moonslav59

More likely, we won't get much for Leon or Swihart, so we might keep all 3 again, but have Swihart work out at 1B and 3B in the off season. We also have rule 5 guys to trade or make room for on the 25 man roster: Victor Acosta Christopher Acosta Yoan Aybar Roldani Baldwin Trey Ball Juan Barriento Edilson Batista Eduard Bazardo Jordan Betts Marino Campana Rusney Castillo Michael Chavis Luis Colmenares Eduard Conde Harrison Cooney Jake Cosart Ricardo Cubillan Enmanuel De Jesus Chad De La Guerra Jhonathan Diaz Jerry Downs Nick Duron Junior Espinoza Willis Figueroa Devon Fisher Austin Glorius Daniel Gonzalez Juan Hernandez Darwinzon Hernandez Oscar Hernandez Tyler Hill Dedgar Jimenez Trevor Kelley Trenton Kemp Matt Kent Travis Lakins Marcos Lantigua Adam Lau Deiner Lopez Isaias Lucena Chris Madera Danny Mars Algenis Martinez Tate Matheny Kevin McAvoy Daniel McGrath Samuel Miranda Joseph Monge Mark Montgomery Jhon Nunez Josh Ockimey Angel Padron Yorvin Pantoja Yankory Pimentel Roniel Raudes Austin Rei Hildemaro Requena Denyi Reyes Eddy Reynoso Jeremy Rivera Jake Romanski Teddy Stankiewicz Kevin Steen Cole Sturgeon Josh Taylor Luke Tendler Josh Tobias Carlos Tovar Kyri Washington Jantzen Witte Kyle Wren .

Since we went over the luxury tax, I believe all we get for a QO offer denial (Kimbrel) is a 4th round pick. I think we bring back Pearce & Kelly. We try to replace Kimbrel with Kelly, Barnes or Brasier (Thornburg & Smith are long shots), but we also sign a cheaper closer to add to the mix. We give Wright, Johnson, Velazquez and Shawaryn a long look-see, and like this year, if we run short of starter depth, we'll look for the next gem like Eovaldi, in July. We also will wait out 2B to see if anyone jumps up to grab the job FT.

I hope you are right about beyond 2020, and for the record, I never said it would be impossible to avoid a cliff or deep valley. One good sign has been with DD's big signings. The going rate of MLB success with large and long contracts is 50%, at best. DD has done well with the Price & JD signings, at least so far. Everyone knows my feelings about the Chris Freakin' Sale deal I dreamed of doe several years. Most know I hated the Kimbrel trade and disliked the Pom trades, not because I disliked the players we got, but because we gave up too much. There's no caveat. We all know DD went all out to get us a ring, and it's been worth it to me. I don't think my concerns over 2021 and beyond are unfounded, misplaced or exaggerated, but that's a long way away from right now. I'm enjoying the moment and feel really good about 2019, as well.

Significant, in terms of how many innings pitched, but those two 1 inning outings were very significant. Both he and Price pitched in 3 games, and I get how Price worked two longer outings to E-O's one, but E-O's 0.500 WHIP to Price's 0.951 kinda evens it up to some extent. Also, ERA 1.13 (E-O) to 1.98 (Price). I'm okay with not thinking E-O deserved the MVP, but as I said, he deserves a strong runner-up award.

You forgot about Pearce (and Kelly & Kinsler).

Frankly the two greatest WS "performances" across the series came from Price and Eo. That is from a guy (me) that spent all of his time in baseball trying to beat pitchers, even dare I say completely consumed by the contest, the battle between pitcher and hitter at least within the game of baseball itself. I am simply realistic enough to understand that two "pitchers" would not be the recipients of so much heraldry given the direction MLB is trying to take this game. Price's effort and his contribution in this WS is almost beyond comprehension. He pitched so well and so much in this WS and to have been on the mound, the pitcher of record after all that in the very inning that the Dodgers threw up the surrender flag (after inning 5 of game 5) simply is all there is to say about that. Players know it's all about the pitcher. I do, because I could never hit well enough to do squat. You know why so many good ex-pitchers are alcoholics? It's because of all the free beers their teammates bought them after a win.

Yes. That scene in the dugout was very moving to me, as well. I hear the team gave him a standing ovation in the clubhouse afterwards. To me, that shows how tight this team was (is). It's too bad that a solo HR in the 18th inning kept him from consideration for MVP. In reality, Price and E-O should have been the co-MVPs, again, no slight on Pearce and his 12 WS ABs.

Ben drafted one of the killer B core: Beni. He drafted Kopech and signed Moncada who helped us get Sale. He signed Devers.

To me, it's more about Henry's willingness to spend $240M+ for 3 or more years. (The taxes will be very high, even as we lose Pablito & Castillo's sunken costs.) If he does, I have faith we can remain contenders after 2020. (BTW, unlike other cliff-dwellers, my date was always after 2020, unless we won a ring or two and Henry decides to reset the tax for 2020.) I have also said I like what DD did and am willing to accept a down year or two in exchange for a ring or two more. We got the ring, so here we are.

Even if Pedey retires, I'm not sure we pick anyone up for 2B. Nunez & Holt can show what they got next year, and maybe this is the year Marco Hernandez finally gets healthy.

I'm not so sure about Kimbrel. I know DD has had major issues with the pen in the past, but I still think using Kimbrel's money to get 2-3 solid RP'ers is a better use of budget space.

I agree. I doubt a few starts did much at all to change his "value." He stays in Boston, at least for a year or two more. We may see a tax rest in a year or two, and trading him then might make more sense, but Price will be in Boston for 2019. Book it.

I can see us holding off picking anyone up for 2B until mid season. By then, we'll know more about... Pedey's status Holt's stamina and fitness Nunez's knee Marco Hernandez, Lin and Quiroz viability as depth at 2B We may also go with Wright, Johnson and Velazquez as our 5th starter options and look for a starter like Eovaldi next July. I think the pen is where we spend and/or trade to upgrade the most.

Hard to to like what we all saw, and we could really use a power righty in the rotation next year. My guess is, Henry will look to reset the luxury tax after 2019 or 2020, so I'm thinking we'll see continued high spending this winter to keep us as a top contender. Who knows? Winning two in a row might help some of our stars accept hometown discount deals.

Taking nothing away from what Pearce did to help us win, did you see the mob of players around Price after the win? When you've played the game of baseball, you know it's always about the pitcher. Price pitched or was warming up to pitch just about every game. I've never seen that for a guy who started 2 of the 5 games. It should have been co-MVP at least. I'm sure the discussion about who is clutch and what sample size is large enough to determine clutchness will take a turn this winter, but to me Price has always been tough as nails. He stood up to all the bitching and bickering from Sox fans and media until the sample size grew large enough to include some gems. Eovaldi should get a strong runner up award. Had Kinsler not made that error, we might be arguing for Tri-MVPs!

I agree, but this team is a better team. That doesn't take anything away from the magic of 2004.

I'm a "cliff dweller" who has loved what DD has done. What's not to like? The results are on the scoreboard. Hats off to you, DD. Great job getting Price, Sale, JD, Eovaldi, Pearce, Brasier and more... Great job keeping Devers and our young core together. The going gets tougher, especially after next season, but this win make it all worthwhile.

A lot will depend on Henry's willingness to keep his wallet open and maybe even open it further. It's hard to think of a deep and balanced team like this one as having multiple needs this winter, but with Eovaldi, Pearce, Kimbrel, Kelly and Kinsler all looking at free agency, it looks like we have 3 areas of need: 1) The pen 2) 2B 3) SP'er We may not be able to spend large in each area. It may come down to either/or.

All our losses this post season were winnable and involved a key error.

No more, "Wait till next year!"

Good night everyone. Sweet dreams!

I've always wanted Sox-Cubs.

That was a more meaningful win and a great team, no doubt, but this team never went down 3-0 in a series. We beat the best of the best super teams- handily.

The best SP'er pick-up (Eovaldi). The best hitter pick-up (Pearce). Nuff said.

We need a special election poll for a redo. Cora is the best Sox manager EVAH!