RTC

Then the Sox have a huge problem that other teams’ utility players are better than anyone on their roster (Moncada the possible exception)

I don’t really know/care what the Sox are thinking, I was just answering your question as to why a team might consider it.

Because, when factoring defense and handedness into the equation, a team might feel a TA/Didi combination on their roster is preferred over a TA/Castellano or TA/Ozuna or TA/Leury. It's Tim freakin' Anderson. It's not like we're talking about moving Ozzie Smith off of SS. There's lots of reasons that teams consider things like this. Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Ketel Marte ........ other teams don't seem to be too concerned that their top players need to stay in one spot

RTC poses hypothetical question: Giant can opened. Worms everywhere.

Since I started this goat rodeo I should probably contribute, so here’s a couple outside the box ideas: - there’s been talk at times about what TA would look like in the OF, and I’ve seen more speculation after some recent errors from him. Didi Gregorious do anything for anybody? - same line of thinking, but could Yoan handle RF or is that ridiculous to even consider? Idea would be Rendon at 3B. Both of these probably make no sense but in the name of generating discussion......

Never going to happen. They’ve got a pitching coach who refuses to adopt any semblance of modern pitching thought, and had an announcer that ranted about some stupid ass TWTW and they seemed to love him. I can’t believe this never came up, but I’m convinced the whole Manny friends and family plan had it’s roots in signing-Thome-will-get-us-Konerko-back. I’m fully convinced they thought “hey, it worked before”. This organization has demonstrated no capacity for forward thinking.

Definitely this. Every time I start to think maybe I’m just being too critical someone does/says something that reminds me how far they are from being an elite organization. I swear they’re trying to piss me off.

I’m not so sure about that. Fans on Soxtalk? Agree. But I’m not so sure the average fan gets that outraged about all this. Even after last winters’ debacle average game attendance is up 10% this season.

I understand the first half of your post, but as for the second part it's not just that they didn't spend it, it's that they were sitting in the penalty box for 2 years with nothing to do internationally but scout THIS class and they couldn't find more kids that were at least worth taking a shot?!? No one? (Acuna and Albies mentioned above as examples of what a crapshoot can look like, however slim the odds)

It’s either cheap (saving a couple $M) or incompetent (not using all your J2 money and trading it for scraps AND sending cash in addition to TX) or both. I don’t know how this move can be framed as a win for the Sox.

Turns out it was Drake LaRoche. Kenny came down and escorted him out of the park.

10 bonus points for making me look up the definition of miasma

Guys having the wheels come off for an inning is typical of a young pitcher. Guys who rebound and don't let it derail their whole outing is the sign of a very good young pitcher.

So what?

Random thought for lack of a better place to put it: Given the single trade deadline and GM's needing to think a little more about roster depth and what they "might" need in September, I wonder if an uber-versatile guy like Leury might be more valuable than he would have been in the past.

Mark Kotsay 2.0 ..... Ozzie, is that you?

But, but .... seat at the table ..... 50 bonus points awarded to you for actually respecting an opposing viewpoint on Soxtalk!

As for the bold, I hope you're right, I really do. As far as the sentence after the bold, that's what they tried to do, so by your definition that would make them dumb. I agree, hence my concern.

You won't be happy. There wasn't this past winter either but that didn't stop them. I agree for the most part, but it probably depends on if they're able to sign anyone. For instance, if they do sign 1 or 2 SP, that could make someone like Stiever available.

Absolutely no. We need a RF not just with a bat, but one that can play at least middling D.

As skeptical as I am of the FO, I'm with you on this. I'm more optimistic than a lot of folks on guys like Rutherford.

Great example. The signings they had are the TYPES of guys I think are realistic gets for the Sox but can the Hahn & Co choose the right guys?

Fair enough I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Is your point that they don't have to add AS MANY guys? If so, I only named 4 hypotheticals (which, for 2020 consensus seems to be bat, SP, and pen piece or 2) so 4 is not an unrealistic number. And I don't see how having less holes to fill means they're going to be better at filling what holes they have.

My Donn Pall autographed ball. The Pope!

That's my point. That seems to be the attitude a lot of people are expressing, but why? @ChiSox59 was probably in the right neighborhood with his $50M after Arb and league min's. Now add the equivalent of Ivan Nova, Adam Dunn, Jeff Keppinger, and Kelvin Herrera .......... and you're darn close to the $90M payroll they had in 2014 when they told us they were supposedly competing. Just because they won't have a $17M payroll doesn't mean a) it'll be $130M or b) they'll spend it on the right guys This is where I'm at. I just see nothing in their track record that says they can/will either a) outbid everyone else for a significant FA, b) choose the right guy or c) play their hand right and not screw it up. Believe me, I'm not trying to be negative, I WANT TO BELIEVE. But somebody please convince me with facts, not blind faith in a FO with a poor track record.