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James might have a very nice career in front of him as a reliever.

Juego G time!

save us yoan

98 mph on pitch 45

I think this is a rerun. I saw that same foul ball off the net to the back and right of home plate like an hour ago

I'm pretty impressed that Rondon can hit 96 on pitch 40 pitching back to back days.

The last time James pitched in relief, Chris Volstad started.

Man, Yolmer is fun to watch in the field. Rondon was much better in the 12th than the 11th and I imagine we can get one more inning out of him.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 18, 2018 -> 07:40 PM) Can't tell if sarcasm, but without him we would've lost a long time ago Everyone's in a state of mild delirium at this point in the game

Matt, with another opportunity to be a hero

Ha, Jose hit that too hard.

Remember that grand slam hours ago? We were so much younger and innocent then

I imagine Avi is still on the bench so that we can put him in right when Leury pitches the 14th

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Apr 18, 2018 -> 02:18 PM) My list of possible 4 OF with positives and negatives of each. Hopefully we have Avi, Robert and Eloy out there and the final spot goes to someone who can play all 3 spots decently and provide speed and defense with some hope as a bat. aka - some power, some speed, some walks I am assuming their age and role in 2019 and 2020 as that's when it'll matter. Now? It really doesn't. By 2021 one of these guys should be a 4OF (likely it might not be any of these guys) Cordell - 26 years old currently. 27 and 28 respectively. Played AAA for first time as 25 year old. 11th round pick. Held his own at each level in the minors, decent speed, decent getting on base, not sure on defense. However he's played in the PCL league and this year in Charlotte. Both are good for offensive numbers. I see him as a Band-Aid. Charlie Tilson - 25 years old currently Split seasons at A and A+ and then A+ and AA for his first two season at age 20 and 21 reaching a full season at AA at 22 and then AAA at 23. He's stole 46 bags in AA in 2015. Hit basically .282 and above each year, with the .282 coming in his first year at AAA. OBP decent. Played full seasons each year minus last year. Off to a cold start this year. Trayce Thompson - 27 years old currently (hypothetically) Bounced a round a bit over the past few years as we are aware. Batted nearly .300 with the CWS at age 24 getting on base at nearly a .363OBP. He was traded to the Dodgers and hit .225 over 260 AB's playing good efense and hitting 13 homers. Down in AAA at 26yo he hit .212 over 370AB's. Didn't really hit many homers or walk or slug either. Really tough year. He has proven himself on a somewhat limited basis what he probably tops out at in the MLB. With consistent AB's you can probably pencil in .240BA and some power, probably a bit worse with spotty AB's. Decent defense and can cover all positions. However would be 28 and 29yo respectively when he's called to do 4 OF duty Leury Garcia - 27 years old currently He's had a taste of the majors since 22 years old in 2013, but with his first real extended look coming last year with 326 AB's hitting .270 and 9HR. His last real minor league experience was 2016 when he crushed the ball .313BA and OBP .367. no real power, and is what I'd call replacement level at OF defense. Engel - 27? years old currently I think we all know what he is. Strong D and speed. Very poor everything else. The field: Rutherford - 20 years old In Single A right now. Had a rough year against expectations last year. Even with a truly execptional year in 2018 would guess by 2020 he's still in the minors. Say he finishes in AA this year. Starts in AA, makes it to AAA midseason in 2019. Seems unlikely that even happens. If it does were probably looking at him as an actual starter. Otherwise I'd guess 2021 as a year he'd come up as 4OF. Robert - 20 years old Doubtful he'll be up either in 2020. I can see him taking the meteoric route. But that puts him in the OF as a toolsy OF in 2020. Adolfo - 21 years old currently Probably still at least 2-3 years away. Basabe - 21 years old Great defense. Toolsy. Not a great year last year. Strong start this year. Based on defense might be the type of guy who works his way to the MLB level quickly as a 4OF. if you want him to be apart of the true future OF then I think he needs 2-3 more years of seasoning with the bat in the minors. Long winded post, but my order of who I think has the brightest future 2018-2021 as the fringe 3/4OF while we await Robert. Meaning the guy who should be manning the 3rd OF spot and then slot to 4OF when Robert comes up. Tilson (current-2021) Basabe (pushing for job in 2020-2021) Cordell (pushing for job second half of 2018 and into the future - think job should go to Tilson first) Leury (holding down the job now, but should be pushed by Tilson) Rutherford (Ideally ready by 2021 at which point he should replace Tilson or Basabe) I think that Engel, Jacob May and Thompson shouldn't be considered at all now or in the future. I've got some bad news for you about Cordell

hey a positive defensive thing

I'm still getting used to Matt and Tim walking all the time

Haha, the second pitch to Matt was a strike on every planet.

Be a hero, Matt.

Oakland has caught damn near everything this series

I wish the NBC Sports app wasn't so far behind, I'm like 15-30 seconds behind you guys.

Today's game has been annoying on a number of levels

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Apr 18, 2018 -> 06:36 PM) If the ball is ripped right to an outfielder, it’s absolutely necessary It was Engel at bat

I do like the new base stealing Sox, but a steal of third wasn't really necessary there.

This baseball team is a thing that is occurring.

my professional opinion is that we aren't good at baseball