moonslav59

If it goes 5, I'll be excited about seeing Sale pitch in warm weather.

I agreed that all the reasons to not sign him were valid. That's not the same as endorsing them. To me, it will all come down to what budget DD has to work with this winter. My personal view is that our pen is a greater need than our rotation, and if it comes down to an either or, which it might not come to, I'd choose the pen. Rotation: Losing Eovaldi (big loss) & Pom (addition by subtraction) Replacing with more starts from ERod, Wright, Johnson and/or Velazquez (Shawaryn on the farm) Pen: Losing Kimbrel (huge) & Kelly (significant) Replacing with more appearances by Brasier, Workman, Poyner, Thornburg & Smith (Feltman & Lakins on the farm) To me, it's not about Eovaldi vs Kimbrel; it's Thornburg/Smith vs Wright/Johnson. I'd love to keep Kimbrel & Eovaldi, but not if it means we lose Betts, Bogey or a combination of other key players in 2020 or 2021. If I knew our budget was going to be super high, I'd be suggesting all kinds of possible moves. Until I see it, I'm going on the assumption that we probably won't go $40M over the limit and eventually, Henry will want to reset the tax rates.

Devers has been impressive on defense the last 2 weeks. He looks confident and graceful. I've always loved his bat and supported him even when he was struggling, but I'd love nothing more than to be proven wrong about his defense at 3B.

Kelly had a couple incredibly long great stretches this year. He's actually been very good more than bad, this year. Barnes has been good for 2 years, now. Brasier came out of nowhere. Kimbrel is the best closer since Mo. He had a rough patch recently, but has been great for a long, long time.

Kinsler has begun to look better at the plate after a pretty long stretch of looking pretty lost. I really don't think the 2-0 lead in games should affect Cora's decision. He should and probably will put the best team out on the feel- the team that he feels gives us the best chance to win Friday night.

I think every Sox fan would love to have Eovaldi back next year as a big RH'd threat in our rotation. He would also ease the probable loss of Porcello after next year. The reasons you gave to counter the idea are all valid, and I guess it will come down to DD and Henry.

People, including me at times, chose to believe our pen was only as good as they had been the previous month or two, instead of how good they have been during other stretches of this year or their career as a whole.

If it's the right move, I don't view it as "bold."

Perhaps more importantly, he's transferred that "hunger" to the players. This team wants to win. This team knows it can win. This team knows how to win. This team knows it will win. I blame Cora for this.

Well said. Lefties who know how to pitch in Fenway are better than righties. You could just see the Dodger batters trying to hit homers to LF, and Sox pitchers throw it where they can't do it.

...and the DO suck!

This team has been great and deep all year. We run well, field well, hit well and pitch well. We didn't win 108 games by mistake. Yes, guys like Vaz and Kinsler are highlighting what a great team we have this year. Before it was Nunez, Devers, JBJ and everyone else given a chance to contribute,

Me, too, and I felt the same way about Kelly. It is a good lesson to learn. Good managers and GMs put faith in the players and not just what they have done recently.

We're doing better against the best pitchers and teams in MLB than we did against regular season foes!

Like when? 3 years ago?

If he sucked, we coulda kept him!

Probably so his arm doesn't fall off, and we can use him later this series.

Why sign anyone this winter? Just let DD make a few in-season deals again. (Pearce was a huge get, too. Kinsler filled a need as well.)

Damn !!! Almost fell in there.

Make Machado lead off the 9th,

Although Moreland was 4 for 10 after his long rest, I'd prefer Pearce vs a RHP over Moreland vs a lefty.

...or, just leave Pearce in.

Price is reborn. The 2017 Vaz has returned. Kinsler has joined the big hit parade. 2 out thunder is the playoff MVP. Kelly is like the Kelly we saw earlier this year. Devers is flawless tonight in the field. JBJ going to LF. Like I said, gotta like it!

Thanks. Had to take the dog to the vet, and just caught up on delay.

Don't be so sure. We've used starters from the pen on their natural throwing day and then they started on time.