MiddleCoastBias

This is an important takeaway: it's possible to separate wishing he's no longer with the organization, and also being respectful about the man's health. Genuinely hope he's ok.

I'll be the cynic and say it - this might be a PR move as much as a health move. Others have mentioned it throughout the season but this may just be laying the groundwork to give Tony an out. Not doubting he may have health issues, just that publicly having him sit out could also be a calculated move to telegraph the off-season separation.

Agreed, and they didn't even touch on the identified holes in the roster (2B and RF) and supposed "fixes" we've tried. Or the dollars spent on acquisitions/total payroll and the production we've gotten from them. Overall great segment and yet still didn't even discuss all of the issues.

*swift jerking off motion* I'm done with Tony's empty statements. This means nothing and he's done nothing to change it.

I'm not against it. Sounds like the players that participate really enjoy it and it spurs some drive in them to play for country, etc while playing alongside guys they would typically be competing against. It'll be fun for the fans to have real players on the team. Injury is always a concern - guys get hurt doing all kinds of non-baseball things in the off-season, they don't live in a bubble. I see just as much risk with him playing competitive baseball as he would have playing basketball with friends in the off-season. And if the shorter off-season means fewer "non-baseball" distractions, even better.

*Frank Menechino liked this*

Always good to get in the win column, but still a very flawed showing. Can't depend on getting 12 hits to just plate 5 runs against a team with actual starting pitchers when playing against competitive teams. The FS1 broadcast was all over us for being too impatient at the plate, swinging at bad pitches right after they walked two guys, etc. Like I said, win is a win. But the cracks are still there.

Fixed that last sentence for you.

And then Josh Harrison takes a seat on the 2-seat approach, but that's another thread haha

Yep, I agreed with the approach initially thinking that it would be a BALANCED approach to hitting. In reality it seems he genuinely advises against the HR and the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Only dingers: susceptible to "feast or famine" Only singles: 4 hits to drive in one run Balanced approach: success??

Yes, sometimes it'll load half a page and freeze. I've gotten used to it, just a lot of refreshing to make it start over.

Did somebody say launch angle? Frank'll fix him.

How do vesting options work in this case, like is it null if released and signs on with another team (us)? Or would we then be on the hook if the option hits?

?Al Davis said it best - just win, baby, win. ?

Not the OP intent, but the promotion of a top prospect makes me want to attend their first major league game with the Sox.

Rick's schtick is so predictable at this point, literally any one of us could have written his speech and no one would've noticed a difference.

I have a trip to Philly this weekend, bought tickets a couple months ago to see the Phillies host the Nats with Harper vs. Soto. That didn't work out as planned.

It's not real until Portillo's says it is, mags, we all know that.

For those that didn't see what Bad Hombre is referencing, this is from a few days ago. But this could be real, who knows! Damnit, Tom.

Honestly, this is kind of my hope given my fear that they'll sell the farm and screw it up anyway. Just play this out and wait until the off-season when TLR walks away, we get a real manager, and make the moves necessary to fix this.

Seat, meet table.

"Change the channel" is more fitting these days.

Joey Gallo, 2019: .253, 22 HR, .986 OPS Nomar Mazara, 2019: .268, 19 HR, .786 OPS I don't know what was the in the water in Texas in 2019 but these guys have both cratered since then. We've been down this road before with Mazara, no need to repeat ourselves.