A Realistic View at 2020: Part II

[Kimmi]

Maybe we can steal a title in a 60 game season.....meanwhile

 

We get a break on Price sitting out the year....

What we got from Betts are looking better....60 games of Betts for 15 contract years...

 

No one is getting a $350M/10 year deals after this year....too much uncertainty...

 

Will Betts sign a one year deal?

 

Loss of Sale is not as painful with shortened season.....

 

I think Mookie almost has to take a one year deal. Either that, or settle for a lot smaller deal than what he was hoping for. He says that he has no regrets about not taking any of the Red Sox' offers.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think Mookie almost has to take a one year deal. Either that, or settle for a lot smaller deal than what he was hoping for. He says that he has no regrets about not taking any of the Red Sox' offers.

 

If he's telling the truth, that sounds to me like he no longer wanted to work in Boston... for which we cannot begrudge him. Put it this way: being from the South -- if, say, comparable offers came from all over, I'd be shocked if Betts signed with Minnesota or Detroit. Same with JBJ; we know they're close buds, ex-minor league roomies and all, and both talked in the past tense recently about their fond experiences with the Sox. A consideration: playing in crappy weather gets old when you get old.

 

Now if either signs with a New York club, then they'll be mere mercenaries and as booable as Damon.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Mike Lupica, in today's column on MLB.com: "No player in the history of the Boston Red Sox ever had more all-around talent, at the plate and on the bases and in the field, than Betts."

...not that I need another observer to tell me what I knew I watched the past half dozen years. Reading Lupica doesn't make me feel justified for all my Mookie posts last winter. It just makes me feel a little sick...

[moonslav59]

Mike Lupica, in today's column on MLB.com: "No player in the history of the Boston Red Sox ever had more all-around talent, at the plate and on the bases and in the field, than Betts."

...not that I need another observer to tell me what I knew I watched the past half dozen years. Reading Lupica doesn't make me feel justified for all my Mookie posts last winter. It just makes me feel a little sick...

 

Me, too.

 

Let's sign him, this winter, and with this messed up season, we'll hardly even know he was gone. Plus, we'll have 2 young players, too.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Me, too.

 

Let's sign him, this winter, and with this messed up season, we'll hardly even know he was gone. Plus, we'll have 2 young players, too.

 

It would be a great -- for Red Sox fans... and the one gesture that would best renew vows with John Henry, and result in a flood back through the Fenway turnstiles.

 

But let's not kid; if Dombrowski was still around, and Cora, too, it might be possible.

 

However, every time I see the look in Chaim Bloom's eyes, I see a guy determined to break from the past, as he refashions the Red Sox brand through his own machinations, justified by the literal reasons he was recruited: rebuilding by buying low to stockpile disposable, revolving bullpen arms and the Nick Yorkes of the world.

[moonslav59]

It would be a great -- for Red Sox fans... and the one gesture that would best renew vows with John Henry, and result in a flood back through the Fenway turnstiles.

 

But let's not kid; if Dombrowski was still around, and Cora, too, it might be possible.

 

However, every time I see the look in Chaim Bloom's eyes, I see a guy determined to break from the past, as he refashions the Red Sox brand through his own machinations, justified by the literal reasons he was recruited: rebuilding by buying low to stockpile disposable, revolving bullpen arms and the Nick Yorkes of the world.

 

Hard to disagree, but I'll put a spin on it. We've never let a top FA go, then re-sign him right away, so wouldn't that be a "break from the past?"

 

(I know; I'm reaching.)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Hard to disagree, but I'll put a spin on it. We've never let a top FA go, then re-sign him right away, so wouldn't that be a "break from the past?"

 

(I know; I'm reaching.)

 

That would be a Theo kind of move, to get back at the Yankees in some way a couple decades ago... maybe Epstein is Bloom's mentor from Chief Baseball Officer school -- like Charles Bronson tutoring his protege in The Mechanic -- and Chaim's compelled to out-GM him...

[moonslav59]

That would be a Theo kind of move, to get back at the Yankees in some way a couple decades ago... maybe Epstein is Bloom's mentor from Chief Baseball Officer school -- like Charles Bronson tutoring his protege in The Mechanic -- and Chaim's compelled to out-GM him...

 

I don't think Betts will come back, but it would be a shocking boost to this team.

[jad]

Though I find myself more worried about being alive in March 2021 than about who the RS might have on their roster, I still don't see any reason now to think that 2021 is going to be less chaotic (simply from a sports perspective) than 2020. Thus, I can't imagine any major moves like that: more likely the season, even under the best of circumstances, is going to be mired in labor disputes, with owners screaming about poverty from the staterooms of their yachts.

[mvp 78]

I don't think Betts will come back, but it would be a shocking boost to this team.

 

This is Jon Lester all over again. He's not coming back.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

This is Jon Lester all over again. He's not coming back.

 

That was always my position -- once he is traded, he is gone (though some posters still insist it is all about money).

[notin]

That was always my position -- once he is traded, he is gone (though some posters still insist it is all about money).

 

So you think Mookie will be holding a grudge against Boston? Even if they make him the best offer?

[notin]

This is Jon Lester all over again. He's not coming back.

 

The Sox never really pursued Lester in free agency. And they might not pursue Betts, either. And I can think of only one player in recent MLB history who would be in the exact exact same position as Betts - first time free re-signing with a team that dealt him before his option year. But it has happened...

[notin]

This is Jon Lester all over again. He's not coming back.

 

 

I don’t think the season will complete to allow the reset that’s necessary to make re-signing Mookie possible in the first place...

[jacksonianmarch]

Mookie has always bet on himself. He will one year 2021 and get a huge payday starting 2022

[Kimmi]

If he's telling the truth, that sounds to me like he no longer wanted to work in Boston... for which we cannot begrudge him. Put it this way: being from the South -- if, say, comparable offers came from all over, I'd be shocked if Betts signed with Minnesota or Detroit. Same with JBJ; we know they're close buds, ex-minor league roomies and all, and both talked in the past tense recently about their fond experiences with the Sox. A consideration: playing in crappy weather gets old when you get old.

 

Now if either signs with a New York club, then they'll be mere mercenaries and as booable as Damon.

 

I don't believe that Mookie wanted out of Boston. I think he really believed that he would get a contract larger than $300 mil for 10 years. He was going for the money, regardless of where that was. I'm guessing that he probably does have some regret about not taking the Sox' deal, but he's not going to say "I should have taken the offer when I had the chance." No one foresaw this coming. It's just an unfortunate situation for him and everybody else.

[Kimmi]

Mike Lupica, in today's column on MLB.com: "No player in the history of the Boston Red Sox ever had more all-around talent, at the plate and on the bases and in the field, than Betts."

...not that I need another observer to tell me what I knew I watched the past half dozen years. Reading Lupica doesn't make me feel justified for all my Mookie posts last winter. It just makes me feel a little sick...

 

I have no regrets over the Sox trading Mookie. I will miss him, but IMO, it was the right thing to do. It has worked out even better for the Sox with this shortened season.

 

I would be willing to sign him for a one year deal in 2021, but I hope the Sox don't offer him a monster contract.

[Kimmi]

It would be a great -- for Red Sox fans... and the one gesture that would best renew vows with John Henry, and result in a flood back through the Fenway turnstiles.

 

But let's not kid; if Dombrowski was still around, and Cora, too, it might be possible.

 

However, every time I see the look in Chaim Bloom's eyes, I see a guy determined to break from the past, as he refashions the Red Sox brand through his own machinations, justified by the literal reasons he was recruited: rebuilding by buying low to stockpile disposable, revolving bullpen arms and the Nick Yorkes of the world.

 

[Kimmi]

So you think Mookie will be holding a grudge against Boston? Even if they make him the best offer?

 

If the Sox make Mookie the best offer, I think he'll come back.

[notin]

If the Sox make Mookie the best offer, I think he'll come back.

 

 

Agreed. I think he’ll take the best offer anywhere. Even from the Yankees...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

So you think Mookie will be holding a grudge against Boston? Even if they make him the best offer?

 

I wouldn't call it a grudge, but there's no underestimating the ego factor in young professional athletes who have always been adored as the best at basically anything they ever tried their entire lives.

 

No matter how much guys like Mookie publicly rationalize that they know "it's a business", there's always an initial shock period after getting dealt for the first time, adjusting to the novel concept that someone (for whatever reason) actually didn't want them on their side. Then, once they're gone, there is also the possibility they realize that the grass is actually greener somewhere else -- and no simile is better in Betts' case than the literal weather conditions in LA compared to Boston.

 

Ultimately, a traded player's new team -- if they have the resources to compete for his services longterm (like the Dodgers) -- then has the added advantage of showering him with the love and re$pect he felt was just denied him at his old address. And remember, going into free agency, he knows his new club sincerely wants him because they already gave up actual bodies for the rights to make him the first offer.

[moonslav59]

This is Jon Lester all over again. He's not coming back.

 

I don't think he will either, but I do think there's a better chance with Betts.

 

(I also think we did have a chance with Lester had we outbid the Cubs.)

[a700hitter]

It’s looking less and less likely that Eduardo Rodriguez will be back in time to start the Red Sox Opening Day contest, per Chris Cotillo of masslive.com. That puts Nathan Eovaldi in line to get the Opening Day nod. The rest of the Red Sox rotation remains a bit of a mess, certainly a far cry from the squad the took the team to the World Series just two seasons ago. But with Chris Sale on the shelf, David Price and Rick Porcello both gone, Boston is turning to the likes of Martin Perez, Ryan Weber, Chris Mazza, Jeffrey Springs, Colten Brewer and Matt Hall for rotation consideration. Collin McHugh, signed at the tail end of free agency, will not be ready by Opening Day. The Red Sox are counting on less-heralded performers than in year’s past, but there’s room for someone (or a few someone’s) to step up and stake their claim to a locker in Boston.

Is Chaim s***ing me? This is going to be the rotation to start the season? This season will be a sprint not a marathon like normal seasons. With no crowds and our pitching getting blown up game after game, it will be like watching batting practice before the gates open.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Is Chaim s***ing me? This is going to be the rotation to start the season? This season will be a sprint not a marathon like normal seasons. With no crowds and our pitching getting blown up game after game, it will be like watching batting practice before the gates open.

 

Bloom is just pulling a sly one on the sprint season -- he knows the MLB changed its mind on the new rule that limits position players pitching.

[moonslav59]

Maybe we can get the number one draft pick, next year.

[a700hitter]

We should just place the ball on a tee for the opposition batters. Let them supply all of the kinetic energy.

[a700hitter]

I am watching the Red Sox scrimmage on a twitter feed. Is there anyway to see this on my TV? Is MLBTV televising it?

[mvp 78]

I am watching the Red Sox scrimmage on a twitter feed. Is there anyway to see this on my TV? Is MLBTV televising it?

 

No. Unless you have a chromecast.

[a700hitter]

No. Unless you have a chromecast.

You can cast Twitter to the TV?

[Thunder]

Is Chaim s***ing me? This is going to be the rotation to start the season? This season will be a sprint not a marathon like normal seasons. With no crowds and our pitching getting blown up game after game, it will be like watching batting practice before the gates open.

 

I mean, not a lot of people had high expectations heading into this season anyway. Injuries happen. We'll got E-Rod at some point, just not Opening Day. I would rather play 60 games like this than 162