moonslav59

I was trying to make the point that JH spent enough to get Alonso & Suarez, but Brez spent it on Suarez, Gray, Contreras & IKF, instead. Then, maybe your blame is misplaced? Coulda been... $31M Alonso + $26M Suarez= $57M $31M Alonso + $26M Suarez + $21M Gray = $77M Actually is... $26M Suarez+ $21M Gray+ $17M Contreras + $6M IKF= $70M This is more than the first example and pretty close to the second example. It looks like JH spent enough, but according to you, it's Brez who spent it poorly. We could have gotten Alonso (DH) Contreras (1B) and Suarez (SP) for $74M.

Tiny sample size... Selected Sox ST OPS: 2.167 Duran (not a typo!) 1.563 Contreras 1.438 Rafaela 1.167 Gasper 1.113 Mayer 1.083 Durbin 1.067 Story 1.062 Monasterio 1.038 Narvaez .900 Eaton ___________ .812 Ward .785 Castro ___________ .666 Romero .650 Hickey .624 Campbell ,616 Anthony ___________ .533 IKF .437 Abreu .311 Wong .295 Sogard

Only if it leads to a ring.

Lying and dishonesty is defined by knowingly saying something you know is untrue. If you believe something, even if it's not true. It's not a lie. Being wrong and lying are not the same thing.

Suarez, Gray and Alonso? No Contreras & IKF. Would Suarez and Alonso (and Durbin) been enough for you to be okay with the winter?

On the 2 year old list, the Yanks were 11th, and maybe we are now 15th or 16th. ATL had revenue over $500M, like the Sox and were 19th. CHC had more revenue than BOS, 2 yrs ago and were 26th ( 3 below BOS) On that old list, 6 teams had revenue over $500M with 2 over $700M. If my adjustment puts us at #16, there would be 3 of those 6 teams ahead of us (LAD, PHI & NYY) and 2 below (ATL & CHC.) That does not seem like the basis for such an extreme view, like Fred's. Other big spenders back in 2024: #13. $494M HOU is spending less and less #14. $448M SFG is spending less. #1. $444M NYM keep on spending, but not as nutty as before. #6. $432M SDP #8. $410M LAA- the laughing stock of MLB on spending #7. $406M TEX- has not been spending a lot, recently.

If he believes it, it's not being dishonest. He's spent enough to make us a winning team again, so even on that front, it's not dishonesty. If he said, "I'm going to spend enough to be a top 3 contender," that would be dishonesty, assuming he doesn't think we are top 3, now.

I do think Contreras out OPSs Bregman, but wouldn't it be nice if he out OPSs Alonso? Would you go quietly into the sunset? 😏

Being in the middle is being in the middle- not "cheap." Can he spend more and way more? Of course. Should he? I'd say yes, but these guys are about making money, as are 95% of all owners. We live in a capitalistic world, but we insist JH act like a commie.

Durbin with a nice RBI, today. Saurez went 3 innings. He looked better than his last start.

He certainly did Song no good. BTW, he's Rule 5 eligible again, this December.

You are the one using 2 year old data as your foundation. Why is it up to me to verify your foundation? I'll do one cursory calculation for you based on old and questionable data. We are at $266M, now. 265/574 is now $46.3%. That would put us at #16 in MLB. Right smack in the middle. Not high and not low.

Yes. Just say this a thousand times, and you'll be even with your "JH never spends" or "JH won't open his wallet." The way I see it, JH went way too long spending so little, that by a lot spending now, it is deceiving. He's barely got us to where we were 7-8 years ago, without factoring in inflation and the massive upticks in spending by a few teams at the top. He HAS spent a lot in the last 2 years. That's a fact that cannot be denied. He may have spent more on winter spending in the last two winters than any back-to-back winters in Sox history. Yes, the context I mentioned is important, but saying he's "not spending" is just not true. The issue is that he got us to such a low point in spending that he needed to do even more spending to get us where we needed to be to be a top 4-5 contender. (I think we got close: we maybe be a top 6-10 contender, depending on who is doing the projections.)

It's at least two years old, and we don't know how accurate that one data source was when they said what they said. We've added a big chunk of spending since 2024. So have some others, but mostly by just a handful of teams thatw ere already ahead of us. In 2024, we were 23rd ranked at 42.1%. We were just 0.8% from the middle tier (42.9% for #20 STL and 7.8% from 49.7% for #11 NYY) We were 7.8% from top 10 (BAL at 49.9%.) This was two years ago. cots had us at $226 AAV in 2024 and $266 for 2026. Do the math, and we should insist Fredd give us the 2026 numbers, if he wants to make this the central point of his case.

Broken record. You make this the number one issue, so you tell us. Stop saying JH does not spend, when he may have added more salary than any other team, this winter. You can make a valid point without saying something false over and over.

We didn't sign Gray- we traded for him. So, what lane did you pick? I assume you wanted a big bat over Suarez & IKF (like Alonso for about the same AAV.) That means it's on Brez and not the "low spending" by JH.

Nice post. Let's say Tolle, Valera & Delzine have a 20% chance of becoming a #1 or #2, and Early, Witherspoon & Phillips have a 10% chance. Maybe Eyanson, Bennett and someone else have a 5% chance. The odds come to 49% one of the top 3 guys becomes a 1-2, 27% one of the 10% guys becomes a 1-2 and 14% one of the three 5% guys makes it that high. Add them up, and the chances are pretty good we get one or maybe two.

A look at the OF on the farm... #7 Justin Gonzales (may play 1B) #16 Bleis (IMO over-rated) #17 Cespedes (listed at 2B, also over-rated) #18 Azocar (19 yrs old) #20 Castro (the last of the over-rated trio) #23 Rivas (17 yrs old) #25 Taylor (22 at A+) #33 Silverio (DSL) #37 Y Rod AA #49 I Jackson (Grissom trade) #55 A Fermin (A-) There is some promise here, and a little bit of depth, but not a highly rated OF group. The good thing is, we have 3 OF'ers locked up for 4+ years plus Duran.

A look at corner infield on the farm... 1B: #7 Justin Gonzales may end up as an OF'er but with his size, I'm thinking 1B might be his final landing spot. He's only 19 and should begin the season in A+. Lots of potential. 3B: #12 Romero might be the best hope at 3B, at least in the upper minors. It's hard to know which SSs could end up at 3B. The only other top 60 prospects listed at 1B or 3B are: 43 Nunez A+ (SS) 46 Brooks Brannon AA (C/1B) 53 Jostin Ogando (FCL) 56 Jhorman Bravo FCL (Utility) Not much depth. Here are the projected corner IF roster slots: AAA Sogard/Hickey/Seigler 1B, Romero/McDonough 3B AA: Brannon/Tyler Miller 1B, Liendo/Stanley Tucker 3B A+: Anderson/ F Encarnacion 1B, Nunez 3B A-: Ortiz, Jimenez 1B, Winnay, Hodge 3B FCL: Brito, Mambel 1B, Bravo 3B

They are ultra-conservative on giving out those projections, but to me, we have so many promising pitching prospects with a lot of upside potential that one or two are almost certainly going to become a solid #2 or a decent #1, at some point. They state that Valera has the "early makings of a potential high-end starting pitching prospect." Delzine "high upside arm" and significant potential that "is potentially the best for any Red Sox IFA pitcher in recent history." (I wonder if that goes back to Anderson Espinoza signed in 2014.) Phillips "high-ceiling right hander with a wide range of outcomes." (Kinda wishy-washy but not closing the door on his chances.) They do say Tolle has a "ceiling of a number two starter, but even that may be light." They claim Early has the ceiling of a "quality 3rd starter" and a "high-floor, lower-ceiling profile.) They say the same about Eyanson with the "high-floor, low-ceiling" comment. Witherspoon "mid rotation upside." Bennett "potential back-end starter."

I think he walks more batter than DHern used to walk.

I think DD saw something in Song when he first got him w the Sox, and took a flyer. I'm glad we got Song back, but how far down is he on the pen depth chart, now? It's hard to know how many SP'ers are on the pen depth chart (Sandoval, Crawford, Tolle, Early, Uberstine, Sikkema, Gamboa, Bennett...) but soxprospects.com has the AAA chart like this: Samaniego (assumed the closer) Devin Sweet & Seth Martinez (8th inning) Tayron Guerrero before Song (7th inning)

Good points, but neither can be viewed as a long term solution if Contreras hits a long IL stint, and Casas is not ready. (Also, Casas should be a DH only player.)

AAV added to the Red Sox, this winter... $41M (-20M paid by STL) Gray $26M Suarez (5 year deal) $21M (-$4M paid by STL) Contreras $6M IKF One could argue the $18M/2 spent on Sandoval last winter was all about 2026. That's $94M added ($112M if Sandoval added) $70M if you subtract what STL is paying ($98M w Sandy.) To say JH has not spent is most absurd. Then, add the two major extensions that kicked in: $16M Anthony $8M Campbell $94M or $112M w Sandy $118M or $132M counting the STL's payments. I'm not even sure the Dodgers spent this amount, this winter.

Didn't you already agreed with the statement that had Brez spent the Gray and IKF money on a big bat, it would have been a good winter? So, is it JH not spending enough or Brez not spending it wisely? Pick a lane.