poppysox

I have seen clips and can read a stat line. Most professional writers have called him the best hitter in his draft class. It is possible I will think him dog crap after seeing him play every day but I doubt it. Just for the record I take on faith what the professionals say about players and their potential. They make a living evaluating talent. An example might be that Eloy hasn't looked all that good to me other than his bombs. Everyone looks good in a clip of them hitting a bomb. My hope is that Eloy does a Moncada and comes into his own like most professional talent evaluators believe he will. As CaiSox pointed out...I am old fashioned in that I like the 2 hole hitter to take lots of pitches, hit behind the runner, hit for a high average and carry a good OBA. If he doesn't strike out and can bunt that makes him Nellie Fox and those talents made him the league MVP in 1959.

Madrigal is ideally suited to be in the 2 hole.

We have 3 potential TOR guys in Kopech, Cease and Gio. Cole would be nice but is not essential. If the money we didn't spend on Cole got us your type guys and Grandal…. I would take that every time. A great lineup with a good pitcher on the mound is going to win a lot of games.

Everyone wants to be part of a collective bargaining unit until the bargaining unit does something not in their own best interest. The system works fine for average players who are happy to have a job. For the stars...not so much.

Pitching was very good tonight with the exception of Fry. Mostly worked at a good pace and threw strikes. Really helps when you make them hit their way on. Fry did the opposite and got the usual result.

Yeah...I saw him wince between third and home. Boy this team is banged up.

He's pretty much can't miss with that name.

I'm just not the hand wringing type I guess. Oh yeah, another plus, anyone we use for DH has to be better than Alonso or Reed.

So the question is are the Sox set up to improve by 18 wins. Expect continued improvement from Lopez, Eloy, Madrigal & Gio. The addition of Robert and Madrigal changes the offense by leaps and bounds. Return of Kopech, Rodon, Dunning, Burr and Hamilton from assorted ailments. Cease for the full year will be another plus. Add a right fielder of good quality and a couple of starting pitchers of decent quality by trade or free agency. The 18 win improvement is certainly within reach. The quality of those pitchers & new right fielder make the task easier or harder as the case might be. In my optimistic opinion....piece of cake.

Nova might be a better hitter than Reed.

Thanks...I thought I read somewhere that 2020 was when Rutherford was expected to debut.

Is the right fielder we need for next year in this group?

Get ready for many threads of this type over the next two months. The games are not going to be relevant other than those wanting a tank.

Apparently we need a way to get Jerry mad at the other owners.

Goins has looked very good IMO.

That money has been put away in a safe place earning interest. This will be the year JR surprises the doubters.....I hope.

I have the same take on this as you do. Perhaps Hahn will let Jose test free agency then resign him for a short and relatively cheap window while we wait for Vaughn.

Better make it 10 years. In 8 years he will still be competing for MVP by the looks of him.

Jose would be better off if Ricky put him in the 5 hole. He is one of those guys that thinks he has to do it all himself. Pressure he puts on himself is not his friend.

I believe you are correct. There are rules and there are exceptions to the rules.

They will never call Madrigal or Robert up without an extension. A year of control on premium players is valuable.

I certainly agree that it wouldn't hurt to look at a coach or two. As I've said before...Cooper needs a promotion to emeritus status.

Maybe we need to upgrade the training staff. Glad the surgeries and time on DL isn't happening during the window of contention.

Congrats on not taking the bait.

Sorry...Wheeler. Got my W's mixed up.