Lillian

"CaliSoxFan..." and others, like myself, are not trying to say that Goodwin is a great player, or that he should be signed to a long term deal. I think that our point is simply that he has been a serviceable, inexpensive substitute for our injury devastated outfield. After all, for a good portion of the season, the Sox have been without our top 4 outfield regulars. The guy has contributed and has helped to fill the void. He was never expected to be Adam Engel, or Luis Robert on defense, or to hit like Eloy. He has been pretty much what he was with the Angels, in 2019 and part of last year. He provides a little power, from the left side and can play all 3 outfield positions, although none of them particularly well. His splits against RHP are actually the best of his career, so far for the Sox. He's hitting .282, with a .383 OBP and a .553 SLG. HIs OPS is .937, which is tops on the team, for anyone with over 50 at bats. That production versus RHP has really helped balance the lineup, which has a recent history of struggling versus right handers. None of these players are without flaws and Goodwin is certainly not even close to being a star. However, when a guy is brought in, on a very inexpensive one year contract and contributes to a winning ball club, he deserves to be lauded and appreciated. He has certainly lived up to, and probably exceeded, most people's expectations. As a fan, I simply prefer to applaud his efforts and root for him to continue, until this team can get healthy.

Perhaps, however he did hit the walk off homer today. After all, isn't performance what it's all about? Did you see his stats for the 3 game series? Next to Seby's unbelievable night, Goodwin was arguably the most productive hitter, in the series.

Responding to the questions about Xavier Fernandez: Yes, he has always been considered a very good defensive catcher. He was blocked by Salvador Perez and Gallagher, in the Royal's system, and was picked up by the Sox. He was always a defense first receiver, but has been hitting, as well, this year. I remember reading this article when the Sox acquired him, 3 years ago: https://royalsfarmreport.com/2018/09/11/xavier-fernandez-deserves-a-40-man-roster-spot-this-november/ And yes, I know that he bats right handed. Touche.

Goodwin is on a pace, which over a full season would produce the following stat line: 32 doubles, 4 triples, 24 homers and 80 RBI's. He is making almost nothing and is not supposed to be a regular, let alone a star. Compare his production to Moncada's, who it considered a 5 tool super star and has a big contract. Oh, Goodwin's OPS is .788 compared to Moncada's .780. The point is that he has filled in quite well and has even delivered in the clutch, on several occasions. OK, he's not a great fielder. You're getting a lot of value from him and he provides one of the few solid LH bats on the roster. The negativity and hyperbole is embarrassing.. If you don't like the player, that's fine. We're all entitled to our opinions. However, it would be nice if people were at least fair and magnanimous, when they opine. Back to Moncada: He is falling back into his bad habit of leaving close pitches up to the umpire, when he's in a two strike count. He rarely has long at bats, where he successfully manages to stay alive, fouling off pitches, until he gets something that he can drive. He hits a very high % of line drives, on his batted balls, but he simply refuses to swing, unless he thinks it's a strike. That approach is great, until the hitter has 2 strikes. That habit is precisely what made him so ineffective in 2018. It is conventional wisdom that a hitter should be in protective mode, with 2 strikes. It's baffling why he persists in this overly selective approach, with 2 strikes. Again, we're all entitled to our own opinions, but I personally find him very frustrating to watch at times. He could be so much better. Other guys seem to learn and get better, with more experience and at bats. Yoan seems like he is regressing. I remember when some here were absolutely convinced that Adam Engel would never be a Major League hitter. He has worked hard and developing the skill to become a respectable hitter. I wish that we saw that same kind of growth with Yoan. I'm still hopeful, but he's in his prime now, so it should happen soon, if it's going to happen. He's approaching 2.000 MLB at bats. That is usually enough for a guy to realize his potential. Sorry for the rant.

Xavier Fernandez may object, as well.

It may be true that Moncada is over rated, but Boston must have believed their own hype, at some point, because they gave Yoan a $33 Million bonus to sign, and paid a big luxury tax to do it. Moncada is talented, but he continues to be a disappointment to those who expected a 5 tool super star. So far, covid and injuries aside, he has not been a super star, since his one breakout 2019 season. What has he been doing, so far this season, that has so impressed his supporter? He was drawing a lot of walks and thus sporting a really good OBP and playing a good third base. However, he is still striking out too much and not hitting for power. He may yet get going, but so far, count me as being under whelmed, which I know is considered blasphemous, around here. Well, let's hope that he proves me wrong., and soon.

The assumption that Engel can only hit lefties is proving to be fallacious. He has had a lot of very good at bats off RHP. It's beginning to look like he may have actually developed into a decent hitter.

The best part for me was Zavala not only hitting 3 homers; one to center, one to left with bases loaded and one to right, but he was very good, behind the plate, blocking balls. I don't know whether, or not his pitch calling was good, with all of the offense Cleveland produced, but that may not have been his fault. Nevertheless, I've never seen Collins have any where near that good of a game. At least, it's nice to think that Zavala might be an adequate catcher, to fill in for Grandal, who may not be able to catch much, the rest of this year, with his recent surgery.

Shouldn't Romy Gonzalez be on that list, as well? I'm sorry, I missed it. He is listed at #17.

If the Sox had both Kimbrel and Henricks, they could take turns, thus keeping both fresh. The competition between them would only help to keep their adrenaline flowing. I wrote that, before the trade was announced.

Yes, that's what they have been stating. Nevertheless, he could end up with a multiple inning appearance, in the Post Season.

You forgot Tepera. Moreover, that allows for Kopech to get a spot start, perhaps in the play offs.

Well the good news is that the Sox are not content with just riding out the season with their current bullpen. That's reassuring.

We all wonder how "steep". What would the Cubs want, besides the contract? That is the big question.

Another factor that has not been discussed is the "cover" that trading away pending free agents provides to the seller, who actually prefers that the team "tank," in order to improve their draft status. Harder to win games with a depleted roster of good Major Leaguers. Oops, I see that someone just brought up that point.

On the other hand, what if they did anticipate this and therefore are hoping, with reasonable expectations, that there are some players left on the trading block, with practically no more takers? After all, contending teams only have so many "holes" and so much money and prospect capital to fill them. Today could be the day when the best bargains develop. Stay tuned.

Perhaps I'm just being naive, but why isn't completely plausible that the front office is still trying to do more? If they fail, it might be that no deals were attractive enough to consummate. In that case, who would object to not pulling the trigger on a deal that was not in the best interest of the organization? I find it hard to accept that any of us knows more than Rick Hahn, K. W. and Tony La Russa. There are so many factors to consider, in any of these negotiations, including the health of the players involved. Some of the hyperbole and cynicism here is frankly embarrassing.

NO

Mercedes with another bomb

Why isn't Burger in the lineup for the Knights?

I suspect that T.L.R. still wants another really good reliever. He has always wanted to "own" the last three innings. With all of the position players returning and Hernandez to fill the hole at second, I think he is more worried about the pen. If the Sox could somehow acquire Kimbrel, I think La Russa would be very confident of the Sox chances.

Do your really think that it would take all of those guys and Kimbrel's contract, to acquire him? I don't think so. Not even close, unless the Cubs picked up a good portion of the money.

He would be a similar acquisition to Escobar; Switch hitting second baseman. A little younger, late bloomer in respect to power. He's a better defender than Escobar. The 18 homers are appealing, but his power is actually better vs. LHP. Leury is actually having a better year, except for the power. He would do, as a rental, stop gap, for the rest of this year. It frees up Leury to be the bench guy, and Mendick is the obvious man out. One advantage over Escobar is that he knows the AL and our division. He appears to have sold out his career AVG and OBP, in order to produce more power, this year. I think the next and most significant add will be a really good RH relief pitcher. Hernandez shouldn't be costing much, leaving more prospect capital for the important bullpen acquisition.

Just focusing on the one glaring deficiency of the potentially best Sox team, in my lifetime, as a Sox fan, which goes back to the 50's. The only other issue to address is the bullpen, which was expected to be a strength, but has been problematic.

That's a good point. They may have to send Gavin back to Charlotte, if they want to bring back Grandal, before he is ready to catch.