oldtimer

Like you I was ambivalent. I look at it as not really a firing, but instead and unwillingness to renew a manager with his strengths and faults. This move should allow the new manager to come in and select some new coaches, which I think is needed. In addition, he may make a difference with the attitude of some of our players. Perhaps a more positive outlook. On the other hand things could get worse. Whats done is done and now I hope they carry it off as quicklly as possible.

Why do you say that. His time with Minnesota was very good.

Excellent post MVP covering the Pedroia situation. As a long term Sox fan, I love what Pedroia has done for the club and meant to the club but there comes a time when the skills diminish due to injuries, age and wear and tear. Few want to criticize a vet like Pedroia but it is evident that he will need medical help that might require a long recovery and like in horse racing, the older they are, the recovery always falls short of previous best performances. So we need contingent plans for 2nd base for 2018. Some suggest a super utility player like Nunez is an answer to play 75 games a year or more at 2nd but Nunez may have his own long term recovery. I think we have to look at a quality alternative to both Pedroia and Nunez going forward. I don't wish Pedroia any bad karma, but recognize his days of being a productive every day player may be coming to an end.

I mentioned in another string that Gardenhire is the guy who is favored as a replacement. Whoever it is, the sooner the better. They will have to do due diligence and interview a diverse group to satisfy current policy sensitivities, so that will take a month.

Their talking up Gardenhire as a possible replacement. Whoever comes in needs to look carefully at coaching staff changes as well. Best to get the new guy on board quickly so that he can be a part of the decision making going forward for next season.

I would start over with our utility players. Young, Holt and Davis can move along and we can replace them with as good from our existing team and minor leagues. Hernandez, Swihart, Lin and Marrero are a few. All are relatively low cost. Possibly and older player with good hitting skills for a one year contract might help as a pinch hitter and infrequent field player.

I think the move of Devers would open up the possibility of a permanent 3rd baseman. Machado would fit although there will be a lot of competition. Meanwhile we could temporize with a good infielder to take short or third for a season and perhaps move to 2nd after that. I am not convinced that Nunez will be able to come back from his injury, so we should look at alternatives as well. I also think JBJ could be replaced. Bryce Harper will be expensive and is rumored to be heading to the Yankees. I could see him as our right fielder with Betts in center. Talk about spending money, these are break the bank expensive.

Nunez may not be the only infielder we could get to fill the super utility role. I would consider the injury and look over the alternatives before jumping to the Nunez conclusion.

JF did an okay job with the Sox but with his contract up for renewal, DD had to decide if continuing him was what he thought was best. A new manager may be better or worse, but a new manager will have the opportunity to rethink his coaching staff. I would hope some changes are in order there as well. Hitting malaise and base running issues come to mind. We will see if things will get better. No guarantees.

Varitek is another name who hasn't managed. Someone at least to keep on the list.

I agree, the sox need to try to improve and he occupies one of the few spots where we can do that.

I am not for trading Beni, Devers or Bogey. All are young players who still are likely to make significant improvements. With Bogey, I think he need more help from the hitting coach.

Looking at things from a different angle, our most glaring weaknesses this season and then dealing with them by trade and acquisition is an approach I take when considering changes. Glaring weaknesses (Not involved with Pitching): 1. Widespread fall in the offensive output of our lineup To me the general malaise of our offense is at least partially on the coaching. We lacked aggressiveness at the plate and it often looked like policy. 2. Lack of power up and down the lineup Clearly we need to bring in at least one power hitting player and look for a second if we trade away any of our current younger players 3. Poor hitting by JBJ for sustained periods JBJ has been in the organization for long enough to establish himself. He remains erratic offensively and unless something sparks in him, he is likely to remain erratic 4. Poor hitting by Bogey for sustained periods Seems like he should do more and may with continued sound coaching. Would like to see a remake of his PAs and swing. More aggressiveness and power 5. Injuries to Pedroia and or aging process that reduced his contribution at the end of the season Pedroia was no help to us in the playoffs. Maybe when he heals he will contribute again at a high level, but I doubt he can go more than90 games a year based on recent history. 6. Poor quality defense by Devers His throwing is poor and management commented that he is likely to gain weight as he matures. He may well fit at 1st better than at 3rd. We need his bat so it is important to find his best spot 7. Poor throwing defensively by Beni Beni has a decent arm and adequate for Fenway left field. His issue is accuracy and having a preconception of where to thrown under various circumstances. It is coachable and needs to be done. 8. Lack of capable hitting utility players once Nunez was injured the other Our utility players in general were weak other than Nunez. Do we resign him and risk his knee injury may recur next season? I am for jettisoning Holt, Young and Davis. 9. Baserunning issues Coaching or management issues seem to be involved. Do we make the change where we can at the management/coaching level?

Well, one of the corners should be open and perhaps an outfield position.

Maybe he is a future HOF first baseman. Who is to say?

Well, the season is officially over and the team acquitted itself well in Boston. A win and a very close loss. A couple of opportunities that we couldn't capitalize on (bases loaded no out and a double and two singles in an inning) for a run. Maybe an ill choice of pitch by Sale to Bregman and Kimbrell not sharp today. Lots of good memories and nothing to be humiliated by. Neither Pedey nor JBJ could get anything done offensively. Some good young players going forward. The returning pitching is good. Adding a couple of solid power hitters and we may well return to the division series again next year.

He doesn't seem to have any confidence and keeps throwing high fast ball. Just a matter of time until he is hit for a home run. I don't now what is in his mind.

Something Bogey seems to forget too often.

We need one or more power bats. One of those can be Devers but we should be flexible if there is a better option at 3rd.

I have been thinking along that line for some time now as the kid is having severe problems with defense, especially throwing, and may be better suited to 1st.

By the way Hanley has reacted, with the show of emotion and the slash across his throat gesture directed toward the bench, one can assume that he was very upset by being left out of a starting position during the first game. Nunez got hurt, but Hanley has been aggressively hitting since then. Could it be that it wasn't just his shoulders which were hurting but his attitude as well. With he and Moreland both hitting, the team looks different. One point made was that all 14 runs scored by the Sox in the first 3 games were driven in by players #5 in the order and beyong. Otherwise Bogey, pedroia, Beni and Betts have yet to drive anyone in. Maybe they can get going and make the team more threatening going forward.

Totally agree with you on that one. Thats why I have been recommending going a different way with the hitting coach. Results matter and ours were visibly poor for most of the year. Taking two piches on the plate and swinging one off the plate is not a successful strategy.

I don't see JBJ as on an upslope. I see him as continuing at the level he was at this year. Excellent defender but erratic hitter who disappears for long stretches of the season. Unless a different hitting coach could turn him around, I see not much beyond a less than stellar performance. This year he batted 9th, that ought to tell you something.

To be fair to DD, I believe he was under financial constriants this year and had to forego any attempt at a high priced big bat this year. That definitely impacted the team as none of our hitters looked that threatening this year.

I one of those that really loves what Pedey has done for the club. It was an unfortunate year for him and frankly I don't expect more than 90 games from him in 2018, but he still can be a quality 2nd baseman. We would have to have a quality backup like Nunez. I'm with you on Nunez, as he might just have a knee issue that will restrict him going forward.