A Large Regular

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

One of Alex Cora's most underrated moves the last night was to have Chris Sale come in to close out a 5-1 game. Sale was supposed to have started that game but Cora made the right move to go with David Price. This had to have hurt the ace's ego but allowing Sale to be on the mound when the Series was clinched was a good way to make sure everyone was "good"... Heh Heh... Went to a They Might Be Giants show last night in Providence. Just guessing but I think the SAT scores of that crowd must have been off the charts... Might be a character defect on my part but I have a strong dislike of anyone who has thousands of songs available to choose from on a jukebox but still plays Hotel California... Speaking of overlooked World Series moments - I really hope the Sox can keep Nathan Eovaldi... Kite of Destruction would be a good name for a band (or a military drone)... "I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing." Stubb in Moby Dick...

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Lean into the pain. Article has been around for a while but it's new to me. And great advice!

- This was very cool by the Arizona Cardinals

- What happens with Kawhi Leonard to me is more interesting than where LeBron chooses to play next season.

-  Rest in peace Marine

- Wrong! The greatest one-hit wonder was written by Francis Scott Key

- This is why Chris Sale is so tough to hit.

- Love Dennis Eckersley

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I predict that the Celtics' Danny Ainge signs free agent Gordon Haywood AND trades for Paul George BUT also somehow does not win NBA Executive of the Year... The Yellowstone Super Volcano still undergoing a swarm of earthquakes (and still scaring the bejeezus out of me)... Isaac the Bartender from The Love Boat is my spirit animal... Cool new plane (but what would it be used for - doesn't look like it's built for passengers)... I love these... Just as a reminder - "Britney Spears" is an anagram for "Presbyterians"... This is impressive... In September call-ups the Atlanta Braves should add "the Freeze" to the roster as a pinch runner. What a great way to support his Olympic sprinting dream (and sell a shit ton of his jerseys)...

So the Red Sox pulled the trigger on a trade for White Sox ace Chris Sale. That now gives them a rotation of Sale, David Price, reigning AL CY Winner Rick Porcello, Edwin Rodriguez and probably Clay Buchholz with Drew Pomeranz being insurance in the bullpen. That's a hell of a rotation. Easily top 3 in baseball (Cubs fans and Mets fans can argue the order). Knuckleballer Steven Wright might be on the outside looking in despite going 13-6 with a 3.33 ERA last season because that's how knuckleballers seem to be treated in MLB.

In order to get Sale the Red Sox gave up perhaps the top prospect in baseball in Yoan Moncada, fireballer Michael Kopech and lottery tickets Victor Diz and Luis Basabe. Much less than I was willing to give up in my hypothetical trade a few days ago. I LOVE the trade!

Some people are concerned about Sale's weight and delivery. Such talk just reminds me of the trade that brought Pedro Martinez to Boston with Carl Pavano and Tony Armas going to the Expos in exchange. Pedro was too thin they said at the time. His delivery is an injury waiting to happen they said at the time. Well that trade worked out OK.

Now I don't mean to compare Sale to Pedro - or to Randy Johnson for that matter (even though height and lefthandedness make that the first comparison that comes to mind). This trade is all about winning now and I like that. I don't care if Moncada goes on to win an MVP in Chicago - as long as Boston gets to the World Series in the next three years. If that happens this trade is a win for Boston.

Since I predicted this trade a few days ago so why not try my hand at a couple more predictions:

1. The Clay Buchholz experience will be traded before the start of the season (maybe even this week)
2. Boston fans and writers will come up with a much better nickname for Chris Sale than "the condor".  That's a mediocre nickname at best. (I also predict some hack Boston writer will use "Condor No Big Unit" after Sale's first loss with the Red Sox.)

Supposedly Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale is on the trade block. If you're Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox, who do you offer up in exchange for a top pitcher under team control for another 3-years?

Nobody is asking me but here's what I'd offer:

- Yoan Moncada 2B/3B - considered by many to be baseball's top prospect
- Eduardo Rodriquez SP - only 23-years old, MLB ready and who has shown flashes of being a rotation mainstay (somebody has to make room for Sale)
- A top Single A prospect that is mutually agreeable.

For the White Sox - that's a pretty good haul. For the Red Sox - what fan wouldn't be excited about a rotation that features aces Sale, David Price and Cy Young winner Rick Porcello.

So let it be written. So let it be done.

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I think most middle of road voters in America are now thinking along the lines of "Well Barack Obama was bad but at least he wasn't Donald Trump bad"... Strange and intriguing - Kevin Spacey and the Florida Panthers (I think I'm buying one of those sweatshirts)... 90% of the time if you are speaking with someone over the age of 21 and one of their first introductory sentences begins with "My dad was..." - you are speaking with a moron... I agree - this is pure genius... Here's hoping the Red Sox are on the phone right now talking possible trade with the White Sox for disgruntled ace Chris Sale... Hockey parents are the best... Went to a bar that had a drink called the R. Kelly. Hard lemonade is one of the ingredients. That's either genius or disgusting (I vote for the latter)... Cool story about David Ortiz meeting a 92-year old WWII vet... If you are doing a physics special on TV - are you contractually obligated to have at least one scene in a pool hall?... Interesting - scientists now say that walking burns more calories than previously thought...