mvp 78

Per MLB Network interview: @redsoxstats Rodriguez says he feels great. He’s been riding a bike, running a little, and started his throwing program. He starts lifting weights next week and says he’ll be 100% ready for next season.

And that's why I said it's hard to state the impact until fans come back in 2021. Cora said Verdugo was the team MVP in 2020. If he plays as well and with the same enthusiasm, I bet his jerseys will sell really well too.

Betts was #3 in 2019. Hard to say what the sales will be like for Verdugo after he's been here a few years (Betts was 14th highest in 2017).

Per review of 2017 realistic season view posts: Mea culpa. You did use lots of "I don't think he'll be ready until 2018-2019, but trust management to call him up when he's ready." I think that's terrible fence sitting and a stance I'd never take. However, that's the stance you took at the time. Over and over you stated that they needed to find a bridge for 2017 because Devers wouldn't be ready until 2018. You kept saying he was 1-2 years away. You even wanted to trade him for Quintana after lamenting that DD gutted the farm to get Sale. Prior to his promotion you stated that you "doubt they'll give him a chance in September." But I guess that you couched it with "I trust the management to make the right call" once or twice. At least you weren't one of the posters who said the following: In regards to Devers promotion: "panic move" and "a mistake." "(Sam) Travis will outhit Devers." Outright stating that playing Devers isn't an upgrade from Marrero since Marrero had a better glove. (Marrero had 0.2 fWAR, his only positive fWAR season while Devers had 0.8 fWAR in fewer games). However, the worst part of doing this research was all of the references to Daniel Flores.

Hard to state that until fans come back.

I heard that they revamped his swing by the time he got to Summer Camp. Maybe you'll see a different Duran in 2021 ST.

I could use my cudgel, yes.

I'm a very petty person, but not petty enough to pick out the old posts where you told me that I was wrong for thinking Devers would get called up in 2017.

Chavis will be dealt this offseason IMO.

A ways away? I remember you saying the same thing about Devers when he was in AA. If Casas hits like Devers or Beni did in AA, we'll see him this year.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/offseason-outlook-boston-red-sox-11.html Veterans Jake Odorizzi, Jose Quintana or Masahiro Tanaka could bring some stability, as odd as it would be to see Tanaka pitching on the other side of the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry. Corey Kluber or James Paxton could be had at relative bargain prices given their injury-marred 2020 seasons, or Taijuan Walker or Garrett Richards could be pursued after their bounce-back campaigns. If the Red Sox want to add a veteran to just eat some innings, they could turn to old friends Jon Lester, Rick Porcello, or Martin Perez. Boston declined its $6.85MM club option on Perez, perhaps a bit of a surprise considering their need for pitching, but Perez posted some pretty middling numbers in 2020. If Bloom’s time with the Rays tells us anything about the approach he’ll take with the relief market in Boston, he’ll eschew going after bigger names like Liam Hendriks and the lucrative multi-year deals required to land top-of-the-market relievers. The market should have plenty of short-term options available — former Rays Kirby Yates, Sergio Romo, and Brad Boxberger among them — not that Bloom will necessarily be predisposed to look at former Tampa Bay arms. The Red Sox could also explore a reunion with Collin McHugh, who signed with the club last March but didn’t pitch after some lingering elbow problems led McHugh to opt out of the season. That leaves second base as the glaring weak link. The Red Sox liked what they saw in Arroyo last year and it seems too early to give up on Chavis, so the backup plan could be to use these two and Munoz at the position and see what develops. However, second base is also the most obvious spot for an external solution, especially since some solid options exist in free agency. Beyond LeMahieu as the biggest get, Tommy La Stella, Cesar Hernandez, Kolten Wong, and Korean star Ha-Seong Kim are available. Since star prospect Jeter Downs (whose potential debut in 2021 shouldn’t be ruled out) might eventually end up as the second baseman of the future, Boston would probably prefer to seek out shorter-term rather than longer-term contracts for any second baseman they might pursue.

I would try to keep Devers at 3b too. When Casas comes up, they need to think about moving Dalbec elsewhere (if still hitting like 2020). If Devers really can stick at 3b long term, maybe Dalbec's big arm can play better in LF? I know it's kind of wasted in Fenway, but it could turn a lot of wall ball doubles into singles.

Per Baseball America: Best Hitter for Average: Triston Casas Best Power Hitter: Bobby Dalbec Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Triston Casas Fastest Baserunner: Jarren Duran Best Athlete: Gilberto Jimenez Best Fastball: Bryan Mata Best Curveball: Jay Groome Best Slider: Tanner Houck Best Changeup: Connor Seabold Best Control: Thad Ward Best Defensive Catcher: Kole Cottam Best Defensive Infielder: Matthew Lugo Best Infield Arm: Bobby Dalbec Best Defensive Outfielder: Jeisson Rosario Best Outfield Arm: Gilberto Jimenez

Bogey has 2 rings.

Wasn't Lester past his prime when he hit 30?

@jcmccaffrey Bloom also says Eduardo Rodriguez continues to progress from myocarditis and continues to ramp up his physical activities.

Or not.

Well, yeah. Everyone without a gimmick has been purged.

Not Renteria?

Let's get some Rocky Mountain Vibes chat going...

The Pioneer League is real baseball, not this fancy shmancy wipe the players' asses MLB.

Amen, brother.

So Pedroia could play with one leg then?

No, you must walk backwards instead. That's the rule. The quick dash is against the law, sir.

I just like masks because I don't have to fake smile at people anymore.