Maxbialystock

Very good point. I just noticed he's actually pitching with his right arm, so a little off the fastball, now at 46 mph.

Meanwhile, Chris Sale is in a train wreck vs. the Orioles: 2 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits (2 HR's), 1 K.

Agree on all.

Apropos of nothing, Sunday I discovered mlb.com had stopped sending me live TV feeds of Sox games. I called and got the run around. Yesterday I called again and discovered they stopped showing me games because they used a cancelled credit card number, so I had to re-apply. In so doing, I discovered vets get a pretty nice discount, so I'm a happy camper even though I still can't get games vs. the Braves, Orioles, and Nationals. Plus, like everyone else, I am fascinated by the effect of the pitching (and batter) clocks in the spring training games. I'm all for speeding things up, but also wonder whether there will be adverse effects. The flatter and bigger bases--but not by much--are also a good idea.

I no longer know what a "great #4" means, but agree Yoshida should help the Sox lineup.

I lived in Saudi Arabia for 4 1/2 years and absolutely despise their government and the dominance of the Wahabi sect. The Muslim call to prayer is hauntingly beautiful, but Shariah Law is a travesty. So of course I'm delighted with the failure of LIV golf. I don't much like Greg Norman either. Pickle ball is silly, but harmless--so have at it, players. As for the new rules, I think they are going to change the game of MLB, hopefully for the better. I have personally raged endlessly on talksox about the delays caused by both pitchers and hitters, and I see only good in the new base sizes.

It's great baseball. Last night's Mexico-Japan game was better than most MLB games I've watched because those other countries--but especially Mexico and Japan, who have sizable populations and have been playing baseball for 150 years--love the WBC. I don't discount the injury aspect, which is real and potentially costly (as it was again this year when that player was injured in the post-game celebration). But it's still great fun to watch with games that are well played and enthusiastically supported by fans. Miami games have been sold out, which they aren't during the regular MLB season. I've been a Sox fan since 1949, but have routinely apologized for my baseball fandom because I have no family or friends who share that passion. Why? Because MLB games last forever--3+ hours with maybe 10 minutes of real action--and are definitely an acquired taste. So, when I see fanatics from other countries--to say nothing of the players--I'm delighted. Last night I rooted for Japan, especially after seeing what an unbelievable hotdog Arozarena is. When the game ended and Mexico had lost, he had a big smile on his face because for him it's all about the show. Nevertheless, I thought both teams played a high brand of baseball--definitely MLB caliber.

Agree it's bad. But it's also a done deal, so to me it makes sense to hope that this year, finally, Sale can redeem some of the significant cost of that contract. When he was healthy--before the tommy john surgery--I thought Chris Sale was the most professional Sox pitcher I'd ever seen. Clemens and Pedro--and no doubt others--were better, but I liked that Sale also played great defense.

The service obligation of 5 years of active service in the Navy is real and completely justified because the USNA education--and commission in the US Navy--is at no cost to the graduates. David Robinson could have served 5 years in the active Navy, but in his case letting him go to the NBA early was in fact "for the good of the service." Why? Because he was well known, greatly admired, and a terrific help to the US Navy's recruiting efforts. Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, both West Point grads (1947), were awarded the Heisman Trophy in consecutive years (Blanchard in 1945, Davis in 1946). Both wanted to play in the NFL, but couldn't right away because of the service requirement. Blanchard became a fighter pilot in the USAF and served 24 years, 1947-71. Davis served just 3 years in the Army, followed by a short NFL career (1950-52) and assorted jobs. In the 1947 NFL draft, Davis was ranked 2d and Blanchard 3d.

Curt Gowdy by himself (1953-54). It's been downhill since then.

Very sensible, as always. But you have omitted one central consideration. Grady Little wasn't much of a MLB manager: he lasted 2 seasons with the Sox and 2 more with the Dodgers. Grady's decision to leave Pedro in was a godsend for John Henry and his senior management team.

Thanks for the discussion and updates everyone.

Absolutely stunning post--ever the realist. That said, I hope 2019 Sale is not our third best starter this season.

Nailed it!

Could someone please enlighten me on the most likely lineup and rotation this season? I know only about the departure of Bogey, the big contract for Raffy, and the acquisition of the Japanese outfielder.

What a lotta. The 2018 team disintegrated in 2019. Then came the covid season, basically a nonseason, followed by a very nice comeback engineered by Bloom and Cora in 2021--the Sox got to the ALCS before going down to the Astros 4 games to 2.

DD seems to have the Midas touch, both ways. He spends a lot of money, but makes teams competitive and revived an absolutely moribund Phillies franchise. Signing Schwarber was just smart baseball, and the Sox letting him go wasn't so smart.

Interesting. In MLB in 2022, the Cleveland Guardians finished dead last out of 30 teams in striking out. Everybody struck out more than they did. Next to the "bottom" (assuming not striking out is actually a good thing) would be the Houston Astros. And next year those bold shifts are going to be tempered somewhat, requiring two infielders in each side of 2b. So I'm not sure sure I want guys at the plate who feel that striking out is actually a good thing provided they get an xbh every so often. The Yankees led MLB in dingers with 254 and the Guardians were 29th with 127. They meet tonight in game 5 to decide who gets to play the Astros in the ALCS. The Guardians beat the Rays twice, 2-1 and 1-0 (in 15 innings), to get to the ALDS, where Gerrit Cole has now beaten them twice. But the Guardians won the other two games.

Agree on your attendance comment. John Henry has never hesitated to fire a manager or GM. That said, DD did leave a mess, which we saw in 2020 and still saw this year--which was exacerbated by injuries to Sale, Eovaldi, Wacha, Hill, Whitlock, Houck, Story, Kike, etc. In between 2020 and 2022 was a pretty good season, 2021--which was helped by CB acquisitions Verdugo, Renfroe, Kike, Whitlock, and Pivetta. Whitlock and Pivetta had the 2d and 3d best WAR's on the 2021 Sox pitching staff. Kike had the 2d best WAR in the lineup, Renfroe's was 5th best, and Dugo's was 6th best. Oh, and Schwarber's (just 41 games) was 8th best. So, while I can appreciate the skepticism about Bloom, I also think it is dishonest to gloss over the 2021 season.

I like and defend Bloom, but understand the skepticism. This is his first time in charge, plus he "grew up" in a very different system. You seem impatient. My view is that Chaim Bloom had owned three seasons, but the first was dominated by covid--and the absence of Mookie Betts and the nonperformance of Sale and Price--the second turned out to be pretty darn good, and the third has been dominated by injuries while still shelling out $63M for DD acquisitions Price, Sale, and Eovaldi. I do however share your prejudice for keeping Bogey and Raffy--even though I think they and/or their agents expect more than they are worth. I also have a prejudice against big bucks for starters.

This is way off topic, but in fact it is not yet the offseason for--count 'em--twelve freaking MLB teams. And this year I like the format even though it lasts a month, including a likely full week in November. Today, tomorrow, and Sunday four games a day unless any of the 8 team playing win their series in the first two games. Beats the wild card. Plus it sort of penalizes the teams--Cleveland and Atlanta--who won weak divisions. They have to play 3 game wild card series. 5 game Division Series make sense, and I would do the same for the League Series--but I won't quibble too much about 7. It is, after all, all about the TV revenues. I see the Dodgers and Astros--the two best pitching staffs in MLB--getting to the WS and the Dodgers winning it all. If I had to pick a surprise team, it would obviously be the Jays.

Wacha. I forgot Wacha! Of course, sign him.

Great start to the thread. I would be tempted to keep Verdugo in RF, where he seems to play way better than he has in LF--but I do agree he starts in the OF. I also like Kike in CF. I think you are way too optimistic on Sale/Paxton leading the rotation. However, I like your apparent prejudice against shelling out big bucks--again--for a starter. Depending on his price, I would be tempted to return Eovaldi. Interesting that you put Whitlock in the rotation, which I have advocated in the past. He definitely has the repertoire for starting and maybe too much repertoire to be a good reliever.

I'd put that differently and say, "Wacha and Bello will definitely be in the rotation next year, and maybe Sale will too." Pivetta and Eovaldi might return as well, but hopefully only if the price is right.

Funny thing, but I actually do think that. John Henry is smart, and he's also a little lucky. Or have you forgotten already how the Sox were down 3 games to zip in the 2004 ALCS before taking 4 straight from the Yankees? Let me also hasten to add that the John Henry WS wins all occurred after the postseason became a juggernaut with wild cards, ALDS/NLDS, ALCS/NLCS, and WS. So that makes John Henry even luckier--and smarter than those other smucks, especially Tom Yawkey.