GreenSox

At least it didn't create long-term liabilities, and at least they didn't trade anyone of value for those players. And they could play McCann and Engel (who really had a good season) instead of Encarnacion and Mazara, although they choose not to most nights (and it would really require having Collins up to take over Catcher if something happened).

1. Astros; 2. Oakland; 3. Yankees. I'm cool with Oakland.

Andrew Miller had 4 great years; Edwin Diaz had one (the Mets overpaid). Staying power is another issue. They can always put him back in the pen if it doesn't work out. Yea, closers are expensive; but not nearly as expensive as starters.

He was clear on a stopgap, and I asked him for his ideas, POST stopgap. Yes, it was obviously an offensive question and, yes if someone doesn't adopt the CW and groupthink, they don't follow baseball. So cute; so clever.

Who is the RF post stopgap? And the 2nd hitter is DH. But even with 2, really no bench-bat.

Springer is the FA prize. Then I look at Dunning, Cease, and Lopez...perhaps trade 1 for a similarly situated young OF. I'd be leery of trading pitching, but maybe?

They need 2 hitters, one of whom needs to play RF. That's obvious. I'd bring back Colome - he's just a really good closer. You don't need your best reliever as closer, and he isn't the Sox best reliever. He handles the 1 clean inning very well. If they don't re-sign him, they are going to have to find a closer somewhere (and at the risk of the daggers, putting Crochet there is a waste). They have a lot of young ML ready pitching. If they are going to use some in trade, and I would hope they don't, it's got to be for a young hitter...not a veteran.

I didn't say fire Menechino - I said fire sacred cows if you are going to fire Renteria. (I know, it was a complex sentence). My statement was accurate: poor hitting has put pressure on bullpen decisions. **Edit - the other thing is that 3 participants in the pen have barely pitched all season, putting further pressure on the decisions. Across the season, both the pitching and hitting have been fine. Yes, I know, yall are right - high draft picks are best used to find the next Alexei and relief pitchers. Yall got me.

If they are going to fire Renteria, then they should go ahead and fire a few others (including some sacred cows) while they're at it. It's the bad hitting that has put Renteria in a position to make poor decisions.

It's a consolation prize. High end relievers are readily available in free agency. The Sox have a chance for the real prize...at least see what you've got. You need to hit a home-run on some of these picks; it won't always happen, and it usually doesn't, but that's the whole point of tanking - to put yourself in a better position to get a stud. Not to get a reliever.

Starter. With this stuff, he has a chance to be a TOR guy and they need to see if he can do it. Starters have far, far more value than relievers. Yes, I thought he was a dubious pick, and if they leave him as a reliever, I will, unfortunately, have been correct. Starter.

While I realize this is why he was drafted, it is a strange time to call him up.

Rickey hasn't choked and called for bunting (in contrast to Ventura in his playoff chase); and he's handled the pitching well. No complaints.

Maybe Ray Durham, kinda. TA has a higher BA but Durham walked a lot more, but similar power numbers, both middle infielders. Of course Durham never had a year like 2020 TA

I never hoped for that for first round picks. Becoming an average player is a consolation prize for a first round pick.

Just don't wear him out.

You have a generous definition of a major leaguer. Way too many high picks were wasted under Hostetler. Overall, there is one major league starter (Madrigal, top 5 pick), one possible major league starting pitcher (Stiever), a few relievers and some guys hanging on to the bottom of expanded rosters. I remain unconvinced that Hostelter's drafts were even average, much less quality.

Hopefully, the Tigers' top 10 choices turn out like the Sox' did.

Not really. Without crowds, not much HFA. Certainly not enough to waste energy to win the division if you have a playoff berth sealed up.

Yea, except that as it stands now, you get a more favorable opponent by finishing second than first. Who knows how that will shake up; thus, to me, it's unimportant. I mean I guess a division title is something in itself, but not the prize.

You could be right; my preference would be to play the team with the weakest pitching - we should be able to outblast them. But again, with this 2nd place stuff instead of 5 wildcards), it's sometimes better not to win your division. So just get the team health and ready for playoff game 1.

They don't need to use excess energy against the Cubs, Twins and Tribe. That's a waste. Beating up on the hapless Royals put them in a position so that they don't have to. All that matters is putting the team in the best position possible for the playoffs, and standings is not a big part of that as long as you're top 8. 6 man rotation sounds good, toward that end.

Leury can play IF or OF, so you get 2 utility players for the price of 1. He's a much better option than Yolmer. That would allow a pick up of, say, another OF who can play his position and actually hit. That would mean that the Sox would need 2 good OFs and it would finally give them a bench bat. They'll need another reliever or 2...sign a couple of those. And maybe they'll need a starter - we'll see. If Rodon shows life this month, I'd pick up his last year; can't be that expensive anyway.

They don't need 1B and DH help, really.

I would. Sox are making the playoffs and you only need 3 starters in the playoffs. Starting pitching is not a weakness on this team and trading any of them listed above for Lance Lynn is madness.