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5GoldGlovesOF,75

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Everything posted by 5GoldGlovesOF,75

  1. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I've never been a guy who strikeouts didn't bother, even if I could hit a homer once in awhile. But I agree with Breslow that successful playoff teams need HRs -- and that the Red Sox need MORE HRs. In the '25 postseason, any time a game was close in the late innings, it became home run derby (it doesn't mean a homer decided it, but most of the batters tried to go yard to decide it). And you just had to favor the club with the most longball guys: LA wins the World Series on a home run by Smith, after a dinger by Rojas ties it -- over the Blue Jays, who won the pennant on a home run by Springer. The lone exception was the Wild Card series in the Bronx between two overrateds, which for all intents and purposes was decided because Jazz was scoring on contact, and Eaton was not...
  2. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    That last number should be the gripe for disappointed fans. It's unlikely the Red Sox are extending any old-timer with a longterm contract to be part of their "sustained contenders." Chapman had a career year and was Reliever of the Year, and the Sox rewarded him with a deal for one more season with an option... because he's pushing 40. They're still trying to be competitive with temporaries while building a foundation with more permanents.
  3. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    If the Red Sox trade Kristian Campbell then he can finally get the chance to start in the All-Star Game at shortstop. Please note: starters are still selected from majority vote... but as anonymous posters in our own isolated offices of democracy, one vote is unanimous.
  4. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I wouldn't call Sonny Gray mediocre. He wasn't an All-Star last year, but he has been three times, when he also finished 2nd, 3rd and 7th in Cy Young voting. That's something nobody on the current Red Sox pitching staff has accomplished. In 2025 Gray won more games and threw more innings than any Red Sox but Crochet, and led the NL in K/BB%. If he can return to the AL East and repeat what he did for a crappy Cardinals team, we'll take it. I'd like Breslow to also add Freddy Peralta, but know it will cost either Early or Tolle or both. Milwaukee doesn't mess around when making trades. It's quite possible Boston's front office believes that Early or Tolle -- at minimum wage -- could develop into the solid #2 starter we need by 2027 (which they also might deem more reasonable as a season to really go for it).
  5. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Trade Hamilton for Yandy Diaz, and sign Bichette (because Bregman's agent will stall the entire winter), and be done with big names. Let future GM Cora and future Manager Pedroia figure who plays where in the infield: Diaz, Bichette, Story, Mayer. Then Breslow and Bailey's Flying Sweepers can recruit more relievers they can convert.
  6. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Craig just might have to be really flexible to pickpocket Henry's wallet when he's bending forward to light a cigar.
  7. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    It's true, the Red Sox already replaced Devers' power production after he was traded. Of the new guys who got to play more after June 15, Anthony blasted 8 home runs, Yoshida came off the IL to poleaxe 4, Mayer slammed 1 more (then got hurt), Eaton launched 1, and eventually Nate Lowe joined and crushed 2. That's 16 total HRs -- EVEN MORE THAN RAFFY'S 15 IN BOSTON! And just to show that power is more than taters, the following second-half Sox combined to pop 31 doubles to Devers' puny 18: Masa 11, Sogard 8, Lowe 6, Eaton 4, Password 1, and Sabol 1! WE GOT THIS!
  8. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    But the intruther in this decade is that the real disappointments are not what happened in the offseason, but at the trade deadlines. And not just last year... some of those Red Sox teams that ended up with bad records could've been in the hunt with the kind of quality fortifications that other clubs' GMs procured. As for Fred's worry, a segment on MLB Channel just now with Harold, Lauren and Jen McCaffrey sure sounded like Gray was the one starter Brez wanted, and now all the focus will be on offense...
  9. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    No, you're right -- those rumors always produce a great deal... of skepticism, bitterness and rueful laughter.
  10. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Gray and Mookie Betts are each listed at 5 feet, 10 inches tall. That should be an omen to Red Sox fans anticipating a title, because Mookie hasn't won a World Series in 4 of the past 8 seasons. That's half the time.
  11. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Though Sonny Gray was the Cards' ace, he may not be the #2 that thirsty Sox fans are craving. It's still worth noting he led the NL this year in strike outs to walks: 5.289, beating out Cy Skenes' 5.143. If rumors are true that Breslow's not done recruiting his true #2, then look at it this way: this swap is an excellent preemptive move to round out the rest of the rotation with whoever isn't included in the next trade package from among Bello, Tolle and Early.
  12. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    It's true: last year Gray led the NL in shutout. He also fits Brez' desire to land another top arm who can make -- actually make -- a start in the postseason. Then again, Gio was once thought of as a innings eater... at least a workpony.
  13. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Gray was the first good starter I mentioned this offseason because Chaim was taking over in St. Lou to do what he does best: shed salaries. When I saw the player return, I thought the same thing Hitch did -- but not only does Brez want to keep Early and Tolle, I'm more convinced now those two would be the demand in deals for the likes of Ryan and Peralta. This trade may also be positive for who it did not include: Contreras -- another contract Bloom is likely trying to dump. His absence may mean Brez and the Sox are busy zeroing in on a more prominent righty power bat...
  14. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Though they once did, when they also had to pay the Yankees to play at home. It was in the years 1920-33, when the Sox paid annual mortgage on Fenway Park to Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert -- basically the vig on a loan to Harry Frazee because stealing Babe Ruth wasn't enough... ... Ole Harry was some business man.
  15. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Besides Beltre, the longterm signings that should-have-been go all the way back to free agent infancy: Fisk and Lynn. Extending two more Hall of Famers at market prices so they could play for the Sox through the entire decade of the 1980s... who knows what would've happened in those playoff years. And don't be tempted to cite Lynn's WAR through the 80s accomplished for all those other clubs that didn't play half their games at Fenway Park. The consensus has always been that had Lynn continued to feast off the Green Monster -- where his career slash line was .420-.601-1.021 -- he wouldn't have to pay his way to Cooperstown.
  16. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    There's no question some numbers are inconclusive. When an outfielder misjudges an airball and it goes over his head or drops in front of him untouched, it's usually called a hit. When Duran let Judge's soft liner pop out of his glove, no error was assessed. The only number concluded by the Yankee Stadium official scorer is that the mighty Judge was awarded a two-out RBI-single. And Boston lost that playoff game by one run.
  17. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    You build a good case for not blowing big bucks on guys who as a majority are busts. Even the good signings brought issues, like JD, who we were hoping would opt out so we could either keep Mookie or Schwarber. I personally was all in on the Eovaldi signing, and during his time here I thought he was our best overall starter (even though ERod had one really good year). Breslow's big signings were ambivalent: $58 mil to Giolito and $40 mil to Bregman for one decent year apiece... and if the latter signs elsewhere, then we lost Raffy, our top power source this decade, for basically nada. Who was the last good free agent who signed in Boston when we could feel secure that he'd be one of ours for the long haul? Manny... a quarter century ago?!?!?!
  18. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Gold Gloves, like just about any awards that are voted on, are subjective. But it has some meaning to be cited by consensus for being good at something -- especially if ballots are filled out by industry pros basing choices on observation and analysis, and not just reputation. Gold Glove standards now include statistical requirements to qualify for nomination, so a guy can't get on the ballot because he once was nimble around the bag when 25 pounds lighter with 25-year-old hand-eye coordination... Awards are always open for debate, but winners don't suck. The Yankees were a World Series team when they had Soto, so is Judge more valuable this year than last? Or is it the other way around, since they didn't even make the ALCS?
  19. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Not a bit. I like Ryan better than Gio, and expect improvement from either some young guys or injured guys, but also expect some regression from overworked players -- especially our All-Star pitchers (Crochet and Chapman will still be good, but don't be surprised if one ends up on the IL for at least a breather). No, for the Red Sox to significantly improve their status, the front office has to bring in multiple reinforcements. Especially, if we want to go deeper into October...
  20. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    That's where I've been for a month (didn't want to be late).
  21. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Because in baseball they don't drive Chevy trucks to the top of rock formations in Monument Valley? Also, in Boston these days, the only extra-base hit guaranteed not to add to the LOB column is the HR. So, for this holiday season, the choices are a last meal of another lobster role or something more long-lasting... candidates for the latter, please take any repeatable bat-to-ball skills directly to Human Resources.
  22. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Kyle Schwarber's three months in Boston: 10 home runs (including postseason)... and his four years since in Philly: 201 HRs... ... but with only 11.1 WAR. Cecil Cooper had 5.3 WAR in parts of six seasons with the Red Sox -- and then 30.7 WAR after his trade to Milwaukee (George "Boomer" Scott, the guy he was dealt for, played 3 more years in Boston and had 2 WAR). ...
  23. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    That's Arizona. Having played tournaments in most of the Fall League ballparks myself, I can attest that hits just carry there (at least in the Fall). When I first saw some of the fences at about 350 feet down the lines, I expected more pitchers' duels... until the games began. Then I got a good workout chasing down gappers all week.
  24. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    The thing is, we don't know how other teams value Duran's defense. Maybe it hasn't slipped; maybe '24 -- when he looked good in CF while Ceddanne played infield -- was the outlier, and '25 more the norm. We all know how much Duran struggled with negative dWAR out there in parts of three seasons before '24... ... couple this with other concerns about his make-up (not his tats), and he may not be the desirable trade target we think -- at least not for a significant return.
  25. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    The problem with trading for Ryan is that Minnesota doesn't need to move him this winter. If Ryan had one year left before free agency, they might accept Campbell, Garcia and Clarke -- prospects with nothing but promise. Unfortunately, prying Joe Ryan away from the Twins has to be more painful than that. Like when the White Sox insisted on Teel to complete the Crochet deal -- after Montgomery already headlined the package. Surely, Minny is starting any discussions demanding both Tolle and Early, MLB-almost-ready starting pitchers...
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