oldtimer

We could use him today.

Where is Verdugo? I thought he would be back today. Shame to see Marwin in there instead of Verdugo.

So did I and I think that made a lot of sense. The Sox knew who they didn't plan to keep. I would guess those players were not of interest to other GM''s but who knows?

It's good to stress the Rays pitching staff while our BP may get some much needed rest.

They didn't bring up Munoz again today, preferring to go with Gonzalez and Dalbec. Good luck with that. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the height of idiocy.

The roster shakeup talked about has yet to see a player really activated to the active list. Why are they waiting? When these critical games play out we may then do something constructive.

One would have to assume that the plan includes spending over the CBT which will give us some flexibility in the FA market. After the experience with Bloom at the trade deadline I find him hard to read as his words and actions don't align. to me having developed quality talent in the minors, it makes sense to add them to the team as a low cost floor and to bring in FA's to fill key positions of weakness. Why would we bring in an injured Schwaber, who was not a good fit for our 2021 year if we didn't plan to make a strong effort to resign him? What does that say about JDM going forward? I don't share your implied criticism of Duran. When playing outfield he has done the job defensively and he is still only around 70 ML AB's. In the last 4 games where he was in the starting lineup he has had 2 hits 3 times and 1 hit the other. That compares favorably with any other hitter in the lineup over that period. He is figuring things out as he goes and should be in the lineup against right handers. His strikeout rate is coming down recently. Give the kid a break.

So, where is the roster shakeup that Cora mentioned? To me, shakeup means sending someone (or two down or DFA) and bringing up some reserves, both field players and pitchers. Question for tonight, will Verdugo be back? Another question. will Munoz join the team? He did have 3 hits last night at Worcester.

A lot had to go right for the Sox to build up a lead in the AL East. The Yankees played poorly, The Jays pitching was weak while our pitching and offense did well. JDM rebounded from a bad 2020, Rafie was a monster, Bogie was playing at a high level. Renfroe played himself into an every day guy. Kike started slow but really heated up. Verdugo and Arroyo but contributed well. Our pitching moves to get Swamamura, Pivetta and Whitlock were strokes of genius. Ottavino was a good acquisition. One weak spot showed itself at 1st base and catching was below league average. Bloom and Cora had tried to catch lightning in a bottle with Gonzalez, Santana and Cordero but they have played like other people's cast offs. Chavis didn't improve while Dalbec was figured out by league pitching staffs. The use of grip enhancers was adopted and suddenly Richards became a subpar starter while Perez looked worse than even his 5th starter ranking. Clearly there was a need to reinforce the team if it was to continue to lead the league. That brought us up to the AS break and the trade deadline. We were fortunate not to suffer a lot of injuries during the first half and we seemed reluctant to try to improve through our minor league prospects. Houck and Duran were held back although it looked like they might help. For whatever reason, whether the CBT or concern that the price in prospects to reinforce the team through trades seem to pervade Sox management thinking. Bloom said he intended being active in the trade market, but the results were to pick up one solid player with an injury which may keep him out for at least a month. He also was not a good fit for our clear need at first base. Cora had already tried a desperation move with Arroyo at first which lost a solid contributor to the team for maybe 6 weeks. Bloom did pick up two relief pitchers who haven't shown much value. Meanwhile all of our competitors made substantial improvements. That led to Cora saying they were planning on some shakeups to the team. None were seen last night as we had a bench of Gonzalez, Dalbec and Arauz. Arroyo is still a couple of weeks away, Schwaber at least a week and Verdugo still on paternity leave. Our big hitters have cooled off and our weak spots remain. Our closer seems to have lost confidence. It is time for a shakeup. Can it be worse than what we are seeing? Munoz, Sale, Houck and Seabold might help us and should be up ASAP. Instead, management has been indecisive and ineffective while the season is going down in flames. are they waiting for us to completely go out of contention?

The team was in it with 2 outs in the 9th. An error by Renfroe cost us although Barnes was also greatly at fault. Any chance of winning left when the 3 runs came in. It has to take the wind out of the team to see us lose games like these. Our bench tonight was Dalbec, Arauz and Gonzalez. what happened to the shakeup Cora was talking about? It's too late to shake things up when you totally collapse for two weeks.

Duran has hit well in the last 4 games in which he started. Why sit him? JDM went 0 for 4 tonight. Barnes lacked effectiveness again and we made a key error in the 9th. Not winning many games that way.

This is the old Barnes. Nibbling. Walking two to give up 3. There goes the game.

God. Three strikeouts in the inning. jdm with his 3rd of the night and 0 for 4. Renfroe has had a good night but is strikeout prone and Vaz hasn't had it since early this year. Tough when we depend on a couple of guys to get it do

The Sox need to refuse to lose this one, even though management has done nothing to help them. Look at the bench tonight.

Don't look now but Duran has gotten two hits in 3 games and 1 in another in the games he has has multiple at bats. Lets battle back Sox.

Doesn't look like there will be any moves before the game tonight.

When does Verdugo get back from paternity leave? Every day counts right now.

So, are you saying that Cora was appropriately patient with Dalbec, Gonzalez and Cordero?

Cora does seem to be stubborn about staying with players, even though they are not performing.

Cora did say they pan to activate player(s) this week which will help them a lot. He may mean Verdugo back from paternity leave, but I think he means new players. We shall soon see.

Can you see Schwaber stretching for a ball at 1st? Here's a guy coming off a hamstring injury and now a groin pull. I can offer to sell you the Brooklyn bridge if you are that gullible.

I would make some changes before Tuesday. What do we have to lose? DFA Santana and move Gonzalez off the 40 man. I understand Swamamura may go on the injured list and with DHern there already and Brazier making slow progress I would bring Seabold and Munoz up. We need pitching depth and a better Utility man effort.

In a related question, we must be very close to the CBT limit as we sit. I'm personally not certain how close we are. My question is can we add a minor league player, not currently on the 40 man roster without exceeding that limit? If we DFA a player currently on the 40 man can we deduct a prorated amount of salary from our total? I am just thinking of Munoz, Casas and any minor league pitcher, although I can't name one who might help who isn't on the 40 man.

Holding a 4 run lead going into the bottom of the 7th we had to go to the well once too often. Our BP was used up and couldn't deliver. Hitting was solid today and produced 8 runs.

There have been no update on the injury status of players for a period of 2 to 5 days for several key players. I would like to know more: 1. When is Schwaber projected to join the team? 2. Does JDM have Covid? When will test results be known" 3. Same for Duran 4. When is Arroyo's projected to join the team? 5. When will Sale join the team? Clearly he will need at least 5 days rest after throwing 89 pitches yesterday.