Emp9

I was gonna say, probably not anyone from the major league roster, but the minors you can't ever count out because they can be young and stupid.

I personally don't hold that traditional view of protection necessarily, but one could easily look to the Cubs walking Harper 13 times last week to pitch to the next batter to realize there are times there is definitely something to it. My view on some basic level that anytime you group your best hitters one after another, the opposing pitcher really has to buckle down for a longer period of At Bats. Hence 'Heart of the Order'. Betts is a tough young hitter who's still trying to figure out the game in his own right, but I believe he does provide some protection for any batter hitting 9th. That said, Betts is no verteran by any means. Besides Betts, JBJ has really done it on his own independently for the most part. That's why I think he may look streaky out in no-mans land, so to speak. In time they'll start moving him up the lineup closer to the heart of the order and there a chance he may prove more consistent.

... I said no labels! Lol

JBJ looks bigger this year too, in a good way. Looks like he hit the gym over the winter and is filled-out more. Looks stronger than seasons past. Getting older and at the same time staying in shape will make anyone look more solid. Not looking like a kid any more is probably the best way to put it. I also like the fact that he's successful despite batting in the lowest part of the order, predominantly 9th mixed w/ 8th. This speaks to two things, 1) He's usually protected by Betts, 2) But it's not like he's protected as much as someone in the heart of the order. I have a feeling that if and when he does indeed get moved up in the order there's a chance he'll become less "streaky". "Streaky" in quotes because I'm not sold that he is a streaky hitter yet. Not enough info to put that label on him.

That's a good question. My guess is that coaches have their hands full with all the players they're responsible for and i bet it's easy for some minor details to slip through the cracks, or get lost in the shuffle, and not get noticed. Pedey looking at his own video and simply noticed a minor detail. It's not the first time for Pedey to do this (Nap, if short lived, but still counts). I don't exactly fault the coaches due to their work load. A player is really just responsible for themselves. Pedroia is a team player even in the video room and that speaks volumes to me. My hope is that Pedroia is with the organization long after he retires ... as a coach or even a scout. He loves the game, he's not in it for the money necessarily, he's a true competitor, and he hates to lose.

This ump sucks.

I hope we go to our BP early tonight. Porcello has been on a roll lately but he doesn't seem to have it tonight. Most of our BP should be available anyhow.

Or it could have been freezing cold out and tough to stay loose? That's my guess.

Apparently the Red Sox are being investigated by MLB for "Questionable International Signings". http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/05/11/report-the-red-sox-are-being-investigated-by-mlb-for-questionable-international-signings/ Figured this is the best place to post this. I question it deserves its own thread. If there were more details maybe? It has a good link to another article tackling bonus pools and how teams skate around the supposedly written, but not enforced rules. A few thoughts from me: 1) I thought MLB was moving toward a International Draft to correct these known issues w/ signing International players. Why an investigation, when everbody and their great-grandmother knows it's always been a bit shady? 2) If they do find anything light-years shadier from the normal shadiness from the Red Sox Organization with respect to signing International players, given the time frame, wouldn't that blame mostly fall on a guy who doesn't even work here anymore? I think he's busy holding class right now i believe. 3) I hope this doesn't turn into another Deflate-gate because its a Boston team. The St Louis Cardinals hacked the Houston Astros' entire system and have yet to be punished for it. In fact, it hasn't even been a major story and I scratch my head thinking if Boston did that, it would be enormous. The Cardinals' Hack-Gate STILL has been so disgustingly under-reported on by the media and under-addressed by MLB and it's commissioner that I find any new investigation a little insulting. A little closure about the major scandal that happened would be nice, but evidently not the right people give two shits about it.

I pretty much agree, but it can be fun to speculate on what they may/may not do, could/could not do come trade deadline. With DD now in the fold for better or worse, I think they could go big and wow us (or horrify us).

It was/s/arcasm bud:/

Kelly & Craig for Holliday would make some sense /s/

No more trades w/ the Cards. Absolutely not

Lol It's tough because I don't have the 2017-2018 FA list. I'd rather get a two yr rental than a 1 yr rental. Most intriguing idea I have is CarGo. Hear me out, 'cause I know he's slumping bad this yr, and it seems his attitude cld use an adjustment as well. But his career L/R splits are good. Way more power facing righties of course due to the larger sample size, but still holds a .267/.345/.839 line vs LHP the last 3 yrs. The Astros seem to be growing tired of him (for good reason, no doubt) and maybe he just needs a change of scenery perhaps? He's a FA at the end of the season, so it wld definetly be a short term thing. But the fact that he's looking to cash-in because he's a FA at the end of the yr could be a good gamble for the Sox... Could be a horrible idea though I realize that.

Yeah, I never wanted to trade him. If his bat still never showed, a defensive wiz CFer w/ a canon as our 4th OF would've been all fine w/ me even as a late game replacement. He may be a little streaky so far, but it's really a no-brainer.

Lateral moves wouldn't really help us go for the throat and win a WS. I feel we already have 2-3 Ervin Santanas on our staff at any given point and especially within the last 3 years. Regardless, I don't like trying to build our rotation from the bottom up. Why bother w/ Santana when ERod comes back in week? I think if the Sox make a move at all it would be for a TOTR SP. That and bonafide LFer.

To upgrade our pitching staff, that's gonna take a big trade. I would wNt the Sox to go big, nothing less than a solid #2 SP. That would be something along the lines of what Moon has mentioned. Swihart, Devers, Kopech, maybe Holt, or Kelly, maybe Dubon even.not all of them but atleast 4 of them I'd imagine. I'd like to see what ERod has to offer before we do all that. LF seems like the easiest way to add a little more HR power and we wouldn't have to come close to the package that getting a TOTR SP would haul in. We're just speculating here. I'd like a LFer w/ 2 years control because Benintendi is in the pipeline. I'm not sold on Holt as our LFer or Young.

If Young hits like tonight every so often, we won't need to go out & get another LFer.

This is batting practice. Wow

Funny thing is, Benintendi wld be perfect if he wasn't a year-year & a half away.

Great article. Thanks. Let's hope he keeps his walks down. A solo shot here & there shouldn't be detrimental. Bannister is an intetesting dude.

I've nothing against Holt. I do admit I like having Holt as our super utility guy, which was already mentioned. His production has dropped off in the 2nd half for 2 consecutive seasons, which was also already mentioned. Maybe that won't happen again? He should be coming into his prime right now. I gotta say, I don't really like his arm for the OF to be honest. However, to his credit, because of Holt, LF hasn't been a glaring need, but it's still a need and I wouldn't mind the Sox FO making a move if it made sense.

A solid LFer would be nice. Maybe we could make a more prudent, less eye-popping trade? No blue chips involved? Is that even possible Hugh?

You're right. I'm convinced his floor is a solid #2 though. unless he thought the teams that spend that kind of money are spent-out? I think he likes it there too so that helps.

Thing is, he's only our table setter because he's still our best option setting the table. One could argue maybe XB could be a better fit leading off, but remeber XB only has 5 more hits and 3 more BB than Betts. Could XB do more w/ more looks? Maybe, maybe not. I really don't know. Lead-off goes in blind the first time up every game. No cues, or hints, no wispering teamates or help 1 AB every game to start. Betts is hovering around the same production as last year. Some the same like BA, RBI,HR, some he's ahead on like SB, Runs, some he's behind on like walks. This time of year the stats that are average-dependent are very decieving due to the sample size and perception that the season isnt new any more. This seaon may not be new, but it's not that old either. Give Betts 18-20 more games, i think his #'s will start to even out then.