raBBit

You're of course being deliberately obtuse, but yes, freaking out about ST results is dumb either way. You're not smart for stating the obvious. That said, some fans are excited about the team and can get excited about the discernible physical and mental changes in an oft-injured player who has untapped potential while also understanding it's just Spring Training. Thanks for keeping everyone in check with your great contributions per usual though.

Thanks man - hope all is well with you out West! Sox know he's lazy. His agency knows he's lazy. His offseasons have typically been made up of a lot of hunting and video games. Which is fine of course if you're mixing in some workouts, but Rodon comes to camp out of shape. I dont know about this offseason moreso speaking to the past. If you listen to his interview with the press upon joining the team in AZ, you can tell its very clear he's aware that his career is facing a turning point. He knows he needs to stay healthy and perform if he keeps wanting to start in the MLB. He's also talked about Katz working with him on his core and the pressures he's applying on his fastball. Like I said, it's just Spring Training, but he looked absolutely different out there the other. If you had slept through the last 5 years and woke up at the Sox ST game watching him pitch you'd think he made good on all of his potential while you were asleep.

There is no reason a potential Lynn extension should factor into extending Giolito. Sox should not be moving to extend Lynn or Marshall in my opinion. They have so many guys locked up. Lynn is a deal now and he's in his 30's. All the risk is on the Sox extending him. We have Gio/Keuchel moving forward. Let's see what we have in Cease/Kopech/Rodon/Crochet and evaluate if we want to extend Lynn next offseason. Marshall is so cheap and under control for 2 years. While he's been incredible, he's a crafty righty on the wrong side of thirty with a dumpy body who gets by on his craftiness and incredible sequencing. Why guarantee him more money? To potentially save a 2-3 million if he keeps pitching at this pace? I'll take my chances. Gio should be the priority. Vaughn I want to lock up before he becomes the best first baseman in the AL. Heuer, if something like Bummer's deal was agreed upon, would be great. Marshall/Lynn - let's not get cute. Our owner doesn't spend enough to take unnecessary risks on righties in their 30's with beer bellies. The upside just isn't there.

This can't be understated. Rodon looked like an ace the other day. Just attacking and challenging every hitter with every pitch. His 4 seamer is lively and he was throwing it for a strike at will. Was using two different sliders and also getting them over the plate when necessary. Just better tempo too. He was getting the ball and throwing it against a Padres lineup that had a lot of their regulars in there. People have a right to be frustrated with Rodon. He's been a lazy guy over the course of his career who has not made good on the gifts he's been given. To me, that's the worst type of player. That said, he has so much natural ability. He has a decent track record of being more than capable as a #5 prior to the injuries. He has velocity from the left side and his fastball is dancing like I've never seen. His slider has always been an out pitch. This is really make a break or break season for him. I am trying to hold back my optimism because it's spring training but his outing the other day is the highlight of the Spring to me. It seems Katz working with him on his core is paying dividends. Apparently having a potbelly in your 20's as a professional athlete isn't going to serve you well. Go figure.

Sox like Ruiz a lot and (spring training of course) he has looked nasty in ST. I've been saying they should cut Zavala for over a year now and its probably safe to assume they do since its a catcher that needs the 40 man spot. They're not cutting Adolfo/Rutherford/Gonzalez/Sheets. I get its easy for you to say cut them all, they all suck but we both know the Sox wouldn't do that. There are investments in these guys. There is upside with some of them. All that said, the post you quoted was in response to the idea of Burr breaking with the team. I am not cutting any of these guys so Burr can make the roster. I'm surprised you're ready to dump Sheets or Adolfo or Rutherford so a fungible guy like Burr can get the last spot in the pen. If they're going off of Spring performance Collins has hit more than anyone else. I think that the Sox go with Medick because of what you're saying with Leury. Moncada always seems to have some naggy injury, TA has been hitting the DL, Madrigal coming off surgery, etc. I do think Collins provides more and the Sox could quickly call up Mendick if someone got hurt but not the end of the world either way.

During the season, I think there's a scenario he can find his way on. That said, I am not sure he can break with the team based on the 40 man roster situation. Lucroy and Andrew Vaughn still need 40 man spots. On the positional side, there is no one to drop from the 40 but Zavala - who they have been reluctant to drop for years now. On the pitching side, Ruiz is out of options. Cordero could be cuttable I guess. Maybe they dump Burdi. There really isn't a lot of crap on the 40 man anymore. I could be wrong, but in order for them to roster Burr out of the gate, they would need to cut Zavala, cut Ruiz and option Lopez. They could move Fry to the 60 day IL but I don't know if his injury is that serious. Just tough to make room for Burr is my point.

Mets aren't going to be trying to trade him because they're competing. Sox would have to get him in free agency. Which would probably take a 9 digit deal if he performs this year as he did last year. So it's unlikely, but there may not be a player that fits our team better.

Obviously the progression of Cease and Kopech really decided whether a starter is going to be the target next offseason. We're basically set up across the diamond for years to come past RF. So I will go with Michael Conforto who is free agent next offseason. Just the idea of having to hit Vaughn/Grandal/Robert 8th is crazy. SS TA 3B Moncada 1B Abreu LF Eloy RF Conforto DH Vaughn C Grandal CF Robert 2B Madrigal

Renteria had him throw at Contreras after Contreras showed the Sox up. Hahn go mad at Renteria.

For sure. Looks like he's insurance for if TA goes down.

He signed a minor league deal. He has a 32 game suspension he has to serve left over from 2019.

It seems pretty straight forward what decisions the Sox have are there are two. This is assuming that Lucroy is the back up catcher which I find to be a near lock and Vaughn starts with the club. #1 - Last bench spot - Collins or Mendick - The lack of potential playing time for this spot almost makes it seem like we should take on another pitcher. Both are blocked. Perhaps Collins moreso than Mendick. For some reason I think the Sox go with Mendick, but I would go to Collins simply for the fact that he's a left-handed power bat that could pinch hit late in games. #2 - Last bullpen spot - Lopez, Cordero or Ruiz - Lopez is the guy they have penciled in but he has an option. Cordero has a suspension and is out of options. Ruiz has looked improved and is out of options. I don't know the rules with Cordero's suspension but this one is a bit more confusing.

There is no longer a pitcher limit in 2021.

Do you think the Sox should've given La Stella 3 years?

It's the second week of March plenty of guys not back at their normal velo yet.

Manfred sucks. Nobody likes Manfred. Not the players, not the owners, not the fans, etc. I don't know how the most traditionalist game in the world ended up with this Ivy League stiff who is constantly trying to change the game that has been played with the same rules for 100+ years.

This just makes me realize what a home run the Sox were for Katz - I don't know if there was a better pitching coach job available with all these projects and upside arms the Sox have. All of these guys supporting the anchors of rotation (Gio/Keuchel/Lynn) and pen (Hendriks/Bummer). The anchors should everything together and if the Sox get good season from 2/3 of the guys below Katz is an absolute genius. Lopez - Seemed like he really had a tumultuous relationship with Renteria and Coop. People have implied he's not that intelligent or hard headed but he's good arm who has a good deal of experience now. Seems to lose the mental battle, struggled with previous coaches, went away from what got him to the pros, etc. He pitches well, Katz is god. He doesn't, well he was on his last shot anyway. Rodon -Former high profile prospect with an out pitch and velo from the left side. Has not been able to stay healthy. He looked really good in 2019 before he went down to injury and was actually a capable albeit inconsistent starter the 4 years before that. He pitches well, Katz is god. He doesn't - well he was on the his last shot anyway. Then you have Cease... Cease - Easy and repeatable delivery. Cease has plus, plus velo and a spin rate on the pitch that grades out as 5th in the AL (minimum 100 pitches) but a fastball that really grades as a poor pitch given the utter lack of command Cease has. His secondary offerings are relatively advanced. If Katz can do anything to improve the fastball he can get all the credit for a high ceiling player. That's not even mentioning Kopech and Crochet. Katz can become a legend with just a few of these guys pitching to their ability.

Should be interesting to see how the Sox adjust once Texas and I'd imagine Miami and maybe Houston have no issues with more capacity. I think I heard Missouri will have more capacity as well but not quite 100%. Hopefully the government adjusts quickly but I am not holding my breath.

I don't see the problem with outside events. The science says the risk of spreading COVID outside is is massively reduced. If someone feels at risk or is just scared, they can stay home. No one's forcing anyone to go. Everybody in attendance knows the risks and are consenting adults. Not sure why people are trying to police others' free will. Yeah that was basically my experience. Fever, chills and body ache day 1. Really tired for a few days after that. The hardest part of COVID for me was my boss thinking I was going to die because I had COVID and not expecting me to do my normal workload. Pairing that with quarantining for 2 weeks and I was so incredibly bored. More bored than I'd ever been before. Felt like house arrest.

Bullpen arms are all over the place but obviously a lot to like about the Sox. I like the scenario that we have Rodon or whoever the 5 pitching and it's not going well. Say it's a 3-3 game with bases loaded and 1 out and we need to get out of a jam, La Russa can bring in Bummer or Crochet and still have the other one later.

Collins will hit in the MLB. Whether it is here or somewhere else. That said, please find me someone who thinks he can catch in the MLB.

Conversely the flu tests are far more reliable. The tests being used throughout 2020 had a significant rate of false of positives.

Missouri is ran very differently than this state. If there is a state that can screw this up, it's ours. Didn't help with football. Lori said the Bears didn't communicate well enough with her.

I don't either, but seems like that's the way the Sox are going.

Even Crochet has such a small hurdle to pass to accrue an additional year. That's not to say the Sox don't send these guys down during the year to "stretch them out" or something but it's a little curious that the Sox A) have basically said Crochet and Kopech will break with the team from camp and B) Vaughn is the DH in 2021. I think it's probably less about we're competing now and it's all "hands on deck" and more about avoiding any bad press/disruptions with the union coming into 2022. Unless they get him an extension, Vaughn really shouldn't be in the MLB to start the year. Kopech hasn't pitched in competitive baseball in 2.5 years so it's entirely reasonable he doesn't break with the team. Crochet has a role and with Fry out he's kind of needed. I would have no qualms with him breaking with the team.