oldtimer

I don't want to be an alarmist here but Mookie still looks to be in some pain and for two nights running we have see JDM taken out of the games early with signs of back spasms. Our core group is those two,Beni, Moreland and Bogey. The rest of our order scares no one. Lets hope that both Mookie and JDM can play regularly soon and together in the lineup.

When you watched the feed of him hitting off the tee and how he grimaced after each swing you have to believe he is still hurting. I played a lot of football and once tore a rib cartilege and it was a very painful injury and took a long time to heal. I wonder if Mookie has a different injury than the one we have been advised about.

I followed Williams career from the 40's on. Yes, they did shift against him and he still pulled the ball. So few hitters have Williams talent to hit the ball consistently hard. Guys like Molitar could hit the ball where he wanted and it was an advantage for him. The shifts are so lopsided the field on one side is nearly wide open. The stat guys only work based on past performances. Adjusting swings to hit the other way would curtail the use of such accentuated shifts. Even buts laid down properly would be easy base hits.

I don't see where you get the basis for saying he will be a great hitter. Right now he swings for the fences on every cut. He doesn't seem to know the strike zone and if anything is regressing. Tonight after he fouled off a few he took a fastball well into the strike zone. Maybe he will be a decent hitter some day but also he may not.

Lets not start as many triple A players in the lineup. It would be nice to have Mookie back, but did you see him grimacing after taking swings in batting practice? Looked like he has not recovered as yet. Bill

or the Blue Jays

The option to limiting shifts would be to take contracts with guys who hit to all fields. You SOBs want to shift on me? I'll go the other way!

This discussion goes on and on but there are always good points raised. I am older and a traditionalist, in that I would like to keep our best players and resign them to long term contracts. Not getting in to the pitching side, I would say our high priority resigns when they come due are 1) Betts, 2) Beni, 3) Bogaerts, and I hope that JDM doesn't opt out of his contract as he looks like the best DH in baseball. Maybe Vaz to keep at least one catcher. I don't see making a major effort to keep JBJ, Devers, or even Moreland when his contract runs out, but if he is still producing and our young studs are a year away I wouldn't be against it. Nunez is replaceable but not that expensive and maybe we will find some new catching prospects. Pedey may be around but I wouldn't count on him due to his knee issues. Holt may last a few more years and is not that expensive. I would be looking for a third baseman, a centerfielder, a catcher and a second baseman. So we have little in the minor leagues that can help us. Chavis might make the grade at 3rd,Brannen is a great athlete and very young but has been tarnished by his lack of hitting and the new draft are probably not able to make the jump until 2021. So it the trade market or FA's, but what money will be available?

Yet, that is exactly what could happen. You get a hot pitcher who shuts the lineup down while a Yankee or Red Sox pitchers struggles and poof, a hundred plus win team is gone. It won't change this year but if something like your concern happens then they will get busy and find a solutiion. Top teams should not face a one game elimination possibility.

I think it is the best choice as we really don't have solid options. I don't consider either Holt or Nunez as everyday players there. If Devers doesn't respond by the AS break, then maybe he could be sent down to get his hitting back, but maybe it will come for him before that is necessary.

Nice to have a contribution from the bottom of the order. Maybe he will gain confidence from this great game.

This time it was Vaz in the lower part of the order who hit into a rally killing DP. It sure would help to get more contribution from are 6 through 9 players. We are lucky with Nunez starting to hit like he did last year. We don't feel the loss of Pedey nearly as much when Nunez hits. When Betts gets back Soon?), we can put 7 solid bats into the lineup and Holt is at least a professional hitter. I haven't been on the site for a while but have monitered it and it seems like it has been cleaned up. Moderator actions were needed and must have been applied. Thanks for the effort.

May be a need for a long term 2nd baseman.

Whats with this height requirement. Pedro Martinez would have been passed up on that score.

I saw nothing on the draft. The Sox went for Triston Casa a 6'4" 238 # third baseman/first baseman as their first pick. Probably at least a couple of years away but at his size, he is more likely to go to first, probably after Moreland leaves. He has great raw power and can hit so I look forward to him coming to the club. He seemed excited to be picked by the Red Sox.

At some point in time potential needs to be demonstrated with results. Part of the results are consistent hitting. Guys who have been in baseball longer should get less rope as their potential is not as great and they have to demonstrate they belong. Hanley was one who was headed in the wrong direction. JBJ has survived due to his defensive prowess, but at some point every MLer has to be able to get it done with the bat. Swihart has had a lot less of an opportunity to demonstrate that his potential can be turned into ML performance. Watching him hit and JBJ last night does not give me a lot of confidence in either. JBJ is back to not making contact while Swihart took fastballs over the plate and then swung at breaking balls nearly in the dirt.

Where is that Mendoza line? I think if a player can't at least hit his weight, then he isn't a ML ball player. For Devers probably 215. Devers is headed in that direction. Devers takes a homerun cut on every pitch and is not selective. Bad combination. Being on a ML roster does expose him to more quality pitching and also exposes him to high quality hitters and maybe he can learn from how they approach ABs

On the other hand, if you give him a lot more reps and he hits a buck fifty, then the club suffers. So its a judgment call as to whether the FO thinks he is likely to improve significantly.

It looked to me like JBJ regressed last night with a lot of swing and misses. Also, Swihart seemed overmatched for most of the game. Take the good pitches and swing out of the zone. The good news is Nunez seemed to be hitting the ball but his fielding is still below par for a corner infielder.

My mistake. My brother hits righty and throws lefty which is just the reverse. Then Hernandez has possibilities at second base when he comes off the DL.

Think it is lower back

You must be old like me. My grandfather was born in 1872 and worked as an engineer in the Pennsylvania oil fields when they first came in. My dad was born in 1896 and was an avid fan of the Sox and went through a lot of disappointing seasons with them. 1949 was one where it looked like the Sox could do it but it wasn't to be.

You got your wish with our pitching staff doing just enough and by getting to their BP. Props to Vaz for finally contributing. You must have been elated when both Vaz and Beni went deep.

The prudent thing to do is to develop a long term solution to 2nd base, even if Pedey gets back this year. I don't see either Holt or Nunez as that person and the only one I can think of who might do it is Marco Hernandez if he gets back off the long term injury report list. I don't know many left handed 2nd basemen though. I suppose Chavez has a chance but to date he has only been used at 3rd.

Yes and Beni's is rising. Hey, thats the title of this thread. Beni extends the pitcher and gets a lot of walks. to me, either of them is a good choice to bat first but Cora has made his mind up so its fine with me.