moonslav59

The Sox are supposedly on the "cutting edge" of change. I get how Holt's career OPS is almost identical vs RHPs as LHPs, but he comes very close to sucking vs both, so it makes absolutely no sense to me.

It just seems very strange to decide to break your philosophy with a guy like Holt. I think it was idiotic, and just because we won doesn't change a thing, IMO.

I think Butler was a minor league FA last year and chose to sign with us. I could be mistaken.

We now have 8 HRs (and 13 doubles) in the last 4 games.

Yay, the pitcher tries extra hard to get the guy out. Even harder than normally. It really works. Just like the clutch hitter who tries much harder when it counts. (I had to say it!)

How bad are the Giants to bat Pablito 4th? Speaking of teams and ups and downs; we thought the Sox were whacked out finishing in last place 3 of 4 years sandwiched around a championship season, and they were, but the Giants recent history is pretty messed up too. 2002 Lost WS 4-3 2007 Last place 2008 4th place out of 5 2009 3rd of 5 2010 WS Championship 2011 2nd of 5 (no playoffs) 2012 WS championship 2013 3rd of 5 (76-86) 2014 WS Championship 2015 2nd of 5 2016 2nd of 5 2017 5th of 5' It's hard to look at the Ginats now and think this team is just 2.5 years removed from being a team that won 3 WS in a 5 years span.

I remember a clown from "that other site" once claimed Ellsbury had his big year because Papi was batting 2 to 3 slots away. (It didn't help explain his bad years, when he had even more "protection".)

A look at 2018's 40 man roster construction... We have 47 men currently on the 40 man roster due to these 7 players on the 60 day DL: Wright Smith Thornburg Hernandez Rutledge Elias Ross Let's not count the 7 free agents to be: Nunez A Reed Moreland Young Abad Boyer Fister That puts us down to 40. Here are the Rule 5 players: Victor Acosta, Yoan Aybar, Trey Ball, Jalen Beeks, Danny Bethea, Jordan Betts, Ty Buttrey, Rusney Castillo, Harrison Cooney, Jake Cosart, Enmanuel De Jesus, Jhonathan Diaz, Willis Figueroa, Pat Goetze, Daniel Gonzalez, Taylor Grover, Justin Haley, Juan Hernandez, Bryan Hudson, Dedgar Jimenez, Raiwinson Lameda, Isaias Lucena, Danny Mars, Algenis Martinez, Kevin McAvoy, Daniel McGrath, Ritzi Mendoza, Mike Meyers, Mike Miller, Samuel Miranda, Joseph Monge, Jhon Nunez, Yankory Pimentel, Jordan Procyshen, Hildemaro Requena, Jeremy Rivera, Jake Romanski, Chandler Shepherd, Josh Smith, Teddy Stankiewicz, Cole Sturgeon, Aneury Tavarez, Carlos Tovar, Jantzen Witte These players will be minor league free agents unless added to the 40 man roster or re-signed: Jeremy Barfield, Brian Bogusevic, Bryce Brentz, Dan Butler, Ryan Court, Jacob Dahlstrand, Matt Dominguez, Shawn Haviland, Williams Jerez, Kyle Kendrick, Deiner Lopez, Heiker Meneses, Edgar Olmos, Mike Olt, Mitchell Osnowitz, Tim Roberson, Jose Sermo, Herny Urrutia, Elih Villaneuva, Marcus Walden, Jordan Weems Out of the bolded players, maybe we'll try to keep/protect: Beeks Mars Brentz Barfield and maybe Olmos Butler Tavarez (Note: Chavis is a Rule 5 candidate after 2018.) That's 4-7 players. I think, at minimum, we'll sign at least one FA this winter- probably more like 2-3. That makes maybe 5- 8 spots needed to open up vis trades, DFAs or getting some to sign minor league deals. So, who goes? Here's my rankings (in order of who is most expendable): 1. Rutledge- Holt, Hernandez, Lin and Marrero makes Josh expendable. 2. Steve Selsky- despite the lack of ML ready OF depth, I think he goes. 3. Noe Ramirez- He's had his chances, and we have plenty of pen depth on the farm. 4. Henry Owens- Maybe he deserves to be first or second on this list. 5. Roenis Elias- How long can injuries be an excuse? 6. Hector Velazquez- Here's where the choices get a little tougher. (Trade bait?) 7. Kyle Martin, Ben Taylor or Austin Maddox (One could be traded.) 8. Holt, Hernandez, Lin or Marrero (One could be traded.) 9. Scott, Hembree or Workman (One could be traded) 10. Leon or Swihart (One could be traded.) It's way to early to know we might do, but some tough and not so tough decisions will have to be made.

Would Bruce's salary put us over the luxury limit? If so, I doubt we sacrifice that priority for an upgrade at 4th OF'er and possibly DH. Now, if HRam looks like he might be out for a long time, and Nunez will need to cover for Pedey longer than we hope then maybe...

Or, hope the beat themselves.

I think he wears stretchy waist uniforms....no belts.

Nice to know that we paid for the error and double.

What about his 2B tonight?

62-49 Last year: 61-50 We went to 61-52 last year before going on a 6 game winning streak this time last year.

And after Papi HRs, they let those after him get on base or hit back-to-back HRs. It makes total sense.

I'm not sure if this is a loyalty obsession by JF, or an old page from Sox managers in the past who when resting a player put his sub in the same batting slot. The fact that Holt did okay yesterday and got a hit today, and we won both games will only encourage JF to continue this type of idiocy. Even at his best, Holt is maybe a .700 hitter. We can't do better than that with our #2 hitter?

Me neither.

MLBTR... When the Red Sox placed left-hander David Price on the disabled list last week on account of elbow issues, they were confident he’d return this season. Now, “the clock is working against” Price, writes Evan Drellich of CSNNE.com, as he’s dealing with soreness that prevented him from throwing from flat ground Friday. Afterward, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was unable to provide a timetable for a potential Price return. While Dombrowski noted that Price’s elbow has been “fine” when he has thrown, the executive conceded “the longer that he’s out, the longer it takes to come back, because you have to then build yourself back up.”

I'd take Quintana over Sale, even if the years and costs were equal.

You're right. We have plenty of time to evaluate Beni and hopefully watch him improve on his high need areas. Chris Sale and the other "Killer Bs" (and others currently more important than Beni) will need the choice made before Beni's anyway.

lol

Brian Johnson 5 IP 1 ER 4 H 1 BB 1 K Mars with an HR among those 4 hits.

4 runs on just 5 hits. We don't see that very often with this club. Keep on winning!

so..... Some studies show putting your best hitter up second is best. Does this mean Holt is our best hitter? At the risk of sounding non PC, and going against my sworn oath as a teacher to not use the "R" word, JF is retarded.

I'm pulling for Pablo to do well. I don't feel any need to "forgive". Maybe forget or "what if..."