moonslav59

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.

Best DRS Seasons since 1974 (last 50 years) 30 Betts in 2016 & 2017 RF 22 Vic 2013 RF 20 Beltre '10 3B 19 Betts '19 RF 18 Pedey '11 2b 17 Betts '18 RF 16 JBJ '14 CF 15 Coco '07 CF 15 Leon '17 C 14 Nixon '05, Pedey '09, Aviles '12 at SS, Vaz '14, JBJ '16 & '17, Kike '21 13 Pedey, AGon. Jake 12 Reese, Agon, Pedey, Beni No split seasons: 99 Betts and Pedey 49 JBJ & Vaz 44 Youk 30 Leon 26 Vic 25 AGon 23 Beni 20 Beltre (1 season!) & Kike 17 Betts in CF 16 Moreland 15 Aviles at SS & Dugo in LF The worst: -67 Manny -53 Devers -50 Bogey -21 Nunez & Lugo -19 Duran & Swi -17 Damon -16 VMart at C -15 Pablito

I have never doubted this. I'm a huge fan of defense, especially at SS. When we signed Story, I argued we play Bogey at 2B. I just said, Bogey was better on O, and Story was better on D. I never said who was better, overall. Bogey was not really showing major signes of decline on offense, as measured by OPS+ and wRC+, but his RBI totals fell off a cliff in '21 (and continued after the MVP mandated comp period.) At the end of 2021, I think they were similar in overall value. The known injury to Story was the wrench in the comp, at the time. Story's OPS+ in 2021 was 102, which may have been related to the known injury. I think the difference on offense at the end of 2021 was "significant." Previous seasons: Bogey>Story OPS+ in reverse order of seasons: 2021: 129>102 +28% better 2020: 128>120 +8% better 2019: 139>120 +19% better 2018: 135> 127 +8% better 2017: 95> 84 +11% better 2016: 111> 122 -11% worse (6 years before the comp time.) 2018-2021 134>117 (+17% better) 2019-2021 133>110 (+23% better) OOA 2018-2021 +6 Story -25 Bogey DRS +43 Story (4296 innings) -26 Bogey (4158) They were very close in overall value after 2021- just in very disticntly different ways. '18-'21 16.0 Bogey fWAR (20.1 bWAR) 15.9 Story fWAR (19.9 bWAR