SoxFanForsyth

Also, the problem with this is that there probably aren't buyers who have two top-50's. You'd be better served to get a top 10 guy and maybe a lower level (high A) guy who has a lot of potential but has a few years to get there, and maybe ranks in the 80-90 range.

Actually, if you can get Joc Pederson (.319/.437/.568 in AAA, although it's the PCL where numbers are inflated), you have your OF for the future with Betts - Bradley - Pederson going LF - CF - RF.

You know Taijuan Walker was the #11 prospect (BA), #6 prospect (MLB) and #8 prospect (Baseball Prospectus) coming into this season, correct? But, I did forget about his previous injury history. I highly doubt the Cardinals would trade Tavares, but you have to ask. Also inquire on Joc Pederson & Corey Seager from the Dodgers.

huh?? Uehara is a free agent after this season. If you can use him to turn Lester into Walker, you do.

Jon Lester, Andrew Miller, and Koji Uehara for Taijuan Walker, who hangs up first? Henry Owens, Blake Swihart, and Allen Webster for Tulo, who hangs up first?

I agree with a lot of this. They overachieved, sure, but they also lost a 6 win player in Victorino to the DL, the FO overreacted by signing Drew and then expecting him to be game ready after 10 days in AAA, and they didn't try to supplement the massive amount of loss in offense from Ellsbury by acquiring some kind of power bat. It's actually a little difficult to pinpoint exactly what's going on. Nava had a slow start but came on strong. Gomes is still hitting lefties well enough. Bogaerts is struggling now but he was playing well and the Sox were still losing. Pedroia's numbers are right on track. Ortiz has power, but his average is down a lot. The Sox have an above average team OBP (.320, 11th in MLB), but are 27th in SLG (which, oddly enough, is more strongly correlated with runs scored than OBP), which is a big surprise and couldn't possibly be anticipated, particularly given they led the league with a .446 team SLG last year and they lost Ellsbury (.426 SLG) and Salty (.466), who together averaged out to right around the Sox .446 SLG, so you would think they could at least provide .420-.430 SLG even with some regression. I don't know, this whole season went to crap. Last year they overachieved in a few areas, but I wouldn't call the WS a fluke. A lot of things have to go right for any team to win the WS. And rarely does the best team preseason win the WS.

well to be fair, at this rate we wouldn't score 1 run.

lol it wouldn't be a Mujica outing without at least 1 run.

Really nice AB by Betts here. He's gotten Sale to a full count in both AB's and has seen 17 pitches. Then a double. Really really nicely done.

The facts are this. 1. This team is 12 games under .500 after 90 games. 2. This team still has not gotten a deal done with Lester. If they can't work something out by the ASB, they need to strongly consider moving him because you can get a blue chip prospect from a desperate team (see: Taijuan Walker from SEA) and that's a hell of a lot better than the 35th pick int he draft. 3. This team isn't going to be sitting in last place for 5 years. I can absolutely see them going out and trading Swihart, Owens, and Ranaudo for a guy like Tulo either this offseason or this deadline. It's going to be a hybrid of young talent and acquiring some very strong veteran talent. I can also see them getting Lee, trading Lester for a blue chip, and thus giving them another year of a top of the rotation guy to let the other arms develop, but not having to commit 5-6 years to Lester. Lee would only require a 1-2 year commitment. 4. Trading a lot of these veterans and getting the young kids up here right now to let them iron out some of those development wrinkles is a very good idea. The more lumps you swallow now, the less you have to swallow later. Not to mention, you will have a better idea of holes you need to fill. Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade. This year is a throw away, development year. Now don't half ass the development part.

Absolutely unbelievable catch by JBJ.

Love this move. Love love love this move. Couldn't happen soon enough if you ask me. Get that putz out of here and bring up the youth. Next up, Peavy and Drew.

I don't know who has been saying that, but I disagree. Is it feasible? Sure. But I highly doubt it happens. The Sox should, however, sell quite a few pieces. Lester, Koji, AJP, Peavy, & Drew to start. Lackey has an option for next year and would be nice to keep around but if you can get a good return for him (or if you can package him with Lester and get an elite prospect) then dish him. There will be new veterans on the club next year, but that's because a lot of the veterans are in the last year of their deals this year. Virtually the entire bullpen will be rolled over. Peavy, Ross, AJP, Drew, Lester, Gomes, etc. I still don't think the Sox will make any huge splashes, though. Next year, I think the lineup you'll see will be something like this: Victorino Bogearts Pedroia Ortiz Napoli Betts Cecchini Vazquez Bradley Jr Going to struggle to score runs again, but 2016 could be a massive year.

if they do anything, it's going to be trading Lester, Lackey, AJP, Koji, Drew, and anyone else who is in the last year of their contract (I know about Lackey's option, but he also said he may retire after this season). Bring up Ranaudo (2.35 ERA in Pawtucket), RDLR, Vazquez, move Bogaerts back to SS, bring up Cecchini, and lets see the young kids freaking play some baseball. Oh - and go get a massive haul for a Lester/Lackey/Koji deal.

Vazquez had himself a month, hitting .299/.368/.481. His line on the season now sits at .276/.332/.387. Combined with his elite elite defense, it should be a no brainer to trade AJP and bring this kid up, let Ross mentor him. Swihart is currently hitting .296/.348/.482 in AA and appears ready to be promoted to AAA. This would also be facilitated through this, as Vazquez wouldn't be blocking Swihart in Pawtucket.

Sox gonna score 3 runs this inning. Everyone chill.

The schedule certainly favors the Sox before going into the ASB. 3 v CHC, 3 v BAL, 4 v CWS, 3 @ HOU. If the Sox want to make a move, they've got to go 10-3 over these next 4 series. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, who are reeling a little, have 2 vs MIL (one of the best teams in baseball) and then go on a west coast trip to play the Angels and A's, both of whom are very good teams, before closing out with the Rays. The Sox are only 6 back (5 back in the L column) right now, and I can absolutely envision a scenario where they are only 1.5 or 2.5 games out by the time the ASB hits. If they're going to make a move, it's going to be now. It's a damn shame that they didn't have the balls to go with Rubby over Peavy, because this team is hands down better with RDLR in the rotation than Peavy.

Posted this in the GT but probably more suited for here. Don't worry about how many games you have to win, what winning percentage you have to have to get there, or anything like that. Plain and simple - you're 6 games out of the AL East (in the L column) with 81 games left to play. You've got an absolute cake walk schedule coming up (vs CHC, v BAL, v CWS, @HOU). You've got 13 (!!!) games left against the Blue Jays. You play the Yankees and the Orioles 6 times each in September. All we ask is that you get yourself in a position to make those games worth something. Blind optimism? Sure. But thats what Mookie Betts does.

Don't worry about how many games you have to win, what winning percentage you have to have to get there, or anything like that. Plain and simple - you're 6 games out of the AL East (in the L column) with 81 games left to play. You've got an absolute cake walk schedule coming up (vs CHC, v BAL, v CWS, @HOU). You've got 13 (!!!) games left against the Blue Jays. You play the Yankees and the Orioles 6 times each in September. All we ask is that you get yourself in a position to make those games worth something. Blind optimism? Sure. But thats what Mookie Betts does.

We all know that Drew is going to hit a game tying single or double next inning, right?

Masterson seems to be the exact kind of pitcher that will give Bogaerts some fits. So naturally he'll go 4/5 with 2 HR. Hope Drew can shut me and Fred up tonight, if not with his stick, at least with some defense. Keep it rolling, Lackey.

Nobody is going to have their mind changed here, so we can go back and forth as much as we want but at some point, it's more of an annoyance for everyone to restate their argument over and over in multiple ways than it is an intriguing debate. So, agree to disagree on this, and time will tell. End of story - we all want what is best for the Red Sox, we just disagree on what that is right now, no harm in that.

Just to be clear, Stephen Drew has averaged a 2.1 war per 150 games over his career and has as many negative WAR seasons as he does seasons with a WAR over 2. He had a solid season last season, but there's a reason that teams weren't willing to give up a pick for him.

Your whole argument this whole time was: 1. Drew was signed, at least in part, because Bogaerts defense was bad. - Wrong, he was signed entirely due to Middlebrooks, as has been reported all over the place (this whole idea of him being signed due to Bogaerts has been a complete fabrication by you or a media member speculation that you bit hook line and sinker) and Bogaerts defense was improving when he was signed and has improved significantly at this point. While UZR and FG Def ratings are limited in predictive value based on SSS, they are NOT limited in reporting past results, and those statistics say Bogaerts not only is improving but has been a better than average SS defensively. This will absolutely stunt his growth at SS, whether you want to believe it or not. 2. Bogaerts will continue to play SS against LHP. - Wrong, this was a completely fabricated story that you blindly believed because some media member suggested it. Meanwhile, Farrell comes out and says that Bogaerts will not be hopping back and forth between SS and 3B. So no, he won't get his reps at SS, and yes, unless Drew gets hurt, he's going to have stunted growth that the sox will pay for in 2015. So, based on your history on this subject, I find it comical that you can give a definitive conclusion that Fred is wrong here just because he disagrees with you.

Xander's had a game to forget.