cp176

Going forward, I think they have 3 issues - left fielder, starting pitcher, dh. I'm not nuts about them being able to solve any of those issues from within. Possibly left field and that's it. Obviously the bullpen always needs tinkering but if an when Smith gets back things will seem much better out there.

Who knew? I'm a proud member of the old school common sense approach. I was raised and brought up to believe that your leadoff hitter had to have both - the ability to get on base (any way) and the ability to run.

Now that is a good memory.

I still think that they are an 85 win team. They are finally fun to watch regardless of their record. Some really good young players. They are going to have to add a couple more if they are going to compete for it all. They just aren't as good as many think that they are. I don't think that those additions are going to come from Portland either.

I think that he is without a doubt the best prospect in our system. I would hate to see him traded. That being said, I think that our prospects tend to be over-rated.

For sure! I always knew that second base was really the place to be.

Is this sort of leading up to the acquisition of Mike Trout? We can dream.

I guess that I don't agree with you once again. No one wants to see any of our young prospects traded but Benintendi and Moncada don't look like Rice and Lynn to me. I'm not advocating trading them but for young established major league players, I would get that. I also do not agree with the premise that this is the first time our young players have "had a chance to come up short". I actually would prefer saying that it is their opportunity to win the fing game as opposed to finding ways to lose.

I think that you are on to something here. We are one or two players away from being very good for a very long time. I don't like the trend whether looked at from all thing statistical or all of the things that you can't measure. When the game is absolutely on the line and maybe even the season, what types of players can really get it done. I just don't like the pattern of losing so many very close games. High scoring or low scoring, doesn't matter. We have an exciting core of young players, but can they get us over the top. We get into great position, and come of short way too often. i think that we are one starting pitcher and one position player (the right one - whoever he may be) away. i don't think the answer is in either Benintendi or Moncada. For the record, i think that if you trade one and it was Moncada, it would be a stupid move if the thought process was that Benintendi was going to be the major difference maker. For the right two players, trading both of these guys could make sense. there is something missing here that the youth movement might not ever fill.

I really wish that it didn't seem like just yesterday but it does. Pete Runnels followed by Chuck Schilling (all glove - no bat) were the first two second baseman whose careers i followed. Next came just a small dose of Reggie Smith and of course Mike Andrews. Griffin was poised to become the next very good one. On my earliest strato game, I scratched out Schilling's name and plugged my own in.

What do think - a little motivational speech from JH get the job done? Going out on a limb here I know but i still like thinking that all of our pitchers are responsible for their own performances. i'm not quite ready to give up on David Price just yet.

I was a big fan! That beaning essentially ended what looked to be a very good career on the rise. Doug Griffin was a damned good player.

At this point in time, Swihart's ability to play left field in Fenway is a long ways away from that of Moncada's. We really haven't been given any indication that the sox are even thinking about moving Moncada to the outfield. As for Benintendi, you get to decide as a fan. My choice right now would be Swihart.

if they decide keep Devers as well, something is going to have to give. It is conceiveable that Devers winds up a first to.

have you seen him play?

I wouldn't bet against this but I do think that Moncada is going hit both lefties and righties . i'm more concerned with him not being able to field a position. Or maybe even to find a position.

i know exactly what your point was. Hope you know what mine was. There are some prospects of course that look like they have a better chance of making it than others. If using a numbering system based on a plethora of statistics makes someone feel as they know something special about a prospect great. i still absolutely believe in the eye test. With that in mind, I would not lose one ounce of sleep if Benintendi was traded in a package for the "right" young prospect. As a matter of fact, i would consider trading every player on the Portland franchise plus their mascot for the right young pitcher.(minus Moncada of course.) Obviously i am being a little sarcastic here but as much as I like what the future might hold for Andrew Benintendi, I think that he is replaceable. Moncada may be as well but for the time beiing it looks like his combination of speed and power and overall size could lead to something special.

Agree!

You are right - they use a numbering system now that basically says the exact same thing.

the big difference for me would be that I think that Theo actually knew what he was doing. Manny's "stunts" were not stunts. He could hit - good for us. He is gone.

you know what, I kind of agree with you. XB worked his nuts off to become an excellent ss. A good kid who plays the game the right way. Basically I feel the same way about JB and MB.

Trying to make something out of nothing. Farrell sucks right.

True enough about the fat stuff but also true about the 30. It isn't likely to happen but he could turn back time. I don't know him and I haven't read one thing about him. What I would say though is that he has great talent and if he was motivated to do so, he could turn back time and be more than productive. When you are 30, it is not to late. Unlikely maybe but possible.

We did enjoy it. I really like the overall athleticism of the team. I thought that they were going to hit but Verlander is still tough. When JBJ scored from first on Shaw's double to right, it was a real display of what youth and speed can do .

Couple of things from last night - Ramirez has got a cute little boy. He was in the outfield while the Tigers were taking bp. That red seat is a literal mile from home plate. The seats don't get any more comfortable as the years go by but that ballpark is still just a great place to watch a game. I really like the youth movement and will not be disappointed to see more of it.