moonslav59

Well said. When I lived in Maine, there was always someone to talk Sox with, but when I moved to Mexico after the 2004 ring, I needed my Sox fix. These sites work well for that.

I hope my streak continues- no first game post losses this year. I may have no second game post losses, either.

I’d bet Duran does very well. He may have. Few blips here and there, and starting off well helps with the fans and media.

Lol!

I read a study once that showed WS winners almost always had plus defence at 1B.

If Duran does very well, we may just stick with Kike at 1B vs RHPs, Dalbec vs LHPs, and Kike plays rover vs LHPs, mostly spelling Verdugo, Duran and Arroyo.

So far...

Yes. He'll also play some 2B, when Arroyo gets a rest. Verdugo may start sitting a little more (vs L) than before. Maybe we give Renfroe a few breathers v R than he has gotten, so far. Arroyo could also give Bogey a breather while Kike plays 2B. Kike is the rover, but he should play 9 out of 10 games, along with Renfroe and maybe Verdugo & Arroyo. Duran may play 7-8 out of 10. Dalbec loses the most playing time, IMO.

I think Kike.

Is Barnes being overworked? 2017 to 2021 Appearances 69 62 70 24 (60 gm season) 38 (91 gms, so far) on pace for 68 IP 70 62 64 23 (2020) 38 (on pace for 68) Batters Faced 287 265 285 102 (2020) 143 (on pace for 254) Pitches Thrown Per PA- and total pitches thrown. 4.18 - 1203 pitches thrown 4.18 - 1109 4.60 - 1311 4.46 - 455 (2020 projected to 1229 over 162) 4.18 - 681 (projected to 1212 over 162) Nothing to worry about?

Gaetti, hands down. I'm not one to value RP'ers all that highly, but I do think fangraphs undervalues them. The Gaetti-Mo comp goes against that belief.

The thing is, every AL playoff bound team has a black hole. Some have 2-4. Also, with Duran up, we need to find ways for Kike and Arroyo to play nearly everyday. Kike can play 1B. I think we found our 1B platoon or coverage guy in Kike. Out of their top 9 hitters by PAs, the Rays have 4 guys at under .707 (2 under .641). Their next 3 guys are under .700, so 7 of their top 12 guys are under .707. Can they keep winning with just one guy under .700? The CWS have 2 of their top 9 under .700. Can they win? The A's have two, including one at .599. 6 of their top 13 hitters are below .700. They have one hitter over .826. The Astros have 2, including one at .548! Having 7 of their top 10 over .800 kinda makes up for that. Our top 3 guys by PAs are over .925, our next 3 are over .745. The next 3 are under .700 but Arroyo, our 10th man in PAs is now playing more than Marwin and Dalbec. 7. .659 Vaz 8. .673 Dalbec 9. .583 Marwin 10. .762 Arroyo We have 3 "black hole," but Dalbec seems to be squeezed out of playing time by the addition of Duran, and Marwin should not remain 9th in PAs, unless Arroyo gets hurt, again. Maybe Duran ends up in the top 9 or 10 in PAs, but that remains to be seen, and who knows what he will hit?

No doubt. Mo was the best ever closer. Gaetti was not the best ever anything. So, it comes down to how much you value a closer vs an everyday player.

That’s a bit deceptive. Since he’s done so well, he’s pitched to less batters per inning and thrown less pitches per batter.

If Marwin goes on the IL, Cordero could replace Chavis.

We don’t really know what Bloom might or might not do. I think he might make a big trade but not for a rental or maybe not even a guy like Berríos, who has one more year of control, unless extending him is part of the plan, Timing is also a key element in making a big trade. Some might think, “hey, we’re in a race for a ring, what better time is there but now?” I’m not sure Bloom is thinking now it the right time.

Great point, and while Gaetti was pretty good, no way were these two equals.

Dalbec can be platooned or see him play about 50%, with Kike or apparently Arroyo playing 1B when he sits, so Duran can play near FT without taking Kike out of the line-up.

With everyone healthy, would this be the 26 man roster? Sale, Eovaldi, ERod, Pivetta, Perez, Richards (Pen?) Barnes, Ottavino, Taylor, Whitlock, DHern, Houck, Sawamura Vazquez, Plawecki Dalbec Arroyo, Marwin Bogey Devers Verdugo Kike, Duran Renfroe JD #26: Cordero, Chavis, Brasier, Bazardo, Andriese, Workman, Rios

Speaking of the IL. Sale is on the 60 and begins his rehab, very soon. Brasier is on the 60, and I'm not sure when he comes back. (It may notmatter.) Bazardo is on the 60, and may not come back, this year. Andriese is on the 10 day IL. Santana is on the 10 day IL. Marwin may be going on the 10 day IL. Chavis, Workman, Rios and Brice are on the bubble.

Has any moves been announced to counter the Duran addition to the 40 man and 26 man roster and Houck to the 26 man roster? I have heard Marwin to the IL (for what?), and I'm guessing Brice gets DFA'd again. With Santana on the IL, he may be next, or do we DFA him and try to keep Brice on the 40? (Does he have to clear waivers, again?)

I think the biggest question right now is how do Duran and Kike play 8-9 games out of 10. I guess the idea that Duran may not play that much could be asked, but I think they called him up to play at least 7 of 10 games. The only way I see it working is for Kike or Arroyo to play 1B at least 4-5 games out of 10. Let's assume Kike does, since he has 89 innings at 1B over his career. Kike has none. We could see something like this: Games played out of 10 9 Renfroe (Kike plays LF or CF, Verdugo RF) 9 Verdugo (Kike plays LF or CF- Duran LF or CF) 8-9 Kike (4-5 at 1B, 1-2 at 2B and 2-3 in the OF) 8-9 Arroyo (Kike plays 2B) 5-6 Dalbec (Kike plays 1B) Basically, Kike plays the rover. Dalbec loses the most playing time. Everyone else gets 1-2 days off every 10 games, which isn't far from the norm, right now.

No doubt, Barnes looked better in April and May. I'm hopeful his last few games doing a little better is a sign of better things to come.

I'm not sure they even play Duran in LF at all. You don't throw a rookie, with not much experience even in CF to a corner OF slot without some game experience, right? I can't remember who the poster was that felt he'd play LF once called up.

Quite a few have, too. Here are his ERA numbers from these chosen time frames (baseball ref does not give OPS Against) 2.49 from opening day to June 5th. 4.76 from June 5 to June 24. 1.29 from June 25 to July 15. Maybe he's got over the blip. WHIP 0.63 1.76 1.14 Maybe not.