Emp9

LIN! w/ the bloop hit

If there were 4 outs to be had that is

Strike 'em out, throw 'em out!

just joining in... we're getting to Berrios early... that's nice to see, he's been tough this season.

"..there is talk he has issues dealing and adjusting to breaking balls." This would be my guess. I also heard he can adjust pretty well though.

It's subjective. It's like that fairly tale with the King demanding only the freshest strawberries in the kingdom for some desert. To find out if they're up to snuff, he eats all the strawberries leaving none for the actual desert. That's not important right now. Point is, they don't know for a fact on how Devers would do if they brought him up right now. Neither do we.

It's just too bad there are a lot more IF's on this team than I'd thought there'd be. I think we should expect to hear more about Smith sometime today actually. I hope it's good news.

I said IF Smith looks good. And if a team is looking to contend next season and isn't planning a fire-sale this season, Kelly would be a nice pck-up. Not all teams look to sell off everone and start from scratch. Kelly would be the only piece worth close to what we'd need to get a decent 3Bman that I can think of at the moment. Besides prospects that is.

Is that right? My bad, I thought it was much more than that. Although I doubt Peralta is the answer, at that price he may be able to hold us over for a bit.

No, XB to 3B. Look, if we were hitting enough, I'd make that move in a heartbeat, but we not. Sox have had better offensive 2nd half numbers than 1st half #'s of recent years, but this year unfortunately, may prove different. We're all scrambling to try and fix 3B and the hitting woes, under very limited resources. We've all been in 'Spitball-mode for awhile now. If Smith comes back fine, I think we should shop Kelly (plus see if there's a taker for Abad- he may be fine out of the AL East or in the NL), and maybe a far away prospect, plus taking on 1/3 of said target 3B's salary might... just might be enough to solve 3B (defense & offense, in one move, w/ out going over the LT Limit).

Yeah, but his defense still makes it tempting to me. Up the middle defense from JBJ, to Iggy, (w/ Pedroia if positioned correctly to slightly favor his weak-side), all the way to Vaz/Leon... tempting.

I'm well aware of the history. Just take our OF. Our whole starting OF were considered "rushed" by many. Betts was not only "rushed", but had to change positions and learn OF on the fly. JBJ was actually rushed a couple times, but it didn't ruin him and here he is. I would argue JBJ's multiple promotions & demotions actually helped him in the long run. Swihart was rushed when Vaz ( and Hanigan) went down to injury that year, but he was holding his own in the majors, so much so, that the Sox eventually wanted to try him in LF to keep his bat in the lineup the following year. Swihart is struggling coming back from a bad ankle injury, not because he couldn't cut it and that being rushed to the majors somehow ruined him. I highly doubt Moncada's week of MLB coffee ruined him. Plus, maybe Middlebroks wasn't THAT good of a player to begin with. Ever think of that? The Red Sox have very little wiggle room on how they solve 3B this season. I'd give Devers a look before we had to make a trade or promote Peralta (both would cost $ towards the limit). If he's any good it won't scar him for life and he actually might learn something to improve his game even more. Hell, even if Devers does fine, we can still make a trade and send him back, at least that way we won't look so gd desperate.

Yeah, they really screwd-up Betts, JBJ, Benintendi, Pedrioa, Shaw, ERod. You right..What am I thinking?

That's an expensive look considering where our budget is at. I'd rather callup Devers and wait and see on whether Peralta is anything close to his former self in the minors. Money-wise this would make way more sense.

I hear Asdrubal Cabrera might be available if thats the case

lol

Go eat some vanilla ice cream you bastard! LOL;)

What the heavens f*** do have against the OF dance? Big burly NFL players do a stupid dance after EVERY SINGLE f***ING down, all goddamn winter, with their fat ass cracks hanging out, and nobody says s***. Anywho, the Sox are right in line with their 1st half record from last season, it's almost identical at this point with 14 games until the AS break. On a macro level... Sox are losing in different ways than last season but they don't seem to be losing more. I'm hoping Smith comes back and is lights out relief for us, because the only way I see us getting a big bat is to trade a reliever (or two).

I also question if the Sox will be able to sign XB long term, irregardless of any position change.

fair point

I question XB's arm for 3B.

Vaz is batting .285 and Leon is batting almost .250 on the season. I wouldn't blame too much on our catchers. We need a big 2nd half from HanRam no doubt. But it's possible. It's also possible that we add a bat at the deadline. Also, I'd seriously consider rearranging this batting order. XB and Beni need to lead-off games, not Betts. I think we'd see more consistency if that we're to happen.

Yeah, it's not likely. Even so, if the Sox reset LTL this year, that could give them some room to play with, if it's worth it for them (to try and trade him). Even then, It may not even be worth it.

He'd have to sign-off from his contract and re-structure it significantly. If the Sox do indeed reset their LT Limit this season, there may be something that can be worked out next year. Fat chance though. I's too bad really. I know Castillo used to play some infield (2B i think?) as well as OF. I would've gave him a look at 3B in the minors if his contract wasn't so impossible.

Look on the bright side. Sox are still tied for 1st place and they can still win this LAA series today.