A Realistic View at 2021: Part I

[a700hitter]

You're not fooling me.

You are fooling me.

[notin]

I'm sure there is more than the OF he's down on.

 

The season is a disaster in his eyes.

 

 

Well, George Will has taught us all the beauty of pessimism...

[notin]

You are fooling me.

 

For the record, this comeback might not have had the desired effect....

[moonslav59]

You are fooling me.

 

again, you're not fooling me.

[notin]

I have to think it's kind of funny some of the "cliff deniers" are the now projecting doom & gloom, and many of the "cliff dwellers" are the more optimistic ones.

 

Maybe THAT is where the irony is...

[a700hitter]

For the record, this comeback might not have had the desired effect....

What was the intended affect?

[Bellhorn04]

700 is the not the only one who is deeply pessimistic about the '21 Sox, and Bloom, and the general state of the franchise, I found out after reading Shaughnessy's article this morning and the comments section.

[notin]

What was the intended affect?

 

To NOT make you look easily deceived and gullible?

Edited March 2, 2021 by notin

[notin]

700 is the not the only one who is deeply pessimistic about the '21 Sox, and Bloom, and the general state of the franchise, I found out after reading Shaughnessy's article this morning and the comments section.

 

I’m not surprised.

 

I’m a little disappointed that the Sox chose to stay under the tax limit after resetting. I do think that if Sale was healthy, they would have gone over to build a potential champ. But with Sale out for the majority of the season anyway, maybe their chances were just not good enough to justify going for it?

[Bellhorn04]

I’m not surprised.

 

I’m a little disappointed that the Sox chose to stay under the tax limit after resetting. I do think that if Sale was healthy, they would have gone over to build a potential champ. But with Sale out for the majority of the season anyway, maybe their chances were just not good enough to justify going for it?

 

They're in a delicate position with the fandom. They offloaded Mookie Betts and then spent this offseason adding virtual no-names.

 

It's going to come down to the W's and L's, I guess.

[notin]

They're in a delicate position with the fandom. They offloaded Mookie Betts and then spent this offseason adding virtual no-names.

 

It's going to come down to the W's and L's, I guess.

 

Exactly.

 

They offloaded Betts to reset. They reset so they could add some stars at a lesser or no penalty. And now, despite the lack of penalty, they really didn’t add anyone.

 

I do suspect if Sale was healthy, the strategy would have been different...

[mvp 78]

700 is the not the only one who is deeply pessimistic about the '21 Sox, and Bloom, and the general state of the franchise, I found out after reading Shaughnessy's article this morning and the comments section.

 

Reading Shaughnessy AND looking at the comments is like viewing the sewer of fandom.

[mvp 78]

I’m not surprised.

 

I’m a little disappointed that the Sox chose to stay under the tax limit after resetting. I do think that if Sale was healthy, they would have gone over to build a potential champ. But with Sale out for the majority of the season anyway, maybe their chances were just not good enough to justify going for it?

 

Either that or they really didn't like the high priced FA's? Maybe they want to take this year to see which of the next generation can step up and supplement that core with FA's next offseason?

[Bellhorn04]

Reading Shaughnessy AND looking at the comments is like viewing the sewer of fandom.

 

It's a sanity test for sure.

[mvp 78]

It's a sanity test for sure.

 

I don't have the patience to either read the comments or read CHB.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't have the patience to either read the comments or read CHB.

 

Completely understand. I now have an online subscription to the Globe and am determined to get my money's worth LOL

[moonslav59]

Maybe THAT is where the irony is...

 

Yup, LOL!

[moonslav59]

700 is the not the only one who is deeply pessimistic about the '21 Sox, and Bloom, and the general state of the franchise, I found out after reading Shaughnessy's article this morning and the comments section.

 

I can see why people are down on the Sox. I, too, doubt we win more than 82-85 games, but that doesn't mean there isn't going to be a lot of excitement and storylines to watch.

 

I'm way more optimistic about 2021 than 2020, and also that our farm is being built up faster than I imagined back in the days of talking about "the cliff."

[moonslav59]

Exactly.

 

They offloaded Betts to reset. They reset so they could add some stars at a lesser or no penalty. And now, despite the lack of penalty, they really didn’t add anyone.

 

I do suspect if Sale was healthy, the strategy would have been different...

 

Agreed. and we did spend way more this winter than last.

 

Also, with Pedey's deal ending after this season, and a bunch of 1 year deals expiring (plus Barnes & ERod), I'm thinking next winter we'll see major expenditures.

[notin]

Agreed. and we did spend way more this winter than last.

 

Also, with Pedey's deal ending after this season, and a bunch of 1 year deals expiring (plus Barnes & ERod), I'm thinking next winter we'll see major expenditures.

 

Although next winter lacks some potential impact players the Sox might find useful outside of the shortstop position. Even with Bogaerts opt out, the Sox are better off extending him over pursuing the bigger names at that postion for a cuple reasons. Like signing Correa/Story and trying to trade Bogaerts seems counterproductive, since Bogaerts trade value for only one potential year of control while Correa, Story, Seager and possibly Lindor (unless the Mets extend him) are all available seems like poor timing. If you look at what the Guardians got for Lindor (and Correa), it's not exactly a game changing package. And Bogaerts is not likely to be worth more.

 

The pitching available next seasons isn't as impressive, either. There is no equivalent to Trevor Bauer equivalent unless Bauer himself opts out (which is certainly possible). The bigger names are all getting up thee in years, with Kershaw (34) and Scherzer (37) looking well into their post-prime years. Lance McCullers might be the most intriguing name, but he is not exactly the most reliable arm. And pitching will be their biggest need, like it will be for most teams.

 

Are there any outfielders comparable to even Springer? Most of the better ones will be in their mid to late 30's and any deal will have questions from the onset. The best outfielders under 32 might be Schwarber, Pederson, Rosario and Castellanos. And three of them were available this off-season via free agency (and all got one year deals) and the 4th was an easy trade acquisition from a salary dumping team, and still had no takers...

[mvp 78]

I can see why people are down on the Sox. I, too, doubt we win more than 82-85 games, but that doesn't mean there isn't going to be a lot of excitement and storylines to watch.

 

I'm way more optimistic about 2021 than 2020, and also that our farm is being built up faster than I imagined back in the days of talking about "the cliff."

 

85 wins is much better than the dreck we watched last year. 85 wins plus seeing the future in some young guys leaves me hopeful.

[notin]

I can see why people are down on the Sox. I, too, doubt we win more than 82-85 games, but that doesn't mean there isn't going to be a lot of excitement and storylines to watch.

 

I'm way more optimistic about 2021 than 2020, and also that our farm is being built up faster than I imagined back in the days of talking about "the cliff."

 

Yeah, I'm in the 80-84 win camp, although I could see this team winning more only because the rest of the non-New York AL East teams have just as many questions with their pitching staffs. The Yankees have a lot too, after Cole, especialyl when you consider that 4 of their SPs combined for 45 IP last season, but their depth might be a little better. (Tampa has the most depth, but their upfront rotation has as many questions as Boston's.)

 

Second place in the AL East might come down to what teams simply have the most break right for them...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Agreed. and we did spend way more this winter than last.

 

Also, with Pedey's deal ending after this season, and a bunch of 1 year deals expiring (plus Barnes & ERod), I'm thinking next winter we'll see major expenditures.

 

If the Sox suck again Bloom may have no choice but to spend, especially if mandated by owners. Even if some of the reclamation arms pan out, and Sale's limited comeback looks promising, they're still going to have to get serious about acquiring established pitchers to contend.

[mvp 78]

If the Sox suck again Bloom may have no choice but to spend, especially if mandated by owners. Even if some of the reclamation arms pan out, and Sale's limited comeback looks promising, they're still going to have to get serious about acquiring established pitchers to contend.

 

Owners hired Bloom to keep payroll low and the team competitive until they can make their next run. I think they are more patient than anyone on here.

[notin]

If the Sox suck again Bloom may have no choice but to spend, especially if mandated by owners. Even if some of the reclamation arms pan out, and Sale's limited comeback looks promising, they're still going to have to get serious about acquiring established pitchers to contend.

 

Really their entire season rests on how healthy Richards and Eovaldi are. Richards is easier to have faith in, since he really just had the one serious injury and chose a poor treatment plan. But Eovaldi? I have less faith...

[notin]

Owners hired Bloom to keep payroll low and the team competitive until they can make their next run. I think they are more patient than anyone on here.

 

Agreed. But I would not mind if they showed a little less patience...

[mvp 78]

Agreed. But I would not mind if they showed a little less patience...

 

If they just signed one extra starting pitcher, things would look much better.

[notin]

If they just signed one extra starting pitcher, things would look much better.

 

Absolutely.

 

And I have been campaigning for Odorizzi and/or Porcello to no avail.

 

Probably because Bloom and his staff, like most teams, don't take suggestions from anonymous posters on internet forums...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If they just signed one extra starting pitcher, things would look much better.

 

This may just be the one point everyone on this forum agrees with. But why does Boston's front office disagree with us? Are they overrating their roster or properly assessing their roster and not admitting such assessments to fandom?

[notin]

This may just be the one point everyone on this forum agrees with. But why does Boston's front office disagree with us? Are they overrating their roster or properly assessing their roster and not admitting such assessments to fandom?

 

Most likely because they have spent their allowance.

 

It's a lot easier for you and me to spend the Sox money, since we don't actually have to pay any of it, and we don't have to deal with the future implications of doing so. All we get is the right to complain about it, even if they take the very suggestions we made and watched them not pan out...