notin

And this is where the bullpen turns a close game into a blowout, negating the need for the runs the Sox will score later…

Sometimes I think Cora manages this team like he’s trying to show Breslow how much he doesn’t like this roster…

Ok, where?

That doesn’t mean it’s the same as saying we need more WAR. If a company wanted to increase revenue, and the plan was “sell more stuff”, that’s the same level of analysis W-L record brings. But if he at least says “sell more stuff in the Asia-PAC region”, he’s now started the beginning stages of his analytical plan. And that is what WAR can do that W-L can’t…

I struggle to buy into the most casually thrown-around phrase on Sox forums that i certainly don’t understand and I think has just become a blame catch-all, the infamous “screwed up his development.” In the case of Whitlock, what was wrong with his development? He appears to have turned out to be a very talented pitchers. He lacks durability, but not like many where it’s the stamina, something that can be changed. But rather, extensive pitching causes physical problems for Whitlock. The Sox have repeatedly ignored this, operating on the premise that past injuries cannot predict future ones. Only to be proven wrong each time. Whitlock does appear to be best suited for the pen, but he’s already shown his ability to excel there. His development has been fine. This is not like Jeter Downs, where after a missed season, the Sox thrust him ahead two full minor league levels and he was never the same. Maybe THAT screwed up his development. Of course, it’s also possible Downs was simply never all that good. Or Jay Groome. Injury after injury, yet the Sox kept him in a starting role until they finally unloaded him and acquired a useless salary dump. This I might be what Whitlock would look like had the Sox “screwed up his development” IMO. I guess I struggle to buy into the idea that a player who reaches the majors and sticks had his development all that screwed up by someone else…

You think Henry cares? The $17mill he’s paying Sale is the least money he’s paid Sale to not pitch for him. I think the $100ish paid to Sale the previous 4 years was probably more bothersome…

Bloom had an opportunity to deal Sale to Texas in 2022 with Texas taking the entire contract and giving nothing back. Reportedly Bloom wanted a decent prospect pack, and Teaxas refused, so the deal never happened. As for Breslow, maybe if Sale had pitched occasionally between 2020 and 2023, he’d still be here…

I can agree with that, but that would be a far cry from “appeasing the fans.” It also explains the lackluster offer to Bogaerts. Essentially saying “we can offer you this, but we really don’t need you.”

Story was to appease the fans? All that deal showed was the Sox occasional willingness to spend. Of course if that was their only goal, a six year deal was an odd place. Ive heard many critics of the Story deal say Bogaerts would have signed for the same money/years. If so, it wasn’t cheaper. There are lots of theories about why Story was signed. That he was a top target has never been one of them, and the fact that they waited so long to move on him supports that he wasn’t…

Trading Renfroe for Bradley was about defense…

Hard disagree. Several teams doing much less offensively - scoring fewer runs, putting up lower OPS - have better records. Why? Run prevention. The Sox defense has been at or near the bottom all season long. The pitching started out hot, but then cooled off drastically. And the bullpen has shown far too often no lead is safe. Sure, the Sox could win more games if they scored more runs, but they’re already doing so at a very good pace. They could win even more if they could play better defense or the bullpen could hold a few more 3 run leads. Just because they have the occasional cold stretch or get shut down by an elite arm doesn’t change this. Do people think other teams don’t do this, too? The one chink in their offensive armor is the struggle vs LHP. And if you look at their runs scored and OPS in those games, the source of those struggles is obvious as well…

Castillo trade - BTV silliness. If the Sox go after Castillo, the deal isn’t likely to include Yoshida (or Story)… The Casas/Abreu for Miller trade is intriguing.

Yes let’s use the two year sample so we get those higher numbers for Castillo and Garver. Or using 2024 alone: Yoshida: 1.6 bWAR Castillo plus Garver: 1.6 bWAR

It’s actually the least likely trade I’ve ever made that works on BTV with no money added. I know Luis Castillo is owed a lot of money, but I think that site undervalues him a bit. I think he still has positive trade value…

Well, 2b had had a lot of changes since the Sox acquired Grissom. Hamilton and Kristian Campbell, to name two. The big issue in that deal is Seattle giving up 31yo Luis Castillo, who has 3 years $73.5 mill (or so) left on his contract. And so far this year, he’s given them 1.9 bWAR for an ROI, a mean drop from last seSo 3.4 bWAR. Granted, could be one bad season. It happens. And most likely, Seattle keeps him to find out. But if they move him, they can upgrade at DH and dump Mitch Garver and his Offensive Ineptitude as opposed to paying him $13mill to be a backup catcher…

So would the other two teams, except for Chicago and Seattle…

Incorrect, because WAR can be isolated to each position to show where improvement is needed most. Can’t do that with W-L record. Most areas of improvement are obvious on this team. And will focus on pitching. But there are other areas just in case it’s not as easy to fix the pitching as many think…

Sox at least bounce back after disheartening loss last night…

Yeah the Sox rushed him out the door after a brief trial period of a mere 8 years…

Sometimes Cora manages the bullpen like he’s trying to prove he doesn’t have good relievers…

He’s old. Not everyone plays into their mid 30s. Are you seriously clinging to the Long Island Ducks after his ELEVEN YEAR MLB CAREER. Believe it or not, that’s not a short career and not a given for every player. Are you trying to make people take you less seriously?

Yeah let’s highlight plate discipline and the Long Island Ducks and ignore that he had an 11 year MLB career that included a Gold Glove, an All Star selection, and an ALCS MVP. How did he ever make the Ducks? (Sarcasm)

A big reason is Devers…

He’s also pretty young. Bello is only 7 months older than Fitts, and the latter has all of two career MLB starts..

I stand by Bello (and Crawford) as a pitcher who deserves more appreciation. The Sox have 3 good (not great) young pitchers right now, and maybe Fitts can be a fourth. Although right now Fitts is merely Juan Peña 2.0…