moonslav59

I said it then; I said it for years before our first ring; I'll say it in 2020 and 2021. By 2022, we better have brighter skies.

I think Henry expected a 5-6 year window not 3, and that's part of the reason he soured on DD. The culture thing just added to it.

Look, I already said I was fine with ruining the farm to get a ring. I have no beef with DD. He got us a ring. That does not mean I have to sugar coat the consequences. He destroyed the farm. It's been bottom 5 for 3 straight years. I never said I could have done better than DD, but I certainly have the right to say I think he went too far. We'll never know if we'd have won a ring or not without Pom, Thornburg, Kinsler, Kimbrel or others. That's what a site like this is all about- debating the what ifs. I've been saying all along I do not think Henry will keep spending 10-300% more than other teams, but it doesn't "please" me to hear him finally say the over-spending is going to be slowed or stopped. It's just reality. I'm glad we have an owner that was willing to do what it took to win us several rings. I wish he'd keep spending what it takes to keep us winning every year, but I don't think it's right to expect it, and part of me thinks we're being a little hypocritical for bashing the Yankees all those years for buying championships and then being more than fine with us outspending everyone else by tens of millions 2 years in a row, and then expecting that to continue, just because he's filthy rich and can afford to spend $500M on the team every year. I'm thrilled we won 4 rings in the last 2 decades. I went 3 decades with nothing. I often said, I'd be fine with 9 last places finishes for just one ring, and although my views changed after that first ring, I'm still fine with some down stretches, if it means we're working towards a long term plan of getting back to the top. (Plus, I don't think the cliff will be as bad as I once thought, but I'm fine with a couple to three years of no ring, as long as our future is looking brighter and brighter each year- that almost surely means our farm is getting better. I don't think DD was the guy to build up the farm. I don't think spending like maniacs for 2-3 more years would have been a great idea, either. The penalties incurred on the farm by maxing out year after year would have deepened the rebuilding process and lengthened the time needed to retool.

This isn't homerism. Why not answer my 3 questions? Plus, how are most GMs hired? By the team seeking who it wants or candidates going to the teams with openings? This whole story reeks of a untruths. I'd have said the same about the Yanks, Patriots and other winning teams I hate. People want to work for winners. Look, I'm not saying every soul in the world would want the Sox GM job, but there's no way what happened to Ben & DD is keeping anyone from being interested in the job.

MLBTR reports... Red Sox Planning Contract Extension Offer For Rafael Devers By Mark Polishuk | September 28, 2019 at 7:07pm CDT The Red Sox are preparing to offer Rafael Devers a long-term contract this winter, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports. In general, most extensions aren’t discussed and/or completed until after the bulk of other offseason business has been completed, so more concrete news on this front might not surface until closer to Spring Training. It only makes sense that the Sox would look to gain some cost certainty over a player who has emerged as a huge force in 2019. Devers has hit .308/.359/.553 with 32 homers over 697 plate appearances, with a 131 wRC+ that ranks 13th among all qualified batters in baseball. There have been questions about Devers’ ability to stick as a third baseman, though he at least held his own defensively depending on the metric; he had a +3 UZR/150...

Yes, I'm speculating, but do you really think Ben's departure is making anyone hesitate to accept an invite to be interviewed for the Sox GM job? Do you really think DD's does? Do you really think anyone wants to avoid working for Henry and having a chance at glory? So far, all 3 GMs who worked for Henry have a ring and have the glory. Plus, the whole idea that execs go to the teams to ask for a job is probably a very rare happening. Teams seek out who they want, and I'd like to see one shred of evidence that someone the Sox asked about being interested said no.

Sources that may just be speculating.

The Dodger dump brought us a ring. This does sound too good to be true. Taking on Price's contract for just one year of Betts makes little sense. I guess, if they made us take Heywood in return to offset some of Price's deal, something might be worked out, but I just don't see it happening. Betts, Price, Marco and JBJ for Heywood and Russell?

Nobody interested in the job looks at the Cherrington departure as a reason for not thinking Boston is a good fit, so this whole 2 GMs in 6 years rant is bogus. Nobody interested in the job and knowing the Sox are looking to rebuild sees the DD departure as something to worry about anymore than they would entering any other GM position. The Sox job is one of the most coveted jobs in MLB, if not all of organized sports. Henry is one of the most respected owners in all of sports. There's a very nice core of players to work with. Sure, there are financial issues, health issues and a tough 2020 season coming up, but if you are a good GM, you'd love to be taking over this team. If the reset is a major priority for 2020, there is no pressure to win it all in 2020 and probably 2021 as well. We'll be able to pick who we want, and the choices will be from the best of the best that are available. Some may think Theo or other ex-Sox execs are the best, but maybe that's not who we want.

"Rushing back?" What's the evidence or proof? I thought teams reach out to those they want- not guys rush to an opening waiving their hands and yelling, "Can I have the job?" Who knows, if we even want any of these guys? I refuse to believe anyone who is not under contract would not be interested in working under the best owner in MLB.

I don't believe any of this Buster's rant.

No team assures 4-5 years. I do think there may be a little apprehension after watching a guy win 3 straight divisions and WS ring and get canned over one season, but I think most GM candidates can see there's more to it than that, and they would love to work under Henry and know they will have a budget larger than just about everyone after 2020.

I doubt anyone is "scared" of being the next Sox GM. Many would gladly swap their current position to be the Sox GM.

I always liked Dan D, but I'm sure he's the guy at this point in time.

We'd probably have to take Heywood ($23M x 4 left) to offset Price's contract and give Betts an open position. I'd like to get Kyle Hendrick ($13.8M x 4 left) as part of the deal. Betts, Price & JBJ for Kendrick & Heywood?

Where's this rumor coming from?

This game has nothing to do with this being a lost season. The season was lost when we got double swept by the Yanks and Rays back in July/August.

We have a race for the team leader in OPS. Devers & Betts are out of it, but JD & Bogey are neck and neck... (after 7th inning of today's game) .944 JD .941 Bogey .914 Devers .914 Betts

My favorite BBQ spot. The best of Memphis.

Barnes Trends: K/9: 8.2> 9.6> 10.7> 14.0> 15.3 K/BB: 2.6> 2.3> 3.0> 3.1> 2.8 WHIP: 1.65> 1.40> 1.22> 1.27> 1.37 ERA+: 80> 11> 118> 121> 126 ERA-: 131> 92> 85> 82> 79 FIP-: 132> 89> 77> 65> 74 xFIP: 4.39> 4.05> 3.27> 2.83> 2.95

Trading Barnes when his stock is lower is not my idea of a good move. He was solid for 2-3 years, until we asked him to do more this year. Keep him as an every other day 8th inning pitcher and he'll be worth his salary in 2020- and then some. Trading him at the deadline might make more sense, assuming he's doing well, and we are not in the race.

Looking at this group in an overall way, are we about to see addition by subtraction? Almost certainly not back next year: OPS/ERA Player (PAs/IP) .835 Moreland 331 .787 Holt 287 .548 Nunez 174 .503 Pearce 99 .695 Swihart 29 5.52 Porcello 174 5.60 Cashner 53 7.71 Thornburg 19 Maybe not back next year: .745 JBJ 558 .549 Leon 187 .348 Gorkys 50 .544 Owings 49

Shows just how weak our extended depth was.

Final word on Cashner: YUCK!

What are we all on board with now. Who is "we?" You and your split personality? 1. JDM needs to go. Maybe. 2.JBJ needs to be upgraded only at the plate the man is superman with a glove ...everyone wanted this to work . No- downgraded to equal glove- worse O. 3. one last run at Mookie .My offer is 8 years at 34 with additional 25 million in player incentives .You can work player and team options in .Mookie may want every red cent he can get and most do .The deal is more than fair if he hesitates I wouldn't hesitate to move on and trade him in my next breath . 4.Thad Ward ? He's better than Price right now .Promote this guy . $30M x 8 likely gets him at free agency. I'm thinking $320M/10. 5 .Sandy Leon needs to be upgraded terribly . Nope- just a pay cut. 6. The team needs a real pitching Coach not some nice guy lifer bullpen catcher . Agreed. John Farrell? 7 .sale may need to transition to the pen ? Don't laugh he's a China Doll . It's customary to laugh at jokes. 8.We need to cut bait with Brasier ,Barnes Cutting Barnes is downright insanity. The guy improved 4 straight years and still was our 4th best pen arm, this year. Trade him, maybe. Cut him? stpuidity! 9. We need a no nonsense old school spring training ,teaching base running situations and how to bunt . LOL. Bunting won't help one bit. 10 .goodbye Mitch you are a damn good player when healthy but there in is the problem ..never healthy . Even when healthy- not worth $6M these days. 11. Mookie ,Devers ,Xander ,are the core which leads me to 12 .Benny Add Vaz 12.Benny needs to be shopped for pitching . Not a bad idea, but doubtful "all on board." Who plays LF and CF? 13 . Cora is on thin warming ice for 20 . Nope. 14 .Get Di Di Double Nope!