moonslav59

Maybe the 4 HRs in his last 29 PAs and the near complete lack of power by the Sox was one reason. (I'm not defending Franchy or Cora, but that is one possible reason.)

You really believe that? I thought you were being sarcastic.

Lucky to be only 4-3. This game is not over.

Yes, managers often remove bad-armed catchers when men get on base. (LOL)

Dalbec is the obvious answer but I was joking about Casas. (I caught some grief for suggesting he might be the guy we need to trade to get an ace, this winter.)

It sure felt that way.

Bryan Mata has not gotten much talk coming back from surgery. He was ranked pretty highly a couple years ago and has almost 70 IP, so far, with these numbers: .576 OPS Against 2.23 ERA 81 Ks The 38 BBs is concerning, however, but the WHIP is a respectable 1.24. Although soxprospects has him ranked 7th, they don't seem to think too kindly of him in their summation: Projects as a back end starter or multi-inning relief arm with premium stuff to handle a late inning role if necessary. Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Still has a wide range of outcomes as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery. Raw stuff is back, but feel for secondaries and command come and go within outings. Might be able to start, but could be more effective in shorter bursts out of the bullpen. Delivery still has effort and we need to see how his stuff holds up over longer, 5-6-inning stints and when pitching on a consistent starter’s schedule. Will show the potential for a true four-pitch mix with two potential plus offerings. Has shown the ability to miss bats with all four pitches at various points in his career. Harnessing command of his arsenal will be key for his development. Injury risk had become a concern even pre-Tommy John surgery, as he last made it through a full season healthy in 2017. Tommy John Surgery in April 2021 clouds future starter profile.

Should have traded him while his stock was high!

How long till they'd move him to 2B?

I agree. The Vaz + Diekman trades were all about the future without alarming too many fans. McGuire's subsequent play has quieted them, for now. The Pham and Hosmer deals cost us next to nothing, but they also added to the 2023 plan, as well. Had the traded Bogey, JD + Cash, Strahm and Wacha, they'd have gotten some much nicer future pieces AND got under the tax line, so we could start with year one in 2023. To me, that was the biggest part of not trading at least a couple more guys. That being said, it has made watching the 2022 Sox more fun than it would have been, otherwise.

Keep winning, and the rest will take care of itself, due to someone having to lose, everytime TOR plays BAL, BAL play TBR and TBR plays TOR. Just win, baby!

Yes, speculation, but the words he said after the deadline could easily be viewed as what he had to say.

Well, Bogey had a no trade clause, but if Bloom was having a firesale, I think Bogey might have agreed to be traded- maybe naming a few teams. I would have preferred trading all FAs to be and maybe even a couple other players- not part of the longer term plan- away at the deadline. That b eing said, I think he did okay at the deadline. He improved our long term catcher situation. Adding Pham and Hosmer on the cheap adds to our organizational depth. I like the prospects we got, especially Enmanuel Valdez (2B/DH), Wilyer Abreu (OF and 102 BBs, this year) and maybe Max Ferguson (utility). The only longer term player he gave up was Groome, who seemed to be going nowhere, quickly. If he gets a QO pick for Bogey, it's not as good as a trade, but again, the no trade clause. I do agree that Bloom would have done more had the media and fans not been pressuring him and upper management to "not give up."

The thing is, if we spend half the winter spending budget on Devers and Bogey, at best we are just breaking even at SS and 3B from 2021 to 2022, and have maybe $35-40M left over to spend on replacing Wacha, Hill, JD, Kike and also fix the pen and RF.

Mayer is too far away, and Bogey will be ready for a position change when he is ready.

The Seager contract looks just as bad.

They voted to go to a 12 team playoff starting in’26, but with options to start earlier, but there may be roadblocks. This would put ND in the playoffs more often than not.

Is that including what the Marlins are still paying?

More than any single Sox player is my answer to that gotcha question.

Exactly, and you can’t just hire the best scouts and player development people away from other teams.

I don't think anything Paxton has done or not done, this year will deter us from taking his option. I think we take the Pham option, too. If we plan on going over the tax line, we may have $80-100M to spend on these slots: CF Ace 2B/SS Closer RF/DH RP At an average of $15M per player, if we sign 6 and close to $20M, if we sign only 5. That could be some huge improvement! We could go with Arroyo/Valdez at 2B, Dugo/Pham/Refsnyder at corner OF/DH or sign 3 cheaper RP'er than 2 major ones and then go $25M x 4. (I doubt it, but we can.)

His solution is fix the farm. Like- snap your fingers, and it's done. Even if we could do it, like he says, it would be years before we see any results. There is a reason he's the only guy I have on ignore, right now.

Maybe. Sounds about right. I know it's such a major point in Sox history to lose someone like Betts, but I do think the writing was on the wall. I think the pandemic did influence the contract he ended up signing. He'd probably have gotten $400M/12 had there not been one. He was never going to get near that from BOS. That should be totally viewed as JH's choice, not the GM.

Agreed. I think they did as they always do. The offer what they think a player is worth and don't budge much.

Story did average 26 Hrs per 162 games on the road when with COL, and the NL West is not known for HR parks. I'm still hopeful he will end up being a nice signing for us.