cp176

Last year, i was on the Shaw/Hernandez kick. This year, I am betting on Hernandez once again. He is going to be a starting infielder for someone some day. It might be us. Like all the kids, he just needs to get his shot. Ultimately, he won't be just a utility player.

Watching Swihart move in left has made me realize once again that if a player is athletic and wants to do it and has baseball instincts they can do it. Given the choice, I think that our best bet is to leave Swihart out there until we know what we have. He knows how to play baseball at the ml level. No need to waste time with Castillo in Fenway Park at least until he learns how to play.

Tonight is a big night for bastard number 1. The Buckster needs to get it done or he is going back into hibernation until the next option is activated.

I like Rich Hill and wish they had signed him but i sure as hell would not give up much of a young prospect for him. One thing that I am learning from this is that all of the experts sometimes get it wrong. I like the kids and I don't think I would mess with this team at all right now.

I could not be happier for Swihart here Spud. I'm all in on him in left (particularly if he hits!).

He is the type of player that this team is filled with. He was a great contributor.

hanigan's got a little knuckle ball flu

Swihart -

i doubt seriously that buchholz will ever go to the pen. It is possible for sure that rodriguez stays in Pawtucket a little longer. They will go to a 6 man rotation before buck goes to the pen. Someone I suspect will get injured (wink wink) if they decide to stick with a 5 man.

thanks Ted - I think that I was. I was 9 and i remember crying when I figured out for sure that he wasn't coming back. i became a fairly big fan of Pete Runnels after that and then of course along came the Captain - Carl!!!

ok just had the chills up the spine - billy buck!!! welcome back - you took a beating you did not deserve.

The 1975 team was a very young team for the most part. A pretty good combination. 1977 - a little older. I will preface this by saying that I do care about stats even all the new crap but I don't really care what they say if they are used to compare today with yesterday. Those vintage late 60's and early 70's teams were mighty f---ing good. End of story! I absolutely love this team. A big difference I think is team speed. They run the bases and they run them well. Positionally, believe it or not, in terms of baseball players in general, i don't know how you get much better than the Sox of 75 unless of course you are the Reds of 75. This year's team takes me back actually. Top to bottom - I like them. I grew up in rural Maine - I followed them but seeing them was pretty much just a dream. I did see Ted though in his last year. He hit a homer. We were in the bleachers and I remember watching Jackie Jenkins in right. Jackie was a hell of a player! Did not get to Fenway again until the late 70's and have been going ever since. My Grandfather would have loved this team! They play hard and they play the right way.

it's beating the dead horse over and over I know but everyday that Swihart doesn't go behind the plate is another day longer it will take him to ever really be a dependable catcher at the big league level. Hope he hits.

Is Trey Ball really starting to do this?

Gives us something to talk about doesn't it.

I do think that they want to try to actually find out what they have here in Swihart. Why do I feel like I'm looking at another Josh Reddick on the field when I watch him play. They may just be reluctant to let this kid go before they get some answers to some questions. It is also very possible that they have decided that his catching skills might take a much longer time to develop than they initially thought. it is interesting that they have said that he will not catch during this recent callup. Even more interesting to me is that it was Swihart and not Castillo who got the call.

happy to hear that I am not the only dub that feels this way- The only explanation that I can come up with is that they really do not intend to move him.

Where is this coming from? Who is actually advocating to trade any of our top players? There is of course is talk about what might possibly happen but i don't get the impression that anyone would be happy to see us trade any of our best at this point in time.

Not sure i agree with your assessment and I am pretty sure that DD doesn't. What you are saying might become reality and it might not. No one knows for sure what you have in Wright. Actually, it is possible that this is Porcello. I wouldn't bet the farm on Kelly but who really knows - not like we are talking about an old guy here. I like Buchholz in the 5 hole. Could this all change?- of course but I don't think that with this team hitting and actually playing the way that they are gives any reason to rush to judgement about anything. A 2010 version of Garza would certainly be an asset for sure though. They may make a trade but if they do it will probably be for someone younger and better. It's the beauty of dealing from strength. 10 games over .500 without E-Rod! Really.

Once again, I will say that his value in any kind of trade is greater with him catching as opposed to him being in left field. Does he need to be traded - of course not. Could he become our permanent left fielder - maybe. Is he a special athlete - of course. Do you think Spud that anyone wants to see him traded? My guess is no. I hope we hold a pat hand right now. Now that being said - hypothetically if the Sox were shopping him, do you think he would be more valuable as a future catcher or a future left fielder?

I think you might be right for sure here. No Red Sox fan would like seeing Benintendi traded but I would add that the potential to replace him with two or three others is right there just around the corner though. He is a prospect. A good one for sure but a prospect none the less. I'm not sure this team needs to anything more than just let the players play and the coaches coach - no trades need right now. Being in this position puts him in a position of strength. People would love to have what we got and we don't desperately need anything. Pretty good deals come from this.

He may be the one who winds up in left field for us. I do still think that if he was really going to be used as a trade chip that he would be catching. If you are going to be trade partner would you give up much of a pitcher for Swihart as a left fielder or as a catcher? I get that he might be part of an overall package but if the Sox use him in left in Fenway, I don't think they plan to trade him. I'm ok with that because he is a young athletic kid.

if Buchholz pitches well, what do you think, picking up the option still make sense?

Not sure i guess. what do you think? I don't want to see the kid traded actually.

Who out there saw this one coming - Swihart!