Eddy Ballgame

Thanks...Heard the same. It sounds like Kopech will have to self implode or suffer from serious injuries not to have some type of MLB career at this point. It also seems like the ceiling and the floor on this kid are as far apart as it gets.

Thanks, S5.

In the context in which the article was written, It clearly had nothing to do with not seeing enough of him.

As fans, we obviously aren't privy to all of the information about prospects that different organizations are. It's a team's job to keep all "red flags" as hidden as possible, so they can get the most value for a kid if they don't see him as part of the future. There were red flags with several prospects they've moved over the years and sometimes even when there weren't, they still felt it was the right move at the time. They also obviously have reasons why they consider Benintendi & Devers "untouchable" at this point. According to Gammons, Mickey Callaway & John Gibbons both said that the ball sounded "louder" coming off of Benintendi's bat than anyone in the A.L. this season & the Guardians advance scouting team said that he was the only Sox hitter that they couldn't "game plan" for. Pretty good stuff. I personally can't remember a left handed swing as pure as his since maybe Fred Lynn. At the end of the day, teams need to take risks once in a while if they ever want to win. As fans, we really have no idea how big the risk is or isn't at the time.

Peter Gammons wrote in his column the other day that the White Sox wanted to build a package around Benintendi & Devers, but DD said they were both off limits, so Rick Hahn "settled" on Moncada. He wrote that Swihart is also "untouchable" in a previous column.

Ha! Can't argue with that.

By the way, stats are fun and I don't dismiss them, but Craig Kimbrel consistently threw 97-100 last year with a filthy hook, but seemed to get a "Welcome to the American League" strike zone from certain umpires. It definitely happens. My guess is that he'll adjust. Maybe Craig Kimbrel will enter a tie game in the top of the 9th of game 7 of the World Series next year and strike out the side right before Xander Bogaerts jacks one over everything to win it in the bottom of the 9th. Does S5Dewey's head explode at the same time?

How did you feel about the Kimbrel trade? 😄 Do you actually root against him like S5Dewey roots against Bogaerts? Let's re-visit in September....

Nice post. I'm glad you have a passion for someone other than "Jose Iglesias." Then again, you've never been able to understand the "human element" with him, either. Let's see how Kimbrell does this season. I'll gladly admit if I'm wrong, but I have a feeling it won't matter with you anyway.

Let's throw out the "stats" and "WAR projections" and look at the "human element" here for a second. Craig Kimbrell had to move from San Diego (arguably the most laid back place on earth) across the country to Boston (arguably the most intense work environment in baseball). He also had to pitch in a different league that he wasn't very familiar with, and yet he still had a pretty damn good year overall. There's no question that he had a bigger strike zone to work with in the NL, his fastball still hit 100 at times this year, and his breaking ball still made hitter's knees buckle. He also wants the ball back immediately after any time he gets his tits ripped, so he obviously had that "closer mentality." So, not only am I not concerned, I think he'll be significantly better next year.

68 is the new "52," especially when you have a wife still in her late 30s 😬

If he's a complete failure, they can go with Rutledge/Holt/Hernandez for a bit and then go get someone outside of the organization at some point during the season. Moreland could even play there in a pinch. At this point, he seems to be in great shape, he's saying all of the right things and he makes too much money not to give him a chance. I have a feeling that he might surprise some people this year. If not, they'll go get someone else.

My guess is that they will probably bring some guys in on minor league deals, but I don't ever remember them saying that they needed two "top" relievers. They have plenty of options right now and they can always go get someone if they need to. They now have 4 guys who throw gas at the back end in Kimbrel, Kelly, Barnes & Thornburg. Carson Smith could provide a big boost by August as well. They are also hovering around the cap.

The Sox made Koji an offer prior to the Thornburg trade. He told them that he wanted to look at other options. They pulled the offer once they acquired Thornburg. Now he's a Cub. I hope he does well.

Exactly. That's the thing. He's got "ace stuff" in arguably the worst free agent starting pitching market of all time. He doesn't have a lot of miles on him for a 33 year old and he might have matured a little. I could see him going to a place like San Diego, winning a Cy Young, while playing guitar in the gas lamp district on weekends once in a while. My guess is the Sox will be listening if they get the right offer. I definitely don't see him in the bullpen if healthy.

Andrew Benintendi was called up on August 2nd. Beginning on August 5th, he started 19 games in a row before he was injured. Try again.

At what point did any of these guys DH? Which player started the season in a platoon?

What did they do with Swihart in 2016?

I haven't "softened my stance" at all. You won't ever see prospects like Moncada, Swihart or Benintendi "DH" at this stage of their development. In September, when their minor league seasons are over and the big club has no better alternative, then maybe, but never as a consideration before then. You've mentioned several times that Swihart could break camp with the Sox as some "super sub." That will never happen, either. Moncada, Benintendi & Swihart will play every day somewhere. That's what I mean by "not debatable." I'll agree to disagree on everything else. It's not "prospect protocol," either. There is very sound reasoning why young players need to play every day. If the Sox need a left handed DH in July, they'll go get one outside of the organization before they bring Swihart up to do it. Again, September is different. One thing that I will mention is that you seem to assume that "anyone" can DH. Trust me, that's not the case.

Brian Butterfield said last year that the reason they don't have young players taking reps at different positions is because they have enough on their plate as it is and they want them to be as comfortable as possible transitioning through the different levels. The guy has a terrific reputation as a fielding coach, so he must be doing something right. I'm not saying it's "futile" to discuss unlikely scenarios, I just don't think you'll ever see a top young prospect platoon or DH simply out of "necessity." Before they ever consider making Blake Swihart the DH against righties next season, they'll get someone outside of the organization. Same thing with Moncada, who you've mentioned in several DH scenarios over the last few months. It's not going to happen at this stage of their development. In a September pennant race? Sure, but you'd never see it in the beginning of the season. As far as Benintendi goes, he'll play against plenty of lefties this season. If they are in a pennant race in September and he struggled against lefties all season, then sure, they might sit him against lefties, but it would never happen in "May or June." As someone mentioned, they'll find Young at bats while resting all 3 outfielders once in a while and in the DH spot, but they aren't going to play Young against every lefty at the expense of Benintendi's development.

I really don't think you're understanding how "player development" works. "Cody Ross" wasn't a top young prospect. Andrew Benintendi "is," with a "perennial all-star" ceiling. He's going to face lefties this year, somewhere. They won't platoon him. It won't even be considered. He might get a day off against a "Chris Sale" once in a while, but that's it. If healthy and somewhat productive, he'll play "at least" 140 games. You mentioned that you've been a Sox fan for over 40 years. Please come up with a top young, "athletic" prospect that was "platooned" or "DH'd" during their key development years.

Swihart isn't the #5 outfielder, Holt is. He's not on the DH depth chart at all, as it wouldn't even be a consideration at this point, and there is no way he would be on the roster as a "#3 catcher."

It IS beyond debate. They would never sit Benintendi against all lefties, struggles or not. He is a top young prospect who needs to develop. The way to do that is to let him play through it or send him down. They would never consider a "platoon" with him at this point.

Even if Leon wins the job, my guess is it will be more of a platoon, than Vaz catching once a week. If one of them gets hurt, they'll go get a Holiday type.

You "try to avoid playing Brock Holt?!?!" Are you serious? One of the most difficult jobs a manager has is trying to keep everyone "fresh," even the reserve players. John Farrell will do everything he can to get Holt in a game at least once or twice a week. I know you're not a Holt guy, but I'm pretty sure the Sox value him highly. Farrell or any other manager in the history of baseball isn't going to try to "avoid playing" their bench players. Benintendi will NOT sit against lefties if he struggles. He will NOT platoon with Young. He will play every day somewhere this season. There is no debating this. I'm not sure why you keep coming up with crazy scenarios with top prospects like Moncada, Swihart & Benintendi "DHing & platooning." It's never happened before and it's not going to start happening now. Give it up, man.