5GoldGlovesOF,75

I see your point, but sometimes teams have to ride the roller coaster growing pains of youngsters adapting to the bigs. It's in chapter 4 of Theo Epstein's manual that was on the Chicago Tribune's best-seller list for five years: "Rebuilding a Bridge Too Czar"

No wiser words were ever posted about speculation... ... unless you're actually Bloom posting under a pseudomoon (for example: Duvalls hot again, and a big reason the Sox are hanging in there... but does Bloom really need any praise for signing a guy who recently led the NL in RBI? The CBO of large-market Boston had better replace his 3-4 batters who depart to free agency).

No he's not. Bloom signed Kluber, but not All-Star Eovaldi. And fans don't care that both spent time on the IL, since most pitchers do, and those that don't are only injuries waiting to happen. Nate's 3.9 WAR would at minimum equate to three more Wins Above Wild Card Competitors. WAWCC!!!!

Of course the first three were traded for first -- but all were available because they wanted to get paid. Upon reflection, even at the time, Pedro and Schilling didn't cost a haul, just some young pitchers with potential. The Beckett trade cost the Sox their top prospect, Hanley Ramirez, who was an instant star in the NL. But Boston won the World Series... Some also may argue Lackey was a top mound prize at the time of his signing. Sale, another mega-trade, definitely was... especially -- ironically now -- his contract was such a steal when he was acquired.

Bogie's, too. He was so disappointed that the Sox only offered him one more year... when he was still in his 20s.

Few Red Sox fans will ever believe that, especially after what Mookie has been saying in Boston this weekend. It wasn't too late to keep negotiating and ultimately just pay the man -- like LA did in the summer of '20. As for Price, forget the numbers and just ask: was he really worth the top of the market salary for pitchers? It's arguable: he was coming off a season where he was second in Cy Young voting (his second second, along with one Cy of his own). I never liked him nor wanted him -- he led the AL in ERA and IP, but also whining at Red Sox batters who took him deep, and longest delivery times in MLB history tracked by a sun dial.

Yessssssssss

Sox lost the DH when Story went to short, so Martin was pinch-hit for... This game is going to come down to Mookie batting, isn't it?

Ah Wong and haadball... one day a running fool, the next day a track star

Ah, here he is...

Three innings in a game they have to win... no Kenley -- it's gotta be Whitlock for two, Martin to close

So their heads can swell; remember the first time they reset and bragged about it on social media?

This one is for any poster (like me) who have ever used the phrase "all-or-nothing" in conjunction with our hot cornerman... Runs Produced (R + RBI - HR) 2019-2023 1. Freddie 825 2. Raffy 729 3. Semien 713 4. Mookie 710 5. the Ramirez who decked Anderson 688

Is this stat any good: Extra Base Hits 2019-2023 1. Rafael Devers 321 2. Fred Freeman 312 3. Marcus Semien 303 4. Marcus Betts 303 5. Matt Olson 300

(direct quote from Chaim Bloom's ad on the Help Wanted page in the Classified section of the Boston Globe)

This post deserves discussion. In a way, it can be a reflection or indictment of our revolving roster. The front office constantly acquires players -- often relievers -- off waiver wires, and every once in awhile it hits on finding a guy who makes an adjustment to become a contributing member of a big league staff. But there are reasons such players are DFAed. It's like walking into a singles bar and looking twice at a few lookers -- caution: there are always reasons those patrons are available...

I joined this board right after the season in October 2019, specifically looking for a place to share my fear and outrage that Mookie may be traded -- and not play his entire Hall of Fame career for the Red Sox. I replied and disagreed with all the posts from Sox fans who care way too much about market value salaries for MLB players, and those convinced Betts was too small and would break down -- despite playing only great in all six of his seasons in Boston. I agreed with the few posters who said to pay him what he was worth, and I disagree that the Sox got a good return for 12 years of a Hall of Famer -- which I believe was the Dodgers intention from the minute they pursued Mookie. I know all about the barren farm and budget restraints, and how Trout and Ohtani never make the playoffs. But I'm a fan, and I like watching great ballplayers, and also feel a team can win with stars more often than with a roster of average guys on average contracts. Just wondering: if any of Bloom's prospects really do become awesome, what's going to happen when they want to get paid? Will they already be locked up to Braves' deals or have to be dumped for pennies on the dollar or allowed to walk for a draft pick?

But not to greet Mookie. It's raining, so Sam may be on the corner hawking ten-dollar "ponchos" (kitchen trash can size) with Red Sox logos.

Crawdad

And the '23 Red Sox instead have Wong, a decent catcher, and Verdugo, who often looks like an above-average big leaguer, but occasionally causes issues that detract from the best interests of this team succeeding in a team sport. In 2023, that is...

When you type seems, how do we know you're making a reasonable assumption, instead of a spelling mistake? Maybe you really meant the homophone: seams... and your post is a two-seamer, cutting into the hands of righty typists, and away from lefties.

You're right; just because our CBO has never done something in four years doesn't mean it was intentional. Maybe he keeps making mistakes. And maybe when a poster types maybe or may or may not, he's just speculating on a forum of speculation.

Maybe Bloom will go against his plan and actually trade a guy in time for optimal return. He may not have enough job security to pull another Beni deal, waiting years for lower level prospects to make it. As for re-upping Duvall, when has Bloom ever re-signed a player he recruited on a one-year? I've got Martin Perez on the mound, but no position players... Kike was brought back, but his initial contract was for two years.

What are yo-- with Pablo hitting in front of him for a whole season?

Brock Holt to Rob Bradford: "I asked him straight up, 'If the Red Sox offered you what the Dodgers offered you are you staying?' He was like, 'Right now?' I'm like, 'No, back then. Before you got traded.' He's like, 'Oh, I'm staying.' Mookie wanted to stay," Holt said.