moonslav59

Indeed. He did show signs of life in the playoffs, but that was a short sample size. I think I'd rather have Yoshida than Abreu. I wonder, if the plan was to get both.

What a horrible start he has to 2023. .515 on May 14th. He did go .745, after that, and did well in the playoffs, but I'm sure glad we missed out on him. Turner did much better.

That was horrible. I was older, then, and the culture of losing was so prevalent, it was almost expected. Still, it hurt like hell. I felt we finally had the pitching, that year, but it just didn't work out. Sox fans that have been watching for 45-50+ years have certainly had our share or grief, sorrow and disgust. This is one reason, I don't get as angry at the current situation as some seem to get. I'd be more upset, if I didn't feel like the future looked brighter, but I think we are headed in the right direction. I had hopes it would not take 5+ years to get to this point, which is still short of the type of roster needed to be a serious contender. I truly feel like we are just 3-4 major pieces away. In some ways, that does not sound like much, especially when you figure, we could spend near $50M without even going over the tax line. (There is also no reason to think we can't go over that line by $18-19M, either.) I know it's not easy to add two top of the rotation pitchers in one winter, along with a solid RHB, when few are available on the FA market at positions of high need for the Sox. I will understand, if we hold firm on the idea of not trading any top prospects for a quick fix, or even a longer term solution, but I think we can afford one such trade, this winter. To me, we will need to do one of two things, this winter, to add those 3-4 players needed and be considered a top contender: 1. Spend up to but below the second tax line. 2. Spend near the first tax line AND make one big trade involving a top 5 prospect and maybe 1-2 second tier prospects for one of those key pieces. Has the culture changed enough for either or both of these things to happen? Stay tuned.

I don't know if Breslow was on anyone's radar, early on. The more I read about him, the more it seems like a good choice, but it's hard to know, when there is no history as a GM. Bloom seemed like a good choice for that situation, but I think the priorities have changed. It's hard to know that, for sure, though. Maybe the rebuild continues until Mayer, Anthony and Teel are fully established, and then we "go all in," again.

I try to think of the play at 1B as a McNamara blunder. All season, he took Buckner out, late in games. The game that counts the most, he got sentimental and "wanted Buckner on the field for the celebration." Instead, he crushed Buck's reputation to many.

'75 was so exciting, and the Reds seemed like heavy favorites. The Carbo & Fisk homers, along with Tiant's greatness cushioned the blow, a bit. Yes, that '78 loss was the stab in the heart. That was a great '78 team.

I was so much older then, I'm younger than that, now. The trifecta of the '75, '78 and '86 losses broke my heart and soul. The wins in '04, '07, '13 and '18 mended it all and brought the kid back in me.

Looks like the Rangers have this one wrapped up.

It gets you Turner & Duvall (2023.)

$20M is about 30% of the A's player salary budget. It's about 1/3 of BAL's opening day player budget and 1/4th of AZ's.

Bloom's choice was apparently Jose Abreu, so you were not alone on near misses.

I don't like the fact the most of the Texas team is bought. I know that makes me a hypocrite, because I want us to spend like them.

I usually root for the AL, unless it's NYY or HOU, but I just don't like Tex, except for Nate.

Higher ticket and cable prices and merchandising? The second Q is hard to guess. It might just be a very slow but constant decline.

I remember sneaking a radio into school with an earplug.

Is Breslow the guy you wanted? What is the crowd on your bid corner saying about him?

Some of the earlier FA signings, last winter: 11/15 Rizzo (NYY) 11/28 J Abreu (HOU) 12/6 Haniger (SFG) 12/8 T Turner (PHI) 12/9 Bogey (SDP), Contreras (STL) 12/10 Nimmo (NYM) 12/12 Josh Bell (CLE) 12/14 Jace peterson (OAK) 12/14 Bellinger (CHC) 12/15 Yoshida (BOS), Kiermaier (TOR) & A Frazier (BAL) 12/16 Vaz (MN) 12/20 Judge (NYY) & J Gallo (MN) We are just weeks away...

He'd be roasted alive, here, if he was ever a Red Sox.

Indeed. He was antithesis to the concept of an athlete.

I think the whole collectable cards thing went out of style after Pokemon. Indeed, baseball is losing fan interest, and their half-ass efforts to "speed up the game" did not help add any new fans or keep any older ones more interested.

Flipper was 10 times the athlete the lazy mr. Ed was.

No Flipper?

..and nobody can sing like Frank Sinatra. (We've become are parents.)

Even knowing the risk of Story's injury, which contract would look better after 2021? $140M/6 Story $200M/8 Bogey (this is assuming, he'd have taken that before March 2021.)

'18-'21 16.0 Bogey fWAR (20.1 bWAR) 15.9 Story fWAR (19.9 bWAR Can't get much closer.