he gone.

What are you general thoughts on safety/numbers of vaccinated adults v. unvaccinated children? just numbers wise an unvaccinated child is safer than a vaccinated adult. to me, it's not like this is ravaging children. the overwhelming majority of cases is much like a common flu when kids get covid.

I still don't get why vaccinated v unvaccinated would evoke any type of anger at this point. if you're vaccinated, you should be generally protected from getting very sick/dying. So if you're vaccinated, then you should be at peace. If your angle is you're concerned about variants - then take a math and science class. variants will continue to run through the alphabet. delta, gamma, iota, etc. etc. You're not going to get all of India and Africa vaccinated and mutations will continue to occur. It's a global economy and it will continue to spread across the globe. You see it in places like Israel where they are very vaccinated and it's still occurring. So, to get mad at unvaccinated people? Don't understand it, nor will it change anything. It's like yelling at traffic on the Ike at 5pm ... just learn to live in it. If those people get sick? that's their choice. hospitals should have the capacity. If you're angry now, imagine the conversation on the booster shots over the next few years? You think it was hard to get 50% of the population vaccinated, then wait until you can only get 35-40% of the population to line up for boosters. The delta variant is already poking holes in the double vaccinated ... so what happens when there's a more prevalent strand? At the end of the day there's several ways to reach heard immunity and a whole bunch of science, math and case studies to look back into as we learn more about what has happened, is going on, and what will happen in the future. Herd immunity is likely to be met via a combo of vaccinations and catching covid. I think the key is the higher transmission rate is happening in those under 40. This is a positive thing.

those were fun times. ya, that's why its so hard for me to wrap my head around how bad he must be at catcher. I get it, catcher is about being a heady player who can block balls, throw guys out stealing, call a great game, etc. and if you get a hit too? Gravy. to me it's always, these guys are in AAA or the majors --- they're clearly already the top 1% at their jobs in the world. I always though it was overblown that guys can't step in at other positions. Maybe not long term - you do it enough and it bubbles to the top. But just like Sheets in RF or Vaughn in LF ... Mendick in RF ... it's not ideal, but feel like in a pinch these guys can hold their own (mostly). With Grandal being back later in the year we're not really asking for Yermin to be the solution, just the band-aid for 30-45 days, and basically 2 times a week. I'd have to think that's possible. Clearly the Sox disagree otherwise I think he'd already have had the shot.

agree to disagree. his stats look almost exactly like his 28 yr old season w the angels, his last time with extended playing time. Or even last year with the angels. 8 more ab's this year, 4 more hits, same homers, 1 more double, same walks, 7 less k's if you really just extract his 50ab's with cinci last year he's been pretty, pretty consistently this years' performance. This ain't a turn into a pumpkin type of stats, this is i'm a career 4OF stats. Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards 2016 25 WSN NL 22 44 42 1 12 4 1 0 5 0 0 2 14 .286 .318 .429 .747 95 18 1 0 0 0 0 /H978 2017 26 WSN NL 74 278 251 41 63 21 1 13 30 6 0 23 69 .251 .313 .498 .811 104 125 3 1 0 3 2 87H9 2018 27 TOT MLB 75 180 159 20 38 6 0 6 25 4 2 16 57 .239 .318 .390 .708 90 62 0 3 1 1 0 H879 2018 27 WSN NL 48 79 65 9 13 1 0 3 12 3 1 10 26 .200 .321 .354 .674 78 23 0 2 1 1 0 H79/8 2018 27 KCR AL 27 101 94 11 25 5 0 3 13 1 1 6 31 .266 .317 .415 .732 99 39 0 1 0 0 0 8/H7 2019 28 LAA AL 136 458 413 65 108 29 3 17 47 7 3 38 129 .262 .326 .470 .796 106 194 3 3 1 3 2 *78H9/D 2020 29 TOT MLB 50 164 144 17 31 9 1 6 22 5 0 17 54 .215 .299 .417 .715 88 60 1 1 0 2 1 *879/HD 2020 29 LAA AL 30 109 95 12 23 7 1 4 17 1 0 12 35 .242 .330 .463 .793 112 44 0 1 0 1 1 79/8H 2020 29 CIN NL 20 55 49 5 8 2 0 2 5 4 0 5 19 .163 .236 .327 .563 43 16 1 0 0 1 0 8/H7D9 2021 30 CHW AL 29 117 104 18 27 8 1 4 15 0 0 12 28 .260 .336 .471 .807 122 49 0 0 1 0 0 89/7H 6 Yrs 386 1241 1113 162 279 77 7 46 144 22 5 108 351 .251 .319 .456 .775 102 508 8 8 3 9 5

Okay does anybody who spends more time on this stuff know the exact situation upcoming? Top of mind we have Eloy back maybe this weekend, so one guy will have to go. Robert follows 2 weeks after ... so another has to go? Jake Lamb has been playing in AAA for three games and he gets 20? total? that's the max right? So you have 2.5 weeks for a decision on him. Would guess that Sheets and Burger, etc. have options. How about guys like Goodwin and Hamilton? Do they have to clear to go down to AAA? Think someone like Lamb would have to clear to keep in AAA? At catcher I'd assume Savala will be upgraded, just not a MLB bat. Yermin is crushing down in AAA ... if that bat is even 75% of what it was in April/May you'd have to think you want that somewhere on the roster too? Can he even catch 1-2 games a week ... is it that bad? Just seems like a BIG roster crunch coming soon and that's even without acquiring a 2b. The way i see it we have what? 3 moves to make for sure? Guessing that Sheets, Burger just get sent down. A shame, since they're doing so well and look like their talent belongs (though we said that about Yermin - so maybe pitching hasn't adjusted yet). Both of those guys are young, have options, etc. so it seems like the easy route to just send them down. That would open spots for Eloy and Lamb. After that? Would you consider Mendick going down and Leury being IF depth only? Or do you send/cut Goodwin/Hamilton down? Goodwin is a better player all around for sure, but that speed and Defense off the bench would seem to make more of an impact on this team. Seems like a lot of tough decision upcoming in the next 14 days or so ... trade deadline and roster shuffling ahead!

That is my guess as well. To me, that was the only conceivable angle outside thinking Katz is a miracle worker. Lopez still has some shine left from his prospect days, we needed innings in DH, and why not? I'd guess 75/25 he's traded before end of July.

That last line scares me. But I wouldn't be shocked. You see it in LA, you see it Vegas? I thought i read vegas at least. Chicago is such a high profile city that I feel like they're always on the aggressive side of any policy. I really, really hope we don't see 50% capacity again, but the steam is picking up ... dont take away our fun!

goodwin is hitting about career avg. across the board right now. he's pretty much career 4OF type guy who is on the wrong side of 30. guessing that's what limited his opportunities, but by no means do i think what he is doing right now isn't sustainable. I think you get what you see with him. just a nice, replacement level player.

im surprised on the astros ....i mean i think they'll make it ... but it's not like there's not competition there.

I'll have to say I definitely was one of those people wrong on Bauer & glad I was not the armchair GM who woulda signed him.

disclaimer: i am all for enjoying the day to day of this run. every single day is fun with this team, the park being packed is a joy, and it would seem we have an endless supply of depth on deck for any key injuries over the next couple years. This is what sitting through Saladino, Tilson, Nicky D, Derek Holland was all about. That said! (haha) it is interesting to see what the Cubs are currently going through. Personally, I do not want to be them in 4-5 years. I strive to be the Cardinals. (Or the Rays) or the A's. The Ray's and A's are probably bad examples because they operate too thinly where they really never break out the pocketbooks, however they're constantly making tough decisions about very good players who are about to get paid and then flipping them for younger, cheaper, controllable guys. They're obviously the outlier. It's hard to continuously make good trades like them and remain in contention. I'd rather be more of the Cardinals model which is kind of the Rays lite. Some trades, but also mixing in some bigger commitments in guys like Goldy and Arenado. For the Rays - I mean we're talking Blake Snell. Tommy Pham. Chris Archer. Hell, it's Willy Adames - where that trade looks bad. It's trading Nate Lowe. Trading Matthew Liberatore for Arozorena. Trading Jesus Sanchez (those last two Liberatore and Jesus Sanchez are nice, nice prospects now w the marlins and cards). They traded Nick Solak. Evan Longoria. It goes on and on and on. Meanwhile you have the Cubs - who admittedly were in a tough position, but who, much like the Padres went for it all. They basically chose to ride it out with these guys even on a flawed team. it would've taken a lot of breaks over the past 2.5 years to go the cubs way and get through the playoffs with that team. Now those guys are older, not controllable, and not going to return any value. It's kind of like the Rockies - instead of churning Arenado, Story, etc at highs, now they get nothing in return. So it's always the balance question. Currently we have a pretty weak minors system - probably bottom 5. and - it should be. We've graduated a whole damn team who is controllable. over the next 2-3 years it's going to be extremely important to restock that via draft, but also supplemental trades for not only depth, but payroll costs, and continuous winning. Who would you be willing to part with during a 3-5 year window as we're competing for a trophy, to continuously supplement and support the future? To me, names I'd consider: (this will be unpopular) Eloy - he's obviously locked in through 2026. But if we're talking a guy who maybe doesn't have the intangible tools outside of his bat and could return a big package? Eloy is probably right up there. Come 2023/24 he'd be the type of guy i'd be willing to listen on. Kind of a carlos lee type guy. When you lose him, although a great bat, it can almost be made up in another way via the field, speed, intangibles etc. Giolito - we have him through 23. i think it's probably certain he's not going to take a discount to stay. it's a bit soon to react about the spin rates and sticky stuff and would expect him to turn back into an ace. That said, JR isn't getting him for 3-4 year deal, so you'll get a comp pick. Can you flip him to an NL contender and slot in Crochet with reasonable results? Rodon? I just think if we're being very heady about this, you may have a comparable talent in some of our other guys. Wouldn't be opposed to locking up a Rodon and trading a Gio at a peak returning a very, very strong package of guys. Keuchel - this is not so much a return, you won't get one. But opening up payroll to supplement a bullpen or bench need. Arguably you can get more of his salary if it's gone. Heuer - this one isn't realistic this year. But these type of guys - the guys who sky rocket one year - can you trade them immediately? Remember when we were discussing Burnes and Heuer was being thrown around as part of the package. Sometimes a bit of seasoning on these guys really plummets their trade value. I wouldn't mind selling high on some guys. sure some may turn out to be actual stars, but thats the risk. likely not a fun topic and one that will take heat, but being the larger market team in a bad division i think we should strive for 8 playoff seasons in 10 years type of goals, not just 3-5 years of dominance and then repeat of nicky delmonico's again.

its kind of a figure of speech. thanks for adding to the convo in a meaningful way

also for those of you that haven't been to a cardinals game ... yadi owns that town. he's easily the fan favorite there. walks on water. his cheers are more than arenado and goldy combined. its hard to explain the love, but he's not going to be a sox

yadi aint happening. this would be like us trading abreu or paulie .... but times 2 when we're at .500 in a retirement year for those guys. st. louis stands to make more money on ticket sales of people who come to watch his last tour than care about getting a zack burdi in return. i dont care how smart the fans are, theres just no upside to trading him. the only only way it happens is the larussa connection. id put it at 5%

Another angle that i just thought of reading this post ... say you do sign both? One year is kind of "Free" if you work a 6 man rotation consistently limiting Keuchel to under 160ip. So say you sign Rodon for $18mm for 4 years ... since he helps limit Keuchel innings and voids his option, it's kind of "free"

What a season. This team plowing through all the injuries just makes it all the better. It really does feel like we're on the Dodgers type level now. Over the past few years you'd go look at that team and it'd be like 75-38 record and then you'd look at the lineup. They'd have Justin Turner out. Bellinger out, Betts out etc. and you'd see guys like Edwin Rios and Kike Hernandez and Chris Taylor and go ... how do they do it? How do they have guys who are seemingly replacement level come in and bat .320 and hit key homers?? And that's us now! Burger is my favorite story too and am starting to be in the same crew that ... how do you trade him??? He looks so pure. It's hard to envision after his time off that his trade value reflects his potential at this point ... so i think you have to hold him. But that said? Where do you play him? where do you play sheets? if we get a 2b .... what do you do then? Not many roster spots and even less when you think about getting Eloy and Robert back. Going to be a fun, fun September/October ahead. All those terrible years - we finally get the payoff day in and out. love it

At this point? I'd give Burger a shot at 2b a few times to see what he can do. But otherwise? I'm not sure. All these guys are looking good. Also Yermin has strung together 8 games in a row with an XBH down at AAA. If that bat wakes up? Add another to the list. We saw what he could do on a hot streak - if he gets that back you have to give him another shot too. Burger is really playing with my emotions. I don't think it's getting enough love of how he is playing basically 3-4 years removed from baseball. To jump back in after that time off and look as comfortable as he is? In theory hes perfect trade bait - a bat without a home and no real path either ... but at the same time, feel like even with his recent hot streak its selling low still. I'd tend to lean: Sheets down to AAA. Plug Burger at 2b a game or two a week. As for OF I'd split Vaughn and Eloy in LF about evenly.

Hell yes (Hawk voice) We are now in the position of being THE lead dog in all of baseball. We've entered Tier 1 territory with this team for the next 2-3 years. Love, love, love having Crochet still as a 6 man rotation. Probably seals Rodon fate, but you have to just love this deal. I've been one of the biggest Rodon fan boys for 3-4 years now and I still even would prefer Lynn. You'll get 3 solid years out of him at a good price and someone will sign Rodon for 4/70mm and get less innings/WAR/production over those 4 and 70 than we'll get over 3/60 with Lynn. Big move. As others said - this opens up Stiever to be traded. Hell, Kelley too maybe. Good stuff.

Buxton is a hell of a case. He's a $25mm a year player when healthy ... at least for the next 3-4 years in his prime/speed. However once age catches up? Then he's probably a $10mm player. Sprinkle in injuries? I'd go something like 5/60mm on him if I were the twins.

If someone is making up fake trades they may want to start with something believable. Gray is probably more valuable than story at this time. We’d need to give a lot more to get both of those guys

That doesn't really tell you how many. I emailed the sox a few times about this event as i'm part of a group that has had tix for 40+ years. dead silence. aint happening for sox fans. maybe theyll do a raffle of like 500 tix for season tix holders, but i doubt even that. this is MLB being MLB.

The same type of teams that want Carson Fulmer over and over. Or Kodi Mederios. Always enticing & teams think they can unlock something. He probably has more trade value than someone like a Rutherford or even some of our decent arms in the minors.

i dont disagree on blackmon at all... its a bit shortsighted to take on a guy like him. That said, he's due what? maybe $6/7mm this year, $21mm next year and $10mm the following? He's likely Adam Eaton by that last year ... I'd be okay taking on approximately $6mm each of the next 3 years if it got us Story for free. Not sure that's in the cards for the Rockies anyways - they have to save some face and sometimes it's good to have a familiar franchise face on the team through a downturn, even at $20mm a year. It might be worse to have to pay for his contract, arenado's and give away story for nothing to save a few (lots of) bucks. blackmon at 3/$18mm seems fair enough to me. downside? his power has fallen off the table. 10 homers over the last 143 games compared to 32 homers 140 games in 2019. He also doesn't bring any speed to the team. Doubles are down. Really, actually the more i type this the more i don't even want to give him 3/18mm haha. Not the worst at that price, but there's obviously some issue taking on that much salary/roster spot. Maybe something like: $6mm (or whatever this year pro-rated salary is) - take that fully on. $12mm next year - Sox take on. $11mm to the Rox $10mm player option- $8mm taken care of by Rox, $2mm by Sox. So it's really like signing Blackmon to a 1/12mm free agent year deal next year w $2mm buyout.... and you get him the year following for free/free to walk away at basically no cost. that was all flow of thought there ... so may still need to be worked out, but in theory as i typed through it I went back and forth on if that's a fair deal for all parties and couldn't decide - which generalyl means its a fair deal - when both teams win and lose.

if money was no issue for JR then a trade for Blackmon where you take on salary and get story for free would be a nice get. But that's not our world. In that world we'd resign Lynn and/or Rodon too and have too much depth next year.

In terms of impact v. cost v. fit I'd take Frazier, Marte, Story in that order. Story with the QO tied to him means the Rox will need something decent back in return. I'm okay with a Stiever, Adolfo, type package. Would shy away from Kelley or Burger in a package. Burger intrigues me. Was a pure bat in college and 4 years later, without really even picking up a bat for 2 years of that, he was top 5 in OPS in AAA (with not playing above what, single A before that) and holdign his own in the majors. There's something to be said about that.