Boston Red Sox at the MLB All-Star Break Check-in
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On this episode: we check in on the Boston Red Sox and the all-star break.
We'll look back at some of our predictions from the preseason, and we'll look ahead to where the team is now.
We'll also look ahead towards the trading deadline and see if and what moves the Red Sox could make to make sure this team remains a contender.
And we'll also take a look at a retooled Red Sox minor league system.
Hosts: Bob Kelly, Rayshawn Buchanan, Michael Marcangelo, Joe Malkin, Craig D'Alessandro
Producer: Craig D'Alessandro
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On this episode of missing the point, we check in on the Boston Red Sox and the all star break, we'll look back at some of our predictions from the preseason, and we'll look ahead to where the team is now. We'll also look ahead towards the trading deadline and see if and what moves the Red Sox could make to make sure this team remains a contender. And we'll also take a look at a retooled Red Sox minor league system. This is missing the point, Episode 72. But it's all relative.
Rob Kelly:Last time, all of us sat down and talked about the Red Sox, me Joe and rayshawn went in on this team, but we decided that this team had no chance that they weren't going anywhere this year was going to be repeated last year. My god how we were wrong. Since then, the Red Sox officially has the best record in the American League with at least by four and a half games over the Devil Rays. Are the rays is there no now Blue Jays 10 and a half over the Yankees, which is something that's just I have to say it's the most beautiful sight in the world today. Being a 10 and a half game over the Yankees at any point in my life is just something that I like to mark down on calendars like that's how big of a deal that is. Do you guys think this team is real? Is this going to continue the rest of the season? Is the alias already over? Mike.
Michael Marcangelo:Okay, so I think just to underscore your point of of how out on the Red Sox season, we were before it started. I liked it to not be on that show. Because I said I'm I have nothing to talk about with this team. They've done nothing. Like why am I gonna talk about them? Turns out I was wrong. They are. And we should know this by now. Right? I mean, it seems like every year since What is it been 2011 every other year. They are a really good team. You know, you have 2013 2018 they won the World Series. Last year was an abomination of a baseball season. I think we know that. But I want to tell you right now that I think that the Red Sox are the real deal. I really do. Like every fiber in my being every 1716 year old Mike Red Sox fan is like Dude, you know, a good team when you see it. This is it. But 2011 has like it really burned me bad. So yes, to this point, they're the best team. I think that they are real team. However, can the hitting sustain? Can the hitting sustain him Can the pitching can era and maybe just the innings pitch cannot sustain through the dog days of summer? Maybe? Let me just say this, they have a real chance to go. Let's say that they just go just a tick above 500 through middle of August. Yeah, I'm in, fully in. Because I think the way that they played so far to this point, they just have a lot of fight to them. You know what I mean? Like they just they never give up. And that sounds cliche, but you never feel like this team is out of it. So to this point. Yeah, I think it's I think it's a legitimate team. I think right now. Yeah, you know, they have a 96.2% chance to make the playoffs. We've seen percentages like that before with the Red Sox and then not make it. So yeah, I guess I'm in but I'm tentative about it.
Rob Kelly:Joe, I'm gonna go to you next on the profits of one point. So I said the beginning of the season, when you're like Red Sox tanked Red Sox think? Like, Listen, man, teams don't win 10 games in a row and they stink. There's something that happens when if you're a bad baseball team, or a baseball guy like me. You don't rack off wins like that. If you're a bad baseball team have they finally come around now that we've ended up with 210 game winning streets, and
Joe Malkin:I've come around on these guys long before this. I was wrong. You know, I was expecting a hangover of the Ron radnicki Red Sox. 2020 was more of a throwaway season for the Boston Red Sox than it was for the New England Patriots. And I believe that they both threw away the 2020 season the Red Sox did it in much more dramatic fashion, which oddly enough, got them a really good draft pick this year, and they're going to get a really good Vanderbilt pitcher. And that's kind of an you know what? It's so funny because I just I cannot stand you all know how I feel about john Henry cannot stand them. But the way they manage this coming into 2021 now that we see it hindsight is 2020. They may have done themselves the biggest favor of all to answer your question of Are they the real deal not yet because their bullpen stinks and not all the way through. But Matt Barnes is really the only solid pitcher in the bullpen to me right now. I've watched some them blow some leads against teams that they shouldn't be blowing leads against and not necessarily losing the games but having a tough time within the offense has to come back and pick them up.
Michael Marcangelo:You think that Matt Barnes is better than Garrett with luck
Joe Malkin:he ever Whitlock hasn't been up consistently enough. He's been up and down. I think that's the only thing that's giving me that makes me say it's Matt Barnes because they've been sending gay. I also don't think Higham Blum thought that his team was going to be as good as it is. I really don't I think Garrett Whitlock was a was Whitlock the rule five guy did we have been up and down because he can't go down? Because if he goes down who he goes back to the Yankees, I maybe because Barnes has been used more. Let me change that. I don't know who I was thinking of. But maybe Barnes because he's been used more. But besides the two of them, Mike? No, I mean, who else has been effective in there. Uh, Samora has been slightly effective. But he even got hit hit the other day. So I mean, the point is that the biggest the two biggest points of contention with this team right now are the depth. Let's put it this way, the depth of the bullpen and their defense, those have been the two biggest issues that they have had, their offense has been great. Their starting pitching has been above average. And what they need to do is they don't need to sell they need to go out and bring a couple arms in and maybe a couple of defensive replacements. Who do you get rid of? I don't know. What do you get rid of? Who knows that times jump but why would we have a show if we didn't if we didn't project right? But 54 and 32? Bobby, so yeah, I've come around on these guys. There is a fun product to watch. It's a fun team to watch. And the man at the cornerstone of all of their success, while john Henry would say it's him. It is 100% Alex Cora 100% Alex Cora, I think he is the best thing that has happened to this franchise in a long time. And I know, you know, he had his issues in Houston, he cheated. I'm not gonna say base. There's cheaters all over baseball that we've been seeing it this year. And I'm sure we're gonna get into that. But yeah, they're the real deal. But as Mike said, I think what we're going to see is, as they get through the dog days of summer, as they get deeper into the season, after the all star break, we've seen so many Red Sox teams that have started off well, they've put us in this position where we're like, yep, this is the team that goes to the World Series and brings the trophy home. And I'm not ready to say that yet because they need to get through August.
Rob Kelly:I completely agree that like, you know, you see these red sox games bought all the time. The thing that's different about this team, and it kinda it feels a lot like a couple years ago, we won the World Series is the fact when they just find a way to win games. There's some games where they have no business to win the game the other night, for example, where they ended up winning one nothing. And again, we're a day they could not touch I remember was on the mouth. They couldn't touch whoever was on the mouth. Yeah, Brahma Well, no, it was the starting pitcher. So it was one nothing but they couldn't touch this dude. And But somehow, they still found a way to win that game. The other night, they came back twice. 154 against the angels, barns, heart attack knife. He gets out of it, and they still come back and win that game. hosing dudes at the plate when the game's on the line. It's just play after play. When it comes down to it these do these dudes just cuz they want to play and it just seems like it's not and it just seems like one of those teams to me so right. I gotta ask you, man, what do you think? Is this the real deal? Yeah,
Rayshawn Buchanan:I mean, it looks like you're right. So I think at the end of the show that we did on a Susan preview, I think I squeeze in at the end because we bashed on the whole show, but I said, wouldn't it be funny they became the best team in Boston and we kind of laughed it off but it was like, This is essentially what they've become right? It just felt like okay, core is coming back. You know, you're getting an investor JD I know how I feel about JD Martinez Martinez that's my guy and invested you know Rafael Devers. Like so when you're getting those guys that respond to Cora, that alone was gonna change the the outlook of this team right? And I think I actually said it to Joe on that show. I said they couldn't be like the old true Red Sox so Joel's Okay, so that was a trigger so we're gonna turn away and that still could very well be the case right? That's 8193 games. And it looks like the OSU team but this to me feels more like the 2013 see not 2018 because 2018 they would have best from start to finish like they they clean house they would be in everybody on a regular basis like and you can think about moment you think about the Toronto game you think about the Minnesota game. You think about the Yankee game so it's like so there's so many moms you think about 2018 but this really reminds me that 2013 so you got you know the mike carpets or or Johnny gums the same if the Rena was like that's what this team reminds me of and yeah people made an insult that it was tamper North but that's what it's become so to speak. This outfield is insane. We can say we could talk all day one about the airflow defense but that outfield is it's a joke how good like you do not run on these guys don't do not run. You look like me out there running on this team. It's ridiculous like do not run on his outfield Renfro. How even saying he got one in Oakland the other night like are you kidding me that play in the 10th inning where he gets he comes and he charges then he gets it and the guy was out by a milestone don't run on this team this outfit is not last step and I thought that was gonna be blushing Mr. Say after losing JBJ lose had been attending was really what they was the batch that was was was the best outfit in baseball that I've seen in a long time. But these guys have not missed a beat in the outfield, the infield is different. So maybe we need to make a pitch. Maybe we need some type of that type of trade. But let's I guess maybe dial back needs to go maybe save us and go. But that's really tricky. You're not training debits or bolgar. So it has to be dialed back and cables that go against the antenna.
Michael Marcangelo:This ain't Coco crisp, or Johnny Damon thrown you out from the outfield like these gunners.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Coco makes some great catches though.
Michael Marcangelo:Yeah, I meant throwing you out at home.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Oh, yeah, right. Exactly. Yeah.
Michael Marcangelo:I mean, like these are actual gunners that that will literally put it on a dime and make you regret tagging up. And I think that's something that we've been waiting for for a very long time here in Boston.
Joe Malkin:Alex Verdugo has as many outfield assists as monkey bats, and JBJ combined.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Crazy more.
Joe Malkin:I'm sorry, not as many more
Rob Kelly:guys talking about Chaim bloom a lot. And that's kind of where I want to go here is I really agree that he's kind of been the mastermind behind this so far, getting what he did back from monkey West that we've read 10 for that deal. But to bring in Verdugo who to me should have been an all star to bring in guys like hunter Renfro who have been raking to bring my absolute favorite player on the Red Sox right now. Kike fucking Hernandez into Boston. Like this dude has taken what he even quoted at the beginning of this year as a quote unquote parade year for the Red Sox to a team that's on pace to win 100 games. If you told me the Red Sox were on pace to win 100 games beginning of the season. Without Chris Sale coming back before July, I would have laughed in your face. So it's amazing to meet what Chaim has actually done. Do you guys think right now? what Chaim is doing? Is it as impressive or close to impressive as to what Dombroski bill or to what to build? I'm not I'm not I'm saying I'm saying the team that he put around. Is this something where you look at this team and you're like, Okay, this dude can actually build a baseball team. He can put it together. Chaim bloom. It is.
Joe Malkin:I was gonna say what I said,
Rob Kelly:Chaim Bloom, whatever. It doesn't matter. What's
Joe Malkin:wrong with you.
Rayshawn Buchanan:heard you say his name.
Michael Marcangelo:I guess my question would be, yeah, I mean, I think if they went to championship, yes, and then he's on that he's on that path. Right. But right now, isn't this like, maybe it doesn't this show you that Dombroski didn't leave us in isn't as in bad shape as we thought he did?
Rayshawn Buchanan:He did. He did. Well.
Joe Malkin:He stripped the farm system he loved major league team with a great core were high and Chaim Bloom took that core but that's what Dombrowski was known for. He did the same thing Detroit, and he's gonna do the same thing where the hell did he go after you left here? He's gonna do the same thing there. He comes in. He strips the farm system. And he goes out and gets the the dude's to come in and win a championship which she did do. But then when Chaim Bloom, someone who is much more in line with a Theo Epstein mentality, even he's even more Moneyball, especially coming from Tampa. He is closer to Billy Beane than Theo Epstein is to Billy Beane, that's a good comparison for baseball fans, because we all know that the Red Sox want wanted Moneyball. But when it comes to this team high end, Bloom is doing the exact opposite of what Dave Dombrowski did with Dave Dombrowski, his groceries right Mike so let's use that analogy. Dave Dombrowski went out, he bought the groceries and Chaim bloomin sandwich, let me chop up these veggies. Let me cook the cook this meat and let me you know, put a good meal on the table. But he's not only putting a good meal on the table, he's meal planning for the next week or two weeks because he's bringing in really good prospects with by pulling, you know, we call it the Belichick selling off guys, as they're either getting to the point where they're going to command a lot of money or they're coming towards the end of their the height of their career, like a JBJ is coming towards the end of the height of his career where a guy like not that he can't be consistent wherever he goes, he's playing well. But then you have Mookie Betts who is was commanding a lot of money and Mookie Betts is still very good. He's still playing well in LA.
Michael Marcangelo:Want to take his job? So
Joe Malkin:one championship exactly, but because Chaim bloom, offloaded those guys. He was able to bring in some prospects and they went out and also took some of the money from those deals, and made the guys like Alex Verdugo not made because Alex Verdugo is clearly a player that can play but we all heard all the bad things about Alex Verdugo when he got here now All of a sudden we see you can play baseball, and we don't care anymore. But that's what they're doing. But you're right in partly You are right, Mike, because some of these guys were Red Sox prospects already. So but I think what they're doing is they're finding the right prospects tonight. I know that it's all about the players. And the role of a manager is to make sure you don't lose games for your baseball team, because that's what we've seen that in the past here in Boston, right? I'm really a little aware, overall role of the overall role of a manager is to not lose games, they're not going to win you a lot of games. But it's their job to not lose games. And that's what Alex Cora does. Alex Cora is absolutely phenomenal at motivating and getting these kids these guys to play. And you Bobby and Ray, you brought up the names of Bobby dalbec, but you don't look at Christian Vasquez. And what he became under the tutelage of Alex Cora, and I know I'm going on a rant again here. But Mike, I disagree. I think Dave Dombrowski left this organization, exactly how he left the Detroit Tigers. But the difference is, and this is where I say something nice about john Henry. JOHN Henry goes out and finds the right guy to hire to come in and fix the problem. And he did that when he hired Theo Epstein. He fixed a problem and 86 year old problem. When he hired Dave Dombroski, he fixed a problem. It was a failing team that needed to be turned around that had run its course with its previous manager. And then obviously Bobby Valentine didn't work out. And then Dave Dombrowski stopped working, so he had to go out and find a guy to fix the problem. And he did that with high end bloom. I think a lot of their success this year is one attributed to Cora and to contributed to
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I love it, man. I just like to bloom has been cool.
Joe Malkin:say his name. rayshawn.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Boom. So you're saying Chaim bloom all the time.
Rob Kelly:One more time.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Chaim bloom. Let's say he got the case. Hi. Oh, boom. I am. Well, yeah, I am. Um, so. Yeah, so boy, he's
Rob Kelly:bloom the rest I have a speech impediment in case I was wondering.
Rayshawn Buchanan:And it's okay, where to support you know, so don't listen, man. The muki best trade was gonna be scrutinized regardless, because anyone, it could have been any one of the five of us to do it. Or four of us are salesmen because you know, the fifth person on here sorry, but could have a one four of us that that made that trade and it would have been like, Oh, you know, what is Buchanan doing? What has not been doing what is Kelly doing? like? What does Mark Angelo doing? Why would you trade the cornerstone, right? And I was hot about it? Right? You know, but I remember your Loomer loan and talking about oh, you know, Google was the key piece coming back and you know, obviously and you know, you know, we talked about this with Dan Shaughnessy and Ted about it with Steve Perrault you know so you can find that find those episodes in the show notes but yeah, like they they were like that Mike no but yeah, he's been great man. And I'm I'm proud of what bloom has done. I mean, I don't think you asked about the first half MVP at my first half MVP definitely To me it actually bloom put together that team who brought in the pieces that that are working and we think it was gonna work but Renfro was come back and done well. And in front of guys on one of their funding guys on short money right Kiki Hernandez short money you know there's Oh, I can hear Tony Matt. It gave him a you gave him 14 million Are you kidding me?
Unknown:What are you doing? What do you What are you doing? What are you doing?
Rayshawn Buchanan:You know, it was just like you know, they sit there Yeah, I get it their job as Attorney he'll I understand but I'm like he definitely had to get serious against us in 2018 what a Dodgers so as he was telling the guy you know as our Louis Soto here's the first rabbit hole the night that named Rob right you know he could be someone that was going to be your Sony guy he's been phenomenal here and Boston so I mean, let's say hi bloomers. Paul is as polled website as a push the right buttons and I'm excited to see what they do going forward.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, no, I couldn't agree more like I said, I do think I'm bloom like that. Got it. Right. I do you think high end bloom is the main reason or one of the main reasons that we see this team having success they're having this year and part of that to me is that he kept two of the biggest pieces and made sure that these two guys were going to be staples in this town. Or I guess three guys you're going to include JD as well. So JD Martinez, Santa Barbara Bogart, and Raphael divers these three guys man but they're just absolute studs, all three of them to me. And I said this you guys are beginning to season. The disrespect Xander bow guides gets around baseball to me is blasphemy. I know now he's starting shortstop for the ale awesome finally being recognized. But coming into the season, I saw multiple top 10 lists that didn't even have this dude in the top. Not the top five. Not the top 10 shortstops in baseball. Here he is on June 6 2021. And he is hitting so he's 2321 385 OBP 533 slugging percentage 13 homeruns from the shortstop is Which those numbers from that position is above and beyond what you expect. Then you have Devers 21 home runs already, we're not even at the all star break 295 81 slugging 938 Oh, PS, these two dudes, man. I love these two guys being the staples of this team. What do you got? Do you guys actually think? Because to me, I think Sandra has the chance to MVP. I really do the way that he's playing and the way he carries this team. I think that there is an outside shot that he finished his top three, and possibly has a chance to win MVP Joe D. Is that a crazy thought by me? Or do you think that's an actual possibility?
Joe Malkin:No, not if they stay on this pace. Not if they make the playoffs and go on a deep run. He's having a great season. I mean, he's got 97 hits 25 doubles. 13 home runs 48 RBI already. I mean, sure. Devers is having an outstanding season. I mean, if it weren't for his below average defensive play at third, which I think will come around. I mean, he's only 24. He's been with this team. Since he was before he could legally drink in the United States. I don't see why it couldn't be either one of those, but they need to continue on. But there's a lot of electric players in baseball. That's the biggest thing to me is that there's so many electric players. This season's been this season's been fun. Like I've really had a lot of fun watching the season, but maybe it's because I've had more time. Maybe it's because YouTube TV friend of the show, and NASA in front of the show couldn't come up with a deal to keep nesting on YouTube TV. That's fine. I mean, I'll write a letter but honestly, it's kind of been fun, because I've been able to watch other baseball other than the Red Sox, which has been a blast. But yeah, Xander Bogart is phenomenal. He's outstanding. And you said it, Bobby, like, they found a way to offload McGee who we all know when we have to acknowledge on the show. There. There was question of him wanting to stay in Boston for whatever reason. We don't need to go into that. But there was question that he wanted to stay in boss Jackie Bradley Jr. fit the mold defensively? I think that he had run his course as well. Xander bow guards and Rafi Devers have not run their course here in Boston. And another guy that I would feel we would be remiss not to mention who is not also not getting as much respect as he deserves. This year is Kristian Vasquez who has been electric behind the plate defensively. And offensively. The guy's got eight stolen bases. Our catcher has eight he's leading the team with stories been caught once. And there's some pretty good catchers out there right now too. I mean, the guy he's not only got he's a 253 hitter, he's still not like he's not gonna let the world on fire. But when Christian Vazquez first came up, nobody expected him to reach the Mendoza line. Nobody expected him to hit above 200. Now he's hitting 253 with a 300 OBP a 345 slugging percentage. It's not great. He's got for homeruns 12 doubles. This is something else and I hear I go on a rant again about the game. The game itself is not about homeruns it's not about launch angle. It's about getting runners on base and moving them effectively around to score runs. That's all that matters at the end of the day is scoring runs. And a guy like Christian Vazquez produces runs he does get him in the National League.
Rob Kelly:So so so no so so to that point, though, so that's one of the main reasons why I do like this red sox team is because that's what they do. And the rest of the league does not do that the Red Sox hit the ball they put the ball in play and and they actually force the issues, unlike the rest of the league, who hits home runs and strikes out so that that is one piece that the Red Sox do stand out. Mike, I'm gonna go to you here. The more I'm thinking about it, I have to ask you is Andrew even the MVP of the Red Sox? I'm expecting something different from me here.
Michael Marcangelo:What do you think he really should be? He's so good. This year if you just if he keeps his pace out right? If he can post 26 homeruns 100 rb eyes and maintain a 321 batting average. And his level of play on the defensive side of the ball stays what it is. I don't know that you can find another person on that team is more valuable. I think Devers is he's finally transitioned into that power hitter that we thought he was going to be right. So like if everything multiplies out he has 42 home runs 142 rb eyes. That's awesome. That's amazing. I think I could be wrong. I think Devers ceiling is higher than bogata bogata or offensively. But I think right now, Bogart is the guy that you need to be like to be the guy like just to make sure that everything that everything goes the right way, but also I don't know if this is going to come up later. But I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the fact that you know, someone, someone really On the show mentioned Alex Cora and his impact. Look no further than JD Martinez just don't look any further than that. Because in in jadis, first two years of the Red Sox when Alex Cora was at the helm, for you know, 20 1843 homeruns 130. rb is 2019 3600 runs 105 rpis. He's not there last year COVID. All that right. 54 games, seven, home runs 27. RBI is in 213 batting average. This year is already a bounce back here. He's hitting almost 302 99. So we'll call it 300. Just for argument's sake 17 on runs and 56 rb is you there is there is this it and the only variable there is Alex Cora. Right. So, I think for my Comeback Player of the Year for the Red Sox right now is JD Martinez. But in terms of your original question, Bobby, Bo guards, is the MVP MVP right now and he has to be right. He has to be that guy. He has to be the standard bearer for the Red Sox right now. But I do think that Deborah's ceiling offensively is higher
Rob Kelly:range. I know you're chomping at the bit over there, man. Tell me.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I mean, I mean, I mean, just I mean, this is the mike Morgan show a real hour over here. I see. No, I keep dragging over there. No, listen, you're already sending yes sir Mike, but he is not the Comeback Player. He's the MVP and as Jay de Mar seen that guy he's a special like he from day one he guy obviously legit lashes are washed out. Like you said we could catch the last year and just like go a year with the whole world was canceled something last year. JD is the best hitter on this team. When he's on I still firmly believe that. I understand that. Obviously Devin is younger. I feel like Devers is our is the wrestlers version of the Tatum, like he's only 21 he's going to be 21 forever. I know he's 24 but he'll be 21 until he retires right? Plus he also looks 2121 to 30 um, he's just one of those one of those guys but no, JD Martinez. He's He's to me. He's the best right handed hitter. We've had this many. Right. And it's just he can hit everywhere. I mean, right center, right field, left center, even the devil he gives out like he just always gives the hit that you need. Like he doesn't. He never does too much up there. And that to me, he allows Bulgars endeavors to do what they do. Because they kind of pitch around him. You understand? I'm saying so to me, I take I'll take JD you know all day every day and twice on Sunday. I'm a JD guy. I need to give me a JD jersey cuz I'm a fan. You guys notice I've been repping JD says we've been doing the show. I love JD Martinez. Oh, to me. He's the guy. Yeah, so I gotta go with JD I can't say it enough.
Rob Kelly:I mean, I just feel like when it comes down, you can't exemplify enough. The the numbers from a shortstop when it comes to a shortstop. I don't know why. It's almost like the quarterback in football. When that guy's putting up big numbers for you. It means so much more to your team to me than a dh does or then a second baseman a
Joe Malkin:third base. David Ortiz is rolling over right now.
Michael Marcangelo:It's like no Mario 98 right when he hit 372 like that that was 99 but
Joe Malkin:I do have to say something so Bobby, are you saying that the designated hitter position is overrated
Rob Kelly:don't put words in my mouth Don't do that. Don't do that.
Craig D'Alessandro:I'm just saying is that we
Michael Marcangelo:did not say that.
Rob Kelly:No, I'm just saying when it when it comes to the VAT I'm not saying it's overrated alright. I would never say that because I nothing's moral Nothing can be overrated when what you're raising it against his under 200 batting average. So anyways,
Rayshawn Buchanan:now listen, everyone a listen Joe. Everyone's not gonna be john Lester the other night a guy slow knock on Washington. It was not going to be the Grom we've had the mike Hanson argument before I even was not going to be
Joe Malkin:guiding Sox pitches at Garrett Richards.
Rayshawn Buchanan:He didn't he didn't write a W write
Rob Kelly:your writing. There's eight new stories a year about pitchers getting big hits and your share all eight of those
Joe Malkin:wouldn't story if it was just happening every day and pitchers were hitting because they're supposed to pitchers
Rayshawn Buchanan:heading that's a great pitcher to write like listen to that show Joe's gonna be coming out with that show sooner rather than later. But no man listen to the DH is not as not less than it's not a weekend. It's still a valuable position. I know you didn't bring this up. But this is just on my mind. I forget to say it because we talked about who we may need on a team. I don't know what his numbers are. But I'm just a friend his game. And Josh Bell can get his way into the rest of his uniform. He's going to Washington right now. I'd be here for it. Josh bell has been an all star Pittsburgh. I know. He finally left Pittsburgh, I think after last year if I'm not mistaken, but we can get Josh Bell over overdog back. I'll take it. I don't know what he is defensively, but he shares all can match it. So if you can find a way to get Josh Bell here as a first baseman. I'll take it
Joe Malkin:right now. Ray, you're not I mean, you see Bobby Dobbs is a weird one and not to derail this here, Bobby but doubt Oh, A weird case because he's batting 217. But he's got nine, nine doubles, three triples and 10. home runs with 34. RBI like he's not a schlub at the plate. His problem is, he's defensively insufficient in it. He's one of those guys that needs to be replaced because they don't have a true first baseman.
Rob Kelly:I'm gonna drop a name for you. And this is gonna go way back. So we're gonna go rabbit hole for a second, Brian dubach. That's who dubach reminds me of, I don't know if it's because of the name or what it is. But it's, you know what I mean? He's a guy where he's going to get big hits. And at certain point, you're going to be like, Oh, man, this guy something but like, he's not you know what I mean? Like, over a course of a season, he's gonna have like, 15 of those moments. But there's a lot of moments in between where you're like, oh, why did you swing at that page? Like, what are you doing, man? Like your mark fell? Right? On the ring? That's a great segue. Right? Thank you. So we're gonna go right into the trade deadline here. So I got to know so he re mentioned a guy that he wants. I have to throw someone out there guys that I've been seeing rumors about. And I just think it would be so juicy and so nice and such an awesome story, man, I like just think about it. Red Sox trade. For former Boston Red Sox. Mr. heat coming out of the bullpen in the eighth inning. Daniel Bard. All right, this guy has had a resurgence this year, he is throwing absolute smoke again this year, Daniel Bard the other night touch 101 and 102 consecutive pitches for like the first time in years. And he's throwing strikes, he's throwing hard, and he plays for the Rockies, who are obviously out of contention. So all that being said, I know we went through a lot with this guy. Would you welcome back?
Joe Malkin:Well, you wouldn't have to give anything up for him. I mean, sure. You could send them a bag of seeds in a bucket of balls. And they'd probably hand them over because they're, you know, in Colorado so interesting because they actually have a middle of the road minor league system. They just can never put it together at the major league level or haven't been able to consistently Yeah, I mean, the guy was, he's 36 years old. He had a long hiatus from baseball, and we know he, as you heard Craig's oh there when Bobby mentioned Daniel Park. He's Dana Bard is one of Craig's guys. And I got to go along with it and say, yeah, bring him bring him in. Bring him in. He's got a he's got 12 saves a 4.08 era, which is a little high, but he's playing for the Rockies. Like they're not a very they're not a very good team. But what's he gonna be better than once he gonna be worse than in your bullpen? Because people have floated the name Craig kimbrel out there too. So Bobby, I'm going to turn it back around on you and say, Would you rather have Craig kimbrel from the Cubs? Or would you rather have Daniel barred from the Rockies? Brian? Both.
Rob Kelly:I mean, it bring them both. I think the only thing against cambro I have is listen barges and all star this year. I don't know if you do that to him. You know what you don't put kimbrel in a closer spot. So that's like bringing someone in that you know is gonna be a backup quarterback, but like they could take your spot if you fuck it up.
Joe Malkin:Would it be like having a job and then your boss bringing someone else in and telling them what they're gonna take over part of your role?
Michael Marcangelo:Show Notes. A shout out.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, so it sounds right. Yeah. It won't be. It won't be but I'm trying to win. Yeah, no. All right. Yeah,
Rob Kelly:I could get behind that will bring camera back to bring back barbing bring back camera. back camera
Joe Malkin:has a point five, nine era.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Oh, yeah. Bring it back. But no did so good. So I got to bring up the Josh bells. So it's not phenomenal, but it is better than then. dalberg. So 247 this year 12. home runs 39 runs better than so slight upgrade then. And I just found out a fun fact when I have the same birthday. So it was amazing why I like and plus we both have dreads too. So it's pretty cool. But yeah, brain Josh Bell brain Kimbo bring Bard, whoever's gonna help this team. be successful. Do that, please. We need that. So might just sit here and cry about 2011 like, we automatically know these guys are going to be Josh Beckett and well,
Michael Marcangelo:we don't know. But we've experienced it. Yeah, but
Rayshawn Buchanan:I guess the only ones he knows. Yeah, like everything. That's that's the only team that that defaults on like that. Like, it wasn't like oh 778 78 No, no, I'm sorry. Because of that because of how that was because of Bucky Canada. I'll say like, that's what I mean. We Yeah, so that 2011 team was the best team in baseball for four months. They weren't four or five months and then you know, obviously you know doing you know eating chicken or bear amongst other Walsh hombres. By Popeyes. You know what I mean? Hey, I understand, but I mean,
Joe Malkin:a Kenmore square,
Rob Kelly:right, right there,
Joe Malkin:right there on the show pop right next
Rayshawn Buchanan:to the front of the show, right? Yeah, definitely. Alright. Am I frozen? But listen, man, I don't know I'm just I'm excited. But yeah, listen, everyone that can help
Michael Marcangelo:obviously I think first base is an issue for the Red Sox. I also think that there are other issues but when thinking about it, they rank 25th in terms of their leadoff batting right so I think you can see a world where high end boom go ahead goes ahead and gets a guy like you know, they I like his Starling Marty from from from the Marlins. I think he felt that we have a really good feel defensively right? But I think offensively when you have someone that right now is hitting 291 six homeruns you know, whatever, 18 years, but I think 50 hits i think that's that's what you want you need to start the game and have that your top of the lineup be as good as your lineup is. And I wouldn't be surprised if if Hamlin goes that route or someone like Robbie Grossman, right, he needs to address the leadoff roll now he's not but he's not he needs to do it without selling the future. Right so that's the problem with with really trade like to get to get like a big name, but
Rayshawn Buchanan:I don't agree with that, though.
Michael Marcangelo:Which part? I said a lot. Which part? Don't you agree with
Rayshawn Buchanan:the part that they have to lie to me if keycare Hernandez contains what he's been doing, you haven't addressed? He's the guy. He's the guy put him there. Once again. There's no we're not we don't need him to be Rickey Henderson. You know that we don't have to be that it'd be great but I mean guys getting homeruns in the first inning, he's getting on base he's getting better get on base I should say as late as he says he came back off the DL. So if he's on that trend, you're good. I should get 235 as good as anybody in baseball Verdugo Martinez, Devers and Bo guards, like they're fine in my opinion, but first base has to get addressed immediately, in my opinion, more than more than double leadoff spot.
Rob Kelly:I'll throw out a name for you first base ready, let me know what you think. Carlos Santana, former Indian current Kansas City royal man man can absolutely wreck if you put Carlos Santana into this lineup, and you now have a middle of the lineup of Xander Devers, Carlos Santana, and JD, bro.
Rayshawn Buchanan:As soon as the switch to the right.
Rob Kelly:I believe so.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Because to me, he was just like, with Victor Martinez was here. And Victor Martinez. I mean, it wasn't I mean, it did. The team overall didn't do great with him here. But he's someone you know, it was gonna hate me. I don't think I don't think we're hitting 300 bucks a day, but what's not gonna get you 17 to 20 home runs can get you 85 to 91 is better than like, absolutely, absolutely. And I'd be on that first thing smoking bring Bobby right to Logan. See you later.
Michael Marcangelo:Bye. Just don't give up the farm for a first baseman,
Rayshawn Buchanan:behind I want to do that
Michael Marcangelo:he's not gonna do that. Because you have trust in down there. He will be ready soon, right? So you'll just get a short term fix. And if that's what you if that's what we all come to this consensus is our biggest need, then do something that that gives you a short term fix, but does not compromise the long term future. That position.
Craig D'Alessandro:I think you're all setting yourself up for disappointment. This is going to be a very dry trade deadline for the Red Sox this year biggest acquisition coming out of that for an office on August 1 or whenever the hell the trade deadline is here is we have our biggest addition. It's Chris sale. No other team in Major League Baseball, can I cross sell the deadline? Oh, that's a big addition. Sure.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I mean, I mean, that's not wrong, though. But at the same time, maybe it's a lesser move, though, that maybe there's a lesser
Craig D'Alessandro:well doesn't need to be like a brand new starting first baseman at the trade line.
Michael Marcangelo:man came, it's you. You don't you don't need you don't need it.
Joe Malkin:So to Mike's point, and kind of cover all of it. To Mike's point, the short term fixes Bobby dalbec. I mean, if the guy is in the minor leagues, it's gonna be ready. If he's in Wister, and he's going to be ready, then fine. All right, Bobby dalbec, with his 217, batting average. I mean, this team has plus 50 wins. And we're in the final week. Before the all star break, which is a traditional All Star break this year in a traditional regular season, then it's Bobby dalbec. And if you want to go out and find that leadoff hitter, the guy that you're going to, quote unquote replace is Kiki Hernandez, because he's not in every day guy. Typically, he's done well in that role. I'm not saying you're letting them go. I mean, you're not letting him go. He's your 10th guy, is what I'm saying. He's your first off the bench replacement, but he's hitting 241 he's got 10, homerun. 17 doubles like he's everybody is playing well. And this is where I agree with Craig so I bring that in. Yeah, it's gonna be boring because I Bobby, I think Carlos Santana, bringing him in is counterproductive because he's going on 36 years old. Is he a good player? Yes, sure. But that's not the that's not the fix for First base if you do have your guy and Lister I'm with Craig. I think it's gonna be dry. I think Chris sale will be back. I think Chris Hill will do more damage and he will do good. I really just hope they don't rush him back on and they wait until he's actually ready. But yeah, Mike, honestly, I agree with you. I think you find that short fix for first base and you bring in a leadoff guy but it doesn't need to be, you know, it doesn't need to be the guy. I mean, you know, I look at these teams and I see guys like Tim Anderson, the shortstop for the White Sox like you're not going to bring in a shortstop, the Mets have Brandon Nimmo, he's a centerfielder you're not gonna bring him in because the master plan well, the twins you have max Kepler, he's an outfielder but I don't think max Kepler is the answer to bring in here so I you know, I can go through these teams and tell you Yeah, we can bring guy X, Y and Z in here but what good is it gonna do so we're I think we're all in agreement, that depth of bullpen first base and a leadoff hitter are the three biggest needs here and Chris sale doesn't Craig Chris sale doesn't meet any one of those needs. Because the starting pitching has been phenomenal. In fact, right now Chris sale is the number six starter in that lineup, as far as I'm concerned with how everyone's been pitching. So
Rob Kelly:yeah, you can you can you can look at Richard Bach, you can let him drop him off at the airport.
Joe Malkin:Oh, sure. Sure. Yeah.
Rayshawn Buchanan:They need to come closer to time. You're gonna need a guy that can go someone's gonna get your child and a couple things rolling. Someone is having a real price moment. And he's gonna be like, Oh my god, you know, like so it's gonna happen. Anyway, he'll have the right jacket on his moustache will be you know, shave shaving correctly, and all will be forgiven. So it's all good.
Craig D'Alessandro:I didn't come I think I'm postseason time you see Chris Hill in the bullpen disappears.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Which is fine. I 99 page Oh baby, sign me up.
Michael Marcangelo:how good of a like how well off Are you as a team pitching wise if your sixth option is Chris Hill.
Joe Malkin:Well, maybe Chris L is that and this is a stretch but follow me down this this path for a second. Maybe Chris sail is that depth of the bullpen? Maybe he's that long reliever. Maybe he's that guy. Maybe he doesn't come back in a starting role. Yes. He's Chris sail. He's What? 27 years old like he's still a kid relatively. But how old are you? Oh, well, alright. He's still a kid relatively. What was his birthday is younger than me. I'm august of 88. But, you know, the fact of the matter is to put a while he was he's 32 he came here when he was 25 I'm with Ray on this one like Devers I was like, oh, wow, he's like, 22 He's 24 it's amazing to me, is the you know, these kids keep getting older and I just stay the same aren't starting at nine guys. Okay, so Well, I'm a year younger than a year older than
Rob Kelly:I didn't know.
Michael Marcangelo:That's scary. If it can turn out to be like chilling in oh seven where he's he was predominantly a reliever when he came back. You know, should I say that? That's, that's the dream.
Joe Malkin:Absolutely. So maybe that's where Greg is right in the sense that they're gonna say that because they don't need to go out and get pitching because of Chris sail can come back and they can keep him relatively healthy, then they only need to address probably one of those other issues that we talked about. So they're in a good position, hopefully, hopefully, I just hope it doesn't get to the point where they do what they done to us. Most of our lives in our parents lives and some of our grandparents lives where it was just, hey, we were doing really well to the All Star break and then we're just gonna suck.
Michael Marcangelo:It's always August, always with the Red Sox. They will outperform past the all star break and then it's that August or September collapse that happens. We've talked about our previous shows that I thought July 1 was the mark now we're saying is August.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, it was always right after the all star break right after it was immediately after
Michael Marcangelo:what? You know, you're racing is a direct call out to me. I actually said Memorial Day. He's right. Like they are a real team. For real I believe it. But we've just seen in recently within the last decade, a real team in Boston that you know, for the Red Sox, they have shown their abilities to play well through July and August and collapse. Now I'm not saying one team. Oh, look at the 2014 Red Sox. I got the 2015 Red Sox
Rayshawn Buchanan:he was out of it though. They was they were that's he knows he has more and more excuses got hurt. Don't use words don't mean it. Then don't 2014 2015 we're not that good. They were awful. I'm just saying and it's one of the 16 they get herself out they got price. And then they got back into the alias conversation just saying they wanted to alias three years in a row and one championship. So
Joe Malkin:the teams that have played well have historically not done well after the all star break. And the teams that have done what have not done well have like middled before the all star break have done well. afterwards. So it's a matter of keeping up the pace, right and throughout 162 game season. That isn't easy.
Craig D'Alessandro:I just hope our listeners have learned at this point that nobody moves the goalposts better than us. Breakfast fact,
Rob Kelly:that's a fact is what we do. That's what we do. Now. So to counter off what you guys just said, So to me, what goes against the Red Sox blowing us and then going into the normal Red Sox is their bounce back that they've shown so far this year, is teams that go in skids were you know, after they swept the Yankees, I believe they lost like four out of five, then they went on to win nine in a row 10 out of 11, and have been the hottest that they've been all year. So to me that's in the show the same thing at the beginning of the season, where they lost the first three games went on to win title in a row or night or whatever it was, that to me is what sets them apart from those teams is like, even if they do go into a skin, I have complete faith in this team and pulling themselves out of that skin, whether it be a pavetta having a stop day, whether it be an ivaldi throwing an absolute gem, like they just have these guys that when it comes down to it, they will get the job done, and they will pull them out of that that hellhole that we all know is Red Sox nation for all those years. So I just feel like that there's
Joe Malkin:got to see him face that adversity first. They haven't faced that adversity yet. They're there. They're in the honeymoon phase again. They're on cloud nine. They've had their relationship revitalized with their manager who left for a year they brought in a new chief baseball officer as his official title is in high end bloom to rebuild the farm system. They're playing well. They're hitting their stride. This is a honeymoon phase. I don't, I don't want to say that I have faith in them to pull themselves out of a hole when they haven't even picked up the shovel yet to start digging the hole.
Rob Kelly:The thing is, they're still but they're still being disrespected still with you, but they're just not getting it right. And they're still not getting that recognition. And that's been what's driving them all year. And they set up from the very beginning spring training, like we're better than what people think they are. And I don't blame them because like, Listen, this core, I mean, you have three guys from the middle of the meat of the lineup that won you a championship. You have patriots from that championship rotations still on the staff. So it's like, I don't blame them for being like our Odell you guys talking about we're pretty good. And we're gonna show you so I mean, I just think that this team has
Rayshawn Buchanan:championship DNA baby say of obvious Okay, chance you
Joe Malkin:got to see him lose to see him pull themselves out of that hole. That's all I
Rayshawn Buchanan:respect them around. If they've had some bad losses. Now, they got stuck at the four as well like my Toronto, if that's a bad loss,
Joe Malkin:but the bad losses and falling into to a pit of despair are two very different things. I mean, teams are going to have bad losses and not miss a beat. I mean, that happens some you know, sometimes you and this isn't excuses. This is just the way the game of baseball is sometimes you do have those stop days Bobby, sometimes you have those days where you got to go to a sixth starter. Sometimes you have those days where you're playing a doubleheader, you got to get away day, you're, you know, you've played six days in a row like that those days happen. They happen in baseball, and losses like that are going to happen. But Bobby, that the skill you're talking about, and not to beat the dead horse on this topic yet, but already, but what you're talking about is losing eight out of 10. You know, you sit here and talk about them winning 10 and 11 and going on the streaks. That's fine. That's fine. You're right. And they play very well when things are going well. But we haven't seen them when things are going poorly. We haven't we just haven't.
Michael Marcangelo:That's the boss insanity the job. What if they never go poorly? But that's what happened. It's time. You know, I'm with you, though. I'm always like, but like, let's see what happens when I lose seven out of 10. So what if that ever happened? The last
Rob Kelly:point I'll make on this is, you know what teams? You know what Red Sox teams don't do that blow late season leads is sweep the New York Yankees twice in the same man. Well, I know what it's I know. But it's really cool to set. So anyways, last point I want to make on this show is is it's kind of related to how the seasons going this year more about the future this team and it kind of touches on a lot of points that we made throughout the show. So recently, a Red Sox prospect was brought up by one of the most legendary managers in baseball as a coach, the team USA team and Mike Sosa Mr. Gerron Duran. He was compared to the one and only Mike trout Mike's OSHA said quote Duran jarren Duran has Mike trout focus and desire. Todd Frazier specifically said he's going to be a sod stud. Said trout was going to be something. And I'm really thinking the same thing about the rain. So I want to go back to what you guys said earlier where the additions are within the clubhouse don't trade away the farm. Is this guy as good as we think he is. And I want to add another thing onto this. Do we think Heim had an idea of what he had in drain when he drafted him in 2018, which led him to finally pull that trigger on muki it it's a dot that I've been trying to connect for a while. And I obviously can't until Duran is in the majors and making some noise, but a Do you guys think the rain is as good as he is? Is he coming up this year? And did he have anything to do with that monkey trade? Right? We're going to do first.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I haven't seen much on Duran isn't the guy. I think Craig Jeter downs. Is that the other guy?
Craig D'Alessandro:John's was the centerpiece of the movie, but straight. I don't care about Alex Verdugo.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Gotcha. Okay. Yeah. So I mean, I'm excited to see what he actually does. Cuz I mean, obviously, that's the guy that we got back in that trade. And I want to see how he performance but I don't know much Allman
Craig D'Alessandro:doing really? Well.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, no, yeah. Good. Yes. I'm saying so I'm saying I wanna see what he does at the Fenway No. So you know, because it's one thing to kill it in the minor leagues, but you know, he might falter once you get up to the big leagues. But yeah, no, I mean, like, I don't know much about there. Hopefully, he can perform. I know you guys are looking for jack leader. But yeah, I'm not saying hopefully that guy can can produce these. But if he's producing a triple A, or wherever he's at what's there that would around he's what's there. Yeah. He's performing and then, you know, come up to the major league team. It's September.
Michael Marcangelo:You didn't go?
Rob Kelly:Oh, that's right. Yeah. Oh, gotcha. Okay, Bobby,
Joe Malkin:this is where we play into Mike's narrative. And he'll give us a little smile here. jarren Duran was drafted by Dave Dombrowski.
Michael Marcangelo:Correct, right. Correct. He
Rob Kelly:was 2018.
Michael Marcangelo:Yeah. Also, I think like to your original point of like, he's the guy if you just look at his incremental increases in power, right this year in Worcester. 15. home runs 31. RBI is 284 batting average, if you just look at every, every other year before that, like his, but he's, I mean, he's only played 41 games. Last year, he played 82 games and he had one home run 19 RBI s. Two he found something right. So if he can continue to build on that, I think that's a great I think that's a great addition to the Red Sox in the future. I do think that the more that you peel back this onion, you will see that my original point Dombroski did not leave us in as bad a shape as we thought he did.
Rayshawn Buchanan:What about the guy last year blaze Jordan
Craig D'Alessandro:will blaze Jordan is still incredibly young. He's not even a rookie ball yet.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, he's there is listed as their 10th prospect with a weather ej Nick, Nick
Craig D'Alessandro:York, who we got in the same draft is hitting like 400 and wherever he's at right now.
Joe Malkin:So so just to go through the prospects right now. And as we talked about jarren Duran is an outfielder the from MLB. com Red Sox prospects. This is what gets Craig's blood flowing. jarren Duran outfielder, he's 24 years old. The guy that we're talking about that was slated to go to Team USA was drafted by Dave Dombrowski. He has estimated time of arrival at the major league level is this year. And same with Jeter downs, who was brought over in the monkey trade, which likely if he does come up, I don't know if he'll get to every day, but he would play he would probably play over marwin Gonzalez at second base at 22 years old. And then the number one prospect in the Red Sox system. But Mike interesting cast his first base whose eta is next year 2022. But this kid's playing really well in western as well. And you know, Mike, I look at the prospects I see when they were brought here and when they were drafted. And yeah, sure. So blaze Jordan is 18 years old. As Craig mentioned, he is currently in rookie ball. He's a third baseman, he's always off. He's gonna be four or five years, the guy that comes in, you know, as Devers gets a little bit older and gets towards 30, which is weird to say because right, you're right, it's gonna be 21 for his entire life. But what's really interesting here is the guys that Chaim bloom and Dave Dombrowski have brought in, fill the positions of me the right side of the infield, and a leadoff hitter in the outfield, but you know, and Craig can speak to these three guys, but I mean, just talking about Tristan Cassas , Jeter Downs, and jarren Duran, but you also have Bryan Mata, who's a right handed pitcher who he's not expected to come up for two more years so and then Tanner Houck, who we could see come back up which I think he should as well, but those three guys plus Tanner Houck, really those guys would solve maybe not solved, but they would address your issues and hopefully something can happen but you got to be methodical about it. Because you got to bring them up at the right time as to not disturb the peace, if you will.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Oh, I was gonna say you gonna talk about money. I was like, Oh, I don't care about that.
Joe Malkin:No, they're making nothing. They make peanuts. I mean, you bring them all i
Rayshawn Buchanan:know i know you know baseball you know I think whatever that rule was what I'm looking for
Michael Marcangelo:tax but
Rayshawn Buchanan:yeah guys but also their audit the arbitration I was chasing I had asked whatever baited I said wherever my gorilla years ago that me I could play if you could play let's I want you up here ASAP get up here
Craig D'Alessandro:those guys just listed they aren't even my favorite prospects in the Red Sox in the Red Sox whole system you go back down and you go back down and look at Brian bello who we got as a throw in a deal for I forget who a couple years ago he's dominating w right now. The the minor you still got Jay groom down there in the minor leagues who knows if he's ever gonna be a guy that you ever see know a song if he ever gets out of the military is going to be amazing, you know plays Jordan still kid Matthew Lugo guys like this Connor Wong, who's I think on the major league roster right now we got in the movie about trade as well. The fun system looks good. It looks really good. I I forgive Dave Dombrowski of that because he did sign Xander Oh gosh, that very, very delicious. I
Rob Kelly:should they do? Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Xander has the open market. Now. He gets 30 mil a year. Easy. Easy. Easy. Easy. What is he now? 2221 21? Yeah, so 21 right. Yeah. So yeah, that's a delicious,
Rayshawn Buchanan:like 2626 29 October?
Rob Kelly:No, no, not money wise. I'm not age wise, money wise,
Michael Marcangelo:salary, money wise.
Rayshawn Buchanan:21 a year?
Rob Kelly:Yeah. So at that point, guys, you know, I before we get into too much predictions, because I know we're gonna have red sox show next week, hopefully a little bit All Star game talk going. We'll talk a little bit more of what we think about the second half and what we think is gonna happen. But I want to give you guys your last thoughts. Mike will go to you for us.
Michael Marcangelo:I have the Red Sox finishing at 95 and 67. I think that's going to be a sweet spot for them. I think that's gonna be first I think the when the you know, obviously when the division and I think that if they're, if they're pitching holds up. I just think in the postseason good pitching is what prevails. So that needs to happen. But yeah, I think I don't like to Joe's point. I don't know if there's going to be a seven out of 10 game losing streak or slump for this team. And if there isn't, you know, we, right now we can say, Well, how would they come back from it? Well, if they never allow it to happen, that shows strength too, right? So that would be my final prediction for them.
Joe Malkin:They don't need to win them all. They just need to stay consistent. I don't think they're going to go on a seven to 10, eight to 10 losing streak. I don't think it's going to happen. Knock on wood, and if it does, I hope that they can pull themselves out of it. I think that you have the right gun managing the team to do that. I think everybody is moving in the right direction. This team is explosive, but they're there as a team. They're there quietly, quietly, very good. Their cohesion. Their cohesion as a clubhouse is very good. It also helps that the Yankees are bad and I just say the Yankees because that was a team that I don't think we all expect it to be as poor of a ballclub as they are right now to the point where a Yankees fans that I know are calling for Hank Steinbrenner to sell the team which would be amazing if it was never no longer owned by the Steinbrenner family the Orioles are bad I think the Blue Jays and razor okay i mean i love the Blue Jays lineup. I mean you got you have so many protege kids in that lineup yet. You got Kevin Biggio, you have Guerrero Jr, you you have bo bichette it's just such a fun lineup to watch. I think the Red Sox didn't win this division. And I'm coming out I think I had them finishing close to 500 in the beginning of the season, I'm going to be up around likes number, they'll get 95 to 100 wins, they'll be consistent. And if they can, you know they don't have to do everything. You know, we talked about them bringing up prospects and going out and training. Listen, make a trade for a B level guy that's going to help your team get Chris sale right and bring him in here. Bring up those prospects that we think are going to be good and one or two of them. You know if Jeter downs, and Jan Duran are the guys fine. You know, we can fill this out, you can offload some salary at the trade deadline. And like Craig said, it doesn't need to be exciting. It just needs to be the moves that are best for the team. And that's what matters most. But they win this division and they don't go deep into the playoffs. I'm not gonna call them World Series favorites yet because there's a lot of good teams. I mean, there's a lot of good teams, the giants are playing well in the NFL anyway. But in the Al I mean, you know, Chicago is good, the rays aren't a bad baseball team. The Indians are playing well. So the Astros have played very well as well. And Bobby, like you said, the athletics aren't bad either. In the friggin Seattle, mariners are five games above 500. So you know this is going to be this is why this is a fun season. That it's just it's real baseball again. It's fun baseball and one thing we didn't get into Bobby is this whole thing with foreign substances and things on guys gloves and hands next noses. But besides the point, Craig Sir Major League quote here, so yeah, Bobby, I'm with Mike and I, your we open the show with it. They're a much better team than I thought they were going to be. Right?
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I'll put a number to it. I think they go. They match the Oh 14 and they go 98 and 64 I just think they have another 10 games freaking them whenever they catch fire again, depending on they're making it actually no, no, they don't make a train. I just feel like someone else is gonna get hot that we didn't start to get hot. So whether that's da back, unless he gets traded, I'm gonna shave this guy. I want to see him again. I was enjoying what he did in 2019. I felt like the Wii U played the whole year. He would have been over here of the year, but I'll get off that soapbox. Because we're two years removed from that. But yeah, I'll go 1974 you know, and I'll go a step further. I think you know, Joe was being kind and being diplomatic to the rest of the American League. I won't be I don't fear anyone else besides Houston. will beat everybody else. I'm sorry. to Chicago doesn't scare me. bayto scare me. Oakland as a scare me is only Houston. So that's the case. You're looking at Share America new champions. Coming coming soon. Oh,
Rob Kelly:yeah, man. So I'll wrap it up there cuz I just took the words right out of my mouth man. To me, the American League, the Astros, the only team that even comes close to compare it to what the Red Sox have. And I don't think that they're at where the Red Sox have with their lineup with the Red Sox depth of pitching. I think the Red Sox are better. The NFL is a different story. And I was really good. The Dodgers, padres lots of teams, you know, so once we get the World Series, I think would be a different story altogether. But I agree, man, I don't see any roadblocks in the way for the Red Sox in the American League the way they're playing. I don't see anyone in this league that can take them in a seven game series. Astros would be tough series though. But at that point on the real week. Hey, Bob Kelly. We'll be back next week talks more red sox with you guys for rayshawn for Joe, Mike and Craig. We're out guys later.