5GoldGlovesOF,75

It's not what the Royals are spending, it's who they're spending it on -- players that Sox fans now consider normal acquisition targets for their own mid-market team.

We know good minor leaguers get promoted to different levels each season, so W-L records of A, AA, and AAA clubs can't truly reflect overall talent on revolving rosters. But the way the Sox horde and regard their actual prospects, they make it seem like teams in Worcester, Portland and Greenville should be much better than their 7th, 5th and 9th places from 2023... Some positive team stats when looking at offenses for the International, Eastern and Sally Leagues: Greenville and Portland led in doubles; Portland, Greenville and Worcester were 1-2-3 in triples; Portland and Worcester were second in stolen bases, Greenville fourth. SPEED and Pizza Boxes never go into slumps...

Lackey was only ok for the Red Sox in the same way Price was -- each had one good October that helped win rings. Both were also sent packing before the ends of their overpaid contracts in Bean Counter Town... Overall, Lackey was a disappointment in Boston, because he was terrible in 2011 and missed the entire 2012 season due to injury, triggering an agreed-upon clause for him to play an additional season at league minimum (a drama which the Sox avoided by trading him to the Cardinals, who restructured the wording so he could earn five times that amount in '15). Lackey and Price were never fan favorites in New England, partly because they were sour to the media -- even Eck! -- a bad look for mercenaries who only sign with the club that offers the most money. They were reportedly liked by teammates, though, and contributed to banners... which are worth it to some at any cost. All told, the Sox inked the Lackey-Price tandem for over $300 Million... back in the day when the front office was not at Full Waddle.

Just with the Yanks: Sox basically "let" Ellsbury go, with JBJ waiting to take over at minimum wage. ARod wasn't a free agent, but when his Sox trade was voided by the league, NY pounced. Also, in the not-a-big-leaguer division, Sox-Yanks were the two finalists for Moncada, the superduper overhyped amateur who actually helped Boston win its last ring, after being traded for Sale.

Charlie Brown was a pitcher, too. And he dogged up to sign Snoopy to a lifetime contract to stay with the Peanuts gang, when Disney targeted him as a Pluto upgrade. Maybe the Beagle didn't play shortstop his entire career... but he could still retrieve longballs in the gap, after moving to centerfield (like a bird who also made the bigs in his teens, Robin Yount).

You mean, so far? Uh... won't outbid other clubs for really good pitchers... won't trade top prospects for anyone? Just typing those phrases made the hair I don't have on my neck stand up.

He got the going rate. More importantly, the trade was contingent upon the extension. Red Sox front office forevers take note...

... 2. in the big leagues, 3. for 12 years, 4. five seasons for the Red Sox, 5. won a World Series ring, 6. as a pitcher (see how much of an optimist I am... that there will be a difference in Boston between CBOs... so far)

Someone asked if there really was any difference between Breslow and Bloom. Here's one: both have Yale degrees, but their majors veer in the majors. Chaim's study of the Classics -- according to Yale's program description -- gave him "enormous potential for the pursuit of interdisciplinary interests." Thus, the Red Sox' nickname during his charge as Interest Kings. Craig's study of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry allowed him to "understand life processes in terms of organic and physical chemistry." Study.com notes an example of the latter: "The batteries in our vehicle use the principle of electrochemistry." In Fenway Park, the batteries on our diamond combine principles of intradisciplinary clubhouse chemistry, dugout chemistry and bullpen chemistry... ... so, at least there's hope for a new and improved pitching culture (not quite a new pitch, but maybe some new pitchers can teach old dogs how to throw a sweeper -- or maybe they already throw it, but call it something else).

If the FO starts to feel the heat, and sense Yo Yama is No Yama, they may overpay for someone else and announce a signing before he decides. If Bloom was still in charge, though, they'd be telling the press the Sox had considerable interest in Lugo and Wacha -- even at higher AAVs -- but just got outbid on the years... But as of today, aren't the Red Sox still splashing around with the KC Royals in the kiddie pool?

Have to think there will be some serious Red Sox news coming soon, if only because Winter Weekend is a month away... Brez and the rez can't possibly go there without having made significant additions to the big league roster, lest they get booed right off the stage. And don't be surprised if Chaim is in the audience, disguised in a gorilla mask, asking Craig or Sam (Henry will be a no-show) to explain why they think '24 will be awesome.

If you're a smart pitcher, it's all those raw and crappy nights through March/April/May when you can constantly break bats by cutting deliveries into hitters' hands for six innings. Would you really rather throw in the NL West, where balls fly in Colorado and Arizona, and temps are too comfy for batters in California (except late innings in San Francisco, at any time, day or night).

Chaim would make him a Yoshida he couldn't refuse... But regarding the Yamamoto meetings, smoke needs some editing when it comes to celestial bodies: In LA, stars are always aligned. In Boston in the early 2020s, the asteroids are maligned.

Get your Moto running...

Ain't no change in the weather. Ain't no changes in me.

Thanks. What I hope it doesn't mean is that the Sox are really only willing to spend big on one good pitcher, and if they don't get Yama, they'll then shift to Monty, and if they don't get him, they'll settle for Imanaga (someone without a QO attached). We all know Boston needs more than one good starting pitcher... and that Giolito or Flaherty will just be someone's Garrett Richards at this point -- bounce-back candidates, but not reliable rotation mainstays on clubs with true contention intentions. I eventually just expect a Manaea, someone with Bailey connections...

Like it -- and the Sox should've already signed Imanaga AND Montgomery FIRST (like I said over a month ago), instead of waiting for a yes or no from the great Sawamura Award winner... ... because once he says yes to another club, all the other runners-up will be doing the same big overbidding and waiting for the consolation guys (I know: some agents prob forbid their aces from signing early, but some didn't)

And he'll never lose all his hair, his muscle mass, nor his spouse's desire for him. But he will gain a paunch in the belly and some empathetic pals and posters online... as long as he doesn't start plunking first batters he faces in the big toe (we know he won't walk them).

And they are fascinated he'll only cost a fraction of his elusive countryman...

You mean Sam Kennedy's pearls of wisdom teeth would be lost in translation? Here are just a few phrases from google translator (English to Japanese, with the latter's literal English meaning): "committed" ="involved..." "going for it" = "go towards it" "all-in" = "front entry" "upside" = "upward" "Brez" = "no blur" (seriously...) "Cora" = "a West African musical instrument shaped like a lute, with 21 strings passing over a high bridge, and played like a harp" "so good, so good, so good" = "very good"

You got it all wong... wherever verdugo, there you are (that's the price we pay). And whatever did you expect from the Always-All-In Dodgers for only 12 years of Betts?

Mookie didn't forget his roots, though, and warned of all the negative aspects of living in Southern California compared to New England: sunburns, dry climes (so less sweat, which cleanses bodies of toxins)... and everybody has to wake up three hours earlier!

I'm not into pointing fingers, like most Americans these days -- unless it's straight up. Fans have slogged through a stark difference in Red Sox' offseasons the past half decade. Dombrowski was declarative, deliberate and decisive -- though his pursuit of star power wasn't really that much different than previous Sox GMs. But since Dombro left, there has been a significant change in the type of ballplayers recruited to the big league roster -- and that includes inferior "replacements" for the All-Stars that Boston chose to not keep longterm. Moon says it started with Kimbrel/Kelly, but it was really evident with Mookie -- and I don't mean the Sox had to immediately go find another Hall of Famer -- but not even an offer to the best OF available: Springer from Connecticut (in retro, Jason Bay wasn't a bad return for Manny; his WAR in his only full Boston year was higher than any of Ramirez' rest of his career)? The approach from the front office -- most of whom have been around forever -- has been altered, and so has fan expectations... and not in a good way. If it's just a phase ownership is going through, it's been five years now.

But did he specifically specify baseball? Quick Google search for World Series brought up poker, comedy, pop culture, rock, and team roping...

Brez may have gotten outbid for Lugo by the small-market Royals ($45 Million... dollars?)... but at least our totally different, brand new CBO was able to land Crispy Cooper for a cool mil. For that lowvalulehighupside sleeper, Craig had to outbid all no-market teams. This is the new regime. Well, now, they call me the Brez; I keep rolling down the road...