Nick

You should always start with starting pitching. Whatever success we had briefly was attributable to quality starts we received from Eovaldi, Hill, Pivetta and Wacha. We should spend Eovaldi's money elsewhere. Hs ask will be based on historical results which probably won't be sustainable for next phase of his career. We start with 'good' Pivetta. (29, $2.65M, 2 years of team control) We go next with most recent Kutter Crawford. (26, league minimum, 6 years of team control) We continue with Winckowski as a back end starter. (24, league minimum, 6 years of team control) I think we have something in Bello as 5/6/7 option. (23, league minimum, 6 years of team control) We will see Mata at some point in 2023. (23, league minimum, probably 7 years of team control, assuming call up in mid 2023) We will again count on Chris Sale because we're paying him $25M+. (33, $25.6M, 2 years plus option year) Big question is will Paxton (33) return at all this year so the team can evaluate him and pick up his 2-year option. We will again sign Wacha/Hill type to round out the starting pitching. Brandon Walter (25), Chris Murphy (24), Connor Seabold (26) and Thaddeus Ward (25) are other names to remember. You ask where is the big name? Well, it should be Chris freakin Sale.

I support Bloom but I don't think firing him will solve anything. He's done a good job in balance. He's made some horrible mistakes for sure. I just never understood the JBJ deal. I don't care how good the prospects turn out but I thought the deal was a big money drain on the team when you consider we're trying to scrape up some dollars to sign some good players. When I saw what JBJ was doing in Milwaukee last year, I thank God he was gone. Then Bloom brings him back. WTF? JD's season is turning out the way I thought it might. That's why I was hoping to see Schwarber back. One year overlap. He could have helped us and taken over the DH role for three years. WE NEED POWER BATS. Xander is no longer capable of hitting 30 homers. I don't see this year's 'last place team' same as the three last place teams DD inherited. How quickly we forget that we were up 2-1 on the Astros last year. I've enjoyed watching 4 of our farmhands start this year. I believe they all possess major league potential. Signing Xander to a 6 year, $200M is not a BOLD move. BOLD move would be to go after Aaron Judge. Also give Bloom credit for Hosmer deal. Financial side of it is unreal.

My guess is Casas at 1B platooning with Dalbec. Hosmer will be the DH and play 1B from time to time. I would seriously go after Aaron Judge. Why not?

Instead of extending Xander, why not go for Aaron Judge? Give HIM the offer he can't refuse.

Exactly. I like him but its always at what cost? Some poster on this board equated his 'situation' with that of Lester and Betts. Vaz is not quite in their league.

We're missing Devers, Story, JD had back issues, Wacha, Hill, Eovaldi for a bit, Kike ever coming back? In April/May, we're complaining about $7M for Vaz and now he's a MVP. We can resign him when he becomes a FA. His value had peaked. Perfect time to trade him. Bloom also got rid of Dieckman's $4M salary for 2023. Let's just wait and see what transpires today. PS...I'm agreeing with you.

We can always resign Vaz.

So we want yo fire the GM that put a team together that led 2-1 in ALC?

Look at it. Study it. Memorize it. And I'm not unhappy with Crawford, Bello and Winckowski. They've shown they can pitch in majors. And always, always trade players when their value is peaking......that's Vaz.

At what cost? Isn't that the real question? So pay him whatever Boras wants? If that's how you think then you're not the guy I thought you were.....Pay $30M to a mediocre defensive shortstop hitting dozen home runs? Just for PR sake? Prudent.

When was the last time Sox had 4 rookie pitchers start in a season? Bello (#3), Winckowski (#9), Seabold (#11) and Crawford (23) ?

Betts is gone, I'm still a Sox fan. I'm not made at Henry at all.

How long do we stay with Verdugo? .679 OPS outfielder? When will he break out?

Red Sox looking to 'turn it around' after costly defensive miscues July 24th, 2022 Betelhem Ashame @betelhem_ashame Pretty appropriate that Ms. Ashame wrote this article.

I'm just asking...do we need to put a shift on a .200 hitter with no power? The opposite field base ground ball hit with two outs really hurt yesterday. Bello turned and had the look, "where's my shortstop?" Why would I want to work the outer plate when the hitter knows there's only one infielder going opposite field? I'm just talking about Sallies of the hitters at the plate.

As bad as we've played, we're only 3 games out. Turn around has to start with starting pitching. Nick Pivetta needs to get better than his last 4/5 starts. Starters have to keep us in the games. Then we'll have to score. Then the bullpen has to save the game. Maybe I'm asking too much.

I'm watching today...Bello is making his third start. He's started twice vs the Rays and now the Jays. Welcome to big leagues. 6 more years of team control Winckowski Cutter Bello Matta no doubt will join this group in 2023. I like it.

Rookies Jarren Duran (leadoff) and Jeter Downs (No. 9 hitter) went a combined 0-for-7 with five strikeouts. Franchy Cordero went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and left five men on base. He’s 0-for-21 with 17 strikeouts in his past seven Isn't it time to give up on Cordero? Develop pitchers and buy position players?

Mediocre fielding shortstop with no power deserves no more than $20M per year. We paid a guy $23M with .220 BA and 200 strikeouts. He'd be an upgrade over Xander defensively at least. This team lacks power. Forget all the doubles off the wall. We need guys that can hit out. Build a team around Devers. Let the rebuild begin.

Yes to all....

Yep, I would add Bello to that....let him pitch his way out of it.

Game 1....A team bullpen is now Schreiber, Whitlock and Houck. I think Brasier came in only because we didn't have anyone else and he's pitched well lately. Game 2....B team bullpen is now Darwinzon, Ort, Sawamura, Davis and Dieckman. I would love for all the starters get healthy and replace some of the 'B' bullpen pitchers. Barnes is unofficially off the team. We may never see him pitch. Not this year.

I'm optimistic as ever. Seeing some of our younger players have been fun, good or bad. I like to know the bad news sooner rather than later so I'd like to seem them come up when opportunity presents itself. Only one I'm not sold on is Seabold. Others have major league stuff. This is no way the 2018 team. You have to temper expectations. The goal has always been to get into the playoffs for this team. We're right there. But the Yankees don't scare me over a seven game series. Two of Eovaldi, Sale and Pivetta have to be effective though.

Very good sir.

Diekman had his team-leading 10th meltdown of the season. Well that's even more than I've had on this board. He wins.