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If the reports are true that the Mets offered him $120M prior to the 2021 that means he already bet on himself once and lost. If he goes the short term route he's again gambling on himself and if he loses he's really fucked himself. In that vein, getting a longer term contract for guaranteed money seems like the route to go even if it is 3 years but he would probably want an opt out after 1 year just in case he does rebound to pre 2021 numbers. I still wouldn't put it passed Boras to get him 4 years with a 1 yr opt out.

Full rebuild for sure. But the 1st round picks in theory can be even later when the fulls fact of the trade are reviewed. They got a haul for Hagel who looks like a pretty good well rounded player so a good start on the rebuild even if Hagel wasn't exactly the 1st name I had in mind who would be traded. What this all means for the future of Kane and Toews I have no idea ,since Kane could get a pretty decent haul himself. I do know that the Hawks are going to consult with them about how they feel moving forward. If they are moved it's totally up to them.

This is where I am at. I have no idea if the process of the Conforto contract dragging out means more or less money for him. We shall see. I'm not going to guess on this one and certainly not going to state my opinion as truth.

I gave you a like because you are right. I just wish the same logic applied to Sheets. I mean I get it, no pedigree, small sample size of AB's, can't play the OF all in Conforto's favor which is why I want him. But I also want Sheets to get a lot of AB's because our 2 other SH lefties are more about OBP and getting injured (Grandal) and another quality LH power hitter in the lineup would be a lot better than just Conforto to become just as dominant as the Sox are against left handed pitching . Like you said, if the breakdown of pitchers is 70% righthanded ,being a strong LH lineup will result in more wins than a predominantly RH lineup facing only 30% of pitchers.

Right some guys peak early and some peak later. We want to believe his peak can last 6 yrs but in reality only the best players have peaks that long. The bad year even if due to his hamstring puts doubt in fans minds. Even though we have been cautioned that GM's do not react to that bad year as much as us fans do, it does give them the opportunity to offer less. However, the fact remains that winning organizations many times will assume that risk. All it takes is a couple GM's bidding against each other for Conforto to get $80M+.

Ok fine use pitch count I'm good with that. Point remains your pitch count will be less if you just go 5 innings, even if you're at 60 pitches for those 5 innings . It was not, nor was it ever an "interesting gamble", to push him to see if he was past his injury issues. No one does that to a pitcher who had pitched 41 innings in the last 2 years , has a history of arm problems, turns into your best pitcher when you want your best pitcher to be available for the playoffs. There was zero reasons for the Sox to push him so hard in the 1/2 half of the season. Keep an eye on how the Angels use Syndergaard and Houston uses Verlander. I also suspect the Giants will not push Rodon either, even though he now has some innings under his belt from last year so you could expect an increase this year from him , but will certainly throw in a calculus for the playoffs and his health history.

They have to, but I thought the same thing about Rodon. If you view Kopech as a long term asset and they thought as Rodon as just a guy to burn through maybe the philosophy changes ? That's why I was screaming from the rooftops last year that Rodon wouldn't last the whole season. It wasn't about his injury history so much as how they were using him.

Another point I have brought up several times is that the Sox didn't handle his workload very well. That falls on a lot of different folks. Health staff, biomechanics, TLR and Katz and ultimately the front office. In this day and age of starters going less innings how do they justify pitching Rodon 6 or more innings in 10 of his 1st 18 starts ? He was basically coming off 2 years of very little pitching. He should have been pitching 5 innings max, which is hopefully how they handle Kopech now, to preserve his arm for a playoff run.

Vaughn just wasn't ready to play a full season. He was essentially still a college player because of circumstances beyond his control. Sheets had the advantage with his experience of coming up through the minors, working on his game and when he arrived he took full advantage of that experience and the chance to hit against a lot of RHP. I thought it was great the way he stepped up. If you like Vaughn you don't have to be anti Sheets and if you like Sheets you don't have to be anti Vaughn. They both honestly have a shot at 30 HR's this year if the Sox can find the playing time for both of them. Vaughn has the pedigree and seems likely to be the one to take a massive leap forward. Him stepping up would be huge. If Sheets just does what he did last year over a full season he hits 30 HR's this year. Sheets doesn't have the pedigree so he has more doubters . Him stepping up and filling that LH power void would be huge. We all know the what the problem was last year. Lack of power because of injuries. This could be a very powerful team if they can all stay on the field . Robert, Eloy, Vaughn and Sheets all need 550+ plate appearances. Vaughn and Sheets both appear to know the strike zone well while Eloy and Robert are both not as choosy with what they swing at. They all need to stay on the field and mature to offset any decline from guys like Abreu and Grandal. Find spots for the young guys to play. Rest Abreu and Grandal more and don't let them play DH. Keep them as fresh as possible. DH should be Eloy, Vaughn and Sheets primarily and not necessarily in that order. Vaughn and Sheets should get some 1st base time too. Vaughn should get some LF time. RF playing time for both Vaughn and Sheets is up to the coaches if they see some improvements or if the lack of a true RF is not forthcoming.

I feel like I would have to be an expert to answer the poll question and I'm not. I do think fans have a tendency to forget what a weak division we play in. They also forget that despite the weak division we had a terrible road record. It wasn't any surprise they lost to Houston. Might've had a shot with the Rodon of the 1st half but realistically it's not just the roster you have to evaluate. Sox don't have any true superstars of the game. No Trout , Soto, Harper, Acuna ,Altuve, Betts, Correa, Freeman, Peak Scherzer, Verlander,Kershaw, DeGrom. Eloy or Robert need to have a monster season. Mocada is capable of one. If Abreu is their fatherly influence the apple has fallen far from the tree to find any Abreu like durability. Show up , work hard. Celebrating during the season is great entertainment but the biggest celebration of all is the big prize . Stay focused.

Gio is a huge guy 6'6" maybe 260.

But that was last spring before he put up a bad year after having some hamstring issues.

And from that point on I always wore #16 Berry's number. Ward I think was 8, Horlen was 20.

My Favorite Sox were Ken Berry and Joel Horlen. My older brother's was Ward.

The big 3 Tommy John, Joel Horlen and Gary Peters.

RIP Pete. His name was very familiar to me and my family growing up on the South Side.

Game over . Sox win 4-3 Mieses is a big LH Bat at 1st and looked good in the field too making 2 plays in the hole and making accurate throws from his rear . Announcer said he reminds them of Fred McGriff.

I like the way he pulled his hands in on that swing.

Is that the pitcher #89 ? If it is reminds me of the pitcher they found on Trouble With the Curve.

Both against lefties Not time to draw any conclusions. He won't face many lefties.

He'd have to torch AAA but I like Yolbert. Slick fielder but since he joined AA he's torched the ball there and in the AZL.

2-2

4-1 Sox

2-0 Sox

Mercedes single to RCF , Collins and Adolfo K , Rutherford grounded to 2b