5GoldGlovesOF,75

When revisiting trades for previous ace pitchers that won rings in Boston -- Pedro, Schilling, Beckett, Sale -- it's worth considering that in every deal, at least one of the Sox' then-best pitching prospects were included...

Chaimpathetical, to Tito: "If we throw in Dalbec, you can keep Bieber, as long as you substitute one of your other starters currently on the IL..."

The up and down Red Sox are maybe too hard to predict, but at least the younger players are trending positive lately. If a month from now, the Sox are still over .500 and a game or two on either side of a wild card, wouldn't fans deserve to be outraged by a sell off? Boston seems to play to the level of competition, but nine July games vs. Oakland (6) and the Cubs (3) don't have the feel of impending doom like a year ago, when upcoming AL East opponents loomed ominously.

It's true, Refsnyder didn't break his bat.

I can't believe on an 0-2 pitch that the Twins catcher called for a bases-loaded triple. CERAusly.

The Red Sox have become so cheap they pinch-hit for a guy with three doubles just so he won't break any more bats.

It's ok, we got Double Trouble up...

Pablo has to make contact here.

Vazquez held up his finger on home run trot to acknowledge his first longball of the entire season.

I don't know -- but doesn't there have to be something good first to comeback to? How about Boston Breakout Star of 2023? Duran is now only three doubles behind league-leader Alex Verdugo!

I'm with you. I much prefer possibilities over improbabilities. It's just depressing in the Bloom Era for fans to speculate like we used to every year on available talent -- on the free agent market, on the trading block, on disappointing or below-market clubs in sell mode. And a thread titled Fire Bloom is absolutely the place to whine about it. But anyone paying attention the past four years can't believe that all of sudden, Bloom will start spending or swapping like Epstein or Dombrowski when they really were all-in no bs going for it. Remember after the Betts trade, when the Boston media saw the next-best outfielder about to enter the market -- George Springer -- and figured he'd be a worthy replacement (as a talent and New England boy)? The Sox, it was said, had all that Mookie Money to fill the void with another good player to maintain their annual pursuit at contending. That's how it always was in Boston, since Yaz put us back on the map (now someone will post stats to show how lucky we were for not signing Springer -- when that isn't my point at all). Instead, look for Bloom to pick up a guy on the IL for a bargain price, because it worked once with Schwarber... and Paxton, after only two years... but not yet Story, who still thinks he's going to be a superstar shortstop with an internal brace in his elbow (that no other GM would touch when he was a free agent). Mondesi was never anything but a rumor...

Someone pointed out the '21 Braves were a mid-yearish .500 team -- like Boston is now -- and then went on to win the World Series. Like it could happen here. I replied that Atlanta made major additions to the roster, including four players who had major impacts: one who finished with the most RBIs in the NL, another who had huge postseason HRs, and the other two were only the NLCS and World Series MVPs. And now, posters are countering with Bloom's '21 in-season acquisitions -- who we know were Schwarber, a couple back-up infielders, and a few tepid relievers (including Robles, who had one good month -- ever in Boston -- sandwiched around brutal outings that included a blown save, and then a game-losing homer in back-to-back playoff games). The point is that when the Braves had injured or non-performing players, their GM didn't rely on utility men out of position, but dealt for four big league replacements that starred through October -- otherwise they don't win. The next time Bloom and his regime show fans such a commitment will be the first time.

There's also the qualitative data: Somewhere, a lonely Red Sox fan remembers the days he said, "If only we can just hang on long enough, until we can get the ball to... Robles!"

Liked a scrimmage. Then I thought of the Norris Trophy, given to the best defenseman... for the Red Sox, that would be in the Nor Us Division. "Don't ignore us," said Reese (slapping his bat into another mitt).

No, I don't. That summer the Red Sox added one impact player -- Kyle Schwarber. But if you're in the mood, have fun arguing about two relievers who for the most part of their Boston days were the epitome of low-budget Chaim Bloom suckitude.

The point was never about positions, but about actually making deals to fortify and maybe even improve the roster down the stretch. Can anyone even imagine the types and amounts of players Bloom would have to swap to add four regular or semi-regular big leaguers to the summer roster?

see Post 9845

To be like the '21 Braves, all Bloom needs to do now is make in-season trades for a guy who will hit a pinch-hit HR to win the playoffs (Pederson), another who'll be the LCS MVP (Rosario) and finally, the World Series MVP (Soler). I'd also say: And acquire the league RBI champ... except he already has Duvall! We're one-fourth of the way to glory!!!

Of course, the same can be said for just about any pro pitching prospect... except maybe a few specialized college closers (cough, Feltman). And it always made sense for clubs to want to use their most talented -- and yes, best-paid -- arms to pitch the most innings and face and hopefully retire the most batters. But modern pitching usage has shown repeatedly that certain guys are more effective coming out of the bullpen and throwing as hard as they can for shorter periods -- look at perfect Pivetta yesterday. We know using a healthy Chris Sale as a starter is practical, in a sense... but what if the Sox instead had spread a recent Sale 100-pitch start over say, three relief stints in a week and a half? Could Sale have positively impacted three games instead of just one... and prevented braking his shoulder while throwing a pitch? With him, probably not -- but there may be others whose arms could be better optimized, at least for a team's won-loss record.

In Spring Training, Chris Murphy looked like a guy who'd be able to help the bullpen this season. But you know the intel in the front office -- they were obligated to "stretch him out" (try him as a starter) in Triple A Woo, where he looked not so good. Glad he's back relieving, and maybe the Sox can get contributions in similar roles from Brandon Walter, and even Bryan Mata, eventually. The big problem, as usual in the Bloom Era, is the utter lack of adequate starting pitching depth when guys like Sale and now, Houck, go on the IL. They can't just promote Drohan when he's not ready yet or on the 40...

The absence of Aaron Judge was no excuse for how poorly the Yankees played this weekend, especially on defense. They were only charged with three errors, but it sure looked like thrice as many, with lackadaisical play paling in contrast to the Red Sox' well-oiled juggernaut. The mediocre Sox are now just two behind in the loss column to the Yanks, who exactly a year ago were the greatest team in the history of 2022. For those fans who posted last winter that this season would make or break Bloom, depending on whether Boston makes the playoffs: might as well wish and hope and pray the Sox get a wild card, just for entertainment purposes... because either way, Chaim Bloom is going nowhere soon. As Bello, Whitlock, Houck, Duran and Casas continue to progress, the '24 club is bound to improve over '23's .500ish assemblage... "-- and you know what's coming!"

The need is more for good depth -- so they don't have to sign and then cut questionable characters in the same week (like the past week) when inevitable injuries overlap with cramped schedules. I also said "sign or trade for two good veteran pitchers to front the rotation." The more the merrier. As for Atlanta's starters, Strider may not be an "ace" yet, but he's exactly the type of pitcher to boost a poor defensive team, since he leads the majors in strikeouts and K/9 IP... infielders can't make as many throwing errors when they don't touch the ball (except maybe on around-the-horn, after punch-outs).

Improved success can be measured in many ways. Obviously, a pitcher doesn't have to win 20 games anymore to be considered an ace. A team doesn't even need to win 20 of a starter's starts for the guy to help stabilize a staff and positively impact a club. Innings pitched (especially per start) and swing-and-miss stuff can both rest and take the pressure off bullpens, defenses and offenses. The stopper gives teammates confidence not to overextend their roles, and instead just do their jobs... and they'll always be in the game, with a good chance to win. It's reassuring, every five days, for six months.

They don't have to spend a lot next winter, but need to sign or trade for two good veteran pitchers to front the rotation. The arms don't have to be expensive, but should be paid reasonable market rates -- like, for instance, what Eovaldi and Wacha signed for this winter. And I don't care if the Sox get hot and win 90 or gag and lose 90, they need to add top of the rotation starting pitching. It all starts there -- even in a rebuild.

I found some quotes. He said Paxton and Duvall, but not Kike, could bring a "decent" return at the deadline. I'd think Duvall has to show his wrist is fully healed with some consistent power before then. Rosenthal said fans would be ok with dealing Jansen (I'm one, if he's the biggest chip this summer). He doesn't think Verdugo will be moved -- if Bloom plans on contending in '24...