Nick

Xander only has one multiple hit games over last 14 games or so....our bats are cooling a bit...

Just don't walk anyone....that's my key. Solo shots don't hurt as much.....

Assuming 150 starting pitching slots broken into groups of 30's, top 30 being #1 starters, next 30 being #2 starters, etc, where do you rank Sox starters going forward? 1 Price ( ) 2 Porcello (-) 3 Pomeranz, (-) Wright ( ) 4 5 E Rod (-) We can further separate each group by + (top 1/3) neutral (next 1/3) and - (bottom 1/3). It would be interesting to see 1-75 ranking for AL starters. I have no idea on what basis though. Thoughts?

So assuming no further setbacks, can you outline the progression for Kopech? (i'm not messing with you, I just want to know) thanks

The assistant Red Sox pitching coach has been watching Pomeranz since the start of the season, and he believes the All-Star left-hander is the real deal. "He went from being a two-pitch pitcher, which limits your viability as a starter," Bannister said before the Red Sox beat the Yankees on Friday night. "He added a third pitch, which got him over the hump and it's a quality third pitch." What about E Rod?

Mets viewership higher than Yankees...the bandwagon is apparently empty

I wish they'd drill in and come up with different set of numbers for different pitches....vs fastball, vs cutter/slider, etc...anyone know if there's one somewhere (averages for batted balls in play)?

No....I'm saying you begin to gather pieces for lengthy chase for multiple divisional championships....I think we're doing it. We are pretty well set for time being...I think Pomeranz move was necessary and a good one. You always have to give up something of value. Many pieces are in place, don't you think? We don't need to raid the farm system and empty it.

Ultimate goal for any organization is to have an opportunity to compete in the World Series. Timing is everything. On offensive side, we have a young core group of Betts, Bogaertz and Bradley to build a team around. Pedey is in the mix also. Shaw can be but he has to hit like he did in April/May and not June. Hanley is with us for 3 more years. We have several young candidates to fill out the roster nicely for several years....Moncada, Benintendi, Swihart, Devers, Vazquez. Ortiz loss will be immense but it can be lessened. Going forward, Sox offense looks to be a capable World Series challanger. At some point, if not today, E Rod will be a major league pitcher, or at least that's what the FO believes. Even with opt out clause, Price will be with the Sox for awhile. Porcello has three more years after this season. Pomeranz is not going to fade (it would be a shocker to many, including DD) and he's with us for 2 more years. There's no reason,if he performs as expected, to think that Sox won't extend him. Steven Wright just needs to stay healthy. This is not a bad starting point. Surpluses will become abundantly clear and they can be packaged to acquire better players, upgrading any pitchers or position players. We don't need to make any rash player movements right now (unless due to injuries). The goal is to collect enough talent to overcome daily grind, slumps and injuries. I think we have the right guy (DD) to get the job done.

Go Sox

By Moon Well, before the Espi trade I thought it might take Espi, Beni and Swi to get us a much better pitcher than Pomernaz, but I clearly see Beni as our future LF'er. There's another piece to the future roster puzzle of the Sox: assuming Moncada is better offensively than Beni, what if two or three of these things happen by opening day next year: 1) We sign Encarnacion to be our DH/1Bman. 2) Pablo comes back in shape next year and wins back the 3B position. 3) Shaw learns to hit LHPs and continues at a near .800 OPS. 4) HanRam ends up near .850 at season end and does well in the playoffs. 5) Sam Travis rakes in ST'ing. The log-jam at 3B/1B/DH could make it feasible to want Moncada in LF over Beni Moon, if 1-5 all happens, I'd be drunk for weeks.

Don't get me wrong, I want him to succeed. Just pointing out he's come down a bit. I want guys to just take over the starting position, much like Kiler B's have done. It just makes putting a team together that much easier. This way redundant players can be packaged and acquire high end pitchers.

Shaw is hitting .220 over last 40 games or so. I'm no so sure that qualifies as "he's doing fine." He's been unnoticeable because everyone else is hitting. DD was concerned enough to bring in Aaron Hill.

I pay attention to what the experts say about players, starting with DD. I'm smart enough to know I'm no expert so I pay attention to the baseball people. This is a Sox fan forum and I enjoy reading everyone's thoughts, even the ones from smart asses,

We can all focus on Kopech and his 105 mph fast ball. DD loves big dudes on the mound. Kopech is athletic 6'3". He went 5 innings couple of nights ago, 8 K's, 1 BB, 4 hits and no runs for Salem.

I agree with you on Moncada being major league ready offensively but I'm deadly opposed to giving him a look at LF. What's the point? Benintendi is our future LF. Why cloud the issue? What if we do stick Moncada in LF, what the hell are we going to do with Benintendi? Moncada should be a 3B. Yes his ceiling is much higher than Benintendi's but Benintendi's ceiling right now is higher than anyone but Moncada. They both need to be in Sox's long range plan. Things will get really interesting when Devers arrive. Thing I appreciate most about DD is that he is very decisive. He sees a need and goes about fixing it. He is the ultimate FIXER. Ziegler looks to be a nice pick up. I think Koji will blow couple of saves and Ziegler will eventually take over that role as Kimbrel recovers.

life of a knuckleballer.....just unpredictable..hell no one knows where the ball is going.

Wheels falling off for Wright last 3 outing 4, 5, 6 innings pitched 7, 8, 9 hits; 8, 4, 6 runs given up

Yankees can shed some $75M in payroll next year.....I almost feel bad for them

Hanigan.....

Half of our games are against sub .500 ball clubs....

Why would Sox offer Hanigan when we have Vazquez, Swihart and Leon? His bat and his health is declining rapidly. Clay B is not in Sox plans or he better not be..a waste of $13M. So we're at $163M. Plenty of cap space to go get Encarnacion especially in view of likely increase in luxury tax. DD is already on record as saying he's happy with 4/5th his starting rotation and hopes E Rod steps up for the 5th spot. 2019 will be tricky with Pomeranz becoming a free agent and Pablo and Hanley still under contracts for $40M. In 2020 Xander and Porcello become FA but the $40M obligation will go away. Then Bradley and Betts will follow. Hopefully Espinoza will be ready by 2020 for some much needed low cost quality starts. (just kidding)

Hell, we all want more for Espinoza. I would argue that he has a chance to be the next P Martinez. But apparently Pomeranz was all we could get RIGHT NOW. Such is the free market system.

This +1000

Sox has $60M invested in Moncada.....he's not going anywhere. In 4 years C Swihart 1B Travis 2B Moncada SS Xander 3B Devers LF Benintendi CF Bradley RF Betts DH Okimey ...looking good. I can see this OF playing together for another 10 years.....Bradley is an elite athlete..as Betts...Benintendi will hang with them.