Im torn on Papi. Selfishly i want him to come back and play another season but it would be fitting for him to have an MVP like season for his retirement season.

I'm not torn. I think the sox are the better team with him but if he's doing this farewell tour and then comes back it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Yeah I get that side of the arguement.

The 4 games in a row of double digit runs was fun but what I like more about this team is that multiple times they have been down several runs early and fought back to get the win. Feels like they are never out of a game.

Also

Sox make their only visit of the season here June 10-12, and ticket prices are skyrocketing here in the Land Of The Worst Team In Baseball Besides Atlanta. Locals are shocked to hear "demand for tickets" and "Twins game" in the same sentence. Twins are 10-26, that's a .278 product they're trotting out there. The Mauer contract is an albatross.

I've posted this before, but I once heard a girl working the Will Call window marvel at how many Boston fans were descending upon her ballpark. She'd never seen anything like it from fans of other teams.

Guy in a green Bird jersey told her with a smile, in that wonderful accent, "This may be Twins Territory, honey--but it's Red Sox NATION."

I'll be at the Friday June 10 game, hit me up if you'll be there.

Man JBJ is hotter than the sun atm. He will no doubt cool down but it wasnt long ago that the argument was that if he can manage to his .250 then you can carry him because his defense is elite.

Hard not to get excited about the young talent in the organisation atm. Good chance barring trades that some time next season we see a lineup consisting of Bogaerts, Betts, JBJ, Shaw, Moncada, Benintendi. Vasquez/Swihart.

Can Moncada play 3rd? Unless Hanley goes to DH, Shaw to 1st, and Moncada to 3rd I don't see where Moncada plays as soon as next year.

Also, with Swihart moving to LF and JBJ and Betts covering C and RF - where is Benintendi going to play next year?

Good problems to have!

Anyone keep tabs on Castillo? I hope he plays himself into the mix just because of all the money they spent on him

29 games 117 AB, .313 OBP, .308 SLG, .256 BA .620 OPS

Worse than meh AAA stats.He can't hit AAA pitching for any power, will probably never be a major league corner OF.

Usually when you think you have some kind of surplus at a position it seems to work itself out but im with you in that its a great problem to have.

If i had to imagine a situation where spots would open for them it would be something like Swihart being involved in a deal for a starter at the deadline and while its unlikely maybe moving on from Pedroia in the offseason. Personally im not ready to move on from Pecdroia but if Moncada is playing 2B and playing good enough in the minors to deserve a spot on the major league team then i would consider it.

On Castillo. I think it says everything that they needed an OF with Brock on the DL and they called up a guy with 11 OF appearances over Castillo.

Why didn't we keep Rich Hill?

My guess is that they just didnt believe what they were seeing and didnt think it would hold up. When he came to the Sox last year it was his first major league start in 6 years and they signed him from a team not even apart of MLB or its minor leagues.

Saying that, if the guy still has something then you can say they messed up on the self scouting by not bringing him back

red sox going to win it all this year. just need to get 1 more quality starter and a relief guy to replace carson smith

unstoppable offense. they keep raising their run total over under and i keep betting under and losing. today i got it under 5.5 and bet it even though i dont like to...

crazy the hit streak jackie bradley is on while hitting from the 7 spot

Serious question. Is jbj the best baseball player of all time?

I'm at the point where anything short of a World Series appearance will be considered a "failure." Really don't think any AL team can match them. Still think the Cubs are better and don't see that changing anytime soon but this is as much fun as I've had watching this team.

I wonder what Doug Mirabelli is up to? Like tonight.

Tazawa has been a beast this year. Gonna need him to be with smith out.

About 25% through the season and Bogaerts only has 1 error, leads the AL in hits and is starting to show glimpses of the power that he was projected to have. He really is turning into an elite level player you can build around.

The funny thing is that the offense has been so red hot this season that at times hes an afterthought to the likes of Ortiz and JBJ.

Yeah he's been great. 5th in WAR right now.

Feel bad for buchholz. Nasty pitch that CarGo somehow got a hold of.

Its crazy how much of a different pitcher Buchholz is once someone gets on base. He can be lights out and once someone gets on he starts to struggle. He has the stuff so its gotta be all mental.

The problem with that is that if Eddy comes back next week then Buchholz looks like the guy that has to give way and its hard to put him in the bullpen because i dont think you can bring him in in relief if there are men on base.

Man do I hate Wade Boggs.

Farrell just said Eddie starts Tuesday and Buchholz to the bullpen. Buchholz deserved the demotion.

So essentially the Sox are going to play a 24 man roster since there is probably zero probability he'll ever be used in relief. he takes too long to warm up, he can't pitch from the stretch, and if you don't trust him to start a game, how do you bring him in 2nd & 3rd, 1 out in the 3rd already down 3-0???

Mental health DL stint makes more sense.

Yeah I agree. I dont think he can pitch with men on base so if being used in relief he basically has to come in to start an inning and that limits the team. His real value in the bullpen is if the Sox are getting blown out to bring him in to eat some innings.

Bullpen seems perfect for a guy who can't pitch with runners on base. Have him start whatever inning, yank him as soon as he allows a base runner. Problem solved.

Plus the long-relief thing.

In the 3rd inning scenario you bring in a 1-out guy to get out of the inning, then have Clay start the 4th.