Bellhorn04

They almost made it to the World Series last year with a similarly cut-rate bullpen.

So you haven't even Googled it. That figgahs!

How do you know there are millions of disgruntled Sox fans, really. Do you think those grumpy guys who call in to the open mouth shows perfectly represent Red Sox Nation? When I watched the Sox 9th inning comeback the other night I was struck by how into it the fans were, in spite of the Sox place in the standings.

Two shaky RELIEF ACE outings in a row by Whitlock. Maybe the RELIEF ACE role is too big of an ask over the long haul, I don't know. It's not like there are a bunch of guys who have done it for a number of years.

You're not too keen on the RELIEF ACE label, huh. They're all labels. SETUP MAN is no different.

I don't disagree, but in the final analysis it's our injury-riddled starting rotation that has really sunk us this year.

Brutal. Bullpen game coming up, I guess.

Yep, it's as simple as that. The way I see it, Cora makes moves that can definitely be called "questionable", but he always has a reason for them. He's not a snoozer. And he is fully aware that Schreiber has been pitching much better than Barnes...

Since the trade deadline the Yankees are 9-19. Way to give the guys a boost, Cash!

What's amazing is, Bloom did much better at the deadline than Cashman. Cashman somehow found a way to make this year's team worse, and lose good prospects in the process! :D:D

Not really. Last night the 7-8-9 were Kike Arroyo Wong Today we face a righty. Arroyo moved up one spot. McGuire goes into the 8 spot because he's a lefty hitter. Cora doesn't totally believe in the hot hand stuff, nor should he.

I live in Canada too. But I can never hate the Jays more than the Yankees.

Wily old Cash, jettisoning a solid starting pitcher for a guy who will shore up the outfield defense once he can walk again! St. Louis has surely learned a lesson about trying to outsmart a genius.

I was hearing numbers like 19 tossed around here. I like 9 to 11 much better!

The way Arroyo is hitting, he might be a candidate for 2023 DH!

OK, I have read Rosenthal's piece. It's solid, but there are no earth-shaking revelations or ideas. In fact, it closely echoes many of the points we've talked about here. Here are the opening paragraphs: Let’s start by giving the Red Sox something they do not necessarily deserve: The benefit of the doubt. Let’s account for the unfortunate timing of many of their injuries. Let’s excuse the unexpected collapses of three young players — first baseman Bobby Dalbec, center fielder Jarren Duran and infielder Jeter Downs. Let’s concede the 2022 season is turning out almost the opposite of ’21, when the Sox came within two games of reaching the World Series. A near worst-case scenario instead of a best-case. Fear not, kind, patient and empathetic citizens of Red Sox Nation. That’s where the pity party ends. For Sox ownership and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, the coming offseason looms as a turning point, if not a breaking point. These are the Boston Red Sox, not — as some fans lament, citing Bloom’s previous employer — the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s imperative the Sox spend big this offseason, locking up third baseman Rafael Devers and ideally shortstop Xander Bogaerts, then filling their numerous other holes. It’s imperative the team’s bizarre feast-or-famine tendencies, which the hiring of Bloom in October 2019 was supposed to correct, come to an end. And the closing paragraph: The Sox need to spend, and spend wisely. No more hedging. No more excuses. The benefit of the doubt, if they even deserve that much, is about to expire. Sound familiar? One little nugget that was somewhat positive: The 30,000-foot view of the Red Sox shows a farm system that MLB.com placed No. 11 in its midseason rankings, noting the Sox just missed making the top 10 for the first time since mid-2016. And in closing, here is Chaim's boilerplate answer to the question of keeping Bogey and Devers: “We want to keep them both here, on deals that are going to be good for everybody,” Bloom said. “Obviously, we haven’t found those deals yet, and I know that until and unless we do, it doesn’t matter what we say. But we’re going to keep trying. Above all we want to win championships and we want to do it with both of those guys here.”

Hugh likes him some Judge.

Montgomery 5-0 with Cards with a 1.47 ERA. The genius that is Cashman.

Good post.

So many contracts are expiring and so many acquisitions are required that I'm not sure there's such a thing as a true level.

Ya never know in this game.

The relief ace concept is simply based on the idea that the best way in which to use your best reliever in a particular game might not be to wait until you have a lead in the 9th. Terry Francona was probably one of the first managers to get on board with the idea. I already mentioned Andrew Miller in 2016. But a much earlier example was how he used Keith Foulke in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. He brought Foulke in in the 7th inning with the Sox losing 4-3. Foulke went on to pitch 2.2 scoreless innings. And the rest is history.

According to the Sox FO as represented by Sam Kennedy, Bloom's mission is to build a sustainable winner while also competing each year until we get there. Critics can certainly argue that he crapped out on the second part this year.

Of course. But surely you don't think anyone's answer has changed since last week. We all tend to dig in deep on our positions. You and Old Red and a bunch of others still think he should go. Me and moon and a bunch of others still don't.

.500 in the last 3? Bench his ass!