GreenSox

Yep I said that a month ago - it would be just a classic William/Hahn move. Their kind of player. Their kind of move. All of this, of course, would be ridiculous. What would it do - steam the team to 68 wins? Maybe 71? This team isn't going anywhere until they develop a core of young players who produce. When that happens, then sign a few FAs to supplement.

Good point. Although I wish there were just a little more raw talent in that group. Re Rondon, if that's CF, I'm interested.

Avi's not worth $8 mill; but they aren't spending much money anyway, and he's a better flip potential than some stiff marginal FA they could sign. And it's a one year deal, which is an advantage in these situations. Abreu is questionable at $16 Million, but the same thing applies as per Avi. Farquhar - if they just want to be nice considering the circumstances. Otherwise, no.

They still aren't drafting and won't draft ceiling relievers, particularly college relievers, in round 1. I will also point out that the Sox have traded 4 really good relievers in the last 2 years (the 3 traded in 2017 were having exceptional seasons) and got basically Rutherford for them. Now part of that isn't the value of the relieves but FO skill (or lack therefor).

That would be a justification, but they drafted him for the 2016 bullpen - they were still under the foggy spell that they were in the race. The same delusion that brought Shields aboard. Drafting ceiling relievers in Round 1 is inane.

If Abreu w/glove is the ceiling, then the most likely outcome is less than that. Plus, for whatever reason, we used our first 2 picks on 1B/DH in 2017. Unfortunately, neither looks particularly imposing.

Not a particularly high ceiling for a #3 pick.

It's hard to say which of the pitching coach or the hitting coach had more to work with, but the results of Cooper's crew were as equally as dismal as Steverson's: Pitching OBP 28th OPS 24th K 23rd WHIP 28th ERA 26th Hitting OBP 26th OPS 23rd K 30th See little reason to single out Steverson.

That was no screw-up; that was shrewd thinking and planning. Who should they have picked - Rodon, the obvious? The one they screwed up was passing on Bryant. They've made several screw ups...but far more brilliant moves.

I believe it. They get all geeked up about some system and follow it. Very little nuance from this bunch. Rebuilding involves a lot of art as well.

Benetti's fine; Stone is fine. Farmer, on the other hand...

Using the Lip list: Keep Bummer, Covey, Fulmer (yes, I know), Ruiz, Castillo, A Garcia, L Garcia Dump Farquhar, Gomez, LaMarre, Tilson, Shields, Scahill, Minaya The rest can go either way, but do not protect if it leaves a decent youngster unprotected. Hope you feel better, Lip.

Forgot he was on the roster. How did Lip miss him?

Just wish we would have gotten something decent for him, instead of a declining prospect KW liked in the 2014 draft.

Prefer a modern manager and a modern FO

That's what THIS rebuild looks like. That's not what many others looked like, including everyone's fav., the Brewers. And this rebuild had lots of advantages others didn't. This management team was inept when trying to win, yet somehow they are supposed to successfully rebuild a team? The worse talent-evaluators known to man. Re Kopech, he's one pitcher. Successful rebuilds stockpile the pitching.

And there it is. The 2nd to worst season in my lifetime. The 4th time the Sox have lost 100 games in Sox history.

If they are going to fill the team with 2nd team free agents, there is no reason to have tried to rebuild in the first place. That's exactly what they did in 2015 with FA signings and ouigi board trades. And it would be worse this time because at least then there were 3 studs to build around. And with those 3 studs, the results were ugly. Machado or Harper, fine. But forget the 2nd tier guys - they aren't cornerstone players and the Sox have 0 cornerstone players.

The Sox very well may do that. I'd rate it 50/50. Most teams would change their pitching coach, manager, etc. etc. Very little chance they do that unless JR or Williams finds his inner Larry Baer.

Sets up nicely for Steverson as scapegoat.

And Narvaez may be able to hit, albeit with little power, and Covey might be a fifth starter or something. But no cornerstone players, and we'll need 5 or 6.

Rodon wasn't missing bats before the last few games where he has imploded. Certainly don't expect the Sox FO to meet an Astros, Brewers, As, Braves, Rockies, Phillies (despite the collapse) rebuild timetable. That would mean 2020 (and in some cases 2019) and would be completely unfair.

Pay me a GM's salary and I'll lay one out. If you think this is going well, then I admire your optimism, stamina and loyalty.

Harper

I don't have any idea who Sale will sign with, but it won't be here. Cutch has Williams/Hahn written all over him.