April 26--I hate the Cubs

[teddywingman]

This damn team. Please rally

 

[Harry Hooper]

Blam!

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Didn't see that one coming.

 

[patinorange]

White flag works. Good job Joely.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Joely is another one on this team that I’ve had more than enough of.

 

[strek1]

OK. I've seen enough.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Time to cut bait on Rodriguez. A reclamation project that did not work. DFA him and call up Benetiz.

 

[Beskedne værker]

I miss MLB

 

[Fishy1]

Putting on Heat in the background. Al Pacino save me

 

[YTF]

I guess I may as well put my pants back on.

 

[teddywingman]

If only Bobby could hit.

 

[Coachster]

Any of you who still think Bobby Dalbec is a major league player are just fooling yourselves.

 

[Beomoose]

Any of you who still think Bobby Dalbec is a major league player are just fooling yourselves.

You talking to Bloom or Breslow?

 

[patinorange]

Kelly looked good. That's all I got. Can't wait until they get back on the road.

 

[BigSoxFan]

So, that Imanaga guy…

 

[LesterFan]

Rafaela saw a grand total of 6 pitches in 4 ABs. Three first pitch outs.

 

[Coachster]

So, that Imanaga guy…

4 years, $50 mill. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have the 'Fenway Experience' than have to shell out that kind of cash.

That's sarcasm if you didn't catch it.

 

[Patriot_Reign]

Nice to hear the Cubs fans give a nice round of applause to their pitcher.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

So, that Imanaga guy…

4 years, $50 mill. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have the 'Fenway Experience' than have to shell out that kind of cash.

That's sarcasm if you didn't catch it.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/26/sports/cubs-red-sox-shota-imanaga/?event=event25

The Sox, according to a major league source, were the first team to make an offer to Imanaga last offseason, putting a two-year, $26 million deal on the table shortly after he’d been posted for bidding by the Yokohama BayStars.

...

The Sox declined to match [the Cubs offer] — a stance driven by a number of factors, including (according to multiple major league sources) a guaranteed term of more years for a player about whom they had medical concerns.

 

[BigSoxFan]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/26/sports/cubs-red-sox-shota-imanaga/?event=event25

I think that write up is missing some key “factors”.

 

[Ale Xander]

We still hate the Cubs

 

[Ale Xander]

Rafaela saw a grand total of 6 pitches in 4 ABs. Three first pitch outs.

He’s over matched and easy to pitch too. But fun watching him play irregardless

 

[Cassvt2023]

Can I tell you guys something I'm excited about?

Nick Yorke, our up-and-down first round pick from the 2020 Covid/sign stealing draft, is off to a really interesting start in Portland.

He's got a nice but unexceptional line: .267/.343/.467, for an .810 OPS. Pretty good, especially because as a 22 year old he's still young for the level.

But in his first go round in AA, he had a really similar line (.785 OPS) with a touch less SLG. So why is he repeating the level? Last year, he struck out 25% of the time. He was very young for the level, but the whole idea of Nick Yorke was supposed to be contact skills, so it was kind of ominous.

It's still April, obviously, but the first stats to stabilize are things like contact and strikeout rates. And so far this season his K% is only ~15% while his walk rate has held around 9%. So he has basically the same slash line, but it's come on a much lower BABIP because he's been putting the ball in play more. And it doesn't seem to be a case of not striking out because he's swinging earlier in counts, because his BB% is unchanged.

This is a really good sign IMO for him getting back on track as a legit prospect. I think he'll be the first of our big prospects up to Worcester, and probably the first to Boston, too.

Can he play 1B?