moonslav59

That clause also includes him not being on the IL to end the season. Cots: 2025 option guaranteed if Sale finishes in top 10 in 2024 Cy Young vote and is not on the injured list at end of 2024 season

To think this, implies his resolve (or lack of it) played a part in his missing so much time before 2024. To me, he's always been a fierce competitor, and this has killed him missing so much time, and then sucking, too often when he has pitched, here and there. I do think it's possible he may start 26+ games and give 160+ IP in 2024. I won't be shocked, if he does. I just think we cannot plan on even one start. If we do, we are dooming ourselves into the same trap we've fallen into for over 4 years.

They had some, but too few to swing many games into losses. Devers was still defending 3B (28th in DRS at 3B.) (Overall, we were 15th in DRS, so not really a weakness.) The closer fell apart in the playoffs, but we shrugged it off and got the key outs, when needed. Now, when the team loses, our 3B defense is magnified into major reason we lost. (It was part of the reason, for sure.)

I know you are not, and it's entirely possible to be critical about a lot of things a manager does, yet still like him and not want him replace- like me. Also, when I am critical, I know I don't have the whole picture, and might admit I was wrong, if I knew the reasons Cora chose option B over option A. The scheduled days off, to me, seems to go against metrics and splits. I get why someone might think the benefits outweigh the possible losses in splits, but I disagree on this one. I think he can easily give himself a 1-2 game window before and after the "day" he wants a player to rest, and adjust once he know who is starting or sees a player is struggling or heating up near the scheduled day. Yes, other player's rest days may factor into adjustment decisions, and could have been applied without us knowing. I do remember one game, where a player asked to play on his scheduled day off, and Cora let him play. It's the rigidity of the plan that seems to fly in the face of using data to better project success. Again, this does not mean I think I am smarter than Cora. I know I am not, but other smart managers don't do this, so I think I have a leg to stand on. Also, in the grand scheme of everything a manager does and influences, this is pretty minor. I still really like Cora as our manager, despite some minor differences I have with his choices.

Will a new park really make a big difference? Too many transplanted fans in the area, IMO.

Lowest non-COVID playoff total since 1919!

They gave Dugo the day off right before the AS break, but it was vs a LHPs. Ref started in LF (good idea) and Duvall started in RF (good idea.) When the lefty was pulled, Dugo cam in the game to replace Ref (good idea.) I don't think this was a good example to criticize Cora.

It accepts: Duran or Dugo Yorke Urias or Drohan for Torres and Schmidt

Rich Hill is still winning... or is he?

Not a bad type of trade. We could then trade Urias. How about Urais & Dugo or Duran for Torres and Schmidt.

I should not have said power RHB. If we can get a high OBP RHB, that would be very helpful, too.

That was one trade I felt we could have jumped at. Apparently, that 1Bman was pretty highly, so it's hard to know what we would have had to have given. The multiple years of control was the big plus.

The window is/was 2023-2028ish.

So, is 2024 year 5 or 6?

Maybe we need to make a big trade for a RHB, and use all the money on SP'ers.

If he would agree to DH, he'd likely play more games and have more good years, but they can't even get him to move to LF.

If we don't go all in, this year, we need to add 2-3 players with longer term deals that rate to still be good in 2-3 years, when maybe the "true window" opens wide. I hate the ides of thinking 2-3 years ahead, continuously. We've been in this mode since the trade deadline in 2019 (4.5 years.) Now, we are looking at another 1 year added on? It's easy for me to say, JH just has to step it up on spending, and I have expected that to happen the last 1-2 years, but it's gotten to the point, where I'm not expecting it, but still think it could happen.

We already have 4-5 players on the 26, who are negatives on defense. At least 3 could be the FT DH, and others might platoon at DH and be a back-up elsewhere. To me, we could use a big RHB at at 2B and OF, but only if we trade a LHB OF'er like Dugo or Duran. If we move Yoshida to DH, we could sign Duvall and not trade anyone, except maybe Refsnyder, despite him being our best hitter vs LHPs since 2022. We need to thread a needle on our winter choices concerning a big RHB. I'm a huge Turner fan, but I can't see signing him, unless we can somehow trade Yoshida. (Not happening.)

According to BTV, Trout is owed about $250M/7 and has a net value of -87. That does show they feel his value before applying the contract cost is about $160M/7. With all the injuries, and the fact that he is getting older, I'd pass. For argument's sake, let's say the Angels pay about half: $125M/7. His BTV would be about $35M. In terms of Sox values, Mayer (59) would be an overpay, unless LAA paid an additional $25M. Houck at $30M is about the closest. Bleis + Wink does it, too. We don't need another OF'er.

Good points. Normally, I'd say trade for a younger, top pitcher, as they cost too much in free agency, and are usually not "younger.' and sign FA batters, where needed, but this year is not good for big RH'd bats.

They also did try to spend on Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi, so there was a time period where it did look like they were willing to "go that extra mile." While the guys you mentioned were big names, many were over the hill or close to it. Tian'ts resurgence was amazing, but not really predictable. I saw the Catfish Hunter signing by the Yanks, along with countless others, and it was frustrating to see us avoid going the full distance.

Me, too. Sometimes the frustration becomes so much, I forget to point out that fact.

It must be that the AL Central is so great.

soxprospects.com gave out 3 awards: Tristan Casas- Graduate of the Year Brayan Bello- Homegrown Player of the Year Mookie Betts- Ex-Prospects of the Year

AVG in RF Above in LF