ron883

My uneducated opinion, but it probably has to do with the acceleration from gravity causing the downward velocity to be faster the longer it is airborne, combined with the drag caused by the spin on the ball.

It's not like the Dodgers or Astros had any major injuries to their pitching staff when they played the Braves. Let's totally ignore all context and just look at regular season stats.

It's not all about WAR. In the playoffs when you're facing the best pitching and every pitcher gets stretched to the limit, I don't want our outfield giving up free outs because it is atrociously bad in the corners. That's an absolute killer. Good pitching will beat good hitting in the playoffs. You need your defense to perform in those low scoring pitcher duels. You need your defense to limit the number of pitches your bullpen throws in those games. I'd be happy to make a wager that the Sox won't start the season with Vaughn/Sheets in RF. I think the front office sees the flaw in that plan.

Semien is an MVP caliber player than can play SS. He will get at least 25m+ annual IMO. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets 30m annually. Conforto will be closer to 16m-20m annually, which leaves the Sox with more flexibility to fill other positions. It also gets a much needed left handed hitter in the lineup.

You realize Semien will cost more than Conforto? Where the hell are we getting the money to sign a backup catcher, 2 good RPs and a starter like Rodon in your scenario?

They should have just cut their loses and used that money for a damn 2B or RFer. It's mind boggling.

This is disgusting.

Or ya know, we could find some players that can hit AND field. Cough cough, Conforto.

I don't care what this board thinks of Grandal. Catcher is a unique position anyway. Conforto brings balance to the lineup and defense at a position this team can never seem to fill lately.

Let's put it this way; I feel much more confident about adding a quality 2B at the deadline than I do about adding a quality RFer at the deadline. There's typically guys like Eduardo Escobar that you can add for cheap (Sox fucked this up of course). There aren't as many quality RFers out there now or during the deadline. Add a RFer now, and trade for a 2B now or before the deadline.

@bmags thoughts?

The guy is an annual 4 WAR player. He's also being compared to Sheets and Vaughn defensively.

A combined .875 OPS is a lot to ask for. It also ignores all the added stress the outfield puts on the pitchers in the regular season and in the postseason. Good pitching beats good hitting, and I don't want this OF giving any extra outs in the playoffs. Your pitching staff gets pushed to the absolute limit in the playoffs. Those extra outs are brutal.

All Eloy and Vaughn have to do is hit like prime Manny Ramirez and the Sox are good to go. Sounds easy enough.

We can either have Jason Heyward or Gavin Sheets in RF. No other options. Pick your poison!

Jason Heyward sucks

I don't think the pitching staff would appreciate having that outfield behind them. I don't care how good the offense is - giving up extra outs is never a good idea.

You don't need a large sample size to see that Sheets/Vaughn are horrible in RF. The eye test is enough.

That OF defense would be the worst in the entire league. You can't roll that out if you are seriously contending. Defense matters.

This. The Sox can't roll out Vaughn/Sheets in RF with Eloy in LF if they are serious about contending. Why do people all of the sudden not care about outfield defense?

Yes

You think the OF defense will be good enough with Eloy in LF and Gavin in RF?

It's a shame they can't trade for Thad since they just traded him. He would be a great fit once again. He'd have to get bought out then clear waivers. Doubt that happens.

What role do you use him in? Everyday starter? Platoon?

Replacing Vuc with a guy that the other team doesn't have to guard really hurts. Doesn't help that Lonzo and DeMar have played horribly. The Bulls really need another big man.