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I do miss Portland. I don't miss Pawtucket.

I'm just outside of Chicago. I've been to the Quad Cities, and I could pass, and I'm not even a very exciting guy. But I actually think Iowa City (which I would never call a big city. It's really just a Big 10 School with multiple zip codes.) is one of the coolest cities I have ever been to, despite the fact that it is always under construction. I tell you, it's going to be great if they ever finish it...

There not going to change the foul ball rules again. It's been done twice and the changes to the game have been drastic. But.. the foul ball, and specifically the Wade Boggs approach of intentionally fouling off borderline pitches until you get something you want, is one of the biggest factors in pace of play. MLB should enforce the existing rules for a pitch clock, but everything else they are suggesting will be inconsequential. Especially the 3-batter minimum rule, which might knock an average off of about .0005 minutes per game. I hjave repeatedly suggested this, but MLB really should abandon the pratice of allowing teams the entire 40 man roster in September. This is the only time of year the 3 batter rule might make a difference, since some teams will have 12 bullpen pitchers and can afford to make multiple pitching changes per inning. But maybe with Bruce Bochy retiring, this problem goes away, too. (It won't. But Bochy was far and away the worst abuser of this.) Still the idea of expanded rosters for one month is stupid. What other sport does this?

Apparently you like Travis and Ockimey a lot better than I do....

To me, if sportrac is correct, the Sox have $56mill for arbitration cases and everything else before they cross the luxury tax line. The arb cases for Betts, Benintendi, Rodriguez, Workman, and Barnes should easily top $40mill and will probably be closer to $45mill, maybe slightly over Hopefully not over that amount by too much. As for stretching out Hernandez, he needs more than durability. He needs control, and lots of it I think he is best utilized in short doses, like from the bullpen. Unless he can find the strike zone a lot better, he will certainly have bad days out there, but also good ones. Put him in a role where he has to pitch 5 or 6 IP every time, he will absolutely have a bad inning every outing...

Or a 2b, if Chavis plays 1b. 2b is typically easier to fill and we have better internal candidates for 2b than 1b...

I have my doubts about Bobby Dalbec being able to replace JD Martinez at the plate. If the Sox don’t trade Dalbec,what do you recommend they do to replace Porcello?

It is a possibility. Just one we all hope doesn't get exercised...

It seems to be such a consensus opinion that it's probably false..

Except it gets tough to rely on any team ever drafting like the Sox did in 2011. That was just a great draft. And Bradley certainly took a long time to get going. Had he not been such an offensive no-show to start his career, the Sox might have never moved Betts to the outfield and very possibly never signed Rusney Castillo. But more important, these players were already in the farm for the last place finishes. The Sox have no one currently in their farm that such hopes can be pinned on. Certainly a player or two can make some sort of tremendous leap, but you can't count on it. But if you're counting on the future drafts, these two players took 3 years to debut. As dgalehouse points out, the Sox can't afford to starve while waiting for the farm to produce...

JDM was barely capable of playing outfield this season and had some back issues. He’s a DH and nothing more at this point...

The Sox could keep Dalbec as a 1B. I'm not particularly wild about him anywhere but 3B, where at least he offers defensive skills. At 1b, you lose his defensive skills at the easier position and his offensive game is basically that of a three true outcome hitter - all walks, home runs, and (especially in his case) strikeouts. Since the Sox have very little on the farm and are going to need some pitching, and will probably find free agency expensive and counter to any reset plans. So they are going to need to trade someone. To me, Dalbec is the perfect candidate. He is blocked by Devers at third, an unfavorable type of hitter for 1b, and useful to teams that really do need him at his proper position. The goal is to keep that exact core you listed intact - meaning don't trade Betts. Otherwise, how should the Sox replace Porcello? Hernandez is probably better suited to the bullpen. Brian Johnson sucks. And Shawaryn doesn't excite me much either. Any other internal options? Also plugging Sam Travis in as the everyday LF, or even a part time LF, is an option that will grow old fast. If the Sox need a cheap OF, better off with a glove first candidate for CF than an offensive gamble at a corner. If Travis or whoever gets plugged into LF doesn't hit, you have no offense from LF and weakened the defense in CF to accommodate that player. Not a good idea IMO...

It does seem like the best options if a reset is imminent is either 1) reset this year while keeping Betts, and then try to re-sign him after the season, or 2) just trade Betts after this season, and hopefully whatever the Sox get back can help them stay competitive in 2020 and beyond...

Well, the duties are being handled by Romero, Scott and O'Halloran. It's not like they didn't put interim people into the role. The CBS Sports article repeatedly cited Speier and stated the Sox plan to reset within the next 2 seasons. While it certainly doesn't mean Mookie defintely goes elsewhere, I would also think that option is not off the table...

Per Alex Speier, the Sox are thinking about trading Betts, solely for financial reasons. The reset talk might seem like nonsense for a large market team, but I have to think Henry isn't all that wild about repeatedly paying ever-growing luxury tax payments that offer 0 chance of ROI. That he capped DD's spending this season does show even he has his limits...

That was also Dombrowski's attitude, and it contributed - possibly heavily - to his getting fired...

Well, that would explain it. So... yes...

In that plan - which, for those who hate it, bear in mind it ain't gonna happen - he's at 1b with Lin at 2B.

A Reset Plan for 2020 Per sportsrac, the Sox have about $56mill they can spend this offseason and still reset. I think the arbitration cases (Betts, Benintendi, Barnes, Workman, Rodriguez) easily eat up about $45mill. As Bradley already makes $8.8mill, he is easily looking at $10-12mill and simply cannot be afforded. If JD Martinez comes back (which I expect him to for 2020), the Sox would have about $10mill to spend on a SP, CF, RP and either a 1B or 2B, depending on what happens to Chavis. If they deal Betts and/or Martinez, that number does go way up. The Sox could try to fiull 1b or 2B internally. To me, the 1B options (Dalbec, Travis, Ockimey) aren't all that exciting, especially if they want Dalbec at 1b, as it negates the defense he brings. Dalbec is a prime trade candidate (which might be why the Sox didn't call him up.) I am not a fan of either Travis or Ockimey, even as a pltaoon players. Now, maybe the Sox could deal the dirt cheap Travis to Washington for defensive-oriented offensive crapshoot Michael Taylor. While the trade values are a nice match on baseballtradevalues, that site can't gage interest. And I see no reason why Washington would want Travis, except for liking his minimum wage salary. I do suspect the Sox could trade Dalbec for Jose Urena to fill the rotation spot, as that deal actually does make some sense for both teams. It also eats up about half of the Sox remaining budget. The Sox would have to try to get a very cheap CF/OF, someone like Juan Lagares (free agent), Cameron Maybin (free agent), Billy Hamilton (free agent) or Travis Jankowski (trade). Not sure what San Diego would want in that del, and it's tough to tell, since they can basically field a lineup with prospects. So it's likely the cheapest FA, probably Maybin. But I'd hope it's Lagares. If that happens, the Sox probably go internal at 2B, with Hernandez, Lin, or Chris Owings. I'll assume it' Lin, since I think he's the best of the bunch. And a dirt cheap bench - Oscar Hernandez, Sam Travis, Marco Hernandez, and hopefully an outfielder. Like maybe Cole Sturgeon, who deserves some love. But honestly, probably Owings. SP: Sale, Price, Rodriguez, Eovaldi, Urena BP: Workman, Barnes, D Hernandez, Taylor, Brewer, Walden and Brian Johnson. C: Vazquez, Hernandez INF: Chavis, Lin, Bogaerts, Devers, Travis, Hernandez OF: Benintendi, Lagares (or ?), Betts, Owings, Martinez. And that team probably puts the Sox right about at the limit. I can see why there is so much talk about trading Betts...

Like this team is some sort of democracy and we have a say. They don't even read these message boards, let alone consider our opinions...

True. Somehow, they will need to replace Porcello. But that will be tricky as the restr of this scenario plays out since you don't advocate a reset. But you still really won't get a worthwhile SP - even an innings eater - for a 1 year deal unless that pitcher is about the same level of crapshoot as Porcello. Might as well just offer Rick a QO. Martinez makes about $23mill in 2020, and then it drops to about $19mill the last two seasons. He will opt out after 2020, if he ever does, due to that salary drop. Love JBJ, but that part of the plan along with step 6 does ensure a really dry spell. I expect this. Or a trade for a displaced reliever (Blake Treinen?) Pearce is a free agent. Just let him walk Bad move. Resetting after 2020 guarantees the Sox lose both Bradley and Betts. And Martinez will likely opt out for reasons unrelated to losing those two. The Sox will be left with Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi and hope that Price, Sale, Eovaldi can all pitch. No help from below and obviously none coming in via free agency. Everyone always says "this one last title will be worth it," but no one means it. I didn't see anyone saying "But we still have 2013" as the Sox stumbled across the finish line in last place for the second consecutive season in 2015. If the Sox plan to reset, the best idea is to do it before Betts can reach free agency. Bradley is likely gone after 2020 and Martinez is a good bet as well. But if the Sox reset, they can at least afford to get a replacement...

It's not like the choice is up to us. Not sure why people always make the "why do you want to save this guy's money?" argument. It's not about whether or not we want to; it's about whether or not it will happen. Predictions are not wishes. And we all saw this year, Henry absolutely has limits on what he will spend. We have no reason to believe he is ever going to allow an increase...

It's not that simple. first of all, just coming up with another internal option isn't so easy as making a phone call and meeting the guy at the bus depot. The Sox used a bunch of internal options this year, and how many ere any good? Heranadez stood out, but he had clear flaws - such as having less control than Keith Richards in a narcotics detective's evidence locker. As for a $10mill pitcher, great if you get the next Lance Lynn. Not so much if you get the next Trevor Cahill or Matt Harvey...

It really also depends on who you think of as a core player for this team. The obvious "is he or isn't he" is Bradley. I think - and i might be wrong, especially in the wake of incomplete information - that the Sox can reset this off-season and still keep Betts, but that absolutely necessitates non-tendering/trading Bradley and replacing him with a cheaper alternative. And I think of the staff is healthy, the Sox can still be competitive if they do that. Of course, there is no way right now to even guess what the plan is, as we don't have a GM with some sort of history that allows for educated guesses. So it's just about looking at payroll numbers...

Whiule true, shutting him down might also have been influenced by the already-delivered verdict on the Angels' season...