Lillian

It's hard to believe the Yankees wouldn't love to have Machado. I suspect that they are being so coy, simply because they know that he wants to play for them. Why should they aggressively court a guy, whom they know wants to be on their team? My hope is that Machado and his agent can see through this charade, and that Manny becomes a little miffed, and decides that he is no longer so enamored with the Yankee mystic. Come on Manny, come to the South Side and lead this young team to thwart the Yankees' quest for yet another World Championship.

If we want to get all conspiratorial, this latest report that the Yankees prefer Arenado could be a ploy to entice Manny to sign with his "favorite" team. If he still has hopes of playing for N. Y., perhaps after an opt out with us, this could scare him into signing with them now, before they acquire another long term third baseman.

That analysis seems quite plausible. Thank you for the thoughtful insight.

You may have misunderstood me. I agree with you, that the greater need is pitching.

If the argument against acquiring more starting pitching now, is that there are too many good pitching prospects, who will arrive in the next couple of years, then applying the same argument, would assert that there are too many good outfield prospects coming, to merit acquiring another one now.

If one thinks that a team must have big offensive contributors at every spot in the lineup, then that would be their assessment, regarding the Sox. Teams rarely have great hitters, at every spot in the lineup, including the Indians. Look who batted in the bottom third of the lineup. Yes, Lindor and Ramirez are terrific, but the Indians have not had potent 7, 8 and 9 hitters. My preference is to have a productive to 2/3 of the lineup, and focus more on defense from your bottom third, typically from the centerfielder and catcher, or SS. It's pitching that wins championships. It always has been and always will be. The only new wrinkle, in this era, is that the bullpens have become as important as the starting rotation.

"Poor man's version". Interesting choice of words. Hardly, when considering the cost of Machado and Pollock. Seriously, if Machado is acquired, the Sox do not need to add any other position players. The biggest need is pitching, pitching and pitching!! One more starter, and a good one, at a minimum.

This team would be loaded with very likable, seemingly "nice" guys. They also happen to almost all be Latinos. It's easy to see them "rubbing off" on Manny. There doesn't seem to be a "bad egg" in the bunch. The more I think about it, the more I like having the veteran guys, like Abreu, Jay and Alonso around. Throw in Yolmer's infectious personality and Machado might just become a nice guy, himself, just to fit in. LOL. There's nothing wrong with playing with a "chip on your shoulder" but throwing bats, in retaliation for a dust back pitch and kicking first basemen's ankles is carrying that chip a little too far.

Counter balancing Manny's questionable character might be the most constructive effect of having Jay and Alonso on the team. They are both model "citizens" and could help keep Manny in line. In any case, I would look more to them and Abreu to help mold the young Latinos, like Robert, Moncada and Jimenez. Maybe all of them will help Machado to mature a little. After all, he is pretty young, himself.

Let's hope that if he's signed, that his influence will be of a positive nature. Sure, he is a great player, but not much of a role model, otherwise. Is there anything that suggests that he is a good mentor to younger players?

I think his contact skills play best in the #2 hole.

Is there any indication that Madrigal would be serviceable at SS, much less 3RD? I doubt that he has the arm for 3RD, and I'm not sure about his ability to play SS, although I understand that he did play there, in high school.

That's fair. If he were that determined to play SS and perhaps devalue his services, up front, that's fine. Then the GM could say; "Well, then here is the best that we can offer you." It's probably more a case of him using this as a ploy, in order to demand additional money, if the team wants him to play 3RD. It would really be more than a mere "disruption". If Manny were the SS, he could potentially weaken 2 defensive positions. It would diminish the defense at both 3RD and SS, versus T. A. at SS and Machado at 3RD. Again, they could have a Gold Glover at 3RD, SS and 2ND, if Machado agreed to play his best position.

Whatever happened to the "I just want to do whatever I can to make this team better" attitude? We don't know that Manny is still insisting upon playing SS, but if he has, then I agree that it is troublesome. It not only hurts the team, but demonstrates a selfish attitude. If Machado recognizes that he is a better defensive third baseman, than a short stop and yet, still insists upon playing there, perhaps to enhance his chances for the Hall of Fame, then maybe we should be focused upon Harper. Many here have insisted that Machado provides more WAR, than Harper, by virtue of his glove at 3RD, versus Harper's poor outfield defense. The last thing that this young team needs is an Antonio Brown type prima donna. Hey, Mr. Machado, Just take the money and dedicate yourself to helping this young core to become champions. Maybe having both Jay and Alonso around to keep his head on straight, will prove to be more valuable than having helped to acquire him.

My sentiments, exactly!!

I agree. It's not only crazy, it's foolish. Let's hope that it isn't really an issue. In any case, you would think that the topic would be discussed, before signing him. An infield of Machado at 3RD, T. A. at SS and either Moncada, or Madrigal at 2ND, could be defensively elite.

Yes, that suggestion was disturbing. But then, what the Hell do these hacks know about the Sox? Their world is the Yankees and the rest of baseball probably just doesn't count for anything, in their estimation. Geez, if the Sox aren't "winners for 3 or 4 more years," the rebuild will have failed. What great prospects do we have, who are 4 to 5 years away from being MLB contributors?

The female commentator suggested that the Sox would agree to let him play SS. As we've all speculated, he probably doesn't really care and that was just a ploy to increase his value, going in to his FA year. However, I hope that the Sox would not acquiesce to any demand to play SS. That would greatly reduce his value. He's a Gold Glove third baseman and a below average SS. I know that we've beaten that dead horse, but it's worth reiterating.

I was merely referring to when it might be announced.

The notion has been posited that the Sox may be waiting to have a press conference, with 3, or more of the acquisitions, particularly the "Tres Amigos". One would have to think that SoxFest would figure into the equation, as well. If such a plan exists, when would the optimum time be, to announce a Machado deal and hold a joint press conference?

One would have to think that there has been some communication between Sox management and the Machado camp, on this matter of signing Manny's friends. Of course, we have no idea what the nature of that communication is. Wouldn't we all love to know? The signings have been spaced far enough apart, that there must have been some discussion of this tactic, between the two camps.

Let me go on the record, stating that if Jay's OBP ends up being .313, or anywhere near that Steamer projection, then I will be disappointed, as that is his best offensive tool. If I believed that was the most likely kind of production to be expected from him, I would rather play Engel, because of the upside potential.

My point was simply to reiterate that OBP is the more relevant stat for a #2 hitter. OPS is weighted heavily by the Slugging %. Since Madrigal is likely not going to ever put up a big SLG %, he is not going to have a high OPS. Nevertheless, he could turn out to be a prototypical #2 hitter, providing he can get on base, at a good rate.

I disagree. It is not "nuts" to bat Jay second. He has hit there for a great portion of his career. "Caulfield" suggested that those extra at bats, at the top of the order, should go to Jimenez, Palka or Anderson. The problem is that none of those guys profile as a #2 hitter. The objective is to get some men on base, for the middle of the order to drive them in. Jimenez and Palka are those kind of hitters RBI guys. Anderson could be a great leadoff hitter, if he could get on base, but he doesn't. If they sign Machado, based on the logic that you want the better hitter to bat 2ND, I assume that you would want to hit him there. Unfortunately, he wouldn't drive in many runs, hitting in the two hole. I suspect that he would not be very happy hitting there, and one could not blame him.

Precisely. I agree.