oldtimer

You are coming across as someone who suffers from ADHD. Fifty seven thousand plus posts and numerous detailed thoughts about 2023. My experience tells me the front office will do something quite different, and since we will see the first major manifestation by Aug 2nd, I am willing to wait. Many moves they have made in the past were unsettling if not outright mistakes. I expect more of the same. I don't see a way to recover fully for the 2023 season.

You are catching up with me,

With 12 days left until the trade deadline and with our injuries and current lineup, do fans really believe the team will play better than 500 ball against Toronto, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Houston? Trades are unlikely to be made much before the deadline as teams trading are searching for the best offer. We will have to play with what we have and that will put Bloom and the front office in a weak position to argue for Buying. I thin we are looking to 2023 and beyond.

If you want to help the team, you do what is necessary. That is the point.

I see the Sox as having a very weak supporting cast in JBJ, Duran, Dalbec, Cordero, Plaweki and Downs. With Sale out, Pivetta with a tired arm (my guess) and Wacha out, there is not enough to make a run. Selling is a real alternative. Decisions made and not made before the season along with some bad luck has left the team too weak to be competitive this year. Decision time is fast approaching. I would like to keep Bogey but don't think that will be possible. Cut JDM loose and bring up prospects and give them a look. Sign Devers.

Who knows if we become sellers? None of us do at this point as we are on the edge of selling. Of your list of field players I would suggest that we currently have 5 ML quality players on the roster, and 6 when Story returns. (JDM, Bogey, Devers, Verdugo and Vazquez). My view is that Kike has been marginal this year so I didn't include him. I don't think we intent to extend JDM again so he could be traded as he won't be back next year anyway. With Bogey, i posited that he might be a player to keep on the roster to help us with the Devers negotiation. If he would be willing to switch to 2nd base and do some DH, I could see a contract extension. Could we pay him enough to keep him? I don't know, but he is an important part of the team and we should try to keep him. Vaz is a serviceable catcher who likes Boston. There aren't a lot of guys with as much talent out there. I know you have pointed out his defense is not top line, but if we want to maintain our competitiveness going forward, I would try to keep him. Devers is a must keep and lets hope we can do it without venturing into Sotoland. No player is worth what he is asking. Dugo is a serviceable outfielder on a team without a lot of strength in that position. I don't think we get enough for him to make it worth selling. Story is our SS of the near future and I would keep him. Other field players on our current roster are not people I would protect as I don't see them as a long term answer. I doubt we would get much for the lot.

The only two hits we got tonight were from Devers and Bogaerts. Cora threw in the towel as there was no chance in this one. It sad that we lack the talent to field a competitive team right now. We have 4 major league field players currently available. Lets get to the AS break and see what Bloom does. I don't expect a major effort to strengthen the team for 2022. Chances are we will have to replace some of our core players for 2023. There should be bucks to spend, but will Bloom use the resources effectively. I can't help but start to doubt his approach.

There was a solid indication of that he was past those even decent years and yet we paid to take him back. This is one of Bloom's worst moves so far.

That is true, but we know that he isn't going to contribute at all offensively. Are we that void of talent that there is no alternative?

Based on results, I give them both a C. The trade for Bradley was a head scratcher at best.

Yes, I agree and see that as a major mistake by Cora. While the players were largely to blame for the poor showing in the first 3 Rays games, I see Cora as the culprit in last night's game.

I agree that relying on 3 or 4 hitters in the lineup to carry the team just can't work in the long term. Bloom had opportunities to improve the situation but didn't. Now, we may wind up as sellers of our main strengths. Hard to understand what Bloom's master plan is or what the constraints are that keep him for effective moves.

Cora didn't manage that well.

If Duran can hit a little, he is valuable as a base runner. Good job stealing, getting to third on Raffy's ground out and home on the wild pitch. Much needed double by Bogie to put us up by 3.

The Sox are going through a very tough set of games while trying to recover from an injury riddled pitching staff. In addition, they are featuring some of the least feared hitters in the league in Downs, JBJ and Dalbec and possibly throw in Duran. Add to that the lethargic style of play and it adds up to a losing streak. Decisions made earlier are bearing fruit, but it is rotten. Should the Sox try to recover by making trades at this point or sell off? If Bloom has a master plan it has not been clear since the start of the season. Is it going to be action to improve the team or a sell off?

Any information about Story's hand?

We have a weak lineup tonight with Dalbec, Downs and Bradley at the bottom. Does anyone know if Story is sidelined for long?

I mentioned the front office coming up with some sort of pyramid scheme for paying players. Pay your best up the middle players and two starting pitchers the most and then scaling down payments based upon the criticality of position. it is also clear that such a scheme requires a regular influx of prospects such that the budget for salary average stays below the penalty free number. Some flexibility is required but there should be a long term plan to optimize team performance year to year. Do Devers at $30M and Bogey at $27 fit that scenario? There is also the risk analysis involved in any business plan and long term commitments have the greatest associated risk. We already have Sale signed at big bucks for the end of a long term contract. To date that signing has not worked to the team's interest. Let's hope he can return and give us at least some value for the large contract we gave His contract just demonstrates how risky things can get.

I agree that Devers should be the number 1 target. I also dislike contracts spanning as long at 10 years, but it may take that to keep Devers. He is still just approaching his prime years so if we don't do it for him, who would we ever do it for?

The game last night says more about the Yankees than the Sox. They are not some unbeatable juggernaut but one in which their relief pitching has flaws, their defense was poor and hitting only so so. We beat them with Dalbec, Jeter and Duran in the lineup. Dalbec and Jeter have poor plate discipline while Duran was at least making contact. The guy who is surprisingly giving us a boost is Refsnyder (sp). We may have a useful outfielder there.

We need to be realistic with expectations for Sales upcoming performance. I am hoping he can go 5 innings and hold his own. I have no expectations that he will look like and ace, but his competitiveness an experience should get him through a 5 inning stint. He can build on that going forward. I had hoped for a little more offense from Story. He is our best defender though.

Shows the value of having speed on the team. Giving Duran a real chance may provide dividends although his defense needs to improve.

Which is too many. Other teams know of the weaknesses so it makes trading any of them problematical unless coupled with prospects the other teams may want. This leaves us with attempting to pick up pitching with cash considerations, swapping away our better prospects or promoting additional pitchers from within. I would hate to see the front office panic and give away key prospects, especially given that we may falter when facing the iron of the American League East shortly before the AS break. If the front office decides some of our prospects are not key to our future success, then perhaps those players could be trade bait, but what might they bring? My view is this year is another in which the team will tread water and next year we may be in a more solid financial position to really strengthen the team. Only then can we see if Bloom and ownership are heading us in the right direction.

We know the Sox BP is weak. We still will have to go through the Yankees, Blue Jays and Rays before the all star break. With our BP, that sounds problematic. Don't think Bloom can rectify the situation this season.

Yes, our lineups are similar in potency. Tonight we are going with a rookie pitcher so you have to think they have an advantage. Should be a good one.