Hitch

This is has been true for a while now, but it's absolutely glaring at this point. After Price, the rotation is very weak. I agree also, that Kelly needs to go to the pen. It would strengthen the pen quite a bit I believe. I'm also a little concerned about how much hope and pressure is going to be placed on E-Rod's shoulders. He looks the real deal but it seems some people are desperate for him to come back up and be the No2 and I think he needs time to develop more at the back end of the rotation without the added pressure of what that brings right now. It's annoying because this team is so close to being very good. I really, really like Swilhart. But at this point he isn't great behind the plate. He still lets too many balls past, has been struggling mightily with pop-ups and his pitch framing isn't too clever either. He rarely seems to try and pinch a strike by bringing the ball back in a bit. A stint in AAA might be what he needs. I do wonder if he could be packaged with Clay to bring back a No2. Although that might hurt a little too much.

I think he wants to go out there and perform. I don't for a second think he just doesn't want to play anymore. What I do believe is that he isn't prepared to put in the work for that, though. He knows how bad he was last season, and yet his answer to that is to walk in to spring training THAT out of shape? It can only be for three reasons: 1) He just doesn't have the desire to put the work in to get into good shape. 2) He thought he could turn up carrying that huge gut and think he didn't need to do conditioning as he'd be fine without all that work. Both are equally reprehensible to me. Or... 3) He has an eating disorder which has gotten out of control at this point and he can't help himself. If it's that, he has my sympathies and I hope he gets help during his deserved time on the sidelines.

By definition if you will defend all players until blue in the face you will defend them by looking for more and more tenuous reasons to do so. As equally loaded as your earlier question - would it be better to have Shaw playing 3rd base at the level he was last year and has been in ST, or, the Pablo at the level he was last year and has been in ST? And fat jokes or not, the guy is fat and out of shape. The fact he needs to lose weight to get his range back is absurd. A professional athlete supposedly. To walk into camp overweight after that performance level last season was an absolute disgrace. He deserves to be on the bench. A hungrier kid want it more.

I think you are over estimating my abilities in being able to interfere with US politics.

This is very true. For all his outrageous rhetoric and obscene posturing, he would very likely end up just being an enormously embarrassing, but basically - poor president. Nothing more, nothing less. That said I'm not sure running a country like a business is at all sensible, but I'm positive asking a man to do it with the long list of business venture fails Trump has, is even less sensible.

I didn't offer any advice. That said, despite the fact we have a savage right wing government in place right now (that thinks it's okay to strip from the most needy, while offering tax cuts to the most well off), I've noticed people walking around in a daze over here recently. All muttering the same thing - "...at least not Trump" Even in countries like the DRC and the Sudan, people are wandering around - "well sure...but at least not Trump" Until it is made otherwise, I will continue to hope against hope in Bernie and his animal kingdom summoning ways. #feelthebird

As a Brit with a keen interest in US politics, this year has been quite something so far. Trump is marginally more dangerous than Hillary. To think it will likely come down to those two...sweet Jesus. Bernie all the way!

I dunno, I kinda like it for the same reason I sometimes enjoy watching Trump. Watching crazy people go full blown batshit is highly entertaining.

Is anyone else perversely enjoying the fury with which jung posts about Hanley and Panda? There's something deeply amusing about it.

I think he has a few deep rooted issues. Guess work obviously, but from the little I've seen of him in interviews and such, he seems very prickly and somebody who needs to be loved. I also think he has an eating disorder. I really do think he's heading down a path he might not recover from, professionally.

I know it's been mentioned in the media and it's sometimes best to take it with a pinch of salt, but I really do think he has a condition. In fact, watching his interviews, I think he has social issues and an an eating illness.

It probably reads harsher than I intended it. I don't have an issue with him (don't know him) and I certainly don't see him as an 'attack dog', it was just I noticed he pretty much only seemed to post when in defence of you. Just found it a little odd. Anyway, I shouldn't have mentioned anything. No big deal.

I find it a little creepy how often you jump to Kimmi's defence. It seems like every time I log on for a read, there you are jumping in to defend her despite not being involved in the conversation yourself. What is that about? She's an intelligent person who can more than look after herself. Why do you feel the need to do it so often? Just curious. It reads like somebody with a crush protecting his love ha! :-) As an aside, I really don't like Pablo or Hanley for different reasons. With Pablo, you're getting paid that much money and getting to live your dream and you can't even be bothered to keep in shape. He's also very prickly when asked any half-way probing questions. He's got some issues that really need looking at or he's going to blow his career. Hanley annoys me with the way he always seems to be half-assing everything. Always strolling around. He never looks like he is putting his full focus and energy into anything. Maybe it's just his languid style that gives off an un-fair perception, but I don't think so. Hanley can hit, but the Sox would still be far better off if they were able to rid themselves of both.

Would be a very impressive rotation backed up by an excellent bullpen all of a sudden. I would love to see it happen. We'd need to drop some payroll though and get rid of either Hanley or Pablo. Neither of which I think are all that likely to happen. I hope they can pull it off, but I'm doubtful.

Looks like a great trade.

I'll never get my head around people's need to deny Cherington credit. He made some costly errors last year, which led to the Dombruski move, but he also did a hell of a lot of good and also delivered that small matter of a championship as well. I swear, a few people will argue relentlessly because of the person they are replying too, rather than belief in their own logic.

I see this mentioned a lot. As a Liverpool (UK based fan), I can assure you all...Liverpool don't spend more than they earn as a club. Apart from actually buying the club, money hasn't been injected. It's been raised through smarter commercial deals and huge player sales. Not to mention HUGE TV deals. No money leaves the Red Sox and finds it's way to Liverpool.

Fair point. That really wouldn't be so bad. EDIT: Although, you'd think there's no way he's getting 4 years at $120m at 33...

That would be perfect all round. Get 3 great years of him then hope he leaves before the decline! Although I think that opt out has no chance of happening unless we continue the last place thing.

I think I read somewhere that The Padres were fond of Sandavol? Great to have Price, but that contract is going to be horrific in it's last few years.

Wow! That's insane money.

Is there an argument to be made that the DH is already at the club anyway? In the shape of Pedroia? His bat will hold out a hell of a lot better if he doesn't keep battering himself day in and day out on the field/running the bases. I guess he wouldn't be best pleased with going DH, but another year of his body breaking down might just convince him. Although possibly not ha!

Haha this is very true. Same two questions. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Yeah, I keep reading the same also. If he does come, I think it will be very good for E-Rod and Owens, longterm.

I don't think that's a big issue. Once he's here and pitching the fans will shower him with love, patching it up with Ortiz shouldn't take much. His team mates will make a fuss of him as well you'd think. It may be an issue in getting him here, but when he is, I think he will be just fine.