But why?

[Kimmi]

But why?

 

Because I think they can be misleading and they make fans think that some umpires are worse than they are.

[S5Dewey]

Because I think they can be misleading and they make fans think that some umpires are worse than they are.

 

I don't think they're misleading at all. IMO the fans expect perfection from the umpires and the K-Zone demonstrates the umpire's imperfection - but that's on the fans and not the umpires.

I find the K-Zone to be a two-edges sword in that while I want to know if a pitch is actually a ball or a strike at the same time I don't want to use that knowledge to discredit the umpire. At the same time there are some umpires whom I believe would be removed from their jobs for failure to meet reasonable standards if they were employed in the real world.

[moonslav59]

Because I think they can be misleading and they make fans think that some umpires are worse than they are.

 

Maybe it makes some look better than they are, too.

[oldtimer]

Maybe it makes some look better than they are, too.

 

By better or worse, your saying in comparison to the K-zone, which most of us believe is accurate. Why not then use to k-zone to inform the umpire so he/she can get the call correct every time. That eliminates batters arguing the calls (often rightly so). I do believe it will come in the near future.

[mvp 78]

I don't think they're misleading at all. IMO the fans expect perfection from the umpires and the K-Zone demonstrates the umpire's imperfection - but that's on the fans and not the umpires.

I find the K-Zone to be a two-edges sword in that while I want to know if a pitch is actually a ball or a strike at the same time I don't want to use that knowledge to discredit the umpire. At the same time there are some umpires whom I believe would be removed from their jobs for failure to meet reasonable standards if they were employed in the real world.

 

If a pitch is off by an inch and the ump misses it, it doesn't bother me. The really egregious calls are what gets my goat.

[Kimmi]

I don't think they're misleading at all. IMO the fans expect perfection from the umpires and the K-Zone demonstrates the umpire's imperfection - but that's on the fans and not the umpires.

I find the K-Zone to be a two-edges sword in that while I want to know if a pitch is actually a ball or a strike at the same time I don't want to use that knowledge to discredit the umpire. At the same time there are some umpires whom I believe would be removed from their jobs for failure to meet reasonable standards if they were employed in the real world.

 

I agree completely with your statements regarding the K-Zone being a two-edged sword.

 

IMO, umpires who do not meet reasonable standards need to be fired. Or those who think they are bigger than the game. I really think we could find people to do a better job than some of our umpires are doing.

[Kimmi]

Maybe it makes some look better than they are, too.

 

I'm not sure about that. But perhaps.

[Kimmi]

By better or worse, your saying in comparison to the K-zone, which most of us believe is accurate. Why not then use to k-zone to inform the umpire so he/she can get the call correct every time. That eliminates batters arguing the calls (often rightly so). I do believe it will come in the near future.

 

It will be coming in the next 3-5 years.

 

What is wrong with batters arguing calls? What is wrong with the good ole days when the managers used to come out and really get into it with the umpires? Human emotion. Technology is removing some of that from the game.

[notin]

I'm not sure about that. But perhaps.

 

It’s impressed me.

 

A home plate umpire’s job involves deciding if a 100mph baseball touches any part of an invisible box of varying size. And with very little time and no help. When I see borderline K-Zone pitches called by the umpire and he agrees one way or the other, I’m very impressed...

[Kimmi]

It’s impressed me.

 

A home plate umpire’s job involves deciding if a 100mph baseball touches any part of an invisible box of varying size. And with very little time and no help. When I see borderline K-Zone pitches called by the umpire and he agrees one way or the other, I’m very impressed...

 

I think most umpires do a far better job than we give them credit for. We tend to remember the blown calls, particularly the blatant ones, much better than we remember the overwhelming number of correct calls.

 

I think a problem with umpires is that they do tend to have their own definition of what the strike zone is. Some tend to call higher strikes while others don't. IMO, that is something that could and should be corrected.

[mvp 78]

I think most umpires do a far better job than we give them credit for. We tend to remember the blown calls, particularly the blatant ones, much better than we remember the overwhelming number of correct calls.

 

I think a problem with umpires is that they do tend to have their own definition of what the strike zone is. Some tend to call higher strikes while others don't. IMO, that is something that could and should be corrected.

 

Blatantly blown calls are a problem though. That can't happen.

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure about that. But perhaps.

 

If your assumption is the K zone is not completely accurate, of course it will help some look better by making a bad call look correct- maybe as often or more so than vice versa.

 

It's time for robo balls and strikes. It will bring consistency to that aspect of the game, and both hitters and pitchers will learn what is a ball and what is a strike and never have to react by guessing what the ump might call or who the ump is, today.