A Realistic View at 2020: Part II

[moonslav59]

Yup, really rough go of it when they drafted Lester/Paplebon/Buchholz.

 

Also, those 4 flags they got look pretty good.

 

Yes, I hesitated to include Epstein's regime, but by the end of it, we'd lost the magic of finding and developing pitchers.

 

Plus, Pedro and Schilling were from out of the system.

 

Point well taken, though.

[Maxbialystock]

I still think letting Price and Betts go was the best move. Even without Mookie, Sox hitting looks pretty good this "year." But not, of course, the pitching. That's why I like mvp78's 30 man roster with its 16 pitchers.

 

My view of this season is simple. If they actually play 60 games and have playoffs, it's a good season whether or not the Sox are in it.

 

And let's not forget that last year we did have Price and Sale--as well as almost everyone from the record-breaking 2018 team--and the pitching, especially Sale and Price (given their salaries) stunk.

 

Thus a new GM and a fresh start, and I for one am willing to be patient. Well, for at least a week or two.

[Nick]

Yes, I hesitated to include Epstein's regime, but by the end of it, we'd lost the magic of finding and developing pitchers.

 

Plus, Pedro and Schilling were from out of the system.

 

Point well taken, though.

 

 

On the other hand we had to pay what we did for Price to get the ship turned around...looks like we got helped out by the Dodgers. We still owe $48M over the next three years starting in 2021.

 

Trading half season of Miller for E Rod was one of the best moves for this organization.

 

Would $300M for 8 years do the trick for Betts? It's a different ball game right now. I would not go anymore than that......

[dgalehouse]

It's kind of odd how a team that has had so much success in the last 16 years ( 4 championships ) , has now had four G.M.s and four managers in that time.

[Bellhorn04]

It's kind of odd how a team that has had so much success in the last 16 years ( 4 championships ) , has now had four G.M.s and four managers in that time.

 

It's odd in one way, impressive in another. Usually success does not come along with that kind of turnover.

[Kimmi]

Yup, really rough go of it when they drafted Lester/Paplebon/Buchholz.

 

Also, those 4 flags they got look pretty good.

 

Most fans of other teams would love to be in our shoes.

[Kimmi]

I still think letting Price and Betts go was the best move. Even without Mookie, Sox hitting looks pretty good this "year." But not, of course, the pitching. That's why I like mvp78's 30 man roster with its 16 pitchers.

 

My view of this season is simple. If they actually play 60 games and have playoffs, it's a good season whether or not the Sox are in it.

 

And let's not forget that last year we did have Price and Sale--as well as almost everyone from the record-breaking 2018 team--and the pitching, especially Sale and Price (given their salaries) stunk.

 

Thus a new GM and a fresh start, and I for one am willing to be patient. Well, for at least a week or two.

 

The shortened season and Price opting out makes the deal look better and better.

 

I agree that if we can actually get through the playoffs, it will be a good season.

[Kimmi]

Per Heyman, the Braves have signed Yasiel Puig.

 

We can put an end to the Puig to the Red Sox rumors.

 

Puig has tested positive for the coronavirus.

 

He is no longer signed with the Braves.

[moonslav59]

On the other hand we had to pay what we did for Price to get the ship turned around...looks like we got helped out by the Dodgers. We still owe $48M over the next three years starting in 2021.

 

Trading half season of Miller for E Rod was one of the best moves for this organization.

 

Would $300M for 8 years do the trick for Betts? It's a different ball game right now. I would not go anymore than that......

 

I'm on record for wanting to pay Betts large and long. I still am.

 

If someone goes absurdly high, then fine, but I'd go all out.

 

He's that good!

[Noles_1335]

I'm on record for wanting to pay Betts large and long. I still am.

 

If someone goes absurdly high, then fine, but I'd go all out.

 

He's that good!

Would a huge contract not handcuff our future... how would we pay for SP talent down the road or be able to sign guys like ERod or Xander or Devers?

[moonslav59]

Would a huge contract not handcuff our future... how would we pay for SP talent down the road or be able to sign guys like ERod or Xander or Devers?

 

Of course, any big contract restricts future spending, but Betts is the real deal.

 

I hate seeing the team's best all around player ever, not finish up here in Boston.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Of course, any big contract restricts future spending, but Betts is the real deal.

 

I hate seeing the team's best all around player ever, not finish up here in Boston.

 

What has always bothered me about Betts and "future spending" is that I guarantee the reset Red Sox will blow all kinds of money in a few years on free agent talent to fill voids in the lineup, in the standings and at the gate... and there's a 99.9% chance that none of those players will be as good as Mookie, on and off the field.

[Kimmi]

I'm on record for wanting to pay Betts large and long. I still am.

 

If someone goes absurdly high, then fine, but I'd go all out.

 

He's that good!

 

I'm on record as being adamantly opposed to such a large contract for Betts.

 

Go young and cost controlled.

[Kimmi]

What has always bothered me about Betts and "future spending" is that I guarantee the reset Red Sox will blow all kinds of money in a few years on free agent talent to fill voids in the lineup, in the standings and at the gate... and there's a 99.9% chance that none of those players will be as good as Mookie, on and off the field.

 

I'm not so sure about that. Not under Bloom. You're right that none of them will likely be as good as Mookie, but they won't be nearly as expensive as Mookie either.

[Kimmi]

Bloom's description of our rotation is "unsettled". That's a good way to describe it.

[jad]

I'm not so sure about that. Not under Bloom. You're right that none of them will likely be as good as Mookie, but they won't be nearly as expensive as Mookie either.

 

If you're in a race, which is better?-- an over-priced Ferrari? Or a fleet of 1964 VW beetles, every one of which you got for a below market price?

[Kimmi]

If you're in a race, which is better?-- an over-priced Ferrari? Or a fleet of 1964 VW beetles, every one of which you got for a below market price?

 

The tortoise or the hare? I'm going with the tortoise!

 

Also, I'm not suggesting we get all our players from the bargain bin. There are plenty of great free agents who can be signed for a fraction of what Mookie costs.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm not so sure about that. Not under Bloom. You're right that none of them will likely be as good as Mookie, but they won't be nearly as expensive as Mookie either.

 

Right, but what's the value of a Hall of Fame, face-of-the-franchise, on and off the field winner, for a brand in an entertainment industry? Even if we look at the bottom line that ostensibly generates the most revenue -- contributing to a winning product in the standings -- it's even debatable that three other good players are worth as much a rare talent like Betts.

 

For example, in sheer analytics terms, Betts' 2019 WAR was worth 6.9 (and that was an average Mookie year). Three others who will be in high demand from his coming free agent class -- Starling Marte, Trevor Bauer and Kirby Yates -- combined for a 7.1 WAR. Would anyone pay 300 million combined for those three for the next decade?

Edited July 18, 2020 by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

[jad]

The tortoise or the hare? I'm going with the tortoise!

 

Also, I'm not suggesting we get all our players from the bargain bin. There are plenty of great free agents who can be signed for a fraction of what Mookie costs.

 

Then you're living in dreamland. The tortoise wins in the Aesop fable. But if you have ever seen a tortoise or a hare in the real world, you know this is b.s. The only advantage a tortoise has is that it lives longer! So if you want a 150-year-old right fielder with bad vision and an appetite for earthworms, the tortoise is definitely the way to go.

[Bellhorn04]

Bloom's description of our rotation is "unsettled". That's a good way to describe it.

 

"Unsettling" would probably work too.

[Bellhorn04]

If you're in a race, which is better?-- an over-priced Ferrari? Or a fleet of 1964 VW beetles, every one of which you got for a below market price?

 

Which is better, the 2019 Boston Red Sox or the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays?

 

I think that's the way John Henry was looking at it.

[Thunder]

The tortoise or the hare? I'm going with the tortoise!

 

Also, I'm not suggesting we get all our players from the bargain bin. There are plenty of great free agents who can be signed for a fraction of what Mookie costs.

 

If the Rays or A's are ever hiring FO people, you should apply! Especially with that mindset

[Thunder]

Which is better, the 2019 Boston Red Sox or the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays?

 

I think that's the way John Henry was looking at it.

 

Does anybody else hate the Rays more than the Yankees, or is it just me?

[Bellhorn04]

Does anybody else hate the Rays more than the Yankees, or is it just me?

 

Some other people hate the Rays a lot too.

 

Me, I'm incapable of hating anything more than the Yankees-or to be more exact, the Yankees winning.

[mvp 78]

Does anybody else hate the Rays more than the Yankees, or is it just me?

 

Yup. Goes back to the Pedro/Gerald Williams game.

[Thunder]

Yup. Goes back to the Pedro/Gerald Williams game.

 

Well for me, growing up in a state divided had a lot to do with my general tendency to tolerate the Yankees:

 

 

In the second map, I live one town east of one of the "border towns"

[Bellhorn04]

Yup. Goes back to the Pedro/Gerald Williams game.

 

Well for me, growing up in a state divided had a lot to do with my general tendency to tolerate the Yankees:

 

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In the second map, I live one town east of one of the "border towns"

 

Your age helps too.

 

My hatred of the Yanks stems a lot from the late Seventies when they were truly hateful.

[Thunder]

Your age helps too.

 

My hatred of the Yanks stems a lot from the late Seventies when they were truly hateful.

 

Understandable.

 

I've always enjoyed watching Yankees games. Say what you want about Michael Kay, but he's a damn good broadcaster. John Sterling too. We got rid of cable a few years ago and replaced it with YouTube TV, and in March, they dropped YES in all of CT over stalled contract negotiations. Big slap in the face to all the CT Yankees fans. My roommate had to change over to Hulu.

[jad]

Your age helps too.

 

My hatred of the Yanks stems a lot from the late Seventies when they were truly hateful.

 

Ha ha! Listen, whippersnapper, if you haven't hated them since the Casey Stengel days, you don't know what hate is!

 

Meanwhile, are you still confident in our bet? I was about to concede until a few days ago; this last week may be a lot more interesting, alas, than either of us imagined.

[Bellhorn04]

Ha ha! Listen, whippersnapper, if you haven't hated them since the Casey Stengel days, you don't know what hate is!

 

Meanwhile, are you still confident in our bet? I was about to concede until a few days ago; this last week may be a lot more interesting, alas, than either of us imagined.

 

No, I'm not confident at all, jad.