Lillian

Zavala would be the first position player, I'd prefer that they cut from the 40 Man Roster.

I agree that McRae is the most likely, and can't imagine what the Sox see in him. I'd rather replace him with Mike Wright Jr., if they want a guy with MLB experience. He has been very good as a starter, at Charlotte. I wonder how he would do out of the pen.

Adam Frazier should not be, and probably isn't, the target. He is a very good lead off hitter, but the Sox have a lead off hitter. What they are missing is power, especially from the left side. Neither Moncada, nor Grandal are really well suited to bat 3RD, 4TH, or 5TH. Frazier will also be under control, beyond this season. The Sox don't need that either, and certainly aren't anxious to spend what it would cost in money and, or prospects. Where would Frazier play next year, when Madrigal, Eloy and Robert rejoin the team? The only spot on the roster that will be open is RF, which really should be filled with a LH middle of the order bat. Frazier is not even close to being that type of player. He's simply not a good fit.

I posted this in the wrong thread: I suspect that any minute, someone will suggest that Hahn go get Puig from Veracruz, in the Mexican League. I hope not.

I suspect that any minute, someone will suggest that Hahn go get Puig from Veracruz, in the Mexican League. I hope not.

Because we don't know who'll be going to the IL next. If you prefer, put Escobar at second and DH Beckham. Look, these aren't great options, but unless they make multiple trade acquisitions, this might be the best that they can do. It should be better than playing Mendick and Luis González.

I didn't know that Goodwin was considered such a bad defensive centerfielder. Would Leury be better, and could Goodwin be ok in RF?

There should be room to add some guys from Charlotte, with all of the players on the IL. Without Engel, and if they acquire Escobar, as rumored, here is a potential lineup versus RH pitching, which would at least have some proven veterans, to go along with the rookie, Sheets: SS Anderson RH 3B Moncada SH 1B Abreu RH LF Lamb LH C Grandal SH DH Escobar SH 2B Beckham RH RF Sheets/Leury LH/SH CF Goodwin LH

Goodwin should be the next guy up, to play center, until Hamilton comes off the IL

Vaughn doesn't need to learn to "hit" sliders, as much as he needs to learn to lay off sliders. It's doubtful that he ever saw pitches in college, like the ones he's facing now. By the way, do they use Spiker Tac in college? Just wondering. Perhaps now that spin rates should be returning to something that resembles normal, he'll have a better chance to handle them. However, the key for Vaughn will still be to learn to recognize the slider and lay off anything spinning, that starts out looking like a strike, because it won't be, by the time it reaches the plate. Hittable sliders from right handers, start out looking like they're going to hit the batter, or at least be way inside. He doesn't seem to bail on those pitches, so he has conquered that major challenge. Now, he just needs to lay off those breaking pitches that look like they will be strikes, when they leave the pitcher's hand. The question is; Can the Sox afford to let him learn at the Major League level, if they are serious about a Post Season run? I don't know. I've stated many times that Lamb needs to be in the lineup against RHP. He is as good of a power hitter vs RHP, as you're likely to acquire in a trade deadline deal. Burger is not a plausible solution at second base. Interesting experiment, at AAA, but not on this team with Post Season aspirations. Although he's another RH hitter, Beckham should be able to help upgrade the offense, over Mendick, at second. I assume we can now all agree that the issue of his needing to complete his suspension has been resolved. He's ready and he should be on the MLB roster. If the Sox can acquire Escobar, Beckham could still stay at second and Eduardo could find playing time in LF or DH. Mercedes is not serviceable vs. RHP, at this point. That coupled with the fact that he has no position, makes him the odd man out. Playing and, or platooning bats like Beckham, Lamb and Escobar should give this offense a chance to be competitive, over Mendick, Leury, Hamilton and the other bench players, whom this injury riddled roster has had to use. However, another addition before the trade deadline would be great.

If ever there was a justification for banning someone, that's probably it.

And what about the evidence that suggests that Altuve was wearing a wire? Remember when he grabbed his shirt, for fear that his teammates would tear it off, while celebrating a walk off homer?

I was advocating for his call up, to take Mendick's place at second base. However, I was told that he wasn't eligible to play, because he hadn't served his suspension. That was the "clarification". Now, we are going back and forth again. It would be nice if someone could provide the definitive explanation. Is he eligible? What would be required to make him eligible?

This issue of Beckham's suspension was addressed a couple of days ago, but it still seems to be unclear. Would someone please clarify this? Does he have to be added to the 40 man roster, and then sit out for 32 games? Does that mean that there would then only be 39 "active" players on the roster. I'm really confused.

I hope your cynicism is not entirely justified. If so, maybe I should rethink being a Sox fan. Pretty hard to change allegiances, after rooting for them, for all but the first 8 years of my 77. Staying loyal and waiting for him to pass is not a particularly good strategy for someone my age. LOL. Let's hope that J. R. surprises us with some meaningful acquisitions.

Touche. LOL. Yeah, I guess maybe you're right. Nevertheless, I still don't trust the Astros, do you? On the other hand, perhaps the entire League cheats. I don't know. As the old adage about baseball goes; "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying".

Oy, so now Escobar might end up on the IL. I'm beginning to get the feeling that this year may just be an exercise in futility. All of these injuries and the mid season looming crack down on sticky substances. It's a real mess. Oh well, if Escobar ends up on the IL, I guess that we should be relieved that we dodged a bullet on a potential trade.

Thanks for the clarification. I had understood that his time off the MLB roster satisfied the suspension requirement. That would explain why he hasn't already been placed on the roster

We'll see. The only reason they wouldn't replace Mendick with Beckham would be to avoid triggering the MLB salary. They can't be that cheap. Beckham is an obvious offensive upgrade over Danny and he should be adequate at second. Moreover, until they acquire someone, Lamb should be in the lineup, every day there is a RH starter on the mound, for the opposition. I know that most here wanted him DFA, but he is the best LH power bat, in the organization, after Moncada and Grandal. He has barely had an opportunity to get his timing down, with the sporadic appearances, yet he has been reasonably productive. He has as many homers as Moncada, in 1/3 as many at bats. Lamb and Moncada have the same OPS. If that isn't enough to earn him more playing time, than I don't know what one expects.

Tim Beckham will be called up before Burger. They're both right handed and Beckham has the Major League pedigree. Moreover, Burger is really only a corner infielder and those spots are filled. Beckham can play second base. In fact, I expect them to replace Mendick with Beckham, very soon. In any case, it still doesn't solve the need for a LH power bat.

The other red flag is that the Astros' almost never look really fooled on a pitch.

Doubt the price would be that high, unless you're talking about someone who is not merely a rental.

For me, one of the biggest red flags is Altuve's performance, this month. How does that little guy hit 9 homers, in 17 games, without some kind of help? Is he really that talented? Perhaps, but that just seems other worldly.

I don't want to sound like a poor loser, but the thought crossed my mind that the Astros might still be up to their chicanery. They seem to be especially good at scoring runs. They never did receive any punishment for their previous transgressions and they never seemed to exhibit much contrition. Apparently they don't use anything as obvious as beating on a trash can, but they certainly could be employing something much more sophisticated and difficult to detect. I have no proof and therefore this should not be misconstrued as an allegation. I'm just wondering. Hey, that's the price dishonest people pay for their transgressions, especially when they show little, or no remorse. Why should we believe, or trust them? Although the Astros do have the highest runs per game average in the Majors, they actually score even more, on the road. Therefore, if they are cheating, they might have devised a way to do it all of the time, not just during home games. It's not as though Major League Baseball has suddenly gotten a conscience and decided to refrain from breaking the rules. Witness the current controversy over "sticky substances". And who knows, if they are cheating, maybe they're not alone. Again, I have absolutely no evidence, however I remain suspicious. They do have a history, and you can't blame one for doubting whether they have actually been reformed. Any thoughts?

Beckham just homered again. This one off a RHP. That's his 10Th and 9TH in just 13 games, this month. I don't care in what stadium he hit them, or off which pitchers, that's impressive.