8/06 SOX @ Royals 7:10PM ET

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I had a lot of faith on Bobby turning the corner and being a 800 hitter this season. Won’t happen, unfortunately.

 

Bobby isn’t a kid anymore, wonder what are the plans for him moving forward.

 

That's a good question and may depend on what the SOX do with Hosmer.

[iortiz]

Arroyo is having a day.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

May depend on Hosmer's action regarding his option for 2023 . May depend on Casa's continued growth, without injury, going into Spring Training . May depend on any offers that Bloom gets for a trade package over the winter.

 

 

Good point about Casas. I forgot about him.

[jung]

Bobby did could get this guy again. Surprised the score is only 4-4. Other than Nates split neither guys pitches are doing anything. Lynch must flinch when he throws that slider as it is doing absolutely nothing.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Good point about Casas. I forgot about him.

 

If the SOX FO believes Casas is going to be at 1st base starting next season, I believe they will keep Dalbec and not pursue signing Hosmer.

[vegasbob]

If the SOX FO believes Casas is going to be at 1st base starting next season, I believe they will keep Dalbec and not pursue signing Hosmer.

 

But Hosmer is actually under contract through 2025 at $13 million/yr , with San Diego on the hook for all but the MLB minimum ($700K+). Hosmer, like Bogaerts, can opt out after 2023 if he thinks he can get bigger bucks than the $13 million.

Jung is his new agent to get said mo' money

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

But Hosmer is actually under contract through 2025 at $13 million/yr , with San Diego on the hook for all but the MLB minimum ($700K+). Hosmer, like Bogaerts, can opt out after 2023 if he thinks he can get bigger bucks than the $13 million.

Jung is his new agent to get said mo' money

 

My bad. I thought it was only for this year. Things were much easier during the dinosaur age when most players were on one year contracts.

Edited August 7, 2022 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[jung]

Both teams should be first pitch swinging as both pitchers are desperate to get ahead in the count.

[vegasbob]

My bad. I thought it was only for this year.

 

For all the debate about Bloom , this deal is a true steal if Hosmer stayed in Boston next year , and that could spell Dalbec's moving on one way or another. But I think they will still need to conclude a firm direction on Casas. That decision could keep Dalbec around all ST as the alternate. If Hosmer opts out, then I think you'll see Dalbec as a cheap, marginal guy still waiting for the upside to appear.

[vegasbob]

So it's a 3 inning race to the finish . Nate is likely used up, and probably Lynch too . Who has the BP and hitters to win this one?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

But Hosmer is actually under contract through 2025 at $13 million/yr , with San Diego on the hook for all but the MLB minimum ($700K+). Hosmer, like Bogaerts, can opt out after 2023 if he thinks he can get bigger bucks than the $13 million.

Jung is his new agent to get said mo' money

 

So the SOX keep Hosmer for next season for almost free if I'm reading you right. In that case I could see Casas and Dalbec platooning at 1st and Hosmer as the main DH, I guess. It's definitely beyond my pay grade.

[jung]

So it's a 3 inning race to the finish . Nate is likely used up, and probably Lynch too . Who has the BP and hitters to win this one?

 

Balls are flying today and pitchers seem to be having trouble...maybe not able to grip the baseball in this heat. Other than Nate's split I have yet to see a pitch I am particularly impressed with. I am going to offer that this might be one of those games where last ups end up being the arbiter of who wins it.

[vegasbob]

The option is Hosmer's , not the teams. He will have to decide to stay at $13MM or go FA. The Sox will be looking for a DH in any case, so Hosmer, if he stays, at $720,000 to Sox ( $12.3MM to Padres) would be a real win.

[jung]

The action on Whitlock pitches not what we are used to seeing either. I don't think the pitchers can grip the baseball in this heat.

 

That was a good pitch to Taylor

[vegasbob]

Thinking of '23, one major piece of good news is that Winckowski and Crawford appear to be legitimate candidates for the rotation . I will never count on Sale, and Paxton is not proven post TJ surgery yet, but these two young pitchers may be the first piece of pitching good news in a while. Whitlock and Houck look like bullpen mainstays, and I know matt Barnes will earn his keep, plus we will have Schrieber .

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The option is Hosmer's , not the teams. He will have to decide to stay at $13MM or go FA. The Sox will be looking for a DH in any case, so Hosmer, if he stays, at $720,000 to Sox ( $12.3MM to Padres) would be a real win.

 

If Hosmer stays then the SOX, imho, should not make going after a DH a priority. They've got more important holes to fix that will cost money.

[iortiz]

Thinking of '23, one major piece of good news is that Winckowski and Crawford appear to be legitimate candidates for the rotation . I will never count on Sale, and Paxton is not proven post TJ surgery yet, but these two young pitchers may be the first piece of pitching good news in a while. Whitlock and Houck look like bullpen mainstays, and I know matt Barnes will earn his keep, plus we will have Schrieber .

 

That’s the bright side of this season and something to build around if somehow the keep Devers and maybe Xander.

[vegasbob]

If Hosmer stays then the SOX, imho, should not make going after a DH a priority. They've got more important holes to fix that will cost money.

 

At least 1 SP, another LH in the BP in case Strahm and Taylor don't get better, and there must be better OF options than Pham, and Refsnyder . Not sure if Davis is for reaal or not, maybe

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If Hosmer stays then the SOX, imho, should not make going after a DH a priority. They've got more important holes to fix that will cost money.

 

I mentioned Hosmer as the main DH, but, hell, the SOX could go DH by committee.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

At least 1 SP, another LH in the BP in case Strahm and Taylor don't get better, and there must be better OF options than Pham, and Refsnyder . Not sure if Davis is for reaal or not, maybe

 

Everything we've posted hinges on Hosmer staying and that certainly isn't a sure thing.

[iortiz]

Xander is swinging lately at 1 foot balls outside the zone with a lot of indifference.

[vegasbob]

Keep in mind as this games unfolds further, the Sox are playing a team 23 under .500 in a division where no team has won more than Boston, except the Twins who have won 56. But the top of our lineup (#1,2,3) are 0-12 with 5 K's.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I predicted earlier this season that Dugo would finish the season with a BA somewhere around .280-.285. That may be the only prediction I might get right.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

One glaring hint when a batter knows he is going bad is he will sprint to 1st base on ball 4.

[a700hitter]

Choke time for Arroyo.

[jung]

Lopez is still gimping around on that leg from the slide at 2nd. Won't likely see him playing in the day game tomorrow I would bet

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Keep in mind as this games unfolds further, the Sox are playing a team 23 under .500 in a division where no team has won more than Boston, except the Twins who have won 56. But the top of our lineup (#1,2,3) are 0-12 with 5 K's.

 

The Cards won it all in 2006 after finishing the season 5 games over .500. Once you're in the POs' sometimes anything could happen, obviously.

[Jasonbay44]

Thinking of '23, one major piece of good news is that Winckowski and Crawford appear to be legitimate candidates for the rotation . I will never count on Sale, and Paxton is not proven post TJ surgery yet, but these two young pitchers may be the first piece of pitching good news in a while. Whitlock and Houck look like bullpen mainstays, and I know matt Barnes will earn his keep, plus we will have Schrieber .

You know Matt Barnes will earn his keep? Based on what?

[vegasbob]

One glaring hint when a batter knows he is going bad is he will sprint to 1st base on ball 4.

 

Trying to make the umpire look bad , in case he calls Strike 3. That pitch was close

[Jasonbay44]

Whitlock is very good