CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Who wouldn't love a Canadian pitcher with a maple leaf tat nicknamed the Big Maple. Even eagles love him. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/bald-eagle-mistakes-james-paxton-for-a-real-big-maple-tree-during-pregame/

X4

As big and strong as AVi is he could have just as many HR's as JD with a sucessful swing change. At this point Avi's really got nothing to lose.

Nice to have Allen Robinson back with Mack. TD Bears !

BEAUTIFUL opening drive. XP sucked,

Jinxed

Part of my arguments in the past for Avi was that he is the closest thing we have to a JD Martinez. Basically they are the same size . They both show decent power to the opposite field They can hit for average. Difference is JD started working with some people who made changes to him in his off season before the Astros let him go. He didn't really even get much of a chance in the spring training after he made those changes. I also suggested Avi work with those same guys who worked with JDM. Since it was the Astro's who wanted him maybe they saw or see the same things in AVi and JDM that I have. After all we have all lauded Houston's ability to see talent. If you search" JD Martinez changed his swing" you will see all kinds of articles and videos on his approach right now.

Same argument I've put forth for months and being shot down. But hey baseball debate is always fun. If Avi gets non tendered you could actually non tender Delmonico, Cordell, Tilson, Leury, Davidson, Engel all who have either been injured or never had the kind of season Avi has while being mostly the same age or a year younger,

Jose, Jose .Jose, Jose Jose , Jose Now trade him.

Brain dead and on life support ? green green don't take me seriously .

Or sign Harper and his buddy from the Nationals Rendon.

Good choice. I am not down with trading prospects at this time . too early. Many still have to show they can be good in AA . Then they will be worth more going forward or give us the option of using them in the rebuild. I'd never trade Madrigal ,Gonzales and Rutherford for Senzel. 3 guys who could be quality ballplayers for one who could be ? No. We don't even know what we really have in those 3 yet.

Which is why it's so risky. Harper 's agent is Boras and he isn't exactly known for his guys signing too early. Boras may want to wait to see what Machado gets and Machado might wait to see what Harper gets. Given what happened last year with secondary pieces getting low balled , those secondary pieces might not wait around .

.962 according to AFL stats http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&sid=l119&cid=454

And that's where the problem comes. Do we add the other pieces first and hope Harper/Machado then sign with the Sox or hope Harper/Machado will sign early and trust that we will add around them ? If you wait to sign the big fishes the other pieces might not be there.

Not by me brother. I've been dreaming big time, Don't expect it to be historic and I wouldn't be upset if it isn't because it's a long shot but bring it on !

I like to think of it as leaving no stone left unturned. I don't think it's an attempt to get him cheaper. They know they are going to have to still outbid everyone. It's just laying the groundwork to tell Machado we want to make you happy . We don't want to be bad anymore and we will do everything in our power to build a winner as quickly as possible.

Now I really think the Sox sign one of them !

Yea I'm excited about this off season.I was brimming with optimism when Kopech came up and like most others that optimism was crushed when he got hurt, After the season ended I started suggesting the Sox start making some positive moves this off season and was repeatedly told " no stay the course" by the more organizational supporters here. Good baseball talks don't get me wrong and no animosity, I feel somewhat vindicated hearing all these rumors and think there is a slim chance the Sox can be highly competitive in 2019 IF everything goes right this off season. Adding Machado or Harper early would be a giant 1st step in the right direction. Unlikely yes but I'm sure not terrified.

I'd guess Cruz gets a 1 year deal.

Did you read the post 2 above yours ? If you think the Sox signed Castillo as a good player but also a player with ties to Machado then you would have to think a Cruz signing is also an attempt to woe/impress Manny/.

Robert ended up 3 for 4 . Now hitting .386 with a .961 OPS .

I've been having strange thoughts on Robert but due to small sample size I'm not sure how I feel about it. He appears healthy in the AFL and in spring training last year when he wowed the Sox. When he is healthy you think he can surely be in AA/AAA but due to injuries he was meh in A+ last year. I think you are right if he stays healthy and starts in A+ and starts hot move him up quickly. His bat speed is elite right ? It's just strange how he has shown more at higher levels then he has at the lower levels. I know its all due to health but it's possible he can move very quickly if he can stay on the field.

Was digging and came up with a Cruz/ Machado link/friendship/mentoring thing from 2015 . Interest in Cruz due to Machdo ? I'd say yes. https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-orioles-observations-on-machados-friendship-with-cruz-and-brittons-wild-ninth-inning-20150811-story.html This is the crux of it. Asked whether they would remain friends despite being separated, Machado said: “Hell yeah, hands down, no matter where he goes. He’s that’s type of guy, no matter what. He came out to my charity event. I wasn’t even the one who called him. I didn’t want to bother him. I know he’s busy. He called me up and said, ‘Hey, I know you’re having your charity event. Can I pass by? … My daughter and kids, they’d love to bowl.’ … That’s just the type of person he is. I think the relationship we built last year, it’s not just going year to year, but it’s a lifetime relationship we'll have. "

In other news... The Blackhawks were down 4-0 against Carolina early in the 2nd cut it to 4-2 by the end of the 2nd and just made it 4-3 early in the 3rd.