5GoldGlovesOF,75
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Everything posted by 5GoldGlovesOF,75
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Right -- ERod: the youngest and more importantly, only one from the rotation whose arm wasn't overextended, starting and relieving, up to the previous November (Price and Eovaldi more than doubled his postseason innings, while Porcello and Sale threw 50% more). This might be one of the main reasons it is so difficult for World Series champs to repeat.
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I never left. But I credit Bloom for his international non-draft signings, and not trading prospects drafted and signed by Dombrowski, and all those relievers cast off by other organizations. Cora just looks good because Bloom's acquisitions are keeping us in the wild card hunt. There's no reason the Sox can't just keep running seven different bullpen guys out there like last night, every other day right through October. As long as all of them are on, what could possibly go wrong?
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Ya, maybe they like Wink more as a match-up righty now than a bulk-guy, which may have burned him out (as he was less effective after a hot start). But if they're going to keep rolling the dice with 40% bullpen games, then maybe it'll just be Pivetta and the fresh guy of the month, like Murphy for now. Sam Kennedy -- surprise -- is more excited about all the guys coming off the IL, who of course will be better than any other healthy deadline acquisition (blow nsave, I mean, hold-save).
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I'm with you on Casas, but not sure why you posted on a Cora thread. But I'm also with you on the bang-up job Cora has done with his "modern" pitching staff: two rookie starters and one retread, with a cast of cast-off and newbie relievers. Dang-yo. These Red Sox aren't a playoff team yet, but even if they just stay in the hunt, it may be time to give credit the manager and CBO for the endless supply of lefty bullpen arms. And whoever made the call on moving Pivetta from starter to bulk-guy (methinks it was a collaborative decision). Now get another righty reliever before Martin's arm falls off. I can see Bloom not overpaying for another starter, and even moving one of IL righties -- Houck or Whitlock -- back to the pen. I can even envision turning Paxton into a young, controllable prospect at the deadline... ... but the only true way to show both the players and fans we're not conceding the season is to acquire somebody to fortify the pitching staff.
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This is the kind of recruit that can define a GM and his staff, finding and signing talent beyond just selecting the best player available when it's their turn in the amateur draft.
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If Sale, Houck and Whitlock are all returning -- and they're all effective, as some posters assume (you know, if everything breaks just right, ad infinitum) -- then they should be able to trade Paxton for a good prospect... without giving up on the season... of shooting for a wild card. And that will make Paxton the best trade chip in the Bloom Era... that the Red Sox actually traded. If they don't trade Paxton, and don't make the World Series, and don't resign Paxton for what it would've cost to keep Eovaldi, then how many fans here and elsewhere will lament Bloom for not making a move to improve the Sox... again? -
A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
5GoldGlovesOF,75 replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
Agree on investing in a young starting pitcher. Turner and Verdugo may be gone by '24. Expect Rafaela in CF -- Duran is a good offensive player, but just doesn't have the fundamentals to cover center for a contender; platoon him in LF/DH with Yoshida until he can hit the freaking cut-off consistently. This club has to focus on better defense before it can be taken seriously. -
Paxton is the Red Sox' best trade deadline chip of the Bloom Era. Chaim should be holding out right now for someone's starting pitching prospect -- as legitimate contenders have been known to deal -- like when the trend-setting, ringless Rays gave up Joe Ryan for an over-40 DH. Someone mentioned instead giving Paxton an Eovaldi contract... why would anyone think Boston would do that, after pulling such an offer from a more-proven, two-time postseason hero? It may be unreasonable to hang hopes on all the injured players returning and playing well enough to boost the Sox into the playoffs, but if everything goes just right -- that's the mantra of 2023 -- then they should still be able to make it without Paxton, who was just a rumor going into the season.
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If Paxton has a good game tonight, it could be a win for the Sox, no matter the score. If the Sox win, they bounced back. If they lose, Paxton could bounce back a buyer's prospect.
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For a sec, I thought you meant the game: 1st and 3rd, one out, Duvall lines softly to short, Verdugo takes three fastballs down the middle... Sox lose by a run.
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I won't give Bloom credit for having a "sound drafting philosophy" because that better come with the badge. But I won't call any other poster names if they disagree with me, either. What will make or break his legacy is how he'll supplement those prospects (once/if they make the Show) by filling other MLB holes on the roster... especially if he has to trade a few of them, instead of just spending the bankroll Henry allows him for free agents. We know he intends to surround Devers with talent; he told us Raffy was a good bet...
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Ya, the one who swung the Randy trade, post-Bloom.
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And somehow the Rays knew to trade Liberatore before he struggled, for another prospect named Arozarena. Now that's the kind of team-building a GM deserves praise for; it shows more than just drafting the best player available.
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A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
5GoldGlovesOF,75 replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
No disrespect, but when I read this, I thought this could also be Bloom's excuse for lowering expectations (players' and fans') of acquiring any impact at the deadline. Many summers we've heard a GM or manager muse, "Getting X (fill in name) back from the IL is just as good as anyone else we could trade for that's available." The debate of buy or sell could be settled on what happens in the next five games in Fenway -- 3 with the Mets, 2 vs. Atlanta -- and it should be noted that Tuesday's promotion is Alex Verdugo Cooling Headband night... -
A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
5GoldGlovesOF,75 replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
After last night -- (reactionary much?) -- if the Sox are reluctant to part with any actual prospects for a decent starting pitcher, I'd just as soon put Murphy into the rotation, and dispense with the 12th man on the staff as opener. The Bernardino-Pivetta combo is good, but they're pushing their luck with the Jacques and Orts of the world. Murphy is the kind of promising young arm they could expect to get back in a Paxton trade, so they may not even have to deal Paxton (though the odds have to be 50-50 right up to the deadline, even if they're still going for it, esp if one of their IL guys is ready for a comeback). -
... or the transportation options: roller blades or roller derby.
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A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
5GoldGlovesOF,75 replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
... except the Red Sox now have one less game on the schedule while trying to catch clubs ahead of them. -
... or the weather in LA vs. Boston.
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Career OPS .710 -- better than Arroyo, Wong, McGuire, Alfaro, Ref, Reyes, Chang (Kike's .719)...
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I missed Lorenzen. Back when the NL was still the only league at any level in the universe that banned the DH, he was a two-way threat. Not Ohtani, but at least O: seven career dingers, including four in 2018 when he hit .290 in 31 ABs... The Sox could use another righty power bat.
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Hendricks would be a luxury, compared to what will be available to CBOs only looking for a #4 MLB starter that also-rans no longer want to pay (and willing to trade a #4 minor league starter). Lance Lynn, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Williams... what the -- let's just bring back Rich Hill!
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A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
5GoldGlovesOF,75 replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
Assuming the A's series goes well, here are the last nine games for Boston in July: Mets 3, Braves 2 at home; Giants 3, M's 1 on road. If the Sox are still close to a wild card entering August, it's notable they play 10 games vs. their current nearest comp: Blue Jays 3, Astros 7 (btw, expect each of those clubs to make moves to improve by the deadline). -
The thing is, Chang's hand -- now missing a bone -- will probably always be weaker, and sore at times. So he will need days off, and you know Cora will "take care of him." Thus, a key man off the bench down the stretch may just be Pablo Reyes... a guy who the 25-70 Oakland A's couldn't find a spot for on their sorry roster.
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I love the renovated offense with Duran going two out of the box on every hit, and Devers and Verdugo using the whole field again. And this year, the Sox don't just have a man with a plan (like Boggs or Manny or Mookie) -- they have three: Yoshida, Turner and Casas. Boston also doesn't have to worry about a bad bullpen, like in '21, or contract distractions hanging over the club, like with Bogie and others in '22. But many weak areas seem to conspire against a legit title run, especially the defense and brittle starting pitching (I don't expect significant contributions or health from Story or even Paxton through October). The imbalanced batting order top-heavy with lefty sticks is also vulnerable to tough lefties on contenders, like McClanahan and Framber Valdez. Can Bloom fill all these gaps in the next few weeks? Maybe... but for a man who speaks in terms of sure bets, is it even worth it to deal prospects away with the longshot that everything will then break just right for three more months?
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Paxton is a rental. If he has another really good start, he may bring back the best possible return of any deadline trade to date in Bloom's entire era. I always want the Red Sox to go for it, but this summer I have absolutely zero faith in Sale coming back healthy for any length of time, Whitlock looks done for awhile, and it really makes no sense to rush Houck back from major facial surgery (he should get lengthy rehab assignments to deal with both mental and physical recovery; this could affect the rest of his career). If a Paxton trade could net at least a good relief arm under control, and Bloom could acquire a decent bulk guy from an also-ran, I'd take my chances going forward now with a staff that could contribute to '24 and beyond.
