The 2025 postseason, post-Red Sox

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I know I'm asking and hoping for a lot.  I also know that what I'm hoping for likely won't happen.  I don't mind spending on shorter term contracts to improve the infield.  But honestly, if it's a choice between going big or taking a chance on what we have, I'll take a chance on what we have.

That said, I fully understand most people's position that we need to spend big on at least a couple of players.  I don't agree with the philosophy, but I understand why people want that.

As I’ve stated before I think the Red Sox will fill in from within as much as they can. It’s a lot cheaper too.

[Kimmi]

On 11/2/2025 at 12:30 AM, Jasonbay44 said:

That was one of the best games and series I’ve watched in awhile. Incredible entertainment 

I agree.  I hate that the Dodgers won again, and I feel really bad for the Jays, but it was very entertaining baseball.  Good stuff.

It could have gone either way.  I'm not sure I would have survived the nerves if I were a Dodgers or a Blue Jays fan.

[Kimmi]

On 11/2/2025 at 12:32 AM, d-money said:

The blue jays will feel this one for years to come. 

I feel bad for the Blue Jays, especially Hoffman.  He is not to blame, but he's going to have a terrible taste in his mouth for the entire offseason.

I think "randomness" and "crapshoot" were on full display during this series.

[Kimmi]

On 11/2/2025 at 12:31 PM, jad said:

You mean by showcasing the best players and winning the most games , by selling out a 50,000+ stadium, and selling more gear than any other team?  By bringing in the best international players along with their millions of fans?  and generating more revenue than any other team?   And providing two of the greatest performances in baseball history by players in a World Series?   You need to put down whatever you're smoking and buy season tix to the Marlins.

I stand by my opinion.  

You can have an equally great series without having a bunch of high-priced superstars.

[drewski6]

8 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I feel bad for the Blue Jays, especially Hoffman.  He is not to blame, but he's going to have a terrible taste in his mouth for the entire offseason.

I think "randomness" and "crapshoot" were on full display during this series.

But keep in mind that the dude who ortiz'd them all the way there (Vladdy) is a giant contract and the robin to his batman (bichette) is about to be one.

So if the jays had been against paying superstars superstar money, then this was their only shot and theyd be back to middle of the pack (at best) next year.

Lucky for their fans, their owner does not mind paying superstar money for superstar players.

[drewski6]

And crochet is a superstar making superstar money. How far do we go without him? My guess dead last.

[Kimmi]

15 minutes ago, Old Red said:

As I’ve stated before I think the Red Sox will fill in from within as much as they can. It’s a lot cheaper too.

IMO, building and sustaining a strong farm system is the top priority in building winning teams.  

I get zero satisfaction from the Dodgers winning a championship from throwing the most money at available free agents.  I could do that job.

[Kimmi]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

And crochet is a superstar making superstar money. How far do we go without him? My guess dead last.

Crochet is making peanuts in this day and age.  Which is kind of my point about the outrageousness of these contracts.

[drewski6]

Just now, Kimmi said:

Crochet is making peanuts in this day and age.  Which is kind of my point about the outrageousness of these contracts.

anybody getting jh's money is better than jh having it. Hoarding that kind of wealth is evil.

[drewski6]

and he bought the penguins.

[Kimmi]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

anybody getting jh's money is better than jh having it. Hoarding that kind of wealth is evil.

I have no problem with Henry being a billionaire.  He's a businessman, he earned the money, good on him.  That said, I do think he should spend enough on payroll to have a competitive team year in and year out.  Where we disagree is whether he should be expected to go all out like the Dodgers.

I would much rather see that money go to the everyday people.  Cut ticket prices.  Cut concession prices.  Pay the stadium workers better wages.  

[drewski6]

Just now, Kimmi said:

I have no problem with Henry being a billionaire.  He's a businessman, he earned the money, good on him.  That said, I do think he should spend enough on payroll to have a competitive team year in and year out.  Where we disagree is whether he should be expected to go all out like the Dodgers.

I would much rather see that money go to the everyday people.  Cut ticket prices.  Cut concession prices.  Pay the stadium workers better wages.  

You said no big contracts. Theres middle ground between that and the dodgers. Ive never advocating for going full dodgers with it.  Just that they dont bother me as much as the small market greedy billionaire club.

Im all for a raise to the stadium workers and him giving some money to charity.

[drewski6]

But Henrys plan is NOT to cut prices or concessions or give stadium workers a raise. Its to buy an NFL team, hes said so himself.

[notin]

6 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I have no problem with Henry being a billionaire.  He's a businessman, he earned the money, good on him.  That said, I do think he should spend enough on payroll to have a competitive team year in and year out.  Where we disagree is whether he should be expected to go all out like the Dodgers.

I would much rather see that money go to the everyday people.  Cut ticket prices.  Cut concession prices.  Pay the stadium workers better wages.  

How much of the inner workings of Fenway Park are the responsibility of the Red Sox?

[Kimmi]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

You said no big contracts. Theres middle ground between that and the dodgers. Ive never advocating for going full dodgers with it.  Just that they dont bother me as much as the small market greedy billionaire club.

Im all for a raise to the stadium workers and him giving some money to charity.

This I can agree with.

[Kimmi]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

But Henrys plan is NOT to cut prices or concessions or give stadium workers a raise. Its to buy an NFL team, hes said so himself.

I know ticket and concession prices will not be cut.  They should be, but I know that's not going to happen.

[Kimmi]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

How much of the inner workings of Fenway Park are the responsibility of the Red Sox?

I do not know exactly.  But even for the pieces that aren't the responsibility of the Red Sox, Henry could contribute somehow.  Not that he's going to.

[drewski6]

7 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

This I can agree with.

You know, me, you (and moonslav) are not that far apart.  The RS have 4 non locked down positions in 1b, 2b, 3b, DH.  You stated last week that you hope that 2 of mayer, campbell, casas come back and stay healthy and productive. You even said you would make an offer to schwarber but would much prefer to keep it to 3 years.

I agree with remaining hopeful on 2 internal guys mayer, campbell, casas (but i would include yoshida in that because i know people hate it but i would not count against him being fine defensively at 1b).  So 2 out of these 4. I love that you target schwarber. Hes proved he can produce here, and hes a really really good hitter.

We only really disagree on that last spot, where i would prefer going external. Maybe bregman maybe someone in a trade.

[drewski6]

What im thinking:

We have 4 non locked down offense spots.  Solve 2 internally.  Go external for the other 2. Make sure one is schwarber and the other can play on both sides of the ball.

Trade an OF'er and/or prospects (but not "the farm") to add to the pitching.

[jad]

3 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I stand by my opinion.  

You can have an equally great series without having a bunch of high-priced superstars.

Of course.  You can have a great series on the high school level.  But you won't see Mookie, or Shohei, or Yamamota.   Btw, I aagree entirely about the stress of watching--I knew by the third inning there was NO WAY I wanted to go through that.  I went to sleep.  LAD was no worse off by virtue of me sleeping through it, but I was MUCH better off.

[notin]

3 hours ago, drewski6 said:

What im thinking:

We have 4 non locked down offense spots.  Solve 2 internally.  Go external for the other 2. Make sure one is schwarber and the other can play on both sides of the ball.

Trade an OF'er and/or prospects (but not "the farm") to add to the pitching.

Only 8 folks in your lineup?

Duran/Abreu, Password, Clarke, Harrison.  Maybe Bello in the right deal (obviously!   “No, let’s move him in the wrong deal!!”) to get a SP and maybe another good RP.

One solid PR free agent contract, like Alonso, Bichette,  or Bregman. Maybe one lesser deal for a bargain player with impressive metrics (Josh Bell) or a Fenway swing (Rhys Hoskins).

Is that too little?

 

[moonslav59]

Yup, add two big bats and a solid #2 SP.

Someone's been saying that all along.

Anything less may not even be status quo.

We can hope on the kids, and maybe it works. Maybe one big bat and a SP would be enough, but we can spend up to the line and get 2 + 1.

[drewski6]

13 hours ago, notin said:

Only 8 folks in your lineup?

Duran/Abreu, Password, Clarke, Harrison.  Maybe Bello in the right deal (obviously!   “No, let’s move him in the wrong deal!!”) to get a SP and maybe another good RP.

One solid PR free agent contract, like Alonso, Bichette,  or Bregman. Maybe one lesser deal for a bargain player with impressive metrics (Josh Bell) or a Fenway swing (Rhys Hoskins).

Is that too little?

 

Im thinking Story is one IF, dont need an OF or C. 3 infield openings and DH.  Is how I arrived at 4 openings.
 

[Hitch]

Things would be so much easier to work around if Campbell could field. Just averagely if nothing else.

[notin]

Just now, drewski6 said:

Im thinking Story is one IF, dont need an OF or C. 3 infield openings and DH.  Is how I arrived at 4 openings.
 

So the locks are Story, Anthony, Rafaela, Duran/Abreu and Narvaez.  I would add Mayer to this list at either 2b or 3b.
 

This leaves openings at 1b, 2b/3b and DH.  I could see DH filled internally with Yoshida or Casas (when ready).  I assume you had Mayer as your other “internal option.”

So I’m on board with this.  Two additions to the lineup.  Hopefully one is one of the top FA (Bichette, Bregman, Alonso) or a significant trade acquisition like Ketel Marte (currently not rumored to be available, but might Devers his way out of Arizona). 

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

So the locks are Story, Anthony, Rafaela, Duran/Abreu and Narvaez.  I would add Mayer to this list at either 2b or 3b.
 

This leaves openings at 1b, 2b/3b and DH.  I could see DH filled internally with Yoshida or Casas (when ready).  I assume you had Mayer as your other “internal option.”

So I’m on board with this.  Two additions to the lineup.  Hopefully one is one of the top FA (Bichette, Bregman, Alonso) or a significant trade acquisition like Ketel Marte (currently not rumored to be available, but might Devers his way out of Arizona). 

Correct on the locks (5 starting bats). For the other 4, theres 2 to be filled internally and 2 externally (to me)

Mayer is most likely (considerably) to nab one of those internal openings.

Our only disagreement is I really want Schwarber and im not going to let yoshida be the reason why i give alonso 200m when i could have schwarber at closer to 100m.

If those contracts meet in the middle (they both get 150m) - im more okay with going alonso over schwarber

Im not paying alonso 2x when hes not as good of a hitter because he plays a bad 1b. Are you sure schwarber cant be as good at first?

[drewski6]

And you can say that my bias towards schwarber because hes worn the uniform before and we should not have let him go in the first place (in hindsight) and he gave us fun moments last time he was here - if you think thats adding some bias...

You probs right

[drewski6]

Mayer is almost a lock to be one of the internal dudes because he's cheap, 6'3, has plenty of arm for left side of IF, mobility for second, and a solid hitting floor. We dont know the hitting ceiling, but know the floor.  I think its unreasonable to expect Mayer to be terrible with the bat, he'll contribute something offensively.

[drewski6]

I dont mind Mayer at SS or 3b but I dont love him at 2b because we have a lot of bigger infielders, but we have a lot of quicker ones (even story). And Mayer is a big boy. We have more guys who can make a diving play at 2b than we have guys who have the arm for third.

Even if we bring back breg, i prob slide story to 2b. Feel like Mayers size is wasted at 2b.

[drewski6]

but of course id do it, because im more about defensive versatility than i am about ideal defensive alignment.