GreenSox

Nice easy win. I think the Brewers will soon be in the "we need some bullpen help" category.

Schnell at 4 would be a massive reach, which should save at least $3 million in pool money. That would mean that the Sox would go heavy prep in the first 5-10 rounds and already have several guys lined up. That would be interesting to watch unfold.

The rebuild will live or die by making the playoffs in two years. The excitement from signing a big time free agent will quickly turn into mockery should the Sox not field a playoff team. The Cubs signed Heyward after they made the playoffs, and he hasn't helped anway. The Cubs signed Lester, a huge help, and the Cubs made the playoffs the next season. If a big FA is critical part of the plan, then fine. But no more contrivances, distractions, built-in excuses that we've heard for so long.

Jordan Stephen is looking mighty interesting. Strikes out hitters, without the walks that have plagues so many Sox pitchers. Steadily improving over a long period of time (at least statistically). Looks like he should be next up.

If the Sox are following the Astros or Cubs models, neither one had to sign a player like that. The Astros stands were empty during the rebuild. Both had 3 lousy seasons during the rebuild and then made the playoffs. That would put the Sox at 2020, with 1/2 a season cushion (Sox rebuild started July 2016) and with having far more quality players to trade than either the Astros or Cubs. The Cubs had a good farm system when Theo took over, but the Astros' was as bad as the Sox when Luhnow came to town. Of course if you use the Brewers timetable (began the rebuild in July 2015 and posted winning season in 2017), the Sox should have a winning team right now. All in all, 2020 seems like a reasonable timetable IF there is accountability should it not be achieved.

Yes. Because it will not be complete until the Sox are great or at least good.

Correct. And what's to stop the Sox from repeating that? Let's say the core is 7 this time. Will the farm feed most of 9-25? Will they let it feed? Or will they make more trades for average/declining veterans to fill out the roster; it's like an instinct with this FO. The filler SHOULD be better by default this time because guys like Davidson, Palka, Yolmer, Leury are better than the most of the veterans they traded for/signed in 15-16.

But the core was Abreu, Sale, Quintana and Eaton. That's an all-star core, although on the thin side. Why was 78 wins its peak? Seems absurd, really. Has whatever caused that peak been corrected? One obvious cause was the farm. Is the drafting better than it was in 2014?

It's no cinch Madrigal is there, though, right? I'm still in the anyone but Singer camp.

i.e. drafting for need - one of many reasons why things are the way they are under this front office. Of course, how do they know that they don't need a SS, 2B, SS, 3B, CF, C, etc.? Which is the problem with drafting for need.

Lopez' peripherals haven't been strong; probably a matter of time. That's 3 of the top pitching prospects....so far, no for sure keepers.

I don't see why safe, not to mention 'quick to the majors" should be particularly appealing traits with the # 4 pick in the draft. Is #3 starter ceiling the best use of the #4 pick?

Swaggerty's a good player too and should stick at that key position. Fangraphs has him at a gaudy 4. Singer at 15 and my man India at 24...I guess I'm reaching!

Well there it is; + the arm slot. No Prefer several others, including India whom I like more than most (will stick at 3rd; maybe but unlikely at short) and could be an under-slot signing.

Swaggerty and a prep would be my guess. He didn't mention Swaggerty; that makes him my 2nd guess for who the Sox might take. Swaggerty is kind of hard to gauge; sunbelt isn't a bad league, but it's not one of the top leagues either. Some say he had a down year, but his stats look about the same to me.

It's easier to find relievers long term, but teams will pay premiums for short term needs. Plus a Lot of relievers don’t have long staying power, so by the time the Sox need him he may be done. now if they think he’s Kimbrall then they should keep him.

The scouts (public ones anyway) are all over the board on Singer. I agree on the grittiness and craftiness...those are really ancillary traits. I can understand not picking a player because you think they lack the toughness; but having it isn't a reason to take a player. After listening to Hostetler, and his comments on the players, JR and KW's involvement in the draft, etc., I predict Singer.

Now it works. Thanks

Yea all I get is Castillo talk when I click the link. It says Hostetler but doesn't contain it. And at this point, I'm basically anyone but Singer.

Do you have a link? I hit the link on NBC or Garfien's page and I hear a podcast about Wellington Castillo.

Some Law: Mize (1) Swaggerty (4) Bohm (5) Madrigal (6) McLanahan (9) India (10) Singer (20) The unlisted top 10 are prep.

The age is one of the reasons I don't want to extend him; the other is that DH is not a position in which I see the Sox as lacking internally. But the reason I want to flip him is the opportunity to bring more young talent into the organization. Yes, the minors are top 5, but the organization as a whole is not and still needs good players.

It would be a good year to trade down in the draft for extra picks, if MLB allowed that sort of thing. India at under-slot would be interesting, depending on what they do with that savings. He's a reach at 5, but if it allows them to get a first round talent with the 2nd pick, it could work. He's probably not a SS, but at least they would have a legit 3B prospect.

That pretty much matches Justin Turner's resume including...drafted in the 7th round and not doing a thing in the majors until he was 29. Do I think Saladino will be Turner - of course not; it's extremely unlikely. But I still don't see why they gave him away, with Charlotte populated with Jake Elmore.

The bunting is largely why I think he's a bad manager (pulling players for some boneheaded plays, but not others, is another reason). Bunting is such a defeatist "play not to lose" strategy in most circumstances. Still, he doesn't have much of a roster; and while he had that goofy inning yesterday, I think he's managed the pitchers pretty well overall and showed a lot of flexibility with the bullpen.