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Yeah China can be effectively removed from this conversation. USA has third highest population in the world, removing China, they're the second highest. India is pretty interestign. I can't speak to the habits of the country but I am going to guess they're less transient or something leading to their proportionally low numbers. At work I work with a team over there and they just got put on lock down at the beginning of the month I believe. My main contact was pretty freaked out but said he doesn't know of anyone who's contracted it. I'd be interested to see the daily death rates of other natural leading killers (heart attack, flu, pneumonia, cancer, etc.) and see how their daily trends have gone over the past 6-8 weeks or so when the COVID deaths started coming in. I listened to one doctor on NPR who said the rates of those causes of death are falling in comparison to the pre-established norms. I don't know what data he was citing/using though but I cant definitely see that being the case. If someone is getting treatment for a cancer, their immune system is compromised as a result and then they contract COVID and die, what killed them? I'd imagine the credit would probably be given to COVID but if the person wasn't receiving treatment for cancer they'd in all likelihood be able to overcome COIVD.

We will see Thursday's lows again and we will fly past them. The carnage is nowhere near done. For those who understand the markets and trading, you know your options to hedge. For those of you in your 40's and 50's with significant money in your 401k you should really work to understand your hedge options because there is a lot of money to be lost. For those of you who don't have any understanding of the markets (and really everyone), show up to work everyday (or work remotely) with the best attitude possible. Get in early. Stay late. Make good with your coworker you have issues with. Drop your complaints about however you feel you're being slighted or how the workplace is stacked against. Ask your boss is there anything you can do to help her/him before leaving for the day. The recency bias may go a long way when employers are tasked with tough decisions - and they will be. Hope all is well with everyone. Understand your risks. Be vigilant.

Caulfield how would you characterize how people in your community look at the origin of COVID-19? Do they follow the line of thinking that it came from the Wuhan seafood market?

With this in mind the Jay and Alonso signings were worth it last year.

There is little-to-no change Hahn and Co. signed him without communicating to him his future is at DH. Sox would be ridiculous if they didn't put that out there when signing him to an above market deal. My post more towards Vaughn will be pushing to be on the MLB roster this summer. I think we'd be better off with Vaughn at 1B and using the DH as a flexibility position moving forward.

Vaughn is going to make this contract extension even more dumb.

There was a journalist doing that and he's now uh, not doing it anymore. In all seriousness though, prayers to you and you family Caulfield. I can't even imagine what you all are going through.

I am kind of shocked Zavala has kept a roster spot this long.

I think the Reds are going to compete and would want to keep Iglesias Kind of like when they signed Gordon Beckham at SoxFest after just recently dumping him in the season prior. If the Sox sign Puig it is because nobody in MLB finds value in Puig.

I don't think you are wrong necessarily but Bmags isn't either. Sox biggest 16-17 year old signing was Adolfo in 2013/2014. Franklin Reyes, Amado Nunez & Guererro had some pretty decent bonuses but these guys were maybe top 30 prospects in their class and not even top 20. Nunez may have been top 20 but obviously publication rankings are guesswork just noting. When they have spent bigger in LatAm they have jumped on the older prospects when they can - as older prospects are far less common. Robert was basically their only "notable" signing for two classes and he was 19 (IIRC). Yolbert Sanchez was their big signing last year and he was 21. When you say the vast majority of their dollars are spent on 16 year old that's not true becuase Robert alone is probably more than half of their money spent down there during this century. Past that, you're probably right but isn't that the vast majority of the free agent pool. You both make valid points I just think bmags argument of the Sox being risk averse with players wrapping up puberty is a very fair argument.

I think if he doubles his 3% K rate to 6% in the big leagues, keeps using the whole field to hit and plays great D he's going to be a great piece for the Sox for a long time.

Not sure why the Nats signed Castro on top of Cabrera and Kendrick. I wouldn't have mind the Sox picking up Cabrera. Especially for 2.5M. Probably would prefer the better opportunity and team he's familiar with in Washington if money is the same.

Don't want to disparage him because he seems like a decent guy but the people in the game that I have talked to over the years seem to agree that Morosi is an idiot. They don't talk the same way about Rosenthal, Heyman, Passan, etc. Morosi has been known to kind of throw stuff at the wall.

Fake in that they don't have inside info? Perhaps. They do seem to have a grip on general baseball intelligence and if they're making shit up at least it is thought provoking. I don't love the burner account that's developed on Twitter but this account in particular doesn't bother me. Or with the Astros and JDM a few years back.

Who were you hoping for in that draft? I just figured it'd be either Bohm/Madrigal - whoever Phili didn't take at #3. Any thoughts on why Madrigal is such a poor base stealer despite such strong speed and instincts?

To me, Cease and Kopech have the widest range of outcomes. If both guys perform perform better than they are projected the Sox are going to be good.

And mine doesn't, since I don't have to explain myself. Thanks

Interesting, thanks. I am not of the belief that this person doesn't have some sort of inside info. )

George Ofman also tweeted those two guys this afternoon. I was thinking the Sox might be balk at 2 years. Good for Harris sweating it out and getting the money but I want no part of that.

I'd add Zobrist and Cameron Maybin to the right field possibilities but good, full list. On top of everything you spoke to above, I wonder if the Sox also add a left handed hitting infielder as well I think without a doubt they add a reliever. The infield need & RH side of the RF platoon need are less of a guarantee. A RF addition is probably a good bit more likely than the INF addition. -I've mentioned Brad Miller much more than any fan should but I think he's cheap, has upside and a great fit. -Neil Walker would probably cost $1-1.5M and he hit decent when he wasn't in Miami's park. That's cutable if Madrigal is playing well. -Scooter Gennett was an All Star and has an 850 OPS over a full season with with his home park playing very similar to ours in 2018. -Brock Holt has averaged over 350 PAs a year for the Red Sox the last six years. Carrying a .342 OBP since 2014 coming off of .362 & .369 rates in 2018 and 2019 respectively. All while playing 4-6 positions a year with the majority at 2B where we'd need the most help. -Yolmer left on good terms and is likely going to come cheap. I would go another route but its an option.

Yes.

Clones maybe? Let me know if anyone gets to the bottom of this.

Really happy for James Fox / Y2Jimmy getting the credit he deserves. I don't have to tell anyone on this site but the man has paid his dues and put the work in. Good on Passan.

Worth noting that with regard to his outspokenness, he is still without a job.

What I would do against righties in 2020 R - CF - Robert - Other than perhaps Yoan, this is our guy. He's going to be electric. If he's 25-80 from the start I'll settle for a .330 type OBP as we have no natural fit for leadoff. R - LF - Eloy - Was at the tops of the league in % of breaking balls seen (if not the top). With Robert on 1B, pitchers will be kept honest or deal with the speed. S - 3B - Moncada - Renteria wouldn't but I would. He's a natural #2 hitter but given the number of cloggers we have (Eloy/Abreu/EE/Grandal/Mazara) I'd want to break them up. R - DH - Encarnacion - He would get the nod to break up the lefties/switch-hitters and because Abreu is subpar against righties. S - C - Grandal - Put him in the 5 hole and forget about it. R - 1B - Abreu - Renteria wouldn't but he should. R - SS - Anderson - Batting champ in the 7 hole is 100% the right thing to do. L - RF - Mazara - No pressure, break up all the righties. R - 2B - Madrigal - No pressure. Let him show if he's the future lead off hitter which I suspect he will be after leading the MLB in K/BB his rookie season.