cp176

I think you can relate. Kind of sounds like we did the same things only in another generation.

I think that the Sox saw Swihart differently though. The expectation as I recall was that over time he had the potential to be the better defensive catcher of the two as well. he seemed to be the whole package. Hey - sometimes actually more often than not plans don't work out perfectly.

I agree very much with you here. If Swihart had not been injured, and had gone on to be successful, somehow this would have been looked at as sheer brilliance. It just didn't work out for him. The Sox did not screw up. sometimes believe it or not stuff just happens .

From 78 on, I attended quite a few Sox games and the saddest thing is that one of my top Yaz remembrances is Guidry blowing it by him in 1978. he really could throw.

I was actually just kidding. I think that you know you're baseball. I'm pretty sure that many of the players I grew up watching when I look back probably seem larger than life but that is what it is all about. The Red Sox were so bad in my earlest watching years that I adopted the Giants as my National League team (or any team that could beat the Yankees). Regardless of who comes along or who has been, Willie Mays = the most complete that I have seen.

It seems like just yesterday to me. How many times did we pretend that we were Havlicek in that old barn. RIP to one of the greatest.

You were a very lucky person to see them play. I followed their careers very very closely. My opinion is that Mays was the greatest that I ever saw. Were you trying to make some other point Harmony with an emphasis on the part about them being hitless? Hope you weren't .

Be careful notin - Many of our posters likely never saw Aaron or Mays, and really have 0 clue as to even who they were to say nothing about how absolutely great they were.

stop that - believe it or not we still valued defense (probably a lot more than most people today) the illustrious Earl Weaver - He of the 3 run dinger had one shortstop named Belanger.

If I had to guess, mine would be that Castillo would get the job done very well in the outfield for us or for anyone else. I have really no interest in talking about whether it would make financial sense to bring him on board or not. I looks like he has grown in to a quality player. Stuck in lodi - very sad

Things aren't looking all that bad down on the farm these days. Pretty good for one of the absolute worst programs in ml baseball.

I'm glad that you posted this and not me. Come on Slasher, it wasn't me. Actually I feel really bad for this kid. While I think of it though - How about Moncada these days. At 23, it is likely that he realizes the great potential that he had when signed. Good luck to both of these kids.

turn volume down - lol

I don't believe that there is any type of disconnect at all between upper management and Cora. Might be a disconnect between management, media, and fan base. Maybe Cora and DD just don't see the awesome value in spilling the entire contents of what they know and what their plans might be to the media and subsequently to us. What is wrong with them? - think abut it - We need to know everything at all times . How else can we help them run their organization! telling us that Chavis isn't going to be playing second base and then sticking him out there! How dare they with out asking us first. and how about Eovaldi - didn't I read somewhere that he might not need surgery? It's just not right.

Hopefully everyone agrees that JBJ plays stellar defense. I reacted to a comment that sounded like you were saying that he was better than Keirmaier. if that is not what you were saying, I apologize.

I think a lot of my fellow Mainer but do you really think that Kiermaier isn't JBJ's equal at least?

Do we all just know for sure that Lin makes us all that better up the middle? I see him as at best a late gamer used to maybe help us out defensively in close game situations. We really have no clue whether Chavis will hit consistently either plus he actually might be able to play second. We just don't know. What I think is apparent is that Lin can field adequately and he hasn't shown much life at the plate. I just don't see how we can plug another none bat in the lineup and feel good about it. I don't think that this type of experimentation will hurt us at all. Might even help.

Maybe Cora just had a revelation and came to his senses.

I think that it is a little early to start the conspiracy theories just yet. I don't think that there is much that has happened to date to indicate any disconnect between DD and Cora. Believe it or not it is possible that Cora just doesn't think that Lin starting at second base is a real good thing based on his recent play. Alex gets to change his mind if he wants to.

I really think that the majority of regular posters here need no reminders of the importance of defense in baseball or actually in any sport. I think that we also know which positions have more defensive value than others. I bet that we have all played and have a great deal of experience in the game. If you are going to over emphasize the importance of defense, then you better have a pitching staff to match your expectations. I'm a believer in balance much as you but as long as you have ample run producers, I also think that a player like JBJ can be an incredible value to have. But - I also do not think that a team survives very well in the long run if you keep throwing non-hitters out there in abundance. Having a lineup that features Lin, JBJ, and Vazquez or Leon, does tend to make me think that defense might be over emphasized. Not to mention the fact that I'm still not sold on the defensive wizardry of Lin and either Vazquez or Leon. I would love to see the Sox keep JBJ but I would not overpay to hold on to him. He is very valuable but just like the rest of them at some point they are replaceable. All that being said, there is always a place for a defensive wizard which JBJ is close to being.

What about me Slasher? Don't forget me. it's nice to be loved. We all need to be loved.

Absolutely. People might question the move I guess but considering it a panic move in my estimation means that there might be someone better suited for the job - there isn't. Lin at best is a defensive utility player replacement type. Good to have for sure but...

It is all about balance notin - balance. Most of us love JBJ but we would like to see him hit. Most of us love Devers but we would love to see him field. Why does it just have to be either or with us? - no balance.

I hope that you right about using him at second. Finding out whether or not he can field that position is no more of a panic move than trying to find out if Lin can hit well enough to be in the lineup. I think that it is far better to have a solid defender in late game situations come off the bench then using him at the back end of a lineup that needs a little punch. It is an experiment using Chavis at second base for sure but we might be pleasantly surprised.

It is a conundrum. If your pitching and your defense from top to bottom is good to outstanding, you for sure can work around offensive holes in the lineup. I like that type of baseball in general more than a one-sided reliance on just trying to outslug everybody. The Red Sox have maintained a good balance of both over the years but I get a little nervous seeing Lin projected as our second baseman until Pedroia either does or does not get back. Also, when and if he comes back, will he hit - it is a gamble. I think that Chavis will hit. It would be another gamble throwing him out there defensively but it might just be worth trying.