Nick

Me and Story. I'm ready to go. I guess he needs another day off. Do the players request for 'scheduled' day off? Do the players get the schedule on Sunday nights for next week so they can go play golf?

Pivetta's ERA is now up to 4.40. It just feels like our talent is mediocre. Hill is hit and miss. You never know what you're going to get. He can be inning eater. Cheap option as a #5 starter. Wacha probably is our top pitcher when healthy. He's a free agent. Eovaldi is back to breaking down. Who knows what bone Chris will break next. We don't have a season without legit starting pitchers in 2023. We need a bona fide top of the rotation guy.

Well, my back hurts every time he swings.

Will Devers be at risk for injuries as he gets older with his violent swing approach at the plate?

Any concern that Casas at 6-25, 250 does not hit for power? And he plays 1B. They keep talking that it will come. When?

Bloom missed on Jake Dieckman (I'm sure he was hoping for better control) but he erased it by trading him away without having to pay his contract for 2023.

Boston Red Sox’s Frank German has 98-99 mph fastball ‘with really good life’ and 2.30 ERA at Worcester We paid Ottavino's entire salary to get this guy. Looks like he'll be in the pen for the Sox in 2023.

Baseball is still about pitching and we don't have it, injuries, whatever. 4th in AL runs scored, 546, despite low home run total. 2nd most runs allowed, 582 runs. Never count on Sale as people said. They were right. He's become Elijah Freakin' Price.

Xander .807 OPS, third among SS, there are 45 major leaguers with OPS of .800 or higher 9 HR 13th among SS in HR 49 RBI 10th among SS in RBI Xander should be leading off, not hitting 3rd or 4th. How much is he worth? Is it more than $20M? yes Is he worth $30M? I would say to Bloom, NO On what planet do we pay $30M for 9 HR and 49 RBI with at best average defense? Just move Story over to SS until our #1 prospect comes up in 3 or 4 years. Use the $30M you want to spend elsewhere.

He's becoming another Matt Barnes to me.

Why Boston Red Sox might promote Triston Casas soon, perhaps as early as Tuesday; ‘He’s a phenomenal first baseman’ Why the hell not?

I think you would be a fool to give Xander $27M x 6. We loved David Ortiz because of his production and his pay. Not sure if Xander is in David Ortiz territory.

Only stat that will matter at the end Losses 43 Astros (W) 45 Yankees (E) 55 Guardians © ------------------- 54 Seattle (W) 54 Rays (E) 54 Blue Jays (E) ------------------- 55 Twins © 56 Orioles (E) 57 White Sox © 59 SOX (E) We just need to keep winning. We've won 3 straight. 44 Games remaining. Rays (9 games remaining), Blue Jays (6 games remaining), Orioles (10 games remaining).

SP 1 Sale 2 Paxton 3 Pivetta 4 Crawford 5 Winckowski 6 Bello 7 8 9 10 It better be deep, based on injuries this year.

I wouldn't mind pay top dollar for an ace (if there's one out there) on a short deal. No more than 2 years......from the Rounder "pay the man".

Spoken like a mini-Bloom. (I agree with it)

You don't give up on this kid. He still comes cheap. Platooning may save him.

Devers is 6-for-44 (.136 batting average) in August. Bogaerts is 10-for-45 (.222) and Martinez is 8-for-41 (.195). Say what you will but we aren't going to make up any grounds with this. JD is losing money every day with his prolonged slump. $30M to Xander? No thank you.

I agree. Anything $30M and above just feels too much.

Time to construct next year's position roster. Based on Bloom's History. Pham signed a one year deal for $7.5M ($6M plus $1.5M mutual buyout). Assuming the 'mutual option' is agreed on, he's on board in 2023 for $6M. To me this is no brainer. Bloom will want him. Obviously Pham can decline and look for a better deal (unlikely) Howser too can opt out or stay with the Sox for 3 more years. His contract was front loaded. After earning $20M per year for 5 years, he will be getting only $13M for last three years of his eight year contract. Not sure if anyone is willing pay him more than 3year/$39M. Again, this trade is Bloomisque. Padres will pay all but the league minimum. Howser can occupy 1B until Casas is brought up, then become our DH. C 1B Howser/Dalbec 2B Story SS 3B Devers LF Pham CF Duran RF Verdugo DH Howser/Dalbec This is the most logical approach in my mind thinking like Bloom. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE...go after Aaron Judge. Why NOT go after Cubs catcher? We may have young guns in our farm but our young bats are two or three years away. Note on Xander. People on board rightfully speak about 'going rate' when looking at pay scale for players. Xander has the second highest OPS, .825, but the traditional measuring stick is not very good in my book, 9 HR and 47 RBI. On what planet, if the name Xander was not attached to it, would anyone give him $30M annual salary, especially in light of his defensive metrics? One can say well the Twins gave Correa, 3 year $35M per annum deal with giving HIM the opt out option after first two years. I don't see Henry being okay with Bloom saying well, sir, Correa got 3 year $105M deal. But 13HR, 37RBI, .767 OPS deserve $35M? I don't give freak about the going rate when its above $25M. I'm ready to move on from Xander.

Moon does a great job looking at team's overall 'budget'. As a former CPA, I just can't get excited about anyone talking about adding players to the roster without mentioning overall financial implication. Question is always where will the money come from.....HOW DO YOU ALLOCATE $230M OR WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS? Let's just look at our cheap cost talent. Houck Schrieber Brasier Sawamura Dalbec Arroyo Verdugo Duran Crawford Winckowski Bello Over $25M club Chris Sale ($25.6M) Over $20M club possible savings of $42M Story ($23.3M) Xander (probably gone after 2022, relieves $20M) JD (gone after this year, relieves $22M) Over $15M club savings of $33M Eovaldi (probably gone after this year, relieves $17M) David Price (last year of pay not to play at $16M) Over $10M club possible savings of $10M Devers (will need $10M bump for 2023) Paxton (may get 2 year option picked up) Over $5M Club Savings of $19M Barnes ($9.375 2nd biggest mistake by Bloom) Kike ($7M) Wacha ($7M) Hill ($5M) How will Bloom allocate maybe $90M in available spending?

He definitely makes it an adventure patrolling center field. I think I can look little 'smoother' than he does on routine fly balls.

Maybe I wasn't cleared. My point was we got Schwarber and Hosmer for one minor leaguers each. Bloom has been very protective of our young talent. I just don't ever see Casas being traded until he FAILS in major league. Based on what Bloom is doing, Casa will get a long, long, long look as a Sox. Hell Bloom gave Cordero a long leash.

I think we view Hosmer as our 1Bman for the next 2 years and use Casas as part of a package to get a SP, Catcher, OF'er or 2B/SS. by Moon. We've signed two rentals for two minor leaguers. In what planet do you see Bloom trading away a topic prospect such as Casas? Your gut feeling? Come on Moon, give me some concrete evidence that's even under consideration. If Casas is traded, I will never be heard from again.

I wouldn't be. Not sure why you insist on one of Sale and Paxton. Sale suffered two freak injuries this year. You think he will continue his bad luck? In one breath you say no to Wacha/Hill type but then you hedge by saying add a Hill type for depth. The whole idea of hiring Bloom was to have a starting rotation of young, cost controlled pitchers such as Pivetta, Crawford, Winckowski type. Spend money elsewhere. Go get Aaron Judge. Extend Devers. We already have Story making $23M. Hosmer is bargain of the century. Even our bullpen has a good starting point with Houck, Whitlock and Schrieber.