vegasbob

All the more disabling, if the Sox lose multi-year top 2 picks and some IFA money. When the bombs fall, if they do, the selection of Chaim and his experience could be deeply discounted.

$2 or 3 million maybe for the elusive LH bat at 1B ? You would think that platooning you could get a full year out of Mitch but at whatever salary , he struggles to get in 4 months out of 6.

More like a definite maybe, when and if, unless of course conditions change. The "uncertain" from whichever spokesperson is pretty weak. Pedey , for whom there was a slight ray of hope, is well done, fully baked, over, needs to move on, collect his remaining pay and come to old-timer events, maybe even a Day at Fenway in the warm summer where he can announce to 35,000 faithful and his former teammates, "It wasn't me"

Pedroia's mobility and to some degree lifetime pain issues will eventually be cured a knee replacement. He's still too young for that now, but with medical advancements in joint replacement, he may be "fixable" in his 40"s and wind up ok. It's playing baseball that he isn't able to do, which was expected in most opinions.

Unlike ourselves, the FO/Ownership can dial Roenicke's cell phone and get the answer now. My guess is they have done it and determined that at best, Ron R. knew the system and did not have the standing to stop it, or perhaps he did for 2019 since the performances dropped off notably. I do agree that if Roenicke got picked as manager tha the Sox are clear of problems. That is why I don't think they will be able to hire him, and that may be for the best also. Clean house of all involved or close to the situation may be a "reset" type action but it is very late in the offseason to replan ST workouts and drills. The overall morale of this bunch will be interesting to observe.

Is it true that Pedroia's comment on the 2018 situation and Cora's firing was, " It wasn't me, it was them !"

I don't see how any internal candidate from the coaching staff would be seriously considered, especially those from 2018. Obviously there needs to be the semblance of a house cleaning and no way Roenicke , Febles or Goodwin could not have known what was going on. For that matter, I can only imagine that Varitek and Pedroia knew it as well. I think they will need to go to the market an get an experienced manager, not a young guy trying to make his mark. But, please not Dusty Baker, and never Showalter. Maybe Bucky F. Dent for laughs.

No serious mention of 2019 where the Red Sox did not tear the cover off the ball. Was the video room still in full operation? If so, someone tell me how JDM , if he knew the coming pitch, still swung at so many low outside breaking balls? How did Mookie get off to a slow start and what happened to Benintendi ? I realize the penalties and investigations revolve around the Sox in 2018, but the comparisons would be remarkable if it came out that Cora (or the players) dropped the program in 2019. Alternatively, if they were still getting pitches, why could they hit one year and not the next ? Interesting to see how that shakes out.

Cora is as good as fired, if Henry doesn't actually do it. Totally lame ducked going into ST. But his status does not tie up Bloom from personnel moves, so that is a different situation. The further fall out may be at the coaching positions who were present in 2018 and at least knew about the sign stealing operation. The situation evolves around the use of technology, not the concept of trying to gain an edge by use of experience or wits to out perform the opponent. It will be interesting to compare the full outcome of this situation with the Patriots transgressions and subsequent punishment which essentially changed no outcomes going forward. Kraft and his boys took the PR blow, reputational harm, fines, etc and just kept trucking. Will MLB and the Sox ownership take it a lot further with AC?

Could it be the finger wagging system is a little archaic and prone to "stealing" ? Not sure a radio system like the NFL has for QB's could work because the catcher might be "overheard" by the hitter but there may be a better system for communicating the pitch selection. If the current way of pitch selection can be easily decoded , then why should teams simply go on the honor system to n ot determine what is about to happen ? Or is that another unwritten rule" One or two intentional crossups such as an inside fastball when a curve , low and away was "decoded" will cure most hitters of leaning in too quickly.

The clock is now post holiday ticking with only 41 days to P& C report date, followed by position players a week later. The disposition of JBJr still in the wind, and no significant additions on the public horizon. There is a thought that despite the nosedive in 2019 thata team similar to the 2018 crew could win 90+ games if the 3 starters besides Erod can go a near full season. But that doesn't address nor solve the lux tax consideration. Likely that some potential acquirers of JBJr want the certainty of the arb process completed first.

You hit the understudy on the head as another Sox , relatively young, flames out after multiple opportunities at the MLB level. Like Swihart, I think Sam T. had enugh exposure to see if the upside was there or not.

Wins for 2020 are at 86 for reasons to be revealed over the next several months. The roster on March 30 will be a little different than todays in 3 key spots. Details as soon as Bloom returns my call.

I fully echo your sentiments. The 1978 game was an all time low point for many reasons Dent getting busted on the foot, only to follow with an over the wall ball. Yaz not hitting Gossage to pull the game out of the muck. It was a bad day at Black Rock to say the least.

I would say the Red Sox REALLY need pitching, but will not be part of the A list FA offerors. So if we then move Price and/or Eovaldi, where do we go to fill at least 2 , if not 3 slots. ? BTW, stay competitive ! As most prior seasons have shown, ultimately a team needs to run 6 to 8 starters out there to make a full season. And this does not address the muddled bullpen . When JBJr or (unlikely) Betts or Price and whoever move on, Chaim better get a couple pitchers in return. There are more assets available internally and externally, and cheaper in the position player vacancies than on the mound.

Rick's worst innings were often the 1st or 2nd. Not an opener. Maybe he could throw a bullpen, then come in in the 3rd-4th-5th before having trouble. Yes, there are at least 2 starting roles to fill, plus some depth on the mound, but it is hard to see Porcello being anything but a reltively expensive 1-2 year plug. Would you rather keep JBJr at $10 million or Rick Porcello ?

This winter meetings may start to break the logjam and produce a few deals across MLB that sharpens the pencil on relative values and more specifically the Sox oxymoronic goal of lowering the payroll to $208MM ( or near), and the need to keep a competitive team on the field. Were the Sox competitive last year with 84 wins , after losing major time to starting pitching injuries , but never exceeding a 6 win streak ? Competitive, yes, but with some major challenges starting with the scheduling in March/early April following a "hangover ST. In retrospect, 2019 just didn't set up in any way for the Red Sox to make a repeat run. This off season is challenging due to the budget, Betts and JBJr questions, and the arm conditions of the 3 starters. Also starting the roster building with questions at 2B, 1B and backup catcher. Mr. Bloom has dived into the deep end of talent pool.

2000-2009 took the cake. The second decade was 3 more layers of icing. The net decade will BLOOM like spring flowers, I'm sure. But first we have to cut the budget to self flagellate for all the success of the 2000-2019 period.

I assume Chris Sale is having a hard time getting a DR. appointment , what with Thanksgiving and all. His physical evaluation needs to be complete soon so Bloom can plan a little better for the Rule 5 draft and interaction with other GMs in December. This is not a "no news is good news" hiatus on Sale's condition. Other teams taking on David Price for 3 years ? That is a tough one without Price and his salary being the throw in to a bigger deal, maybe with Mookie or JD.

Selective memory bias on both Ells and Buch. But it makes a good story if either had a semblance of their one time skills.

But not admit to tampering with the wound tight baseball of 2019 in an attempt to create a HR Derby atmosphere in baseball , a weak attempt at garnering some fan interest ?

Since we are going to wear out ol' Rick P. until we get Sale's medical evaluation ( as if we will see the real story) , how about realizing just how much money an $82.5 million or even a $5 million/1 contract is in reality? Even well after taxes and agent fees , a house for Mom, 4 new Rolls Royces, a nice yacht, 529 plans for the kids, we are talking about 30 year olds with net worths in the mid 8 figures. This is generational , eternal wealth if reasonably invested. My point is that at 30 with maybe only a few years left on the field, wouldn't some (not all) professional athletes rather play for a winning, competitive team than just show up to get beat like a big bass drum ? The player may no longer be good enough to secure a roster spot on a WS winner, but I would rather take $5 million from the RedSox/Astros/Yankees/Dodgers etc than $10 million from the Marlins, Rangers, Mets, Orioles, Blue Jays after having secured my family's future with a $82 million deal now completed. I know thw MLBPA and my agent will choke, but it is a consideration. I don't know Rick and if pride goeth before a fall but just not sure what Rick would do with $12million pitching for the Mariners.

Trying to handicap Porcello's value, his last 17 innings or next deal doesn't mean too much until we get the indication that Sale's arm is still attached and Price can also go to ST healthy. Then you can debate Rick P's chances.

Here's a good idea, take a still young guy, Rafael Devers, who found his stroke this last season and should only do better as a hitter, and confuse him with a new position (1B) . Plus he did show improvement at 3rd, after a weak start. He also benefits from having Xander beside him to give him on field corrections when needed. Let the kid mature another year while finding another cheap answer at 1B.

If you have almost 2000 AB's in MiLB, and you're not worth protecting, just how big is your upside anyway ? It brings Rusney Castillo to mind.