5GoldGlovesOF,75

Ceddanne drew a base on balls. He's walked in every game he's played in 2025. Coulda had another one, but had to go and swing, and homer.

When Arenado looked more likely to be this offseason's infielder/righty bat addition, I said the key reason for the acquisition was to signal the shift in the Sox' defensive structure -- going forward. As in: even if Arenado was cooked, he would ignite the transition of Devers to DH. And that would make it easier for all to accept a young, unproven prospect like Mayer or Campbell inheriting the hot corner. The same holds true if Bregman plays third this season, has a monster year and opts out. There's no going back.

In the large sample size of a seven-inning game vs. amateurs, it was good to see at bats by The Password, also known as Justin Sin Garcia (as pronounced by TC and Merloni on NESN). Garcia is a strong right-handed hitter who led the org in minor league home runs last season. Already on the 40-man at 22, maybe he'll soon be part of the outfield core (look how fast Campbell and Anthony moved up in one year). Maybe this is a reason why Breslow hasn't invested in adding a righty swinger. Garcia looks a little like Manny, but reportedly is good enough to play all three outfield positions... (must be really quick).

For years I read any Red Sox article I could find online. NESN.com was always a go-to site -- now it's all crap, loaded with dozens of daily clicks, most that say nothing new, promoted as 1 to 3 minute "reads." What... if... I... read... slower? Avoid at all costs.

I just don't see it on a roster loaded with good young outfielders. When Anthony is here, he may be platooned while he adjusts -- probably with Refsnyder briefly.

snoozeweak.dumbass/how-yankee-fan-writer-afraid-of-'25Boston-can-spew-idiocy-online

I covered this in my entire first paragraph, but didn't use OPS because it's obvious the difference there is that Rafaela didn't walk. But when he swung the bat, only one Red Sox player drove in more runs (the happy-go-skillful longest tenured face of the franchise). And whether anyone thinks that is total luck or not, the fact is that Ceddanne Rafaela had more RBIs in his rookie season than Reggie Smith, Ellis Burks, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jackie Bradley. But not Fred Lynn! (all I'm really saying is that Abreu is not that good, either)

They might not be similar lately, but comparable in value to a line-up. Devers hits the ball harder, but Bregman makes more contact. The last four full seasons, Raffy's Hard Hit % is over 50% and his Exit Velo is over 90%. Alex is around 40% and just below 90%. In K-rates, Bregman's are all less than 14% (career is 13.4%), while Devers is around 20% (career 21.2%). And then there is Line Drive %. Raffy: 23.9, 26.4, 20.6, 25 (career 23.9).... AB: 23.1, 24.5, 25, 24.2 (career 25.9).

I don't see platooning, unless it's with a young prospect who starts to struggle (like Anthony or Mayer vs. tough lefties). There seems to be a perception that Abreu was a better hitter than Rafaela last year, because the latter never walked. But Abreu actually had a worse K-rate 28% (vs. 26.4% for Rafela) in 124 less Plate Appearances. Even if Abreu was a slightly better At Batter, little separated the two as Hitters. Here are batting averages for a few categories: vs. RHP: Ceddanne .259, Wilyer .266 vs. LHP: Ceddanne .211, Wilyer .180 2nd Half: Ceddanne .250, Wilyer .240 2 outs, RISP: Ceddanne .250, Wilyer .304 Late and close: Ceddanne .318, Wilyer .143 Excluding All-Stars Duran and Devers, the pair were the Sox two most valuable regulars by WAR: Abreu 3.4, Rafaela 2.8. Boston needs them both on the field.

Sox could easily blow a 4-0 lead if Garcia, Sims and Joely are in relief. But they could still win, 5-4, in extras because in the playoffs, there is no ghost...

Jacksonian furiously typing a rebuttal post: Short Die the King!

But if we have a Rookie of the Year, and then get another draft pick, that's two guys we have to worry about paying market value to -- or we have to trade them sooner! Why do we have to be so good all the time -- people will come; it's baseball.

When the press took the trains with teams before air travel, they never snitched on the Babe or his weapons of mass consumption... probably because he shared a lot of the spoils with the writers.

But what's your take: do you abhor guys that are different, or abhor guys who abhor those that are different? Northeastern tomorrow -- almost real baseball games!

Sometimes prospects play better when they first make the majors. They're happier there, and not just because of the money, but with easier travel, better meals, better accommodations, and much better playing conditions, on better fields with better lighting, truer hops, easier to see pitches that are more around the plate... until someone finds a flaw in their swing, and "the book" circulates throughout the league. Usually by the next season, we'll know if they're really ready for The Show. Boston has seen its share lately who weren't. Meanwhile, there are plenty of guys who struggle out of the gate, like Pedroia or Casas (or Willie Mays) who find it, after adjusting. But someone who tears it up in the minors has nothing left to prove by getting sent back down. It's usually that the parent club deems he's just not good enough.

Are you saying there's actually a difference between a sore shoulder that limits workouts, and just sitting on a beanbag doordashing Chipotle? My son is going to yell at me again...

I'm not upset, just bored with the media doing it's job, as usual, to contrive news -- especially out of the mouths of young men who play a game for a living. Not upset with Raffy or Triston or Alex B or Alex C or even Alex S (who, of all the beat reporters seems more concerned with what's happening on the field -- not off). As for the talk show boasts of Felger and Mazz and Beetle, I get that they get paid to be bigger mouths than the ones they quote for clicks or calls, but that doesn't make them any less detestable. There are enough lowlifes in the world that justify depravity by "doing my job."

What a relief. Heaven forbid a reporter asks Casas a question and he... he answers.

I still can't believe none of the Yankees -- or all of the Yankees -- didn't just bunt in Game 6 on a crippled Schilling, with his skin stitched over the sheath of his tendon to keep his leg from falling off. He needed a step ladder to get up on the rubber, and a shark cage to keep him upright.

And teams don't give a crap if an outspoken player is producing. As long as he's not badmouthing teammates, blabbing to and at the media is ok. It may be a pain for others to have to answer questions about his words, but a clubhouse doesn't mind having a guy who reporters constantly flock to for quotes, if it means they'll leave the more private players alone. Management can deal with the PR on its own. Clubs keep a Bill Lee around as long as they think he helps them win more games than lose image points. But as soon as Spaceman starts to descend -- and re-enter Earth's atmosphere -- defense systems lock their disintegration lasers onto the target. Bill Lee is still playing hardball regularly, 45 years after pitching for Boston. There's probably no better old-time ambassador for the game -- but we never see him in the booth with a microphone. The Red Sox bring back just about any controversial alumni, at least for an interview... but never someone whose mouth they can't trust, even on 10-second delay.

It was Bigfoot -- BOB STANLEY!

Since there's nothing else to watch on TV right now, these are all just more Search For Bigfoot! shows. The media are the investigators with all the latest high end tech. They always go where someone thought they saw something... and when they get there, someone thinks they heard something. BUT THERE IS NEVER ANY EVIDENCE. We viewers with remotes never watch entire episodes anyway. The players are one big family of Sasquatch, sharing a few good laughs while hiding out in the Yeti Bar in Leysin, Switzerland.

Talking heads on Boston sports channel still ragging on Casas today. The same expert who basically decreed that Casas had no right to give his opinion yesterday returned to the polluted airwaves today: "Why couldn't he have just said what everyone is supposed to say in that situation?" Next time, Beetle, pass out some AI print-outs so all players will know which cliches to use. But then you'd have to make up something else controversial to complain about...

If Casas becomes a legit middle-of-the-order monster, why trade him at his current salary? Even if the Sox get uncomfortable and extend him for market value, it presumably will be a fraction of what bad Vlad wants -- the guy some fans covet instead.

The reason I don't trade Casas yet is because of the second-half of his 2023 rookie year: .317/1.034, 15 HRs. If he can put together an entire injury-free season and become a full-time .300 batter with 30 bombs and a .900 OPS, then he's a keeper to build around... and there's no need for more costly middle-of-the-order bats. I don't trade that potential to fill lesser needs or to get rid of a free agent signing mistake from a previous regime or because he's an intelligent individual who doesn't speak in cliches. The Red Sox are improving, but this guy is worth waiting another season for, to see if he'll be part of the core.