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5GoldGlovesOF,75

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Everything posted by 5GoldGlovesOF,75

  1. The only problem is the Red Sox trade deadlines this decade -- for hopeful fans desperate for quality reinforcements for every stretch run -- has been 99% impotent. I haven't forgotten about Schwarber, Bloom's best move almost by luck, considering what he had to give up, who also came here as damaged goods unable to immediately contribute. Schwarbs was called by the coaching staff and his teammates as a difference-maker in the batting order and around the batting cages... but I'm bitter the first Bregman before Bregman was allowed to walk. I'm also on record blaming the trade deadline as the impetus for losing Devers, who put the sensitive Breslow on the spot in the press: "He knows what we need..." Raffy certainly meant upgrading the pitching -- something Brez finally did for the system in drafting dozens of pitchers last summer, right after he traded Devers.
  2. You're certainly entitled to your massive optimism. But to me, what's highly probable is that at least one starter will get hurt and another will underperform -- it just happened last year in Boston with an All-Star starter and another who had just wiped out the Yankees in the World Series... ... and that's where the depth will become the key to the season. One way or the other.
  3. Does this count: signed free agent Andrew Miller... traded for Eduardo Rodriquez, signed as a free agent with Arizona... Comp pick: Roman Anthony
  4. I don't underrate Gray and Suarez -- Gray was the first starter on my wish list this offseason because I knew Bloom would slash and burn St. Loo (cuz that's what he do)... plus I got that Looie Tiant vibe watching Ranger blank the Sox last year (though now he can't face them anymore). But I think some here underrate what Giolito and Bello did last summer. They were pretty good. I look at it like this: will the Red Sox top five pitchers in '26 outperform their top five from last year? The latter quintet included Crochet-Giolito-Bello and Chapman-Whitlock. If we're honest here, it's going to be very difficult for the '26 mound stars to even exceed themselves. That's why I believe the key to improvement will be better quality from the #4, 5, 6, 7, 8 guys in the rotation.
  5. The Yankees have been preseason favorites to win the pennant every year of my life since I was a teenager and they traded Bobby Murcer for Bobby Bonds. The worst wager you could ever make is to bet that oddsmakers won't favor NY first over everybody else -- even all the good clubs that actually make offseason additions to improve (alright, I admit the Yanks picking up Weathers could help; he's a guy I liked as a possible Sox target). Look how weak the Yanks were at the end of last season. The Jays were thrilled they beat depleted Boston, who Toronto feared as a tougher match-up. And what has New York done this winter? Cole's coming back -- from a major injury -- and he'll be as Cy as ever? I can't even-- Ju-JUD-JUDG-JUDGE!
  6. For anyone who thinks Breslow has actually improved the club this offseason, this is the only possible reason. The Red Sox aren't better in the batting order or even on defense yet because Bregman was an All-Star third baseman (and no matter what stats say, was clutch on D and a total difference-maker in stabilizing the infield). Here's the starting rotation that opened the first five games in 2025: Crochet-Houck-Buehler-Fitts-Newcombe. We know now that Giolito and Bello became good #2 and #3 starters and underrated keys to making the playoffs. Is it automatic that Gray and Suarez will be an improvement over '25 Gio and Bello? I'd actually be happy if they are just as good, and we get more quality consistency from Bello-Oviedo-Crawford in the #4, #5 and #6 slots. THAT may be where Boston is most improved. Plus, Early or Tolle or both could emerge...
  7. MLB.com again TODAY states that Duran is the #1 leftfielder in all of baseball. But the Mets just announced that Soto will play LF this season, so rankings may have to be adjusted. As for Abreu at DH, it makes no sense for a team admitting and bragging they're built around pitching and D to put a two-time Gold Glover on the bench. Of the four "starting" outfielders, Anthony might DH more than any of them. Then he could just concentrate on hitting more home runs -- which a reporter already asked him about in Florida (but no pressure, kid). I like these batting orders: Duran-Story/Durbin-Anthony-Contreras-Abreu-Durbin/Story. Cora already said WiLL will bat clean-up, so gotta think Anthony 3rd since there's no one else that can protect him.
  8. Reports in most of these deals that didn't happen is that the other club wanted a package headlined by Mayer. We don't know if he's going to be a star or ever healthy enough to play a whole season, but trading a presumed starting infielder for a more established name basically defeats the purpose of fixing a hole where the rain gets in. Durbin cost spare parts. I won't ever compare him to Neto or Marte, but I might compare him to IKF, depending on who plays where.
  9. Never know. He might be the next perfect fit, though even that phrase has been overused around here lately. Also, based on what I've read and researched, I'm not quite sold on Durbin as "a double in the gap." I can see him as a double, but more from slapping one past the third baseman down the line, after faking a bunt and drawing everybody in.
  10. I like it. Though I was thinking of a really big beer mug -- spun out of sturdy earthen material and not thin fragile glass that shatters as soon as it comes into contact with utensils in the sink.
  11. Altuve has a better chance to make the Hall of Fame than Pedroia. Altuve won three batting crowns by the age of 27 and has averaged 21 homers per 162-games over 15 seasons. Lifetime BA of .303 in the majors, .322 in the minors. Durbin hit .256 in his MLB rookie year, after .269 in his minor league career. Durbin isn't a star, but a good player with tools that should help the offense and defense... hopefully, more than the expendable parts the Red Sox gave up trading for him.
  12. Re-read my scenarios. They all make sense to the people listed -- who are not the same people in each scenario. Then re-read my earlier post where I give my own opinion of this trade: "I like everything about this trade." And I still stand by my post from the weekend that we're going to need our starting rotation to throw shutouts for half the season just to keep us in games...
  13. It will always be a good trade for fans to say good riddance to a selfish prima donna. It will always be a good trade for the owners and front office to say good riddance to a albatross contract. It will never be a good trade for anyone who follows Boston until the Red Sox find another consistent 30-homer middle of the order bat.... if they ever do... and sign him through his prime... and don't dump him before his time.
  14. The Red Sox locked up Campbell after one good month in the majors because of what he did the previous season in the minors. Teammates were calling him "Barry Bonds" in 2024 when he was Minor League Player of the Year. Barry made over $188 million when he played 20 years ago. According to my cousin Ai, that pro rates to $309 million in 2025. If KC really turns out to be Barry Bonds, Breslow signed him for $60 million (accountants help me out; wouldn't that be a savings of over 80 cents on the dollar?). Plus, Brez is always playing the odds -- like when one of his Asst. VPs notes that around 90% of the past 25 Minor League players of the year became solid big leaguers -- if not stars -- in The Big Shoe...
  15. "Knowledge is power that I am faking."
  16. I don't know if having the most infielders equates to 1st, but Brez has loaded up to protect his top investment and groundball guy: Ranger Suarez. Breslow also went to Yale, so he knows batters will have a tough time bouncing one between 13 gloves, compared to all the holes on other teams' infields.
  17. I like everything about this trade. The guys we gave up were expendable, and Durbin is going to be a fan favorite: a short, scrappy guy who hustles is great, but here's the refreshing part for this line-up: he doesn't strike out and is a good bunter. The batting order may be in shock... and that must be why the headline writer for Brandon's scoop called this "shocking."
  18. Swing hard in case the ball hits your bat!
  19. Duran might be a DH for about 2 weeks but he won't DH for anyone for 2 seasons. Wherever he ends up, management will make him play the field just so he won't drive them crazy doing sprints in the dugout, bench-pressing the bat rack and squawking their ears off.
  20. So we effectively traded Devers for Durbin. How can anyone consider this a fair swap: a 9-year career negative dWAR third baseman who strikes out and can't run for a positive dWAR sparkplug who makes contact and steals bases. Brez....
  21. Well, at least we won't have Hamilton to argue about anymore. He's taking his glove with the hole in it to Milwaukee.
  22. I take it back. He mostly batted 7th last year. But I like him #2 because he doesn't strike out, and can run: 18 SBs. As long as Anthony bats after him and isn't wasted trying to drive in the bottom of the order who are sitting in the dugout.
  23. Actually, he is: Tucci. Personally, I'm an Old Hickory guy.
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