5GoldGlovesOF,75

Nothing is black and white.

I wouldn't take Houck for Crawford -- mainly because Crawford looks more reliable as a starting pitcher right now. Looking at Steele, and wondering if any deals with the Cubs may happen soon, because of Breslow's knowledge of Chicago's needs, surplus, and potential sleeper projects...

What you say about Alcantara also applies to Ohtani as a pitcher. A few media types have advocated for Breslow to recruit the latter (basically to make their jobs more interesting; we all know left-handed hitting isn't remotely a priority). But... he's Ohtani! Sure, and a lot of folks might prefer driving a red Mustang convertible to work every day... but they'll still have to sit in traffic jams during rush hour.

Gray looked really good in his relief stint in Game 1. Craig and I would like to see him get a start before the Series is over, for more evaluation...

I've made fun of Sale the past few years for the absurd chain of events that has derailed his career. But I've also said I've never seen a more dominant pitcher in my life in person than Sale in '18 (and that includes all the Sox greats in their primes: Tiant, Clemens, Martinez). When Sale returned from another IL stint on August 12, 2018, in Baltimore, he was literally unhittable. Sitting behind home plate, fans could see what helpless batters did: an extended release point that was closer to the 45-foot mound distance in Little League than the 60-foot "big" diamond -- and then a complete blur... 100 mph fastballs and 90 mph sliders, both that moved down and to the left that it made it nigh-impossible to even make contact. In five shutout innings, Chris Sale gave up one hit, one fly ball, and two grounders. He struck out all the other batters, 12 total. When Sale was on like that, the best chance a hitter had was to stick his bat out in time and hope a pitch hit the sweet spot. Unfortunately, the strain of all those deliveries took its toll on Sale's body, which has just never been the same. He only had two great seasons for Boston -- as unbelievable as it may be now, Sale led the majors in innings pitched in 2017 -- but never forget the impact a lights-out ace can have on a franchise. One guy's dominance can breed the confidence of a winning culture that can last even beyond his brilliance. An enduring image of '18 is the standing ovation teammates gave him when Sale stormed out of the bullpen to pitch the last inning of the World Series...

Moon, kudos for this breakdown. A lot of research, much appreciated, showing virtually any contending Red Sox team the past half-century plus had at least two solid starting pitchers. I'd add that a bonafide 1-2 punch in pennant stretch-runs can also evolve, and supersede season totals for games started. For example, the '67 Impossible Dream team's #2 man became Jose Santiago, who went unbeaten in his last six decisions and wound up leading the majors with a .750 winning percentage. Santiago was good enough to start World Series Games 1 and 4 vs. Bob Gibson, then made the All-Star team the next season before elbow injuries basically ended his career. The other instance was obviously 1972, when Tiant's comeback not only made him Boston's main man, but also the majors ERA king. His last days in a Sox uniform were at the end of '78, when any fan who lived through it would still pick Looie and Eck as their 1-2 starters... We also know Eovaldi and Price evolved into the top two guys in Cora's multi-role staff plan in the '18 postseason, as both starters and relievers. Remember, Price carried the stigma as a playoff failure, and had been surpassed as staff ace, first by Porcello (in his Cy season), then by Sale. But Price found a new pitch/delivery in a Houston bullpen, warming up late in a close ALCS game... then won two World Series starts vs. LA. But what a mound mess in '05, after the Sox let Pedro and Lowe go. They won 95 because their offense scored 5.62 runs per game, but good pitching wiped out crapshooting in the postseason. That October the White Sox went 11-1 with a rock solid starting four. Intuitive Red Sox fans sensed it was already over when Game 1 starter Matt Clement hit his first batter (by the end, it was confirmed: Chicago 14, Boston 2).

Ace quality starters don't have to be future Hall of Famers. But any good team needs a healthy #1 and #2 to maximize a long run in the postseason. There are extremes, like the '15 Royals -- or the '70 Orioles, but this isn't rocket science or Classic science at Yale. Gallen started the All-Star Game this summer, got Cy Young votes twice in the past, and will again this year. That's good enough for me... just like when Eovaldi was an All-Star and got Cy votes as top man on the '21 Red Sox (or '23 Rangers). And yet, no one has answered the question from today's first post at sunrise: if the Red Sox somehow made this postseason, who the hell was going to start Game 1 and Game 2 in the Wild Card, LDS, ALCS and World Series?

For those watching the postseason or just about any postseason, it's obvious that teams that go deep into October have at least a one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Two starting pitchers of near-ace quality, taking the ball around twice each in every series, isn't rare for good teams. Stat people somehow comparing staffs of the NL champs to the last-place Red Sox should stop right at the top: in Gallen and Kelly, Arizona boasts two men who made at least 30 starts and 177 IP. Boston had zero. The D-back duo has made an additional nine starts in the postseason so far... Which two current Red Sox pitchers would be Game 1 and Game 2 starters in any playoff series? The only guys not hurt all the time are Bello and Pivetta... but, you know, young Bello's workload... and Pivetta is better as a bulkster, after an opener. So for now, the greatest last-place club in the history of an overrated division will start Kutter Crawford and Brennan Bernardino. Ya, we're just two pitchers away...

Lucky or smart? In the Rule V draft, did someone in the front office really think Whitlock, required to be carried on the 26 all year, would pitch like a first-half All-Star set-up man? Did they think Kike would power up into an early version of postseason Adolis (without the nauseating pimping on his HRs)? We certainly don't think Cora knew Kike would become a star centerfielder, based on AC's comments that Hernandez was the best second baseman in the NL...

When pulling ivy roots, Craig advises to always wear work gloves -- with no Velcro. Chris just warns, "Leaves of three, let it be."

What are baseball-reference's W-L over-under on Breslow's BRI ("brilliance, integrity, and relentlessness")? 90/78... 90 = Boy Wonder, 78 = Yale kinda sucks... Btw: 84 = the harmonic mean of a team that can skimp and save and still make the World Series; JH: "If you can only build a roster that wins one more game per month than we did in each of the past two years, we can have 84 wins, like Arizona did this season..." Craig, swiping right-handed at family cat that tip-toed across his keyboard during the Zoom call: "It's cool; he's curious..."

Right -- his teams are now only 10-1 in his postseason starts.

My bad -- with the extension, LA actually traded for 13 years of Mookie. He'll be playing into the 2030s. Don't know if I'll still be around by then, but as long as I am, this fan will never forgive the Red Sox.

Ok, time to go forward. Breslow wasn't hired to take this team backwards. MLB.com predicted landing zones for the top 25 free agents. They have Yamamoto going to Boston. If he does, then we'll know for sure ownership isn't just putting a new face on an old and tired fiasco.

Point One: technically. Bloom's starting LF on Opening Day 2021 was Marwin Gonzalez. Renfroe was the RF. Dugie, the RF in '20, was in CF. So maybe Renfroe replaced JBJ (the irony). Kike started at 2B... but once he took over CF, Verdugo moved to LF. Point Two: sign me up.

I take the whole Bloom Era personally. The moves and non-moves he made -- even if at the behest of superiors -- led to the Red Sox finishing behind every division rival in three of four years. Now there is not one single ballplayer in Boston's entire system I would refuse to include in a trade, if it made the big league club appreciably better. I welcome major upheavals on the roster by the new CBO, asap.

The Yankees I knew all my life would never trade for a superstar in his prime and not sign him. If Soto goes to the Bronx, it would be like the Dodgers dealing three prospects for 12 years of Mookie.

Some of us thought the Sox would've had just as much chance at a wild card if they dealt Paxton at the height of his value at the deadline. But Bloom blew it. Then again, the Mariners traded closers when they were still in it, in two of the last three deadlines. Seattle missed the playoffs both years, but both clubs they gave closers to made the World Series.

Giving up is the epitome of suckitude. It's like admitting you were dumb enough to build a crap roster, or worse, a system without the depth to maintain competitive aspirations... and then attempting to salvage futility by trying to make it look smart -- which make take years to prove, depending on the progress of those top draft picks.

Soto would be a great fit in the short-porch Bronx -- better than with the Sox' lefty-imbalanced line-up in Fenway. He would gave NY a top four that could transform into world beaters: Volpe-Judge-Soto-Stanton... Boston could counter with L-L-L-L-L-L-Story-Wong-Ugh

According to Moon, at least they were honest to their fans (cue Astros jokes) about it. And no one can say Houston, once it was good again, didn't continue to make trades or signings to upgrade holes when free agents left for bigger paydays. Meanwhile, there is another team that tanked and is now loaded with young talent -- the Orioles. However, ownership has still not shown Baltimore fans it is willing to spend big to maximize a new window of winning...

It makes sense, but Breslow may have plans to trade one or two of them, and convert a few more into All-Star starters... (nothing could be better than to improve guys already here, with reasonable salaries).

Even though the bullpen was good, don't be surprised if Breslow adds and subtracts there. The old relievers are the best returning trade chips, and not guaranteed to repeat greatness on the mound nor goodness in health. Supposedly, Breslow favors power arms -- and who wouldn't? Back-end relievers -- hot and cold -- are always the keys to October drama. That Angels strategy of drafting 20 pitchers in a row makes sense if they're the 20 fastest available on radar guns. They all won't make it, but what's better trade capital at the deadline every summer?

Tied up in nots. I like trying not to lose. Breslow may not be able to sign a top free agent pitcher, but he should be determined to make sure a Bearclaw game never happens again in Red Sox history. And no excuses -- injuries, Covid, record (the Dbacks had 61 wins on August 16 when they claimed Ryan Thompson, DFAed by Tampa; Boston had 63 wins)... Stockpile legitimate depth -- and reshape it (already on oft-repeated description of Breslow's pitching instruction). Let's go.

I like giving a bad team with a top pick the option of trading for someone else's big leaguer or pro player. If you want to upgrade your draft position, you have to pay up in actual bodies (not funds). Does that neutralize the risks? Less risk for the bad team, which is assured a guy they're more confident about; more risk for the better team, which can hit the jackpot or lose an asset.