CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Oh this is right up my alley but,alas ,I'm not up for it. I had some scenario's in my head like Eloy for Winker, get a Reds Starting pitcher, Tyler Naquin in a blockbuster but Reds have already dumped Winker and Sonny Gray and don't look like they want to trade Mahle and Castillo.

I am always in favor of more Left handed pop especially in the OF and on the bench. But since the Sox have failed to address LH pop in RF and ignored it completely at 2B, and still haven't pulled the trigger on a SP or got rid of Kimbrel, I would be thrilled if they converted on their stated priorities . If they did that then depth isn't an issue. A bunch of injuries, sure things look a lot worse like last year. They haven't converted on anything yet except rebuilding the bullpen . They do what they say they wanted to do and things get better depth wise.

Sorry , it was Squirmin'.

Didn't you say a few times that 5/110 was reasonable ? That's $22M per year.

Not me . He must go!

I think you may be underestimating the savvy of the board. Sure Bellinger and a few others have been discussed because every time a new name pops up we discuss the merits of it. Pretty sure it's the exact opposite and 80% of the board is just hoping to be rid of Kimbrel as fast as possible and expects mostly nothing. If Hahn can actually get something would be a big shock to most of us.

There is a DH platoon and it will be determined on who we face. RHP will be Sheets,Grandal,Vaughn, Eloy ,Abreu etc based on who needs rest and who is performing. The Sox still don't have enough quality LH hitters to actually take much time away from Sheets at DH. His performance will dictate how much he actuallyplay there. Same thing with facing lefties Vaughn with Engel in RF, Grandal, Abreu, Eloy. Leury will always be in the mix sporadically at DH and RF no matter who pitches. There are no eggs in the basket among those 4 for this year. Mercedes isn't even a considering for much of anything except to be released. Grandal @ DH you are right though a good defensive catcher seems like more of a priority than their hitting. I don't know much about Carlos Perez so he might fill that need internally.

Look I've always liked Engel but he's 30 now and despite getting better offensively he hasn't been able to stay on the field long enough to prove anything. Engel is far down the list of guys needing AB's. He had a huge opportunity last year to prove he could be more than we thought he is but he just couldn't keep his body together. It's a shame really . Love the guy for defense but I don't take AB's away from Vaughn for Engel. Vaughn is the future and the future needs to get here faster. Engel hopefully can perform the 4th OF to a tee , a start once in a while and defensive replacement many many many times.

I doubt they prioritize him. He's too old and injury prone. Catch him, rest him ,PH him Against lefties u got Vaughn or Eloy in LF Leury in RF and Vaughn or Eloy DH. Against righties you got Sheets, Vaughn ( both guys need all the AB's they can get) Grandal . Rest Grandal early and often give them less opportunities to get injured and beat up. Keep the old dudes fresh for the playoffs. And all the big bats too Robert, Vaughn ,Eloy, Moncada Sheets. Sunday lineups. I don't care. Rinse and repeat . Abreu and Grandal will get DH AB's but TLR has to keep it minimal and let the youth sink or swim. It's their time. A defensive whiz at catcher would be nice too if all other dreams get dashed before the season starts.

That's A.J. to you pal !

Vaughn switches from RF to LF, Rutherford in Rf, Yoelqui in CF. Bennett Sousa now pitching. Hilliard K's, Sousa K's the side. Top7 Burger and Adlofo K, Mendick ground out. McClure in 2 singles to open the inning Yoelqui guns out the runner at 3rd.

Top 6th Eloy walk, Rutherford running for Eloy. Collins DP ground ball. Vaughn ground out .

Spring training Jack no big deal.

Leadoff double by Burger, Single by Adolfo , Mendick forces Adolfo at 2nd , Burger scores. Mendick steals 2nd. Mendick steals 3rd. Leury infield single Mendick stays at 3rd. Robert Sac Fly scores Mendick Sheets lines out to LF . 3 outs. 2 runs , 3H 3-0 Sox, Bottom of 5th, Foster pitching.

Last year's Crochet may not be this years Crochet . Let's wait to see how he's progressed.

Hendriks wiggles out of a 2 out bases loaded situation by K'ing Hilliard. Still 1-0 Sox, Top of 4.

Don't know from just using Gameday, maybe other can find the game on radio. I can't.

Injury delay now on a play at the plate involving Blackmon and Grandal.

I'm watching now. Valsquez pitched a perfect 1st . In the 2nd he gave up 3 straight singles to load the bases to start the 2nd . He then got a K , a force at home on a ground ball to Burger at third and then a fly out to end the inning without a run.

Grandal and Abreu should be rested more if you want to keep them healthy for the playoffs. Vaughn and SHeets needs 500 PA's a piece or enough to determine if they are helping the team . It's not like this is something unexpected. He'll be a part of it , that's all LaRussa said , as he should be, just not a primary part.

The point was that we weren't gauging how good the Sox are now based on the series against Houston. They weren't exactly a juggernaut in the 2nd half, on the road or against teams over .500 and their best pitcher laboring.

There was speculation about Bellinger or Lux from the Dodgers but the Dodgers aren't going to give Bellinger away when his upside is so high. Dodgers may need more bullpen help and are already significantly over the CBT limit .Kimbrel and Bellinger contracts cancel for 22. Bellinger has 2 years left and is in his last year of arbitration for 2023.Can't see the Dodgers giving up on Bellinger or caring that much about the CBT. Were basically left to grasping at straws at this point.

Not only that but the Sox fattened up on 5 opponents Cubs, Orioles, Twins ,Reds, Tigers W 40 L 15. That means against the rest of baseball they were 1 game under .500. They played .500 against Cleveland and KC ,19-19. At the All Start break they were AL best 19 above .500. 2nd half only 5 games above .500 with the Rodon fatigue. Sep 25 still 19 above .500 . Then a 6 game winning streak against Cleveland Detroit and Cincinnati from Sept 26th to Oct 2nd ,4 wins at home 2 on the road. So one hot streak otherwise .500 ball in the 2nd half.

Reality is it's not really based on that series. That series was a microcosm of the season. Rodon was finished, Lynn hadn't pitched well against the Astro's, not many trusted Cease, no one trusted Keuchel. Eloy was slumping , the Sox were bad on the road.

Je ne sais pas .