tray

You missed the point which was * if * testing was economical ...like the saliva testing I mentioned ( I could not readily find a link) that could be an effective strategy given the short window within which infected people are contagious. (appx 10 days as I understand it). Perhaps it will be easier and more cost effective to implement testing than to find an effective vaccine that provides long term (at least a year) immunity.

Why isn't more focus (by the media, politicians and the scientific community) being placed on the time frame within which an infected person remains contagious? Instead,the focus seems to be how to achieve herd immunity. That is a strategy with competing political ideologies about about how to achieve it. If the general public could roughly follow the testing plan that major league baseball has in place it is conceivable that we could, like our baseball teams, control the spread of the virus. Economical and timely testing and lab results would be critical. (perhaps the saliva based test could work). If one were to test positive they would know they should quarantine for the next week. That would effectively take the contagion off the streets, one infected person at a time. No herd immunity but at the same time, we would be effectively fighting the spread of the virus. That could also be augmented with social tracing, a voluntary system where those who test positive take it upon themselves to quarantine and notify those who they may have contacted during the time period that they were contagious. So far a system like that has been working for major league baseball. Maybe that should be the example for our country to follow, not Sweden.

Why weaken the team this year or next by letting McCann go and experimenting with Collins offensively and defensively? The Sox tried experimenting to improve CF after 2005 by letting Aaron Rowand go. It wasn't a smart move. I liked BA but he never really hit enough to make it work. McCann would not be a back-up catcher like you describer the role for Collins, i.e, 40 games. I think he would catch more than that and that both he and Grandal would be frequently used at DH on their off days. That would be especially important when the roster is no longer expanded or if/when Grandal gets injured again. McCann is an insurance policy that is worth spending on. You can see that it worked this year when Grandal was slumping and had a back issue. The Sox offense and the pitching didn't skip a beat with McCann in there.

. Collins has had 101 major league ABs. How many more do you want to see in a year where the Sox are trying to compete for the playoffs? Yes, he could be great one day but this is not the year to see if he is a viable major leaguer, at least not on this team. I suppose I can see Vaughn come up as a DH if EE gets injured or continues to slump. Otherwise I think 2022 or possibly 2021 if he can prove that he can field 1B at the major league level. With Abreu in his prime, offensively and defensively, and absolutely raking, it is hard to see any room for Vaughn. I would rather resign McCann and stick with Grandal/McCann at catcher, using both of them as occasional DH. Renteria should be sitting EE more and relying on Grandal/McCann at DH until EE comes out of his slump. We really need another top of rotation pitcher and a RFer.

What is wrong with Moncada? Is it an oblique, a ham string , knee or hip, or something else?

97 mph ! Gas

We all should care about other people. In the past, the Sox organization have signed players based on personal ties to the organization or loyalty. Beyond that, the decision boils down to this: Will the Sox be better next season with McCann or without him ? If the answer is that they team will be better with him, then I think a reasonable extension should be pursued. The Sox are in their window of contention right now so reasonable money should be spent whenever it makes the team better or guarantees against an injury to a starting player.

Unless the Sox trade McCann AND Grandal, Collins has no chance of being the starting catcher on the WSox, at least not until he is about 30 years old. From Collins perspective, maybe a trade to a team where he could start now or next season would be the best option.

Then there is this basic point. The Grandal and McCann tandem has been working perfectly. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

If there are signs of regression or lack of durability during this season, that could change the equation.

What about possible regression and durability of Grandal? Remember how some of us were concerned about McCann regressing ? What if Grandy tweaks his back again and has more time on the DL? He missed ST games with a calf or leg issue. Will he be ready for this important Cub series? Can we rely on him to catch 120+ games next season? Is Collins going to be as good of a catcher as McCann in the rest of the games and be as productive offensively? What if Collins hits under the Mendoza line for 50 games and plays substandard D ? No sense worrying about any of that if you sign McCann.

Agreed, and that is a reason to consider trading Collins , perhaps in a package with another prospect , for something of value, and re-sign McCann. You can't just give McCann away. That sounds like a foolish idea that will make our catching tandem worse instead of better. Collins will probably NEVER be as good as McCann or have an All Star season, or handle pitchers and call a game like he does. Collins is not a good catcher and he hasn't proven he can hit for average n the majors after 102 ABs. Maybe he can but I'd rather have McCann.

You want to ride that horse into the ground?

This thread could read, "what to do with Collins who has no business on our roster?" If a team wants a controllable catching prospect Collins should be dangled with some other prospect(s) in exchange for pitching.

You hand the other catcher spot to Collins who will be 26 next year. He can't call a game without looking into the dugout for signs. And you rely on Grandal as the no. 1 catcher, a guy who looks like hr is boxing out physically and is currently sidelined with lower back pain...always a good sign for a catcher's longevity. McCann has almost no trade value. He will wait to be a FA if the Sox don't sign him. So no loss, let an All Star catcher walk for your boy Collins, a guy who is slow behind the plate , worth -.5 WAR and has hit .167 in 102 major league at-bats. I swear, some people want to suk Collins dry but I don't get the love.

Slow bat speed is not a funk, it's a flaw.

Can Mendick play RF when Madrigal returns?

Sox would get nothing for McCann. He is showing this year that he is as good or better than Grandal . It would be foolish to give away an All Star level player for Collins who is under the Mendoza line after 100 major league at-bats. Oh, he had one hit and a passed ball yesterday. Take the rose colored glasses off. He isn't Fisk.

OK, stop with the ageism and hawk hate.

Benetti should call "stretch" which indicates the ball probably wasn't struck hard enough to get out. Instead he calls it like it is gong to be a home run and it barely gets to the warning track. It's not as though this was the only time he has done that.

McCann looks like he is our best catcher, not a back-up.

Benetti frustrates viewers when the Sox hit deep fly balls that are not going to be home runs. Hawk could sense when a ball was hit squarely, how it came off the bat, its trajectory etc.. and .that it was probably gettin' out. Way back, he looks up...you cann put in on the boooooard ! Eloy's fly to RF was not even close.

I recall Drysdale on the air in 83 with Hawk remarking when LaRussa went out to get a pitcher: " Go get 'em dago ! " Pretty outrageous but he didn't lose his job. He would have if that happened now.

OK. I know when I have to take my medicine..

I happily eat parrot shit tonight.