Dojji

At this point, if they wanted to promote Tazawa to AAA and let him pitch there two months I don't think anyone would say it was inappropriate. He's pretty much got AA handled and never really struggled that much with it. Based on what we've seen from him he could probably be at least a league average MLB starter right now. I'd get him to AAA and place him behind Bowden as part of the callup rotation so he's in circulation next year when Penny and Smoltz move on..

Sorry.

bye Phil....

Amazed Aaron Crow was still out there.

Aaron Crow, P, minors

I hope not, I honestly don't see what Wilson provides that Green does not.

Game.

Gonna be RR for the 9th.

I'd trot Bard back out. We'll probably see Takashi Saito though.

ROACHIE!

Gameday has that as two consecutive 100 MPH fastballs. Just sick.

86 mile an hour sliders need to be outlawed by the Competition committee. There's pitchers in this league that don't have that for a fastball consistently. EDIT: And another 100.

There's 100

OK, good job Jon, time to come out. EDIT: Tito with the right call at the right time.

This is why Lester is an Ace.

...

... because he wants to play on a good team/

I'd say the fact that he's doing reasonably well, and at an advanced level for his age, a year following cancer treatment, allows you to judge a lot. I don't know where his ceiling is, but I'd say at this point that it's high. But you're right not to be too worried if Rizzo slows down towards the end of the year or starts slumping in Salem at age 19.

I approach the minors a little differently from most people (yeah, duh on that one I know). For me to be down on him a player has to prove to me that he doesn't have what it takes. Strickland had done OK for himself in Greenville, he has a good fastball, and he's only 20 YO. Until he proves otherwise, IMHO he's viable. Also, I tend to take these positions at least partly because everyone else dismisses a guy like Strickland completely, which makes me want to defend him. The truth is, as usual, somewhere in the middle.

http://www.soxprospects.com/players/rizzo-anthony.htm When you talk about Sox first base prospects you're probably talking Anderson, but I'm slowly becoming more impressed with Rizzo too. Quite a nice little story for the guy and despite losing a year of development to cancer treatment, Rizzo's doing very well -- in Salem at age 19 and starting to hit there. He's done well enough for himself that he's on Soxprospects' top 10 (#7) so I'd say it's time to start really keeping an eye on him. He's really not that far behind Lars and could make AA in the middle of next year if he stays hot with the bat. I'm not sure his ceiling is as high as Anderson's but he's been doing well for himself so far in his young career and he doesn't lack for power. Seems to be improving his plate discipline and cutting down on the strikeouts lately as well, always a good sign. I'm not sure what Rizzo's role long term could be with Boston. If we keep Anderson, he's pretty much blocked because we'd want a RHH backup. On the other hand, having another solid 1B coming up the pipe might make Anderson himself expendable if teams ask for him in return for a big time bat or arm. Beyond that though, he looks like he'll develop into a really good trade chip rather than a solid player for the Sox. But he's still worth watching -- one of the few good stories this year among Boston position player prospects.

I did think Hunter Strickland had some hidden upside. He had a good fastball and was pretty young. But Argenis Diaz is the sort of guy who does one thing well, and he doesn't do that one thing well enough IMHO. I never actually thought the Sox would give him a starting job in Boston. For a power hitting corner infielder, even a pretty average one, that's a good deal for Boston.

Long term injury replacement for Drew next year, if he does well, Drew moves on and Reddick stays. If Drew stays healthy all year, then we see Reddick next September on a trial basis.

C'mon Gom...

Probably for the best for all teams involved for Halladay to go to the NL.

Someone in the NL will take Kotsay as a 5th outfielder. He can still defend, he just can't hit anymore.