southpaw777

What do you mean its time to see if he has what it takes? He was here all last year and for the start of this year and it was painfully obvious he has a lot of work to do defensively as well as learning to call games, work with pitchers and frame pitches. Hes hardly "languishing" in AAA...Hes learning his position where he should, In the minors. I like Hanny better as a BU anyway. He can handle wright better and is a better defender. No need to have Swi "languish" in Boston for 60-70% of the time on the bench when he can play almost every game in AAA. My guess is he is trade bait this year anyway. Im sure there will be no shortage of teams interested in him. I like the kid and understand he came up last year out of necessity, but most everyone knows he wasnt done with his development yet. Hes still young for a catcher. Especially one that only just started catching full time once he turned pro.

Hey Emp! I do have some concern with the starting rotation. With Erod i was just saying its not a shoulder or anything to do with his arm so im not as concerned. We need him back for sure. I think the BP is very strong, even without Smith. It sucks hes not there, but I really do think we can be just fine with what we have there right now. My concern is the rotation, but after seeing what DD has attempted to do so far I think he will make the necesary moves needed. I guess knowing that the payroll can and will be exceeded and the fact that we have plenty of trade chips, Im not really too concerned at this point. Both of Baltimore and Toronto have rotation and bullpen concerns so i dont see either one dominating. Not concerned about NY or TB one bit this year. Personally, I never really get worried this early anyway. I pretty much try and stay balanced, level headed and realistic about things...

The kid has already proved he has elite defense. Most ive talked to think hes an automatic out and wanted Swihart here for his bat. I am a big fan of an elite defensive catcher. Moreso than any other position on the field, i will sacrifice offense for that elite D behind the plate. With that said, Christian Vazquez WILL hit IMO, and will hit better than a lot of fans think. Will he do it right away? I believe he has already to a certain extent since most thought 220 would be about it...I believe he could be a 280+ hitter in MLB. Line drive gap to gap power. May run into 5-10 hr in a good year... Around a 700 OPS just because the SLG wont be really high. Since being told in AA to start concentrating on his offense more, Vaz has shown a solid approach at the plate. His K rate went down and his bb rate went up. He was starting to make more solid contact and seeing more pitches. When being promoted to another level in the minors his BA was always around 275-280. IMHO The Sox made the right choice when Vaz proved to be healthy. I know some were gushing over swihart, but I didnt like what I saw behind the plate at this point from him. He will certainly improve, but Im betting he will be involved in a trade this summer or winter for another starter... Vazquez is the man here for the next decade...and the skeptics, IMO, will see over the next few years just how good of an all around ballplayer Vaz is going to be...

I Think Smith has TJS...just a guess of course...He is still controlled for another 4-5 years, so although not good news, he doesnt cost more than the minimum. We can always find BO arms. As long as we have a solid closer, which we do, we can build around that.

Agree...Why go get Price, Kimbrel, and Smith if youre just going to prepare for 2017. We have a lot of prospects and a couple guys on the 25 man that could be available in a trade for a TOTR arm. Just depends on whos still in the race come the end of July. I still think Swihart will be used in a trade for that pitcher.

Ben got us all reclimation projects of the trash heap for closers and the one not expected to do that good was koji. Turns out he was the best one. Bailey and hanrahan were major busts. Melancon started to do well his last two months here and then was shipped out , only to have good success elsewhere. At least DD went out and paid 13m per for a 27yo stud to close games. Not sure how you cant give him a little praise there.

Most likely will go on the DL. Doesnt look good though. We have been pretty solid without him...so although its not good news, im not too terribly worried about it.

Kimbrel has saved koji and taz' arms. Both of who experienced fatigue from overuse the last couple years. Hes also looked pretty damn good ( sub 1 WHIP) after being a little shaky at the start of the year. Hardly "mediocre" IMHO. Obviously smith hasnt done anything yet, but at least DD made the moves that were needed...no?

Hey slash:cool: I agree. I think we will have another starter before August. Not sure what names will be involved, but I think I have a good idea who it may be. That really depends on whos available. A lot of fans like Gray. I dont really want him for the price Beane would ask for. Especially at the deadline. Depnding on whos out there would have to depend on whos available from us...but yeah, id bet we will acquire another arm via trade.

Wow...relax kids. Its a knee, not a shoulder. My guess is DD was already planning on trading a couple prospects/players for another starter anyway since our depth is crap and the rotation hasnt been anything special. IMHO, We need another starter regardless if ERod is ok or not. The pen and offense has carried this team so far. That will work in the regular season, but not in the playoffs. Another starter is still a need.

No, Im talking about a young controlled kid like Salazar or an arm from the Mets. Yes, it will cost a couple top kids, but thats the price you pay for top young, controlled pitchng. Benintendi Moncada and Espinoza are the three names i Protect at all costs rght now. devers, swihart, travis, kopech,metc., are all up for grabs. Heres a question for everyone. If a team is willing to part with a top yung pitcher but asked for at least one of Bogey, Betts, or Bradley along with another couple top porspects, which one do you choose if your the GM? Now, this will be for a young totr pitcher under control for at oeast four years...

I like the look of the bp this year. DD did what Ben should have.shore up the entire pitching staff. Now we need one more starter and Smith to return and were looking pretty solid for a playoff run.

Hes NOT going to be a regular DH regardless. not at 20yo..also, he needs a lot more work on his defense. Dont expect to see him until late 2017 (big maybe)and not ft in MLB until at least 2018 aT the very earliest...there is absolutely no rush for this kid. Benni is different since hes had two years of college and was born here. Moncada will spend more time in A ball before making the leap to AA where he will be challenged a bit more. Also im sure they will need to start seeing where else he can play first, and also work on his D at that position before being called up to Boston. I don't think Moncada will factor into the start of the 2017 season. Honestly, i like what im seeing from Hanley 1b, and his head is always in the game. I also think he really likes it there. Panda is an unknown until he starts playing and working out his fat ass again. Sam Travis is off to a very slow start in AAA, so until he makes those adjustments hes still a big question mark. I certainly dont want some guy like Bautista, who thinks hes worth 30m per. No thanks. Right now it looks like DH will be used as a rotation when Papi goes. Were not going to replace Papi with one guy. Instead of one 30/100 guy we may have more 15-20 type guys with more speed and can play solid D. Betts, Xander, JBJ, Pedey, Shaw, and Hanley to a larger extent, all have 15-20 HR power. And if Benmi gets here, he certainly has 15+ power too...so im sure we can cover Papi with a number of other guys at DH.

Mookie may not be as consitent as Xander, but hes probably still the best option as a leadoff hitter IMHO. JBJ, to me, could be leadoff but he has to show more consistency as well. Hes been on a hot 6 week or so stint, and i know hes going to come back to earth. I just want to see if he can maintain a BA higher than 167 when he goes into one of his slumps. Mookie has been more consistent than JBJ in that way so far, and Im not one for messing with a lineup that is having this much success...

Im sure we can find a BOTR type pitcher for less than 13m, no? Clay is in his early thirties now. The fact that some are still hopeful that his "stuff" is worth it is amazing. He is who he is. A pitcher with incredible "stuff" but also a pitcher who constantly gets in his own way. Hes a bit of a head case, inconsistent, and cant be relied on for a good solid full season. At 13m I would hope DD looks for an upgrade, or even a lateral move for less annual salary would be acceptable at this point.im in the camp of trading him or not picking up the option. Right now i wouldnt teade him due to lack of pitching depth, unless another arm or two comes back this way...

Andrew Benintendi has been promoted to AA... Its a very real possibility of him being in Boston this september or if there is an injury, he could be here sooner...all depending on how he handles Eastern League pitching. Personally, i think he will keep doing what hes been doing. Cant wait to see this kid in the OF in Boston.

Red Sox #2 prospect Andrew Benintendi has just ben promoted to AA Portland Seadogs. Ive already said that it is very possible that we see him this septemeber. If there is a trade and/or injury, and hes still raking, we could see him earlier.. Yes, its is a very real possibility. Good for him...the kid is a true ballplayer and i cant wait to see him in the OF in Fenway...

Agree...but with DD leading the way now and not Ben trying to hang on to every prospect, I think we will see another arm this year if other guys dont step up or stay consistent throughout the year...

Agree. Just because he had some issues with LHP a couple years ago certainly doesnt mean he cant mature as a hitter and as a ballplayer. I really dont pay too much attention to ML stats once a guys been in the show for a year or two. Shaw has a solid approach at the plate. One that make you think he could, and would improve. because he didnt do great vs LHP in The ML as a 23yo it means he wont improve? Yeah, Im not buying that..the old eye test says much different. Hes a .281 hitter vs LHP in MLB

The way things are going i would agree with you...but weve all seen things happen, and happen quickly. A couple injuries or a prolonged slump and Benni tearing up AA...not highly likely, but possible. Which was my whole point.

Seriously? Have you been watching Shaw bat? Hes a MLB career .281 with a OPS approaching .850. Shaw doesnt need to be spelled for any LHP. His splits are about identical. I know hes off to a rough start this year, but to say he cant hit LHP is just just wrong.

He could was my point, not that he would. Its possible. I would never compare him to trout or harper. He is his own person. The fact that he could have a sept call up is a reality. Thats all i was saying.

I remember last year on the BDC board a few of our "favorite" posters calling for Chillis job. It takes time to put a new hitting coaches system and approach into the overall philosiphy of the team. That, and most of these guys are really young and only 1-3 years in the league. Xander, Mookie, Vaz, JBJ, Shaw, etc., doing a great job taking pitches, going opposite field, and taking what they are giving them. Mistake pitches are starting to leave the park recently, which I thought might hapoen with a couple of these guys. This offense is better than i thought. with guys like Benintendi in the system,who is another kid with a solid approach at the plate, Im looking forward to the next few years... The only thing we could use is another starter. Other than that, i think this team is going to be tough to beat.

Looks like Mookie is starting to heat up a bit...not worried about this kid at all. Hes a ballplayer.

I understand what your saying and im not saying hes not exactly what you describe, but.... OF is not a need and we shouldnt unload the farm and maybe a young name or two from the starting roster for an area of strength...if it was for a front line starter whos young and controlled? Then you start naming names.