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ParisSox

I miss pnoles’ team previews. hope you’re ok Patrick. (and my apologies if you talk about that in the podcast which I have yet to listen to.)

Jim Margalus

We’re the victims of a time crunch.

Joliet Orange Sox

Here’s a link to the video of Hawk calling the play when Beckham ran into Gillaspie that has been much discussed around here lately:

Hawk is not happy

A big difference between this play and the Twins throw a few days ago is that the Sox won the game.

ParisSox

I remember the play vividly but forgot that that would have been the last out of the game. Jim or someone had a great gif on that play. Would love to see that again.

Lorenzo Barcelo

Someone added Beckham running with the Stanley Cup in one version at the time.

Jim Margalus

That was Billy.

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Last edited 2 years ago by Jim Margalus
Papa Giorgio

I vividly remember that it was supposed to be the last out, because I was at the game and I had to leave due to plans to pick up my sister in law, but I figured I’d watch the very end.

Standing on the concourse behind home plate watching it unfold, I see them run into each other and the ball falls, and I immediately stomped out of there very angrily, all the way down the ramps.

HallofFrank

The Vaughn-to-AAA drum is beating too loudly too early. Since April 6th: a 132 wRC+ (just below Yermín’s 135); behind only Mendick and Anderson in OBP (but more PA than both); leads the whole team in EV. All while playing a better than expected LF, playing very inconsistently, and in this first taste of pitching above high-A. Plus, Vaughn is really the only thing in the way of an Engel/Leury/Hamilton LF, which shouldn’t be something Sox fans want to see.

He should be in the lineup every day until at least mid-May, maybe even late May. I don’t know why they’d entertain sending him down now, given his circumstances.

Jim Margalus

One man’s “very inconsistent” playing time is another man’s “very tailored” playing time, which happens to overlap with the tailoring that makes Engel look similarly effective.

That said, I’d like to see Vaughn get the playing time between now and Engel being ready to have a better idea of what to do with him.

Jim Margalus

Here’s how the pessimist carves up Vaughn’s small sample size:

RISP: 0-for-11, 1 BB, 5 K
High leverage: 0-for-7, 0 BB, 5 K
Medium leverage: 1-for-11, 3 BB, 3 K
Low leverage: 5-for-14, 3 BB, 4 K

My impression thus far is that that teams are pretty good at getting him out when they’re invested in getting him out. It’s obviously not a permanent condition, but I think he’s set up to look as good as possible right now.

HallofFrank

I haven’t looked up the numbers, but couldn’t you carve up most player’s numbers like that? You’ve already argued RISP is low across the board, and I assume a similar argument could be made for high leverage situations.

I’m not saying he’s been a world-beater. Far from it. But, he hasn’t exactly been underwater, either, and he’s already shown signs of improvement. Based on the very weird circumstances he’s playing under, I’m not sure we could ask for much better.

Moreover, my wanting to keep Vaughn around has just as much to do with the other available options as it does with his progression and abilities. I’m not exactly thrilled at the prospect of seeing a full-time Engel or Leury out there.

Jim Margalus

No, Vaughn sticks out in high leverage situations thus far. He and Madrigal are about the only non-bench guys who haven’t done anything, maybe Grandal if you’re looking for hits over walks.

If Vaughn is only trusted to thrive in situations where Engel excels, then you may as well play Engel and gain the defensive and baserunning edge. Vaughn’s never faced Double-A or Triple-A pitching, so I don’t know why it’s objectionable to let him play every day there, rather than slap a trainee cap on him in left and settle for substandard production with fingers crossed it gets better. If Engel doesn’t hack it, Vaughn can always come back up.

HallofFrank

I agree it makes less sense to keep him up if he only plays every other day. But he’s only seen 3 weeks of MLB pitching and he’s been adequate—or even good since April 6. He’s helping this team and getting better. Play him full time and if he flounders, then send him down.

WaldoWolf

Josh mentioning Bruce Chen sent a shiver down my spine. My friends and I called him “Cy Chen”