Spudboy

I'm sure that there are many dumb shits in baseball. I think that the Yankees medical staff is on the hook for this decision. If they had said that Tanaka needed TJS when he went down he would be on the road to recovery and MAY have been able to make a late season appearance for the Yankees in 2015. Maybe not. In any case, it's a shame that his talent is not on the field and will not be there until 2016.

XB belongs back in Pawtucket and should have been there all season. The Sox promoted him far too soon. The problem is, who plays shortstop? Combine this question with Middlebrooks continued failure to demonstrate any consistency at the plate ( combined with so-so defense at 3rd ), the left side infield continues to be a gaping hole ( actually two ) for the Sox. Cechini has been red hot in August and will most likely be brought up for another cup of coffee in September. Could he be ready to start the 2015 season at 3rd for the Sox? I doubt it. Mererro is a wiz defensively at SS but can't hit much higher than Mendoza. Yikes!!!! It has been suggested that Betts is being showcased for trade. I hope not. Maybe some combination of Betts at third and Holt at short would work? I don't know.

Where did I say that Castillo would not hit better than Bradley? I didn't. The fact is that none of us know what this guy is since there is no recent data on him and he has never played at THIS level before. I will say that if he does not hit much better than Bradley then he will be a supreme disappointment because no one is even suggesting that he can play center field anywhere near as well as Bradley.

I remember Jacko talking about him a couple of years ago. Now the guy may be on his way out of baseball. It just goes to show you that there are no sure bets when it comes to highly rated prospects. Anything can happen. Trout is a rare exception.

I agree with what you said. And at this point I'd rather that Betts remain the CF unless he fails.

Castillo is the shiny new toy for the Sox fans to drool over. Until he does something ( like hit consistently ) on the big stage he is just another prospect. One that has not played since 2012 and never in this country.

No, I'm afraid that we don't know this. It's just an assumption that people make. Castillo has not played in a game in over one and a half years ( according to all that I have read ). He has never played American minor league ball, let alone major league ball. The Sox are touting him as the heir apparent for CF but he is another 2nd baseman making the transition. If one is to be honest, no one knows what to expect from Castillo except for maybe his speed. When was the last time he faced live pitching, not BP, but live game pitching? What happens IF he makes an appearance this season and hits like Drew? I hope that whatever maneuvers the Sox make this off season that they keep Mookie Betts. In a small sample size he sure looks like the real deal. Unlike XB and Bradley.

Yeah. That simulated game was only about 45 pitches, too. Get him cut so we can see him sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately the odd man out will likely be Nava. Who knows if Victorino will return to form and compete for a starting role. Maybe Castillo will start 2015 in the minors? Will Craig hit again? There are many moving parts in the Sox outfield.

8-1. Time to completely humiliate Archer!!!!!!

He does. And not just because of the Grand slam. He has good AB and he is playing solid D so far. I'm really glad to see Archer take it up the pooper. I wish that Papi had gone yahd off him but I'll take what the Sox have done so far! I'm enjoying Cespedes so far. I don't like his quick AB but it's not a bad trade off if he continues to hit with runners on base.

Boston Red Sox Player AB R H RBI TB BB K AVG OBP SLG B. Holt, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291 .342 .390 D. Pedroia, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 .342 .383 D. Ortiz, DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 .363 .523 Y. Cespedes, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 .302 .465 M. Napoli, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 .377 .436 D. Nava, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 .332 .335 M. Betts, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243 .333 .378 W. Middlebrooks, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188 .264 .285 C. Vazquez, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 .287 .275 Tampa Bay Rays Player AB R H RBI TB BB K AVG OBP SLG D. Jennings, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 .319 .378 B. Zobrist, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 .364 .417 M. Joyce, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 .368 .414 E. Longoria, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 .325 .399 J. Loney, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 .335 .375 W. Myers, DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 .303 .338 Y. Escobar, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251 .315 .317 R. Hanigan, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209 .306 .320 K. Kiermaier, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 .319 .469 Archer is looking pretty good recently. I hope Papi goes yard again on the punk just to get in his head.

Here is hoping that Ranaudo has a strong outing. It would be nice to see him take a step forward toward a starting role for 2015. GO SOX!

The Sox outfield is still an area of need. It needs to be healthy and it needs to perform. I don't confuse quantity with quality. Maybe the Sox will purge some of their new-found outfield "depth" while addressing the off seasons greatest need. The Rotation. Then maybe they will address the left side of the infield.

Lol.

I have had some Spudboy luck since Sunday. My cable system lost 20 channels apparently when Time Warner had a problem on the East coast. I lost all of the sports channels for two days!!!!! I could not watch the Sox on NESN!!!!! Maybe this is why the Sox have won two in a row???

I don't see the Sox cutting the payroll significantly going forward. I believe that they will continue to spend big dollars when necessary ( 2014 off season will be nice! ) except that they have become more selective in the process. One can only hope that the selections will be good ones. What I find encouraging is that the Sox have amassed quite a lot of trade chips going into the off season. There is more than just prospects to deal with. Veteran talent can be used as well. Again, the big challenge will be reconstructing the rotation. 4-5 rookie arms will not cut it if the goal is to compete for a playoff spot in 2015. And the Boston fans ( the real ones ) know this and will speak quite loudly if the Sox are not aggressive in signing front line starters. This is not a small market. Operating the team as if it were such will not fly.

I hope so!!!

I don't see the Phillies eating half of Pap's contract. The idea of having him back is kind of neat. I doubt that it happens. Besides, relief arms are abundant.

It's good to see Youk back on board! The object of the game is to win, not loose. I can stomach the almost eventual loss if I see players attempting to play their best and trying to win. Tanking is a bad idea. It is disrespectful to those who bought tickets and support the team.

I thought of your 7 run rule as I watched the game!!! Insane. Farrell should have replace Workman after the 4th run. Oh well.

Yes he does. I hope that he can polish if fielding skills. Everything else looks pretty good so far. I don't think that he will morph into an OBP guy just because he is now on the Sox. He is what he is at 29. As long as he brings the power and the threat of power behind Ortiz I'll be satisfied.

Cherrington said that there "are other ways" of building a rotation ( other than signing a 1 and 2 via trade or FA ). I think that he is just covering his ass with that remark. I hope so, at least!!! The Sox have the money to make a splash with the accusation of one or two big name front line pitchers. I still think that they will grab one big name #1 and another pitcher of the Masterson / Arroyo type. I used those names only for illustration and not to suggest that those two would be the choices. And of course the Sox will likely grab either a reclamation project or ( as a700 would say ) "go dumpster diving". 2015 is a long way off now. There is plenty of time to make moves. I will be very disappointed if the Sox are not aggressive in trying to land at least one front line starter. If they don't, 2015 will be another lost season no matter how many unproven or injured outfielders they sign.

Bardley will be in Pawtucket to start 2015 ( although he will be in ST ) or he will be dealt this winter or next season. He still has value.

Betts is a 2nd baseman.