Devers signs 11 year $331 million extension

[Maxbialystock]

Way to talk Sox, guys.

 

... but better clarify, or get crucified on technicalities: Worcester is technically SW from Boston. Driving from Southern New England, going from Hartford to Boston, Worcester is about halfway UP, near where 84 meets the Mass Pike... just take 290 to WOO.

 

Worcester, which is primarily west (not south) of Boston, was on the road/trail Henry Knox used in 1775-76 to drag/boat/carry 60 tons of British guns 300 miles from Ticonderoga to Boston--first going straight south, mostly on water and then going basically east on land--in the dead of winter. Knox needed the snow and sleds to move those heavy guns, which were then used to drive the British Army and the British Navy out of Boston in March 1776. The 2d Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia never screws their courage to the sticking point of writing and signing the Declaration without that crucial victory in Boston first.

 

As for your analysis of the lineup, you are way off base. Bloom/Henry kept Devers primarily because he's still young and can actually deliver on part of that huge package ($330M) he got and because he's a fan fav in Boston.

 

As with the pitching, Bloom/Henry are trying to find ways to do more on the field of play with less in terms of big contracts to players. Right now the Sox are ranked 4th in MLB in runs scored and 13th in dingers. The 2018 Sox were 1st in runs scored and 9th in dingers. The 2007 Sox were 9th in runs scored in MLB and 10th in dingers.

 

The current batting slump notwithstanding, the Sox hitting has been one of the pleasant surprises this season, especially given the absences of not only Mookie, Bogey, JDM, Beni, et al, but also Story and Duvall (who has played in just 8 games out of 50).

[Maxbialystock]

A tiny bit, but west is a better choice of direction.

 

Yep

[moonslav59]

Kavadas was a 10th round pick, so I think it's a good get by Bloom. He at least adds depth to the org.

 

He's a domer, so I have added interest and bias.

[mvp 78]

He's a domer, so I have added interest and bias.

 

We all have our faults.

[Dipre]

Talksox Geography class.

[Bellhorn04]

Talksox Geography class.

 

We have it all here, man.

[mvp 78]

We have it all here, man.

 

Plus crucifixions on technicalities! That's actually our specialty.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

As for your analysis of the lineup, you are way off base. Bloom/Henry kept Devers primarily because he's still young and can actually deliver on part of that huge package ($330M) he got and because he's a fan fav in Boston.

 

 

Gee, thanks for your expert analysis, correcting me for being "way off base." I'm sure the Red Sox will be World Series contenders the rest of the decade with sluggers like Jarren Duran and Kike Hernandez batting after Raffy Devers. Those guys are such longball threats, pitchers will have no choice but to groove fastballs center cut to Devers in every at bat. Bombs away.

[moonslav59]

Gee, thanks for your expert analysis, correcting me for being "way off base." I'm sure the Red Sox will be World Series contenders the rest of the decade with sluggers like Jarren Duran and Kike Hernandez batting after Raffy Devers. Those guys are such longball threats, pitchers will have no choice but to groove fastballs center cut to Devers in every at bat. Bombs away.

 

You crack me up.

 

Don't change a bit.

[notin]

Yes it is further south than Boston. Is Worcester "just south of Boston?" Nah. I think there's a more apt description of it.

 

But saying Worcester is south of Boston is like saying Oregon is south of Maine.

 

I mean, Worcester’s latitude is 42.26 and Boston is 42.36. That’s pretty damn close north-south wise.

 

I think 5Gold simply made the mistake of thinking “Pawtucket”, which made more sense and is perfectly understandable…

[moonslav59]

But saying Worcester is south of Boston is like saying Oregon is south of Maine.

 

I mean, Worcester’s latitude is 42.26 and Boston is 42.36. That’s pretty damn close north-south wise.

 

I think 5Gold simply made the mistake of thinking “Pawtucket”, which made more sense and is perfectly understandable…

 

These days off after a tough streak really gets the conversations going in every different direction- even south!

[Dipre]

Love talksox geography.

[notin]

To maximize the investment in Devers, the Red Sox could really use a tag-team partner in the heart of the order, a Manny Ramirez to the new Big Puppy. But it doesn't have to be an all-timer -- just a Manny Machado-type hitter... not leg-spiker (the Sox can always use a Manny Sanguillen or Manny Mota).

 

Is it unfair to automatically assume either Duvall or Story will return from wrist/elbow injuries and provide more protection behind Devers than Duran (batting 5th)?

 

The reality is there's not much longball in the pipeline. After Raffy's 13 HRs, the batter with the most home runs in the entire organization is David Hamilton (11) -- a guy playing in the same state, just south of Boston, who the Sox value so much that they instead signed and promoted a Triple A infielder from the worst team in baseball.

 

Marcelo Mayer, ranked the #3 overall prospect this week by ESPN, has seven four-baggers (tied for 3rd in the organization). The Red Sox' next-best prospect, Roman Anthony, #49 overall, has one homer...

 

Trade for Soto. San Diego can’t extend him…

[notin]

Love talksox geography.

 

It takes a slow baseball day to get me to look up Worcester’s latitude

[Nick]

I'd love to have Soto.....along with a top of the line starter. Sale's days are numbered. He may get the option year but nothing after that.....

[moonslav59]

We keep saying we need an ace, need an ace, need an ace, then suggest going for more O.

 

I doubt we can afford Soto and then get an ace or vice versa.

[Dipre]

I love Soto, but I'd hold off on him

[notin]

We keep saying we need an ace, need an ace, need an ace, then suggest going for more O.

 

I doubt we can afford Soto and then get an ace or vice versa.

 

Aces are overrated. I mean, what exactly is an ace anyway?

[notin]

I love Soto, but I'd hold off on him

 

There won’t be a lot of opportunities…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Aces are overrated. I mean, what exactly is an ace anyway?

 

It's high, but not even a face card; icons are just Lucky Charms, without all the colors. And if Hamilton ever gets called up to the parent club, hopefully he doesn't hitch a ride on a big drone heading due east -- as the crow flies -- or he'll ditch in the Atlantic before he finds Beantown. But don't let him go directly north from there, or he might end up back in Portland, which is about a hundred miles above Boston.

 

Here's the deal if you're driving from Connecticut: the state directly above you is Massachusetts. That would be North. If you take Interstate 84 and cross the border, you're really close to Worcester, which is about 45 minutes from Hartford... then you can take the Mass Pike (90) either west towards Springfield or east towards Boston. The latter is still another 45 minutes away.

 

Technically, both Worcester and Boston are north of Hartford on a rising diagonal... but Boston is twice as far. A lot of WooSox just can't seem to get there, and should never ask for directions from a failed community college player like me.

[moonslav59]

Aces are overrated. I mean, what exactly is an ace anyway?

 

I'm really not for buying an ace. I was just talking about financial priorities.

 

You never know you are getting an ace. If Price was not an ace, after we got him, then I'm not sure what resume can ever look much better prior to acquisition.

 

Trading for younger pitchers that have shown "ace material," whatever that means, seems like the best way to get an ace, but again, is trading Mayer worth it?

 

I'm not sure.

 

I was playing around on BTV and came up with these accepted deals, and again, I'm not "for them." I was just looking what we might be a ble to get for Mayer:

 

Mayer for McK. Gore, Abrams & Vaquero

Mayer for Giolito, TAnderson (SS) & Kopech

Mayer, Rafaela, Walter for Cease & T Anderson

Mayer, Rafaela & Kike for Nootbaar, Gallegos, DeJong & $6M

Mayer, Kike & $4M for Brady Singer, Barlow and Drew Waters

 

No Mayer?

 

Romero & Walter for CJ Abrams, M Gore and salary dump P Corbin

 

 

[moonslav59]

It's high, but not even a face card; icons are just Lucky Charms, without all the colors. And if Hamilton ever gets called up to the parent club, hopefully he doesn't hitch a ride on a big drone heading due east -- as the crow flies -- or he'll ditch in the Atlantic before he finds Beantown. But don't let him go directly north from there, or he might end up back in Portland, which is about a hundred miles above Boston.

 

Here's the deal if you're driving from Connecticut: the state directly above you is Massachusetts. That would be North. If you take Interstate 84 and cross the border, you're really close to Worcester, which is about 45 minutes from Hartford... then you can take the Mass Pike (90) either west towards Springfield or east towards Boston. The latter is still another 45 minutes away.

 

Technically, both Worcester and Boston are north of Hartford on a rising diagonal... but Boston is twice as far. A lot of WooSox just can't seem to get there, and should never ask for directions from a failed community college player like me.

 

You got my head spinning.

[redsoxrules]

Aces are overrated. I mean, what exactly is an ace anyway?

 

Not if you land a Pedro Martinez.

I know those are rare but if you have a chance to get one, you get it. When Pedro was around ( minus his 2004 season) it was almost automatic win when he was pitching

[moonslav59]

Not if you land a Pedro Martinez.

I know those are rare but if you have a chance to get one, you get it. When Pedro was around ( minus his 2004 season) it was almost automatic win when he was pitching

 

Agreed, and he was already proven, when we got him. The big gamble was all the talk about his size and durability as he aged.

 

Schilling was a great get, but we knew it wasn't going to be long term.

 

Beckett was Mr. Clutch (if you believe in that) and was also proven.

 

Sale was proven.

 

The FA, Price was, too.

[Jasonbay44]

Not if you land a Pedro Martinez.

I know those are rare but if you have a chance to get one, you get it. When Pedro was around ( minus his 2004 season) it was almost automatic win when he was pitching

 

There is literally almost never a pitcher like Pedro ever available, and there is a reason why. If they do become available, it’s likely due to injuries (someone like Degrom) or they’re going to cost an absolute shitload of MLB talent or prospects

 

Pablo Lopez was a 27 year old in his prime coming off a 3.75 ERA 3 WAR season who got moved this off season. What did he cost? Only the AL batting champ who’s hitting .370 this year and is one of best pure hitters in baseball.

 

 

Acquiring an “ace” is much easier said than done

[moonslav59]

There is literally almost never a pitcher like Pedro ever available, and there is a reason why. If they do become available, it’s likely due to injuries (someone like Degrom) or they’re going to cost an absolute shitload of MLB talent or prospects

 

Pablo Lopez was a 27 year old in his prime coming off a 3.75 ERA 3 WAR season who got moved this off season. What did he cost? Only the AL batting champ who’s hitting .370 this year and is one of best pure hitters in baseball.

 

 

Acquiring an “ace” is much easier said than done

 

Indeed, and Luis Castillo was not cheap, either.

 

To me, FA signings fail way too often. Our history with trades have had an amazing success rate on aces, so maybe I’m biased.

[notin]

Not if you land a Pedro Martinez.

I know those are rare but if you have a chance to get one, you get it. When Pedro was around ( minus his 2004 season) it was almost automatic win when he was pitching

 

But what is an ace?

[Maxbialystock]

Aces are overrated. I mean, what exactly is an ace anyway?

 

Aces are pitchers the Sox primarily buy (vice develop) who help them win the WS, which in the JH era amount to 4. Examples:

 

Curt Schilling--bloody sock guy who beat the Yankees and then Cardinals to end the 86 year curse.

Pedro Martinez--who helped him.

Josh Beckett--like Schilling, but in 2007 against Cleveland and Colorado.

Jon Lester and John Lackey--not as good as the above, but useful in winning the 2013 WS

Chris Sale--2018 regular season. Also David Price, Chris Porcello, Nate Eovaldi, and Craig Kimbrel.

 

John Henry pays the bills and fired DD in 2019 after the wondrous 2018 team fell completely apart, but were still paid the biggest team salary in MLB. Since then, JH has sought to avoid big and long contracts for "aces" because of the humungous financial risk involved.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

But what is an ace?

 

Some will say it's a pitcher people will pay to see live, the guy who draws the biggest crowds on the road, marketing phenoms having Cy Young seasons that can overlap multicultural interest with pop culture appeal: Vida Blue, Mark Fidrych, Fernando Valenzuela... Pedro.

 

But if you ask pro ballplayers, they'll tell you an ace always gives you a chance to win, and finishes what he starts, year after year after year: Roy Halladay... every five days, the man who demands the ball and gives the entire bullpen the night off.

[Maxbialystock]

Some will say it's a pitcher people will pay to see live, the guy who draws the biggest crowds on the road, marketing phenoms having Cy Young seasons that can overlap multicultural interest with pop culture appeal: Vida Blue, Mark Fidrych, Fernando Valenzuela... Pedro.

 

But if you ask pro ballplayers, they'll tell you an ace always gives you a chance to win, and finishes what he starts, year after year after year: Roy Halladay... every five days, the man who demands the ball and gives the entire bullpen the night off.

 

I think that's a pretty fair description of aces--although giving "the entire bullpen the night off" is a rarity these days.

 

And yes, there are still aces out there. The problem is that "true ace" contracts are for enormous sums of money, all of it guaranteed while said "ace" is getting a new elbow and is out for two seasons. Or whatever.

 

The Sox have in fact brought in aces (or semi-aces) successfully, proven by their contributions to WS wins in 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018. But when the 2019 Sox collapsed, I think JH said, "no more aces, thank you." He also decided Mookie Betts next contract would be too pricey (it is) and the same for Bogey's (it also is). Devers $331M is also a gamble, but at least he's young, 26, so he might actually earn some of it.