5/01 Jays @ SOX 7:10PM ET

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The best thing I see in Verdugo is that he can handle the FB and get the bat head out there.

 

He's been a good hitter since he joined the SOX. He's just taking it to another level this season.

[Old Red]

He's been a good hitter since he joined the SOX. He's just taking it to another level this season.

 

He’s been busting his butt to 1B on ground balls to the IF too.

[Thunder]

I have been to two games so far this year, and have seen two walk off home runs!

[moonslav59]

Imagine there was some talk on here of trading Dugy in the offseason, and that he couldn’t play RF at Fenway. Don’t hear any of that talk now.

 

Indeed. Very true.

 

I don't hear much talk about overpaying Yoshida or how Duran should never get another chance, either.

 

The suspect, Valdez isn't doing too shabby, so far, either. (Much more to prove, of course.)

[moonslav59]

Why is hernandez still playing shortstop!!!!!

 

At this point, the only other option, Arroyo, looks like a step up.

[Maxbialystock]

Let's not forget that, despite all the jibes from talksoxers, Kluber had a pretty decent start and Wright had a pretty decent night behind the plate. I'm a big fan of Connor Wong, but see absolutely nothing bad in having two good catchers.

 

No one has been more anti-Kluber than I, so could not be happier to see him have two back to back good starts.

 

Credit, once again, to Cora for letting Kluber go 5.1 innings and for bringing Winckowski back for the 9th inning. Also for sending Tapia in to run for Kike.

[moonslav59]

Let's not forget that, despite all the jibes from talksoxers, Kluber had a pretty decent start and Wright had a pretty decent night behind the plate. I'm a big fan of Connor Wong, but see absolutely nothing bad in having two good catchers.

 

No one has been more anti-Kluber than I, so could not be happier to see him have two back to back good starts.

 

Credit, once again, to Cora for letting Kluber go 5.1 innings and for bringing Winckowski back for the 9th inning. Also for sending Tapia in to run for Kike.

 

You mean McGuire, but well said.

[notin]

Let's not forget that, despite all the jibes from talksoxers, Kluber had a pretty decent start and Wright had a pretty decent night behind the plate. I'm a big fan of Connor Wong, but see absolutely nothing bad in having two good catchers.

 

No one has been more anti-Kluber than I, so could not be happier to see him have two back to back good starts.

 

Credit, once again, to Cora for letting Kluber go 5.1 innings and for bringing Winckowski back for the 9th inning. Also for sending Tapia in to run for Kike.

 

I think you mean Wreese…

[Thunder]

We could lose our next 9 and still have a better record than we did at this point last year

[moonslav59]

We could lose our next 9 and still have a better record than we did at this point last year

 

We could win our next 12 and be even with the 2018 record.

[Old Red]

At this point, the only other option, Arroyo, looks like a step up.

 

I don’t know who it is, but whoever is the best fielding SS in the system right now who isn’t injured I would bring him up now even if he doesn’t have a bat. Chang wasn’t hitting much either except for a few bombs, but look how he solidified the IF, and D at SS.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I don’t know who it is, but whoever is the best fielding SS in the system right now who isn’t injured I would bring him up now even if he doesn’t have a bat. Chang wasn’t hitting much either except for a few bombs, but look how he solidified the IF, and D at SS.

 

Be prepared for some posters to jump all over you about the 40-man roster... but it's not like it's unheard of for MLB clubs to call up a glove guy sometimes to fill the most important position on the diamond behind the battery.

[Maxbialystock]

We could lose our next 9 and still have a better record than we did at this point last year

 

Wow. I had completely forgotten.

[Maxbialystock]

We could win our next 12 and be even with the 2018 record.

 

As unlikely as that is. On the other hand, I have high hopes for this current Jays series although their lefty starter tonight, Kikuchi, looks pretty tough. That means that Casas will probably sit, Turner move to 1b, and Refsnyder or Yoshida will be DH. Wong bats righty, so he fits. It's possible both Arroyo and Kike will start in the infield. The four lefty bats staying in tonight's lineup have to be Verdugo, Devers, Yoshida, and Duran.

 

The point is that you and Thunder have identified that this year's Sox allow us to hope a little. The hitting is the big surprise, but the bullpen has also been pretty good. Rotation and defense, not so hot.

[moonslav59]

Be prepared for some posters to jump all over you about the 40-man roster... but it's not like it's unheard of for MLB clubs to call up a glove guy sometimes to fill the most important position on the diamond behind the battery.

 

I'll take a stab at this...

 

Best defensive SS on the 40 and not on IL:

 

T1. Arroyo & Hamilton (neither is very good)

3. Kike

4. Valdez

5. Dalbec

 

Not on 40?

Mayer?

Bonaci?

Lugo?

 

[mvp 78]

I'll take a stab at this...

 

Best defensive SS on the 40 and not on IL:

 

T1. Arroyo & Hamilton (neither is very good)

3. Kike

4. Valdez

5. Dalbec

 

Not on 40?

Mayer?

Bonaci?

Lugo?

 

 

Rafaela is the best SS on the 40 man that's not on the IL

[Maxbialystock]

Rafaela is the best SS on the 40 man that's not on the IL

 

The Red Sox have repeatedly demonstrated a preference for SS's who can hit first, field 2d. As soon as they realize they are playing a SS who is a superb fielder, they dump him. This has actually worked well in the John Henry era.

[Old Red]

Rafaela is the best SS on the 40 man that's not on the IL

 

When did Story come up injured? January? Bloom knew then there was going to be a problem at SS, but decided to do nothing about it when there were SS options out there at the time. Kike can try to play there, but he is not a SS, and if he had stayed there FT this season he’d probably have 20 errors instead of 10. Arroyo is not a SS either. Chang at least for the short time he played there was fielding the position.

[moonslav59]

Rafaela is the best SS on the 40 man that's not on the IL

 

How could I forget?

 

Good call.

[moonslav59]

When did Story come up injured? January? Bloom knew then there was going to be a problem at SS, but decided to do nothing about it when there were SS options out there at the time. Kike can try to play there, but he is not a SS, and if he had stayed there FT this season he’d probably have 20 errors instead of 10. Arroyo is not a SS either. Chang at least for the short time he played there was fielding the position.

 

He missed on Mondesi's return date. Chang was not "doing nothing," but his injury was a killer.

 

I agree, though, we should have signed Andrus, like many of us wanted- even after the Mondesi trade.

[Old Red]

He missed on Mondesi's return date. Chang was not "doing nothing," but his injury was a killer.

 

I agree, though, we should have signed Andrus, like many of us wanted- even after the Mondesi trade.

Iggy would have looked good right now.

[moonslav59]

Iggy would have looked good right now.

 

Better than what we have, now, although he is no longer great on D at SS.

 

He was a rare "available" April/May player that signed a minor league deal just days ago.

 

I guess DFA'ing someone ( Brasier) was just too much for Bloom to handle.

[mvp 78]

Better than what we have, now, although he is no longer great on D at SS.

 

He was a rare "available" April/May player that signed a minor league deal just days ago.

 

I guess DFA'ing someone ( Brasier) was just too much for Bloom to handle.

 

I think Bloom has a number of pitchers on the 40 man he wants to keep and a number of hitters he wants to keep. Not sure he'd DFA a pitcher for a hitter.

[Hugh2]

I'll take a stab at this...

 

Best defensive SS on the 40 and not on IL:

 

T1. Arroyo & Hamilton (neither is very good)

3. Kike

4. Valdez

5. Dalbec

 

Not on 40?

Mayer?

Bonaci?

Lugo?

 

 

Those last three are zero chance of happening. The cavalry ain't coming, and if it does it's going to be some version of Story/Mondesi/Wang.

[Hugh2]

Iggy would have looked good right now.

 

Why hasn't anyone else signed Iggy yet.... I don't get it.

[Old Red]

Why hasn't anyone else signed Iggy yet.... I don't get it.

 

SD did.

[Hugh2]

SD did.

 

That's right. released by the ANGELS for JUNK!!!

[Old Red]

That's right. released by the ANGELS for JUNK!!!

 

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure that the Red Sox could use right now even at a reduced ability.

[Hugh2]

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure that the Red Sox could use right now even at a reduced ability.

 

This kind of sounds like a different way of saying "dumpster diving" which oddly enough is harshly critiqued around here when the shoe is on the other foot.

[Hugh2]

SOrry my mind was in 2021, Iglesias had a minor league deal with the Marlins that he opted out of. Still pretty funny that he was released for a guy named Junk however.