ORS

You don't see cheap talent to fill in for those players when their best overall prospect plays 3B, and their best hitting prospect profiles as a C/DH, both of whom are in AAA this year? And, the pitchers are sunk cost at this point, I'm certain it won't be terribly difficult to replicate Matsuzaka's and Jenks' 2012 contributions.

This is a good point. Some of what Dojji is trying to say has a ring of truth in it. They won't be able to maintain a budget and be competitive indefinitely, for exactly the reason he states, some costly mistakes will impact personnel decisions. Where he's way off is in what he's calling for now. "Blow it up", won't ever apply to this team, not with the resources they have. It will be more like, "Go with what we've got, and hope for the best", which is what we are seeing now, and will most likely mean a team that could be competitive if things break right, which is exactly what they have with the 2012 team. If, in a month or so, what they've got looks like it's a piece or two away from a decent postseason run, I think they'll add to it.

I don't get, and refuse to accept the, "it's not Aceves fault, he's in the wrong role" BS. Does he magically not give up singles and HRs to those hitters if the inning number changes? No. Based on how he performed last year in the BP, he's a viable option to finish games in this year's BP. What remains to be seen is if he can be the same pitcher he was last year. If he can't, he'll be a detriment to the team, in any inning.

Bard is in the bullpen and they are considering trading him?

It's an open audition right now, and Morales has made the strongest case thus far. Go with the hot hand.

Pawsox play a double-header today, so the game was only 7 innings. Nonetheless, encouraging outing. A recap I read said he was making them hit grounder after grounder.

My middle daughter's 6th Bday party is today at 3:00 (CST), right when the game starts. So, I'll miss most of the game.

I don't think he's pining for Cook so much as he's desperate to have Bard in the BP.

Well, I don't find it unsettling, but it does feel like it's worthy of mention. I think the one thing that drags this place down from time to time, and I admit, despite my best efforts to avoid it, I have been guilty of it in the past (I think everyone has), is holding grudges. Disagree and move on.

Immediate Move: I think they should sign Mike Gonzalez. Even if the current back end of the bullpen ultimately proves to capable in those roles, they could use interim help in the middle relief corps. One month out: If it still looks like they need help, make a trade for a good reliever with some of the redundant minor league talent. Especially if Lars Anderson shows his improvement seen in ST is indicative of him finally realizing his potential. He'll never play 1B for the Sox now with Gonzalez's contract. Brentz is expendable as a corner OF with Kalish being a better overall talent. If both are playing well, I think you could package them to pry a good arm from a team needing offense. I think doing either, or both, of those things, depending on how things shake out, should be sufficient to bridge the gap to the post-June BP, which looks like it will be a strength. Down the stretch, I think a BP of ..... Bailey Bard (after he hits his inning limit as a starter) Melancon 2 or 3 of Hill/Morales/Miller/Gonzalez (all lefties) Aceves None or 1 of Padilla/Bowden for long-relief/mop-up Reliever acquired by trade if that happens and a rotation of ..... Lester Beckett Buchholz Matsuzaka Doubront (I think Cook fizzles in the AL East eventually) ....should be more than adequate to make a run.

I don't think you got what I was saying. We are to close to the event to know what their contingency plan is. We only know what it is not. They did not bring in an extra arm as contingency for a Bailey injury, so that's not the plan. If they sign someone, like a Mike Gonzalez, or use some talent resources to acquire a pitcher to bridge the gap the arms that come back in the 2nd half, then this is their contingency plan. If the ride it out with what they have, again, that is the plan. Time needs to pass to reveal what their plan is. Bringing in another pitcher is a viable and acceptable plan, IMO. Doing nothing, is a bold and risky plan that is likely to fail. In other words, I don't think they failed create a contingency plan for an injury to their oft injured closer. Given time to see what they do will reveal that plan.

How do we know they didn't? We are are in the first week following the diagnosis and one game into the season. The contingency plan doesn't have to be somebody already on the roster. Let's see what happens from here and then pass judgment. If the plan is to go with what they've got and it doesn't work, then, yeah, it's a s***** contingency plan.

Didn't hear LL's comment directly, but in the context of last year I would assume the "not enough arms" comment concerned the rotation. The bullpen wasn't the issue last year. And, they replaced the back end of the bullpen with plausible replacements. Yes, one of those guys has injury history. Now we need to see what their contingency plan for an injury is. If it is nothing, you are right, it is short-sighted.