KrankinSox

Why? Never is a pretty strong word lol. Unions can be unreasonable with their demands in negotiations too. I understand an agreement was already in place for pro-rated salaries, but at the time teams were probably hoping to have fans in some capacity. With no gate revenue, players and owners will have to get creative to come together on a plan that makes sense for both sides. Pro-rated salaries with 40% of all revenue gone may not be realistic. Companies and industries of all kinds are experiencing layoffs/furloughs. The players may not like the structure but a compromise has to be made if baseball is going to happen this season and they want paychecks. Hoping both sides can be reasonable and come to an agreement. Still plenty of time to make this work.

I think once this deal gets hammered out and the details of a schedule and playoff format are finalized, the discussion will head in that direction. Right now, we're still just hoping an agreement becomes a reality before the roster implications become a bigger talking point. Having said that, I agree. The Sox stand to benefit more than most teams from an 82 game season starting in July. Cooper has hinted at an unorthodox method of handling the starting staff and I'm really curious to see how this plays out with potentially 7 starters hopefully being healthy for the majority of the season (Giolito, Keuchel, Cease, Lopez, Gonzalez, Kopech, Rodon). With two of these guys coming of TJS, and an unprecedented 82 game season, with expanded playoff, the sox should try to get creative as possible with their rotation. Plus, no Edwin Encarnacion April/May slump! ?

No one here is saying baseball is 100% happening. It's an easy acknowledgement to say that there are a ton of obstacles. But health officials, government officials, business leaders, sports execs, and the athletes have all made some sort of comment that they are still trying to make it work/think it could work. Dumping cold water on everybody that is discussing this as a possibility is asinine. Baseball in 2020 is still a possibility. Saying otherwise is wrong. You said it yourself, no one knows for sure what's going to happen. So who is to say we are definitely not having baseball? Every scientist you claim to be listening to is just another one fitting your argument. There are also health officials saying it's possible. The negativity from so many people is exhausting.

Yeah, we get it. You have the doom and gloom take about all of this. You can find all the articles you want that agree with this side of things. The fact is, the top health official in the country said today that this is possible. There are billions on the line for owners and millions on the line for players. They're going to try to make it work. Mark Cuban has been in conversations with health officials and the President and he thinks an NBA return is possible. It may not work but I just don't understand why you insist on shitting on any talk of it being possible. People are looking for hope and for sports to return. At this point in time, there are obstacles but a return is very much still in the works.

https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/dr-anthony-fauci-believes-mlb-can-return-in-2020-theres-a-way-of-doing-that/313279978

I think one thing being overlooked is the popularity baseball can gain, and stands to lose out on by not playing at all. People talking about owners losing money by paying players' salaries while not gaining gate revenue are correct, but only in a short-term outlook. The gains from playing this season, especially when the presence of baseball on TV during these unusual times will certainly be a major draw, will far outweigh the short-term losses of playing a single season with no gate revenue. Playing baseball on TV this summer will help grow the sport for the long-term. From the players' perspective, there are certainly some obstacles that make this quarantined season scenario unappealing, but the fact is that these guys will play when push comes to shove if it means getting paid vs. not getting paid at all. I think with Fauci's comments today, combined with a desire of the MLB and MLBPA to play, that we will have baseball this season, albeit an unusual season.

Mid August. To start the season with Field of Dreams sounds great on paper. Not sure how the logistics work out. Construction on the stadium is not completed yet and I'm not sure how the virus is affecting its progress. If the season starts sometime in June, which sounds like the hope right now, I'm unsure if the site would be ready. If the season isnt able to be underway until August, I'm not sure we'll even have a season at all.

Yep, might as well have Kopech start the season with the team if his arm is ready. Maybe give him 2 or 3 tuneup starts in Charlotte. But in a likely shortened season, each game holds more significance than usual so the Sox should have their best pitchers out there as soon as possible.

Some of the storyline parallels there are uncanny with this year's club. Really interesting. I'm born in 91 so had to look up how the Sox fared that season, although I already knew they didnt make the playoffs until 83. Looks like they finished slightly above .500 and there was a midseason strike. Loved the line about Harold Baines' defense. Learned a few things, thanks for sharing.

In no particular order... 1.Blackout Game 163 2. World Series game 1 3. Abreu walkoff grand slam vs Rays 2014 4. 2006 14 inning loss vs. Houston. Konerko solo shot in 7th, Iguchi 3 run home run in 8th, Iguchi grand slam in 9th to tie it after being down 9-1 5. 2008 I believe. 15th inning walk off homer from Thome vs. Angels. Might be off on some of the details there 6. Moncada and Kopech debuts were pretty memorable Edit: Almost forgot 2006 sox vs. Cubs brawl. Pierzynski/Barrett

Cordero should be in there too. We have some interesting candidates like Burdi and Hamilton if they can get healthy and start to produce. Man, if Fry and Herrera can return to their pre-2019 form, this bullpen can be really solid. Especially with a deadline acquisition if we are in the race.

For what it's worth, maybe not much, Scott Merkin did just retweet Jesse Sanchez's article about Colas. Here's the article (apologies of already posted in this thread): https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/oscar-luis-colas-defects-to-pursue-mlb-deal.html?__twitter_impression=true

He said on Instagram he will be wearing #88

I know that's just like your opinion, man. But it's the wrong opinion.

Can't project much about the 2nd half of the decade right now. We can project a lot about the first 5 years though. Basically every important piece of this team is under control through at least 2023 and many under control beyond that. The next 5 years have a chance to provide multiple postseason appearances. We may very well see the winningest stretch of baseball for the Sox in this decade, but without that World Series title, the 2000s trump all. Let's hope we win a ring or 2 or 3 or 4 this decade.

Lol no

Yeah! You're not only ruining this message board with your light hearted joke, but also ruining Christmas!! Enough!!!!

Mandalorian episode 7 was incredible. Best episode yet. Just got out of the theater. Rise of Skywalker was enjoyable. Entertaining and did not drag. Super action-packed fast-paced first half of the movie. Didn't love nor hate the ending, it was fine. Definitely worth seeing.

No. Two top 30 in all of MiLB prospects for a 35 year old pitcher making $30+mil and 1 year of Betts is an overpay.

Are we getting Sale?

Does it make any sense for them to send us JD + Price for Collins ++ ?

First!

This could mean pitching...or it could mean Mazara. Probably Mazara.

Rabbit hinting or just making a note of this? @raBBit