CentralChamps21

Cubs and Mets are both first place teams. It's not like they picked Phillies-Dodgers.

When did Tony learn how to operate a letterpress? I thought he was still chiseling stone tablets.

Does it really throw the other guys off that much to get shifted to another spot in the order last minute?

OK, Yoan is sick, but 1) why is Lamb on the team if you're not willing to start him at 3B vs RHP? 2) even if you can't go with Lamb at 3B and have to go with Leury, isn't literally any other possible order better than having Leury bat 3rd?

Sox are 41-24 with 50 games left vs teams > .500 and 47 games left vs teams < .500. A really bad performance against the > .500 teams would be 20-30 (40%), yet that gets the Sox to 61 wins. Would only need to go 29-18 (62%) against the < .500 teams to get to 90 wins, which pretty much guarantees at least a WC spot, if not the division.

I'd rather see Rodon have fewer starts and be allowed to go deeper rather than be limited to 5 innings per start. He should be pushed back every time there's an off day, and Kopech should spot start for him during long stretches where there are no off days.

I checked BP, and man, they seem to be sticking hard to their preseason projections. Sox only 49.5% to win the division, and Twins still at 7.5%.

TBH, I was cringing a bit thinking about Carlos throwing 120+ pitches chasing that second no-hitter. Best missed call by an umpire of the season as far as I'm concerned.

McMahon has 2 more years before free agency, don't think he'd be that cheap.

3-4 would be absolutely acceptable. With so many guys out injured, this team is not at the same level as Tampa and Houston. Yes, the record and the run differential are on par, but the AL Central is a much softer division. At full strength, which the Sox will hopefully be in September/October, the Sox are as good as or better than those teams. The rotation is capable of beating any team, but there will be much less margin for error against TB and HOU.

At full strength the Sox have Hendriks, Marshall, Heuer, Kopech, Bummer, Crochet, Fry. You get to move one starter to relief for the playoffs as your 8th reliever, so unless you think you're getting a huge upgrade over one of the names listed, it's not worth making a trade. I'd rather go after a 2B, preferably a lefty or switch.

Seattle got 2 off Bieber.

Mendick and Leury both in the lineup today and Mendick is the one playing SS.

I start this thread yesterday and Tony goes and sticks him at leadoff today.

If you exclude guys not in the lineup today, there are only 8 better options to lead off.

If only the Sox had drafted Kelenic instead of Madrigal. Then the Mets would have drafted Madrigal and traded him to the Mariners, and Madrigal would have rescued the Mariners today.

Heard about Eriksen yesterday while on the road. Very scary. Just watched England-Croatia and England looks very strong.

Not a fan of Eloy and Vaughn in the same OF. There is plenty of offense in the lineup, get Engel in there in RF.

I've been an advocate for having Leury on the bench because he can play all the infield and outfield positions well, and that gives you incredible flexibility with your team, especially in the late innings. That and the fact that he can't be sent down have led to him having a lock on a 25-man roster spot no matter how bad his hitting was. However, nobody predicted Yermin Mercedes, Jake Lamb, Danny Mendick, and even Billy Hamilton outhitting him, so have we reached the point where Leury's flexibility no longer justifies carrying his sub .600 OPS on the roster? Hamilton (when he's back) can play the OF about as well as Leury and has been hitting better than him, and Mendick can handle the IF and is also hitting better.

Just got home from a week long family vacation in New England. Didn't get to see the last 6 games but followed along on Gameday and the Game Threads. Man, people have to stop thinking the sky is falling every time a player has a bad inning. This team is: 5th in MLB/1st in AL in ERA, 2nd in MLB/1st in AL in starter ERA, 10th in MLB/5th in AL in reliever ERA 7th in MLB/3rd in AL in WHIP, 7th in MLB/3rd in AL in HR allowed, 2nd in MLB/1st in AL in K/9, 1st in MLB in K/BB 5th in MLB in OPS, 2nd in MLB in OBP 2nd best record in MLB by only 1/2 game, largest run differential and largest division lead. Enjoy this team. Yes, they do frustrating and/or stupid stuff often but what you apparently don't realize is that other team's players do frustrating and stupid stuff more often. Oh, and congratulations to ron on being my first ever ignore.

You care about your likes. That tells me everything I need to know.

You're either not funny or an idiot or both.

*raises hand*

1906

Engel never got a full spring training. He's here to play a premium defensive position at an elite level. The hitting will take a while to come.