vegasbob

Splendid, have fun with the Game Threads, you're a master there. Remember AC is in a contract year, so he will be trying really hard to get this crew out of last place . My guess is that Tampa will take last place away from us.

Finally, an afterthought comment including Yoshida (see Moon's above). In only his second year of a 5 year $18 million per deal (plus posting fee) this guy needs to become a significant part of the offense since his less than stellar fielding abilities have relegated him to DH status. His 2024 ST has not shined a bright light on even those abilities. This guy could help somewhere in mid lineup #5/6/7 by getting on base and the occasional 2B/HR. I would say he is somewhat untradable so he needs to perform. Good luck, Yoshi , please hit .300/.800

Mid June, especially now with Murphy sidelined for a long time. Cora's temptation will be to extend starters even if they are getting hit to get this staff through a long season, and to show ownership they should have been more aggressive once again on SP's. There is very little gas in the tank for #6/7 SP's to cover for the inevitable injury bug (minor or major) to the current starters.

Kenley is realistically no part of a plan for muti-year pitching in Boston ( age/physical deterioration/cost) . Probably should have been moved off season, but likely not many takers offering value. Now he will need to rehab and pitch his way back to some level of trade value by late July. Otherwise , another low value, but higher priced guy on a team that will struggle to seriously compete .

Although a team with Verdugo, Turner, Duvall and Sale among others may sound like a stronger bunch, that group and many others only got to 78 wins over the full season .

Same reason you can dip a glass into the deep blue sea and come away with a glass full of clear water.

Much agreed. Trevor is showing some decent bat so far and is a plus factor in the field , possibly on the bases. Devers is hitting well, as is Wong. Casa is having a rough ST but Jarren Duran is carrying his weight so far. The trouble is all these guys were major parts of a 78-84 team a year ago. None of the "rookies" has had a breakthrough ST to show they truly belong at the MLB level yet It would be nice if a couple or three can make the next step over this season. Cedanne Rafaelaa is the closest based on Spring results. And perennial suspect Bobby Dalbec has bashed some balls but has no real position skills.

When you really look at it , there were effectively no upgrades to the roster at any position on the 26 man that will go on the first road trip. The ownership has spoken and told the FO and Cora to take it or leave it. I'm guessing Alex leaves it after 2024 for a big payday.

Red Sox take the AL East with a 99-63 record , followed by Orioles, Jays, Yankees , and a 72-90 Rays squad. You can't say it can't happen until it fails to materialize . Look for an update about April 9.

Red Sox are 6 days away from breaking camp in Ft. Myers and beginning a 2 week trek through the Western U.S. with exhibitions versus the Rangers , then 10 league games vs mariners, A's and Angels before getting back to Boston to eventually open Fenway with the Orioles. In an off season where the biggest need was starting pitching , virtually nothing was accomplished. The only notable pitching signing, Giolito, quickly eliminated himself via elbow injury. Jansen , as closer, is not ready to pitch . The rotation of Pivetta, Bello, Crawford, Houck, and Whitlock sounds very similar to 2023. So much for priority # 1. Almost no way that group can carry this team for 162 games . Another acquisition , Vaughan Grissom, has not been able to get his sore legs under him at 2B , leaving a weak lineup of mediocre backups of Reyes and Valdez, Hamilton not really in the picture. Tyler O'Neill may be another chronic leg condition from being reliable. Refsnyder will miss several weeks with the toe injury . To a large degree, the initial 26 man roster will be much the same as Chaim Bloom's efforts last year . 78 wins might be an elusive target for the 3rd year running. Good luck Craig Breslow, thinking you may need it to avoid stepping backwards. The initial West Coast tour to start the season could be revelatory and hopeful or show some really bad vibes before ever reaching Boston.

Like so many other DH's on this roster. BTW, Dalbec did play at 3B in the last Dominican game. He is too tal to field ground balls is one observation.

Is it a "sick" roster or a roster that is "sick" ?

But even casino payoff jackpots once in a while . This would have been one, but insurance cannot eat up innings, so which would you rather have , insurance or a functional pitcher ? In this case the Sox have neither.

Oh yes, it is still early and all SSS and the imagined starting lineup hasn't played enough to get ready, BUT usually in ST one or two guys are hot out of the gate and put up some numbers that make you notice. No one on this roster is notably doing so, yet.

Bloom's curse swallows Breslow alive. The only mound move for 2024 turns into a major bowel movement . J. Henry is yelling all the way to Ft. Myers as he schools his FO on signing over 30 year old pitchers . Could Giolito's rough 2023 season been any sort of precursor to arm trouble ? The dreaded forearm tightness predictor of UCL or did this injury just pop up during a side session ?

Don't underestimate how those first 12 games , including 9 on the West Coast, after a final 2 warmups at Rangers, could make or break this marginal team in less than 10% of the season. A 3-9 start could end the year quickly, or a good road trip , plus home opener series with O's, say 7-5 , could get this motley crew on track.

For Grissom to take off and spark a rally, he would actually have to be in the lineup. As it looks now, he has leg related issues and will miss the opening road trip through the West. Not a great look so far.

Certainly a given that Robert's Dodgers must reach the WS, if not actually win it. Ownership there has shown patience while that All-Star roster has been put together.

He did go "oh-fer" including 50% K's. Jarren was immediately told to report to the minor league fields for reassignment.

Agreed, he has said he doesn't want to field manage for a decade ( 10 yrs or so), but a 5 year deal with a true contender at about $25-$40million could easily entice AC to give it a try. Who knows the Yankee job doesn't open up, or even the Dodgers if Roberts stumbles.

This will be Cora's last year in Boston. Whatever the outcome, short of a miracle WS appearance, there will be a mutual parting of the ways. He won't be fired but will become another FA let go . There could be some interesting openings depending on the performance of other high budget teams. Dave Roberts it's a WS win or bust for you. If the Sox ownership won't pay premiums for prime players , why would they do so for a manager ?

Kutter Crawford should be happy to have another short arm thrower in the rotation with him.

Hope Brayan knows he can't crow hop in front of the mound like that warmup toss, Hah. Or perhaps with an arm like his, he is thinking maybe RF on days he is not pitching, to get Ohtani like money in a couple years.

Hey, we resemble that remark because we do grow avocados on our 5 acres in Temecula, CA . And if you call my wife the WWotW , we will have issues, lol.

David Price reminds me of that cautionary warning from the scorpion to the frog offering a ride across the pond, if the scorpion wouldn't sting him. After the sting, the scorpion says , but you knew who I was before you set out. Has there been any Red Sox addition via Tampa Bay Rays that worked out well, including Bloom ?