Nick

$20M groundball/seeing eye singles hitter.... so best attribute with Ben was that he was too confused to trade out young players? lol

No one in Sox organization can replace Ortiz......Hanley isn't the guy....he's got no power....$20M guy hitting singles. We'll need more pop in our offense. We've cleared cap space with Castillo's $10M and add that to Oriz' $16M, Luxury tax limit should go up. Signing a guy like Encarnacion will allow the Sox to figure out 1B/3B/C/LF positions going foward. We have a great start with Betts, Xander, Bradley and Pedy. SP issue will need to be addressed via a trade. WE WILL NEED TO GIVE UP SOME HIGH LEVEL MINOR LEAGUE GUYS TO GET THAT DONE.

Pedy freaking struck out...thats all there is to it.....infield drawn in....he choked.

Why would Red Sox not let him play in the minors? At the end of next few years another team can pick him up but his contract is attached as long as he is not released by the Sox. Sox have no incentive to release him. This was a move to save $3 million dollars in luxury tax. This one will sting for while.....part of Ben's legacy. Is it better to pay a proven veteran $210M over 7 years or unproven advanced aged player $70M? That is something Henry will have to ponder in the future. And to think we were few measly millions from acquiring Jose Abreau, ouch.

Our ace is on the mound tonight

It took a perfect throw to get Betts.....just saying

Moon, you are much better at this......instead of looking from Sox perspective.....what teams would be interested in making trades with the Sox knowing Betts, Bradley, Xander and Moncada are all untouchable? From my perspective Devers is blocked, Espinoza is still years away (and as I've said often our #1 pick would replace him), Benintendi is a nice player but not a game changer. You're the GM of our trading partner and you know that Sox is looking for a team controlled young SP....what trade would you be happy with?.. what would you give up for Devers, Espinoza, Benintendi and Swihart?

can we get off the topic of PED? I think we've all heard from both sides.....lets move on guys and gals

Well the Sox are at it again...Castillo appears to be following Craig route.....hey that's another $11M in cap savings....lol Maybe we can do the same with Sandoval and pretend the FA signing never happened...of course it will still cost Henry but I don't care. funny math, funny accounting but within the rules....it will reduce the luxury tax liability since we will be taxed this year at 30%....every $1M reduction over the $189M threshold saves $300K. This is why the Baltimore skipper hates us....we just pretend mistakes never happened...if some idiot scout cost me $70M, I'd fire his ass.

I completely agree on all your points.....very astute assessment with #3...Vaz will eventually become an adequate hitter, .250 hitter with high defensive marks....we need more power out of LF position and Swihart isn't it...his value lies in becoming a good offensive catcher, probably more pronounced in the National League where there's no DH and offensive catcher becomes more valuable.

Just finished watching the game (taped it)....I apologize Moon but Kimbrel is worth the young players we gave up. We will have him for another two years if we pick up his option in 2018. At least we now have a closer that can shut down the opposition for a win. It's irrelevant to me that we paid free agent money for Kimbrel. DD wanted this guy at any price. It also is irrelevant how good those kids we traded away turn out to be....we simply traded for an opportunity win now vs post 2018. We'll have chance to reload our farm system (and that is another function of good farm system...acquiring good players now for promise of providing our trading partner with future benefit...can't get something for nothing). Price is also pitching like the guy we signed for $200M+.......I say DD went out and did what he wanted to do except for Carson Smith injury. There was much talk about why the Mariners traded the guy and that's proven to be true. At least we don't have big money tied up with the guy a la Craig, Sandoval and Ramirez.

I rather see Swihart in left field....Holt's value lies in his ability to play multiple positions. His hitting always fades. Holt vs Castillo is a false choice.

when a guy only throws two pitches, how hard is to get a read on his pitches?

I'm old school.... Like or not, Fenway is built to hit home runs. Don't get me wrong. We have great contact hitters with mid-level home run hitters in Betts, Bradley, Xander and Dustin. That's a GREAT GROUP. We can't ask for better up the middle players. Just imagine how great the team will be with 'normal' corner players and DH position. I always thought corners fielders should provide some power. David Ortiz is just having a phenomenal season and lifting our power numbers. We will have Young, Swihart, Shaw and Hanley but there is not a 30 homer hitter in that group which we will need when Ortiz retires. Instead of taking on Braun's contract, why not simpy sign a free agent with power? Blue Jays have two FA that I would like to see in Fenway. There's not a top of the line SP available in free agency this year. Moon suggested we spend money on SP but who? The truth is that not all of our top prospects will become major league stars. I trust DD to make the right trade to acquire starting pitching. Assuming we sign our #1 pick, I think Espinoza is expendable.

Why no confidence in Ross by JF? He had Ross warming up prior to 7th inning. I get it that Tazawa, Koji and Kimbrel usually pitch 7, 8 and 9 and it worked out just fine yesterday. Ross has pitched well this year. Seattle started 8 hitters on the left side. Ross has been continued to be looked over by JF. He needs to build some depth at the back end. Tazawa can't get anyone out in Toronto line up. He probably doesn't fare much better against Baltimore, our two competitors for the playoff spots. He actually thinks Holt is a legimate starting left fielder...ugh. I just want him gone next year.

no thanks

would've been more it not for DP

hit into double play by Dustin....

On 12/1/16, new luxury tax amount will be announced. Between Ortiz, Clay, Koji, Hanigan and Tazawa, we have $42M coming off our books this year. Unfortunately only Young comes off of our payroll in 2017 assuming we pick up the option on Kimbrel. At first glance, it may seem we have 'plenty' of money but the reality is we better chose how to spend our money wisely this go around. We have very little room to make mistakes...(overpaying for Sandoval, Ramirez, Craig). Benintendi, Moncada, Shaw and Swihart better all come through or we're in deep s***.

moon There is something wrong with E Rod...

Dice K Rodriquez is the new nick name for E Rod....I asked does he get bonus for going full count on hitters? Just can't locate when he has to....walking the number 9 hitter is simply unacceptable....I couldn't wait to watch him pitch all last year...this is a bad pitching staff. Our bats will cool, lack of power will eventually catch up....

Just finished watching the game... Looks like Dice K Rodriquez with another tough outing....does he get bonus for going full count on hitters?

Mookie Betts, RF Dustin Pedroia, 2B Xander Bogaerts, SS David Ortiz, DH Hanley Ramirez, 1B Jackie Bradley Jr., CF Rusney Castillo, LF Travis Shaw, 3B Sandy Leon, C Starting Pitcher -- Eduardo Rodriguez Sandy is what 5-5 this year?

Porcello is much improved from last year....extension did not look good last year (new contract starting in 2016) but it may eventually flip in the favor of the Sox. Bad choice of word? Yep....

next two games are huge for the Sox...yeah winning matters but I'm more interested in how the starter goes....Baltimore will be a tough test for E Rod then we get to look at Elias vs Seattle. If THAT works out then we can push Kelly into the bullpen when he returns....Tazawa just doesn't do it for me anymore..