even though it is tough to see through all those buster hitters who seem to have synchronized their BA at .230

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

If Rodon stays healthy, they can compete next year for sure.

Rodon's health is really the key to the whole thing.

They need to identify the guys to keep like Narvaez and Palka. I doubt they can though. And they'll let a half season of decent Anderson defense make them think they don't need Machado.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I thought they had a shot at Machado and maybe this isnt how it works, but I feel like with Harper's terrible year, the Machado price tag just got even bigger. I know JERRY has been known to write big checks at times, but this will be historically big.

sure, they need machado, but I'd like another starter and a bullpen first!

been a fun two weeks......

I don't think there is any chance of a big FA this coming year. 2019 is a see what you have and the big signing if there is one is 2020.

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Elections have consequences.

22-18 since July 10 is what I read at soxtalk

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Just as a certain poster I know half-hoped and half-predicted

I'm resigned to the truth that Machado isn't choosing the Sox even if they make him the best deal. Maybe they get Arrenado in a year after they show something.

I think Machado is getting an opt out in 2-3 on any contract he signs so he is going to be focusing on short term chances with his next team

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

The title of the thread sounds like something a guy does mins before last call. The Sox need bats. This has been a problem for a while now. No one doubts their ability to put together a really good rotation.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Hello Mr Donaldson.

It doesn't have to be Machado at SS, but agreed....Anderson will not be a starting player on any World series team.

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Adding Eloy is going to be huge. Also Collins and his LHH high-OBP style will be most welcome.

I think you guys are severely underrating Anderson. He is no worse than league average at the position RIGHT NOW. His presence would not be an impediment to a championship.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

They are about a year away from having some great options across the OF.

You live with Avi for one more arbitration year. If he is good, he gets traded. If not, surf the wave of talent in to championship beach.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Not picking on you but this has been said about many players on many teams and has been flat wrong.

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Elections have consequences.

Keyser severely overrates him. I simply wish he were a lot better than he is right meow, and I do not think he is a championship SS.

I hope I am wrong.

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Anderson is fine. But him AND Moncada, at least in this current state, is just too much. Madrigal is hurt/running out of gas so his development here in 2018 is pretty much over. They need to look at a 1 year free agent middle infielder. Dozier or Elvis Andrus could definitely be useful and recent free agent trends indicate they may come with much less commitment than you usually expect.

Catcher seems to be interesting. I like Narvaez, but not sure what he is long term. Smith seems to be serviceable but not terrible. Zavala sitting in AAA, Collings sitting in AA. As well as Castillo here for another year.

Palka seems very interesting. Almost like an Adam Dunn like player. But if he can DH and hit 40hr and 100RBI in a full season, I think we can be ok with a 230 avg. But to have Davidson and Palka on the roster, seems to be redundant starting next year when Eloy is called up.

To the Machado issue, we kind of are going to have some type of issue when Madrigal needs to be called up. I would throw Moncada at 3B, if he has the arm. If I am Jerry, I write the check to Machado.

There are very few positions on the field where you can live with a defensive butcher. Maybe 1B or Left Field. Anderson plays neither. He plays a position where adequate defense is a must.

He's a utility player on a championship team.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

the revival of rodon's promising career is a welcome surprise. i wrote him off as a bust already. anything to district from moncada's season

Most world series winning teams dont have starters who make outs over 70% of the time.

Kenny and Hahn will soon work their free agent magic.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

If they finish the season playing as they have since the all-star break, Rodon is likely part of the rotation next year instead of being their last big trading piece.

If Kopech and Lopez (who has fallen off after a strong start) are part of the rotation for next season after Rodon, the makings of a rotation are beginning to fall into place. The rest of the rotation just depends on what they think of Giolito as a 4th or 5th starter and/or if they want to add a dependable veteran into the mix in the middle of the rotation.

Offensively, this is where I am interested to see if they attempt to make a free agent splash. While I don't expect them to land Machado or Harper, they do have the ability, with almost no money on the books, to massively overpay for one or two big fish and at least be a player.

Assuming Jimenez, Machado, Anderson, Abreu and a few of the surprises (Narvaez and Palka) are part of the mix, it's just a matter of how aggressive they plan to be (balancing improvement from their young players already at the majors, young talent on it's way, and the overall progress of the rebuild).

It's at least interesting now that we are now seeing signs of optimism and perhaps the worst is behind us.

Do they sign Bartolo Colon or Chase Utley? Or both?

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Another guy not paying attention. Anderson is a top 10 shortstop even with the stumbling and bumbling for the opening 3-1/2 months

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?p ... &sort=25,d

And here's the reason he's a top 10 shortstop. He can get to balls NO ONE can get to.
www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&s ... &sort=14,d

And yet in the traditional stats, he is top 4 in errors and bottom 5 in fielding percentage.

Now, I do not believe he is a bottom 4/5 SS, but I've watched- and paid attention to- enough Sox games this year to know he isn't top ten SS either.

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And if I'm decyphering my cryptic defense metrics he has produced -1 DRS, Defensive Runs Saved. So no one gets to more balls, but then still can't do anything with them.