5GoldGlovesOF,75

Geez, why let facts and the humanitarian efforts of a guy ruin a good smear campaign by one writer with an obvious grudge?

They'd say when Taylor beamed down as a member of a Star Trek landing party, he'd always wear a red shirt... translation: expendable.

The offense is doing what it should vs. bad pitching, but will balance out overall. Duvall probably won't finish the season batting .483, but neither will Kike at .115. The big problem is that defense usually doesn't have slumps or hot streaks; it is what it is. The next four straight series vs. first place teams have the potential to expose the players, the manager and especially the CBO who assembled this roster. Those 16 games also offer the Red Sox a chance to show they can hang with the big boys. Tampa has crushed everyone but played no one: three last-place teams (at least 96 losses each last year). The Angels look improved. The Brewers have lights-out pitching. The Twins have pitching and defense... their odd offseason strategy has paid off so far; acquiring Gold Glover Michael Taylor to roam centerfield so they could DH -- and preserve -- the gifted but fragile body of Byron Buxton. Taylor, a legitimate centerfielder, cost Minnesota $4.5 million...

Paxton is making strides. The other day he reportedly took one off the rubber, and Cora said, "We know where he's at" (his back foot landed over the hole at the front of the mound). After regular rest, the plan is for Paxton to ramp back up, when the Sox will have him climb the ramp on one of those artificial indoor mounds. No more baby steps... but manly strides.

At the end of last June we "knew" what a bear the July schedule would be. And that the Sox would need reinforcements in the month before the deadline (they got none). This season's early schedule is also ominous: after Detroit, Boston plays 16 straight vs. FIRST PLACE teams: Tampa, LA, Minny, Milwaukee. The Red Sox defense is LAST in the American League in defensive runs saved at -10. At least we have reinforcements coming in Whitlock and Bello... hope they can pitch to no contact.

He only forgot how many outs there were 17 times. Or was that 75? It was something with a seven in it...

So THAT'S the plan to add more pitching. Keep acquiring shortstops or rightfield types with cannon arms, and just convert them... They're stretching out Dalbec right now. First, he has to play corner OF to build up his stamina long-tossing...

I messed up -- 21 and 27 are today's pitchers' earned run averages. But both clubs play crappily on defense... so when all is dead and flung, the final score may be closer to 41-39... ... which I also notice adds up to about half a season of games. If 41-39 is the Sox' record by the summer trade deadline, does Bloom get another chance at not holding a firesale?

If only. Both helped break an 86-year old curse! Rose was the 1997 International League Pitcher of the Year, making rotation teammate Carl Pavano expendable -- and also desirable enough as a return in the trade for Pedro Martinez. Rose fronted a Pawtucket staff that included postseason hero Derek Lowe, the legendary Rich Garces, and Pat Mahomes (who dadded a QB). Suppan actually played a role on the field as a member of the '04 Cardinals, when he was picked off third by first baseman Big Papi in a play that evoked the most memorable unrehearsed quote of the World Series by Jon Miller: "That's the worst baserunning of all time!"

Big game today in Detroit. The Red Sox are already back in last place in the AL East, with the same 2-4 record as the Tigers. Both clubs have allowed 38 runs so far (second-worst to Oakland's 41), but the striped cats have an AL-worst -20 run differential... the Sox are just -3. This three-game set in Motown better help the Bosox right the ship. After that, they play four vs. the Rays, who haven't lost a MLB game since October in the year 2022. Sale can make a statement as the stopper. His ERA of 21 is better than the opposing pitcher, Turnbull's 27. Boston will win, 27-21.

The prospect the Dodgers traded for Rojas wasn't even in their top 30 at the end of last summer.

I know -- what was I drinking? Well, it definitely wasn't the Uncool-Aid Bloom's been trying to sell at the coroner.

Paxton should join the team in a couple weeks, when he will give us more than Pivetta. The plan is for Paxton to chart pitches when Pivetta starts... capped at four innings in the beginning, then the coaching staff will stretch out his fingers slowly, eventually allowing him to chart three times through the order -- even after the bullpen relieves Nick. Cora knows where he's at, and will take care of him. Bushy already has a supply of reading glasses available.

How about just signing any real shortstop : Andrus or Iglesias or dealing for one that wouldn't Dombro the farm, like Rojas (look! LA's back in first)... you know, one that was Opening Day-ready to actually improve the team and help lead a crucial good start during a soft early schedule? Wouldn't that make both the fans and the stakeholders happy?

Oye como bah

Does that refer to the pitching staff's allowed On Base Percentage or Slugging Percentage?

It was the worst pitching staff I've ever seen in Boston. But tattered also describes the meatballs served up by the entire '23 starting rotation the first time through. I have high hopes for Bello and Whitlock. As for Paxton... at least Ryan Weber attended Winter Weekend in '20. When Paxton missed the team bus, the Sox wouldn't even allow him to hitch a ride, lest he pull a muscle in his thumb.

Sure. And the guys who wore the laundry last year won 78. But the reason I changed my post from "players" to "teammates" is that that '20 core was a proven winner. I'm not saying they were anywhere as good, but going into that summer they had a pedigree of playing together -- unlike this year's cobbled together conglomeration (even with guys with rings won elsewhere)... suitable for more cobbling next winter... or more likely, this July.

Come on, we've been through this, and no one has to look up stats to justify comparisons -- pro-rated or whatever. Bottom line: on "Opening Day" 2020, the Red Sox starting line-up featured 7 of 10 teammates who won the World Series and the most games in Boston history.

I hate the Bloom Era, because he's done what he was hired to do -- which includes BSing the fanbase, while saying goodbye to expensive stars and pretending to build an annual contender. He's obviously patching holes with average big leaguers while trying to sell the illusion of fielding an above-average team. Bloom has always insisted his goal is to build a sustained contender that aims for rings every year -- nothing wrong with that, and shouldn't every GM/CBO have such aspirations? The thing is, cultivating the farm, then wishing/hoping/praying for expedited germination doesn't necessarily yield a better harvest. It would be great to keep promoting and locking up young studs on the cheap like Atlanta. But the Braves won in '21 because they also signed Morton for big money, as well as Smyly, to lead their young rotation. And then -- when they lost their best player, Acuna, to injury, and the NL's HR and RBI king Ozuna, to personal issues -- they didn't give up, but instead traded for the following: Duvall, who led the league in ribbies, Soler and Rosario, who each won postseason MVPs, and Pederson, who hit homers and wore pearls. They also landed highly-sought reliever Richard Rodriquez, who turned out to be a non-factor. You gotta do both every year. And do better than adding the overrated Story, who couldn't even play the position he was obviously acquired for, to specifically replace the homegrown star and fan favorite for half the price...

Right. You still have to outscore opponents to win, but a shutdown starter can at least bring a team back to respectability. This Boston rotation -- leading the majors in HRs allowed -- has been kinda disrespectful to Sox fans so far...

Having an ace at the top of the rotation means so much more than trying to win the World Series this year. You don't wait until you have a decent core of position players to fill the spot that comprises about 70% of a ballclub's fortunes (as legend would have it). It's arguable that the first position to fill in a rebuild is #1 starter. Everything starts with your starters. They're not called finishing touches. A great ace is called a stopper because he prevents losing streaks. He keeps the team in the game every five days and provides innings, which in turn saves the bullpen to help win others' starts. No one wins with just a deep staff of #4 and #5 guys. The ace sets the tone, and establishes a winning culture. Get yours today!

Don't you know by now? All the one-year guys are placekeepers for the next season's one-year guys! Just like all Bloom's predecessors in Boston, it's been exactly like this... NEVER!

And they hired a survivalist to teach him how to start fires with a cell phone mirror, and how to steal signs of predators, using trail cams. The hope is he'll also be able to play drums on studio recordings, if Ringo's not there...

I already named that tune in one word (rhymes with long hills or walls built to protect against floods).