cp176

It really is going to boil right down to who they think they really need to keep. Which guys are replaceable to a certain extent and which guys aren't. It is going to get interesting when we folk at talksox start debating who we think should be kept and who we can live without.

I've watched Moreland now for 2 years. Who are these guys with the character and attitude of Moreland? I watch Red Sox baseball so I'm actually not trying to argue with you. Do you watch and follow these other guys well enough you think to make that statement?

It is going to be fun watching this franchise continue to find ways to be successful when the inevitable shroud of darkness falls upon us. I'm willing to still bet on the good guys.

Moreland has been and is a perfect fit for the Red Sox. There may be any number of players who put up better numbers but was their character which includes a heavy dose of no ego and team first attitude on a par with his. Dombrowski and Cora get it. They understand that there is a lot more to consider than individual numbers when putting a winning team together. To me, Moreland represents a great example of something that is really important to have.

Yes and I have been reading and posting here so much that I am convinced that "we can't sign them all" but that doesn't really alarm me all that much. Losing some of our "stars" does not necessarily mean that we all of a sudden are fighting it out for third or fourth in our division. I truly think that if the management team stays together, a good job will be done to keep us competitive. There will no 2020 cliff meaning that we just won't be able to compete. A lot of things can and will happen before then. The drum of despair continues to beat but I'm not listening. Got to say also that some of these guys that we love so much from a talent perspective might even be over rated.

hey notin - I think that we are on the same page. I would like to see Kelly signed but I would hate to have us jettison him to a closer's role. I think that he certainly has value though. I do think that we wind up signing Eovaldi. I'm on the 3 and an option with him. Another thing that I like about Dombrowski is that I don't think that he afraid to move on if he can't do business with someone.

We very well might reset. You are not the only person that has gone on about how much all of these things are going to cost. How many players we will or will not be able to sign. If I am being unrealistic in my thinking, that is just fine. I absolutely believe and have faith in the fact that the guys that are currently in charge know what they are doing and I don't think that their only thought is to get through next year. There will likely be many things that neither you nor anyone else has predicted that will occur before and during our doomsday year. I have mentioned this before also but when you mention JH spending like he has never spent before, we have over 70 million dollars tied up in players that did not help us this year. Take that out of that budget and things don't looks so bad. After 2020, yup our team may look very different. Actually it obviously will. I will also add that as much as I like this team, most of them are probably replaceable. Maybe not with the same level of competence but replaceable. Don't take this the wrong way because I certainly am no fan of Bill James, I actually think that he is a creep, but with respect to players being replaceable to a certain extent I think he has a point. I also think that we will get some help from our farm system.

If there is such a thing as a face of the franchise, Mookie is it but he is no dummy. He is going to watch this market so closely. He has every right to think that he is worth as much as any player in the game today. I would be pleasantly surprised if he negotiates anything soon. i would not give Joe Kelly a 4 year contract. I might go 4 for Eovaldi (3 with an option).

tongue and cheek

I caught your comment earlier about finding it hard to understand how some people still think that we will be able to rebuild our farm in just 2 years - such a short time. I am that guy who does not worry at all about this team being able to compete with or without our band of superstars moving forward. I am sure that you are as tired of me telling you that I still have a great deal of faith in our ownership and management, as I am of hearing from you and yes some others about how unrealistic people like me are. We just all need to face the reality that we are soon to be screwed. I'm not buying it. Now once again I'll be asked to support my feelings and hopes with some kind of proof - I won't. Oh and by the way, anyone who knows me, knows full well that I don't think that this club is going to be pinching a pennies soon.

pinching pennies = Boston Red Sox

Where is Larry when we need him.

Nor does mine!!! Sadly though and in all honesty it does sound to me that there are people here who pretty much think that they are right when it comes to debating all things Red Sox.

lol - I normally agree with you about most things but have to tell you that if DD was taking much direction from talksox posters it might turn me green and not with envy. I know that for sure they don't need any advice from me but I have just a limited amount of ego.

I think that the amount of money that JH has will be an absolute direct factor in how much he is willing to spend. The amount he has has everything to do with how much is willing to spend. He knows what comes in and what goes out. It is a fun exercise for us to try and project how much he is willing to spend isn't it. He will pay more in taxes than most but he won't if he doesn't feel that the return on his money will more than replace what is going out. With respect to paying taxes, quite honestly I know no one who looks forward to paying them whether they are rich or poor.

It is good to know though don't you think that JH can afford Ferrari's?

I've always hated the concept of designated pitchers for designated innings. During the World Series, when it was an all hands on deck type of qpproach, it seemed as though the role of a designated closer became less important. We had Price, Sale, Porcello, Eovaldi, and E-Rod ready to get the job done. Not bad. During the regular season, obviously things get approached differently. One thing I have always been in favor of is having the best pitchers top to bottom that you can find. I think that when you talk relief pitchers in general, Kimbrel is just about as good as it gets. His quality will not be easy to replace. It is easy to find relief pitchers but certainly not of his high quality talent.

I think that it would be unusual if all people looked at these trades and didn't think that they could do better. What ever the reason and rationale, I saw them as good trades for us with respect to what we gave up and for what we got in return.

notin - we just can't go on meeting this way! bad for my fragile mentality.

It is all good with me Moon. You have done a wonderful job of justifying your opinion. I don't agree with it simply because I liked the trade. I was very much in favor of trading the prospects that were traded in order to acquire a beyond impact player who helped us immediately. I'm sure that there were lots of other directions to turn and stuff to consider but I was and still am very much in favor of the deal that brought us Kimbrel. I also understand that many of the positions I have taken I do not have nearly the information to back them up that you have. I'm ok with that. I should also add that I didn't like seeing our prospects traded. I liked those guys. Your opinion and overall take on things might be right. You see, in my world, I value your option even though I might not agree. Once again, you might be right.

Hey now notin - what's up with that probably a short trip comment - hmm. I can go there if that is what you want.

Oh notin, you can question my reading comprehension skills if you like. I understand. I'm humbled daily by your mastery of all things verbal. With respect to the dombrowski duuquette thing, just thought that I would do what you on occasion, well maybe not just on occasion do - twist those little words to make them work for you. But oh well, I apologize. You put me right in my place once again.

well well well - yes it just does make me so cranky! Now no joking - I liked and actually still like Dan Duquette. As a matter of fact, while you folk continue to fawn over the exploits of Theo (who we all know is the greatest GM of all time), I'm that guy who thinks that theo was pretty well set up by dan and theo gets far more credit than he deserves but are you saying dave and dan are comparable? ... It just drives me crazy notin not just cranky! ...

what the hell do you mean you guys??? it's all me and that's it!!! lol

why would those two dopes have been fun to watch?