SCCWS

Hopefully it is just an adjustment, but Fry looks overcooked in July. Seems like Covey, the more he has pitched batters seem to be getting to him with more success.

Kimbrel is an elite closer. They want to go to teams that will play in October not teams that are coming off a rebuild. Not so much for the winning as the number of close opportunities. Now if you blow away the market w money, that could change things.

Many of the White Sox players come through Charlotte. That franchise has had probably 20 years of misery. I think losing culture is pretty accurate.

Dustin Pedroia is probably 5'7"--180 and he has added some pop as well as hits for average.

You may be right, but I assume you mean Hahn. Renteria did not hire the key members of the coaching staff.

Robin had no more experience than Aaron Boone did and so far he seems to have "business managing a MLB club"..........................or managers don't matter, the roster is the key element.

When the White Sox played the Red Sox last month, I posted that Alex Spier of the Boston Globe was interviewed in the announcer's both during one inning. He said Moncada has had several hand injuries in his career and that there is talk it is limiting his batting especially from the right side. I wasn't aware of other hand injuries and said at the time it may have been sour grapes.

Offensively, Devers has been pretty solid and he is 2 years younger than Moncada. Devers has struggled at 3rd but unfortunately he seems to be improving there. But w 500+ ABS his OPS is over .750 and last I saw he was on track for 25HR /75RBI which is solid for a 21 year old.

I agree. I think the problem was being rated the #1 prospect. I think being a Red Sox prospect also raised his value in the eyes of "prospect raters". If we believe the "rumors" he wasn't even the Red Sox top prospect since they supposedly made him available but not Benintendi. Anderson was also raw and we see how he has developed. Streaky with good skills but erratic also. I think Moncada will be about the same and become an above average 2nd baseman. Anything beyond that is gravy.

Well Red Sox traded for Pierce so they will not be a suitor for Abreu.

The Red Sox have a decent amount of pitching. They have 4 solid starters and 3 options for the 5th. I think they will wait till All Star break and see if Pomerantz or Wright will claim the 5th spot. If neither is healthy, then maybe they would want Shields. Swihart can catch and play outfield and 1st but he is average defensively and his bat is useless. But if Hahn is interested, he could grab him and let him play everyday and see if the bat comes around when he plays regularly. He is a .234 AAA hitter w 480+ PA. A weak AAA hitter does not usually translate to succes in the majors. I think I hold Shields for a better offer but I would take a shot at Swihart if he gets DFA'd.

Obviously. I think most of us are glad you do provide insight beyond the normal "arm, leg, muscle etc. injury. I always find your contributions excellent understanding the context you present them.

Offensively, he and Gurriel are having the best years of any !B, Jose is better known around the league.

Since he has a long ride home, maybe he needs a "pit stop" before he leaves.

Maybe the Bulls will take a shot at him.

Yoan needs to make a donation to the Umpires Retirement Fund and he will start seeing a smaller strike zone.

When you are talking trade-deadline, the timing has a good amount to do with the value. There are less bidders at this time but some are getting desperate. Withe the way the AL is going this year, there will be a limited number of teams involved. I think to win for a team looking to unload, it will help to have a need the Yankees or Red Sox have. There will be more NL options , but then you get into more of Abreu's defense which may reduce his value w NL teams.

Heard on WEEI in Boston that there is a rumor of an Abreu for JBJ trade. Not sure what their source was as i was in and out of car during the discussion. I think Sox can get a better deal for Abreu.

I think that is safe. the Sox based on their pace right now would win 60 games and they havew won 1/3 of the games played. But some caution, what happens if Hahn trades guys like Abreu, Jones, Shields. They may have some pitching options but Abreu would be a tough bat to replace. I still think Sept is a wasted month for many teams( especially this year) so the Sox should get to 60.

We agree. I think regardless he goes to FA. But if he has spent the last few months in a setting he likes, that team if compettive bid wise will have an advantage. I doubt he goes to the Sox becuase they are rebuilding and if he is leaving Baltimore I would assume he wants a"built" contender.

FWIW- Jerry Remy is the long-time color announcer for Red Sox games. One of his roles every game in the first inning is to list the defense in the field. Once he lists the 8 positions he gives where the team is rated defensively in the AL. During a White Sox game 3 or 4 years ago, he noted that they were a poor fielding team that year. But then he said he noticed they took very limited infield practice before road games. He said he found that odd since Ventura was a former infielder.

I think Tray may have a point. I think Machado will most likely sign in FA with a team that will contend next year. That is not the White Sox and they should not waste any assets on him. But a team that really wants him for the long-term might get an advantage if they trade for him this year and he likes his time with them. However, it could also backfire if he goes somewhere this year and doesn't like the team, city, manager etc. If he goes to New York, LA . Boston or Cubs and he helps them win it all, he may be more likely to sign with them if they are competitive in FA market.

But facing a lefty it made sense. He has been their best hitter in June and looking at the rest of the lineup there probably wasn't a better option. He did his part w 2 more hits. Guy has been on fire this month.

I Look at Boston and New York and they are producing positional players but struggle to bring up young pitchers. So they go out and trade/buy them. If the Sox can produce enough positional players, they will only need a couple of the young pitchers to develop as long as they spend for pitching on the free agent market.

But I think it all goes back to the question---- How important are wins and losses? Obviously a lot of losses means a better draft pick. Is Hahn making the major decisions on overall "strategy" and RR just following orders. I posted a while back that i thought Moncada should not bat lead-off. He was struggling and I thought a change would help. Several posters said this year was not important and more AB's for Moncada was the goal. Well he is struggling worse and except for LH starters, he still leads off. Traditionally a leadoff hitter is not someone having major struggles. But if getting AB's for Moncada is more important than winning, why isn't Anderson batting 2nd to get him more AB's as well.