tray

That is the right thing to do.

There is a lot is symmetry and balance to our team as it now stands. I , for one, prefer that they do not risk upending that balance or the character of the team by signing a fukup like Puig or bringing back Yolmer the assclown. If Madrigal continues to show that he can play great defense and hit during Spring Training, I would bring him up on Opening Day despite potentially losing a year of contractual control. I said "potentially" because the Sox can always choose to extend him later this season or down the road. Having Madrigal in the starting lime-up on Opening Day means that the Sox don't have to futz with signing some infielder to start for a month, or making Leury platoon in the IF and OF which could dilute his effectiveness. So.... come out of the gate on Opening Day with Robert and Madrigal in the line-up. Develop team chemistry from the start, rack up as many wins as possible in the first two months, and bury the sh1t teams in the Division right off the bat.

There are hitters, like James McCann that have adjusted to a steady diet of outside sinkers and end up driving them for doubles into the gap in Right center . Avi Garcia made that adjustment in his All Star year. Pitchers became too confident that they could get him out on outside pitches so he finally reacted by anticipating location and leaning on those pitches. It's a cat and mouse game at the plate and sometimes the mice can outwit the cat. Don't worry about La Pantera.

Does Kenny Williams get any credit ?

" Oxilofrine is a stimulant of the amphetamine class ...Currently on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances, it is considered a performance-enhancing drug. " https://www.milb.com/south-atlantic/news/red-sox-no-10-prospect-kopech-suspended/c-136960248

I saw a similar shot when Kirk Gibson hit one over the RF roof at Old Comiskey....an inning or two after the Bull hit one on the LF roof.

Luis Robert's Twitter is @LuisRobert56 and he hasn't posted that picture, at least not that I recall. Luis reminds me of a larger, stronger version of Tim Anderson or, I hate to say, another young Sox outfielder that ended up playing for the Cubs. Tell me the Sox gave Robert an extensive physical and drug test before they signed him. Kopech was using peds before he came to the Sox. It wouldn't surprise me if Luis used them at some point as well since that shit is as common as Gatorade in gyms where guys are pumping iron and trying to bulk up.

I think the Sox are done with Yolmer. They want Abreu setting the tone, not that clown.

1993 Sox were not even close. Karko at catcher rather than Grandall ? How many home runs for the outfielders combined in '94?

If Mazara hit 35+ HR, I don't care if he sucks in the OF.

I agree Lillian. He isn't bulky. His build reminds me of Tori Hunter.

My guess is that Betts is staying in Boston on a long term deal for around 300M. He is a generational talent that the Red Sox will not let go. I thought and still think the Red Sox will trade Benintendi for the right package ...possibly something like Mazara , Collins, and a pitching prospect and/or taking on 2/3 of Eovaldi's contract in a trade deal. Absent some trade for a legit RFer, I would sign Castellanos and then trade Mazara at some point. Or come up with another plan to solve the RF problem rather than kicking the can down the road. My hope is that Nomar will hit enough home runs to make us forget about the rest of his game. That is what happened with Castellanos at Wrigley last year. And that should be as instructive as Castellanos defensive fWar. My guess is that the Cubs or the Giants will sign Castellanos.

I watched several Cub games. Castellanos was slow and wasn't able to track down every ball hit in the gap, but he didn't make one error for the Cubs. Outside if that, he was a spark plug on offense that won several games for them. Platooning is not an ideal strategy. There aren't enough outfielders on the roster to platoon every time the opposing team makes a pitching change. Eventually, Mazara will have to face LH pitchers in key situations. Trying ti insulate him from facing LH pitchers might prove to be counterproductive. So I get the platoon strategy now that we have Mazara but I just don't think it will be sustainable for very long. In fact, I would be in favor of keeping him in the line-up against LH starters and have him work with the new hitting coach on a different approach. If he doesn't get better and Steele Walker does, well the trade will be regrettable.

Precisely. For a baseball team, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. I will go back again to Steve Stone drawing some comparisons to his 1977 SS Hitmen . Stoney made that analog to convey the sense of synergy that occurs when you have a line-up like the one the Sox FO have now assembled. In '77 the sum of the parts included the momentum that Sox fans added to. When the Hitmen mashed, opposing pitchers came under pressure the entire game.....,then their hitters started pressing. On the other side of that, when a team goes up 4-6 runs, it makes everybody better,,,,pitchers, hitters and even the Manager. Confidence and momentum are huge. The line-up we have now is potentially crazy good - a rare combination of speed and power . The glass half empty would be if Eloy, Mazara or Robert get injured diving for balls in the outfield like Avi did.. Maybe let a few of them drop and live to fight another day.

Exactly.

Strong Defense up the middle - Grandal, Anderson,Madrigal and Robert. Marginal defense from Eloy and Mazara but they can be substituted for in late innings to minimize that. Moncada is a potential All Star at the hot corner. If the Sox get out to big leads, corner outfield defense will become less critical. No worries about a guy tagging up and scoring in the 8th inning for a team that is behind by 7 runs. I agree with Steve Stone that this is the best White Sox line-up (for those of us who remember back that far) since the 1977 Southside Hitmen. Not sure about the starting pitching or the relievers but they might be more effective than expected. They will likely experience a lot less stress on the mound pitching with a big lead than worrying about every pitch in game after game. The Sox are are going to blow out a lot of teams with football score numbers. Then momentum will start to set in with the fan base and the team. Order extra fireworks. I predict that we win the division and then we go as far as luck will take us in the playoffs.

I always discount a post when it begins with a personal attack.

Fair weather fans are always welcome consumers of tickets, sports merchandise and food and beverages at sports bars while watching games. Welcome aboard one and all. You will be missed once the Sox hit another dry spell but not to worry, die-hard fans will hold down the fort until we see them return during the next irruption.

Fans who love this prospect have to trust the professionals in the Sox organization who advised the front office to pursue Grandal and Encarcion. Quite simply, they decided to take a win-now approach. If Collins can't convince the front office after 4 years in the minors that he can catch at a major league level, he may have a hard time making the roster or holding down a spot on it if/when he does get called up. The Sox do not need a DH now that they signed Encarcion for the next year or two and after that, Vaughn will likely come up. Meanwhile, Collins can light his hair on fire hitting in the minors, coax record walks from AAA pitchers, and have a fan club on the internet trying to promote him, but it won't matter.

I don't understand the preoccupation with a second tier prospect like Collins. Let it go man.

You can't teach quickness and athleticism.

1. Watches James McCann make adjustments after being DFA'd, decides it's not a fluke despite a less than stellar second half. What an absurd non-sequitur. 2. Zack Collins makes adjustments after being demoted, decides it's a fluke despite him tearing the cover off the ball and having a track record of power and an elite batters eye. .186 after 4 years on the minors Did you happen to read ANY scouting reports or watch Collins catch when he was up with the Sox ? You're a bigger piece of work than you think Zack Collins is. That personal attack was mighty lame. Read any number of scouting reports on Collins dating back to before he was drafted and tell me that the scouts are "pieces of work" before you go off on another rant or try to flame another poster.

they're committed to Nomar Mazara - Nightengale Texas gave this guy away for a reason or reasons that we may become more familiar with a few months into the season. Maybe the Rangers gave up on him too soon (after 4 years) , at least that is the hope, but committing to him ? OK, hope springs eternal for 2020.

Maybe Mazara can try switch hitting or changing his approach against LH pitching. The Rangers became frustrated with his apparent inability to make adjustments.

MFY: You see, this is now making us think , how TF do we get a platoon guy in here now.