Jack Parkman

Are you sure? There was a guy with your username on WSI

I got suspended during the first series in 06 because I said it was "inexcusable to lose to the effing Royals" they gave me a 2 week suspension for evading the swear filter. I never got suspended after that but I quit posting there as much. I thought that was beyond ludicrous.

Exactly. You could say the same for Wacha and Pomeranz. Outside of the season he had TJS, Nova has been pretty damn reliable.

So who gets the nickname "El Narco" now? *rimshot* I liked the nickname "40 keys" for Loaiza.

There isn't one. Wacha, Wood and Pomeranz Suck. They're closer to Covey/Banuelos than Nova is. They're more likely to completely flame out and get DFA than Nova is. I don't think that there is any upside left there.

Again, the only guy who is a definite upgrade over Nova that isn't a top tier FA pitcher is Keuchel. Roark and Pineda are inconsistent enough that they could be better than Nova or they could be worse. I personally think Nova is a better option than Wacha, Wood or Pomeranz because injuries have decimated their stuff and command. They're a step above Covey and Banuelos but definitely a tier below Nova. My FA tiers: Ace: Cole #2 : Strasburg Bumgarner #3-4: Ryu Wheeler Keuchel #4-5 Roark Pineda #5-LR Nova Everyone else is garbage

Outside of maybe Keuchel, Pineda and Roark I think all of those guys are, in fact, in the Nova tier.

I'm actually with him. I honestly think Harper and Machado are 3-4 WAR players going forward. I'm actually glad that they bowed out.

Look at Odorizzi's peripherals. He's in the Wood/Wacha tier of "a little upside left" He's had a good year but it's based on batted ball luck.

If they sign Nova he serves a purpose. He's insurance for Kopech and can slide in to the rotation in case of injury. Nobody's advocating to avoid the top tier pitchers; landing one is a must. I'd just rather it not be Ryu or Wheeler.

I agree with this, and I'm not particularly high on Lopez.

After the high end options there is a massive drop off. You go from the MadBum/Ryu/Wheeler tier directly to the Nova tier

Better options would be in a rotation somewhere. The Ivan Novas and Ervin Santanas of the world are what you get.

Their SP depth is super thin even with the return of Kopech after Dunning, and they can't count on him until late June at the earliest. Where are they getting this needed depth?

I'd rather give innings to him than Covey or Banuelos. When it comes to a 6th starter unless the guy is an actual prospect, it's hard to go 7-8 deep in a rotation.

Again, just for depth and to piggyback Kopech and Cease.

OMFG wow Abreu

I think if they skip Kopech every now and then it might work, and he can piggyback Kopech if he struggles with his command in a start every now and then, which is to be expected coming off TJS.

I do want to re-sign the guy, but only as a 6th starter or long reliever. If he prices himself out of that range I have no problem letting him walk.

You read my mind. Gregory Polanco seems to me as the most plausible and affordable.

They need to plan for Moncada and Giolito entering arbitration in 2021. They can probably run a 120M payroll this year, going up to 150ish later. They don't need to blow their entire wad this offseason. I'm ok with grabbing a high end pitcher this offseason and making modest lineup upgrades. I'd like them to trade for a LH hitting OF. They have guys that would be interesting enough to other teams.

Lmfao. That would fit the Sox modus operandi. They luuv to aggravate their fanbase. I actually think they get enjoyment out of it.

Yup. I started lurking on WSI in 2003, started posting in ST 05, joined here following the 05 season. I'd say most of my posting was over here by the beginning of this decade. I wish I found ST before I found WSI because the 05 season would have been much more enjoyable if I was here instead of there.

I used to occasionally lurk over there, and on rare occasions, I'd post. There were still some decent posters there. I hope those people find their way over here. I gradually shifted the majority of my posting from there to here over the years.

If that's the case, this rebuild is doomed. The goal is to have as many of these guys performing at as high of a level as possible simultaneously. That should be the goal now. Playing silly service time games with Robert and Madrigal is counterproductive. The only clock that matters at this point is the one on Giolito, Moncada and Lopez. The goal should be maximizing that clock.