moonslav59

Just because a team has played poorly for a month does not mean it is doomed to missing the playoffs. Yes, the season is 20% over and looking JUST at their performance, so far, there isn't much to be optimistic about, but this is a great team. I refuse to think losing Kimbrel has turned this team into a loser. I am very confident this team will easily make the playoffs. I'm a little more concerned about not winning the division, but I still think we will. As bad as we have played, and as well as the Rays have played, we are still only 6.5 back from the division lead. We are 3.5 games behind the last wild card team- the Guardians who just lost Kluber- and it's early May, for God's sake! Early MAY! Let that sink in. There's no reason to believe what happened over the last month will continue, and many more reasons to expect players to return to their norms- like many already have begun to do. Our rotation has been day and night compared to early season. The killer B's are doing much better, except for JBJ, who always seems to have a rough patch and then do okay or better. Chavis has helped the 2B position that has lost all 3 top of the depth chart players. Our pen has defied all the criticism and done pretty well. Vaz is hitting better. Devers is coming to life. I guess I just can't understand all the doom and gloom. There is a lot to be optimistic about. Back-to-back, my friend! Back-to- freekin' BACK!

They are totally mishandling him! (Sarcasm alert)

I was thinking the same thing last year, too. Having a peak Sale in October should be the number one priority on Sale. I'd rather be a wild card team with a peaking Sale than a division winner with a burnt out Sale- not that we can't win the division AND keep Sale fresh.

Man O' MAN!

Chavis, CHAVIS, C H A V I S !

1st homer on the season! We gotts hold this lead!

I never let one month change my opinion on any player. Sale has been a tremendous pitcher. I expect him to return to form at some point. If he never does, so be it, but it was fun watching for a while, anyways.

http://soxprospects.com/ Updated Sox Prospect List Duran up 4 slots from 13 to 9 Scherff up 3 (18>15) Lakins up 3 (23>20) Bello up 2 (21>19) Chatham up 1 (8>7) Shawaryn up 1 (15>14) Marcus Wilson inserted at #21 (from Swihart deal) Ockimey up 5 (27>22) Crawford up 6 (29>23) Thaddeus Ward up 8 (38>30) Biggest downers: 9 Reyes (19>28) 6 Schellenger (20>26) 5 Castellanos (22>27) 2 D Diaz (14>16)

If I had to list my top 3, it would be Tiant, Pedro & Manny. My homegrown top 3: Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans and Roger Clemens (until I hated him)...maybe Bill Lee, if I disqualified Clemens - the cheater & child molester.

I agree.

I can understand the sentiment, but some of my favorite Sox players I have watched are... Tommy Harper Luis Tiant Pedro Martinez David Ortiz Manny Ramirez Adrian Beltran JD Martinez and of course.... Chris Freakin' Sale

The only possible reason I can see for hanging onto Thornburg is that they think he can (will) improve. I'm not sure, if they think he has been on one long recovery trail, and he's still not back to 100%, or if they are just praying he suddenly remember how he used to pitch. I have nothing against Thornburg: his injury is a tough one, but I'm with S5. He's at a point now where we can only use him in mop-up games.

We were bound to lose a game like this at some point. The way some were talking about our pen and closer situation going into the season, you'd think we'd already have 5 loses like this. Move on...

Yes, eagle eye, I did. I will adjust it later.

Yes, assuming we find a trade partner, the amount we pay on his contract would count towards our luxury tax.

Although Castillo's contract is subject to the luxury rax, Henry is still paying him. You'd think we'd offer to pay half his deal or more as part of a trade to a team that is well below the luxury tax line. I will say, Castillo must prefer the money over playing at the ML level, so it's not just on DD.

Done. Thanks.

I'm a luddite. Tell me how.

I just got the private message.

We just have to hope he ends up around .700- .750. If he does that, it means he hits .780ish the rest of the way.

...like what happens to winning teams a lot, right?

Pretty much sums it up. Also, nobody has suggested a realistic trade that would help us-- or any trade for that matter.

Time to cut ties with Thornburg. We've waited long enough.

Just finished watching the game. Walden just keeps on surprising. It's time to cut Thornburg loose. Is our offense finally back for good? Nice to see us scoring without JD needing to do it all (or anything, really). Keep the streak going! (Rays & Yanks both losing as I speak.)

OPS over the last 14 days... (32+ PAs) 1.326 Betts 1.061 Chavis .928 Devers .754 Bogey .714 Vaz .702 Moreland .677 Beni .644 JD .451 JBJ