JoeC

They signed him to that massive extension right away though, basically.

And Moncada.

Let's think outside the box and go for Gary Sheffield.

The only optimism I'll have is either if the Sox end up in 1st place with a record above .500 after the 4th of July, or if Hahn is fired and replaced with a competent GM who is ready to rebuild and retool the organization from the ground up. This means scouting, player development, talent evaluation, on-field coaching, injury prevention... the works. The Sox need to tear it down tot he foundation and start over, or they're bound to make the same mistakes. Get with the modern times and create a comprehensive player development strategy from draft day until the day the player leaves the organization. I also feel the need to say that this strategy needs to be good (not "trot them out there and hope they figure out how to play at this level"). Until then, it doesn't matter if we have the 1st or 30th ranked system in baseball - we're going to continue to churn out players who are only good enough to consistently produce glimmers of hope, but nothing more. We'll get the occasional Luis Robert, but for every Luis Robert you'll end up with a half dozen Vaughns, Moncadas, and Eloys - all good enough to give hope, but too flawed to sanely be able to build around.

"Terms I'm afraid to Google for $2,000"

...so basically half the lineup is all that needs to be fixed.

So this is what we've come to... arguing about which source best supports the conclusion that we suck.

You’d think there would be some way for a human to be involved in that process somehow…. Like a way to telm the computer what to do or check the computer’s work.

I'm guessing this is going to be filed under "Tradition" at this point.

It's getting harder to distinguish between sincerity and satire around here.

It's simple. Reinsdorf's job as an owner is to hire the right people, give them the resources to succeed, and give them the authority to make decisions on how to succeed. He doesn't hire the right people, handcuffs them on resources (both big league and minor league resources), and undermines their authority by doing stupid s%*# like hiring TLR behind Hahn's back.

I wonder how many of the Sox's wins (and losses) had, at one point or another, a save opportunity....

Half cynically guessing they’re going to IL Robert so he doesn’t go to the ASG, so the Sox have to send a replacement to have “two” All-Stars to save Hahn’s face.

At the Coliseum today. I've been to fuller A-ball parking lots.

Worst effort since Kelly and Vaughn half assed the play to first in the 8th.

I mean, the only reasons I can think of to call up a guy like Rodriguez are: You're going to use the guy regularly ---OR--- You're giving a young guy a glimpse of what happens at the big league level, how big leaguers conduct themselves, and what sort of behaviors you're going to have to demonstrate to be a successful big league player on and off the field. ...so yeah. In this case, I have no idea why they would have called him up.

Yeah, I guess you and I are after different things, then. Cordially agree to disagree, then.

The Trout - Ohtani conundrum. makes no sense to keep productive players if the supporting cast is shite. might as well try to sell ‘em off and use the returns to build an actual core.

100% agree.

Thankfully, the Rangers got screwed.

Can we take a minute here and appreciate Semien's immaculately Fernando Viña-esque goatee? I know it is a chin mullet, but he grooms that thing to perfection. It's like, if someone cares so much about something like that goatee, imagine how hard he must work in honing his craft??

Or Little Jerry? Like Grifol is threatening to fight someone over it?

I'm sure Gio would love to get out. Odds are that he'd get to pitch meaningful games down the stretch (and vie for postseason play), and he would be guaranteed not to have the Qualifying Offer shackle entering the offseason.

Umm... yes. Though I'd argue that it wouldn't matter in this org (we suck at developing players). From the outside, this org seems to look at the minor leagues just as a warehouse of talent that's going to somehow figure out how to get better. The philosophy seems to be "let them play, and they'll improve; eventually, the good ones will be ready to contribute."

When you're in your multiple championship contention window, you gotta do what you need to do to win.