gogosox1959

I was really just posting about his value to Sox.

One of the most important things all season was that he was able to adequately play left field. To put it mildly, there was great skepticism here about that possibly working. What would have the line-up looked without that working? So far this season: 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, RF, DH. He really has a catcher's body. Just too slow without enough range for SS, CF He pitched a couple of innings, (10 relief appearances - not good) for Cal. Reportedly threw in the low 90's. Apparently intelligent, (Cal-Berkley), and has the "whatever you want coach mentality"

This year solely at 2nd. The utility roles fits in for next year when Madrigal is back. He can take Leury's role on the roster.

"RH better be on the phone right now. that bottom 7-9 is gross." Just get the 2nd baseman. When Robert comes back, and when Yaz comes back, and we get a 2nd baseman: out-of-the line-up are Zavala, Mendick, and Garcia. Then the weakest spot is the Engel/Sheets in RF

I don't think that Yermin "looked" that bad catching during spring training. I think the unseen factors is why he never wasn't given games.

While lefties are preferred at first: Frank, Paulie, Jose, weren't. The big problem with Vaughn at 1st; he's only 6'0". Anyone else think that he looks like a prototypical catcher: powerful, strong legs, not too tall. He also seems smart based upon his adaptability and Cal-Berkley

Yes, Zavala would be very well paid if he could hit. Yas is so well thought of, in baseball - not so much on soxtalk, because he can defend and hit. When Zavala was called up, TLR specifically mentioned game planning and working with pitchers. Without publicly criticizing him, I took this is as an explanation why Yermin wasn't allowed to catch or be recalled.

I'll try to rank the positions in order of relative defensive to offense importance. Catcher is a unique position as an outsider can't see everything that's involved as it includes game planning, working with the pitchers psyche, monitoring defensive positioning. Second base is very challenging to play as you are often going to your right to throw to your left, (including the double play turn) It's only in recent years that we've seen so much power out of shortstop. "You need to be strong up the middle": 1.Catcher; 2.shortstop; 3.second base; 4.centerfield; 5.third base; 6.right field; 7.left field; 8.first base When the computers rank WAR, (wins above replacement), the numbers are within each position not against the whole league.

One year at a time. If the best path to the 2021WS is having Kopech in the 8th -- that's more than ok. He can switch to starter next year.

I think Kopech should stay in the bullpen this year. He can pitch the 8th every other game if he's prepped that way. We go with Lynn, Rodon and Giolito. In the playoffs, you don't always use your #4 starter that much. For the 4th starter, Kuechel for 18 batters, period. Then Cease comes in; after Kuechel, he'll look like he's throwing 120.

I think that was only said by the ESPN guys -- so that doesn't count!

Per ESPH Vaughn DWAR is -0.6. Of the 13 they list only two have + DWAR. (Only 13 are "qualified) 5 are better than Vaughn; 4 are tied with Vaughn; 3 are worse than Vaughn. Sorting by DWAR, he and Justin Upton are tied for 6/7. That makes Vaughn an average LF. The defensive studs aren't playing LF. You need to compare apples to apples. It's not fair to compare a left fielder to a Hamilton or an Engel. https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/fielding/_/position/lf/order/true

McCann wanted to be a #1 -- deservedly so. The Sox signing him was not how much money the Sox would pay.

I'm fine with Goodwin as part of a Engel/Goodwin RF. The problem is in center. It's much harder to get good reads on the ball which is coming right at you and that extra step or two in speed really matters when going deep into the alleys from a shallow center, (like BH is able to play).

Kopech was going to stay in until someone got on base. Unfortunately that was the first batter

and they were the two biggest off-season acquisitions.

If Eloy and Robert both come back raking, should Seby be #1 until YAZ comes back?

Knowing the game situation matters. If you're down, or up, 6 runs in the 7th you don't dive to stop a bases empty single from dropping in.

Vaughn could also play some in RF

TLR is a leading candidate for Manager of the Year*. It seemingly is between him and Alex Cora and I can't see Cora getting any awards with his cheating past. Season awards are based upon regular season only - playoffs not included. Has an incumbent Manager of the Year ever been fired? *just to tick off soxtalk

No, union protected. See Hernandez, Angel or West, Joe.

It kind of gets forgotten, but AV being able to play LF is one of the first half's more important stories. It would be fun to go back and read the first few pages on the thread about that potential move. Vaughn = 1B, LF, RF, 3B, DH, AND PH. He also has a catcher's build: relatively short, but solid and powerful

The other GM's have seen that the sox have determined that he is not a major league catcher and we all saw that game where he started at first. He's only a possibility for a team that would be willing to take on a young dh type. Best chance for him would be if the NL gets the DH.

Does matter that Mendick is the emergency 3rd catcher? I wouldn't want to see someone like Anderson risking getting hurt.

TLA has a clearly stated philosophy about managing April-August to prepare for Sept-Oct. Everyone plays a lot and are put into game situations so that they are ready when called upon when it counts the most. This is not something new for him. Fans "manage" batter to batter, inning to inning, game to game.