moonslav59

I'm not locked in on any of the names I listed, especially Simmons. Correa would be a great plus, but I doubt we'd move Bogey to a new position- we'd trade him. His value is at SS, despite my beliefs about his defense.

I would not trade Bogey, unless we got a quality pitcher (I never said "mid level"), so the loss of offense at SS would be evened up or outweighed by improved pitching and defense at the most important defensive position outside of catcher. Scherzer would be a short term signing, so we'd basically be putting off for a few years another big choice while giving our kids time to find a role. Yes, Iglesias would be expensive but not close to Syndergaard or Gausman. What's your plan for Dalbec? You want Schwarber at DH after JD. You want Casas at 1B. You want Devers at 3B. You seem to go out of your way to squeeze our fine young player out of a role on our team, going forward. What's your plan to improve our D? Sign Schwarber and keep all our clown defenders where they are? What happens, if Bogey bolts for nothing? What happens when Bloom (rightly) refuses to outbid everyone for Syndergaard or Gausman- neither are the type you wait years for and pounce with large and long deals. It's easy to just think Duran, Casas, Houck, Whitlock and the rest of our youth is going to pull a Betts-Bogey-JBJ trifecta, but it may not happen. We do have 4 big guys coming off the books after '22: Bogey, JD, Eovaldi and Kike. There's room for them and some FA's, too. BTW, I know Bloom won't do this, but I'd like to see some of these type moves being made, and yes, we may need to get "creative."

...and walking the 9 guy. ...and leadoff walks.

Mets up on Yanks 8-2.

Once again, a walk to the nine hitter bites us in the ass.

Duran could end up being anywhere between a dud, a decent role player to a very good player. With an OF of Verdugo, Kike and Renfroe, and the drum beat banging for Schwatber to return, he may not get a long look in 2022. He deserves one, so surely talk of trading him is not far-fetched or really a slight against him. It may be the best thing that happens to his career. Of course, trading someone else, or playing Kike at 2B could open up a slot for Duran, but I don't see that being a winter plan. A similar choice may be needed with Casas, if Dalbec keeps hitting like this. The good thing for him is that JD's deal ends after 2022, and Dalbec's defense screams out, "DH ME!"

Imagine a lineup, if Schwarber could fill the catcher slot: 1. Kike 2B 2. Schwarber C 3. Bogey SS 4. Devers 3B 5. JD DH 6. Renfroe RF 7. Dalbec 1B 8. Verdugo LF 9. Arroyo 2B

Are we ever going to see our full and best line-up? We've never even seen any 9 of these together in one lineup, have we? (Vaz/Plawecki count as one- one has to play) Schwarber Devers Bogey JD M Renfroe Kike Verdugo Dalbec Arroyo Vaz/Plawecki

This is not meant as a judgmental piece, but here are the top prospects drafted by our past and present GMs. (Forgive any omissions.) Bloom: Mayer Yorke Jordan McDonough Hickey Wu-Yelland IFA: M Bleis DD: Houck Casas Dalbec Duran Groome Lugo/Song/Feltman/Cottam IFA: B Bello, G Jimenez, B Mata, H Velazquez Ben: Benintendi Kopech Buttrey L Allen Chavis/Asuaje IFA: Devers, DHern, Bazardo, Margot, Basabe (2), Bautista Theo: Betts Pedroia Rizzo Buchholz JBJ Ellsbury Barnes/Lowrie/Reddick Vazquez/Masterson/D Murphy Workman/Alex Wilson/DBard/N Ramirez IFA: Bogey, Montas, Okajima, Tazawa, Dice-K, Doubront, Iggy

Nice try. The Yanks have lost 6 straight and 10 out of 12. (One win was in 11 innings) The Sox won their last game and have won 5 of 8 and 10 of 17. It's like the Sox have been flying even or at a slight rise, while the Yanks flaming jet nosedives by us.

Last 2 series of season: BOS: 3@BAL, 3@WSH NYY: 3@TOR, 3TBR TOR: NYY 3/ BAL 3 SEA: OAK, LAA OAK: 3@SEA, 3@HOU Next to last games: BOS: 3@CWS, 3@SEA, 3BAL, 2NYM, 3NYY NYY: 3@NYM, 1MIN, 3@BAL, 3CLE, 3TEX, 3@BOS TOR: 4@BAL, 3TBR, 3MIN, 3@TBR, 4@MIN SEA: 3ARI, 3BOS, 3@KCR, 4@OAK, 3@LAA OAK: 3TEX, 3@KCR, 3@LAA, 4SEA, 3HOU Once we get past these next 6 games, our schedule is the easiest.

Does Espinal get another chance after his nice AAA game the other night? Or, do we use the day off to not give our starters an extra day's rest? (We do have next THUR off and then MON & THUR the following week.)

Time for Seabold to get his chance.

Worse, we are losing players even when not playing.

I agree. We need to hold our prospects and hope a few help in big or moderate ways. I understand the worries about Duran and Dalbec's defense, but they may just need time to adjust. I think Duran should play the short corner OF position, until he proves he's better in CF than our other options. I'm totally unsure about Dalbec's D and wonder about moving Devers to 1B. He keeps having numerous fielding slumps, every year. I guess, if he loses focus at 1B, too, it won't be any prettier, but we need serious improvement with our IF defense.

Wait, what?

Especially, if we sign Simmons and Bryant, although losing JD and Bogey's salaries add some to the pool.

The beef has always been about their pitching, but allowing less runs than the Rays is surprising.

Like Manny did for Damon in the playoffs!

True. Ideally, Kike plays CF. I'm thinking maybe this is best for 2022: JD Opts out Trade Bogey for a pitcher- sign Simmons Move Devers to 1B Dalbec moves to DH Sign Kris Bryant to play 3B Sign Scherzer Sign R Iglesias 1. Kike CF 2. Bryant 3B 3. Devers 1B 4. Renfroe RF 5. Dalbec DH 6. Verdugo LF 7. Simmons SS 8. Arroyo 2B 9. Vaz C Scherzer, Sale, ___(Trade from Bogey)___, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Seabold Iglesias, Houck, Whitlock, Barnes, Richards, Taylor, DHern, Sawamura

I agree. I've been ragging on our D all year, but benching our hottest hitter stings.

Close call might be this better offensive lineup: Hernandez 2B Schwarber LF Bogey SS Devers 3B Renfroe RF JD DH Verdugo CF Dalbec 1B Vaz C

No, there is no way a pitcher better than ERod signs a one year deal. As of right now, I’d hope he refuses, we get the pick and sign someone better for a longer term. The problem is, I’m not high on Gausman or Syndergaard as the types of pitchers we waited years to sign to long term deals. Maybe Scherzer or Kershaw to a deal under 3-4 years might be best, but at todays prices, maybe punting with a 1 year deal with ERod is best, then trade for another.

13 pretty easy games coming up. Even without some key players, the wins are there for the taking. If you don’t make a move now, while your competitors have tougher schedules, don’t expect to do it later when things flip.

Sox, Yanks and Jays all have 62 losses. SEA & OAK both have 64 losses. Sox have 80 wins Yanks 78 Jays 77 SEA & OAK 76