Nick

So it is very possible that one or both of Houck and Whitlock move to the rotation simply because it seems like is easier to rebuild a bullpen than it is a rotation... bingo.... This is an organization that will look inward first....not just go out and spend money like a drunken sailor...We got Richards and Perez last year for about $15M. Not sure why everyone thinks Houck and Whitlock can't do better than those two. Whitlock was going to be a starter at some point. That was the plan no? Moon bitches about lack of starter development but he's the first to count the two out? Come on Moon.

Names and numbers are your expertise....... I know you like the zero budget....I like year over year. Our starting point is $215M. Position Players Vaz, Dalbec, Arroyo, Xander, Devers, Verdugo, Kike, Renfroe and JD. The raise Vaz will receive is offset by Marwin's $3M contract. We're at $215M still before arbitration raises. Starting Pitching Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Houck and Whitlock...you can add Seabold and others in minors as depth pieces. We'll lose E Rod $8.3M, Richards, $8.5M, Perez $5.0M, Ottavino $7.25M, offset by Barnes $5M raise, Net gain of $24M. We'll also lose $13.75M & $2.8M from Pedey's and Beni's expiring contracts. Another $16M in savings. That's $40M in savings or $45M under the old luxury tax line. Bullpen composition is fickle. Everyone pissed and moaned about Robles and Davis acquisition. Bloom can put a bullpen together on a shoestring budget. We already have in fold Barnes, Sawamura, Taylor, Darwinzon, Brasier and Davis. Robles wants to come back. He won't cost much. Unlike you, I trust Bloom to acquire capable relievers similar to Robles' of the world. There will be candidates already pitching in our farm system, Names such as Josh Winckowski, Kutter Crawford, Eduard Bazardo, and Durbin Feltman to name some names. He's not going to spend big money on relievers. Look what happened to Barnes. I trust Bloom. If you've been following numbers, we have $40M left for arbitrations....you still think there's not enough money on Schwarber? My numbers make sense.

Starting pitcher free agents will cost more than bullpen help.

I much rather get the starting pitching settled. Again, I don't think you see my point. Between E Rod, Richards and Perez, we are saving $25M? You telling me that's not enough to help reinforce the bullpen? We already have Barnes, Sawamura, Taylor, Darwinzon, Brasier. Robles wants to come back. We can probably have Davis. We probably have some arms in minors ready to move up. We are the new Rays. Quit talking about needing $$$$$$$$$$ to be competitive. We signed both Kike and Renfroe for about $11M. Dalbec, Whitlock and Houck made the MLB Pipeline Rookie Team. There will be more in 2022.

Moon Not sure why you think we need SP. Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Houck and Whitlock would do fine....AND IT DOESN'T COST US ANYTHING. We get rid of $22-$24M in payroll. Are you telling me Houck and Whitlock can't replace Perez and Richards? Why do we need to spend money on SP? Sale is the replacement for E Rod. Put the money into bullpen. Not sure why you think we need tons of money for SP. We have every position player coming back. Just add Schwarber and make it stronger. Bloom can make the pen work. He's a genius at those of things. Your first inclination is to spend money. I no longer think that way. I rather have Schwarber in 2022 and beyond as opposed to go look for one in 2023, assuming JD stays put.

Moon keeps talking about you don't pay say $38M for 2 DH. It's just not that simple. Cora is master of managing players. There's plenty of bats for JD, Verdugo, Renfroe, Arroyo, Schwarber and Dalbec for 5 starting positions. Full timers are Kike, Xander and Devers along with 2 catchers. Why do you think Schwarber can only DH in 2022? He played 1B and LF in 2021. We don't win without him. Have you ever heard of 'hedging' your bets? His $16M can come from Pedey/Beni relief.

Also draft order only impacts round 1. I get it that you can acquire 'an elite' player picking say top 10. If you're picking 30th, you are essentially forfeiting your first round pick but you get the FIRST PICK each round starting Round 2. That's what I'd say to my scouts. Quit bitching. Go find me a diamond in the rough. Trey Balls anyone?

Two or three years ago some thought they were building a dynasty (Yankees)........similarly to Chicago Cubs when everyone agreed they won the World Series ONE YEAR EARLY. But their 'dynasty' never materialized even with genius Theo on the throne. I'm on board with Bloom. I think he's a shrewd trader. He really doesn't get hung up on 'star-power'.

3. Why aren’t they getting more homegrown difference-makers? Some of this reflects picking in the latter half of the draft or having limits on international spending. Still this is probably the best alignment the Yankees could form from 2021 players whose first pro contract was with them: catcher-Kyle Higashioka. First base-Luis Torrens. Second base-Nick Solak. Shortstop-Tyler Wade. Third base-Thairo Estrada. Left Field-Ben Gamel. Center Field-Brett Gardner. Right Field-Judge. DH-Sanchez.

2. Why does a team with a consistently large payroll have such deficiencies in areas like defense and baserunning? Having the Yankees’ money — even in years in which they have sunk just under the luxury tax — should afford variety. Instead, the Yankees kept doubling down on so many hulking, righty power hitters, for example, leaving little room on the roster or within the budget for athleticism and diversity. There was investment in dollars or significant prospects for the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks, an injury-prone player who has stayed injured since receiving his seven-year, $70 million pact, and Joey Gallo, who brought a lefty bat but also a low-average, high-strikeout style that already was bedeviling a 2021 team not adept at sustaining offense without home runs. Luke Voit is symbolic of this stretch in Yankees history. In many ways, Luke Voit defines this era for the Yankees. They have been excellent at uncovering undervalued assets elsewhere such as Hicks, Didi Gregorius, Gio Urshela, Chad Green and Clay Holmes. Voit fits into this category. But even while succeeding, Voit exacerbated Yankee issues around right-handedness, poor defense, poor athleticism and dubious ability to stay healthy with his combination of hulking body and ferocious swing. He led the AL in homers in the shortened 2020 campaign. It would have been an ideal time to try to maximize a return. But I sense the Yankees are always obsessed with the individual deal and not the makeup it will have on the overall fabric of the roster. They might have received less return than desired for Voit, but how they used his salary and roster spot would be part of the return. Instead, he becomes another player the Yankees have to decide whether they tender or not.

3 Questions Yankees Must Answer....I love New York Post 1. Why are the position players not retaining value? Bird, Judge, Sanchez, Torres, Frazier and Miguel Andujar all had promising early stints. Only Judge (when healthy) has maintained a high standard and he will be entering his walk year. In Sanchez’s early years, the consensus from within — among teammates and officials — was that he would be the best hitter on the team. Note, hitter. Not just power bat. How did he go from that to hitting .201 over the last four years? Torres was an All-Star in his age 21 and 22 seasons. In his age-23 and 24 years the past two seasons his OPS-plus is 5 percent under the league average. The plummet is so severe that the Yankees have to contemplate whether they will even tender contracts to Andujar, Frazier and Sanchez.

Everyone is replaceable....thinking otherwise will get you into trouble. G Cole has 7 years remaining at $36M per year. He has full no trade clause. Was he worth $36M this year? Yankees got into the Wildcard Game and then lost with Cole pitching. I trust that Bloom will field a competitive teams going forward in Boston, with or without Xander, Devers, JD, Sale, etc, etc. New stars always will be on the horizon.

I'm curious as to Yankees as it relates to health of their players. Who are 'sure' starters coming back assuming they're healthy? What do you guys need? I'm curious. I was always in favor of Sox acquiring G Cole type. But now I'm not sure. I don't think it's worth it unless you're sure Division winner. Wild Card sucks.

Good thing is we'll know within 5 days after the World Series if JD will opt out or not. Also having Semien on roster will make easier to swallow Xander opting out and or not extending Devers and go to option B, such as moving Dalbec to 3B and Schwarber play 1B until Casas is ready. I will still take stack line up 1-9 over defensive shortcomings. We play at Fenway. It's a hitter's ballpark. Load up the farm with young guns. Names right now are better than what we had few years ago in our farm.

Robles wants to remain with Sox organization. He loves it here. Bloom will make it work. I realize there maybe a one year overlap with JD but Schwarber should be pursued. I'm more and more convinced you attack other team by solid hitting lineup 1-9, not Xander, JD and Devers only as it was at beginning of year. That formula is not sustainable. We won 2018 World Series with mediocre output from Betts (maybe it was for entire post season, can't remember off top of my head). I'm more inclined to go the Rays route and add an impact player (s) for a rental at trade deadline. That requires plethora of young talent.

He got 4 outs.....He could have gotten 6 outs....head scratcher....

You had two run lead. Whitlock last pitched 10/5. He had 4 days off. This is the guy we trained to pitch multiple innings. To come in high leverage situation. Playoffs tied at 1-1, top of 8th with 2 run lead. This is f***ing on Cora. Boy Genius.

we already have nine hits...only 3 runs...

Why do all slow white guys hit into double play?

We wouldn't be here without Schwarber.

I hope E Rod moves on......I'm tired of hanging on to the past. On one hand, Moon thinks won lost record is meaningless for pitchers but he constantly brings up the fact Sox usually wins when he starts. Can they both be true? (I'm just trying to get Moon's blood pressure up little)

I hope JD does opt out so we can go after Schwarber. He won't cost us $22M per year.

Dalbec should be a candidate.......

Houck threw 25 sliders (four swings-and-misses), 22 four-seam fastballs (three swings-and-misses), nine sinkers (five swings-and-misses) and five splitters. Geez, I may not be a math genius but that looks to me like 4 pitches. Houck may not go 6 innings but he can sure outlast E Rod and Sale at times. But let's give E Rod $10M raise.

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays’ youth was served in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on Thursday night. Rookies Randy Arozarena, Wander Franco and Shane McClanahan all took center stage in Tampa Bay’s 5-0 victory over Boston. All season, the Rays have bet on their talent and youth over age and experience. To take a 2-0 lead in the ALDS, the Rays will need another budding star -- Shane Baz, the club's No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- to shine on the mound. Looking to pull even in the series, the Red Sox will counter with an experienced, proven postseason starter: Chris Sale. The veteran lefty is set to take the mound for Boston in Game 2 on Friday night at Tropicana Field. But we'll take possible starters in Whitlock and Houck and buried them in the pen. Rays starter > E Rod