moonslav59

Maybe 6th to 12th, if I had to guess. I don't think JH will ever spend like a handful of maniac owners are, now. 6th might be tops, unless some of these big spenders start wanting to reset. No doubt, the big cut to the budget for 2024 sucks. I think we all are unhappy with this turn, but look at this selected group of team spending over the last few years, and determine where the biggest changes were made. (Hint: it's not cuts to the Sox budget.) '24 Team 2021 308M NYM 201 307M NYY 205 250 HOU 194 245 PHI 197 232 TEX 96 230 ATL 153 228 LAD 265 227 CHC 144 226 TOR 150 197 SFG 172 183 BOS 187 I'm not defending the fact that we are not spending more, each year, but we are spending about the same, while others have even doubled their spending in 3 years (TEX) or gone up by 40-50% (NYM, NYY, ATL, CHC, TOR.) That's 5 teams that have spent at absurd or near absurdly higher levels than just 3 years ago. I don't expect JH to match their absurdity. He could, however, spend more. He could spend up to the tax line and go over by a little, every other year or 2 years in a row, from time to time. (He has done that in the past, and has often pulled back on spending to reset, sometimes staying under the line for a couple years.) The tax line is $237, this year. Spenind $236M would place the Sox 5th. $226 would place us 9th. $198M would bump us up one slot, overtaking SFG for 10th. The big unknown is what we will do in 2025 or 2026. Nobody knows.

I totally agree, but did he spend more than ever on a player, or not?

It's hard to select and develop top catchers. It seems like a position with more misses than most others.

How about Yoshida for injured SP'er Robbie Ray? We could use another one of those.

The $300M deal for Devers started, this year. The previous highest deal was $215M/7 for Price. The next highest was Manny at $160M before JH's time. JH is spending less, this year, and he spent way less in 2020, and that's why Betts is gone. The biggest change has not been JH spending less, but other GMs spending more- some absurdly more.

What good is cheaper, if we don't use the money saved? IMO, Yoshida has a better chance of hitting over .700 than Abreu or Dalbec. If only he could play 1B.

Knowing him, he might. You are right. He should still try bunting more. Keep teh D on their toes and in a step.

You missed my point. I'm saying don't trade Yoshida, if they won't spend the money. Others are acting like they think the money saved will help us down the road. I'm not as sure as you, but unless and until I see it, I'm guessing no. JH has a 2 decade history of spending and going cheap in cycles. The Devers extension just kicked in- the largest contract in Sox history by a long shot. That gives me reason to not be 100% in your camp.

If he steals one base after any of those 3 singles, it might as well be .777.

I can't blame them, but unless we use any savings on a trade, why take on Abreu?

3 for 9 seems like something to keep trying.

Unless we spend the savings, which is not guarantee, I'd rather keep Yoshida and hope he improves.

Toshiba has better upside. Unless we save money AND use it, I wouldn’t do it

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If he could bunt well, it might draw the corner IF'ers in and allow for more hits on well-placed grounders, too.

All the walks and the HBP loading them up for Jose was the biggest mistake.

Using an opener was bound to bite us in the ass. Chase was not the answer, today. Criswell has gotten the job done, but I fear it might just be smoke and mirrors. I'm not sure what other in-house options we have, except to hope and pray Whitlock and Pivetta can return, sooner rather than later, and be in form. Neither has started a rehab game, yet, that I know of, so we will likely have 1-2 more rotation cycles before one returns, at best. Now, with Bello out, we may have to use more opener games or try Wink as a SP'ers. We could maybe add Gambrel to the 40 and call him up. Maybe Fitts. Maybe the nice start Alexander for a wing and a prayer. This is not going to be easy.

Yuk!

All down to Ref and maybe Abreu. Strangely enough, it's not all that hopeless.

It gives new meaning to the question, "Did you see the Hamilton play?"

He did throw out the guy before him.

You had to say it!

They really stuck with Abreu a long time, last year, and it kinda worked out. This year, the leash was shorter, but I would not want Abreu for min wage, right now. He's probably got more upside than Dalbec, but we can do better (like Cooper or Cron.)

..and O'Neill 5th, and...

Yes, I know that and respect it. I'm not as high on FIP as you and others, but it does show value and trends. It's better than using BAbip to determine the luck factor.