The Beer Is Brewing, The Trash Is Flying, and The Race For The Pennant Is On!

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Second half of the season starts today which means it’s time for clubs to buy or sell. 

The Sox were big sellers last year and should be spenders this year with their surprise 1st place record to date. 

I’m guessing another arm for the hill and an outfielder for the wall. 

What’s your team need?

Agreed ~

What’s my team need?

Just keep beating NY and I'm good. 

A-Jay

[hokiehunter373]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Second half of the season starts today which means it’s time for clubs to buy or sell. 

 

The Sox were big sellers last year and should be spenders this year with their surprise 1st place record to date. 

 

I’m guessing another arm for the hill and an outfielder for the wall. 

 

What’s your team need?

It'll be interesting to see how Chaim approaches it.  I doubt he makes big splashy moves but the farm is actually crowded now and the following need to be added to the 40 or they'll be picked off in the rule 5 draft:

 

Bello

Downs

Duran

Jimenez

Peliti

Ward

 

Duran is getting called up today but they don't have room on the 40 for all of those guys plus the minor leaguers they protected last year.  I'm hoping we use some of them in a package for some pitching.  **** has gotten it together lately and while I don't expect that trend to continue, hopefully Duran will help and that'll be the outfield help you mentioned.  Cross our fingers for Sale coming back full strength and getting 8 or 9 starts out of him and moving to a 6 man rotation.  We'll see how it goes but I fully believe Chaim we'll set us up solidly.

 

Plus, like you said, "surprise 1st place".  While I always want to win it, this year is just a bonus to me.  I'm more focused on building an every year contender while Yankees fans continue to pretend it's the 90s to make themselves feel better about the last 20 years.

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, hokiehunter373 said:

Duran is getting called up today but they don't have room on the 40 for all of those guys plus the minor leaguers they protected last year. 

This is a big deal ~ 

Duran should be officially activated for the series opener -- the only game in MLB on Thursday --

The Rookie will join Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts as Red Sox prospects to debut at Yankee Stadium.

No Pressure.

The Red Sox are going to need a corresponding roster move to replace Marwin Gonzalez, (Hammy)

He's been really bad in the box. 

Enter Duran, remains to be seen exactly how manager Alex Cora will deploy Duran for the start of his Major League career.

Kiké Hernández has been Cora’s primary option both in the leadoff spot and in center field this season. 

One option would be for the versatile Hernández to get most of his playing time at second base -- the position the Red Sox originally signed him to play.

Christian Arroyo could start at second against lefties and Hernández could go back to the outfield versus southpaws, with either Duran or fellow left-handed hitter Alex Verdugo getting a breather.

 

Hernández has been providing a spark for the Red Sox in the leadoff spot of late, particularly with home runs, so it’s possible he remains there and Cora eases the pressure on Duran by having him hit lower in the lineup.  If he hits at all this line up gets even Longer, I like it. 

 

However things shake out, this four-game series against the Yankees will now have an added element of electricity for the American League East-leading Red Sox, who are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rays. The Yankees, who are 0-6 against Boston this season, are eight games back.

I like that too. 

Boston (55-36) has built its strong start without ace pitcher Chris Sale, who is expected to return from Tommy John surgery in mid-August.

Very exciting but a little nervous at the same time. 

 

Baseball is summer for me and has been for as long as I can remember.

A-Jay

 

[hokiehunter373]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

This is a big deal ~ 

Duran should be officially activated for the series opener -- the only game in MLB on Thursday --

The Rookie will join Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts as Red Sox prospects to debut at Yankee Stadium.

No Pressure.

The Red Sox are going to need a corresponding roster move to replace Marwin Gonzalez, (Hammy)

He's been really bad in the box. 

Enter Duran, remains to be seen exactly how manager Alex Cora will deploy Duran for the start of his Major League career.

Kiké Hernández has been Cora’s primary option both in the leadoff spot and in center field this season. 

One option would be for the versatile Hernández to get most of his playing time at second base -- the position the Red Sox originally signed him to play.

Christian Arroyo could start at second against lefties and Hernández could go back to the outfield versus southpaws, with either Duran or fellow left-handed hitter Alex Verdugo getting a breather.

 

Hernández has been providing a spark for the Red Sox in the leadoff spot of late, particularly with home runs, so it’s possible he remains there and Cora eases the pressure on Duran by having him hit lower in the lineup.  If he hits at all this line up gets even Longer, I like it. 

 

However things shake out, this four-game series against the Yankees will now have an added element of electricity for the American League East-leading Red Sox, who are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rays. The Yankees, who are 0-6 against Boston this season, are eight games back.

I like that too. 

Boston (55-36) has built its strong start without ace pitcher Chris Sale, who is expected to return from Tommy John surgery in mid-August.

Very exciting but a little nervous at the same time. 

 

Baseball is summer for me and has been for as long as I can remember.

A-Jay

 

Tanner Houck is also getting called up so there's another arm added to the mix.  Hopefully they DFA Brice or Andriese to make room.  I can't imagine needing to see more of either of them.

 

As far as Duran, you'd imagine he doesn't immediately go into the leadoff spot but he's also older than plenty of other callups.  You never know with Cora.

[Jigfishn10]

I have tix for the Yankee game on the 25th at Fenway...access to the State Street Pavilion...It's a Sunday game so I'm thinking MLB will be move it to Prime Time.

 

Can't really expect a lot from Sale this year, basically lost a year and a half. Maybe when the playoffs start - that's if the Sox are still in it - he can be that 7th or 8th inning guy they kinda need. Otherwise, I can't see them throwing him out there for 5 or 6 innings. I think he needs to be eased in.

 

Great read guys. Always fun to talk baseball.

[hokiehunter373]

5 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I have tix for the Yankee game on the 25th at Fenway...access to the State Street Pavilion...It's a Sunday game so I'm thinking MLB will be move it to Prime Time.

 

Can't really expect a lot from Sale this year, basically lost a year and a half. Maybe when the playoffs start - that's if the Sox are still in it - he can be that 7th or 8th inning guy they kinda need. Otherwise, I can't see them throwing him out there for 5 or 6 innings. I think he needs to be eased in.

 

Great read guys. Always fun to talk baseball.

Starts his assignment today.  Everything I've read has been encouraging and sounds like he's having a hard time not just jumping right back out there.  I think he's going to be on a mission.  I'd be fine with him in relief but I'm optimistic that he's actually going to pitch 5 inning starts.

 

@A-Jay do you have The Athletic?  To anyone thinking about it, just get it.  Best sports reading there is.  Right after my last post I got my daily email and read the following: 

 

"The Red Sox’s influx of young talent has left them with a potential 40-man roster crunch this offseason. Bello, Downs, and Gilberto Jimenez all need Rule 5 protection this offseason. They’ll easily find room for that group.

 

But among the others who could be Rule 5 eligible without 40-man spots are Josh Winckowski, Thaddeous Ward, Durbin Feltman, AJ Politi, Frank German and Kutter Crawford (just to name a few). Even minor league Rule 5 pick Kale Ort is making a case for 40-man protection this offseason. Add in some of the prospects who are already on the 40-man — Jay Groome, Connor Seabold, Connor Wong, Ronaldo Hernández, Hudson Potts, Jeisson Rosario, Marcus Wilson, and now Duran following his call-up — and the Red Sox might actually want to dump a few guys to get something in return before potentially losing them for nothing this offseason."

 

Confirms my thinking but I bet Chaim waits to see how Duran looks to decide on what's more pressing between bats and arms.  Plenty of ammo to go get some guys and hopefully these next 2 weeks will leave us at an aggressive spot in the division to want to make the moves.

[A-Jay]

Figures ~ 

Red Sox-Yankees game Thursday postponed 

Following positive COVID-19 tests within the New York Yankees organization, Thursday night's game between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium has been postponed to allow for continued testing and contact tracing.  Major League Baseball will continue to provide scheduling updates as available.

Stay Safe.

A-Jay

[hokiehunter373]

Yeah, that sucked.  Looked like Duran was gonna bat 7th 

[Jigfishn10]

Just saw that the Rays just traded for Nelson Cruz from the Twins. 
That could be a game changer in the AL East.

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Just saw that the Rays just traded for Nelson Cruz from the Twins. 
That could be a game changer in the AL East.

Yup ~

And so is the return of "Sale Days"

Go Sox ! 

A-Jay

[Jigfishn10]

Just now, A-Jay said:

Yup ~

And so is the return of "Sale Days"

Go Sox ! 

A-Jay

They say he’s looking great! If I didn’t have tix to the Sox/Yanks game on Sunday, I’d take a ride 5 exits north of me to see his rehab start.

[Jigfishn10]

Gotta love the Yankee/Sox games. Yankees stole one yesterday. The Sox return the favor today. The whole series this weekend was just incredible.

[hokiehunter373]

If that game yesterday isn't the game that absolutely ends the Yankees season then props to them for not letting it.  Brutal loss that gave me quite the laugh thinking about how POd my brother-in-law had to be ?

[Jigfishn10]

Just heard a report that the Sox put their name in the hat for Max Scherzer.

They've also been talking to the Cubs about Chris Bryant. 

 

Any other baseball trade talks you hearing?

[hokiehunter373]

1 minute ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Just heard a report that the Sox put their name in the hat for Max Scherzer.

They've also been talking to the Cubs about Chris Bryant. 

 

Any other baseball trade talks you hearing?

I saw the same.  The Scherzer interest seemed stronger than Bryant.  They've also had talks about Rizzo and Kimbrel.  Honestly, I'm sure Chaim is checking on everyone that he could imagine is available to help the roster.  He said earlier not to be surprised if we add in ways people wouldn't expect, meaning areas we're already strong at, if the price is right.  Excited to see what the next 3 days bring.

[Jigfishn10]

2 minutes ago, hokiehunter373 said:

I saw the same.  The Scherzer interest seemed stronger than Bryant.  They've also had talks about Rizzo and Kimbrel.  Honestly, I'm sure Chaim is checking on everyone that he could imagine is available to help the roster.  He said earlier not to be surprised if we add in ways people wouldn't expect, meaning areas we're already strong at, if the price is right.  Excited to see what the next 3 days bring.

There's doubt that Scherzer would want a trade. He's a 10/5 guy and likes the Nationals. 

The Rizzo thing is interesting. What do the Sox give up for a rental.

[A-Jay]

Going to be a whole lot of Red Sox Baseball today ~

I like that

A-Jay

[hokiehunter373]

34 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

There's doubt that Scherzer would want a trade. He's a 10/5 guy and likes the Nationals. 

The Rizzo thing is interesting. What do the Sox give up for a rental.

Yes, he's a 10/5 guy but he said he wants to win and he already said that he'd prefer going to the West Coast if he was traded.  He seems pretty open to the idea.  He said he would not approve a trade to NY but didn't say the same about Boston.  I shutter to think about what we would give up for him but thinking about him and Sale together has me drooling.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/at-least-eight-teams-in-the-mix-for-max-scherzer.html

 

The Rizzo trade makes sense.  They need 1B and they only need 1 year with Casas waiting for a call up.

[TnRiver46]

Yall better not take Rizzo……

[Jigfishn10]

On 7/28/2021 at 10:01 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Yall better not take Rizzo……

We won’t. He’s a Yankee now. 

[TnRiver46]

37 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

We won’t. He’s a Yankee now. 

Noooooooooooooo

[A-Jay]

The roller coast of a ride that is this 2021 Red Sox Season continues ~

Some real Highs and more recently, plenty of lows.

Comes with the territory.

Being "Great" now never wins anything and I'm hopeful and would certainly prefer,

that the team can be healthy and on a roll the first week of October ~

Go Red Sox !

A-Jay

[Jigfishn10]

Hoping the Sox break out of the losing streak. Unusual for them this season.

[Jigfishn10]

On 8/3/2021 at 4:47 PM, Jigfishn10 said:

Hoping the Sox break out of the losing streak. Unusual for them this season.

Finally 

[hokiehunter373]

Well that was fun.

 

Sale, Houck, Schwarber and pounding away on a AAA team lol.  Good to get the momentum back right before a giant series coming up and then a soft schedule.  Dalbec is all the sudden on fire too.