Lillian

Moncada is wearing glasses. I don't think that they're sun glasses.

Do you think that he is a significantly better defensive catcher, than Omar, especially handling pitchers? If not, I agree that the at bats should go to Narvaez. He's earned it.

Why isn't Rondon getting any recognition? He has it 18 homers, at AAA in just 77 games. He also hit 3 with the Sox, giving him 21 for the season. He needs to get his OBP up another .020 or more, but he has had a good offense year, for a SS.

If the Sox picked 5TH, do you think that they would still have a shot at one of the two, most highly ranked collegiate catchers?

Short of replacing Stevenson, whom could the Sox assign to work with Moncada, to try to fix whatever is "broken"? His approach is not working, and he is going to need to make some adjustments. The most discouraging thing to me, is that I don't see him making any changes. He continues to do the same thing and with the same results. There are many things, which he could try; including choking up more, especially with 2 strikes, move around in the batter's box, start being more aggressive, especially with 2 strikes, try hitting to the opposite field, etc. It is just insane to continue to do what he is doing. This has to be shattering his confidence. The Sox better do something, before they ruin this young man. So far, all I've seen is that he has been moved down to #8 in the order. That is not going to be enough of a change.

Engel has power. His problem is his inability to make solid contact. I'm not lobbying for him to get more playing time. He had plenty of opportunities to prove that he can hit. My on!y point was that one can readily see the potential.

Engel never seemed to be able to solve the challenge of hitting, as I hoped. However, you can see why some of us were rooting so hard, for him to do so. If he could just hit for a respectable average, he could be a good player, given that glove. He has speed and power, as well. It's too bad that he just can't make enough contact.

Jose Rondon hit his 20TH homer of the season. if you count the 3 he hit for the Sox.

You have to wonder if the coaches are beginning to lose their patience with Moncada's refusal to swing at close pitches, when he has 2 strikes.

I think this team will be ready to compete, as soon as they establish the starting rotation. My guess is; Rodon, Kopech, Cease, Lopez, followed by one of Giolito, Covey, Dunning, or Hansen. Whether, or not that can happen, by the 2ND half of next year, I have no idea. The lineup could be good enough next year, if they don't trade Avi and Abreu. Maybe one free agent acquisition, and Eloy could make this offence competitive. There could be enough internal options for the bullpen. It may not be necessary to wait until 2021 to compete. That is likely the time when the next wave of prospects arrive, including whom ever they might select in net year's draft.

There appear to be at least two college catchers, ranked in the top 10 of next year's Draft. Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor If Rutschman is the top catcher in the class, Langeliers might not be far behind. He has excellent catch-and-throw skills with outstanding pop times to second. At the plate, Langeliers is quick to the ball and can drive it to all fields, with double-digit home runs in each of his first two seasons.

Last night's walk off homer was another "vote" for Palka. He does seem to have a flare for the dramatic. But even more significant than when he hit it, is where he hit it. He took an outside pitch, way over the left field wall. He possesses that kind of power and should be taking more advantage of it. The shift employed against him leaves the left side wide open. It's an invitation for him to hit the ball to that side. He might be well served to take a step back, off the plate, which would afford him more pitches, which he could hit, in that direction. He would still be able to reach the stands and that open left side would afford him more hits. Moreover, pitches on the inside corner would then be right in his wheel house. Any pitch, which crowds him, inside should be readily recognized as a ball, given his position, in the batter's box. It is inexplicable to me, how our hitters fail to make any adjustments, regarding where they stand in the box, especially in this era of extreme defensive shifts. I wonder if other teams are equally inept, in that regard.

And Steele Walker

While I have been one of the most vocal critics of his habit of taking close pitches, with 2 strikes, I actually feel pretty optimistic that he will develop into a productive player. Given his ability to take pitches and his speed, he might ultimately become a good leadoff hitter. Perhaps he won't be the big power hitter, whom we expected, but a high OBP guy, with speed would be OK. He may have to stop swinging for the fences, and learn to hit pitches to all fields. When teams employ the shift and he gets a a pitch, just barely outside, take the ball to the left side, for a hit With his speed, most of those would be doubles. If he could get his OBP to .350+ and steal bases, I'd be satisfied with 20+ homers. For now, I think we need to see him have better at bats. Not necessarily the results, but the approach. It would be encouraging to see him foul off a bunch of pitches and take a few to the opposite field, maybe move around in the batter's box. Anything but standing there and taking strike 3.

I think that this discussion is more appropriate, in the new thread; "Delmonico or Palka""

I wouldn't be surprised to see Eloy next season. However, I'm not expecting a big free agent signing, this winter. Whom would you like them to sign, to fill the LH bat void?

Yes, I have certainly been consistent, in my advocating the acquisition of a LH middle of the order bat. Apparently, management agrees, evidenced by statements from the front office. Unfortunately, the players, whom they have brought in have not been very good. I hope that they acquire one through free agency, when they decide to spend some money. At this point, Palka seems to be their best option, and that is why he is in the lineup vs RHP, despite the fact that he is a defensive liability.

"Required" would not be my choice of words. I would say "advantageous". For example; Let's assume that next season, Eloy is in the lineup. If the middle of the order choice were Abreu, Avi, Eloy and Davidson, versus Abreu, Avi, Palka and Eloy, I would favor the latter, even if Matt's stats were slightly better than Palka's. The reasoning is; An opposing manager might feel the need to go to the pen, for a LHP. A middle of the order, consisting of all RH hitters, does not force a manager to make that kind of move. In fact, it might be even better to bat Avi after Palka. Nobody hits leftiies better than Avi. That would further complicate the opposing manager''s decision making process. If he brought in a LHP to face Palka, he might have to go back to the pen, for a RHP to face Avi. I agree that Palka needs to cut down on his strike outs and draw more walks. I hope that by establishing his reputation, as a "dangerous" hitter, that pitchers will begin to nibble more, and that he can exploit that, in order to draw more walks. In any case, thank you for the clarification.

He isn't a "perfect" solution to the problem, but he may do, until the Sox have a better one. Just to clarify; Do I understand that you don't think it's important to have a "dangerous" LH hitter, in the middle of the order?

These have been the first 250 at bats of his MLB career.

That's fine and the opposing manager will bring in a lefty to face him, late in the game, which is exactly what a right handed heavy lineup would like. Precisely my point.

What Palka provides is exactly what has been missing; a middle of the order LH bat. He provides that kind of presence. Sandwich him somewhere in between Avi, Abreu and Eloy and you have a potent, balanced middle of the order, 3 through 6. When this team is playing meaningful games, that kind of lineup will force opposing managers to make more bullpen changes.

With Rodon and Avi back, Omar hitting and both Lopez & Giolito back on track, add Eloy to that team and who knows. Oh, and I forgot Palka. And then there is always the chance that Moncada stops taking strike 3 and decides to get a hit, instead.

What if he comes up and performs so well that the Sox drop from #3 in the Draft, to #5 or 6?

As badly as the Sox need a middle of the order, LH bat, I hope they give him every chance to succeed. Gee, I wonder where you guys have heard that before? He certainly provides that missing "presence" in the lineup. First base or DH, but he should be in the lineup every game, vs. RHP, the rest of this season, at the very least.