moonslav59

Maybe Mayer can play 3B, Story SS and Campbell 2B.

4-3 and a sweep of MIN, while not likely, is not impossible. I doubt it happens, but I'm not giving up, yet. Close, but not yet. (It's not like the Yanks are playing real well, too.) 22-28 NYY since June 19th 16-22 TBR since July 31st. 19-22 MIN since July 29th, including 4 of last 5, 6 of last 8. 4-9 TOR since Aug 27th and 18-20 since July 30th. Granted, we have sucked since the ASB, but we are playing teams that are not doing well. That keeps a sliver of hope alive.

That is the most likely scenario, assuming we are intent on trading him. Anthony in RF with Abreu-Ref at DH and 4th OF makes a ton of sense. Anthony may improve on Yoshida's bat right out of the gate, and at no cost! If we actually spent the "savings" on a Yoshida trade on better or more pitching, it would be a net win-win. If we can work Campbell into the 2B mix, we could improve again, at no cost. A healthy Story would, as well. (Mayer would be gravy.) Trading Casas with others for a very good pitcher and moving Devers to 1B and Campbell to 3B could improve the D without hurting the O, plus gain bigly on pitching. Lot's of roads to take, this winter.

I totally agree on not spending enough, and in some ways the Story and Yoshida signings did not even come close to replacing who we lost beforehand and afterwards. My point was that we spent on batting not pitching. It was not to imply we have spent enough. I disagree on the Devers signing "not counting." His contract was nearly 50% higher than any other one ever handed out by the Sox, and it marked a radical change from choices to trade Betts and ley Bogey walk. Had we let Devers walk and signed a $300M pitcher, it might have made a bigger difference. Hell, we could have signed two $155M pitchers with his money. That blows away the $39M/2 deal handed to Gio. Three major points: 1. When we spend big, it is on batters. 2. When we spend on pitching, we swing and miss badly, most of the time. 3. We spent $36M/2 on Jansen, $18.75M/2 on Barnes, $17.5M/2 on Martin- all RP'ers. These total costs are 3 of the highest 4 contracts given to pitchers since Nate & Sale back before 2019. We have not focused on the rotation for 5 years. It shows.

We have done better on the road, so maybe that helps. I do admit, it's hard to see us going 5-2 on this trip. 4-3 might be asking too much.

We have given out contracts that could have netted very good to great pitchers (Devers, Story & Yoshida's,) but instead we spent it on batters. We paid Gio almost $19M a year, which is nearly as much as the highest two combined, from 2020-2023. There are signs of spending- just not on pitching, and when we have spent on pitching, we have swung and missed, badly. Will that change? Who knows?

They may not view Yoshi as a big plus batter. They may not like the fact that Abreu looks like a platoon batter, right now. They may not like taking on salary, when they could just sign a batter. They may value Miller more than we think. The 4/5 slot pitcher still starts as many games as the #1.

What player will we offer a QO to? Jansen? It won't be Martin, O'Neill or Pivetta.

That does not effect his value one penny. If we trade Yoshida, he can DH. We don't need to include him in the SEA deal. We could also trade Anthony for a better pitcher and just keep Abreu for 5 years.

Woo won 7-0 and J Alexander pitched a gem: 7IP with just 2 hits and no BBs. 11 Ks out of 14 outs! The pen struck out 3 for 14 Ks and 0 BB on the night. Maybe the bigger news is Grissom going deep and 2-3 w a BB (up to .773, now.) Meidroth continues to defy all the metrics by going 3-5. Anthony 1-4 w BB. Campbell 1-2 was replaced mid game. Teel 0-3 w BB and 2 runs scored. POR lost 8-4 as Wehunt struggled in his first start at AA (5ER in 5IP and just 1 K and 0BB) Marrero homered (.834 OPS.) Jordan 2-5. Romero 0-5. The farm season is winding down.

Pop and circumstance. Gotta like the 33 SBs in 37 attempts in just 317 PAs. That's a pace of over 65 in 650 PAs with 16 HRs and close to 55 XBHs. He may need to improve on his .303 OBP to stick around. His D at 2B is pretty decent.

The Sox have their backs against the wall, and now have two teams to pass. I'm not going into Seattle's chances, although they may be tied with us, after tonight's game. Here are the current standings (not counting SEA's game.) 83-64 BAL (-1.5 from NYY) 80-66 KCR (-2.0 from BAL and +6.0 on BOS) 78-68 MIN (+3 on DET and +4 on BOS) 75-71 DET (-3.0 MIN and +1.0 BOS) 74-72 BOS (-4.0 MIN and -1.0 DET) Games remaining by series, starting this weekend: BOS @ NYY 4, MIN v CIN 3, DET v COL1 & BAL 3, KCR at PIT BOS @ TBR 3, MIN @ CLE 4, DET @ KCR 3 BOS v MIN 3, DET at BAL 3, KCR v SFG 3 BOS @ TOR 3, MIN v MIA 3, DET v TBR, KCR at WSH 3 BOS v TBR 3, MIN v BAL 3, DET v CWS, KCR at ATL 3 16 games to go. I'm thinking 10-6 minimum, if we sweep MIN or 11-5, if we take 2 of 3 v MIN. It might take 12-4, something we have not done, this year, but we have just gone 4-2, so maybe the tide is turning. GO SOX!

vs RHP per 670 PAs .280 28 100 (.876 OPS) Umm... yes... "A- Oh- Kay!" Nice D in a tough position to play well, too.

I think harmony is right about SEA saying no. They might even say no to: Casas, Abreu & Yoshida for Miller, Haniger ($15.5M in '25) and Garver ($13.5M in '25) (We are down $9M in '25 but up $18M in '26 and '27 for a net +$27M. Essentially, SEA pays Yoshi $9M x 3 yrs, which seems reasonable.) Now, Ref can retire and we have a RHB back up in RF to go with Anthony. We have a RHB to DH (Garver) and be a 3rd Catcher. Most of all, we get a very good SP'er for 5 years, at a low cost. We'd need to fix 1B (Devers?) and then 3B (Meidroth and or Campbell?) C: Wong & Garver (Teel, when ready) 1B: Devers (Meidroth/Romy) 2B: Mayer, DHam (Campbell) SS: Story (Mayer, Romy) 3B: Campbell, Meidroth LF: Duran CF: Rafaela RF: Anthony, Haniger DH: Garver/Haniger- DHam/EValdez We take a hit on O but improve the D and pitching for $9M a year plus what Miller gets in arbs.

I think you are underselling Abreu or overselling average middle inning guys. Who is an average middle inning guy? Bernardino? Kelly? Wink? I don't see an average middle man being equal to a good defensive RF'er that is top 30 in OPS and has 5 years of control at a low cost. I do think he's more of a major piece in a package with a better player, but stand alone, he gets 2 mid guys or a very good 8th inning guy or maybe a decent #4 SP or top #4 type.

TIP O'Neill with the megabomb! WOW!!!

Another bite by the snake.

I thought about adding Haniger and Abreu w no Mets involved.

Most RP'ers, even the good ones, have periods of ups and downs. My guess is, both of these guys, along with I Campbell get long looks, next spring and maybe into summer. I'm not sure I'd write him off, so quickly. His 3.90 xFIP from the start of '23 to July 15th, 2024, ranks top 60 among MLB RP'ers with 59 or more IP. Weissert has a 4.00 xFIP from 2023-2024 (73 IP.) soxprospects,com wrote this: Slider: 79-82 mph. Plus pitch, heavy usage. Sweeping two-plane movement. Fastball: 93-96 mph. Throws both a four-seam and sinker at about the same velocity and release point, the sinker just has more movement to it. Average potential for both pitches.. Previously threw a low 90s cutter, has seemingly phased that pitch out of his arsenal. Changeup: 83-86 mph. Shows late fade down and away from lefties. Show-me pitch. Career Notes: Rated as having the best slider in the Yankees' system in 2021. Was the International League Pitcher of the Year in 2022. Acquired from New York with Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice for Alex Verdugo in December 2023. Summation: Potential solid depth reliever. Ceiling of a middle reliever. Has a funky delivery and bat-missing ability with his fastball and slider combo, but held back by inconsistent command.

Certainly, some of ben's additions helped get that 2013 ring, but yes, the "bulk" of returning players were more important: Papi, Lester, Jake, Pedey, Lackey, Nava, Buch, Doubront, Miller, Tazawa and several more. The additions list was short, namely Vic, Uehara, Napoli, Drew and Dempster. The farm left was not great, but it included Bogey, Iggy, Barnes & Middy

2024 Jackson Holliday 2023: Gunnar Henderson 2022: Andy Rutschman 2020-2021: Wander Franco 2019:Vlad Guerrero 2018: Ronald Acuna 2017: Beni 2016: Corey Seager 2015: Kris Bryant 2014: Byron Buxton 2013: J Profar 2011-2012: Harper 2010: J heyward 2009: M Weiters 2008: Jay bruce 2007: Dice K D Young, J Mauer (2), Texiera, Beckett, Hamilton, Ankiel, Drew, A jones (2), ARod, C Floyd, B taylor, Van Poppel, S Avery

No doubt, and he left a nice core for Ben, despite some budget issues and a lesser farm than when he was the GM.

He may just be a flash in the pan, but his speed and base-stealing skills are for real. He is okay at 2B, but he is below average at SS, on defense. It will all come down to his OBP, which will feed into the speed aspect of his strength. Until Mayer or Campbell take the 2B job, I see a DHam platoon situation with Grissom or Romy to start the 2025 season. He is making the Renfroe- JBJ trade look a little better, years later.

Didn't some claim Larry landed Schill?

Gotta like having #1. Who were their most recent #1's?