southpaw777

I dont think DD will let those two go for the reasons you said. Both are going to be solid MLB players with Moncada possibly being That special player every team hopes for...

Of course, this is why when some were suggesting the trade I was against it. Although Id love to have both, I wouldnt want to give up The names it would take. Pitchers nowadays are very volitile and Im wary of giving up top offensive bats for them... once DD clears some payroll I think most of our starting pitchers will be FAs due to the unbelieveable and unrealistic asking prices for trades.

Smart moves. I didnt realize that 3 out of the four traded were rule 5 eligible this winter. The other names on that list could bring back a Hill or hellickson type I would think. Both are FA rentals with mid/back of rotation profiles. Or in Hills case he has injury, innings, and age issues as well. I dont see a blockbuster unless Its a name, like Merloni has been saying, that we all go "Huh?" Then turns out to be pretty special...DD is known for those moves. Ben shouldve stayed on so he could learn something. Im very interested to see how DD handles things at the break and this winter. If he doesnt get that big starter at the break hes going for it this winter.

I agree...My whole point was that if they ran into trouble I dont think a cup of coffee for the kid (Benintendi) until things smoothed out again injury wise would hurt anything.

If Clay cant pitch a full year, which he hasnt in a while, then his final option should NOT be picked up. Last year I had zero issue with the option being picked up. Im sure they can fill the 5 spot for less than 13m and with better production. The guy is a friggin head case on the mound. Im guessing he overthinks everything...Id love to see him pitch whatever the catcher calls instead of wanting to call his own game.

Kimbrel will be back sometime in August, its a minor surgery. He should be walking by weeks end, then rehab. Hes in the prime of his youngers years and should recover quickly from this. I think Zig, Barnes, and Koji can hold it down for a little bit. Good thing DD was proactive and got a solid BP arm before this happened.

Imagine a blockbuster deal with Fernandez and Stanton? Sorry, I enjoy dreaming. Its got me to where I am today.

He needs to work at other positions before they bring him up. He was a 2b when they got him. Hes needs to get used to the professional schedule, and everything else MLB before they throw him in another position. The organization has already said he will start to be used at other positions. They didnt want to throw too much at him since hes only been here a short time. I think thats a smart move. Hes hardly "blocked" when looking at the big picture.

Moncada will start to try other positions soon. Until then, hes a 2b. Which we dont need with Pedey and Xander. Benintendi is a great option IMO, even just for a cup of coffee. Take it from there. Chris Marrero is listed as a 1b and is a RHH.. Although Im sure Shaw or Marrero COULD play LF, Id rather have someone who definitely CAN and bats LH.

The bat and glove are ready. And from all reports, hes got the right mentality to succeed at the MLB level... People forget that he went to a highly rated college baseball program, and had success. so he was ahead of a lot of kids his age. Dont be surprised to see him up in Boston soon... Not saying its going to happen, but it shouldnt be a long shot like some believe.

Its a scope on his knee...he will be back before September Ive had the surgery hes having. Its not a big deal.

Exactly...AAA is a pit stop to Boston. For those that think he would be hurting his development, think again. This kid is the real deal. Hes mashing AA pitching at 21 and is on a fast track to MLB. Hes a college stud and as expected, by me anyway, he wont be in the minors long... Why wait? We NEED a solid full time LFer...enough with the platoon AAAA types. DD knows what he has and I wouldnt be surprised if we see him in August some time, if not sooner. Swihart is done for a while Holt has a walking boot youngs injury will be a while...Im sure Benni will be fine. Not so sure why others feel they should wait. ...im sure he can, and wants to be on the big stage. Im also pretty sure he can handle the mental aspect as well...

Time to fast track Benintendi to Boston... Since June 1st. 315. 379. 577 Enough with the platoon and injuries for LF. The kid is a pure ballplayer. He has murdered every level so far, with AA being the only slight learning curve of about a week. At least bring him up to AAA and get him up here ASAP. I said at the begining of the year that there was a decent shot at Benni being in Boston some time this year. I still think its an even better possibility now wih the way hes hitting and the rash of injuries.

Great move by DD. Reliable pen arm.

Depending on sevice time, he may not blow an option. Regardless, once the kid comes up hes probably not going back down so it really wouldnt matter. Were not the Rays, so I agree about letting his MLB clock start. We can afford to pay these guys if need be. The kid is a pure ballplayer and will be a perrenial all star IMHO. Bring up Benni!!!

With all the injuries, and now Holt down with a bad ankle sprain that required a walking boot, should the Sox consider the LHH? If Holt is going to be out for a bit, then I say go for it. If hes not, then Id still consider a fast track to Boston this year. Hes already batting almost 300 (288) after a small adustment period where he was struggling his first week. Since june 1st hes batted 315 379. 557 Put him in AAA and fast track him like Betts. This kid is a ballplayer. Enough with the injured platoon players in LF. Benni should be our Lfer before the season is out. Thoughts?

A LOT of teams could...Good thing were not trading him.

Until he can stop tipping his GD pitches i suppose. The velocity is back, so thats not an issue. He never had a ST and that usually messes with a pitcher for a bit. That and hes still getting back his command and trusting that knee, so that may have cause a bit of a mechanics issue they need to fix. Im hoping by sept. Hes back for a playoff run.

There really isnt much as far as TOP pitchers go. Jeremy Hellickson might be a nice addition with a better team behind him. Nice change up and ALE experience. Oh, and an ERA south of 4 Im wondering since hes a FA how much he would cost. Im guessing not too much. Good to see DD looking at all possibilites.

I agree building from the top. We may very well need two guys, but right now we have a bunch of de la rosas IMO. Mid to back rotation guys. we may have to wait until this winter to make a big move...

Vaz has been off a little this year due to TJS and not playing for a year. I think he was brought back a little too soon, but sometimes bad play or injuries will cause a team to make those moves. Swihart was brought up a year too early, but we really had no other options. Same with Betts...sometimes it works out for the best and sometimes its very obvious that they may need more time to develop. I think Vaz getting regular Abs and time behind the plate in AAA will get his timing and arm strength back, as well as his throwing accuracy. It will also allow him to get his timing back at the plate.

Were going to have to give up something good for something good no matter what. Pitching, even non Ace types, will cost something. So really, if were gonna go get a starter we might as well make it for the best possible available. Im over this mediocre crap. I believe Price will be OK, but we have zero after that. No, Im not relying on a flutter ball pitcher year in and year out. Hes having a good year, but history says it wont last. Porcello is a mid rotation arm. Erod is still a question mark, but is still young and hopefully figures it out. Espinoza and Kopech are still a couple+ years away, if they pan out at all. Were going to HAVE to part with some popular names to get what we desperatly NEED.

You cant expect them to duplicate what worked earlier. Players go into slumps, get hurt, and pitchers (at least this staff) have been under performing as a whole. JBJ moving to the 9hole isnt going to do anything to change things except give him one less AB per game, and I dont want that. What needs to happen is Price pitch like an Ace, the bullpen be consistent, and maybe find another solid starter. Internally or externally. And maybe the Manager can stop making head scratching moves. Its certainly not helping.

The Sox scouting have completelY whiffed on pitching. Hopefully Espinoza and Kopech work out. But besides those two, and they havent done anything yet, who was the last real successful homegrown pitching prospect? I know you cant groom Aces types all the time, but for christ sakes, youd think we could draft and develop a few more reliable starters...hows Trey friggin Ball working out with the #7 Ben? Brian Johnson, Pat Light, and Kopech/Espinoza still in A ball...Jamie Callahan(2) Teddy Stankiewicz(2) Theos first round and comp round pitchers selected. Paps(4) Masterson(2) Alex Wilson(2) Brandon Workman(2) Craig Hanson Clay Buchholz Michael Bowden Daniel Bard Kris Johnson Caleb Clay Nick Hagadone Casey Kelly Bryan Price Anthony Ranaudo Matt Barnes Henry Owens International Doubront Dice K Okajima Tazawa Under Mike Hazen/Dombrowski This year we picked Jason Groome with the first pick, but hes yet to sign. Besides a small handful of names and a couple potential highly rated prospects, there hasnt been much of anything. I might have missed a name. Not sure when Anibal Sanchez was drafted, but he was an international signing we used to get Beckett. This list is all 1st rounders (unless marked differently) since the 2003 draft. I figured 13 years was plenty. Lester was a 2nd rounder in 2002 under Mike Port. You would think there would be a few more success stories in there over the last 13 years. I know we mostly picked later 1st round, but still... IMO, Scouting and drafting starting pitching has not been very successful since Theo took over as GM....Please feel free to add a name i may have missed or any correction needed.

Sometimes the great defensive catchers dont start hitting until a little later in their careers. Usually later 20s. We'll have to get a bigger sample size to see if Leons bat is for real. Now, I know he will certainly fall back to earth. The question is how far and how hard? for now, giving Hanny a chance to either s*** or get off the pot is the right move. Vaz can get his ABs in AAA for another month or so and let everything work itself out on the big club. Hanny has always been a solid backstop with a decent stick. And usually a Good OBP too...I think the right moves were made.