It's amazing how much they've changed his entire delivery:

Not a perfect angle, but you can still see the dramatic changes.

1 hour ago, 35thstreetswarm said:

That little roundhouse kick at the end of every pitch -- never saw that before

Seeing it more and more as guys seek max extension. Need a super compact and coordinated lower half of the delivery. Easier for some than others, like Noah for example is all over the place lower half and leads to leaving a lot of balls up and outside to RHB especially.

Let him force the issue. This season is found money, no need to rush the guy.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

Let him force the issue. This season is found money, no need to rush the guy.

Much easier to work on swing plane down in AAA than coming up into a pennant race. I certainly hope we stay in contention all year but it's more likely we fade and he can come up with little pressure in August or so and get a cup of coffee before breaking with club next year in what we'd expect will be the first contending year should offseason go well for us and league.

Can't believe I just typed that but in a world where the payroll would jump to 170 million next year adding 10 WAR on paper would be easy either by taking on money or FA signings or both.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

Let him force the issue. This season is found money, no need to rush the guy.

f*** that. Call him up.

11 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Much easier to work on swing plane down in AAA than coming up into a pennant race. I certainly hope we stay in contention all year but it's more likely we fade and he can come up with little pressure in August or so and get a cup of coffee before breaking with club next year in what we'd expect will be the first contending year should offseason go well for us and league.

Can't believe I just typed that but in a world where the payroll would jump to 170 million next year adding 10 WAR on paper would be easy either by taking on money or FA signings or both.

Disagree that its more likely we fade.

Have you looked at the competition in the AL Central and AL WC race?

Sox may not be perfect they have a chance every night with that lineup. 50/50 playoff team.

4 minutes ago, ron883 said:

f*** that. Call him up.

Can he pitch?

21 minutes ago, Bonemer, I Hardly Know Her said:

Disagree that its more likely we fade.

Have you looked at the competition in the AL Central and AL WC race?

Sox may not be perfect they have a chance every night with that lineup. 50/50 playoff team.

welcome new poster.

The biggest hole in the bottom of the line-up is not with the RFer but at catcher. Not sure how long that Teel's rehab is going to take but it is maddening to see so many ABs given away by Romo and Quero. They have both run into one here and there, but more often than not, they kill rallies.

It’s pretty safe to say the Sox should go shopping at the mall store for catchers and outfielders before infielders

1 hour ago, wegner said:

Can he pitch?

He used to throw 96 MPH as a pitcher. Let's give it a shot.

On 6/7/2026 at 11:41 AM, Lillian said:

Let's hope that those in charge have the best ability to determine when Braden is ready for the promotion. That said, if he's ready, it's fun to think about the following potential line up, after the All Star break:

LF Antonacci

!B Murakami

3B Vargas

SS C. Montgomery

C Teel

RF B. Montgomery

2B Gonzales

DH Pereira / Benintendi

CF Peters

On 6/7/2026 at 11:41 AM, Lillian said:

Let's hope that those in charge have the best ability to determine when Braden is ready for the promotion. That said, if he's ready, it's fun to think about the following potential line up, after the All Star break:

LF Antonacci

!B Murakami

3B Vargas

SS C. Montgomery

C Teel

RF B. Montgomery

2B Gonzales

DH Pereira / Benintendi

CF Peters

No way Id take Meidroth out of lineup in favor of Pereira/Benintendi. Given Munetaka's weak defense, I'd put him at DH and keep Meidroth at 2b

7 minutes ago, 46DidIt said:

No way Id take Meidroth out of lineup in favor of Pereira/Benintendi. Given Munetaka's weak defense, I'd put him at DH and keep Meidroth at 2b

Just don't know if he's one of those players that needs to be on the field to produce AND help lead the team.

Gonzalez is a weaker fielder and hasn't been much of a power source...at least yet.

1 hour ago, ron883 said:

He used to throw 96 MPH as a pitcher. Let's give it a shot.

As long as you have a plan.