Chisoxfn

I think it was him trying to protect Mitch. We tried to play a conservative defensive game and rely on our strength. I totally get it, by the Eagles are a veteran playoff tested team and it’s a dangerous game when you play that style cause a bad bounce or two can be all the difference (especially when you are the better team). Hindsight is 20/20 though cause that style worked well against Minny and Packers.

I was so puzzled. This whole season I literally felt like Nagy was fucking with Howard. It’s as if he has no idea how to get a running back like Howard on a role. He was rarely used right by Nagy. One of Nagys few weaknesses imo. He’s smart though and will learn and maybe Howard just isn’t the right back for Matt. Cohen sure as shit isn’t either. He can’t be a primary ball carrier. Thankfully Nagy is smart and can figure out ways to be creative in getting him touches. Next year will be tougher and they’ll need to get better, but at least Mitch didn’t shit the bed. He played some damn good football when it mattered most. Wish him and Miller could have connected for a TD on that final 3rd down. From a clock management perspective, Nagy stunk tonight. Didn’t use his time outs early enough on that last Eagle drive (gave up 15 or 20 seconds) and then using that last time out vs spiking it was bad. That said a 42 yarder or whatever it was was a chip shot.

I don’t either. I don’t think they were going to win a Super Bowl this year, but they certainly had the talent to do so. Whether they would or wouldn’t, no idea, but they could play with anyone.

I agree and I’m excited to see this offense in year two. It was nice to see Robinson look like the guy we paid him to be, but this offseason will be more about Mitch’s development as well as everyone else in the offense getting more comfortable. Hopefully miller, wins and shaheen can take big steps forward. i thought the Bears not relying more on Howard early hurt them. They kept using Mizell randomly and unfortunately Cohen has too many negative plays. They need to trade Howard or figure out how to use him. He was much better the final five or six games of the season too and I thought he played well today (other then he could have broke that one for a td but I think they scored anyway on that drive).

Eagles converted way too many 3rd downs and we played too tight early plus of course Parkey. Damn...fun year...let’s do it again next year but finish with the Lombardi trophy!

Agreed. He was played very well in second half.

If this is the Sox plan...contend in 2021 then I don’t see how they are going to keep Manny and / or Harper happy. I flat out think they need to be looking to move some prospects for cost controlled quality pitchers if they are ready. Whether now or in season. You don’t hand 300 million dollar contracts with visions of contending in a number of years. Then again I’m probably the least optimistic person of anyone right now as it relates to how this team is currently positioned. Jiminez and Yoan actually becoming studs would quickly change some of that dynamic but I won’t count things before they hatch.

Would anyone really be shocked if the Sox had one of the worst starting rotations in baseball? I mean they had the 2nd worst starting pitching ERA in baseball a year ago. Really the only favorable rotational stat for the Sox was that they had the 8th highest QS% ratio in all of baseball, which could theoretically be a reason for optimism as it would point to the fact that consistency is key and that as the players mature they will actually improve. If I were a betting man, I certainly wouldn't be predicting the Sox to even have a league average starting pitching staff (at this point) and would likely bet that they would be in the bottom 3rd. Lopez & Rodon are solid to good. I don't think they are worse than that and maybe they can be better (i'm ignoring injuries). The whole rest of the current staff, I literally have zero expectation for. Giolito was so bad I couldn't possibility put money on him being great. Nova is a back of the rotation guy with marginal upside at best and Covey was awful last year (outside of limited spurts) so I really couldn't project anything better. It is why if the Sox spend all this money on Harper/Machado, I'm curious to see if they will start to trade some guys to bolster the rotation.

Who goes next? Parker or Rolo? I hope Blakeney isn't far behind. No more Payne and Holliday is good. I don't have anything against Holiday but I look forward to getting more minutes to Hutch (for developmental purposes). Plus Holidays takes too many shots away from Lavine / Dunn / WCJ. He actually is a solid 3&D guy.

Brooks will also be traded. Presume for pretty much nothing, but who knows, maybe another 2nd?

Sir - Why don't you make a thread with that info and we can pin it seperately and you can just update it accordingly? I like the suggestion. Kind of the one-stop place to check for immediate updates vs. the main thread where all of the discussion can happen.

Young teams stink for a long time. I said it a long time ago, tanking won't be fun and it isn't easy, but I still believe they are collecting assets, but I'm less optimstic with Lauri not looking as good (not changing my long-term view on him yet and look forward to a larger sample size). I still actually kind of like Boylen too and have zero issue with his move with Wendell. I'm not going to rehash the whole blow it up arguments either, they went for a rebuild and it takes time. Young teams lose...period. There really aren't many exceptions to that in NBA history. Hell, look at OKC with Durant. They won 43 games in Durant's 1st two yeas (and that included a second year with Westbrook). I won't even talk about Philly. The Golden State Warriors (yes that dynasty with Curry) won 29, 26, 36, and 23 during Curry's 1st 4 seasons. I won't even get into Philly and the "process" and how long that took.

He’s a dodgers beat reporter. He’s reputable and on the radio regularly.

This. The reason they pay massive money for these TV deals is for exclusive rights in their prime market.

For the Sox sake, I really hope the Cubs deal goes down exactly like the Dodgers and hopefully than the Sox can capitalize with an exciting team which fans can watch (since still 3 years later...most of LA can not watch the Dodgers).

Another nice win. Hope Gabriel and Miller are okay and that Robinson and Jackson will be 100 percent by next week. Great defense and a nice ground and pound game with solid play by Mitch. Scoring that many points against a good d without most of your top wideouts was nice. Everything is about to get tougher and the Eagles are on a roll and obviously are playoff tested. One game at a time but no matter what happens this has been just an awesome season (which hopefully only gets more awesome).

I guess I’m thinking more of any mid market / medium sized payroll team. Heck if the Sox has Lester’s deal it would be another albatross

To play devils advocate what teams rebuild in recent years was significantly jump started by signing a major free agent to a long term deal? If these guys don’t sign, it isn’t the end of the world. I really think this team could benefit from more shorter term deals while other youth hopefully develops.

Oklahoma at least had an interesting second half but both games were total duds. Two best teams clearly advanced. Championship game should be a good one.

I would be okay with this as well. The salary is bad but he won’t cost a thing in terms of talent and he’s still an above average pitcher and a clubhouse leader. The Sox have a million number five starters...what they don’t gave us 1 and 2 starters unless Rodon turns it up a notch.

Yeah....I presume there was legitimate truth to what was reported. Very long time poster who I thank for sharing the info. Whether it ends up happening or not...I'm not going to doubt the legitimacy of the source.

Man...that was so long ago. You were definitely one of the first...in fact I don't think Soxtalk would ever have became what it was if it weren't for members coming here after you shut your site down (god its been so long I forget the name of your old site)?

Wait you are saying trade Rodon for all of those guys? I don't think if I'm trying to build a contending team and just spent a bunch of money on Machado I'm moving who I believe is our only front line pitcher (Rodon). That said, I understand the risks with him and the fact that his peripherals weren't as good as they should have been. His stuff is just really good (and thankfully it looked good after he game back from his injury). But no, I'm not making that trade with Rodon.

If the Sox made that trade, they are sending at least a high profile prospect or two the other way as well. Would have to be a 3 team deal or something where Dodgers clear payroll and get a front line pitcher and maybe Sox take payroll and get some of the prospects. I'd say 3 team with Kluber but I don't think the Indians would want the Sox as partners in that deal. Maybe with the Diamondbacks in a deal involving Greinke?

I think the Dodgers FO has probably told Boras to come to them when he's ready.