JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Lackey isn't long for this game. If the Cubs get a runner on wouldn't be shocked to see Maddon pinch hit for him this inning.

Belt killing them this series. Hasn't hit a lick and has had many opportunities with runners on.

Taste of their own medicine LOL

Panik really swinging the bat well this series. Average up to 667.

Conor is a beast LOL

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 03:16 PM) You also have to figure out where to play Sandoval and Moncada. Fan favorite as a rookie with limited time vs. clear Top Five MVP candidate are not quite the same...but if it does perhaps cause them to undervalue JBJ internally, then fine. But from all indications, the Red Sox do NOT undervalue JBJ. In fact, for all we know, they overvalue him. That's the problem http://www.overthemonster.com/2016/9/2/127...ckie-bradley-jr

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 02:49 PM) Dombrowski and hopefully the Sox. The Sox aren't one player away, so that trade would just shift the hole rather than plugging the multiple holes that a Sale trade should. Betts is an MVP candidate and has years of control left, plus he is a fan favorite, not likely that either side would be too interested in that deal. But if you are the Red Sox why not sign a guy like Reddick to complement JBJ and Benintendi in the OF? Aren't they basically a lock to sign Encarncion too? He easily replaces Ortiz's production. Hitting might get you there but pitching wins in October and right now the Red Sox have a big problem there. They can't trust their current ace to give them a quality start in a playoff game moving forward. Their issues were on full display over the past week and simply standing pat will not get it done. Also, regarding fan favorites, I think Benintendi is quickly turning into just as much of a fan favorite as Betts so why is it a given they would be willing to part with him if they really care about that kind of stuff?

Question: in a 1 for 1, Sale for Betts, who says no? Hahn or Dombrowski?

and it appears there is statistical data to support the position of where you hit in the order equates to more pressure and less performance for certain players. JBJ appears to be one of those guys (at least this year): http://bosoxinjection.com/2016/09/12/bosto...-bradley-order/

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 01:55 PM) I think he moreso meant that JBJ wouldn't have nearly as much protection in the WS lineup. In Boston's lineup, he was sort of an after thought and probably saw a lot of great pitches. That wouldn't be the case with the Sox, especially if Melky and Todd are moved in a larger rebuild. Already replied before seeing this post. Bingo, that's exactly my point and yes it is a real thing. Jose Abreu would see better pitches (less offspeed stuff and more pitches in the zone) if he had Mookie Betts and David Ortiz hitting behind him or in JBJ's case the top of the order since he was hitting 9th in the playoffs for the Red Sox.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 01:07 PM) The italicized isn't a thing. Unless you're a star on a s***ty team you just play within yourself. I am not sure why JBJ would be subjected to some immense amount of pressure on a team where the barriers to be of the best are low and the amount of people watching are of the least. Strongly disagree. Hitting ahead of or behind other great hitters absolutely has an impact on one's performance. If JBJ is surrounded by a bunch of guys like JB Shuck (obv. extreme to make the point), you think he sees as many good pitches to hit as when he's surrounded by the Red Sox offense? Also, there are guys that just don't perform leading off or hitting at the top of the order and excel while batting in the lower part of the order. This is a similar effect to some relievers that are awesome at mid relief/setup but can't close. The mental aspect of baseball is a thing and devalued more and more in this new age of statistical analysis.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 12:40 PM) I don't think the Red Sox would move both JBJ and Benintendi. I know you've said the same earlier in the thread, but I don't think a rental of Melky really changes anything. JBJ and Benintendi are both franchise CFers. The BoSox could move one, but moving both would take a huge strength and turn it into a huge hole. Neither Melky Cabrera or Brock Holt will make a difference in that regard. I do think a lot of posters on this board are underrating JBJ. I know we're trading the best asset the White Sox have ever had in this hypothetical and people want better than JBJ as a headliner, but JBJ is a .340-.360 OBP guy with 20+ dingers and great defense. Other than depth of the roster, our problem is the lack of power/OBP/defense. JBJ does all of those things at a premium position. At home, he can really take away the gaps. Seeing what Lorenzo Cain does when KC come to town, it would be incredible to have our own guy forcing teams to hit the long ball to win. Especially with Eaton in RF. I think Kopech is the guy the Sox would insist on including. He'd be the next ace prospect in the system hopefully to replace Sale in a few years. He had some makeup concerns coming out of the draft and has since been suspended for stims and suspended for fighting with a teammate. That adds another layer of risk on a 20 year old who throws 100+. He is filthy though. Despite a clear need to stop tipping his off-speed pitches, Kopech absolutely dominated A+ as a 20 year old. He stays tall and closed on the fastball but has a bad habit of dropping down and slowing down on the offspeed offerings. From my largely untrained eye, his mechanics would check out with the Sox. So to me, one of JBJ/Benintendi is a must. Kopech is a must. One of Swihart/Vazquez makes too much sense. If it's JBJ, we need Moncada too. If it's Bentinendi, the last four pieces are higher quality guys than the last three on Moncada/JBJ starter. If we could somehow get Moncada/JBJ that would be incredible. My deals in order of preference and least likelihood: 1.) Moncada, JBJ, Kopech, Swihart/Vazquez and Eduardo Rodriguez/Brian Johnson. 2.) Benintendi, Kopech, Devers, Swihart/Vazquez and Eduardo Rodriguez/Brian Johnson 3.) JBJ, Kopech, Devers, Swihart/Vazquez and Luis Alexander Basabe I am no sure if this Re: JBJ, I don't think those numbers are a sure thing in a WS uni (far from it), check his splits. Plus he'd be asked to do much more in the White Sox lineup than he's asked to in the Red Sox lineup with a worse supporting cast.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 12:07 PM) Centerpeice - meaning we don't get Moncada/Devers or Benintendi/Devers, I would agree. If JBJ is in the deal with Benintendi and Devers, or Moncada and Devers, I am cool with it. His OF defense in CF and keeping Eaton in RF would be phenominal. An OF of Benintendi / JBJ / Eaton would be one of the best, if not the best, defensively in MLB. Yea it has to include one of their other top two prospects also and then some solid depth for the deal to make sense. JBJ and a bunch of good but not great prospects should not even be in consideration. BTW, take a look at these ugly splits from JBJ. Mediocre hitter away from Fenway and it's even worse from 2013-2015. Also, struggled mightily against LHP this season. He's the kind of guy that puts up a slash line of 250/325/750 in a White Sox uniform. I realize that has value as a good defensive CF but not as the centerpiece when trading a top 5 pitcher in baseball. http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32362

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 08:13 AM) Bradley fell off hard from a hitting standpoint late this season. Definitely a warning flag, in terms of his value. I said it 6 weeks ago that I would be PISSED if JBJ was the centerpiece of a Sale deal. He has bust written all over him if he ended up on the south side (from an offensive standpoint).

Over the past two years, the Cubs were 35-1 in games they led by 3 runs or more with Arrieta on the mound. How about those odds?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Oct 11, 2016 -> 02:10 AM) Moore has a great curveball. +5.1 pitch value on it this year according to FanGraphs. Good for 9th best this year in baseball. Unfortunately, Samardzija had a +6.5 pitch value on his curve this year and the Cubs beat the s*** out of him. Cubs team as a whole vs. curveball: -1.8, 18th in baseball. Cubs vs. Slider: +13.3, best in baseball. Cubs struggle the most against changeups (-7.8, 23rd), which is Moore's third best pitch. Pete Rose was half right. I don't know what the stats show, but it seemed like shark barely threw it in game 2 and when he did not for strikes.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 10, 2016 -> 11:01 PM) https://mobile.twitter.com/RussMitchellCFB/...691091593007104 Jesus that's brutal. The fix is in indeed. Giants have to overcome a very good team and umpires to win this one.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 10, 2016 -> 10:58 PM) Been getting breaks on reviews all season. It's an absolute joke. That was so blatant too. Clearly pulled his foot off the bag

Umps screwing Giants yet again

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 10, 2016 -> 10:54 PM) Clearly off the bag BS as in I agree with you not the call

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 10, 2016 -> 10:41 PM) No other fly ball like Pence hit earlier in the game has not been a homer all year (velocity and angle) Crazy. Like I said very fortunate to be holding the lead still.

Arrieta hit very hard that inning. Fortunate to be up a run still. Can't imagine he will be in the game much longer.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Oct 9, 2016 -> 10:27 AM) Good luck with all that considering they have the best pitching staff and defense in baseball. I think the Dodgers and Red Sox are their biggest roadblocks if they get past the Giants but right now they're heavy favorites. I've been more impressed with Cleveland and Toronto's offense this postseason though the Red Sox are also stacked offensively but maybe their youth is catching up to them.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Oct 9, 2016 -> 08:48 AM) Hindsight is 20/20 but why would Bochy roll with Shark? It's not even hindsight since most people here were advocating for Moore before the game even started.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Oct 8, 2016 -> 11:23 PM) Cubs have committed 4 errors in 2 games, none of them have led to runs. The series is 2-0 Cubs, but it could very easily be 2-0 Giants. Not saying they won't still win the series, but it's not like they've dominated. The Cubs have not impressed me. Their defense has been shaky at times, their offense has been nearly non existent but their pitching has been excellent. If their offense continues to struggle this postseason they are not going to win the World Series. Eventually the pitching will crack against a better offense (think any AL team). Their highly regarded offense has yet to prove they can perform in October against good pitching. Of course that could change, but this series has only further reinforced this notion. Their two MVP candidates have career postseason OPS of 689 and 522. That's not going to get it done if they get past the Giants.