Rounding_Third

Either go back down and work on his holes and be ready for callup or get traded to a non competitor where he gets the same chance perhaps at MLB level. He has skills but Sox need dependable backup. He needs more significant competitive playing time somewhere.

If by that they mean its his job to lose, I like it! My point is that hopefully his body is ready to compete again. No one can predict that and say its a done deal. I was able to thumb thru the BoSox 2020 ST box scores (couldn't find 2020 ST stats) and found he hit .286 so that's great news. Pretty much had equal AB's among C's, too. Why he barely got a chance after ST (1 G, 2 inn, 0 PA's for all 2020) is a little odd although they kept him in the org for most of the year, They also had some other pretty good catchers. I've quickly become a big fan of him and his story of courage & perseverance.

As tough as he is, he's struggled post surgery but hasn't quit. They're hoping more than factual. Me too! Hopefully, the added rehab time, allows him to compete at a higher level. But I think he's in uncharted waters (have there been others?) Maybe he's already shown he's capable and some are privy but no public hint of that yet. Otherwise, Merkin and others have no clue unless he/they play Orthopedic Surgeons on tv. It will be a helluva story if he makes it!

Lucroy timeline as best I can together (with herniated disk): 1. plays about 3 seasons with it (2017-2019) 2. July 7, 2019 - home plate collision gets concussed and broken nose (on top of disk). Has nasal surgery. 3. July 31, returns to lineup in 3 weeks, get a couple of hits. 4. Aug 7th, gets traded to Cubs, numbers down a bit but finishes the season, plays in 27 games, starts 14 with 11 CG's. 5. 2019 post season surgery & rehab (date?), signs with Red Sox, goes to ST just 3-4 months after surgery (not 100% yet), plays just 2 innings in July, dfa'd July 29th (to alt train site), released Sept 15th. This guy is a freakin' bad ass! If anyone can return from this surgery, its him. If he can and makes the club, think of the leadership alone that he adds.

Bold prediction not knowing if his upper body still works at a MLB level. Hope you're right!

Really looking forward to seeing Lucroy in ST. I'm anxious to see if playing after disk surgery >= playing with the herniated disk. I would be very happy with his results during those 3 years but does the surgery permanently restrict certain physical abilities and/or risk further damage more so than the herniated disk itself. If he's slowed by it, his career could be over but if he's not restricted, he could play a major role.

Sure Rodon has decent numbers when he's healthy. But his long unreliable history with injuries is the issue. He's the org's #1 hope for defense against rotation problems and there's a lot that could go wrong. After him, who's next? Lopez? Its ridiculous!

I don't know a darn thing abut herniated neck disks or their surgery, recovery, and effect on performance. But if his doc assured him that its okay to play hard, ie swing a bat full speed, the rigors of the position including throwing hard to all bases without consequences, I think TLR gives him every chance to be the BUC on opening day. Collins isn't getting the position handed to him. He's gonna have to prove that a sea change has occurred. My goodness, Lucroy's last 3 years playing with the bad disk (2017-19) blow away Collins! Even if Lucroy just has an average ST (for him historically), Collins will have to be way better than he has. Plus, a vet is just better suited for BUC. Don't see how a struggling Collins improves sitting on the bench 75% of the time. However, I do think that if they have similar ST's, its Collins job. But keeping it would be contingent on his performance; that he can remain somewhat effective given his limited opportunities. That's been an impossible task for him so far.

Wouldn't that be fun? Hopefully he can find his game again.

True but also liking the Lucroy signing more & more! If he's fully recovered, he could have a solid impact.

Pretty tough dude! Evidently, he played with a herniated neck disk for 3 years which kind of matches up with his struggles as it got worse. He also got concussed and a broken nose in a July 2019 home plate collision. Surely that couldn't have helped it. His surgery was last off season over a year ago (not sure exact date). But its sounds like he's feeling pretty good now and ready to get back to it. He could be a heck of a pickup!

For my own sanity, I will continue to believe a smart SP move (at the very least) is still going to happen. I refuse to accept that RH, KW, and yes, even JR, can't see that black hole.

And to think we could have signed Q!

lol Beyond the stun setting, eh? Me too. There's so much in their rotation depth plans that is completely illogical without another SP (FA or trade). To boldly go this far in their 5 year mission so meticulously & smartly and then possibly allow it to implode over something so easily defended against is very frustrating. I won't go into all the "what ifs", we know them by heart.

I'm leaning towards that thinking as well. I'm holding out hope that its not true. If reports/rumors were true, the Sox did show some interest in SP trades, in FA's Richards & Kluber and offered Wainwright. So it does show they realized they needed another SP. I don't want to believe that the Rodon signing changed that. I keep thinking how could it? However, it seems that it might have. But I'm still clinging to the hope that they're just waiting for ST evaluations and/or FA demands to come down a little to complete another move/signing.

Hoping that the Sox still sign one. With JR's thinking, maybe waiting for lower cost later. Why pay $8m now if you can get same guy for $7.99m in March? Think of the interest he could earn!

The last few Sox moves & words seem to signal that they're pretty much done. With a few decent FA SP's and LH bats still available and money left in the budget, I hoping that they're just waiting to see how ST goes and try to get them cheaper, too. But, for now, their depth plan is like trying to fix all your repairs with duct tape and if it doesn't work, just add more duct tape and hope for the best.

115 + 20 games at 1B, 10 as DH

In July 2019, he was collided at home plate, with concussion & broken nose. Angels released him less than a month later. He's since had very short stints with 3 other teams. Wondering if he has lingering concussion issues.

I don't hold college stats or Schaumburg camp in high regard for many reasons. I voted for minors. That said, I agree that if there's no minor season, Sox are basically forced to play him and hope for the best. They really can't waist another year. He's better off with the Sox, part time with very limited 1B & maybe some DH sharing, than no quality time elsewhere. The risk is that failure can harm both the Sox chances and especially him. He should be treated as a luxury not a dependent but Covid screwed with that. Its so unfortunate its robbing him of his normal progression through the system.

So silly that you use Kluber's career body of work and only Minor's 2020. 2020 is not a benchmark for any player! Never mind that Kluber hasn't thrown substantial innings since breaking his friggin pitching arm where Minor (ex of many quality $8-10m pitchers) has recent proven quality innings. Yeah, just throw more uncertainty into an already uncertain situation with BOR. If Kluber gets to 100 innings without issues, it will be a major achievement; 180 innings (If full season)? Reality check! Sox need reliable innings not another dice roll. C'mon 7...for $11m bet.

Sorry about the rules. Yes McCann would have signed a long term deal last winter for less than he did with the Mets. His 2019 was very good. Grandal had the same kind of slide in the 2nd half as McCann. And they both had very similar 2019's. We didn't need to spend > $18m AAV on a catcher. We already had a very good one, yes, in 2019 who earned a multi year contract. Nice that you cherry picked Minor's 2020 and ignored his 2019 & 2018 and his other solid years. He was the best FA SP under $10m on the market and KC got him. That said, there were a few other pretty good ones, too, that are now gone Whether he (they) would have blocked Cease & Kopech is debatable. More on that later. La Stella would not have blocked Vaughn. Besides, Vaughn should not be rushed up in 2021. He needs to play every day at 1B in competitive games in MiLB, probably starting at A and working up like EVERY OTHER MLB PLAYER since the minor league system was created. Then reassess him next fall. Yes, Ramos or any vet BUC would block Collins. He should be blocked, he sucks! O & D! He needs to return to Charlotte so he can play every day and figure out his issues or they should trade him and give him a chance with a crappy team; not try it in Chicago getting a game or two and a few bad AB's a week on a team vying for a championship. Robert is an outstanding CF! And Bradley is better! There was always some talk about Luis playing right some day, anyway. I said it was controversial. I get it. But an outfield of Engel, Bradley, & Robert when Eloy is DH/off would be sensational! Hard to imagine a ball rolling to the wall. Let me get this straight, Minor blocks Cease & Kopech but Kluber doesn't, got it! Kopech gets shut down anyway, what do you then?

No. For fun, if I was GM...... (using fangraphs-roster resource as reference & 2021 cap column; not AAV) Don't sign Grandal in 2019; instead extend McCann 4/$34m - 2021 =$7m. I like Yaz but always thought this unnecessary; then and now. Make Lynn-Dunning deal Sign Hendriks Sign Mike Minor (2yr-9m KC), La Stella (3yr 19.5-SF), Ramos (1yr-2m Det), & Bradley Jr (2yr-20m 2021=$9m - or longer) - move Robert to RF - controversial maybe? Sox FO Grandal 18.250 Lynn 9.333 Hendriks 11.333 Eaton 6 Rodon 3 Total $47.9m Me McCann 7 Lynn 9.333 Hendriks 11.333 Minor 9 La Stella 6.5 Ramos 2 Bradley Jr 9 Total $54.1m diff = + $6.2m Current payroll would be at ~$134m. RR has it at $132m but includes $5m over-estimate of 5 pre-arb players. $132m - $5m + $6.2m = ~$134m. Anyway, under the $140 that was expected. Best in baseball, hands down!

Yes sir, sorry about that! Dick Allen also pointed that out. It took me a few rereads to realize it. Funny think is I got a couple of likes out if it. I'm hot & cold on Hamels. He could be outstanding all year or done after a couple of starts. Wish they would go after an innings eater like Leake. They already have so much instability at 4 & 5.

If TA gets hurt for extended time, Sox have problem no matter who subs. When healthy he's a horse, not a lot of subbing anyway. Sox also have Tim Beckham for SS but incredibly brutal defensively.