Lillian

Goodwin is on a pace, which over a full season would produce the following stat line: 32 doubles, 4 triples, 24 homers and 80 RBI's. He is making almost nothing and is not supposed to be a regular, let alone a star. Compare his production to Moncada's, who it considered a 5 tool super star and has a big contract. Oh, Goodwin's OPS is .788 compared to Moncada's .780. The point is that he has filled in quite well and has even delivered in the clutch, on several occasions. OK, he's not a great fielder. You're getting a lot of value from him and he provides one of the few solid LH bats on the roster. The negativity and hyperbole is embarrassing.. If you don't like the player, that's fine. We're all entitled to our opinions. However, it would be nice if people were at least fair and magnanimous, when they opine. Back to Moncada: He is falling back into his bad habit of leaving close pitches up to the umpire, when he's in a two strike count. He rarely has long at bats, where he successfully manages to stay alive, fouling off pitches, until he gets something that he can drive. He hits a very high % of line drives, on his batted balls, but he simply refuses to swing, unless he thinks it's a strike. That approach is great, until the hitter has 2 strikes. That habit is precisely what made him so ineffective in 2018. It is conventional wisdom that a hitter should be in protective mode, with 2 strikes. It's baffling why he persists in this overly selective approach, with 2 strikes. Again, we're all entitled to our own opinions, but I personally find him very frustrating to watch at times. He could be so much better. Other guys seem to learn and get better, with more experience and at bats. Yoan seems like he is regressing. I remember when some here were absolutely convinced that Adam Engel would never be a Major League hitter. He has worked hard and developing the skill to become a respectable hitter. I wish that we saw that same kind of growth with Yoan. I'm still hopeful, but he's in his prime now, so it should happen soon, if it's going to happen. He's approaching 2.000 MLB at bats. That is usually enough for a guy to realize his potential. Sorry for the rant.

Xavier Fernandez may object, as well.

It may be true that Moncada is over rated, but Boston must have believed their own hype, at some point, because they gave Yoan a $33 Million bonus to sign, and paid a big luxury tax to do it. Moncada is talented, but he continues to be a disappointment to those who expected a 5 tool super star. So far, covid and injuries aside, he has not been a super star, since his one breakout 2019 season. What has he been doing, so far this season, that has so impressed his supporter? He was drawing a lot of walks and thus sporting a really good OBP and playing a good third base. However, he is still striking out too much and not hitting for power. He may yet get going, but so far, count me as being under whelmed, which I know is considered blasphemous, around here. Well, let's hope that he proves me wrong., and soon.

The assumption that Engel can only hit lefties is proving to be fallacious. He has had a lot of very good at bats off RHP. It's beginning to look like he may have actually developed into a decent hitter.

The best part for me was Zavala not only hitting 3 homers; one to center, one to left with bases loaded and one to right, but he was very good, behind the plate, blocking balls. I don't know whether, or not his pitch calling was good, with all of the offense Cleveland produced, but that may not have been his fault. Nevertheless, I've never seen Collins have any where near that good of a game. At least, it's nice to think that Zavala might be an adequate catcher, to fill in for Grandal, who may not be able to catch much, the rest of this year, with his recent surgery.

Shouldn't Romy Gonzalez be on that list, as well? I'm sorry, I missed it. He is listed at #17.

If the Sox had both Kimbrel and Henricks, they could take turns, thus keeping both fresh. The competition between them would only help to keep their adrenaline flowing. I wrote that, before the trade was announced.

Yes, that's what they have been stating. Nevertheless, he could end up with a multiple inning appearance, in the Post Season.

You forgot Tepera. Moreover, that allows for Kopech to get a spot start, perhaps in the play offs.

Well the good news is that the Sox are not content with just riding out the season with their current bullpen. That's reassuring.

We all wonder how "steep". What would the Cubs want, besides the contract? That is the big question.

Another factor that has not been discussed is the "cover" that trading away pending free agents provides to the seller, who actually prefers that the team "tank," in order to improve their draft status. Harder to win games with a depleted roster of good Major Leaguers. Oops, I see that someone just brought up that point.

On the other hand, what if they did anticipate this and therefore are hoping, with reasonable expectations, that there are some players left on the trading block, with practically no more takers? After all, contending teams only have so many "holes" and so much money and prospect capital to fill them. Today could be the day when the best bargains develop. Stay tuned.

Perhaps I'm just being naive, but why isn't completely plausible that the front office is still trying to do more? If they fail, it might be that no deals were attractive enough to consummate. In that case, who would object to not pulling the trigger on a deal that was not in the best interest of the organization? I find it hard to accept that any of us knows more than Rick Hahn, K. W. and Tony La Russa. There are so many factors to consider, in any of these negotiations, including the health of the players involved. Some of the hyperbole and cynicism here is frankly embarrassing.

NO

Mercedes with another bomb

Why isn't Burger in the lineup for the Knights?

I suspect that T.L.R. still wants another really good reliever. He has always wanted to "own" the last three innings. With all of the position players returning and Hernandez to fill the hole at second, I think he is more worried about the pen. If the Sox could somehow acquire Kimbrel, I think La Russa would be very confident of the Sox chances.

Do your really think that it would take all of those guys and Kimbrel's contract, to acquire him? I don't think so. Not even close, unless the Cubs picked up a good portion of the money.

He would be a similar acquisition to Escobar; Switch hitting second baseman. A little younger, late bloomer in respect to power. He's a better defender than Escobar. The 18 homers are appealing, but his power is actually better vs. LHP. Leury is actually having a better year, except for the power. He would do, as a rental, stop gap, for the rest of this year. It frees up Leury to be the bench guy, and Mendick is the obvious man out. One advantage over Escobar is that he knows the AL and our division. He appears to have sold out his career AVG and OBP, in order to produce more power, this year. I think the next and most significant add will be a really good RH relief pitcher. Hernandez shouldn't be costing much, leaving more prospect capital for the important bullpen acquisition.

Just focusing on the one glaring deficiency of the potentially best Sox team, in my lifetime, as a Sox fan, which goes back to the 50's. The only other issue to address is the bullpen, which was expected to be a strength, but has been problematic.

That's a good point. They may have to send Gavin back to Charlotte, if they want to bring back Grandal, before he is ready to catch.

The dilemma that the Sox face is not what is being focused upon by most fans, who continue to clamour for the Sox to trade for a second baseman. Fans aren't satisfied with the offensive production, from the keystone position. With Robert and Grandal soon to rejoin the club, and Eloy already back in the lineup, the Sox don't need more offense, in general. However, they would still benefit greatly, by having better lineup balance. The problem is that, aside from Grandal, the one left handed power bat, that is currently on this roster is Sheets and he will have no place to play, once everyone is back. Robert will be in center, Vaughn should be in left, which means that several guys will be vying for playing time between a corner OF, first base and DH. Abreu, Eloy and Grandal are the obvious guys to fill those 3 slots. Yasmani is not likely to be able to catch much, this soon after his injury. Therefore, first base and DH are really the only 2 spots for Abreu and Grandal. That leaves Eloy and Sheets for one outfield spot. Last night, Eloy was in LF and Vaughn was moved to RF. Even with Robert's range in CF, having both Vaughn and Eloy in the corners will present a real challenge, defensively. Nevertheless, that may be the way to go, for the rest of this season. In any case, Sheets has no place to play. The rationale behind the need to acquire someone to play second is not that the team needs an adequate second baseman. Leury is fine, defensively at that position and is adequate offensively, at the bottom of the order. Bringing in Escobar is not intended to fill a void at the position, but is rather intended to provide a LH power bat. It just so happens that second base is the only spot available for that bat. I still believe that Escobar is the best fit and will ultimately be acquired before the Friday trade deadline. Moreover, I don't think that the cost will be very high. As for Sheets, I don't expect him to be traded. He is the best hope, for a middle of the order LH bat, in the organization. If Grandal can resume a normal catching load, next year, I could see Abreu and Sheets sharing the first base/DH roles, in 2022.

For two reasons: 1) It is a much lower priority, with Eloy and Robert joining the mix of Vaughn, Engel, Goodwin, Sheets and Hamilton. 2) They don't have the prospect capital to acquire any long term solution to the RF void and the need for a LH bat. It just seems like they have much more critical needs. I still think Escobar is coming, as he is the perfect fit. LH power bat, a rental who'll be gone next season, when Madrigal comes back, and he shouldn't cost much. I really doubt that his health is a concern, he's been in the lineup almost every game, even after the cautionary reports about his hamstring. La Russa has always placed a huge premium on the bullpen and he can't be very happy with how the Sox relievers have looked. He is almost certainly urging Hahn to get some help for the pen, which I believe is the primary focus of the front office. Therefore, unless Hahn is going to be extremely aggressive, I think your assessment is right on target.

I agree, and I'm also very skeptical about the idea of adding an outfielder.