oldtimer

When things seem to be going better, it is smart to stay with the status quo.

One answer is that so many people are not smart.

Having Hanley in the lineup and hitting with some authority would go a long way toward solving our current lack of power. Problem is he remains injured and I wonder about how motivated he is as well. Without him producing, our next most likely power bat currently in the lineup is Bradley in my opinion. Maybe his season is about to turn more positive. If we do go after a big bat, we have to be careful not to make another high cost mistake. Just looking at the Rangers, who also have a high payroll, they have Odur, Napoli and Gallo all hitting in the 200 range or below. I think Frazier also falls into that range. Do we really want a 190 hitter who gets 25 home runs for the year? Whoever we get should be able to be plugged into 3rd base as that is our weakest current position. Marrero has solved the fielding issue but will never be a solid hitter. Devers is close and a low cost possibility. The FO doesn't think he is ready yet so who does that leave? Going back to the preseason, some of our astute posters thought Holt should be traded as his value to other teams was greater than to us. We hesitated to make that move and lost as Holt is just another injured player with a questionable future. Looking at what we have as trade bait, and it isn't much and we also need relief pitching and possibly a 5th starter (4th if Price doesn't make it back).

With the top four in the lineup seemingly producing now and little power in the lineup, I would keep Moreland, who is doing fairly well for the money, and try to find a 3rd base solutiion separately. Either try Devers now, which I advocate, or get a decent solution. Trouble is, anyone decent is probably big bucks and perhaps a further impact on our minors. We also are not where we should be at center and have a glaring lack of depth in the pen. Henbree has been awful of late and Scott not a lot better. With Thornburg and Smith both out long term, what can Farrell do?

At least the Sox are making a move. I suppose he can be platooned and also offer some PH when not in the game.

There is a school of thought that suggests the Red Sox haven't played to their potential. The incidents with both Pedroia and Pomeranz seemingly in disagreement with Farrell are cauusing speculation that a change is needed. Its not clear tht there is an alternative out there that would be an improvement. Trading away valuable and now scarce resources for an expensive and underperforming power hitting doesn't sound reasonable to me. Changing management during the season, especially when no clear choice is available also doesn't sound reasonable.

Now they are talking about Todd Frazier in a trade. He is an average fielder and is off to a miserable start at the plate. Why make that kind of trade instead of just bringing Devers up and giving him a try?

I assume, and maybe not fairly, that JF had lots of input into the formulation of this years team. If so, then if it is hard for him, then it is a least partially his own doing.

Well, we got beaten again by a club with a poor record because we didn't hit or at least score runs. Is this team heading for a poor finish? It sure looks that way. We really have 3 starting pitchers and a short bullpen. Price remains a question mark in my mind. None of this is encouraging. We do have some talent but we need more power in the lineup. Probably too soon to rely on Devers to provide that. Maybe we will have to have a lot of patience this year and reform the team next season with a new manager and a lineup with major revisions.

Farrell may succeed in that without any contribution from Pablo.

I'll secod that.He was supposed to be a setup man for Papelbaum. He had good velocity but it was the straightest fastball I have ever seen and he liked to throw it down the middle. I think he was the most disappointing when one remembers the hype he was given coming in.

Maybe we need more enthusiasm in management. When we had the cowboy up attitude on the team we seemed to overcome obstacles. On today's team we don't have that kind of flamboyance and grit.

Ouch. We lost with our ace on the mound when our ace had a very solid outing.The cry will go out to add a player who can help us. Will we stay internal with Devers? If not, will we go out and get that meaningful power hitter and perhaps make further impact on our salary cap position?

The lineup tonight will have Beni on the bench and Young in the game. Perhaps a little time off will help him get his confidence back.

Don't overhype the kid. Remember when Moncada came up last year. There is a need and he may be able to fill it but the FO has to be careful with timing.

Funny how it was the Cardinals who self destructed in the first game not the Sox. I find Farrell to be impassive and some of his moves seem off the wall, but he is our manager for this year. I doubt it will go into next year if the team doesn't perform well this year. As far as Ortiz being manager, he would be a great person to motivate some of our players but is definitely not a man who has trained to be a baseball manager at any level. I find it hard to bellieve anyone would seriously suggest that move.

Francona also saw JD as having incredible talent but his comments about his passive and uninvolved temperment took away from what he added to the team.

I think we all have to have patience with Beni and keep our expectations within reason. He got placed into the cleanup spot and is really not a cleanup hitter, although the Red Sox don't have one now. Perhaps the closest being Hanley. Another move by Farrell that may have backfired. Now Beni may be losing a little of the confidence that bouyed him through the early season. Beni will be all right but should be moved in the order. It might relieve the pressure and get him restarted.

When i was a youngster, I remember how I idolized Ted Williams. I remember scoring a game where the were way behind in the ninth and they scored something like 7 runs to win it. Williams of course has a big hit in that run. That kind of thing stays with a kid. Even recently I read his little book on hitting and found it interesting. The guy was my hero even though I realize today he wasn't the best fielder. On the other hand, I was in the sky box seats with my dad when Yaz and Smith came up back to back and struck out with men on and maybe one run behind. It looked to me that they were both trying to be heros with their overswings. Yaz was a greaat player but i didn't think of him the same way as Ted.

Francona's book implied many problems could be attributed to Lucchino.

Our recent history with FA and traded for field players is poor, while our home grown players has been good. Maybe we need to stay on our strength and bring up Devers instead of bringing in some has been star. Beltre was probably still capable and I am not knocking him but if I was selling the Brooklyn Bridge, I would look to the Sox front office for interest.

In retrospect, the FO made terrible decisions and JH is living with them. I don't blame him for not being reassured by the new fo's likelihood of getting it right the next time. Craig Catillo Sandoval Rameriz (at least he had one good year so far) Price (7 years at $30 million, come on!) Then we have the dismantling of our minor leagues which has to be considered a big loss in many ways including financial. Pomeranz, Thornburg, Smith) If not for Sale and Kimbrel, I would say our FO doesn't have a clue.

Last night he played a ball off of the wall but hesitated in his throw. He also lost a ball in the lights. It is true, that he is young and will get better. He has the tools and we have to have the patience.

My dad was a newspaper man in Boston. He lived an Cambridge in 1896 and remembered some of the oldest days of the Sox and the Braves. Kind of a knothole gang kid. I was sorry he didn't get to see the later days when the Sox finally won after so long a drought. He passed in 1978. At any rate, we listened to the Sox on the radio and we scored the games.In my case I started listening in 1946 and it was a great year as the team was excellent, but of course couldn't quite get it done. We finally got a car in the early 50's and TV came in the late 50's. My dad could get sky box seats on occasion and it wwas a great treat to visit the park for us. Much later in my college days I could walk over and sit in the bleechers for day games. It was inexpensive then.