Harry Chappas

In a normal year I would agree but I think they used Schaumburg to control the workload and be ready for this moment.

I think they are realizing that the Sox may be turning a corner and have a look of good stories about them. The last week was killer but the first 7 weeks there was no better story and they are selling it.

They are doing a good number of games...not certain why they are all remote. If you are going to do remote just use the home announcers.

Oakland going to the pen early......hopefully somebody doesn't have their best stuff and we can add on.

I don't think anyone is giving him a starting job at his age for the money he wants.

I like McCann but he is showing he is not an every day player. Swung at two balls out of the zone there.

If the decision is Grandal v Eloy and Eloy is not 100% I am not certain it is just not a managerial decision to go with Grandal. Hopefully Eloy at DH and Grandal behind the dish tomorrow.

Eloy should DH the whole series as the injury answers any questions. Keeps him out of a spacious park and would have to be pulled for defensive switch earlier than in a smaller park.

Collins is kind of a no brainer with the extra spot.......now will Edwin and Mazara get the playing time neither have any basis for receiving?

Are we the home team in game 2?

This 3 game playoff will have interesting rosters as you need less starters and plenty of strike throwers and specialized hitters. There is no need for Gio, Cease, Lopez or Cordero to be on this roster. I still think Rodon is the wildcard simply because of experience.

Benetti was on with Bernstein this morning. Great listen. You have to like Benetti as a person and when all is said and done he will go down as a great voice in sports. Lot of love for Bob Melvin.....God I hope we do not have to rely on our staff going head to head in a thinktank mindset against them as Jason and Dan politely explained how we do not have a chance if it comes to that.

Great to see Lambert's healthy. Pulling for Burger and Hansen to recoup past glory.

Would love to see Collins on the roster as a backstop so that McCann and Grandal can both start. Would also like Mendick's bat on the bench. We don't need more than 3 starters so we should have more bench guys available and less pitching on the roster. Ricky using them properly is a whole other story.

While sample size and what not, this weekend was a showcase against a team that was not hitting well and all three of Dunning, Cease and Lopez failed, some rather epically. That is why everyone is on a short leash and Rodon gets the nod in my book. Lopez should not be on the roster he can't be trusted to do anything, Dunning is early call should something drastic happen to Gio or Dallas or a game go 11+ innings. Cease is a guy you think about against bottom of lineup guys who struggle with fastballs.

and switch hit

I think the Sox is worse. If Fried is back for Atlanta they are tough. Reds can beat anyone.

Sox draft #22

That is my guess on a really short leash. Hopefully he can give 3 to 4 innings. In an elimination game there really are no options.

Fiers seems like a guy that will give the Sox fits.

What a shit show

That is my belief as I watch this week. I believe there is a spring training type handling to the pitching staff where there are slotted guys and that's who is going under the guise of not caring about these games and being fresh for the playoffs. I also think taht is bullshit as it is a 60 games season and a bullpen is not taxed at this point. That is the only rationale I can think of as to why some of these moves are being made as I pointed out. Those moves I pointed to do not give any credence to my point of building for the future and as such I feel Renteria is about to lose this team. Robert, Moncada, Cease, Dunning, Lopez...them struggling may be needed to learn and build.....If Edwin is a leader keeping him in there could be something to appease the psyche of the team.......now if Rodan is highly thought of as a teammate, is the situation that he was put in, putting him in a position to succeed good for anything?

Engel's role this year is what we learned McCaan is capable of moving forward. Neither are starters but both have great value.

Start the inning with him then.

I saw their best player get kicked out of a game in the 9th inning when he was going to come to bat to extend a lead and in doing so cost his team the DH spot which while not costing them anything, it could have. Grandal and the bad hand had to bat for him. I also saw a pitcher have to explain why he was placed in a difficult position after not having pitched in over 6 weeks because the manager is looking to try out some new things. I saw a team that has been busting their ass and the last three days were put in position to fail...McCann has been struggling and Engel ahs been playing well yet there was McCann hitting for Engel...if you are going by your gut, hit Robert for Engel.....maybe Robert had played, I am trying to block out the last three games. We see the stupidity you think the players don't and are not impacted?