Why wouldn't we consider sending Harris down and calling up Reed towards the end of the month? Does the difference between Harris's good speed and Reed's above-average-to-good speed negate the fact that Reed can hit and Harris can't?

 

I suspect Reed will get a call-up in September anyway--he's got to open next season on the 40 man, so no worry about that, so why not get him here a week early and have the opportunity to have him on the postseason? Seems like he'd be a very valuable pinch hitting option (as his adjusted .285 EqA attests to), and his defense and baserunning would only be a negligible drop off over Harris.

Does he have to be added to the 40 man roster next year? I don't know how the Rule V draft works...

 

I suspect it's a little early to see him in the bigs. Does anyone who has seen him play have an opinion on this?

Sorry, I was confusing.

 

Reed is going to compete for a roster spot next spring, especially if Everett goes. At the very least, the Sox will want him on the 40 man in case of injury.

I think they want Reed playing everyday, whereas Harris they don't mind coming off of the bench.

I understand they want Reed playing every day, but it would just cost him a few days of sitting. They could call him up on August 28, and then send him back down on September 1, and then call him back up when B'hams season was over.

 

The only real downside is that they start his option clock (I think), but that just means his options will expire in 2006 rather than 2007. Does anyone suspect that he will still be in the minors in 2006?

 

If I'm the Sox, I definitely want him on the postseason roster, rather than Harris.

Reed would rot on the bench. I don't expect him getting a September callup, either.

Why no September call-up?

 

Birmingham's season will be over. Why not give the kid a reward for a fabulous season, and have a good lefty bat on the bench to boot?

Does anyone know the situation of our 40 man roster? Do we have an open spot or would we have to waive someone to get Reed up here?

Why no September call-up?

 

Birmingham's season will be over.  Why not give the kid a reward for a fabulous season, and have a good lefty bat on the bench to boot?

He wouldn't be doing anything other than taking a space on the 40 man, which could be used for picthers, and not batting or playing. He should start training immeadiately after the season is done.

 

We have six outfielders on the 40 man, no reason to bring up another one.

Does anyone know the situation of our 40 man roster?  Do we have an open spot or would we have to waive someone to get Reed up here?

There's one spot open on the 40 man right now.

Why wouldn't we consider sending Harris down and calling up Reed towards the end of the month?  Does the difference between Harris's good speed and Reed's above-average-to-good speed negate the fact that Reed can hit and Harris can't?

 

I suspect Reed will get a call-up in September anyway--he's got to open next season on the 40 man, so no worry about that, so why not get him here a week early and have the opportunity to have him on the postseason?  Seems like he'd be a very valuable pinch hitting option (as his adjusted .285 EqA attests to), and his defense and baserunning would only be a negligible drop off over Harris.

Can't guys that are September call-ups be used on the postseason roster? I thought Francisco Rodriguez was just a September call-up last year.

Rodriguez was never supposed to be used. I think the only reason he was there was because the Angels had an injury.

Right, Rodriguez was on the postseason roster because a guy that was on the 25 man as of 8/30 was on the DL. It's a serious loophole--if any guy on the 25 man at the end of August is on the DL, you can replace him with anyone on the 40 man.

No way do I want to bring Reed up. We would then have two LH power bats coming off the bench in Daubach and Reed, and we'd have no true speed coming off. With Harris, if necessary, we can add a ton of speed and that kind of thing will get our hitters more fastballs. If, say, Paul Konerko gets a leadoff single in the 7th inning, we can then pinch run Harris and put a serious base stealing threat on base. If he steals 2nd, and we get him over, that's a run. That kind of thing can scare pitchers into throwing more fastballs and more fastballs equals more basehits. If I'm thinking correctly, there will be no cannon behind the plate come postseason time, except for Miguel Olivo. That's a huge bonus for us.