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When we have limited data, the debate is about the logic of these two extensions and not the results. I can see an argument that Rafaela was probably not the right candidate. Big extensions for players based on defense are rare, and the only other one that leaps to mind (Seattle’s Evan White) was a massive flop at a much lower cost. Bello’s $9mill AAV is high leverage reliever/backend starter money. So it’s not a big deal if that’s actually the role he settles into IMO. And now lock up Houck and Crawford. Casas is being difficult so let him wait and think about how much value injury-prone first basemen with limited defense really have. Even the ones who can hit in April…

Yeah MLB has always had bigger priorities than simply using advertising revenue. And this is the one game whose very structure is so conducive to commercial breaks…

Kavadas strikes me as a left-handed Dalbec with limited defense. Yes, Nico is pounding the ball in Worcester, but that’s also been done by every utility infielder the Sox have trotted out this year disguised as a major leaguer. And from the “what do they have to lose” argument, it’s probably more likely Smith and Cooper recapture some of the talent that actually got them to MLB than Kavadas has of creating the kind of talent you need when you get promoted by default…

Agreed, with the caveat that for players with longer careers, last 3 seasons is probably enough. What a 32yo player accomplished at 23 bares little relevance today…

Never judge an 8 year extension by the first 6 weeks…

So now MLB is concerned that people might not be able to watch their product? Given their antiquated and moronic blackout rules, this was clearly never a concern before…

“The Sandlot” is my favorite as well, just ahead of “Eight Men Out”. “Long Gone” is criminally underrated, as is “Little Big League” “Major League” was a ripoff of the far superior “Bull Durham”…

I like the idea of wrapping up young players early. Rafaela looks a bit worse because he’s a glove-first player playing out of position most of the time. But it’s good to see the Sox doing this for once. And it helps that neither of these deals are so crazy that the player cannot be dealt. Next they need to extend Crawford and Houck…

I think they’re not active enough. They did get Garrett Cooper, but passed on Deivi Garcia and Roansy Contreras. Baumann is a surprising DFA here. He’s pitching well, but Baltimore had no one with options. Baumann will definitely get claimed, so hopefully Breslow can make a deal first…

There’s definitely some misspending, but ownership is at fault as well. They are most likely at fault for not extending Betts, something the Sox had been trying to do since at least 2017. And the payroll has gone from $240mil to under $180mill. A far cry from poverty, but that they’re moving in that direction certainly magnifies any and every misstepThe Sox have ALWAYS signed bad free agent/extension contracts. From Danny Darwin and Jack Clark to Frank Viola to Edgar Renteria to Hanley/Rusney/Pablo to David Price to Yoshida. But with higher payrolls, they could bury these mistakes. But since players are getting more expensive and the Sox are spending less, mistakes are harder to cover up…

Baltimore DFAd Mike Baumann? Go get ‘im Breslow!!

I think they use Wong at DH too much. But I’m one of those types that doesn’t like bring through the catchers unnecessarily. If Wong DHs and and McGuire gets hurt, then what? Or if you need to run for McGuire. Let Cooper and Smith get themselves going…

While I certainly agree Sox management knows more about every situation than we do, does that mean they’re always right? If so, e we really are not left with much to complain about on this board. Part of me thinks the decision to put Whitlock in the rotation is more guided by finances than many of us would like. Replacement relievers are cheaper than replacement starters

So your criticism of Devers is he isn’t a Hall of Fame caliber player? I don’t think anyone disagrees, including Devers. But it’s not exactly the harshest criticism, either. His D is weak, but I don’t think he will be spending much more of his career at 3b…

+1…

Tampa North would be fine, but it seems more like he wants to be Cincinnati East…

If you’ve already given up, does it matter?

I’m hoping the surprise performance of Criswell pushes Whitlock back into the bullpen…

Dictionary.com is artificial. Just like Q-Anon. (Apolitical dude note: Netflix has a documentary out called “The Anti-Social Network” that tells the story of 4chan.com, up through its evolution to 8chan.com and the creation of Q-Anon. If you’re hating the Sox and need a break, I recommend it as it’s quite good.)

“Artificial” means “man-made”. After all, the root word is “art”. And that’s how you know its me…

MLBTR used to have the occasional story about a player learning about his own trade from their site…

John Wetteland, Rob Dibble, Randy Myers, etc. These guys didn’t call themselves the Brain Dead Heavers because they mixed up their pitches. I can’t remember the rest of the Heavers, but I think there were a few more…

I don’t expect them to do my fitting suggestions. Not sure why that’s so difficult for you to grasp. But that seems to be a theme with you. You also don’t seem to grasp that Cora isn’t playing “the hand he’s dealt.” He’s in on the dealing. Breslow and Cora probably talk a lot more than you realize about this stuff. Cora did it with the Astros and he wasn’t even the manager there. So Dombrowski/Bloom/Breslow are not making any moves Cora doesn’t know about beforehand and probably has input on in many cases. With the money involved, Henry definitely wants everyone on the same page. And Cora has absolutely shown he prefers offensive metrics to defensive ones. Most if not all of the stuff you complain about Bloom for is more Cora than you think. He never had to play Arroyo in right field; Cora chose to because he wanted Arroyo’s bat in the lineup over Bradley. Really, he never had to play Franchy at 1b either. Dalbec was always there. And it’s even possible Cora requested Shaw get DFAd. It’s very doubtful that just got dropped on him. And no way Bloom forced Cora to play Arroyo and Franchy out of position. One thing well known about Cora - massive ego. No way he sticks around for that. Not to mention, if Bloom wanted to run the show, he never had to hire Cora back. Certainly Cora doesn’t always get what he wants, a good example being Carlos Santana. But it’s an extremely safe bet nothing gets dropped in his lap either… And I didn’t say they don’t value defense

You are even dumber than I thought. And I thought I set the bar pretty low…

Skenes final line: 6IP 0ER 0H 1BB 12K