Snopek

Your optimism is appreciated. However: - The Braves were in a much better position farm system wise to make those trades. I’m skeptical that the Sox will be able outbid other contenders for TDL acquisitions - The Braves turnaround was very much the exception to the rule. It did happen, so, sure, it’s possible for it to happen to the Sox. But the reason it’s referenced so much is because that sort of thing almost never happens - The Sox are currently 7-12 against teams in their weak division. Until they prove they can actually beat those weak teams, I’m kind of done with the easy division talk. It’s a weak division for teams like the Yankees and Astros, and the Sox are a reason why - As far as taking over the Twins without too much trouble: They’ve shown nothing that makes me believe this will happen. The Twins have also been hit hard by injuries and have done a much better job weathering the storm thus far - Ultimately, while I do agree the cream usually rises to the top over the course of 162 games, I have trouble making the case that the Sox are part of that cream

100%. TLR is atrocious, but JR is the real villain.

This team isn’t good enough to give away games to bad teams. But here we are, again and again and again.

Fire Tony

Jerry awake doesn’t care either

And somehow there are still people expecting the team to be completely healthy at some point. Edit: Left out the most important word.

Two sensible lineups in a row.

Paul Konerko's statue

On a loooong list of frustrating things about the organization, this is near the top for me. Obviously all organizations hope for things like this, but the amount of weight it seems to carry in this FO is bananas. It almost feels like they imagine up a best case scenario where everything works out perfectly and then completely focus all energy on that.

Yoan was indeed overhyped, but has still been a productive player. Those two are not mutually exclusive.

I mean, it's kind of human nature, no? It's easier to accept that something is someone's fault rather than just the result of bad luck.

Ah, the old Payless Shoes approach. As a kid, my mom would spend more money on 3 - 4 pairs of cheaply made shoes for me than one pair of name brand shoes. Rick, stop buying Pro Wings and MacGregors.

Patiently awaiting the first "injured players returning are trade acquisitions" line from Hahn this season.

They couldn’t even finish the bit about the stupidity of Leury batting leadoff because another Sox hitter grounded out too quickly. If that’s not a microcosm for this season…

This is why it's hard to envision this team stringing together many winning streaks. Just can't help but get in your own damn way.

True, although you can't spell crisp without RISP.

I haven't read this (yet), but have heard good things: https://beltpublishing.com/products/rethinking-fandom-how-to-beat-the-sports-industrial-complex-at-its-own-game Not sure if it totally gets into what you're struggling with, but just wanted to throw it out there.

Unfortunately I don't believe they'll need too much creativity on the injury front, so I think the decisions will end up being pretty obvious. But in "injuries off mode," Sheets and Harrison make the most sense. So it'll be Burger and Mendick.

What?

If I squint I can kind of see it as a "chicken or the egg" scenario. Are they disinterested because they are struggling and the team is losing or are they struggling because they are disinterested? I don't know how you could really know for sure. I don't think it's THAT farfetched to think that age might have caught up to some guys, while others were overvalued or just not very good in the first place. With all of that being said, I have no problem saying that TLR is the biggest problem of many that this team has. If there was one reasonable change to make that could potentially turn the team around, it's without a doubt replacing the manager.

I've mostly accepted that we are all sitting here wide-eyed, watching this thing crash and burn. But what my curious mind wants to know is: Is it the burning part that we're watching now? Or are we still watching a prolonged crash, only to be followed by the burning? Perhaps the crash was the TLR hire and everything since has been the burning? Important questions to ponder as I count down the minutes to avoiding yet another game of my favorite team during their contention window.

What makes you so sure of this?

I interpreted it as forget about Eloy, because anything we get out of him should be considered a bonus at this point.

Counterpoint: Once the weather warms, and we have zero injuries, and the other teams stop being good, and we all wish upon a star, the league is in trouble.