Jump to content
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays — Today's Game Thread is Live! Click to Join » ×
Talk Sox
  • Create Account

oldtimer

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    5,897

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Profiles

Boston Red Sox Videos

2026 Boston Red Sox Top Prospects Ranking

Boston Red Sox Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

Guides & Resources

2025 Boston Red Sox Draft Pick Tracker

News

2026 Boston Red Sox Draft Tracker: Picks & Bonuses

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by oldtimer

  1. oldtimer
    I posted earlier that we got off to either bad or horrible starts in 7 of the last 8 years. This looks like we are at least consistent, including this year. Whether it has been due to team building, poor management or both is anyone's opinion. The simplest attempt at a solution is to replace the manager. Get someone who is demanding of the players and shows more energy. Kick some butt. The alternative is a major restructuring of the team and that is not easy and would take a number of years. Clearly, what we are doing isn't working so the time has come for a change in direction. As a very long term fan, I have grown impatient with the very poor Sox performance.
  2. oldtimer
    I queried AI relative to Red Sox starts under Cora and this is what I got: Slow Starts under Cora: Entering the 2026 season, manager Alex Cora has reportedly overseen "horrible" or slow starts in 7 out of his first 8 seasons. Is this due to JH's reluctance to spend or is it due to Cora's laid back approach to management. I'd like to see more fire out there.
  3. oldtimer
    It is time for a hard ass manager. Billy Martin, where are you when we need some sparks? If a player doesn't perform, he sits and watches another player give it a try. If he yo-yos enough times, he either makes a move forward or looks for new employment. No excuses. Cora is too soft and placid.
  4. oldtimer
    I totally agree. The time for consistent and accurate calls has come, since the technology is here and has been shown to work.
  5. oldtimer
    Maybe they are missing that club house leadership guy. Big Papi was once that guy, we couldn't resign our 3rd baseman, who was that kind of guy. Who is the clubhouse leader on this team? It isn't apparent.
  6. oldtimer
    A common theme could be taken from the Bible "As you sow, so shall you reap"
  7. oldtimer
    Same old, same old
  8. oldtimer
    Arenado is no longer available..
  9. oldtimer
    This is the year for the Sox to make the jump and to become areal playoff contender. It is now into January and we haven't seen a substantial move to make us better and it looks highly likely Bregman will leave, making us in effect worse. Breslow needs to use his resources wisely yet to date it looks like a reprise of most earlier years. It's the results that count, not the rumors.
  10. oldtimer
    Rumors are prolific and results are not. I'll wait to see what actually happens. Our needs are known and I believe Breslow is trying to fill those. He also has to be careful to make wise moves where we get value in return for resources used. Third base (Bregman is still possible?), 2nd base (options remain), #2 starter ( most difficult to fill), backup catcher (Don't need a whiz-band here).
  11. oldtimer
    I was hoping for results to propel the team forward this off season. To date, the front office appears to be back peddling while other teams make meaningful moves. Bregman is now gone, yet we have not yet gotten power bats or a #2 starter Breslow gives us rhetoric but little else while O'Henry provides the irony. What will it take to get the attention In this game, money needs to be spent, but wisely. The Sox have had more than their share of bad contracts. I of ownership? Menaingful adverse fan reaction?
  12. oldtimer
    I have been a fan since 1947 and have watched the Sox go through a variety of scenarios. In this period, Breslow acknowledged the team needs and indicated that the front office would be aggressive in fulfilling those needs. I look at the results to date and have seen misses in all of our stated need areas. We are through the Winter meetings with nothing accomplished. It appears to be more of the same and it seems to be directed by Henry.
  13. oldtimer
    I am disappointed with the lack of results achieved by Breslow for what ever reason. There have been endless discussion and rumors but the results are minimal. We needed a #2 starter and at least one power bat and someone solid to play 2nd base. As far as I can see none of those needs have been fulfilled. I agree that 2026 should have been a peak year for the Sox but opportunitites have been missed. The fault probably lies with Henry.
  14. oldtimer
    Just back after a 2 week Caribbean frolic. During that time, the important Winter Meetings were underway and are concluding today. So far, I haven't seen anything substantial happening to address our much discussed needs. Those are 1) adding a #2 SP, 2) adding a big bat and , 3) shoring up 2nd base. We also are hanging on the 3rd base question. All the endless banter and rumors haven't yielded a single definitive answer to any of these needs. The fans want results not rumors. Bring it home Breslow, Give us something to be happy about.
  15. oldtimer
    I believe a lot of Sox fans have been disappointed over the last few years in that nothing significant was done to help the team until last year. I'm hoping that more significant moves are coming. A #2 starter, Bregman and another big bat. If we need to trade an outfielder or Casas or package Yoshida to improve the team, then I'm all for it but wonder if much will happen. I'll be on a cruise for the next two weeks. Things should be happening while I am away.
  16. oldtimer
    I agree that Duran has trade value and is likely to be package with propects to land a #2 starter, a big need. Both Mayer and Casas have a high injury risk factor although Mayer is probably going to start at 3rd or 2nd. If we want to lower the risk with a FA power back and part ways with Casas, we'd be selling low. It's a tough decision for the Sox. Yoshida may have more value to another team than for us. Packaging him with a prospect or eating part of his contract would open the DH slot, where we could pick up a FA power bat. The Winter meetings are coming soon so we will get a reading on the front office aggressivness.
  17. oldtimer
    Very reasonable positions to take. While I know Bregman has opted out, I don't know what the Sox will do. He still is an option to return but I'm guessing the front office has made the decision ot either compete for his services or look elsewhere. At 31, he still is a viable option.
  18. oldtimer
    The WS will be completed tonight, one way or another. That will clear the way for the Bregman and possible Story free agencies. How they go will have a major impact on our needs and required actions. Our outfield is deep and probably set, with either Duran or Abreu to be traded. Our first need is depth at starting pitching with quality needs there. We could need major help in the infield with Romy being a possible starter but big helth worries with Casas and Mayer. Campbell doesn't instill confidence as his defense was poor and I have trouble buying the weight loss excuse. If both Bregman and Story leave, we need two quality infielders with big bats to stay even. In addition, we would be smart to replace Yoshida who lacks power and is one dimensional. So management needs to quickly determine the situation with Bregman and Story so they can exploit the offseason and return a product to the field at least comparable to 2025.
  19. oldtimer
    It's easy to find examples on any team that draw into question my findings, just as it is also easy to find examples that support my observations. Kiki Hernandez is a more aggressive hitter while Mookie Betts almost never swings at the first pitch, for instance. But the general discussion surrounding the Yankees and Red Sox this year was about how they were so patient about their approach to hitting. I for one believe that the approach is ingrained in the team's culture and supported by the coaching staff. It may also be expressed in the talent they look for and add to the team.
  20. oldtimer
    An observation about how teams are coached and how they perform in the playoffs; Some teams are coached to grind out at bats and by doing so to accumulate pitches against the opponents starting pitches. The idea is to get to the bull pen early and wear down the opponents pitching staff. I'd say the Dodgers generally fall into that category as did the Yankees and the Red Sox. Other teams seem to take a more aggressive approach where they are encouraged to swing at any count where they see a pitch they can handle. I'd say this approach generally fits what the Blue Jays and Seattle follow. Maybe it suits their team makeup better or it is a more effective approach in general. Of course it helps to have better quality players on the roster and also having clean defense is important, but in the selection of approach to the game, the coaching staff should also be looking at what is working best.
  21. oldtimer
    Mayer and casas have established an injury history that suggests unreliability. Yoshida needs to be moved and Campbell has not proven he can either hit or field at the ML level. If Bregman is truly gone, then we have additional needs to be filled. Can we look at prospects for one of the infield positions? Is there a prospect pitcher to help? We need to trade an outfield asset to land a quality starting pitcher. That is looking like Duran or Abreu. We definitely need a power bat to fill an infield position (1st or 3rd) We could use a power bat at DH We need an improvement at BU catcher I'm satisfied with Romy and Sogard for utility
  22. oldtimer
    Right now, the Sox have two dependable infield players. Bregman and Story. Mayer could be but has a poor injury history. Casas has the same problem. Beyond them, possibly Rafaela could make the move to the infield in a similar way that Betts has. We have a surplus of outfield talent, even if Duran is traded, so moving Rafaela to the infield should be con sidered. I would target a FA for 1st base, even though Casas is there and has almost no trade value. I would favor an infield of Bregman,, Story, Rafaela and FA. We have secondary players who can fill in for injury and rest intervals.
  23. oldtimer
    After watching the Skankies go down in flame with their plethora of long ball hitter, while the Blue Jays scored a lot more runs, you have to call into question what constitutes a big bat. Some like Judge are obviously real offensive juggernauts, but so many swung from their heels and made infrequent contact. Far less noted players on the Blue Jays did a much better job of making contact for a hit and did so in critical situations.. Roman Anthony strikes me as a guy who will develop power but also make contact or get walked. Yoshida is more of a lower power guy but one who geneerally can make contact. Story picked it up this year but others like Duran, Rafaela and Abreu seem to overswing and be prone to striking out. So for 2026 it's anyones guess on , Duran is a likely trade candidate and Rafaela is loved by Cora but not a good hitter or big bat. Let's hope Brez is in the market for a couple of real big bats.
  24. oldtimer
    Until the Bregman situation is clarified, it's difficult to know what resources will be available to land a big FA bat. On the other hand, the pitching situation is clearly another area to be concerned about. We had 22 pitchers on the roster with 6 more on the IL. Clearly we need another starter to fill the #2 role. What also concerns me is that Crochet pitched a lot of innings in 2025 and Champman is old. Both had exceptional years and without that excellence, where would the Sox have been? I would doubt both can repeat their stellar performance in 2026. Trying to identify our pitchers for n 2026 but find it difficcult.
  25. oldtimer
    As you say, it's too early to make definitive statements but I appreciate the level of thinking shown. A lot will hinge on Bregtman's decision. If he leaves, we may need two big bats along with Anthony. Making room for them at 1st, DH and/or 3rd suggests moving our current players who fill those slots. I will be looking at possible trade candidates or free agents who might fill our needs. I agree, Henry is not like to be extravagant. Suggesstions should take reality into account. Yes, we also need a Backup catcher improvement, SP depth, and pen depth but so do many other teams. Brez will face a competitive market
×
×
  • Create New...