ChiSox59

I didn't say plug and play RF/2B. I said use the $225M you'd be paying Machado to play out of position (or move Moncada out of position), and just sign a legit RF and 2B for less. Ideally guys who hit left handed and get on base at a high clip, two things Manny doesn't do, or isn't' his strong point.

Fairly sizable difference between 5/$120M and 7 /$224M no?

I don't think Sox/Astros will get the first game on Friday. I'd guess the 2nd. My guess for Friday: 1pmCT (Brewers/Braves); 330pm (Astros/Sox); 6pm (Rays/AL WC); 830pm (Giants/NL WC) We're for sure going to get the afternoon game on Thursday tho, just hoping itll be 3pm or later.

He won't be opting out of 5/$160M as 32 year old, in my opinion.

Yeppp. Machado has 0 surplus value. Which is generally the case when star players sign mega contracts. Its just the way it works. Truth be told, Machado would have been super neat a few years ago. But the ship has sailed. Even if the Padres were willing to eat 1/3 of his remaining deal for nothing more than back-end 40 man types, I don't even know if its wroth it. Just sign a RF and 2B with the money (realistically, quite a bit less) and ball out the next 3-4 years with the best roster in the game.

Yeah, he's for sure tradable. If the acquiring teams is willing to eat most or all his contract. And the Padres would gladly oblige. I was all for Manny. I'd still take him for sure, if the Padres pro-rated his deal by about 40%.

LOL WHAAAAAA. I think the Padres would hand Machado over for nothing more than salary relief (ie: eating whole remaining contract). And there wouldn't be any takers.

Not many things make me happier than watching the Padres situation deteriorate.

Thanks!

IS world series HFA back to all star game winner this season?

Noon would be such a disaster.

Vaughn is a more than serviceable OF. its amazing to say that considering he had never played it, but he is. Will he be in 5 years? Who knows. But he certainly is right now. Vaughn is cornerstone of this team and will be for a long time. Posts like this are going to look comical AF in a year or two.

I think I read game times are set on Monday, before the wild card games occur. So yeah, Sox are playing a bunch of day games in the ALDS, unfortunately.

This is most plausible in my opinion. Or Rodon and Cease flopped. I don’t see Rodon going in Houston, but who knows. Can we fast forward a week?

McCullers, Garcia, Valdez or Urquidy.

I mean, I am one of those people. Vaughn is a better LF than Eloy, and he's not a danger to himself and Luis out there. Eloy has been serviceable in LF this season, to be sure, but I still think he should be the DH moving forward. I also still think Vaughn should be playing more than he has when he's been on active roster. But for the playoffs, gotta line em up with who is hottest, and Gavin is certainly a better option against RHP than Vaughn right now. So he's going to get those at bats.

On the flip side, Houston isn't a great park for lefties with the short porch, and Rodon looking like a flyball pitcher yesterday when sitting 89-91. I think they'll go Gio, Lynn and Cease in that order, to be honest. And then decide what to do for game 4 depending on situation. I could see Sox going to Gio on short rest in game 4 in a win or go home situation.

For sure. Leury will be extremely valuable if we're lucky enough to make the WS in NL park games. I hear ya on Cesar. He's probably a better defender than Leury at 2B, which has to count for something. Its amazing to think the dude hit 18 homers with Cleveland. Seriously looks like he is swinging a pool noodle at the dish, so I have a hard time understanding how that happened. Leury has been so good lately tho - its hard to sit him. Truth be told, I don't think Engel plays more than a game or two in the ALDS, so I think Leury will be in RF for a few games, and at 2B the others.

Touche. I don't live in Chicago and bought tickets for ALCS home games 2,3,4. It could be as simple as Tue, Wed (games 3 and 4) against the Rays, or if anyone else game 2 one Saturday, and games 6 and 7 (if necessary) the following Fri/Sat. Just not going to worry about flights until I at least know the opponent. My dad and I couldn't get tickets to sox home game 1 (game 3 if Rays, game 1 if someone else), despite trying very hard. If we're going to be in Chicago anyway, we'll want to go. So if anyone is selling tickets to Sox home game, shoot a PM. Interested. Of course, none of this could matter, but I am not entertaining that possibility. Not one bit!

Vaughn has 19 PA since coming off the IL. He wasn't great in September before hitting the shelf, but the SS is very small. He had some nice at bats in Cleveland this past weekend. But yeah, at this point, Vaughn is a platoon bat in the playoffs and only going to start against LHP. I have accepted it for the time being with Gavin swinging a hot bat.

If the lineup is as follows, who exactly is Leury super-subing for: Anderson SS, Robert CF, Abreu 1B, Grandal DH, Eloy LF, Moncada 3B, Engel RF, Sheets/Vaughn DH, Cesar 2B There really aren't any spots for him to pinch hit. If you're making OF defensive changes late for Eloy, it'll be Billy. Whoever starts between Sheets/Vaughn will be pinch hit for themselves between the 2 of them. If Leury is on the bench, he's kind of glued there. If you choose Cesar over Leury to start, you probably aren't changing course on that mid-game as their both switch hitters.

Cesar isn't good. I am for sure starting Leury at 2B if it were up to me. But I am guessing Cesar will get a start or two for sure. Partially depends on Engel too. If Engel isn't healthy enough to play every playoff game, Leury is in RF and Cesar is at 2B. If Engel IS healthy enough to play most/all games, I think you gotta put Leury at 2B.

So gross. But you're probably right. I have a wedding in Wisconsin on Saturday. 5.5 hour drive. Wife in wedding, so she needs to be there by 4-5pm Friday. Friday day game is such a disaster scenario for me. And I am going to have some fucking issue on Sunday getting back. For the love of God, give me some night games. Or I guess I am hitting the road early AF Fri/Sun. My wife is going to be so pissed at me lol, but 0% chance I am in a car during these games. ZERO PERCENT.

Last I heard he was throwing pens and getting close. I expected him to be activated within the past few days. Hopefully Friday and we can get him 2 appearances this weekend to knock off the rust.

I suppose. The TA thing just seems so silly. Oh well. Not too concerned about it as it doesn't affect the playoffs.