CWSpalehoseCWS

Well, he certainly can't be much worse, right?

I think Stephens is going to wind up being that surprise prospect that ends up in the starting rotation. He's been looking really good so far.

This seems like an insurance signing if Avi/Delmonico aren't ready to return mid/late-June. Although Eloy really does belong in Charlotte now. Kid has nothing left to prove in Birmingham.

Good post. I wonder if Giolito or Fulmer's terrible starts have done anything to the Sox brass regarding Kopech? Obviously he still needs to improve upon some things still, so it doesn't hurt to keep him down a little longer, but I wonder if the Sox would have pushed him a little more aggressively if say one of Giolito or Fulmer were pitching closer to an 4.25 ERA. Maybe it's easier for an organization to develop players across multiple platforms as opposed to putting all that pressure on one particular staff?

I think we see the same route with Abreu as we did with Konerko. He's good for Moncada at the moment, and there really isn't anyone pushing him aside at 1B, unless we all think Davidson is the answer there for when the Sox are theoretically contending in 2020. Eloy belongs in the OF until he proves he doesn't belong out there. Talk of shoehorning him into DH at age 21 is a little ridiculous. If the Sox can play Delmonico in LF, they sure as hell can start Eloy there.

Nevermind then... My mistake.

Not to take away from Cooper, but Matt Zaleski does receive some praise down in Charlotte. Perhaps he can right the ship.

He left them no choice. Just look at his stat line on the year. He needs to work on his mechanics against competition that he might actually stand a chance against.

You have to wonder how the Sox handle both him and Giolito. You can't keep handing games away and failing to at least go 5 innings 2/5 starts. How can they arguably send Fulmer down when Giolito has been just as bad if not worse at times? I'm all for letting them work through the growing pains, but both these guys need a confidence boost at Charlotte IMO. Fulmer definitely doesn't seem to have what it takes to be a MLB starter with the way he has been the last few starts.

Adding to this - I think the Sox decide against a full tear-down rebuild if the LaRoche and Sale fiascos never happen. I think both incidents opened their eyes to just how bad the clubhouse culture and team chemistry was in 2016.

Madrigal or bust for me. I think he's the best option for the Sox. People need to not worry so much about where he will play. If it even comes to that, you worry about it when the time comes or you have a really great trade chip to use and get that final piece. He could end up being the Sox version of Gleybar Torres. Can't worry about it until it happens. Plus we don't know where Anderson or Moncada or Sanchez or any of the other top 10 prospects will be developmental wise in 2-3 years.

Sox would be really foolish to not take a player based on the construction of the current MLB roster. I really hope they go BPA and worry about any logjams as they occur (if at all). Plus these guys can always be used as trade bait in the same manner the Yankees traded Rutherford last year.

Todd Cunningham was released from Charlotte with Rondon being sent back down. That leaves and active OF of Tilson, May, and Robbins. You could theoretically argue that RF has been opened for an Eloy promotion.

Sox signed Johnny Giavotella to a minor league deal and assigned him to Birmingham of all places. That's gotta be a tough pill to swallow for a 30 yr. old. Must be desperate.

I think that's a pretty valid point though. It is skewing his stats this year. I honestly don't view Davidson as being anything other than a placeholder for the Sox. I don't see them getting rid of him until someone in the system pushes him aside - which I don't think will be anytime soon.

I'll go with Fry with Bummer a close second.

I agree, but just to play devil's advocate - we have no clue what the Sox staff had suggested to Collins so far this season, nor Collin's willingness to listen. For all we know that old swing may also be exploitable once the league gets more looks at him (though I hope not). Could the Sox perhaps push certain guys in the system to figure out their own adjustments as part of the development process? As a sidenote: Collins' splits are pretty drastic so far this year. He's hitting .288 against RHP while only sporting a .091 BA against southpaws (though both small sample sizes). Over his entire minor league career, he's now at .251/.182 vs. RHP/LHP. So he definitely appears to be at least average matchup against RHP and the strong side of a platoon role. I could easily live with that.

Saladino had TJ surgery right around August 1 in 2014. I believe he was ready for opening day. I would expect a similar timetable with Adolfo.

Hopefully this isn't too big a deal. Better to give him a breather than try to play through a lost season.

That was entire what I was suggesting earlier.

Isn't Fisher kind of a man without a position? Why not just cut Barnum and let him try his hand at 1B? He can split time there with Basto.

That was a brutal game to attend. Probably one of the worst in a while for me. Even with it being the Astros, the Sox just look off on all fronts right now. Pitching is just a disaster. I do think we should start being a little concerned about Gio right now too. He doesn't look good at all.

Moncada does it again!

As rough as this game has been, there are a ton of positives we all should be happy about. Moncada, Anderson, stolen bases, and 10+ runs scored. It ain't pretty but we are watching this team develop, warts and all.