Ducksnort

Not sure what you mean by the pitching side not looking great. They have 3 starters in Charlotte right now that are very close to being Major League ready and will probably have decent careers, one with potential to have multiple all-star seasons. We have a starter in Double-A right now in Cease that is absolutely dominating and in my opinion will be one of the pitchers that will be in the championship team's rotation. Hansen will eventually get his stuff together. Then you have all of the minor league relievers that have ERA's in the 3s and below, including some in AAA, and we just obtained 3 more in the last 3 days, one of which will probably be in our major league bullpen by the end of the year. Then Burdi once he returns. The pitching id doing just fine if you ask me.

Does that check off a box?

Awesome. Lots of relief pitching in the system to pick from. One of the most important pieces to a contender, often put together last, we potentially have it in our system currently. Never have enough pitching.

Get your tix to those Sox-KC matches boys...those are gonna be some fun games to watch this year.

Gio pitching, see if he can continue is solid run of pitching vs a lineup that scored 10 runs night before. After a great run of SP from the Sox, last few games have been ones to forget. Offense has been pretty solid though. All those games would've been won with at least decent pitching. Game is at 6 central, unlike the 4:00 start that the soxtalk homepage says.

I'm of the opinion: When they are ready to be brought up (or "check all the boxes...") they are brought up>Extra year of control. If they aren't developmentally ready until August next year (God forbid Eloy breaks his hip or something tomorrow and can't play til next season, which is the only scenario I see something like an August 2019 debut happening), then that's when it should happen. If he isn't ready next May, then that's when it should happen. If he is ready in 3 weeks, then that is when it should happen. What were the service time rules back in the early 90s when big Frank skipped AAA to come to MLB? (I know, different team then in a different situation, just curious).

Not sure. But it seems like this last deal, whatever they did, bit them in the ass last off-season. They definitely need better negotiators. Or maybe it just seemed like a bad deal because last offseason's FA crop sucked, and many teams are taking a different approach with rebuilding. Maybe it will be better this time around. Regardless, who knows what they would give up. I'm not going to suggest anything, but with all the great young talent in the minors, if this starts to become an issue with keeping players down until an extra year of control, it will definitely be heavily discussed.

The "character" of this article, if you can call it character, is that of a 2 year old stomping their feet because they don't get what they want. This is just stupid. While I agree Jimenez should be called up in the next few weeks if he continues this tear, you could argue heavily Kopech is not ready, and definitely wasn't months ago. Very poor taste in writing whoever wrote this.

But the players have lots of incentive to change it

Another week of this and he gets the call?

Just turned game on. Why Coop and Renteria ejected?

I kind of wish they would develop Yolmer into being an outfielder in addition to the infield...I think there were talks of this. He has the speed to play center (not sure how the range and route skills would be). That way, you send Engel down instead of Delmonico or Palka, Davidson could be the 3B, Yolmer could take the majority of the starts in center with Jimenez in left and Leury being the ultimate super-sub. This is probably a pipe dream but it would fix a lot of the issues. Palka (OF), Delmonico (OF), Leury (All positions), Smith/Narvaez. That's actually a pretty healthy bench. 2 lefties, one with power, the other with solid contact skills, and a switch hitter with some pop and speed. Amazing what a difference Jimenez would make for this offense.

Anyone know why Kopech was pulled after just 81 pitches?

I could see Eloy being called up but idk about Kopech...I feel like Adams and Stephens will get the call first. Kopech's game today wasn't necessarily "call-up" material, even if he did only allow 2 runs.

The offense wasn't the issue today....

That was pathetic. Covey is done.

His swing looks so smooth and the ball is jumping off the bat nicely.

Just maybe...

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?cid=&lid=&org=145&sc=&sid=milb&t=affiliate&ymd=20180726 Kopech starts in just over an hour with the makeup game.

I agree with the bolded. Seems like if he rocks this start tonight, he will have developed as much as possible in AAA.

Burdi as well when he returns and if he finds success...sometime this season maybe?

https://theathletic.com/443321/2018/07/24/carson-fulmer-knows-the-quickest-way-back-to-chicago-is-through-the-bullpen/ “When an organization calls you and tells you they want to push you to the ‘pen because of the chance for you to get back up to the big leagues as soon as possible, it’s tough,” Fulmer said. “Really didn’t know how to react at first but I think I can be really helpful out of the bullpen. I think I’ll definitely have a chance here soon. Just getting up there and being able to establish myself is the biggest key for me.” “I love it, I love it,” Fulmer said. “I think it’s a really good role for me. I know that the organization is definitely seeing me in that role. I definitely could help obviously this team, but the big league team in that role as well. I’m a guy that loves adrenaline, loves coming in and getting out of situations. I train for being able to bounce back quick and I think it’s a role I’m definitely settling into.” Seems like it's working so far, albeit a tiny sample size. 4 out of 5 good outings out of the pen so far...small sample size.

I definitely think he should have more reps at AAA but if he is still doing this in a month...I think they need to call him up in September (barring another injury, I don't think they will move Delmonico or Palka for him in 2018. Too bad neither one of those 2 can play center...Engel would be out of here so fast. Only thing keeping him here is his speed

He might tho ?

Right on. I hate this game of extra year of control. These guys let you know when they are ready to come up, and when they are ready, they should be called up. Not saying Eloy is ready just yet, I mean he might be, and probably is, but he still I think needs to show it for a few more weeks.