notin

And Bobby Kielty, with his WS Game 4 home run that was the difference. Hey sometimes it’s the lesser acquisitions that make the greater difference...

And the way he has been working those types of deals, he might take a salary dump and get a prospect as well...

Glad you were there to take his call. I have him blocked. He knows why...

I’ve wondered about that scenario in the past. We as fans like the deadline acquisitions when the message to us is “We’re trying to win right now!” But do the actual players hear that same message? Obviously trading away MLB roster players sends a clear message to both fans and players. But what about inactivity at the deadline? Do players view that as a quiet white flag? Or do they hear a message saying “you guys are good enough to win it all as is”? I have absolutely no idea...

Even a lot of those cheap outfielders appeared to cost more than the Sox were willing to spend. Sure, say, Eddie Rosario only cost what, $8mill for one year. But who was the last free agent the Sox signed for with an AAV that high? Right now the only one Bloom has signed is Enrique Hernandez. And while Hernandez is not exactly crushing it (99 OPS+), neither is Rosario (74 OPS+). This year, putting together a quick fix team did not appear to be the priority, because spending heavily with no cheap fill-in players is a death trap for a team. The Sox took some chances with scouting report guys with weak stats, like Cordero and Pivetta. The down side is, they could easily continue to flounder or get injured. But even if that happens, there is no real commitment. They're not stuck paying them for the next 4 to 6 seasons to continue to flop. But the goal was clearly to get players behind them in the minors. Players who might not becaome stars, but at the very least, can make the roster while being paid league minimum, which frees up the budget to either bring in better players or extend some of the current players like Devers and Verdugo, or both. Obviously the Sox hope Cordero and Pivetta and probably a few others can play well enough to join that list. But while that decision is being made, they did not want to be stuck with any other long term commitments, at least not now. The actual real problem with that plan was the Sox started winning. And now fans can't tolerate the gambles they took because they are not all paying off right away. But this team was never expected to be in this position. It''s only been what, a little over two weeks since they got swept at Fenway by lowly Baltimore and John Tomase wrote one of the most scathing articles about this team most of us have ever seen. After reading that article, was the thought really "Well, if we did not have Renfroe and Cordero, we could contend"? THere is going to have to be some patience. This team had a payroll well over $240 million two years ago and finished up in early October, and THAT was when all the really scathing articles about the long term view of the Sox and their commitments to Sale, Price and Eovaldi were gong to drag this team down further, especially given the state of the minimum wage guys aka the "Cliff". And they might have even been correct assessments, but Bloom tried to clean that mess up. Right now, the biggest complaint against him is maybe he cleaned it up too quickly and the team is trying to contend with too many players with unforeseeable futures...

Maybe that's why it's not on top?

I never said don't try an alternative. I said don't try one just because of 46 plate appearances. After 58 PA, Chavis had a 1.236 OPS. After 57 PA, Dustin Pedroia had a .450 OPS. Those small sample sizes lead to any meaningful conclusions? Here's the thing - it's not exactly a secret you wanted Duran here since opening day. But the problem is, Duran has very little time in the outfield and had his learning to play the position interrupted by a pandemic that cost him an entire season. And the 37 games of Arizona Fall League and Foreign Leagues he has played over the past 2 years don't really make up for losing that entire season, especially since he didn't have any Sox coaching. You're probably going to have to wait a bit on him...

We could have hD Benintendi’s .608 OPS instead of Cordero’s .545? It’s an improvement, but a slight one at best...

Cordero missed most of spring training and has 46 plate appearances. Should the Sox demote him and give Jarren Duran 46 plate appearances to impress? What happens if he isn’t impressive in those 46 plate appearances? DFA him and try Gettys for 46 plate appearances?

Yes. 40 (and counting) in 2021 by Corbin Burnes. He already has the record...

Fun baseball stats. After 4 starts, Corbin Burnes has an ERA of 0.34 and an ERA+ of 1101 and doesn’t lead the National League in either category. Jake deGrom has a WHIP of 0.553 and is a distant second in the NL...

And if they switch Houck to the pen, it’s not the worst idea...

Who cares what arm a guy throws with if everyone crushes the few strike he throws? Ineffectivity need not be justified by left-handedness. And the whole “needing a lefty in the pen” got a lot less important with the (highly questionable) three batter minimum rule...

At least while Arroyo is hitting...

The Yankees should just replace him with me. Red Sox fans would love that move...

But not Taylor Actually I would imagine a big part of why some of the struggling payers who have options left (like Taylor) have not been demoted is there is really no place to demote them to if they have to work on things. We might see some players hit the Worcester Shuttle once Worcester actually opens for business. I would not be surprised if Taylor went down and either Houck or Bazardo was brought up. I would be very surprised if Cordero went down just so the equally questionable Jarren Duran could be brought up, and that Duran is not on the 40 man roster is the smallest part of it...

I said all winter they needed Andrelton..

I doubt it has any impact. The Sox are already a huge spending team. What other team has a payroll north of $175 million during rebuilding years? And July really isn’t a “spending” month; it’s a trading month. He might take on a questionable contract, but Bloom had to give something up for it (re: outbid other teams with MiLB players) if it’s anyone worthwhile. And even then, it’s likely a short term player, like Scherzer (assuming the Nats don’t right the ship)...

Does Cordero have an option? Maybe they will send him when the AAA season starts. Fangraphs lists 2, but I doubt it. It does seem like he could have one remaining, depending on when San Diego added him to the 40 man roster...

I doubt Sox fans notice a difference. We’re still among the highest spending teams. And the tax thing is linked to the current CBA, which is short term. But even if Henry “ignored the tax” (which he already does until the penalty gets to its highest limit), and ups the payroll to $1 billion, will we still have Sox fans who insist he’s cheap?

I just couldn’t back Arroyo at the time given his limited sample and even more limited success...

Cordero has never had 160 PA in a season. He really doesn't have a history. Renfroe is a weak side platoon role player. I do think Duran will get a shot this year, but until then the answer might best be either Hernandez in CF, Verdugo in RF and platoon Renfroe and Cordero in LF with Arroyo at 2B. Or at a bare minimum, platoon Renfroe with Marwin Gonzalez in LF. The only actual potential OF in the Sox system above A ball is Duran, with the possible exception of an AAAA type like Gettys or Puello. Or Munoz, who is just another versatile utility player who possesses the skill to play 7 positions equally poorly. Options are pretty limited internally...

Of course, Mookie never took a year off for pandemic reasons...

Hey if Barnes is going to give up a three-run home run, best he do it when protecting a 4 run lead...

I think some fans forget Duran didn’t play outfield until late in the 2018 season, played there regularly in 2019, and then didn’t have a 2020...