I actually made a good living playing the stocks for about 7 years.
I was fine with the Price signing. We needed an ace, and he was one of the best to come on the market in years.
Here's what soxprospects says...
Arm: Plus arm strength. Touched the mid-90s off the mound in college. Plenty of arm for third base, able to make all the throws including balls fielded on the foul line. Will have accuracy problems on occasion as throws can sail on him.
Field: Hands work well and footwork is usually reliable. A little stiff and has some trouble getting down on ground balls when charging the ball. Doesn’t have great range, but makes up for that somewhat with his length, allowing him to cover more ground than his feet would normally allow. Projects as an average defender at third base with the potential to be above-average.
I agree. There just seems to be en aura of a genuine personality with Cora, and I think it has rubbed off on the team as a whole.
I felt something was missing last year, and it was hard to put into words. I called it "lack of fire and desire," but I'm not sure that captured it.
I'm super pleased with Cora and his staff. DD should also be commended on picking up so many pieces that filled our greatest needs (JD, Pearce, Brasier, Kinsler & Moreland)..
Pitcher: Barnes (still gets no respect)
Honorable Mention: Johnson/Velazquez
Everyday Player: Leon (still gets little respect)
Honorable Mention: Holt (I was one who suggested various trades with Holt as a "throw-in".)
Nice balanced offense, today.
Two of the slots with just one time on base (Bogey & Nunez) had 2 RBI.
Slot/ times OB
1. 2
2. 2
3. 3
4. 3
5. 1
6. 3
7. 1
8. 1 (The other was Leon.)
9. 2
Great game by Price. He's likely very happy Leon was behind the plate.
I see no reason to not keep all 3. Once September hits, it's non issue.
If you are talking about next year, who knows?
I'm fine with Swihart as a utility player that can act as our 3rd catcher, but I'm not ready to trade Vaz or Leon and anoint Swihart as the only back-up catcher.
With Price looking more and more like an ace, we'd be pretty damn strong going into the playoffs with a healthy Sale & Price. Porcello & ERod can duke it out for the 3-4 slots, and the others move to the pen to strengthen it.
Posters were slamming JBJ after just 3-4 weeks. I mentioned 6, to make it half of his last 12 weeks. I could have said 2, 3, 4 ,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11.