Elktonnick

I have been on record as saying that I expect John Henry to be willing to spend what it takes to bring a title to Boston after his European fiasco. While I still believe that to some extent, I doubt if the big move would come to get pitching this trading deadline unless they come at a ridiculous bargain. I say that because I think that Houck, Sale, Ort et al enter into that calculus. If any moves do come it is more likely that they are moves that are upgrades to shore up the infield and outfield defense. I don't see Boston parting with any of their blue chip prospects to get them.

Ort appears to be do well in Worcester. I think he definitely could be an upgrade over either Andriese or Workman

I think there is too small a sample to make any judgement based on the data to date. I think the assertion is neither proved nor disproved by the results we have seen as of now.

Chad Jennings wrote the only article in The Athletic yesterday that I saw. I did not see any written by Abraham on the Sox pitching woes. I do not get the Globe. Jennings article has a lot of data and graphs supporting the correlation between the decline in Sox pitching and MLB's announcement of increased scrutiny over illegal substance. Jennings writes "The spin rate data supports the assertion". Of course Jennings writes it could be a coincidence.

Back in the day they were bleacher creatures who did quite well betting on virtually every pitch. The guys who made money at it were the original sabermetricians. My uncle was one of them. He knew all the tendencies and splits of all the old Sox and Braves players.

Funny you should post that but I was looking for Hershey's Cocoa in the supermarket and haven't seen it in the longest time. Have to settle for Swiss Miss, isn't the same.

Solid points. Moreover A-Rod is absolutely correct their lineup is poorly constructed for their ball park.

One of the more interesting side bars to last nights ESPN telecast was A-Rod ripping Yankees Front Office regarding their lineup. He went on for several innings. He clearly was not impressed with Cashman's having so many right handed hitters. It was hoot listening to him.

Interesting article in the Athletic about the Red Sox and their apparent vaccine hesitancy. Doesn't look like Boston will achieve 85 percent anytime soon if ever. Very disturbing.

For future reference, it is 30 minutes.

The Sox are 30 and 20 after 50 games. Who would have thunk it in March?😀

/www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/john-henry-boston-red-sox-hiring-alex-cora-mana Boston THE RED SOX HIRE ALEX CORA November 6, 2017 Notes: Staying under luxury tax not a goal for 2018 “We didn't just change managers,” Henry said after Cora’s introductory press conference at Fenway Park. “I think when the end of the season came, we were all of the mind that we needed change. Sometimes an organization benefits from change. We decided that the organization would benefit. John had a tremendous tenure here; back-to-back division championships is a really difficult thing. Sometimes you want change not just because of your results but there's a time and a place for it. We thought this was really the right time.” [b]Henry and Red Sox chairman Tom Werner were coincidentally in New York when the Red Sox interviewed Cora during the postseason, Henry said. So they were a part of the interview as well. Yea it is simple alright so long as the owner interviews and approves the hire just like Henry did in Cora's case in 2017.

I agree. Right now the ALE is still a four team race, the Is are clearly out of it. While I think the Jays have a solid club their inability to play in Toronto will be fatal to any playoff run unless the Canadian gov't permits them to play at home.

No it caused ownership to keep Larry Lucchino out of the managerial selection process. Henry and Werner still have final word do not kid yourself. Bloom dances to their tune.

Bobby V was an ownership decision all the way. Larry Lucchino wanted BV.and he was and still is part owner of the Red Sox although he plays no role except that he is owner of the Worcester Red Sox. It was the BV fiasco that helped cause the departure of Lucchino from his active role in the ownership group.

They hired Bloom to make recommendations and to carry out ownership directives if ownership decides a new strategic direction. Of course Bloom et all will have input into that change in strategic direction. What you all fail to realize is Henry's strong suit has been his ability to recognize undervalued assets , buy them and turn them around. After his abysmal failure in the Premier League, Baseball coming out of the pandemic might afford him just such an opportunity. Some clubs are not in a very good financial position because of the pandemic, Boston just might be well placed to take advantage of the situation. I would not underestimate Henry's ability to make such a pivot if he senses an opportunity to do so.

And Henry wanted them all. The only nonsense is that you actually believe that ownership actually lets underlings make major decisions without their approval. You wouldn't last ten minutes in a major sports organization if you actually operated that way.

Really! You actually believe that. Henry allowed Bloom to make the call on Cora because he already knew what the decision was going to be having clearly made his affinity for him known. Bloom and Kennedy wanted very much to keep their jobs. You folks can believe what you want but Red Sox history shows John Henry gets what John Henry wants and woe to those who cross him which is why he is still there and Epstein Cheerington, and Dombrowski are not.

Come on after reading that tweet and analyzing it you actually think that Henry and Werner deferr to an underling on a matter of that importance to the franchise's future. Of course they do not. Here is the way it works every major decision must I repeat must be run by ownership. That tweet makes clear that Henry AND Werner were intimately involved in all major decisions. Once again you have a knack of drawing incorrect inferences from the written word. I never said that Henry makes the call all by himself. He has paid staff to give him all the information and recommendations of what final decision to make including the pro and cons of a particular course of action. That is the way all high performance and successful organizations work. But in the end the final say is his not Bloom not Dombrowski not Epstein. That tweet clear showed the Henry knew what was going on and why.

Here is my exact statement "Make no mistake whether the Red Sox are buyers or sellers or neither won't be up to Bloom. This will be an ownership decision." Ownership makes all major decisions. Buying or selling at the trade deadline such as trading Nomar is a major decision. Moreover I never used the word initial that was your contribution to the discussion. You may wish to read John Henry's tweet on Feb 17,2020. I think it is clear from that lengthy tweet the role that ownership played in the Nomar decision as well as the Betts move and other significant moves this franchise has made since become owners.

Henry has either approved or vetoed every major move by his baseball ops people. They make recommendations to ownership for final decision. That is the way it works in Boston and every major sports organization. Fans only know of a disagreement between ownership when their fire their hirelings and they leave. Unlike Steinbrenner Henry generally avoids the limelight but that doesn't mean he does not have the final say on any and all major moves just like Steinbrenner. One doesn't become a multi billionaire by relinquishing the purse strings to a paid employee.

Did you not know that Werner and Henry spent the last year trying to create a European Soccer super League involving Liverpool (the club they own) Man U and the other top English Premier League teams along with Real Madrid and other non English teams. The proposed league collapsed and is an immense embarrassment for Henry who has managed to piss off most English football fans over his involvement in the proposed new league.

That has not been Henry's or Werner's MO since 2003. The Leopard doesn't change his spots. Moreover since the collapse of the so called European Super League Henry and Werner have more time on their hands and are not as preoccupied with European football as they have been in the past year which was the major reason why we haven't heard much from ownership in the past few months.

Make no mistake whether the Red Sox are buyers or sellers or neither won't be up to Bloom. This will be an ownership decision.

I think you Nova Scotians have been in Covid lockdown too long!