Spitball

I don't think you really comprehended my post. That is okay. I never said or implied the things you stated. As I stated, Toronto played 1970s Billy Ball (hit and run and stealing home). If you are too young to know what Billy Ball was, you can google it. I never said anything about location or velocity.

Vazquez may have a better year this season as soon as the whole team figures out how to win again. Last year, he had a finger injury that kept him out for a couple of months. I put his problems today more on Sales' lack of focus. Toronto played today like a 1970's Billy Ball team, and the Red Sox failed to make the necessary adjustments. I really think Sale was more to blame than Vazquez.

Nice post, bosoxmal! I'm not sure what to make of Christian Vazquez's start, or any of the other Red Sox players who are struggling at this point. Was it the prolonged west coast trip after being in Fort Myers since mid February? Or is there another factor affecting a team that was so dominant last season?

I vote for the bullpen by committee. I have long felt the closer role and the setup system was a lazy way for managers to strategize through the last third of a tight game. Why waste the best bullpen arm for the last inning when there is no guarantee who will be batting? And why pay closer salary for 60-something innings a season? I like the old Dick Radatz fireman strategy of bringing in the best arm to put out the fires.

Luis Tiant because he was one of my top ten favorite players of all time. That gives him enough points to push him over the forgiveness edge. Besides, I always figured it was more about George Steinbrenner overpaying an aging Luis to get back at the Red Sox for signing Mike Torrez.

Well, I hear your concern, but I am not talking about a high degree of quality but of an acceptable degree of competency. The utility player of the past was a one or two dimensional player with a high degree of skill offensively or defensively. He was a generally defensive specialist capable of playing multiple infield positions including shortstop, or he was an offensive threat off the bench. But that was in the era of the ten man pitching staff. I believe this era of 13 man pitching staffs will require less specialized skills off the bench and more versatility. I may be wrong, but this is what I see happening.

I agree! We are seeing some changes in baseball. Teams now prefer to carry more relief pitchers and shorter benches. The utility infielder now better be able to play the outfield, also. If he can catch, he is golden. With the emphasis on splits, the ability/potential to effectively switch hit gives the bench the depth of two players in one man. I think Swihart may just be the face of the multi-faceted utility player of today.

Devers has a lot of potential as a hitter, so we know he won't be cut loose anytime soon. His defense, as well as Chavis's, is a work in progress. Unless there is a trade, I assume one will logically end up at first. While Chavis is probably the best trade chip in the organization, his drug suspension takes some luster off his value. With the farm so depleted at this point, I assume Dombrowski will not trade Chavis until his value has been restored.

Thanks, Bell! I decided to take break for a while and then had trouble logging back in for several months. Apparently, I was using the wrong password.

With Moreland and Pearce each signed only through this year, and highly regarded third base prospect Michael Chavis looking like the franchise's future at third, I can see Devers being moved to first.

I honestly don't think Benintendi has been fragile or injury prone in his college or professional career. He did spend time on the 15-day disabled list, but it is pretty typical for players to suffer minor injuries now and again.

I remember my first major league game very vividly. I was maybe five or six years old, and we drove to Boston from suburban Topsfield. This was probably 1958 or 1959 and maybe my first time to Boston. I remember being about knee level to my parents and being too short and young to be part of the conversations. All I can remember is seeing shuffling feet and concrete covered with debris, spit, and cigarette butts. We walked up the ramp to the field level and suddenly it was like entering the land of Oz with the Green Monster, festive organ music, beautiful green grass, wonderful smells of popcorn and hotdogs, and players in colorful uniforms warming up for the game. I will never forget it. I don't remember much else, but the initial introduction was very memorable. It was the beginning of my love with baseball.

I think there has to be some understanding here. Johnny Pesky was associated with the Boston Red Sox for 61 years. He is known as Mr. Red Sox. Sometimes there has to be an understanding of a franchise with the historic glorification of certain humans.

You guys all make good points. Hopefully, Dombrowski brings the Sox back into contention without undoing too much of the good things he inherited. Peter Gammons recently wrote an article that gives reason to be optimistic. http://www.gammonsdaily.com/peter-gammons-dombrowskis-gillickesque-red-sox-revamp/

I agree with this, but I believe there is much more to it. I am not certain where things all begin and end, but some kind of intelligent restraint is trying to evolve in baseball. It is not really Money Ball but perhaps a new and necessary angle that virtually all teams will have a chance to embrace to at least some degree. It is the balance that the draft was designed to create. After 30 years of poor finishes due to small market frustration, the Royals are World Champions with a combination of several high draft picks and a few smart trades. Tampa Bay Rays were the first team I noticed greatly benefiting from finishing poorly in this most recent era. They finished poorly, drafted early in each round, and generally drafted well. The Rays were building competitive teams in the strong AL East with a fraction of the payroll of the Red Sox and Yankees. They had figured out how to compete in an uneven playing field. The Astros are now a competitive team after having finished poorly for years, drafting well, lowering payroll, and employing an analytical plan for moving forward. Theo Epstein and company in Chicago have done a similar job in Chicago. The Pirates are trying to build a successful story on a smaller budget. The Braves and Reds seem to be cutting payroll and hoping the same plan works. I think Ben Cherington was trying to smartly build a successful franchise that was not dependent on outspending the competition. He recognized the need for a team with smart budget and a strong farm team as a base. He was using a small market design only because it was a responsible design. Who knows how the team's long run would have evolved if Cherington had stayed? The Sox pushed out "new school" Cherington and brought in "old school" Dombrowski. Only time will really tell.