A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[Duran Is The Man]

Kavadas loses all platoon benefits, when Casas returns. (Cooper matches up better as the back-up 1Bman.

 

To me, the time for Kavadas is now or maybe never. It's just my opinion, and I am not going to say Brez is wrong not to do it. He's knows more than I do.

 

The ones closest to Kavadas know best.

 

they're not going to give him a shot. the idiots in the Sox FO are going to keep throwing the same s*** at the same wall hoping for a different outcome. i'd fire the whole f***ing lot of them.

[moonslav59]

they're not going to give him a shot. the idiots in the Sox FO are going to keep throwing the same s*** at the same wall hoping for a different outcome. i'd fire the whole f***ing lot of them.

 

Not over this, I hope.

 

Kavadas has a very high chance of not doing well. Personally, I think Smith's is equally high, if not higher, but I do think our scouts and guys watching Kavadas closely, know more than I do.

 

It's too early to talk of canning Brez, Bailey and the "whole crew." Bailey could probably win the governorship in MA, if an election was held, today. Brez seems to have made a difference, already. He added arms to the farm and the 40. He's got us at .500, when many expected worse. He was forced to cut a budget than many felt needed an increase to compete in 2024. The CB Tax budget was $226M, last year according to cots, and is at $208M, now.

 

That cut of $18M had to come from somewhere, especially when you consider his failed attempt at bring some stability and durability to the rotation by spending $19.3M x 2 on Gio. The Devers extension kicked in, too, adding $12M to the CBT line. While O'Neill's addition about cancelled out the savings from the Dugo trade, I think Brez did pretty good, looking past the swing and miss with Gio (and Grissom/I Campbell, so far).

O'Neill

Slaten

Weissert

Criswell

Booser

Fitts

Sandlin

 

I think Brez, Bailey & Cora look like keepers, to me.

 

[Old Red]

Not over this, I hope.

 

Kavadas has a very high chance of not doing well. Personally, I think Smith's is equally high, if not higher, but I do think our scouts and guys watching Kavadas closely, know more than I do.

 

It's too early to talk of canning Brez, Bailey and the "whole crew." Bailey could probably win the governorship in MA, if an election was held, today. Brez seems to have made a difference, already. He added arms to the farm and the 40. He's got us at .500, when many expected worse. He was forced to cut a budget than many felt needed an increase to compete in 2024. The CB Tax budget was $226M, last year according to cots, and is at $208M, now.

 

That cut of $18M had to come from somewhere, especially when you consider his failed attempt at bring some stability and durability to the rotation by spending $19.3M x 2 on Gio. The Devers extension kicked in, too, adding $12M to the CBT line. While O'Neill's addition about cancelled out the savings from the Dugo trade, I think Brez did pretty good, looking past the swing and miss with Gio (and Grissom/I Campbell, so far).

O'Neill

Slaten

Weissert

Criswell

Booser

Fitts

Sandlin

 

I think Brez, Bailey & Cora look like keepers, to me.

 

Bailey could win the Governorship in MA if the election was held today? Once again the Red Sox are still on the back burner in the Boston sports scene with the Celtics headed to the NBA finales, and there is still more Bruins, and Pats talk going on than the Red Sox. What’s popular, and talked about on here isn’t necessarily a hot topic in other places, so Bailey isn’t as hot a topic out there as you think.

[Nick]

Well I love watching our 3 amigos in OF.

 

They can all run and play good defense. That's 17 years of team control out there.

[moonslav59]

Well I love watching our 3 amigos in OF.

 

They can all run and play good defense. That's 17 years of team control out there.

 

They sure look solid.

 

Don't look now, but Rafaela is heating up a bit, if you can consider .650 to .750 heating up.

 

.651 since May 2nd (80 PAs)

.759 since May 20th (26 PAs)

Not counting tonight's decent game at 1 for 3 w BB

 

[Maxbialystock]

They sure look solid.

 

Don't look now, but Rafaela is heating up a bit, if you can consider .650 to .750 heating up.

 

.651 since May 2nd (80 PAs)

.759 since May 20th (26 PAs)

Not counting tonight's decent game at 1 for 3 w BB

 

 

Nice try, but I'm here to inform you Rafaela just got caught by Devers for the team lead in rbi's. Both have 28.

[moonslav59]

Updated Sox OPS

.984 Refsnyder (earned a FT role, at least for a while)

.928 Devers (career high OPS & OPS+, so far)

.870 Abreu (let's start talking Abreu extension)

.857 Casas (could use his bat back)

.843 O'Neill (slumping. badly)

.836 Wong (still making key plays)

.776 Duran (fWAR leader on the team)

 

.743 DHam (went from near the top of the DFA list to near Romy on utility list)

.736 Yoshida (take your time on the IL)

.688 Romy (doing the little things right)

.684 McGuire (helping the staff, a lot.)

 

.617 Story (should stop even listing him)

.602 Rafaela (over the modern Mendoza Line)

 

.546 Smith, .532 Cooper & .377 Dalbec (just pathetic)

.453 Valdez & .451 Reyes (may not see again in '24)

 

.352 Grissom (in his own category, by himself)

 

ERA Leaders SP'ers

1.90 Houck (11 GS and early Cy Young candidate)

1.96 Whitlock (4 out for season)

2.89 Crawford (11 dropped a lot after bad start)

3.96 Criswell (8 got drilled, last start)

4.18 Bello (9 looked good, tonight, after 1st IP)

4.20 Pivetta (6 up & down)

 

Pen ERA WHIP

0.78 Bernardino 0.83

2.01 Weissert 1.15

2.16 Z Kelly 1.26 (back in AAA)

2.25 Uwasawa 1.00 (in AAA)

2.89 Slaten 0.96

3.06 Jansen 1.25

3.10 Martin 0.93

3.33 Wink 1.56 (in AAA)

3.38 Booser 1.07

4.56 Anderson 1.29

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

Well I love watching our 3 amigos in OF.

 

They can all run and play good defense. That's 17 years of team control out there.

 

Indeed.

[moonslav59]

Indeed.

 

The 4th Amigo, Refsnyder, is making a name for himself, now too.

[Maxbialystock]

Bailey could win the Governorship in MA if the election was held today? Once again the Red Sox are still on the back burner in the Boston sports scene with the Celtics headed to the NBA finales, and there is still more Bruins, and Pats talk going on than the Red Sox. What’s popular, and talked about on here isn’t necessarily a hot topic in other places, so Bailey isn’t as hot a topic out there as you think.

 

Meh. moonslav indulged in hyperbole, but it's lovely hyperbole. And who gives a rat's ass about the Celtics and Bruins? Auerbach, Cousy, Russell, and Larry Bird are long gone, and hockey is strictly for white guys. Oh, and, last time I checked, this website is called Talksox.

 

I didn't know what to expect this season, so I voted for 81-81, and that's where the Sox are (plus one) one third through the season. But this team is way more complex and interesting than 50-50.

 

For starters, the Sox are paying Sale $17M, Story $22.5M, Giolito $18M, Yoshida $18.6M, Turner $6.7M, and Whitlock $3.5M--and none of them are playing for the Sox. That's over half the $182M payroll shot to hell. That's why the current rotation is being paid $15M total, $1M less than closer Jansen, who has pitched 17.2 innings to date--which is absolutely insane.

And it's that rotation that enables the Sox to have the 3d best ERA in MLB--which is amazing for a team that rarely has excellent pitching.

 

The current Sox lineup has exactly one experienced everyday MLB player, Devers, who is paid more, $29M, than the other 12 lineup players combined. How about that, sports fans? Thus are they inconsistent. That's why all the errors and unearned runs (plus, as moonslav points out, other "earned" runs that are really also unearned runs). That's why weak RISP hitting.

 

On the other hand, sometimes these guys come through when you don't expect it--like sweeping Tampa @ Tampa a week ago. Plus we can already see good things in Abreu, Duran, and Rafaela in the outfield, Casas at 1b (actually, it's his bat, not glove).

 

And don't forget Hamilton, the guy we wanted to kill last season. His total WAR is +0.7 for 30 games played. Last year Story's total WAR for 43 games was +0.8. So who needs freaking Story, who dove for a grounder and is out for the season?

 

Plus I like Wong/McGuire behind the plate. So right now, honestly, just 2 real weak spots, 2b and 1b. But Casas could be back by June 21, and maybe Grissom is only mostly dead at 2b. This lineup just might be good enough if they believe in themselves.

 

For confirmation, just look right above at moonslav's latest stats on lineup players, starters, and relievers. This team is actually better than .500. Who needs Yoshida when Ref is hitting so well? Who needs Story when Hamilton is outplaying him?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Who needs Yoshida when Ref is hitting so well? Who needs Story when Hamilton is outplaying him?

 

The Red Sox need Yoshida in their batting order because he doesn't strike out. Boston batters fan more than 27 other teams (only one-letter clubs M's and A's are worse).

 

The Sox are also third in the AL in Left On Base, and when the offense is struggling there's nothing worse than watching Sox hitters whiff when all someone has to do to bring home a run is put the ball in play.

 

Masa may not have the pop the brass was hoping for, but some of those 4-3s drive in runners from third with less than two outs.

[Old Red]

Meh. moonslav indulged in hyperbole, but it's lovely hyperbole. And who gives a rat's ass about the Celtics and Bruins? Auerbach, Cousy, Russell, and Larry Bird are long gone, and hockey is strictly for white guys. Oh, and, last time I checked, this website is called Talksox.

 

I didn't know what to expect this season, so I voted for 81-81, and that's where the Sox are (plus one) one third through the season. But this team is way more complex and interesting than 50-50.

 

For starters, the Sox are paying Sale $17M, Story $22.5M, Giolito $18M, Yoshida $18.6M, Turner $6.7M, and Whitlock $3.5M--and none of them are playing for the Sox. That's over half the $182M payroll shot to hell. That's why the current rotation is being paid $15M total, $1M less than closer Jansen, who has pitched 17.2 innings to date--which is absolutely insane.

And it's that rotation that enables the Sox to have the 3d best ERA in MLB--which is amazing for a team that rarely has excellent pitching.

 

The current Sox lineup has exactly one experienced everyday MLB player, Devers, who is paid more, $29M, than the other 12 lineup players combined. How about that, sports fans? Thus are they inconsistent. That's why all the errors and unearned runs (plus, as moonslav points out, other "earned" runs that are really also unearned runs). That's why weak RISP hitting.

 

On the other hand, sometimes these guys come through when you don't expect it--like sweeping Tampa @ Tampa a week ago. Plus we can already see good things in Abreu, Duran, and Rafaela in the outfield, Casas at 1b (actually, it's his bat, not glove).

 

And don't forget Hamilton, the guy we wanted to kill last season. His total WAR is +0.7 for 30 games played. Last year Story's total WAR for 43 games was +0.8. So who needs freaking Story, who dove for a grounder and is out for the season?

 

Plus I like Wong/McGuire behind the plate. So right now, honestly, just 2 real weak spots, 2b and 1b. But Casas could be back by June 21, and maybe Grissom is only mostly dead at 2b. This lineup just might be good enough if they believe in themselves.

 

For confirmation, just look right above at moonslav's latest stats on lineup players, starters, and relievers. This team is actually better than .500. Who needs Yoshida when Ref is hitting so well? Who needs Story when Hamilton is outplaying him?

Sorry Max, but the Red Sox are #4 in town now, and it didn’t used to be that way.

[mvp 78]

Meh. moonslav indulged in hyperbole, but it's lovely hyperbole. And who gives a rat's ass about the Celtics and Bruins? Auerbach, Cousy, Russell, and Larry Bird are long gone, and hockey is strictly for white guys. Oh, and, last time I checked, this website is called Talksox.

 

Hockey is strictly for white guys, but you haven't watched basketball since the Celtics stopped being a team loaded with white players. Got it.

[mvp 78]

The Red Sox need Yoshida in their batting order because he doesn't strike out. Boston batters fan more than 27 other teams (only one-letter clubs M's and A's are worse).

 

The Sox are also third in the AL in Left On Base, and when the offense is struggling there's nothing worse than watching Sox hitters whiff when all someone has to do to bring home a run is put the ball in play.

 

Masa may not have the pop the brass was hoping for, but some of those 4-3s drive in runners from third with less than two outs.

 

Sox are last in FanGraphs CLUTCH.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sox are last in FanGraphs CLUTCH.

 

A mythical concept posted on such a disreputable site makes it easy for discerning fans to dismiss this fake stat.

 

But the writer who compiles the data sure came through for his sponsors and regular visitors. The editor didn't know if he could count on the guy, who never delivered such content in the past... though he had a hunch (plus, they were facing the pressure of another deadline).

[mvp 78]

A mythical concept posted on such a disreputable site makes it easy for discerning fans to dismiss this fake stat.

 

But the writer who compiles the data sure came through for his sponsors and regular visitors. The editor didn't know if he could count on the guy, who never delivered such content in the past... though he had a hunch (plus, they were facing the pressure of another deadline).

 

If he was really coming through for his sponsors, all the ads on the site wouldn't make my work laptop whir like a 1980's boxfan whenever I load it up.

[moonslav59]

Meh. moonslav indulged in hyperbole, but it's lovely hyperbole.

 

If he doesn't understand the concept of a "suggestion" vs a prediction, he won't know what hyperbole means.

 

And who gives a rat's ass about the Celtics and Bruins? Auerbach, Cousy, Russell, and Larry Bird are long gone, and hockey is strictly for white guys. Oh, and, last time I checked, this website is called Talksox.

 

True nuff.

 

I didn't know what to expect this season, so I voted for 81-81, and that's where the Sox are (plus one) one third through the season. But this team is way more complex and interesting than 50-50.

 

Sounds about right, and for a team that was supposed to be worse than last year, what's the beef?

 

For starters, the Sox are paying Sale $17M, Story $22.5M, Giolito $18M, Yoshida $18.6M, Turner $6.7M, and Whitlock $3.5M--and none of them are playing for the Sox. That's over half the $182M payroll shot to hell. That's why the current rotation is being paid $15M total, $1M less than closer Jansen, who has pitched 17.2 innings to date--which is absolutely insane.

 

True, but you have reached the broken record point.

 

And it's that rotation that enables the Sox to have the 3d best ERA in MLB--which is amazing for a team that rarely has excellent pitching.

 

It's a shame to see such good pitching fetch a .500 record.

 

The current Sox lineup has exactly one experienced everyday MLB player, Devers, who is paid more, $29M, than the other 12 lineup players combined. How about that, sports fans? Thus are they inconsistent. That's why all the errors and unearned runs (plus, as moonslav points out, other "earned" runs that are really also unearned runs). That's why weak RISP hitting.

 

Yup, no timely hitting and too many gifts handed to opps. You know, when you figure all the extra outs we gave our opps, and how many extra outs our staff needed to get, our staff is even better than it looks on paper.

 

On the other hand, sometimes these guys come through when you don't expect it--like sweeping Tampa @ Tampa a week ago. Plus we can already see good things in Abreu, Duran, and Rafaela in the outfield, Casas at 1b (actually, it's his bat, not glove).

 

I've seen some heart and soul in this team, but it is not always on display.

 

And don't forget Hamilton, the guy we wanted to kill last season. His total WAR is +0.7 for 30 games played. Last year Story's total WAR for 43 games was +0.8. So who needs freaking Story, who dove for a grounder and is out for the season?

 

I'd prefer Story.

Plus I like Wong/McGuire behind the plate. So right now, honestly, just 2 real weak spots, 2b and 1b. But Casas could be back by June 21, and maybe Grissom is only mostly dead at 2b. This lineup just might be good enough if they believe in themselves.

 

I'm still holding out hope for the O.

 

For confirmation, just look right above at moonslav's latest stats on lineup players, starters, and relievers. This team is actually better than .500. Who needs Yoshida when Ref is hitting so well? Who needs Story when Hamilton is outplaying him?

 

DHam has more to prove, especially on D and especially at SS.

[Maxbialystock]

Meh. moonslav indulged in hyperbole, but it's lovely hyperbole.

 

If he doesn't understand the concept of a "suggestion" vs a prediction, he won't know what hyperbole means.

 

And who gives a rat's ass about the Celtics and Bruins? Auerbach, Cousy, Russell, and Larry Bird are long gone, and hockey is strictly for white guys. Oh, and, last time I checked, this website is called Talksox.

 

True nuff.

 

I didn't know what to expect this season, so I voted for 81-81, and that's where the Sox are (plus one) one third through the season. But this team is way more complex and interesting than 50-50.

 

Sounds about right, and for a team that was supposed to be worse than last year, what's the beef?

 

For starters, the Sox are paying Sale $17M, Story $22.5M, Giolito $18M, Yoshida $18.6M, Turner $6.7M, and Whitlock $3.5M--and none of them are playing for the Sox. That's over half the $182M payroll shot to hell. That's why the current rotation is being paid $15M total, $1M less than closer Jansen, who has pitched 17.2 innings to date--which is absolutely insane.

 

True, but you have reached the broken record point.

 

And it's that rotation that enables the Sox to have the 3d best ERA in MLB--which is amazing for a team that rarely has excellent pitching.

 

It's a shame to see such good pitching fetch a .500 record.

 

The current Sox lineup has exactly one experienced everyday MLB player, Devers, who is paid more, $29M, than the other 12 lineup players combined. How about that, sports fans? Thus are they inconsistent. That's why all the errors and unearned runs (plus, as moonslav points out, other "earned" runs that are really also unearned runs). That's why weak RISP hitting.

 

Yup, no timely hitting and too many gifts handed to opps. You know, when you figure all the extra outs we gave our opps, and how many extra outs our staff needed to get, our staff is even better than it looks on paper.

 

On the other hand, sometimes these guys come through when you don't expect it--like sweeping Tampa @ Tampa a week ago. Plus we can already see good things in Abreu, Duran, and Rafaela in the outfield, Casas at 1b (actually, it's his bat, not glove).

 

I've seen some heart and soul in this team, but it is not always on display.

 

And don't forget Hamilton, the guy we wanted to kill last season. His total WAR is +0.7 for 30 games played. Last year Story's total WAR for 43 games was +0.8. So who needs freaking Story, who dove for a grounder and is out for the season?

 

I'd prefer Story.

Plus I like Wong/McGuire behind the plate. So right now, honestly, just 2 real weak spots, 2b and 1b. But Casas could be back by June 21, and maybe Grissom is only mostly dead at 2b. This lineup just might be good enough if they believe in themselves.

 

I'm still holding out hope for the O.

 

For confirmation, just look right above at moonslav's latest stats on lineup players, starters, and relievers. This team is actually better than .500. Who needs Yoshida when Ref is hitting so well? Who needs Story when Hamilton is outplaying him?

 

DHam has more to prove, especially on D and especially at SS.

 

Apologize for the broken record.

 

I see potential for both the offense and defense to improve, which is why I mention Hamilton, who is way, way, way better than Story simply because he's not on the IL. Plus his OPS, .742, is higher than Story's average OPS with the Sox and higher than Bogaerts (with the Padres) this year. And his salary is 1/32 of Story's.

[Duran Is The Man]

Not over this, I hope.

 

Kavadas has a very high chance of not doing well. Personally, I think Smith's is equally high, if not higher, but I do think our scouts and guys watching Kavadas closely, know more than I do.

 

It's too early to talk of canning Brez, Bailey and the "whole crew." Bailey could probably win the governorship in MA, if an election was held, today. Brez seems to have made a difference, already. He added arms to the farm and the 40. He's got us at .500, when many expected worse. He was forced to cut a budget than many felt needed an increase to compete in 2024. The CB Tax budget was $226M, last year according to cots, and is at $208M, now.

 

That cut of $18M had to come from somewhere, especially when you consider his failed attempt at bring some stability and durability to the rotation by spending $19.3M x 2 on Gio. The Devers extension kicked in, too, adding $12M to the CBT line. While O'Neill's addition about cancelled out the savings from the Dugo trade, I think Brez did pretty good, looking past the swing and miss with Gio (and Grissom/I Campbell, so far).

O'Neill

Slaten

Weissert

Criswell

Booser

Fitts

Sandlin

 

I think Brez, Bailey & Cora look like keepers, to me.

 

 

i'm very happy with Bailey, fine with Cora and it's still early on Brez. it's the rest of the decision makers in the front office that i wouldn't miss if they were fired today.

[mvp 78]

@ChrisCotillo

Hearing it's possible that Enmanuel Valdez is active for the Red Sox tonight in Baltimore. That would likely require Tyler O'Neill to be placed on the IL.

 

First pitch at 6:35 pm ET.

[Old Red]

Meh. moonslav indulged in hyperbole, but it's lovely hyperbole.

 

If he doesn't understand the concept of a "suggestion" vs a prediction, he won't know what hyperbole means.

 

And who gives a rat's ass about the Celtics and Bruins? Auerbach, Cousy, Russell, and Larry Bird are long gone, and hockey is strictly for white guys. Oh, and, last time I checked, this website is called Talksox.

 

True nuff.

 

I didn't know what to expect this season, so I voted for 81-81, and that's where the Sox are (plus one) one third through the season. But this team is way more complex and interesting than 50-50.

 

Sounds about right, and for a team that was supposed to be worse than last year, what's the beef?

 

For starters, the Sox are paying Sale $17M, Story $22.5M, Giolito $18M, Yoshida $18.6M, Turner $6.7M, and Whitlock $3.5M--and none of them are playing for the Sox. That's over half the $182M payroll shot to hell. That's why the current rotation is being paid $15M total, $1M less than closer Jansen, who has pitched 17.2 innings to date--which is absolutely insane.

 

True, but you have reached the broken record point.

 

And it's that rotation that enables the Sox to have the 3d best ERA in MLB--which is amazing for a team that rarely has excellent pitching.

 

It's a shame to see such good pitching fetch a .500 record.

 

The current Sox lineup has exactly one experienced everyday MLB player, Devers, who is paid more, $29M, than the other 12 lineup players combined. How about that, sports fans? Thus are they inconsistent. That's why all the errors and unearned runs (plus, as moonslav points out, other "earned" runs that are really also unearned runs). That's why weak RISP hitting.

 

Yup, no timely hitting and too many gifts handed to opps. You know, when you figure all the extra outs we gave our opps, and how many extra outs our staff needed to get, our staff is even better than it looks on paper.

 

On the other hand, sometimes these guys come through when you don't expect it--like sweeping Tampa @ Tampa a week ago. Plus we can already see good things in Abreu, Duran, and Rafaela in the outfield, Casas at 1b (actually, it's his bat, not glove).

 

I've seen some heart and soul in this team, but it is not always on display.

 

And don't forget Hamilton, the guy we wanted to kill last season. His total WAR is +0.7 for 30 games played. Last year Story's total WAR for 43 games was +0.8. So who needs freaking Story, who dove for a grounder and is out for the season?

 

I'd prefer Story.

Plus I like Wong/McGuire behind the plate. So right now, honestly, just 2 real weak spots, 2b and 1b. But Casas could be back by June 21, and maybe Grissom is only mostly dead at 2b. This lineup just might be good enough if they believe in themselves.

 

I'm still holding out hope for the O.

 

For confirmation, just look right above at moonslav's latest stats on lineup players, starters, and relievers. This team is actually better than .500. Who needs Yoshida when Ref is hitting so well? Who needs Story when Hamilton is outplaying him?

 

DHam has more to prove, especially on D and especially at SS.

 

You try to make it sound like a suggestion makes you look less wrong than a prediction, but it really doesn’t no matter how you try to spin things.

If you don’t like the BIGGEST show in Boston being mentioned like the Celtics then TDB🙈🤭🤮!

[moonslav59]

i'm very happy with Bailey, fine with Cora and it's still early on Brez. it's the rest of the decision makers in the front office that i wouldn't miss if they were fired today.

 

Understandable.

 

I thought you meant top to bottom.

[Maxbialystock]

i'm very happy with Bailey, fine with Cora and it's still early on Brez. it's the rest of the decision makers in the front office that i wouldn't miss if they were fired today.

 

What other decision makers? I ask because "decision makers" rarely applies to a group. Before the Continental Army crossed the Delaware the night of 25-26 Dec 1776, Washington convened one or more "councils of war." But only one guy could make the decision to cross that semi-frozen river, attack the Hessians in Trenton, and save the American Revolution.

[notin]

You try to make it sound like a suggestion makes you look less wrong than a prediction, but it really doesn’t no matter how you try to spin things.

If you don’t like the BIGGEST show in Boston being mentioned like the Celtics then TDB!

 

 

What if he does that thing where he calls it an “opinion”? That’s the word people who can’t stand being told they’re wrong like to hide behind…

[Old Red]

What if he does that thing where he calls it an “opinion”? That’s the word people who can’t stand being told they’re wrong like to hide behind…

 

Call it what you want, but if it’s a suggestions/predictions, or opinions they still don’t happen, so what they are called is really irrelevant to them not happening.

[Bellhorn04]

What other decision makers? I ask because "decision makers" rarely applies to a group.

 

Well, for one deliberately oversimplified example of the decision chain: Henry decides how much Breslow can spend. Breslow decides how to spend it. Cora decides on lineups and pitching changes etc.

[Maxbialystock]

What if he does that thing where he calls it an “opinion”? That’s the word people who can’t stand being told they’re wrong like to hide behind…

 

It's not an opinion, it's hyperbole, a marvelous figure of speech, an intentional exaggeration to emphasize the point that the Sox pitching coach has done a remarkable job this year.

[Maxbialystock]

Well, for one deliberately oversimplified example of the decision chain: Henry decides how much Breslow can spend. Breslow decides how to spend it. Cora decides on lineups and pitching changes etc.

 

That's what I think. I also remember the movie Moneyball in which John Henry tells Billy Beane he admires how little the A's paid for each win in 2002 and that he would like to hire him as the Sox GM.

 

It's possible JH wants to give that approach another shot even though spending big was how the Sox won 4 WS, 2004-2016.

[Randy Red Sox]

That's what I think. I also remember the movie Moneyball in which John Henry tells Billy Beane he admires how little the A's paid for each win in 2002 and that he would like to hire him as the Sox GM.

 

It's possible JH wants to give that approach another shot even though spending big was how the Sox won 4 WS, 2004-2016.

 

you don't think he is already trying that approach since firing DD?

[Maxbialystock]

you don't think he is already trying that approach since firing DD?

 

Payroll has trended downward, 2020 to 2024, but the Sox payroll is still 11th biggest out of 30 MLB teams. This almost matches the Sox attendance to date, which is 12th. In 2018 the Sox payroll was the highest in MLB and the attendance was 9th.

 

So maybe JH is trying to spend about what the Sox bring in--relative to other MLB teams.

Edited May 30, 2024 by Maxbialystock