moonslav59

These guys do offer some hope for glory in 2024, but to me, we need too many things to click, all at once, for us to go anywhere in '24. I also think we are hurting our chances at having a top tier pen by using 2-3 of our tweener pitchers as starters. I think our offense will be top 10 or very near it. I think our defense should improve from 28th to 30th to near average or near 20th. Our pen strength depends, heavily, on where Pivetta, Crawford, Houck, Whitlock and Wink spend most of their time. The rotation holds the key. Adding Giolito to replace the injury-prone Sale-Paxton tandem does look encouraging, but those two did coombine for 39 GS and nearly 200 IP, last season, so he can't really fill all those starts lost. The rest will have to come from our tweeners. Adding one more innings eater, even if not a great or even very good SP'er would at least greatly improve the pen, on paper. Paxton may or may not start 20-30 games, next year. Clevinger rates to start more. Someone like Lorenzen might be who we settle on. I'm trying real hard to look for glimmers of hope, so I reposted this post of mine from a few days ago, highlighting the best of the best these pitchers of ours have done, in recent seasons- some very recently. I do realize, some teams have gone very far without a plus rotation, but that is rare. Certainly, our odds of doing well in 2024 would improve by adding a solid SP'er. I just don't see how we do it, unless we trade Jansen, and then we are essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I think Bailey and Brez might just be the answer, but right now, there is way too much riding on upside potential for the rotation as is.

Masslive's Christopher Smith reports that Cooper Criswell recently told reporters that club brass have instructed him to come to camp ready to start. They have spoken of "stretching out" Winckowski, too.

We’ve been at about .500 over the last 3 years, combined.

He did say “second chance in a way,” but I do see 2024 as his first real chance to win a FT job. 2B is his to win, keep or hold.

You did not answer the Q.

This kid is no Jeter Downs!

You think they actually believe their statements, or are you just optimistic we can cobble together a worthy pitching staff?

Career in ATL: 49 GS at 2B 19 GS at SS He was never viewed as the SS who had the FT job.

How much longer do they expect fans to fall for this fake optimism?

I would not think of Grissom as a “second chance” guy. Many SSs move to2B, and ATL was loaded. It’s sad that it looks like even Clevinger + Duvall is too much money for our winter budget.

I’m not sure we can surmise JH’s thoughts and beliefs. You don’t have to think fans are morally obliged to believe they will keep coming to games and paying top dollar to boot. I do think he’s going through a phase of not going all in and thinking enough people will go to the games or watch harm on TV, for him to keep making money. He’s well aware of dropping attendance and NESN viewership. He’s weighed the losses vs the savings and seems to be okay with a lull in top competitiveness. How long can this continue is the big wonder, to me.

It’s weird how we haven’t heard any or many rumours on a lot of free agents. There are still many left unsigned.

To me, even just those two would be more evidence of a continuing sham. I think the feel they need to go through the motions, and a couple one year deals fits into their scheme.

I think we sign Paxton and Duvall.

Every year 29 owners didn’t care enough. LOL

He’d care about seeing his profits decline, significantly.

Seems like it was unspoken boycott

Why was their no boycott talk after the purge of late 70’s stars?

I’m not sure what is worse: the lies or thinking these guys actually believe this crap.

Sounds like the FO pushes back on some. I like the trades he has made so far.

I vote delusional, but he is also knowingly telling falsehoods, so he’s lying, because he knows they have and still are accepting mediocrity.

With no differed money, this is the biggest RP contract in history.

I’m with you. The area did need an upgrade, but the Fenway experience is not worth the effort for me, anymore. I read somewhere the Sox made almost $100M off NESN in ‘22. I’d love to boycott them, but I can’t see that happening.

So, we and journalists were supposed to know he meant his personal outlook not the Sox.