Lillian

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Sep 8, 2016 -> 04:49 PM) Narvaez plus a health Avila would be fine, going for it or not. It's the healthy Avila that is the big if. That tandem would consist of two left handed hitters. Is that a good idea? Whom might the Sox use for a right handed hitter?

His last 3 years in the Minors, he has been a pretty good hitter vs. RHP. He could be a temporary solution to half of a catching tandem, for next year. For me, the most important qualification for a catcher is still defense. If he is a solid defensive catcher, I think he has a decent chance to be capable replacement for Avila. I'd rather see the sox spend the money on a solid left handed hitting DH, or outfielder.

Let's see our so called "closer" have a dominant 3 up, 3 down inning, for a change.

Some of you might be interested on this recent article on speedster Joel Booker: http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/b...-start-20160820

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 28, 2016 -> 05:24 PM) August numbers: 30.2 IP (5 GS) 24 H 7 BB 26 K 1.01 WHIP 1.47 ERA I also like that he's getting more speed, hitting 97-99 now when he needs to (Sale-esque with a bit more velocity) but also being able to fool hitters with his slider and change-up. A Sale/Quintana trade would definitely be more manageable if Rodon can be a true #1/#2 pitcher, which he definitely has the potential to be. Yes, however I suspect that the prospect of having 3 #ones will make it more likely that the front office will keep them all and try to go for it again.

Could it be time to re-evaluate Leury Garcia? He has had a very good year at AAA, especially vs. RHP. Last year at Charlotte, he was actually better against LHP, while hitting around .300, overall. With his speed and defense, I'd like to see what he could do at second. He seems to have finally figured it out, and is still only 25. At the very least, maybe he could be a decent utility guy, at SS, 2B and CF.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 14, 2016 -> 01:31 PM) Awful performance by Sale. Absolutely doesn't deserve CY and Cooper deserves serious criticism for the approach this year Again, you read my mind. The only way Sale is a Cy Young candidate is if he goes back to being a strike out pitcher. Pitching to contact has resulted in a serious decline in his effectiveness. He hasn't won a game in 6 weeks. If he can't be the strike out pitcher, that he was formerly, and go 6 plus innings, then he is not that great. Being able to go another inning isn't sufficient reason for the diminution of his effectivenes.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 14, 2016 -> 12:30 PM) Sale is such a headcase. Should have been covering home. Exactly, that is Sale's responsibility. The thin margin is widening, between who is having the better season, Sale or Q. I'll take Q.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 12, 2016 -> 11:38 AM) I shouldn't have been so outright dismissive but I really don't think anything will come of him. He has a 24% K% and a .524 BABIP. I wouldn't know how to go about looking up the highest BABIPs in minor league history, but assuredly so, he would still be at very top if not the highest BABIP in MiLB history. What I will give him credit for his ability to get XBH and ISO power so far. That's very impressive especially for a relative unknown even in the Pioneer League. Can you offer anymore insight into why your expectations for him are so low? It's hard not to be impressed.

In a previous post, I argued that I'd prefer the Sox trade Sale than Quintana, and I gave several reasons. Although I don't advocate trading either one, I'd like to add one more reason why I would trade Sale over Quintana; The evidence is mounting that, at least this year, Q is actually a slightly better pitcher. I know that sounds ridiculous, but look at their respective game logs, and see if you don't agree. The margin isn't very great, but Quintana barely edges out Sale as the more consistently reliable Ace. What a shame that this team can't score enough runs to make him the Cy Young candidate that he deserves to be.

How far up in the organization could the Sox move Call, yet this season? I can't wait to see how he does at higher levels.

Given the 3 homers he hit in the Tiger series, I suspect that we will see a lot of Avi, for the rest of the season. That's fine with me. He still has very impressive power, if he can learn to utilize it. It's easy to understand why the front office doesn't want to give up on him, and his intriguing long ball potential. Even that out he made last night, was hit a long way. I'm rooting for him to succeed, and with nothing much more to play for, they might as well at least see if he can make some progress.

Never mind. Saladino caught in a rundown.

Why isn't Anderson bunting here?

I don't remember Shields having such an extreme follow through. If someone hits a liner, back up the middle, he is going to get nailed.

Does anyone see something in Shields' body language, that looks like maybe he's hurt? I haven't seen that much of him, but he looks a little like that, to me.

What percentage of top MLB prospects become the stars, that they are projected to be? What are the odds concerning how many of Boston's top 5 prospects will become really good Major League players? Unless the odds are really good that at least 2 or 3 of them become stars, even getting all 5 of them is not a good gamble, when contemplating giving up Sale and his contract. You guys tell me what those odds are, and then we can all intelligently discuss the merit of any proposed deals for Sale.

Jake Peter, however what about Saladino?

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 06:44 PM) No, if I set his value at 5 top prospects, and you don't want to meet it, goodbye. There is zero guarantee any of those prospects do anything at the major league level, we are handing you a consistent Cy Young contender. If you want that shot at the World Series and feel Sale is your final piece, then pay up. Rarely do these large prospect heavy deals work out for the team giving up the all star, I want as many lottery tickets as I can get I don't disagree with your opinion about prospects. My only point was that i think the #5 was his bargaining position. In other words, if Hahn really wanted 5, he probably would have asked for 6. It just doesn't seem logical that he would state his ultimate demand, and not leave some room to negotiate.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 06:32 PM) No, I'm not being sarcastic one bit. You have not one but two of the top left handed starters under team control with very good deals. You don't concede at all. You don't settle at all. There is literally no need for the sox to make any move that does not greatly benefit them So, if Boston agreed to Moncada, Benintendi, Devers and Kopeck, you wouldn't be satisfied with that haul for Sale? I think the quality here is more important than the quantity. I don't care if it's 4, instead of 5, as long as they are the right 4. Again, I would guess that Hahn's insistence on "5 prospects" was always just a starting position, from which he was willing to negotiate. Just as I suspect the Dombrowski's refusal to deal Moncada is posturing. No one is going to start right out with their ultimate position.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 06:20 PM) No. I don't settle or concede for either Quintana or Sale You're just being sarcastic, right? I mean, you wouldn't be happy with 4 top, Major League ready prospects? Of course, it depends upon exactly which prospects, but I wouldn't be stuck on the quantity, which Hahn has been openly demanding. I'd settle for 4, instead of 5, providing they are the right ones. Oh, and I inadvertently left out the Dodgers, which you can add to the Red Sox and Rangers. So, none of those teams have acquired a starter, which they all need.

Until the Red Sox and, or Rangers acquire a starter, which both teams are openly seeking, there is still a very good chance that Hahn trades Sale or Q. I can't believe that those teams are just going to stand pat, without adding an arm. He has insisted that he wants 5 prospects for Sale, which I would guess is posturing. So, if he settles for 4 really good ones, who are near Major League ready, that would be his "concession". I'd take that, wouldn't you?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 08:43 AM) I'd deal Sale now and look into dealing Quintana in the offseason. The big difference between these two guys is stuff and the potential to dominate a playoff game or series. As good as Q is, if I needed a starter for a one game playoff (as the Red Sox would at the moment), it's going to be hands down Sale. The same goes for any playoff series, as Sale simply has the stuff to carry a team in October. The idea of having Sale for four post-season runs has to be incredibly attractive to the Red Sox as it fits perfect with their core of position players. Quintana, on the other hand, is the definition of durable/reliable top of the rotation starter. While he would no doubt help a team in the playoffs, his value is in his ability to greatly help a team get there. With an extra year of control and ever more team friendly contract, there should be plenty of interest in him from both large and small market teams. I would rather have as many suitors as possible, including the losers in the Sale sweepstakes, bidding on him. That requires dealing him in the offseason. Not against dealing him now if blown away, but I think you're better off putting teams against one another for Sale than having teams competing for two similar assets. The idea there can only be one winner should drive up the return. That's a very good point. The Sox should make it clear that they are not dealing both Sale and Quintana. Let the interested teams bid for one of them. Limiting the supply is a very effective way to increase the price.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 30, 2016 -> 09:33 PM) Sox win 6-5.....................now get on the dam phone Hahn. Hopefully, he has already wrapped up the deal, or deals, and can now announce it.

So now we have to hope that Robertson doesn't blow both the save, and his trade value.