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When Ty Cobb played, teams didn’t even have specialized bullpens, let alone closers. Saves, which were not a stat and wouldn’t be for more than a half century, usually went to starting pitchers on their off days. Had anyone kept the stat, Lefty Grove would have lead the league in saves multiple times and in 1930, would have lead the AL in both saves and wins...

That’s because the ninth inning isn’t always the toughest. Like in Tuesday’s loss. Barnes came in and faced the 3-4-5 hitters in the Cleveland lineup in the eighth. Sure, they could have saved him for the ninth to face Roberto Perez (career .208 hitter), Jake Bauers, and Greg Allen (.087 BA). But then who was going to face Santana, Luplow and Jose Ramirez? Ryan Brasier? The guy couldn’t retire the hitters at the bottom of the order, but he’s going to be successful against the heart of the order? If you don’t have good relievers, the roles don’t matter and rigidly assigning them roles just because isn’t going to work. Because they aren’t very good. All you’re doing is deciding to get beaten in the 8th inning instead of the 9th. And if you have a lot of good relievers, roles don’t matter because, well, everyone is good...

So no one had a good bullpen before 1995?

Oh I wouldn’t sweat the draft pick. The guy running the Sox draft took Kyle Sleeth with the #2 overall pick. (Of course he used another #2 pick to get Verlander. He does have some hits.) The Sox will lose Porcello, Sandoval, Pearce, Moreland, and Thornburg off the books, which is about $54mill in AAV. But they will see raises to a few players, notably Betts, that cut into that. (Also bringing back Porcello might be a good idea.) On the trade market, the best chips the Sox can part with are probably Dalbec and Chatham, since both are close to MLB but blocked long term. (Although the Sox could squeeze one in depending on where Chavis plays.) But no one will be making any big moves yet, because other teams will want all the offers on the table. So for now, internal options and the waiver wire are the best bets. While moved like these are typically less likely to make an impact, unlike trades, they can easily be undone. That’s why the Sox might be better off right now getting Rodney and promoting Mejia. If either is no better than what they have, release the deadweight for minimal cost. The Sox would only need to clear one 40 man roster spot, but that could happen with a DFA of 31yo career minor leaguer Josh Smith...

Ockimey was available to everybody last December for nothing more than a roster spot reserved for a backup utility infielder. And every team passed. No one is giving up anything the Sox need just for the ability to stick Ockimey in AAA...

Unlike most things, mal, that was before your time

Eh. Not really. Not with how Dombrowski drafts...

Or that Dalbec is a highly regarded prospect? Conley would be the third best pitcher in the Sox bullpen, possibly the second. And he’d be a different look, since he isn’t a right-handed curve baller. I mean, sure he’s no Brandon Kintzler. But he might be one, once regression sets in. And like I said, who do you think the Sox could get for Dalbec?

Easter Hasenfeffer...

Why would Pedroia retire? If you were owed $50,000 from your employer for not working and all you had to do to collect it was not retire, would you? Now imagine that instead of $50,000, it was $25,000,000...

Gorkys Time!!!!

No it isn’t. It’s a reminder that just because people always believed something is not a reason to still believe it. Or do I have to break bad news to you about the Easter bunny?

Exactly why do you think Barnes is a bad pitcher? Most of the complaints you’ve made are flat out not true...

Dombrowski has been hit or miss with this type of bullpen strategy. So far, I think it’s a miss...

Nunez? No Pearce?

It’s getting so that a bullpen can’t give up 21 earned runs in a 9 inning stretch without people getting all judgy...

He’s not closing because Cora is using him when the game is actually on the line and against better hitters. Not his fault Ryan Brasier couldn’t hold the lead against the bottom of the worst lineup in baseball

Barnes is far and away the best reliever in the Sox pen and your desperate searches for flaws in his games don’t change that fact...

And there was a time when the belief that the Earth was flat and the sun revolved around the Earth. And people believed it because everyone always had. Things change..,

11 runs in the last 4 innings

So the ideal hitter #3 hitter would be someone capable of avoiding double plays. Like a speedy flyball hitter...

Not just cost, but also years. Not like Kimbrel has expressed a willingness to take 2 or 3 years...

Just how well regarded is Dalbec? He’s a three-true-outcome guy in the minors. His future is probably a Russ Branyan who has the defensive skills to stay at third. And how is Kintzler (2.3 career fWAR at age 34) a better pitcher than Conley (3.0 career fWAR at age 29)?

Conley has more control than Reed had. Want a spare part potential free agent deal? Greg Holland? Cody Allen? For who?

What do you expect to get for Dalbec? Or what other better trade chip should the Sox part with?