Nick

2019 is all on the players. What, now we're babying the players that make collectively $243M?

The problem is not JD. the problem is non performing contracts. We're paying final year and player option for Sandoval. This has been a dead contract for what, three years now? We're paying Pedey this year and next couple of years along with minimal participation out of him for past two years. I'm not blaming Pedey. He's hurt. I am a big fan of Eovaldi signing. But his absence has taxed our entire pitching staff. Porcello is struggling this year but he's in his final year. We let Nunez go and eat his $5M contract. There's now no point in bringing back Pearce. Moreland just looks unathletic, struggling physically. Again, luckily he's in his last year. I doubt JD will opt out this year. Why? What American league contender will pay him large sum to be a DH? More likely he opts out after the 2020 season when his annual salary takes a dip. I'd offer Betts long term contract after this season with series of opt outs starting 2022. That means he's only tied to Red Sox for one additional season. You can front load the contract so both sides would be happy.

That's really horrible. Best wishes to you, all your family members and friends.

I'm just not sure how our starting pitching is going to hold up vs top tier teams. Our bullpen will be tested. Losing 7 straight to Tampa and Yankees starting on July 30th probably sealed our fate. (that was on the heels of losing the 4th game vs the Yankees after winning the first 3). It's a must that we sweep the Rays in September when we meet up for 4. I wouldn't be any money on it.

It really hurt that Tampa won 1-0 in 10 innings on Saturday and they came from behind 4-1 yesterday. Tigers were up 4-1 after 7th, then 4-3 in the 9th, SS made an error on 1st batter to open the floodgate in the 9th.

As early as spring training, many here were down on Devers. You just need to let the kids play. Chavis will be a solid major league player. You'll probably disagree. I also think Marco is a very serviceable 2B (obviously he has to stay healthy). He's the best option as long as we're paying Pedey. Pitching, pitching, pitching....why hast thou forsaken me?

We bitch and moan about our pitching but it's ok to bring back Johnson because he makes less than $1M. Oh wait, isn't that what DD did?

Love to see him extended. Team should be built around Xander and Devers.

Great move by DD for letting Mocada go and keeping Devers.....he clearly knew who he wanted. We are all back seat drivers here. Do not rewrite the history book. He took the job on the heels of back to back last place finishes, three out of 4 years if I'm not mistaken. He was tasked to turn the team around. He immediately overpaid for Price (he needed Price). He needed a closeR so he overpaid for Kimbrel (he needed Kimbrel). He'll overpay to get the players he wants and will decimate the farm if he hast to......John Henry hired him knowing what DD does. He added Sale by trading away young talented duo in Moncada (Devers was going to be a better 3B) and Kopech (a kid I really hated to see go). He won two division titles. He then cemented the climb back by winning third straight division title and then the World Series. This year's team should have been playoff bound. We let two relievers go who would have ate up $22M+, which would have put us up over the very top luxury tax limit for second year in a row. It's on the players, then the manager. You can make all kind of excuses. I'll tell you what. GO ASK CHRIS SALE IF HE THINKS IT'S DD'S FAULT.....YOU KNOW THE ANSWER AND CHRIS NEVER LIES.

Moon took that out of context....it was sarcasm for all the Leon lovers on this board.

I'm pretty certain I said it in jest.......that was for all the Sandy Leon lovers on this board who swears certain members of our staff can't pitch to Vaz. If Vaz was catching the pitchers would be giving up 5 runs......oh wait....

I don't have JBJ in my line up. I'm willing to give Chavis more AB's and Marco a long look.

This line up should score some runs, no? 1 Betts 2 Devers 3 Xander 4 JD 5 Beni 6 Chavis 7 Vaz 8 Marco 9 CF Good enough to be a playoff team?

We're kicking him while his down but 2019 is on the Players. The group of Sale, Price, Porcello, E Rod, Eovaldi, the pen, Pedey, and the position players simple did not get it done. IF you think that's on DD, well go right ahead. DD maybe responsible for thinning out the farm system but no way is he reponsible for lack of production from the $243M bunch. sorry for the double post...I thought I was simply editing.

As luck would have it, DD's contract expires after the season. Good thing we didn't extend him from the World Series hangover.

I'm suggesting using a hybrid approach. Always having cap space to go for it if needed at the trade deadline. Trade for high end one or two year rentals.

Remember Chris Freakin' Sale? Moon and I thought we can't live with out him? Now we're finding out maybe we shouldn't have extended him. Why can't we live without Betts? We can't win a championship ever again without him? I'd like to think not. Why can't we take the approach of Rays with a twist? Go big at trade deadline? Ray's and A's understand the economy of small market clubs. You SELL when the value is high. I'd like to see Sox take that approach. First, make an offer to extend the player. (Xavier). Then buy a rental at the top of his game at trade deadline. Obviously we still need a strong farm to execute that plan. How many young major league ready starting pitchers can we get for Devers? (my favorite Red Sox right now)

JBJ is a luxury we can't afford any longer. He's your weekend, vintage convertible that breaks down too often (read it no hitting for long stretch) and you have kids going to college next year. Time to get rid of it and cut the losses.

It's about choices. $11M can buy us a #5 starter plus good glove defensive CF.

We have failed to develop starting pitching in our farm. Are there any former Sox minor-leaguers pitching in the majors? Every highly regarded prospect ends up in the pen. WTF?

That's fine if EVERY reliever does the job. A break in that chain could cost you the game if your starter is only going 3-5 every game. I do agree that Yankee organization is in better place than Sox's right now (if you ignore the last 15 years or so).

It's very easy to make decisions in hindsight. After the world series, who in their right mind would have traded or hoped Price would opt out? I also thought Eovaldi signing was good move. Obviously there was a gamble with his health. My thought was more in line with 2019 being Porcello's last year only because of the size of his current contract. You can't pay everyone $20M plus. Eovaldi would have filled Porcello's spot for 2020 while the team developed a starter out of minor leagues during 2019. I'm still convinced that had the starting rotation pitched to its 'norm' we would be in the hunt for playoffs. Sox chose to spend money on starters and they have simply not performed. Going forward, do we rethink about the allocation of pot of money? Do we insist on not signing starters that will go well beyond 30 when the contract is up? My preference is always having a wiggle room to sign absolutely best player when that player will get us over the top, not to get into the playoffs but to give us chance to win it all. I thought the Yankees were exactly in that position. They chose NOT to add a top of the line player. I wouldn't be a happy Yankee fan right now. To me, both Houston and Dodgers are better. The goal is not to win 105 games. The goal is to win the World Series.

STARTING PITCHING 1.3 IP 3 H 3 R 3 ER 5 BB 1 K Well at least he didn't give up 5 runs....

Together, the "big 3" went from 11 out of 90 in 2018 to 28 out of 69! Finally a stat that makes sense and easy to follow.....thanks Moon. I think that pretty much sums up our season.

Porcello, who was brilliant for a long stretch, took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in five-plus innings. He fell to 10-9 and his ERA rose to 5.67. $22M Benefactor pitched 5 innings and gave up 5 ERs. Why do we keep babying the guy? He's had a horrible year. It's a bad pitching day. Say it. He was brilliant?