vegasbob

It is probably more than a month early for teams to be serious about trade possibilities , but the Sox strategy with Kluber will more likely be to keep running him out there if they keep winning at a .550 clip , and Corey shows some improvement . Then he becomes a tradable asset for a team that loses a couple of starters to injury (LA Dodgers?) . As Nick pointed out, the Sox should get some easier series over the next 2 months while the rest of the ALE eats itself up. Oh wait , Sox haven't played the Yankees yet! The Sox have more trade prospects than in previous years as the depth of MLB ready roster has improved considerably ( Arroyo, Chang (post IL), Reyes, Valdez ). Even Dalbec could be a throw-in for some teams, although his expiration date in Boston has moved on, but if Casas or even Turner strained a hammie, guess who would be back from WooSox. When Story and Duvall, much less Mondesi, are able to play the deck needs reshuffling . July could get very interesting for this team

Casas (23) is somewhat of a dilemma, as was Dalbec until his age 27 year (2023) showed he was not likely to improve. Triston's approach at bat has led to more walks (24) than hits(22), but 6 of those hits were HR's , yet the rbi total is only 15 . The low count on doubles (4) indicate that he doesn't hit the gaps nor corner in RF, nor the Wall at home. The K's are running at 32% on official AB's, 26% on PA's , and I think 13-14 of those were called K's on 3-2 counts. One of the key comments above is that 1B , like 3B/LF/RF , is anticipated to be a power position. Casas is being counted on to deliver. The .672 OPS combined with a negative fWAR (-0.4) creates this dilemma for the Sox. The fact that Turner, unlike JDM, can actually play the field (1B) gives Cora more options to sit/platoon Casas , particularly vs LH'ers where his stats further decline. What should the Red Sox do with him? The recent history of the Bloom/Cora era tells you he will be given significant opportunity to work his way up to his potential. Barring a complete failure Triston will get the full year and probably more to work on his hitting and fielding.

Having attended all 3 games in SD this weekend, and planning on the same in Anaheim this coming few days, I can clearly say that my observations of many of the individual players mentioned in this thread match the other commenters.

I'm very tempted to tell you to go f*** yourself , but not sure you are serious.

Williams would have had 60 easy if that rule hadn't changed. Should have made that the ball was still in play and the fielder had to go after it. Piniella would have lived about 2 minutes in the Rf stands

Moon, always good to se you, this was getting lonely but then I understand being on PDT vs EDT. You are in the middle, right?

No matter how you rationalize it, the Sox are a .500 team over their last 4 games

Sheriff lucky he didn't get a broken ankle on that play at first

When hitting off a tee was outlawed, back in 1876

Sox competing in the AL bEast with 3 guys in the infield late tonight who probably should be in Worcester . Arroyo should be the guy in Worcester. Come June the list of dudes who should be on the list of tradables will be composed.

Reyes messes up a DP that would have ended this miserable inning, and allows 2 runs to score.

Just seeing if I can fill up an entire page but with cogent comments. I'd be there and doing something else but Max interrupted the chain. The comment is that Joely keeps it low in the zone, which could be a good sign, but 2 walks with a 12-1 lead is not good. But it is early for Joely in his first game . 20+ pitches is not good for the rest of the BP. They will all have to work tonight

In a laugher, the manager will sometimes let a position player pitch the 9th. Have you seen a manager have to use a pitcher at a position, maybe extra innings, or injury driven ? Not as a pinchrunner like Tom Brewer in the 50's, or PH like Jerry casales, but to play a live position ?

WTF does this umpire see , or NOT ?

Mr. Wong, do you want crushed nuts on that sundae ??

11 run lead with 12 outs to go----so you are saying there's a chance ? Concerned that Cora will deplete the short bench too soon to rest regulars , and not have them to PH in the 9th when needed.

Devers has a new mantra, double or nothing

These infielders are making 1B a war zone for Turner. Reyes play did save the inning and win for Bello , together wit h Turner's foot staying on and scooping that toss

Dugo just got traded to the Yankees for Giancarlo

Devers throws high and higher over to first, extends Bello's workload

82 after 4 innings. He will likely hit 100 at the end of 5 , so he needs to focus to insure his win.

On another thread there are some comparisons of JD and Turner as DH's this year, although Turner has actually played in the field also. Before his dribbler groundout, Turner and JD both had .793/.794 OPS, 5 HR's each and 18/19 rbi's. But Turner has only 27 K's to JD's 35 and Turner has 20 walks to JD's 7. JD's OBP is .294, JT's is .360. Boston hasn't lost anything at DH this year.

I was thinking more like with 2 outs in the 5th , Cora spanks him . I agree the umpire is already spanking him with more poor calls. Too bad Estabrook takes after his mentor Laz Diaz over on 3B line

Bello must have been sitting too long, or it is too cold and windy , he is not in command of his fate. Might be passing up a win if he cannot find it soon. Cora will go get him shprt of the win. Needs a DP.

The key to this team's climb towards playoff qualification will rest on winning series and avoiding sweeps, especially at Fenway vs NL teams. Bello can solidify his role as a key in this rotation. We need to see more of Paxton pitching like he did in his first start , but Bello, Sale and Paxton could be the reason we don't go on extended losing streaks. No question Bloom needs to be thinking hard about how to strengthen the BP mid-level. I think 3 Inning Houck needs to be there. His ability as a starter is questionable unless it is a piggyback effort, but with who---Kluber ? Crawford needs to get back into the mix as well.