moonslav59

Framing pitches is also a key component of catcher defense. The sample size is too small to know how good Swihart is in this area.

Maybe this is an oversimplification, but it seems like we have several "deserving" RP'ers, that other teams would like to have, but none fill the role we need most- a high quality set up man. We have a bit of a quandary. One strength is pen depth while we need a higher quality pen arm. Quantity for quality is not an easy trade to orchestrate, even with a third team being involved.

Is there any team out there that needs RP'er depth in exchange for one better RP'er? Maybe a three way trade? We trade Hembree and Scott for a prospect and then flip the prospect while adding one of our own for a better RP'er. That still wouldn't help Workman remain on the 25.

Neither are Pom's.

Neither is basing your decisions solely on what a player has done in his most recent sa

I loved the Sale trade, and others too. I love the team we have now and likely into 2019 or even 2020. It does not lessen the joy I feel by having concerns about our extended future.

Yes he is, but it does suck we have no great prospects.

Obviously the hope is that Pom can return to 2016-2017 form. No player is destined to stay as bad or as good as their most recent sample size. Since Pom has a lot of pen experience in his career, and Johnson has been doing very well as a starter, I'd make Pom earn a slot in the rotation by showing something positive from the pen.

Well, it was something worth reporting. I wonder how many of our best prospects are even close to top 100.

On paper, our pen has done very well for two years. In some ways it seems like they have been under appreciated or over performing and not getting the respect they have deserved. That being said, I sure would like to see us add a solid set up guy.

We're 4-1 in Johnson's starts, and he has a 2.22 ERA as a starter. We're 4-5 in Pom's starts (6.19 ERA) You may be right, though I'm pulling hard for Pom. (Johnson has struggled out of the pen, while Pom has a lot of past experience there. I wonder, if that counts for anything.)

LOL. That being said, we were doing pretty well, even without those 3 guys, granted ERod has not been out for too long. Figuring the season started with this order of SP'er depth( assuming all healthy which they were not), our 6-10 ranked starters have done pretty well: 1. Sale 2. Price 3. Porcello 4. ERod 5. Pom 6. Wright 7. Johnson 8. Velazquez 9. Elias/Haley 11. Beeks (Jumped to #9 during season) 4-1 in Johnson's starts (2.22 ERA as starter) 3-1 in Wright starts (4.13 ERA but 3 QS's) 3-0 in Velazquez starts (2.63 ERA) 0-1 in Beeks; starts (13.50 ERA) Overall, we're 10-3 in starts from our 6-9 slot starters. Do you think we've done enough for our starter depth with the Eovaldi trade, or do you hope for another deal for a starter?

The radio announcer said the radar showed a front coming through but clear skies behind it.

Plus, a converted SP'er to RP'er allows for that guy to pitch 2-6 innings, if needed. That takes a big load off the pen. If Pom, Wright or Eovaldi can do well in LR, it lessens the need for multiple high quality set-up men.

According to fangraphs WAR, these are our weakest and strongest positions to date (by AL rankings): 1 RF 1 LF 1 DH 3 SP (behind HOU & CLE) 3 RP (behing NYY & HOU) 3 1B 6 SS 8 CF 12 3B 14 2B 15 C (Note" ourOF WAR of 15.0 nearly doubles the 3rd best AL team, LAA, at 7.8.) For all those who think of me as just a stat geek, notice how I am not calling for a trade for a catcher, 2Bman or 3Bman. I'm also a big JBJ supporter, despite the WAR ranking. I want a quality set-up man despite our 3rd place ranking.

I don't see us going large at 2B, unless we find a way to dump Nunez & his salary, which is highly unlikely. We signed Nunez as Pedey insurance. He may be playing hurt or just in a funk, but I think DD will ride this one out. I'm thinking we go for the best set-up man we can get at the most reasonable cost. (Sounds like an over simplification, granted)

Do you now feel like DD has addressed the starter depth issue sufficiently you have shown concern about since last winter?

I think DD traded away too much of the farm and overpaid at times, but overall, I'm very happy with the totality of his moves. I love the team we have now, and while I've been critical of a few of DD's moves (highly critical, at times), I'm glad he's our GM. Replacing JF with Cora took balls. That move, alone cancels out a bad move or two. Plus, he got Chris Freakin' Sale! He may ultimately be judged by how he handles the closing window, especially if we don't win a ring in the next 2 years.

Tough break losing the 5-0 lead and having to start over.

We've had our share of misfortunes, but seem to have less holes to fill. Pedey ERod Wright Pom Vaz Smith

We may go with one less pitcher for the playoffs, since there are more days off and the 5th starter is often used in long relief, if needed- saving the pen further.

To make it to the WS, we'll likely have to play NY & HOU. I'd prefer facing the Yanks with no Severino for the first 2 games and then have to face HOU. I'm not saying it will be easy, but to me, this might be the best we can hope for, except for the Yanks losing the play-in game.

He got shelled July 13th (2.2 IP, 9H, 2BB & 8 ER), but he's done well in his other most recent 4 starts: Recent to oldest IP H BB ER 6.0 6 0 1 7.0 1 0 0 6.0 8 1 2 6.0 1 2 0 That's 19 IP with just 3 ERs (1.42 ERA) and a 1.00 WHIP. Maybe we got this guy just in time for his long-awaited, breakout moment.

Sea Dogs had 7 guys with 2 hits, including Chavis (HR'd , too). Stanki pitched 7 innings with 5 hits and 1 ER, but Weems let up 7 tuns in the last two innings to take the loss. Dalbec went 2 for 4 with his 24th HR. Chatham got 2 hits (.301 now). Netzer went 4 for 5 (.287). Denyl Reyes went to 10-3 by pitching 7 innings while allowing 3 hits, o BBs and 1 ER.

This is what they have written about themselves on their site: http://soxprospects.com/about.htm "SoxProspects.com was launched on September 20, 2003. The site was founded by Mike Andrews, a self-proclaimed baseball analyst and local Bostonian. Mike has been following the Red Sox farm system in depth since 1998. The site has a staff of over 20 volunteers, including writers, editors, content managers, scouts, and moderators. We get between 10 million and of 15 million page views per year. SoxProspects, LLC owns SoxProspects.com and all of its content." Ian Cundall - Director of Scouting Ian joined the scouting department in October 2010. He regularly scouts games at all affiliates. He oversees our scouting reports and authors scouting features based on his first-hand observations and interactions with professional scouts. E-mail: icundall@soxprospects.com Chaz Fiorino - Assistant Director of Scouting Chaz joined the staff in January 2014. He is a graduate of the MLB Scout Development Program. Nick Rabasco - Scout & Staff Writer A former college baseball player, Nick joined the staff in November 2014.