SoxFanForsyth

Mark Prior is an interesting option for a guy to call up for some starts. He's been throwing in relief lately, but as Alex Speier pointed out, each of his past 3 or 4 relief appearances have come with multiple days of rest between them (he was throwing on 3 days rest in his last 2 appearances). Wonder if they're starting to stretch him out a little. This guy was an elite pitcher when he wasn't hurt. Looks like he may have a clean bill of health, and we may have just stumbled upon a guy who makes an impact this year. He's only thrown 6.2 IP in AAA, but hasn't allowed a run, 3 hits, 15 K's. Yes. 15 K's in a possible 20 outs.

Damn!! Beat me to it!!! Unfortunately, Sweeney is hitting the DL. Sweeney's just got a little toe issue. Probably will be resolved in the 15 days he's out. Can't imagine him being out much, if any, longer than that. I am absolutely pumped to see Kalish up.

You should check out Fangraphs - They have added a Live Data page so you don't have to wait until the day after the games for the stats to update. Aviles (after tonights game) is at .266/.285/.421, .706 OPS. Scutaro (after tonights game) is at .274/.326/.387, .713 OPS So the question is this. Aviles makes $1.2mm Scutaro makes $6mm Is the extra .007 points in OPS worth 4.8mm? Who knows how it'll turn it. If you ask me, it's a shame that Iglesias has been hurt because the way Aviles has been playing, give me Iggy's glove and a .630 OPS over Aviles's glove and a .705 OPS.

Red Sox are 19-13 in games which Middlebrooks starts. I would be livid if they optioned him to Pawtucket. Livid. Youkilis is not helping this team right now at all. If the Red Sox brass decide that showcasing Youkilis to save money in a trade is worth losing games after the position they've put themselves in, I think it would be a PR disaster and they'll put a s*****, s***** look on themselves.

Ross should be activated early next week. You could make an argument that Kalish should be activated early next week as well (.378, 1.234 OPS in AAA over 37 AB). I mean, even if he's just hot right now, you don't expect a player to come in white hot after missing a year. The biggest thing guys struggle with is timing, and that's clearly not an issue right now with him. Plate discipline has been there (10 K's, 7 BB's). Not sure what more they want to see. And finally, Crawford is going out on a rehab assignment probably early next week. All this to say - Youkilis better be packing his s*** up. He's going to be gone before the end of this month. The Sox absolutely cannot afford to sit two of Kalish, Sweeney, Ross, or Crawford to accommodate Youk by throwing Gonzo out in RF. No chance. At this point, give me a bucket of balls for Youkilis and get him out of here. I want WMB out there every night. I want Gonzalez and his gold glove at 1B every night. And I want an OF who can run down balls for our pitchers every night. And I don't want a constant carousel of WMB/Youk/Gonzo between 1B/3B/RF.

If only they could all be JD Drews.

Aceves's 4 seam FB: Vertical Movement down 12.3%. Horizontal movement down 15.3%. But it's fine. Because his prayers are up 67% this year.

*Not confident in this 9th inning*

Lester's line tonight: 6.2 IP, 8 K, 1 BB, 3 ER. ERA: 4.05. xFIP: 1.76. Both his FIP and his xFIP are a full run below his ERA right now on the season. He's getting very unlucky. His BB/9 of 2.68 is the lowest of his career, which has always been his problem, and his K/9 is climbing (up to 7.21 right now). Over his last 3 starts, he's struck out 21 and walked 3. And he has a 4.12 ERA. I'd say this season is pretty frustrating for him, and I don't blame him for being frustrated.

Yeah I actually agree. A flare single, a walk, and a lefty on lefty HR that got caught in the wind. Would he have attitude problems right now if that ball was caught at the track and it was 4-1 right now, not 4-3?

I'm sorry, but Punto instead of Youk?!? Come on.

150-175 isn't necessary IMO. Just need to tell Aviles to cut a bit deeper than usual. Not at all uncommon when OF come up with arm issues. Buster Olney just tweeted that "Carl Crawford feels like he's very, very close to going on a rehab stint. He's hitting and running at full speed" That's fantastic news. Get Cody Ross back early next week, get Crawford back in about 2 weeks if he starts his rehab stint on Monday (which is about what it sounds like). They may even push Crawford to come back after about 40 AB, which would get him back in about 10 days. That'd really push the Sox to make a move on Youkilis, too. Crawford - Pods - Sweeney/Ross outfield doesn't make much room for a guy like Gonzo in RF, and without Gonzo in RF, Youk can't play 1B.

Fox taking a page out of NESN's book. No need to come back until after the 1st pitch.

Bad News: Beckett to 15 day DL (although V said he could pitch if it was in the post season, so probably will be back after 15 days). Good News: 1) Aaron Cook to start in Pawtucket on Monday. 2) Cody Ross starting in Pawtucket tonight (probably be with team by Tuesday) 3) Carl Crawford threw from 110 feet. That's about as far as he'll need to throw in a game. Infielders can extend cutoff to accommodate for his arm healing. Took BP. V says he's probably ready for games. Wants 45-50 PA before called up. That's about 10-12 games. Give him a couple off days, that puts him right around July 1 for a return. Back in time for a 4 game Yankees series. Win some games and get healthy. It's only June. Way too much baseball left to get too concerned with standings.

It really is the missing link of the rotation. You go out and get a guy like Hamels next offseason, and slide everyone else down? Now all of a sudden you've got maybe the best pitching staff in the AL East. I would put Hamels Lester Beckett Buchholz Doubront up against the Rays staff everyday. Hamels vs Shields - Hamels Lester vs Price - Toss Up Beckett vs Hellickson - Beckett, but close Then Buchholz/Doubront over Moore/Niemman all day, those aren't close.

But regardless - this team is struggling this year because, while they've been throwing the ball well recently, they've been going up against better pitchers. Good pitching always beats good hitting. They need a true "ace" which is what Hamels would provide. That would allow guys like Lester, Buch, Beckett, and Doubront to slide down 1 slot and be above average pitchers in the 2-5 slots. Say what you want about Lester, he would be an elite #2. Same with Beckett at #3, Buchholz at #4, and Doubront at #5.

Garza =/= Lester Lester is a better pitcher, first off. He's having a down year, and Cherrington isn't going take a trade on him based on 10 starts this year vs his career outside of that. He's also a power lefty, which is very hard to come by. He's got a combined 3.33 ERA over his past 4 years in the AL East. Lester's worst year (3.47 ERA) is better than Garza's best year (3.70) in the East. Plus, Lester is under control for 2013 (11.625mm) and has a club option in 2014 (13mm) which will absolutely be picked up. I'd be willing to bet that the AAV of Garza over the next 2 years will be much higher than Lester. More years, less expensive, and a better pitcher. Not a good comparison for returns.

Where were you when the Sox went 16-6 like a week ago?

Kalish went yard. Again. He's now hitting .394 with a 1.305 OPS, 4 HR. With the offense as bad as it's been lately, it may be about time to bring him up on Tuesday/Wednesday when he's available.

Zero chance that the Sox trade Bradley unless it's for an ace like Felix. Barnes, Bradley, and Bogaerts are the 3 untouchables in the Sox farm. With Ellsbury a near certainty to leave for FA, Bradley will be a natural transition into CF for the Sox. High OBP, plus speed, gap power, and elite defense. Perfect leadoff hitter. Anyway, I just heard a podcast with Alex Speier and Keith Law. Law said that he was incredibly impressed with Bradley's plate discipline. When Speier heard Law say that, he said "I recently spoke to Bradley about that, and he said the reason he's so disciplined is because he is incredibly comfortable to hit with 2 strikes. He decided after his freshman year of high school that he simply would not swing at pitches unless he had 2 strikes on him so that he could become comfortable as a hitter with 2 strikes." That's incredible. And now he's OBP'ing nearly .500 in A ball. Law said that it's not just that he's facing inferior talent, but that his discipline would translate into higher levels, it's that good.

shut the f*** up. nobody gives a f*** what you say, and nobody gives a s*** about the standings. It's god damn June 15th.

20 f***ing men LOB.