Lillian

That's what I've been talking about!!! That pitch was not a strike and it was outside. But instead of taking it, with two strikes on him, he just went the other way, and bingo, home run.

Allow me to clarify, one more time. If Rodon wants to wait until he is a free agent, then I am suggesting that the Sox consider signing him as a free agent, at that time. They have money to spend, and that would be a good place to use some of it. Obviously, if he had not proven to be a top of the rotation, healthy starter, at that point, I wouldn't favor such a move. I'm simply trying to say that, if he merits it, I would advocate that the Sox be willing to spend big, in order to keep him. There is a point, at which it doesn't make sense to keep trading those who become stars, for an endless stream of prospects. Carlos is a guy that could be another Sale, and the Ace of the staff. If they are going to be competitive in the first half of the next decade. It's time to keep the key guys, and he could most definitely be one of them.

My point was that Rodon could be a good place to spend some of that free agency money, that everyone is lobbying for ownership to commit. Rodon will be a free agent in 2022. That season could see a team consisting of the following: 3B. Moncada 2B Madrigal 1B Eloy DH LH power bat - Sheets ((If he is that guy, he plays first and Eloy is a DH). Most likely a Free Agent. Could be Future Draft pick, or trade acquisition ????? CF. Robert C. Collins/Zavala or this year's Draft pick - Rutschman (I wish) RF Adolfo LF Gonzalez, Rutherford, Basabe or Walker. We better hope that we can fill the outfield, out of all of these top prospects. SS. Anderson The Rotation of Rodon, Kopech, Cease, Giolito and Lopez, or Dunning will be cheap, except for Rodon's contract. The Bullpen of Hamilton, Burdi, Fry, Frare, Ruiz, or any of the other relief prospects, may not need much outside help. The point is that we may not have to spend a lot of money in free agency and Rodon may be as good a target, as anyone, for those funds. I'm hoping that management waits to see how they do next year, in Abreu and Avi's last year, before they decide where they want to spend some of those vast financial resources. In any case, I'm not on board with giving Machado a 10 year, $350M to $400M contract.

Everyone keeps talking about all of the uncommitted financial resources, which J. R. has to spend on free agents. Why not use some of it on Rodon? Whether it's before he gets to free agency, or at his contract year, sign him and keep him, if he has demonstrated that he can stay healthy. If most of our highest rated prospects realize their potential, the Sox shouldn't need to spend a lot of money on free agents, to fill holes. By the time Rodon reaches free agency, the team could have most of the positions filled with our best prospects.

I wasn't suggesting a conventional contract extension. I was referring to just that final year, in question.

Here's a novel idea: Tell Eloy and his agents that the front office agrees to bring him up now, if he will agree to take X amount of money, for that first year of free agency, and stay with the Sox, that year, in which they would lose control, by bringing him up now. That would be predicated on the basis that he were still with the team, at that time. It could be a generous amount, but the point would be that they don't want to lose him, during that competitive window, which they are striving to create. Could that work? Would the CBA permit such an agreement?

My perspective is that, as long as the top two thirds of the lineup is productive, a team can well afford to have below average offensive players, in the bottom third of the order, as long as they provide plus defense, particularly at the key positions of SS, CF and catcher. Anderson's offense is more than acceptable at SS, given his improving defensive prowess. Moreover, while his OBP is disappointing, the power and speed, which he provides are big positives. I suspect that Anderson's role as the team's SS will not represent a hole, which the organization needs to fill. He seems to be getting better and it won't take much for him to become one of the better all around short stops, in the League. He could very well become a 25 home run and 25+ steal player, with well above average defense. I'm sure that most teams would take that, in a heart beat. And that is not his ceiling. The affordable contract, also helps.

Is there a veteran player, with an expensive contract, on a team that is not ready to contend? I'd love to see the Sox pick up someone like that, for a couple of years, until a few more of the top prospects are ready. That might be preferable to committing to a long term, expensive contract, when we don't really know what we have in so many of these promising youngsters. Of course he would have to play a position that fills a hole, but such a player should be more affordable than the $300M to $400M deals, which both Harper and Machado are likely going to demand. Sometimes teams are willing to part with guys like that, just for the salary relief. Preferably, he would only have a couple of years left on his current contract.

Lopez has no velocity. I wonder what's wrong with him/

I love it. All of the RH hitters have gotten hits, to the opposite field.

I wish Moncada would try to go the other way, as the previous two hitters did. Never mind. Flied out to CF.

Marvin Miller was the shrewd labor negotiator, who made Free Agency the gold mine, for players, that it is today. He knew that the key was limiting the number of eligible players, in any given year. That kept the supply limited, and gave the players a significant advantage, when their turn came, for their big contract. The owners should have known that Miller was outsmarting them, but they didn't. You would think that would continue to be a principle, which the players' union understands. If players want to flood the market with more, and more players, they will only hurt their bargaining position. It's as simple as "supply and demand". The one change, which I'd like to see is an age limit, for eligibility. If they would agree that a player had to be, for example 28 years old, that would allow for young guys like Eloy to get their chance to play, when they are ready.

The best part of Moncada's hit is that it was not really a strike, and with 2 strikes on him, he decided to hit the damn thing.

I really like where Palka is setting up in the batter's box. Now, if he can take an "outside" pitch to left, he can beat that shift. And, if he elevates it, he can hit it out of the park. It may not actually be an outside pitch, but from where he is standing, it will be on the outside edge of his reach.

That scenario of Castillo/Narvaez is fine, for next year, as long as they give almost all of the starts, vs. RHP to Omar. He has earned it. My only reservation is whether his defense is good enough. He seems capable enough handling pitchers.

At this point, it may not be a question of what would be best for the organization, but rather how to justify to Eloy that they aren't calling him up. He clearly wants to have a chance to play in the Big Leagues this year and he has done more than enough to prove that he deserves it. What possible excuse can they give him, for not calling him up? I doubt that Hahn would risk making an honest admission that they are holding him down, on the farm, until next year, so that they can obtain an extra year of service time. Not that they would need to admit that to him, as I'm sure that he has figured out, either on his own, or from someone else. Perhaps they could tell him that they know he will be one of their regulars, during their competitive window, but they need to have an opportunity to evaluate Avi, Delmonico, Davidson and Palka, so that they can determine who to keep, going into the off season. They can't play all of them. That is actually a plausible explanation, or excuse.

Robert is likely the future centerfielder, but as young and raw as he is, I think that he is at least two more years away from the "Show". He lost a lot of valuable development, with his injuries, this year. He barely had any time in A Ball. Next year maybe he makes it to AA and the following year, AAA. If Engel could hold down the position until then, that would be terrific.

Yes, in fact few teams have 8 and 9 hitters, as good as Anderson and Engel have been, this year and it wouldn't be surprising if they both get better. You have to love their speed. Once Moncada can get back to hitting at the top of order, and you add Eloy, next year the bottom 3RD could be Narvaez, Anderson and Engel. That would be a very decent bottom of the order. That's one of the reasons that I think they could be competitive next season.

Most of us have asserted that, if Engel could hit .250, he could be a useful centerfielder. Since May 1ST, he has hit better than .250 and is improving. I really wanted this guy to figure it out, and that appears to be happening.

What happened to the glasses, for Anderson and Moncada? Did they switch to contacts?

I love it when guys are able to hit to the opposite field. Tim's recent development of that ability and willingness, is absolutely HUGE!!

Another good at bat for Adam. I hate to tell you guys, but it looks like he has managed to "buy" himself more playing time. I would guess that he will be in CF, the rest of the season.

That plate umpire is just terrible.

How do you like that "Palka Smash"?

I'll repeat what I posted, in the last game: "Moncada should take lessons from Omar". Geez, it's hard to watch.