Special K

So... do we consider going after one of Grigorious or Andujar should we actually lose out?

What seems different about the Sox rebuild (and sucks) is that they haven’t had a breakout prospect... I expect Eloy to be that, but until that happens, everything with the rebuild has been a massive disappointment. Moncada, Giolito, Burger, Kopech, Adolfo, Fulmer, Collins, Robert... all disappointing in some degree whether injuries or poor play. These are supposed to be the “core pieces” now look at all the other rebuilding teams, they’ve all had breakout stars... see Cubs, Braves, Astro’s, etc. Not sure it’s ever going to happen for our Sox. We’re going to have to be a team that catches lightning in a bottle every 20 or so years. We can’t get big time FAs, and out front office / scouting isn’t as good as the big dogs who know how to rebuild.

As i mentioned before, by making this trade and taking on Bailey, MLB Network explained that through some accounting tricks it actually lowers their payroll for 2019 for luxury tax purposes so it would free up more money to pursue Harper. I think Bailey makes more on the back end or something...

Something about the AAV calculation and luxury tax calculations. Although its more money, it actually looks like less on the bottom line next year for purposes of luxury tax and payroll

I think we should give Bryce and Machado both our best offers and a deadline to sign or pull them.

I feel like the Yankees wouldn't go for that given Rodon's injury history.

Agreed. Unless, for some reason, a team really wants Avi and does not want to let him get to open market for fear of losing him. Obviously, unlikely, but about the only reason I could see a team trade for him. That or just willing to take a flier on him and don't have to give up much, if anything.

If he has 1 more full season of 5+ ERA, it's not likely he's going to be anything other than a very average to below average starting pitcher, at best. I do NOT want that to happen. I hope he is good. I'm just talking reality here. Let's assume he has another 5+ ERA year, he will then have approximately 60 games started under his belt with an ERA well above 5. Without actually looking it up, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess there aren't too many major league pitchers as of recent (say, last 10-15 years) who had an ERA above 5 after their first 60 games started in the league and then went on to be above average (which is all I'm hoping he will be). There may be a couple outliers, but I would guess the VAST majority of major league pitchers over the last 10-15 years to start their career off like that, went on to have average to terrible careers as a starting pitcher. I do hope I'm wrong though.

If he has another full season of an ERA above 5, we can write him off.

At this point, I feel like pitching is now an easier commodity to pick up than good starting positional players. I hope that the Sox continue to draft positional players with their picks and then, when the time comes to compete, and if necessary, explore the FA and trade market for pitching. Cubs did it with Lester, Hamels, Quintana, etc.. Good positional players on the other hand are not as easy to come by. Unrelated note: If Giolito has another 5+ ERA year, I don't think it's going to be "too early to say" he's not a starting pitcher worth holding on to. I feel like that right now, although I know others feel differently. Therefore, I don't think we should be opposed to keeping an eye on FA Market for 2020 rotation.

I just remembered. We drafted Jordan Danks to keep John happy. About the same result as us drafting Schueler's daughter tho.

Exactly. This was definitely a good will thing and a brilliant move. If it makes Eloy happy and keeps him with this organization for a very long time, money well spent. I'm blanking right now, but haven't we done this before somewhat recently?

Couldn't have said it any better. There has to be someone in the farm worth giving that rotation spot to rather than have it filled with some washed up veteran who had the gall to complain about the Sox performance when he was very bad himself at the time we traded for him and needed him most. The only consoling part about that trade is we didn't give up much to get him...

President Trump's rhetoric is inflammatory. But I don't think rhetoric from representatives like Maxine Waters is very helpful either.

Confirmed or not, all judges should remain impartial - that's the point. If Justice Roberts came out railing against Democrats you would be okay with that under the guise that it's his opinion outside of his official capacity? I sure wouldn't be.

I just think all judges should adhere to this and we, as a people, should try to make sure of that regardless of political affiliation (or dislike for DJT). Because impartiality on the Bench can lead to very very bad things. No excuses for either judge.

I'm actually pretty apolitical. I do believe all justices should be impartial, as the rule of law is what holds us together. So if Judge Kavanaugh is found to be impartial, then maybe he shouldn't sit on the highest court in the land. But I keep hearing from conservative colleagues that Justice Ginsberg wasn't very impartial about Donald Trump. Seehttps://www.cnn.com/2016/07/12/politics/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-donald-trump-faker/index.htm Is this any different?

Fair point. And then he'd be awesome like Altuve.

Let's say we sign one of Arenado or Machado. I'd favor leaving Moncada at 2B. Is Madrigal playing CF an option?

Fair point. I do like Madrigal pick too. Hopefully, we get another nice pickup this year and I hope it's another position player. Pick enough of them and some of them will start to pan out.

Respectfully, Yolmer Sanchez, Adam Engel and Kevan Smith are average to below average players. If those are the players were touting as draft success, it's not very good. TA has been a nice player and a good pick but the FO should get it right more often than not if we want the type of success we're hoping for. So not all bad, but my point is there needs to be much more improvement.

Obviously, difficult to layout a rebuild plan when you are not privy to what players are/were available when trade deals were made and also not privy to scouting information on players drafted. (For the same reason, easy to criticize decisions that were made.) But generally speaking, I'd say improvements on the rebuild that could be made are draft better and make better trades. As of now, disappointed with Sale trade. Moncada needs to become an above average player and Kopech needs to be a very good pitcher for that trade to work out. Otherwise, you traded a hall of fame pitcher on an incredible deal for not much. Not saying moving Sale wasn't the right call, I just begin to question the return they got and if something better was out there. Eaton is another example. Lopez has been great, but I imagine he is a pleasant surprise in that deal but Giolito clearly a disappointment. Drafting has left much to be desired as well. Fulmer is bad and was a wasted pick. Not sure how Burger will turn out. Collins has been okay. Rebuilding is fine, but I am beginning to scrutinize those doing it, particularly when we haven't seen a playoff berth in a decade under this regime.

If we do nothing of note, and then go all in on Arenado and re-sign Sale, I could live with that.

He's 7 WAR this year and likely NL MVP. Very few with better numbers.

True. And I'm not just yet (except for Fulmer, I'm writing him off). But I would like to start seeing some serious positive signs.