5GoldGlovesOF,75

Facts like the one who pardoned him served on the Warren Commission (would it be critical or reality to now call it the notorious or preposterous Warren Commission?)... We also can't prove the guy who succeeded the quitter was specifically chosen based on giving a pardon, but even if that underlies the critical time, it's now accepted that they are all underliars...

Only if you give away a future Cy Young winner to the Yankees -- for a Danny Cater.

Maybe it speaks to his potential for ascendance. Or to be abducted by a UAP...

Comments from Chicago on the White Sox-Braves trade? A 5-for-1 (the one being a reliever), with the return including a former All-Star starting pitcher who's only 26, plus Nicky Lopez, a glove-first second baseman that should improve the D -- the stated goal of GM Getz (do either of these players sound like something Breslow may be interested: a starter he and Bailey could maybe fix, plus a 2B?) What Getz got for a pitcher with a 6.79 ERA may not be matched by Breslow dealing the older Chris Martin, but it may be worth shopping the AL's 12th-place finisher in the Cy Young voting.

We know what really matters: the school systems. It's all about standardized test scores... and those teachers, who want summers off every year of their careers. If they were really earning their salaries, they'd motivate students to top tier scores (including new citizens mandated to take the test even if they don't speak a single word of English).

I agree, Irish -- we can't trust any of these guys because unlike the fans, who just want to be entertained by pro athletes that at least pretend they care as much as we do, all the media and front office types have their own agendas. Some are trying to outscoop each other, others are bored covering also-rans (so they initiate controversy), and the brass will BS anyone for a buck. But one thing we have to accept: all those in the business are closer to the truths than any of us think we know -- they're just not in a position to share all of them with us, lest they lose their positions...

No sense in trying to make this board more important than it it. That's lowercase talksox.com, dammit. And posters here are always suggesting dumb ideas the Sox always ignore... like make deadline trades for Montgomery and Sutton, and if you care more about the prospects, then maximize Paxton's value before he gets hurt again!

Here's another one: according to BTV, if the Red Sox just took both Burnes (32) and Yellich (-35) off the Brewers' hands, Milwaukee would still owe Boston a minor league infielder like Eric Brown Jr. or Mike Boeve (each at 2.5). Then the site could be called Baseball Giveaway Values.

The only difference in the Breslow Era and the Bloom Era so far is the news didn't end with, "Currently rehabbing from minor surgery, a blackened big toenail and a bruised ego, Olivarez should be ready to pitch on flat ground by the trade deadline... in 2025."

We already have the B's and C's in Beantown, and the D's were in the World Series. Now that they're nowhere, and already making trades, maybe F Troop will deal their WAR leaders, Gelof and Sears.

It was the Yankee fan doctor. My first argument on talksox; I remember listing plenty of Hall of Famers under 6-foot tall, like Mays and Aaron. Boston media were warned of Betts' stature, too, especially after he signed with LA. But of course they turned on the trade as soon as he won another ring.

They need a name-the-new-team contest. Early entries: Aliens. Avacs. Ape Itizers (not Desserters). ExAtriates. Ultra-Maroons. Derelicts.

I'm tired of watching ex-Red Sox win the World Series -- especially after fans here warned of their old age risks: Mookie's too short to be a star for much longer, Eovaldi works out too much to stay healthy, Vazquez is too slow and porky to retain his reflexes... ... at least the Sox signed Old Man Martin after he won a ring -- to show the young'uns how it's done... while he can (before he inevitably slips and breaks a hip).

Nothing against them, but none change the narrative of a last-place loser. Garver isn't as good as Turner, O'Neil will also cost prospects, and Duvall is just another banged-up all-or-nothing swinger. And as far as injury-prone ballplayers, it's a high-risk profession, and all bodies wear down -- just like every pitcher is a Tommy John waiting to happen. Do you honestly think Benintendi, one of the top home run hitters in college and a 20-HR MLBer, suddenly forgot how to hit for power? Granted, the ball may have been as juiced a few years ago as it was in this year's postseason... and that's why I'd sign Montgomery, because he proved he can win with that ball vs. playoff batting orders. Finally, we'll soon see how much Breslow cares about the budget -- he said in his intro he was assured it would not be an issue, right before Tom Warner vowed to go "full throttle" ...

You mean the owners who are billionaires and can afford to pay to acquire or better yet keep star ballplayers in Boston? Besides about three posters who cannot consider anything Red Sox beyond the almighty budget, you're just like millions of other fans.

BB-ref's comp... plus, training programs for baseball players may have changed slightly since Kiner's era, when chain-smoking and red meat diets were the norm. Who's a right-handed power bat that you recommend Breslow acquire that can help make the Sox relevant again (and maybe even end the daily debate about Refsnyder platooning with Yoshida and Duran)?

Keeping Yoshida around may be key for the most important reason this offseason: he's reportedly good friends with Yo Yama...

They were at it again yesterday -- Felger wants to keep the top prospects; Mazz wants to trade for Luis Robert, the one player the White Sox deem untouchable. I only watch them sometimes because I'm interested in local sports talk on the last channel that's not completely overrun by gambling shows. I'd rather laugh than bet or parlay or flush money down the toilet that corporate gamblers will gladly match as long as I keep doubling my losses.

First, good job on the easy pass post. Toll booths in New England are going the way of rotary phones (and my stupid cell phone, I wish, which calls or facetimes random people whenever I pick it up). Second, even banged up, Trout is still an all-time talent. He hit 40 home runs in 438 at bats two years ago. To think he couldn't do that again playing half his games in friendly Fenway is illogical. Third, we all know the Red Sox need star power and right-handedly so -- who else is even remotely available, and at what position? Fourth, if Brez can improve the club and generate excitement by acquiring a Hall of Famer for a prospect who may never even make an All-Star team, the forum can finally stop the daily posts about which one-tool holdovers from the last-place losers will platoon with each other in the outfield. I'd prefer using prospect capital to trade for a Burnes or Glasnow, and sign a guy like Gurriel to shore up the outfield. But I got shot down on that idea here, as well. The only OF suggestion I've seen posted from someone else is to deal for Brian Reynolds, who Pitt recently signed to a longterm contract through his age 36 season. BTW: Reynolds' Most Similar batter on BB-Ref is Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Trout's is Ralph Kiner (whose bronze plaque hangs in Cooperstown)... but Mike is slipping; in his 20s, his most similar batters were Mantle and Frank Robinson -- but in his 30s he's only Duke Snider...

In his first interview as new Angels' skipper today, Ron Washington said they'd do whatever it takes to go forward. So... which Red Sox players would you trade for Mike Trout? BTV says his value is a whopping minus-83... the only trade with Boston the site approved is Story (-80) and Yoshida (-.6) for the big freshwater fish. BTW: if the Halos want a realistic return, I'd prefer to keep Anthony over Mayer. That Instagram BP session at the Hollidays sold me that Roman Candles could be launching in the vicinity of the Mass Pike and Charles River for the next decade.

Yo Yama hype includes the rarity of a top starter entering free agency in his mid-20s. The following were all 25-26 when they joined the majors; ...hopefully, the charts provide a reasonable range of expected performance: bWAR, MLB careers 31... Darvish 20.9 Nomo 17.3 Tanaka 9.4 Matsuzaka W-L, ERA Nomo 123-109, 4.24 Darvish 103-85, 3.59 Tanaka 78-46, 3.74 DiceK 56-43, 4.45 GS, IP (162-gm avg) Nomo 34, 210 Darvish 34, 208 Tanaka 34, 207 DiceK 31, 185 That consistency of that last grouping is reassuring. Training and throwing (US programs would say overthrowing) in Japan has conditioned these guys for durability before they come over. Note: Roki Sasaki -- three years younger than Yo Yama -- will be coming soon...

In some ways, this entire list looks as depressing as the roster of an expansion team. Think Seattle Pilots, circa 1969. Jim Bouton's infamous Ball Four was mostly written about his time on that club. It was a comedy.

Pounce, Brez! I already lit my woodstove this week.

... or two -- perhaps saplings from the acreage of Cubs and Giants (former org of Brez' best bud and impending pitching coach A. Bailey)?

Massarotti was an actual professional big league announcer, a Red Sox analyst, paid by New England Sports Network... and he thinks Chicago would even consider a 1-for-1 deal swapping a 5 WAR centerfielder who hit 38 bombs for a minor leaguer? BTW, here's how much he knows about Mayer -- Mazz said he sucked once he got to Double A (you know, where the kid tried to play with a bum shoulder that ultimately caused him to be shut down in the second half).