Hugh2

Ward was the real screw up. Players that fit his profile DO get picked all the time and it was predictable he was going to be taken. It’s not fair to blame Bloom for losing Song, and this is not defending Bloom, this would be defending any GM in that position. Losing out on WARD is the real head scratcher, and deserving of criticism. Bloom seemingly messed up big time there,

I think it’s impossible that Song was forgotten about. The Sox figured no team was going to be bold and make an unprecedented move. If Song sticks, it will be a point of reference for Bloom and every other GM out there moving forward.

There’s no way any GM is purposefully leaving guys unprotected with the hopes of making 50k here and there. That’s pocket change for even a small market team. I also think Ward sticks. Actually that’s the guy we SHOULD be talking about. Bloom was very wrong in leaving him unprotected. Song…not so much.

And up until recently it looked like he was going to be in the military this year too. Which would make protecting him even a more head scratching move. This is probably partially why Philly took Song. Now they have to pitch him this year which might actually increase the chances he’s returning to the Sox

Yes I already acknowledged this. Still, when has someone who fits Noah Songs profile been selected? I don’t think it ever happens

Oh that's a great point, I just took young players who have played at the same level as Song. A moot point I suppose, the general theme here is the fact that guys like Song don't get picked, this is new.

Yeah, do you seriously believe the Sox wouldn't pay 50k? also often the penny-pinching has luxury tax implications which is why decisions are made in such ways. I'm not sure this is the case here whatsoever.

Has someone who fits Songs description ever been taken? Also, how often do players like him ever protected? I think that is an important question to ask ourselves here.

This is an amazing point. If the people angry Song was taken had a real point, even consistently within their own wrong point they would be up in arms that Bleis was left unprotected. Bleis is a top 100 prospect in all of baseball, with more talent than Song. Where is the outrage there? Luis Perales was a top pitching prospect and wasn't added to the 40 man. Elmer Rodriguez is another top 20 prospect, a former 4th rounder just like Song with a lot of potentials and if you put stock in age curves may be very promising and up and coming and he was left off the 40 man. Where is all the outrage from these guys being left unprotected?

He would have to stay on the active roster for 50 days next year before Philly could option him.

I disagree, you can't make roster decisions and burn a 40 man spot because a guy might be taken who fits a profile of a guy who has NEVER been taken before. This just doesn't make sense.

I think if someone wants to criticize this move they should have been advocating for his protection before hand. Nobody was....not even sportswriters. No one.

Exactly, I think many of the 40 man decisions this off season were huge head-scratchers. But not leaving Song unprotected.

Ok, but remember what happened is unprecedented. No GM would have protected Song, people who fit his profile don't get picked. Can you think of one guy who has only pitched 17 innings in A ball above rookie ball and hasn't pitched 4 years that has been picked up in a rule 5? It just doesn't happen. Protecting replacement players doesn't matter here because we are talking about the type of guy who doesn't get picked, wheres a replacement-level player is going to add more value than a kid who could get shelled at the MLB level. Teams don't protect guys like Song. This doesn't mean pitching isn't a concern, the Sox ability to draft and develop pitching has been lackluster, or it would be disheartening if the Song move worked out for Philly. Those things aren't mutually exclusive from the fact that not protecting Song made sense. Getting upset over Song being picked because of other deficiencies within the Sox system is unreasonable in my opinion and it appears the pundits who all wrote about it agree as well.

We are expecting a kid, who hasn't pitched in 4 years, barely above rookie ball, to come up to the majors and pitch better than 99.99999% of the people in this world at the MLB level. People have said this type of move is unprecedented by Philly, because it was. No GM in baseball would have protected Song, getting upset over this is just pointless. If he ends up being good then that Sux for the Sox but you can't blame this one on them. He probably gets returned. Philly wants to compete and not burn a spot and they likley planned on being able to carry him on the military list this year.

In this particular instance....yes. Very.

I think what most people fail to understand is that Philly took him likely under the assumption he wasn't going to be cleared to play. Because he could have stayed on the military list, now they HAVE to carry him. They can not option him this year unless the Sox trade him. Their only other option would be to put him on the 90-day DL. Which, aside from a legit injury would be a huge violation. People like Song don't get picked for a reason, this is rather unprecedented and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. There are so many many many moves to be un-happy with over the last few years. Not protecting Song can not reasonably be included in that list.

Maybe he is really into the brand new NWar stat.

But.....this is baseball not war.

The Song conversation just needs to end now. It’s effing stupid. You can’t protect everyone. And someone that fits his profile was never picked before. It’s a bold move by Philly and If it works out for them then more power to the. That’s it. It can just die now, I hate hoping the kid fails so the Sox get him back. I hope he beats the odds. Will suck for the Sox but it’s what it is.

Noah Song can pitch, was discharged. Things I google post script. Surprising seeing how his exception was denied before, I think Covid screwed up a lot too. Regardless, he's a guy that hasn't pitched above A ball in what will be 4 seasons this year. You don't protect that, and players like that don't get taken. It's almost a dick move by DD.

Ward I can see sticking, and I think he probably does. But there's no way Song sticks, I'm not even sure he's eligible to play nor has he in what....4 years now? can he even still pitch? but regardless there's no good argument for protecting Song.....but Ward being left unprotected is baffling.

I get that argument, and it's my general line of thinking as well but at the same time why spend the money just to spend the money?

Tightness, or soreness is so vague. It could literally be anything. It’s like having a fever, your organs could be shutting down snd your dying or it could just be a cold. It’s literally a symptom for everything. Still, anytime a pitcher has “forearm tightness” one can’t help but cringe a little. Let’s hope it’s nothing more.

Zips projections are garbage. And anyone would project the Yankees to win more games. But the 2023 season is unwritten.