oldtimer

I with you. A perfect platoon player with Chavis or Daqlbec at first and cheap. He probably can only help us in 2021 but still a tough guy to loose.

What a bunch of negative thinkers. He's in our system, he is moving up the prospect list, he is a young guy with potential. He may or may not hit ML pitching. I would hope he will make it. I don't expect much from him until 2023. Lets hope some of our prospects make the cut, otherwise why have prospects at all.

He pointed out core players and then others. It wasn't all about core players.

Who said he was a core player? I guess you are the only one who did. Given his rise in the prospect list, I presume he is a possible for a roster spot in 2023. He is a bit kid with a fair amount of power. I certainly hope he continues to rise as we need to develop new players for the Sox roster on a regular basis.

Have to commend you on such a thorough review of the Sox roster keepers, probables and others going forward. One youngster who may come up in 2 to 3 years is Blaze Jordan. We need mashers on the team and he has already risen on the prospect list to #13. He is around 18 years old and may see the roster by 2023. Of course, much will change with Bloom making moves. Be interesting to compare your list to what will exist in March of 2021. Good job.

That's three weak strikeouts and a groundout into a double play. In addition, two throwing errors. He did make a mice stop that started an important DP but the announcer said Peraza saved a bad through from Lin.

It will be interesting when the real trades get made to see if we were so foolish as to get rid of our core foundational players. I suppose one legitimate question is who are those players. I have a list but must say it is not very long. Bloom seems to have a concept going forward which looks to improve the club with every move and he doesn't want to set a timetable or a set of goals to achieve within a time frame. just keep improving with every move or don't make the move. The rest will take care of itself.Some will argue the Mookie Betts, Price trade didn't improve the team. I think Bloom is talking about long term sustainability and from that point of view, perhaps it did.

There was when the contract was offered. Now of course the Sox are living with the consequences. This isn't just about Pedroia specifically, but more about signing guys who have problems yet still get long term contracts. Billy Ball followed a different route.

Not just our starter. The BP sucked yesterday and look at our lineup today. Neither Bradley nor Lin can hit their way out of a wet paper bag. Too bad we are so weak.

Your mentioning Pedroia reminds me that we should not add sentimentality to the equation when giving contracts. If a guy was good at one time, but now past his prime, get rid of him. Hard to do with a respected player, but it is in the best interest of the team.

Using Lin in our lineup demonstrates our weakness.

It's the old story. If you trade your best away, who do you replace him with?

Take another drink and solve the conundrum.

If the Sox don't see a legitimate chance to compete in 2021, why set the CBT running again? Make improvements that can be made for $70 mil (or so) and save the plunge for the following year, when we may be back competing for a run in the post season. That said, I do expect big changes and substantial improvement next season. I'm. A month o still hoping management will bring up our most ready prospects to see what they can do. There will be a month of PT after the trade deadline and we could see vacancies open up on the roster.

First of all, it is not too early to talk about 2021. The 2020 season is toast as we knew it would be only worse, due to the unexpected loss of E-Rod, D-Hern and Walden. And MLBB, who took action to force the change of Manager. Congratulations on putting together a comprehensive and reasonable of players with your expectations of who will return, be traded and where our glaring holes will be. No doubt Bloom and the Sox staff have a similar list being developed and if they are smart, which I believe they are, they have a budget in mind for every position. The 26 man roster: C I agree 1B I agree again although we may be trading one low average masher for another 2B I like Arauz and we have Downs in the wings (maybe for 2022), I am ambivalent with Peraza. These guys offer flexibility for short and possibly 3rd but if Arroyo works out do we need both? 3B Definitely Devers but Arroyo is a crap shoot. SS I agree LF I am not sold on Beni (average defender, no power, questionable hitter). Could we do better? We made excuses for JBJ over the years due to his defense. Is Beni JBJ2 without the defense? CF We won't resign JBJ and Duran may be capable, but more likely we need to look for a trade or through FA. RF I agree DH JDM is probably with us for 2021, unless an unlikely trade takes place. If it does, DH can be filled for less money. I don't expect a championship year so why spend big at that position? SP I agree. Perhaps we can fill one starter from the minors which makes a search of the FA markets likely. Please, no big long term contracts for 2021. RP I don't expect Barnes back so we need a couple from our prospects and some in trade or from FAs. Acquisitions: CF, LF, (possible Duran for one of those or 4th outfielder, SP (Ace), possible 3rd although can we promote a prospect? Closer as Workman is probably gone. Stock the minors with quality prospects through the draft and from trades. Manager: No manager could make the existing 2020 crew a competitive team and yet I think a young manager and some new coaches are needed. What cash will be available sounds like the equivalent of the total Rays budget for the year. Lets hope Bloom will continue to be clever in his acquisitions as he was with the Rays.

Now that's cynical.

I believe they said Urshela was always a very good defender but his hitting became much better when he listened to the Yankee hitting coach about finishing his swing. That is kind of a slap at the Cleveland hitting coaches who never got more out of him. If it is true, the Yankees have a hell of a hitting coach. Sox players like Beni, Devers and Bradley go into long slumps and seem unable to get out of them. Is coaching part of the problem?

Of course you need to use a mix of both to succeed. The amount of each used depends on where you are as a franchise. Right now we have a weak farm, but that doesn't mean there is no talent. Our pitching is poor, party due to picking up somewhat older or injury prone guys, and bad luck. We have had little luck developing young pitchers and the ones that looked good we traded away. We are saddled with overhung contracts that probably won't return in value what we have into them. The good news is if the CBT resets, we will get attractive draft picks. That is something we haven't had in a while. We will also be in a position to spend more and we do have a young core of position players.I don't expect Bloom to turn this around quickly and will be pleased if we take steps to improve the team,, including strengthening the farm. I certainly hope there won't be long term contracts given to players past their prime. Pedroia's will be gone soon and maybe we can trade Eovaldi's away. Sale;s will be with us..

I see that players can expect to get private jet service to their new teams when traded. Takes away one of the negatives.

I tuned out at the end of the top of the 5th and am glad I did. Up til then Eovaldi looked decent with a couple of mistakes but the 4th inning must have taken a lot out of him. Glad I didn't see the carnage.

Bloom is the hope. Look to DD for a culprit. A cliff was predicted by the more realistic posters here and they were right. This is what a cliff looks like.

It was totally predictable that the string of games with the Rays and Yankees would go very badly and leave us with no chance of making the post season. We all knew that so the real story is what moves we can make to improve for 2021 and beyond. It has been discussed extensively but is maybe worth repeating. Admit the season is a lost cause and get the best out of the time going forward, starting tomorrow. 1. Be sure to reset the CBT so money can be spent going forward 2. Bring up our best prospects, both field players and pitchers, and see if any will stick. 3. Cut ties with players who we know we won't keep going forward. We know most of the names. 4. Do the best job of trading for players to fill in our holes, particularly with pitchers and pitching prospects. 5. We should get at least a couple of valuable draft picks. Use them wisely. 6. Enter the FA market with the idea of young pitchers while realizing they are in short supply. 7. Start the search for a quality young manager and for effective coaches. 8. Redirect our minors to stress pitcher development 9. Find and sign some mashers. Our lineup seems short of power hitters. Devers, JGM, Bogaerts, Vaz possibly Verdugo. and Moreland. Repeat the process for the 2022 season, only keeping those individuals who show their worthiness. Perform or hit the road. I believe Bloom has all these steps in mind and will not get us into ridiculous long term contracts where the risk exceeds the benefit.

Probably 2022 and beyond as one year to rebuild this roster and the farm seems like to much to ask. I'm looking for positive steps in 2021.

I'm not a Sanchez fan, but I'd rather see any of the others in my lineup instead of JBJ or Beni.

Maybe Song could make some waves.