oldtimer

Compared to Benintendi's hitting Jarren's couldn't be much of a loss and the kid might bring enthusiasm, which is much needed.

I would let JBJ go after this year, either through trade or as a FA as we shouldn't be paying him 10 million. I would keep Pillar as a 3rd or 4th outfielder. I would keep Verdugo and the verdict is out on Bennintendi for me. He is not above average in defense and he isn't a power hitter. If his isn't a solid on base guy, maybe we can find better, either from the farm or through free agency. I would keep Moreland another year as having an experienced left handed hitting 1st baseman to platoon is a plus, even he can't play more than 80 games due to his age. Bogie is rick solid, Devers is a special talent with power and will get back on track and Vaz is a top notch catcher. The verdict is also not clear with Chavis. I would be looking for a right handed first baseman, a second baseman and an outfielder for the future (2021 and on). Do we have prospects that can fill any of those or will we need to make trades or enter into the FA market to find them? As far as DH, JDM is here for another year and I doubt we could move him even if we wanted to. The pitching will be hardest to straighten out. I trust Bloom to make significant progress year to year.

What about guys who had off seasons last year which have continued into this year. Guys who go 0 for 26 and don't make solid contact at all. Tough to use the virus excuse when they have been off before the virus was any part of the season.

Over the past years, we have seen major slumps before from JBJ and yet have stayed with him for his defense and occasional hitting streaks. We knew what we had but stayed with it. Why? Beni has been sliding downhill for over a year, and yet nobody has been able to get him to come out of it. The talent is there but now he is just pathetic. Now JDM is in a funk. He is there for one reason and is to hit the ball. If he can't do that, his $ millions contract is a waste of resources. Now a flags-ship player in Devers seems to have caught the bug. The Sox have a virus and it isn't corona. It appears that some just don't want to be there, whether depression or concern for illness. Whatever is going on, we would do just as well to play guys with a good attitude and get rid of those who can't or won't contribute. Pillar should play daily, so should Verdugo. Trouble is, who would really want JBJ, JDM or Beni. No way to trade them. We need a kick ass manager and Roenicke isn't that type of guy. Is there a Billy Martin type around?

It's not just Beni, (who is now out of the game). Devers, JD, JBJ all are in slumps. Our expected strength at the outset has become a weakness. Good luck fixing it.

I like a 10 day phantom injury while bringing up Jarred. Maybe his hitting problems can be overcome off the MLB stage.

We have one of the better catchers in baseball. Why not keep him in the core?

Hitting major league pitching is tough with the starters equipped with 3 to 5 good pitches and usually high velo, then the pull pen can throw a ton of arms at you with over 95 mph velo and a couple of good pitches. With the advent of the home run or bust mentality one would think averages would be down. Still these are guys who are not looking HR and can hit to all fields. On the Sox, several of the players appear to have little enthusiasm for the game, so guys like Verdugo, Bogie, Vaz and Pillar who continue to battle and have a good attitude stand out. Does Roenicke have to light a fire under some guys to get them to play or is he so laid back that he isn't a guy that can motivate players. Personally, I think the players should have the motivation without help as their careers depend on them playing with fire. Hit the ball or hit the road.

Playing the Rays and Yankees 8 games soon will be no picnic. Don't get your hopes up. Let's give loom credit for getting Verdugo. He is young and may turn out to be a starter for the Sox for years to come

Four hits in 7 innings. Where has the Red Sox offense gone? Bogaerts has been great. Moreland doing his job. Vaz done his job. Pretty awful elsewhere.

Cmon, he is chasing balls out of the strike zone and taking balls down the middle. This is not all about timing. It may be about confidence but so far it hasn't been correctable.

Benintendi will lead off again today, so you get your wish. If he lays another egg, expect Roenicke to move him down in the order as he mentioned that Verdugo may be the replacement leadoff htter.

The idea of trading players would be either to get something substantial back in prospects, get non-performing contracts off the books or let go of players no in the plan for 2021/2022. Looking at your list, I don't think JD would be of interest due to his cost as a DH only. Eovaldi might be for someone looking for a useful are. He probably is not in our 2022 plans and we might do better with what his contract comes to. JBJ is a great defensive player with an inconsistent bat who is pricey and a FA next season. Can't imagine him bring much in return. Pillar may be slightly more valuable and I like him on the Sox so wouldn't trade him now. Peraza I have no opinion. Possibly Jeter Downs is where we hope to go in future. Moreland is a pro and might help some team right now. He won't be in our plans going forward so maybe we should try and trade him. Chavis is low cost, young, has power but may not be in our LT plans with Casas in the wings. I doubt if we could get much in return. Perez might well interest some teams but he fills in one of our weakest spots. Could we see him staying for a couple of years? I think 8 of our next 11 games are against the Yankees and Rays. Is anyone on the site expecting our record will show improvement during this period? Clearly it is time to look to trade what we can.

I like to keep good players when we can as well, but you have to ask if between Betts, Price, Sale and Bogaerts you can pay $115 mil and still pay the others on the 40 man enough to have a solid team. Risk also plays a part with long term contracts seldom effective for the duration. I would like a competitive team backed by a group of solid prospects. We aren't there right now but in Bloom I trust.

Just think, we could have signed Kimbrel to a 4 or 5 year contract. The Cubbies won him for $16 mii a year and his velocity is down and he is getting clobbered. Sometimes we get lucky.

Whats thee last thing a pitcher should do coming in with a 5 run lead in the 6th? Issue a walk to the first batter he faces. Red Sox relief pitching 2020.

Maybe D-Hern can start when he returns

If Beni is to come out of this, he will need help. I don't see that is happening with daily play. If anything, this may permanently harm the kids confidence and value.

Now 2 for 29 with 12 strikeouts. Not leadoff material.

Little variation on an old joke. Roenicke comes in to manage the Sox and he finds 3 numbered envelopes in the desk left by Cora with instructions to open one in sequence any time he feels he is getting in trouble. After going 3 for 11 and in last place Roenicke is feeling the heat and decides to open the first envelope The message contained is Blame Your Predecessor. He thinks about it and blames Dombrowski for now leaving him with a competitive team and realizes that fans agree. Play goes on and the team is now 5 and 25 and the half season mark and fans aren't being kind. He doesn't know what to do so he opens the second envelope. The message in envelope 2 is Reorganize. So he brings up young players and changes the lineup and pitching. The team goes on a winning streak fed by the energy of the young players. Roemicke is elated. Play continues and the opponents figure out the young players and the Sox lose the last 10 in a row. Well, he opens the last envelope hoping for guidance on how to keep his job. The message contained is Make 3 Envelopes, Sucker.

Rays have good pitching and our offense relies on a few players. Same old same old. Beni's now 2 for 28 and counting, with 11 strikeouts. JBJ is starting to slump, Chavis's hitting hasn't improved. So what's new?

I would guess that Bloom is a lot smarter than the guys who are calling him names.

Can't imagine a buzzer in the plate umpires hand to indicate a strike would be any more distracting than a complaint by the batter when an incorrect call is made.

Beni's had 10 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances. He has had 9 walks so continues to grind. It's disturbing his batted balls in play is only .143. i do think it is in his head and that he needs help to get out of this slump. Putting him into the lineup doesn't seem to be helping him. They play virtually every during this shortened season, so how does he get the work to find his way out?

I wonder how eager any team will be to trade for players in this shortened season with the threat of cancellation still looming. I am for the Sox trading away players that won't help them in 2021 and 2022.