SoxBlanco

I don’t think people realize how much he helps the entire offense with his ability to take pitches. Abreu won an MVP with Grandal hitting in front of him. And he can hit righties. I think he’s worth every penny we paid him and can’t wait to have him back.

The problem is that players who are better than Leury are going to want to sign with a team where they can start. It’s not as easy as people think to grab great utility players. I think Leury is fine as a utility player, as long as he doesn’t have to play as often as he has this year because of injuries. And he has a lot of positional flexibility.

I honestly believe that’s why Yoan and Timmy look like they’re dogging it to first sometimes, and I’m completely fine with it.

Sounds like you are talking to Kopech and then to other fans all in the same couple sentences. Dumb post.

This is such a brutal post. Just awful.

I think they just felt Kimbrel was more valuable to a World Series run. If they could have gotten Kimbrel or Frazier for free, but they had to choose just one, I think they are taking Kimbrel.

I wasn’t watching at that point. What happened with the ump and Ruiz?

He was not a Wild Thing that inning.

Now that our bullpen is stacked, every fifth game, can we have Kopech and Crochet pitch the first five innings? Stick one of them in the outfield and they can just switch on a batter by batter basis, where Kopech faces all the righties and Crochet faces all the lefties.

I think it could happen. I’m pretty sure Tony values a strong bullpen as much as any manager in baseball.

If we want to, yes.

That how I envision it. And that’s after Kopech and Crochet/Cease pitch the first four or five innings of a playoff game.

For sure. That’s a no-brainer. But the people complaining about the trade are worried about 2023-2026. I’m saying we can easily grab another “Hernandez” to fill that role moving forward. I also don’t think people realize how good Kimbrel has been this year. This move significantly improves our team this year and next.

I think you are answering my question with an incorrect assumption of why I’m asking it. Hypothetically speaking, now that all the deals are done, if we could replace Hernandez with a healthy Madrigal, I don’t think it improves our chances much at all this year to win it all (and I’m a fan of Madrigal). My point is that it’s worth it to give up Madrigal for Kimbrel because I think we can continue to plug Madrigal’s spot with guys like Hernandez and not lose much at all.

Of course. @southsider2k5, I’m talking about if Madrigal was 100% healthy.

I think that’s because top of the line catchers and relief pitchers don’t require 5-10 year commitments. While JR can definitely be cheap at times, I think it’s more that he doesn’t like the risk of long contracts.

Here’s a legitimate question for everybody: Everything else being equal, how much different are our chances to win the World Series this year with Hernandez at 2B instead of Madrigal?

You know how some people claim that a closer should be used in the highest leverage situation as opposed to a clean 9th (like two on in the 6th or 7th)? Now the Sox can use that strategy and still have a closer for the 9th.

How you feeling about the trade, James?

Even if we pick up the money? How about Crochet and Burger for those two?

Bryant and Kimbrel for Burger/Thompson/Lambert/Adolfo?

Could the lower BABIP be a result of him lifting the ball more and going for more power? Or is that too big of a drop where there has to be some bad luck involved? I’m far from a BABIP expert.

Glass half full: Our outfield defense looks great!

You think they still make a move or two?

I feel the same way. Hitting is very contagious and very mental. Joining a winning team with hitters around you in the lineup has to help.