5GoldGlovesOF,75

But do we really think Henry had Sam tell us about Pedroia's demands to sign better free agents? Why would Kennedy of all people share a dinner story where the organization is the punchline? Maybe it's something more than just Good ole Pedey, still intense after all these years...

It's happening -- but I'm not so sure anymore there is an "& Co" NBC Sports Boston -- 98.5 The Sports Hub -- is just hammering the organization today.

Papelbon: "They have to go get this kid Montgomery -- he wants to play in Boston."

Do you care if Rafaela strikes out in every game, like 70% of his teammates do? I don't, and I hate strikeouts. Last year's Red Sox may have been better than half the teams at making contact, but Verdugo and Turner were certainly a big part of that. But I can live with Ceddanne if -- as every prospect report indicates -- he'll have more positive impact on defense than everyone else on the roster (except maybe Story). Playing Rafaela in CF all season is one easy way to improve the horrid D, for the cost of a league minimum salary. His bat isn't going to make or break this team either way.

Of the projected starting line-up, here's what fanbases watched last year: Wong and Story struck out 1 of every 3 at bats, Casas, Duran, O'Neill 1 of every 4, Abreu/Rafaela in between -- so all those guys whiffed at least once a game. Only Yoshida, Grissom and Devers had less than 1 K for every 5 ABs... Let's just say we're used to it.

I'm wondering why Company Man Sam would even volunteer the anecdote to the media -- unless it's a subtle way to show he actually agrees with Pedroia, Devers, Jansen, Cora, Breslow, local and national reporters, and MILLIONS OF RED SOX FANS.

Favorite shape shifting: bat that feeds on cows, wolf that feeds on sheep, mist that feeds on moors (or less)?

What a whiner, what a pessimist; can't he see how sunny it is, with all the citrus fruit dangling around him, just waiting to be picked off by the two dozen teams actually trying to win this year?

In the optometrist thread, patients look forward to seeing a good team again, because that's when they know ownership will spend on good pitchers again.

That's it -- no more gray threads! Only blue and yellow, city connected threads. Or teel and roman...

Reporters asked my bad friend Sam the same thing at Jet Blue yesterday and he explained all Red Sox Nation needs to know about 2024: "It is what it is."

You're not sneaking that sarcasm past this thread's namesakes.

I have hopes for Grissom, and think that trade could define early Brez blows. In BP vids from FLA, Grizzley looks like Bogaerts from afar...

Today from MLB.com: "If Giolito can recapture his past form and Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford build on the positive signs they showed last year, the Red Sox might have a chance to sneak into the postseason." That would be cool, but why do the Red Sox have to sneak?

If only he could be like Putin, and just eliminate any critics and competition, despite being condemned by an entire world except for one bloviating thrall and would-be dictator.

Infinitesimal fortitude.

Don't let Werner see this -- next thing you know, he'll be telling reporters in Florida that the Red Sox making comebacks will be better than any talent available in free agency... or on the trading block... but maybe not in the draft, where they can pick more shortstops they'll be afraid to deal for real pitchers.

Even if we call O'Neill replacing Duvall even, the Sox are still down arguably their best hitter for most of last summer -- and certainly their most consistent RHH for five months (pre ankle-injury) -- in Turner. I understand the need to free up the DH to improve the overall team, but is it really reasonable to expect improvement in yet another area -- in this case, the offense -- that the front office chose not to compensate with established MLB talent?

Sam meant to say paramours (they're all cowgirls).

Would these kind of stats be acceptable for Grissom's first full season: .290ish with 15 HRs, about 10 SBs, and close to .800 OPs? That would give him Masa appeal...

I don't know any Sox fans that think O'Neill with replace both Turner and Duvall, but apparently the front office does, since -- after losing those two -- Tyler's the only batter with any MLB power success they've added. And no one said the goal is to replicate last season; my post about concerns was in reply to someone who said "Offense should be better." Again -- even if you expect every single hitter will improve, does the offense appear to have more or less depth than last season? If Cora is intent to bat a righty after Devers, how much protection will he get from Story or O'Neill, who each strikeout in 30% of their ABs?

Can we demote Bello and Casas, too, so we won't waste any premature adulation on them? They must have some options left.

Don't. Make me. Lose. CONTROL!!!!

For a perennial doormat, Rafaela should be in the perfect situation to win the starting job: by all reports, he already has one of the top gloves in baseball, and also starred on offense in the minors the past two years. I worry more the Sox will play an inferior centerfielder instead of a sure thing like Ceddanne, who will help the club improve overall. Like with Bradley, I could care less if he has holes in his swing -- because face it, half the roster already swings from their asses, and can't catch or run, either.

As a fan it's more fun when your team is bashing its way to wins. But the O is the area most underrated in its neglect this winter. It would be great if all last season's first-year Red Sox improve -- but progress isn't linear, and the sophomore jinx can be very real for batters who don't adjust as well as the editors of pitchers' books on hitters. Story has to be better, because only good teams can carry a glove man who bats .227 with a sub-.700 OPS, which is what he's done in Boston so far. For the new guys, would you take .287 BA, .716 OPS and a game-winning grand slam out of Grissom? Those are feats posted by Pablo Reyes in '23. Can O'Neill produce 44 homers and 154 RBIs? Those are marks combined by Turner and Duvall last year. Verdugo wasn't quite a star, but his career 15% K-rate was half of O'Neill's 30%. As for Devers, we'd gladly accept a repeat of 33-100-.851. But most who watched last year would agree that a better approach to situational hitting is needed. However, with even less big bats in the order to protect Raffy, opposing pitchers have even less reason to throw him anything in the zone. At least the front office can invest in longer bats...