moonslav59

Like catching Sale in one rehab assignment is the only way to obtain knowledge or make an educated guess on what you think will happen? Back to the drawing board for you. One basis for thinking Sale will regain his change-up effectiveness is because that is not normally the type of pitch that is lost or minimized by having TJS. Usually, it is velocity or the ability to obtain the same sharp breaks on your sliders or breaking balls and not the pitches where you take something off a pitch. One can form opinions based on history and probabilities and not anything specific like having to be behind the plate to have a thought to think. Get it? I doubt it.

There is some knowledge involved in thinking, yes. You are finally catching on.

When someone uses the word "think" it means it's an opinion. That's your free reading comp lesson for the day.

100%! It's why he was my favorite player for nearly a decade.

He's not a high K guy, but he doesn't walk a bunch of batters, either. He has the best OPS Against numbers of any pitcher in the system with more than 28 IP (.539). I'm hoping for a really nice start.

Sale's 2 exc ellent pitches are enough to be a solid starter, IMO, but I think his change-up will return. It's his professionalism and fierce competitiveness that makes me a believer he returns to near top form.

I mentioned 180, thinking that might be on the high end of what top brass wants him to reach. It was arbitrary, on my part. It might be more about pitches than innings.

I'm loving what I'm seeing. I'm just not loving "everything." Someone even called him "great" on defense, on another thread.

Yes, nothing changes unless someone gets hurt or until Kike returns.

I want plus defense, so not quite everything.

Yes, and Andriese and others the winter before.

I have never said we'd get a good return for Arroyo. Yes, I think teams would give a single A prospect with some ceiling for Arroyo over Villar. To get something good, we may have to trade Kike or Duran or a good prospect or two.

I think you just proved why fWAR is better.

Since relief pitchers run so hot & cold, it seems like a good idea to pick up hot ones mid-season rather than sign a bunch of them, go through a trial and error process, and finally get a few that earn their keep.

I'm not sure the money owed whoever we acquire will be an issue. We are over the tax line, already. I'm also thinking many posters will be disappointed by how few players we acquire at the deadline or the quality of the 1-2 guys (maybe 3) we end up getting. Unless others get injured, the return of Kike, Sale, Nate, Whitlock and Taylor (I wouldn't count Barnes totally out, either) will squeeze the current roster out of any and maybe all marginal, replaceable players, as it is. Pitchers doing very well, now, maybe be moved from the rotation to the pen. OF'ers starting or platooning, now, maybe be sent to the bench or AAA upon Kike's return. (JBJ is not going anywhere- like it or not.) I'm thinking we might trade for a 1Bman and a solid RP'er- maybe 2. We may end up trading for someone like we did last season: Schwarber, Robles & Davis. Here is how I see a totally healthy 26 man roster, and I'm not even counting on Paxton at the deadline: SP1 Eovaldi SP2 Wacha SP3 Pivetta SP4 Sale SP5 Hill (Whitlock/Paxton) Closer Houck RP2 Whitlock RP3 Strahm RP4 Schreiber RP5 Taylor RP6 Brasier RP7 Sawamura RP8 Barnes/Diekman/Winckowski/Seabold/Danish (DFA/Trade: Robles & Davis) I do see a need replacing these bottom pen guys like maybe Sawamura, Barnes, Brasier and others on the bottom line, but maybe not 2 slots, and as much as many posters dislike many guys on this list, some have trade value. We may end up trading some pen depth and then upgrading the pen in other moves. Quantity for better quality. Now, the everyday 13: C Vaz & Plawecki 1B Cordero & Dalbec platoon 2B Story 3B Devers SS Bogey LF Verdugo CF Kike & Duran RF JBJ (Kike?) Utility: Arroyo or Refsnyder (Both out of options) Do we trade or DFA Arroyo? Might we part with Duran to get a solid RP'er (hopefully more than a rental?) Cordero & Dalbec have an option remaining, so we could trade for a 1Bman, and not lose one in the system, but one would be demoted- maybe both, so we can keep Arroyo & Refsnyder on the 26. This team is stronger and deeper on paper than the 2021 trade deadline team. I'm not sure it will be so easy to add just 3 players. We added 5, last year: Schwarber Robles Davis Shaw Iggy (after the deadline) DH JD

I would not either. I just provided reasons supporting the opposing point. I have always seemed to value Arroyo more than several posters, here, but we also have to consider giving up something to get something. Trade Arroyo? Maybe. DFA him? No..

Gausman leads the majors in fWAR Pitching at 3.3, which is 22% higher than the next guys at 2.7. he's the ace. (Manoah is at 2.1.)

I'm pulling hard for Seabold. One game at a time.

15 Hits (No HRs) 11 Walks 1 HBP Men are bound to be left on base. What a display of getting on base. 27 men on base 27 outs made Times on base/ PAs 3/6 Duran 4/6 Devers 4/6 JD 3/6 Bogey 5/6 Verdugo 2/6 Story 2/3 Cordero & 0/2 Dalbec 3/5 Vaz 1/5 JBJ

For sure. It sure seems like a different adventure awaits each game.

Especially when you consider the probably don’t want Whitlock over 180 IP by the end of the Sox season, which might be later than some think it will be..

I doubt it’s even been discussed.

One game at a time!

Man, that was fun! Hill with the nice game. Taking this one game at a time.

I have not either,