moonslav59

It's still one of the weakest "part of the team". Our OF is better. Our middle IF is better. I'd even say our SP'ing is better. Our pen is worse due to injuries to Carson Smith, Uehara and RP'ers still trying to regain form after injury (Kimbrel, Taz....) We had to go out and trade for Hill, so we could platoon Shaw at 3B. HanRam has had multiple stretches of difficulty, then he has a huge game here or there. Just take away his best 2 games (5 HRs in 2 games), and his numbers would look pretty bad for a 1Bman.

Beni's one for his last 7. It's clear Sox management has totally destroyed this gifted kid's ego. They are the founders of stupidity.

This past winter/early spring, when many were exposing our glaring weaknesses, I kept saying we should "look at the bigger or more plentiful weaknesses on just about every AL team. Now look at how badly many feel about this team right now (or maybe after last night's game). Well, we're still in the playoffs, if the season ended right now. Other teams are worse than us. I'm not saying that's something to rejoice about, but this team can and has played a lot better than recently. Teams go through struggles and bumps. Maybe that's all this was. I'm still optimistic.

HanRam is the "founder" of power.

Aaron Hill gets the nod tonight versus the lefty starter. I'm not writing Hill off over just 66 PAs of batting .217 (.588 OPS). He's done better vs LHPs (which is why we got him) at .286 (.762 OPS). I've always been higher on Marco Hernandez than many others, and although he bats left-handed, he has been 4 for 7 with a BB in 8 PAs. (He's at ,734 OPS vs LHP at AAA this year.) His ML numbers this year are .295 (754 OPS) in 49 PAs with the Sox earlier this year before his DL stint. He has an .817 OPS at AAA this year in 203 PAs. I'm not sure he projects to be better than Hill vs LHPs going forward, but I still like Hernandez better. Plus, Hernandez is a pretty good defensive SS as well. He's on fire now. He has a .351 BA the last 10 games

Even with the injuries, the slumps, the meltdowns and the tougher schedule, I would not bet against this team. I think our players do "care", and I think they will rise to the occasion when needed. I also think having Papi on the team is the trump card.

I suggested they soon start giving him reps at 3B a while ago, because I felt his bat was getting real close to ML ready. . I caught some flack. The Sox started giving him reps a few weeks later. I thought it might take more time practicing 3B than actually starting a game there, but I have recently learned he played some 3B as a youngster in Cuba. I'm not sure how much that will help, and I hope they gave him enough time in practice not to embarrass himself. I hope he does well and becomes competent defensively at 3B quickly. With Papi hurting, HanRam struggling and Shaw looking like he may end up a platoon candidate, we may need Moncada in September for more than just a PR'er/PH'er.

Sean O'Sullivan outrighted to Pawtucket after returning from the 15 day DL. He's no longer on the 40 man roster, and may refuse the assignment, if he wishes. He already accepted an earlier demotion, so he probably will this time too. soxprospects has us with 39 players on the 40 man roster. Here's the Rule 5 eligibility list for this winter. Any chance one of these guys may be added early? Luis Ax. Basabe, Danny Bethea, Ty Buttrey, Jamie Callahan, Carlos Coste, Allen Craig, Jake Drehoff, Jeff Driskel, Jeffry Fernandez, Pat Goetze, Reed Gragnani, Taylor Grover, Justin Haley, Juan Hernandez, Dedgar Jimenez, Raiwinson Lameda, Angelo LeClerc, Tzu-Wei Lin, Deiner Lopez, Austin Maddox, Kyle Martin, Mike McCarthy, Daniel McGrath, Simon Mercedes, Mike Meyers, Mike Miller, Yankory Pimentel, Tim Roberson, Javier Rodriguez, Jake Romanski, Dioscar Romero, Ramses Rosario, Robby Scott, Teddy Stankiewicz, Aneury Tavarez, German Taveras, JT Watkins, Jordan Weems, Jantzen Witte, Luis Ysla I don't see any. Will we pick someone else up or add a player in the system not on the above list?

Thanks for the correction. I think Seattle has one of the easier schedules remaining. 20 games vs the A's and Angels is nearly half their games! Add 13 vs CWS, MIL, NYY and MN and it's pretty much a cake walk for 2/3rds of their schedule.

The other thought is that when we go trade shopping for a solid SP'er this winter, Espi cannot be included in the package. I was never against trading Espi, although I hoped we could avoid it, but rather my thoughts have always been that if you are going to trade a top prospect (or two or three) then do it for a better pitcher than Pomeranz or a closer making FA near money. It's not like I want to hoard prospects. I actually favored dealing away plenty of them in one or two blockbuster deals and not nickel and diming it.

I get it, and you have stated it enough that we all know it. But every bad Pom start doesn't equate with Espi becoming a star. I didn't mean to imply it did, and I try really hard to not use small sample sizes to judge anybody or any trade. That's why I said I hate the trade "the same now as before". Pom's poor start has not made me hate it any more. It will take many years to fully judge this trade.

Yes, you're right. I stand corrected. I thought of Buch, but was thinking he was drafted before Theo, but he was drafted in 2005. My main point was about the upside potential of Espinoza. I'm not discounting the downside and the risk, but how many pitchers Espi's age make it to the 15th ranking? It's obvious his ceiling is sky high, otherwise he wouldn't be ranked that highly being so far away from the bigs.

I'll wait until we are out of it or win a championship. Besides, much of this thread is devoted to next year and beyond. Simple outlook: We'll have about $30M to spend. We have 4 holes to fill (some may be filled from within): SP1/2 RP/2 RP3 Corner IF/DH We lose Papi and probably gain full seasons from Beni & Moncada, which makes us much younger. Uehara, Tazawa, Hill, Buch and Hanigan will likely not be back next year. We should compete but are not close to being favorites unless the changes made are grand.

I realize the risk, but I'm going to be a Sox fan much longer than 5 years. The point about our past pitching prospects not doing well has nothing to do with Espinoza. We haven't had a pitching prospect ranked this highly since long before this management group. Yes, Espi is young. Yes, he may fail. Yes, he may become much greater than anything Pompom can give us, and his team control will be much more than 2.4 years.

Here's an easier look breakdown of remaining games: v= versus at home @= away Boston (19 Home/ 28 Away) 10 TB (3 v TB/ 7 @ TB) 9 BAL (3 v BAL/ 6 @BAL) 7 NYY (4 v NYY/ 3 @ NYY) 6 TOT (3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR 4 @ DET 3 v KCR 3 v AZ 3 @ OAK 3 @ SDP 1 @ CLE Toronto (22 Home/ 25 Away) 10 NYY (4 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY) 6 BAL (3 v BAL/ 3 @ BAL) 6 BOS (3 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS) 6 TBR (3 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR) 7 LAA (3 v LAA/ 4 @ LAA) 3 v HOU 3 v MN 3 @ CLE 3 @ SEA Baltimore (25 Home/ 23 Away) 9 BOS (6 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS) 9 NYY (3 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY) 7 TBR (4 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR) 6 TOR ( 3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR) 4 v HOU 4 WSH (2 v WSH/ 2 @ WSH) 3 v AZ 3 @ SFG 3 @ DET Detroit (27 Home/ 21 Away) 10 MN (4H/ 6A) 9 KCR (6H/ 3A) 7 CLE (4H/ 3A) 6 CWS (3H/ 3A) 4 v BOS 3 v LAA 3 v BAL 3 @ TEX 3@ ATL Seattle (22H/ 27A) 10 OAK (4H/ 6A) 10 LAA (3H/ 7A) 7 TEX (3H/ 4A) 6 HOU (3H/ 3A) 4 @ CWS 3 v MIL 3 V NYY 3 v TOR 3 @ MN Houston is still in it, and they are pretty hot right now, but I doubt they make it.

Here's an easier look breakdown of remaining games: v= versus at home @= away Boston (19 Home/ 28 Away) 10 TB (3 v TB/ 7 @ TB) 9 BAL (3 v BAL/ 6 @BAL) 7 NYY (4 v NYY/ 3 @ NYY) 6 TOT (3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR 4 @ DET 3 v KCR 3 v AZ 3 @ OAK 3 @ SDP 1 @ CLE Toronto (22 Home/ 25 Away) 10 NYY (4 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY) 6 BAL (3 v BAL/ 3 @ BAL) 6 BOS (3 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS) 6 TBR (3 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR) 7 LAA (3 v LAA/ 4 @ LAA) 3 v HOU 3 v MN 3 @ CLE 3 @ SEA Baltimore (25 Home/ 23 Away) 9 BOS (6 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS) 9 NYY (3 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY) 7 TBR (4 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR) 6 TOR ( 3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR) 4 v HOU 4 WSH (2 v WSH/ 2 @ WSH) 3 v AZ 3 @ SFG 3 @ DET Detroit (27 Home/ 21 Away) 10 MN (4H/ 6A) 9 KCR (6H/ 3A) 7 CLE (4H/ 3A) 6 CWS (3H/ 3A) 4 v BOS 3 v LAA 3 v BAL 3 @ TEX 3@ ATL Seattle (22H/ 27A) 10 OAK (4H/ 6A) 10 LAA (3H/ 7A) 7 TEX (3H/ 4A) 6 HOU (3H/ 3A) 4 @ CWS 3 v MIL 3 V NYY 3 v TOR 3 @ MN Houston is still in it, and they are pretty hot right now, but I doubt they make it.

You mean waive Buch, right?

I hope so, but I hated the trade then and I hate it the same now. Here's how I see it: Upside A - Pomeranz pitches like a 2/3 slot pitcher he was for 15 games in SD. If that is going to be the "real Pomeranz", it means we may not have to acquire a 1/2 slot pitcher this winter, and we can save the money or larger package of prospects that would have been needed to get one. This will allow us to go all out for 2 excellent RP'ers and a mighty middle-order bat. Even if he pitches like a solid #3 starter in 2017, the move could work out okay or well for 2 years. Upside B- Pomeranz becomes a solid 3/4 SP'er that gives us 5-6 IP of 4.00-4.50 ERA for the remainder of his relatively low cost contract. Downside A- Pomeranz pitches like a 2/3 slot pitcher he was for 15 games in SD, we believe this is the "real Pomeranz", we don't acquire a 1/2 slot pitcher this winter, and we suck next year, because Pomeranz is really a number 4. Downside B- Pomeranz continues to struggle the rest of this year, we realize we made a mistake, and we end up losing Espi plus the larger package needed to acquire a true 1/2 this coming winter. I think upside A is the most likely result.

Well.... 28 days.... 1.034 Betts .950 Beni .858 Leon .847 Pedey .766 Shaw Last 14 days... 1.124 Betts .950 Beni .855 Leon .789 Pedey

Before tonight's game the following players have slumped badly: OPS in last 14 days .382 Ortiz .473 HanRam .546 Holt .573 Bogey .583 JBJ Last 28 days .621 Hill .657 Holt .659 Ortiz .677 HanRam

Anybody heard who we offered? My guess is I'd have been against it. Seeing what Texas gave, I'm sure our offer was significant. It's hard to imagine Beltran doing better than Beni, but with others getting banged up, maybe you could be right (assuming we have a chance this year). Too bad we can't trade our vets like HanRam and Pablo for decent prospects.

That way he gets to miss the A-Rod farewell. That would really be like sticking the knife in and twisting it! (LOL)

You're totally right, but Jf still needs to go, if only to try and light a fire (a sacrificial one, if you don't mind the double entendre) under these players asses.

I mentioned the teenie sample size and I guess his 3.97 ERA in the other games here is good mid rotation, but take away Ziegler's worst game and he's been decent too. (Can't say the same about Abad.) I can see Pomeranz as a mid rotation guy, but more like a 4 not a 3, and I'm not sure if he's more like a 5 than a 3, based on his career or recent 2-3 year numbers-adjusted for park and league.