moonslav59

If it's him, yes! (Note: we face LHPs about 30% of the time.) His splits in '25: .964 v L and .904 v R. 2024: .898 v .824 Career: .778 v .875 Also... Alonso hit RHPs (.929) way better than LHPs (.729) in '25. Both 2024 splits were worse than KS (.783 v .803). He has career reverse splits: .865 v R and .835 v L.

We don't have to trade anybody, but it's clear we should trade an OF'er, even if it's just KC, but if we don't we'll need to dump, bench or demote Yoshida. That is reason enough to trade an OF'er. The major reason is that Duran is far more valuable to another team as an OF'er than to us as a DH. It's about comparative value. OF vs DH. Since we are in great need for a #2 SP'er and infield power bat, the gain we get at one of those positions will far outweigh Duran's value at DH. It is really that simple. Trade on OF'er this winter or fall short one more year.

I was strapped down and forced to do bong hit after bong hit.

Exactly. These guys didn't get rich by being softies and focused more on customer satisfaction over the bottom line. The other point I like to make is that other teams have rich owners, too, and if JH doubles his spending, what would happen if all owners did, too? In a way, we want our owner to increase spending by more than the others, and what is the justification for that happening? Because JH is richer than most other owners? Because he shouldn't want to make more money than other owners? Because he owes spoiled fans something? Please, do not take this as a defense of JH and owners. I'm going to resist getting political, here, but it is the way of the world. It's all about money.

He could be a throw-in or someone Brez really likes. I'm not so sure our farm is so totally devoid of promising catchers, but most seem to be light on defense, which is very concerning. soxprospects.com has Johanfran Garcia ranked 29th, but I have him top 20. The site says he has potential to be "an average defender." 33. Luke Heyman (draftee) 34. Franklin Primera (DSL) 45. Jorge Rodriguez (FCL) 47. Brooks Brannon (AA who plays 1B, too.) 59. Geraldo Rodriguez (A-) Adonys Guzman has not been ranked, yet. Roster projections: AAA: Jason Delay, Ronald Rosario, Enderso Lira AA: Jo. Garcia, Brannon (1B), Hudson White A+: A. Guzman, Ronny Hernandez, K Salazar A-: L Heyman, G Rodriguez, J Rodriguez FCL: Primera, Berry, Zambrano, Marin, Mambel I'm not claiming this group is even above average, but the state of catching in MLB is pretty bad. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks.

Look at what teams are giving up for good or even just decent pitchers. I have to think, when all the best FA pitchers are taken, team will come knocking on Brez's door to "settle" on guys like Crawford, Harrison, Dobbins and maybe even Perales and offer overpays to get one or two. We have the ability to package a very good OF'er (Duran, Abreu or Rafaela) with a couple ML ready 4/5 SP'ers that might be 3's on some teams for a singular high quality #2 SP'er or big power bat who plays 3B, 1B or 2B. It might take a third team to make all the parts fit, but I gotta think we have a blockbuster pending. I just hope we also have a shock FA signing (or two mildly shocking) pending as well.

I thought the post was from GG. I even changed my contact lenses to make sure.

LOL. Before BTV asked for money, I proposed countless Sox trades. I tried to make all of them giving more value to the other team, so I wouldn't be a "homer," but some were jokes, when you look at what I was giving up. Most were players I felt were over-valued, but the weird thing was, there were almost always more thumbs down on the Sox side of the ledger than on the other team's side.

That '86 Sox team was fun to watch. Those years might have been the best Sox rotations in over 60 years. That team might not have even been the best of the era. Some tidbits: The 5-6 starters had 39 GS: Nopper (26) 5.38 and Sellers (13) 4.94. Our #4 was Seaver at 3.80, the #3 was Oil Can Boyd (30) at 3.78, and our #2 was Hurst (25) at 2.99. The ace was Clemens (33) 2.48 who brought a whole new mentality to building a winning team. On a personal note, that was the start of my taking snack and bathroom breaks during the Sox batting half innings and not when the opponents were up. Starter ERA 3.74 with a .716 OPSA. The pen was pretty awful. Bob Stanley (4.37) finished and astounding 50 games with only 16 saves in just 21 opportunities. The pen saved 41 in 55 chances (75%.) Not bad for a 1.62 WHIP and 4.53 ERA. The OPSA was a whopping .805! The '86 Sox had 8 players with over 450 PAs and all were over .713! .939 Boggs (.453 OBP!) .874 Baylor (31 HRs & 97 rbi) .853 Evans (26 HRs & 61 XBHs) .783 Rice (at age 33- just before the start of his steep decline) .733 Buckner (59 XBHs & 102 rbi) .733 Barrett (.353 OBP) .714 Armas (36 XBHs in 425 ABs) Dave Henderson provided the drama, while Quinones (.657) Romero (.553) & Spike Owens (.521) were the SSs. Man! We came Sooooooooooooooooo Close!

Good question. Some more than others, for sure.

Hard to know if he was just a throw-in or a significant ask... likely somewhere in between.

He seems like a decent flyer add. He's got some upside. It seems like we have lots of pitchers with some serious or promising upside. I'm fine with one more, and JG was blocked, but at some point we need to rebalance the 40 by trading a couple SP'ers. Who knows, maybe Brez & Co have a couple pen conversions in mind. That might work well. I'm thinking he likes Oviedo more than some of our SP'er depth, so I'm going with the trade idea. Two from Crawford, Harrison, Dobbins or Perales. I can't bring myself to say Bello. I doubt we trade Sandoval. Of course, every team will be demanding Tolle or Early, and maybe for the right return we get bold. Teams need and will overpay for pitching, and we've hoarded them.

MLB.com on Oviedo... https://www.mlb.com/news/johan-oviedo-outlook-with-red-sox

How many times does he have to unintentionally deceive the fans, before he learns to watch his words and promises? It's not a lie if you say something you believe is true, even if it turns out to be false. I get that, but the fans have had to sit here and hear talk after talk that ends up being just that: talk and little action. He was pressed to say whether he felt Gray fit the #2 starter need, and he hemmed and hawed and suddenly became less specific. Call it whatever you want, and maybe I was too harsh, but this has gone on for years. I can't get The Smiths song out of my head... When you say it's gonna happen now Well, when exactly do you mean? See, I've already waited too long And all my hope is gone

I can't blame the team for not wanting to lose picks, but there are a few guys out there w/o QOs, if that is the stumbling block.

I was the doobie king in those years.

Then he wasn't too happy in 4 or 5 of the last 7 seasons.

Gio looked pretty durable when we signed him. It seems we are jinxed whether we sign healthy or injured pitchers.

Couldn't you also say they spent big money on Sandoval, so they "intended to start him" too? The Big O might be pen bound.

So we traded #19 Travieso, and I wonder if the two prospects we got back will be ranked. If PIT felt Tyler Samaniego needed Rule 5 protection, he must be decent. He did okay in AA. the last couple years, but 3 years at that level makes me wonder. Maybe he'll be slotted about 25th? We needed catcher depth on the farm, but Adonys Guzman is a far-away one. He was a fifth rounder in the '25 draft. That was between Mason White (39th) and C Foutch (46th). Maybe he's slotted 45th to 60th?

I'm not going to mention 65.

I'm fine with minor moves that are meant to improve the system. There is a long way to go. Right now, I am wondering why we traded from one logjam (ML ready OF'ers) to add to a different logjam (ML ready SP'ers.) I'm guessing further moves will be trading away pitchers. Even 4-5 SP'ers are in high demand.

Yes, and I just about said the same thing. Don't tell the fans something then not follow through or explain a change in plans. He may still get us a #2. (MN just said Ryan is staying in MN.) Then, no explaining is needed, but that's not the only priority stated to the fans. I've said this before: I'd rather they stay quiet than lie or decieve.

I'm not sure who is saying leave billionaires alone on this site. These teams are more like toys for some owners. Almost every owner could spend like crazy, and if they all did, at once, it wouldn't really matter if JH did or not.

Agreed. That's why I said he should explain he's still looking for a #2 and not talk like Gray is or might be, although he never claimed he was "that guy" he promised. I'd also like to know if he thinks signing Realmuto addresses the need for power.