moonslav59

I'm not sure anyone is patting JH on the back specifically over 2022. He actually allowed mose winter spending, last winter than any other time in quite a while, but we sucked, so I think people defending him are defending the long view of his time here. If the farm and budget looked to be getting worse, I could understand being upset with the overall state of the team, but we are finally seeing some light from the farm- something that has been missing for too long, IMO. It didn't happen out of thin air. It was planned for.

I've thought my $160M/6 offer is actually too high, but I know you have to overpay on the FA market. If I gave 7 years, it would probably be around $175-180M/7, tops.

Agreed. I still think, if done right, we can still compete in 2023 and set ourselves up for 2024 and beyond, at the same time. One year deals at positions where we may have an internal solution, soon or where no longer term option is available at the right cost (financial or in trade.) Longer term deal only for players that are likely to be just as good or better in 2024 and maybe beyond.

Nobody is saying you are the only hypocrite, here. It should be expected, however, that any example of hypocrisy will be called out, no matter who it is. I'm not sure why you keep trying to change the meaning of words. Hypocrisy is hypocrisy. If you keep saying you don't care about the past, but keep bringing it up, it is what it is. Either stop bringing up the past or stop saying "the past is the past," when others invoke it, or be prepared to take the criticism of hypocrisy at face value.

If the plan is to reset in 2022, then a Raffy extension that starts in 2024 does not really matter on the budget, until years from now. I'm not sure why spending on SS over RF and pitching is a higher priority, but if it means trying to lock up Bogey before he reaches free agency, then yes, he comes first. For example, if we were to sign Judge, that would be the higher priority over SS and Bogey. If we knew we were going to outbid everyone for him, then Bogey and SS are secondary. I don't think Judge is a priority, but I just used him as an example. We may value signing Nimmo over Bogey, as there are better secondary options at SS than CF/RF, it seems to me.

One great poster recently told me, "You have to ignore a lot of that stuff."

I'm pretty certain we'll reset in 2023 or 2024. Which season looks like the best season to spend big on? Trying to be objective, I'd have to say 2024, as many of our rookies and second year players should be better. I seriously doubt we go over 3 years in a row.

The Raffy "increase" can be structured to not add much on the tax budget for 2023 by making it begin in 2024. I've already said I'd offer Bogey $160M/6 max, and that may be too much. That is $26.7M per year. Out of $80M, that leaves about $53M to spend on RF, SP, RP, RP and maybe some depth, assuming we reset.

Not really, because I am not the one saying "The past is the past-" You are. You say that many times we bring up the past. We don't say that to you when you bring it up, except to point out your hypocrisy.

Trading for SP'ers seems to be our best hope. It worked with Pedro, Schilling, Beckett, Sale and to some extent with Peavy and Porcello. Ideally, we start producing pitchers from our farm, and maybe Bello, Mata, Walter, TWard and Wikelman will introduce a new era in Sox pitcher development. I'm not ready to trust the pipeline and want us to acquire some pitchers for 2023, at least. We need pen help, for sure and at least one solid SP'er.

I had us at about $80M after the Kike, if we stay under the tax line, which is unknown, at this time.

The past can only be invoked when supporting his own positions.

I fully understand this position and know many feel the same way or almost the same way. Our last ring was 2018, and we had a decent season in 2021. We went from 2013 to 2018 and are at that point again. I feel very strongly JH knew exactly what he was doing, when he hired Bloom. I'm sure they discussed the philosophy and plan before they even hired him. The plan was not to only build up the farm and future. The plan was supposed to include playing respectable ball while rebuilding, except for maybe the lost 2020 season. Bloom has gone 1 for 2 on that priority. That can be viewed negatively, for sure. This year sucked. No doubt we should have done better, and Bloom is partially responsible and example brought up over and over- like JBJ- are fair game. (I was the driver of the JBJ trade sucks bandwagon from day 1.) Bloom is also partially responsible for building up the farm, on paper anyway, and the 40 man roster depth. He has a ways to go, and this winter's spending budget and how Bloom uses it will be a big part of Bloom's lasting legacy- good or bad.

I'm not sure Bloom is the guy to hand 10 blank checks to, either. He was hired for a different reason than DD was hired. He may end up following Ben's path- with or without a ring season. It's all speculation, but it appears that he has greatly improved the farm and longer term outlook of the team from where it was after 2019. If you look at the 26 and 40 man rosters of the 2020 team, brought about in part by aging vets, injuries and departures, but mostly by a massive budget cut and the rosters we have now, I think we have improved significantly. We are also, now looking at 10-15 first or second year players joining the 26 man roster over the 2023 season. Some look very promising- some, not so much, but I see that as an encouraging sign things are changing, and for the good. It might not be as fast and as complete as many wanted it to be, but I think this was the plan, when Bloom was hired. Maybe, JH lets Bloom get us to a certain place and then hires the next DD to go all-in with.

I could care less about the Pats, and I'm talking about the owner not the coach or GM. Yes, Henry knew what he was doing when he hired Bloom to rebuild the farm and strengthen the 26 and 40 man roster from a baseline that was about as low as I've seen in henry's tenure as owner. Stop saying I don't understand, just because I disagree. I know how fans are. I know the different directions an owner and GM are being pulled, constantly. I know most of our society revels in the here and now and thinks little of the future. I fully understand that. I'm not like that, and I think and am glad Henry is not just about the now. He certainly cares about it, probably more than I do, as I wish we had gotten under the tax line, this year, but he also cares about the future way more than you and many fans do. If you are thinking it may be time or close to time to want a new owner, I disagree with your position. I understand it, fully. You repeat it as much as I repeat my position.

I totally agree, and with Nate, Wacha and Strahm off to free agency, we have a big task ahead. We also have some huge question marks, concerning health, with Sale, Paxton (option?) and Taylor- Houck and Whitlock to a lesser extent. Which Barnes shows up is another question. Many holes to fill. I'll slot Houck & Whitlock in the pen, but one may fill a rotation slot by opening day: SP1 ____ SP2 ____ SP3 Sale/Paxton SP4 Pivetta SP5 Bello SP6 Crawford, Wink, Seabold, Mata, Walter, Murphy, TWard Closer ____ RP2 Whitlock RP3 Houck RP4 ____ RP5 Schreiber RP6 Barnes RP7 see SP6 or Taylor, Kelly, German, Brasier, Danish, McGee, Reed, Ort, Politi

If the QO is a major stumbling block, then brining Bogey and maybe Wacha back, makes the most sense, then trade for Lopez or Lazardo and try to pry Berti from the Marlins, as well. Bogey Lopez Wacha Montero Fulmer Berti Those 6 would make us relevant, again. I don't think it would take a major prospect sacrifice to do this. Maybe we take on Soler's contract to lessen the blow, but I'm not sure if the set budget allows that.

Henry knows what he's doing. The guy is still spending, bigtime and is actively working on building up the long term success of this franchise. "Statute of limitations?" Really? Is talk radio supportive of this idea?

I agree, and even if JH decides to spend way over the tax line, I'd still rather see all of it go towards pitching, RF, SS and a Devers extension.

It's hard to ignore blatant lies and distortions, but maybe that's what I should do.

I think the idea was per year, but still it is total revisionist warping reality, and when we call it out, they twist it into us being Bloom apologists "always" and for "all his mistakes."

Full circle.

That's my plan A. Plan B might be to trade for a RF'er. I am not for spending big at DH, even if JH opens his wallet more than I expect him to do.

I think it would have to be an either or on Brantley and Beni. We'd be back to 3 lefty left fielders and reluctantly moving Dugo to RF.

Certainly just a very short term idea, but not a bad one.