5GoldGlovesOF,75

I see this going one of two ways: the Sox commit to Bogaerts or just sign a much cheaper glove-first shortstop as a placeholder for the next two years until the Mayer Era begins. Big money won't be used for a marquis replacement like the Braves with Freeman-Olson. Spending large on Turner or Swanson instead of Bogey won't make the Red Sox any better. Boston needs too much pitching to get back into contention, and both starters and relievers have to be the focus of the majority of investments this winter. The Sox also need to add a legitimate outfielder who can hit more than 10 home runs. The front office will also decide the fate of Devers, and if they won't meet his price then Bloom will probably trade him before next season -- for a lot more than the LA package for Betts (with no Price attached). If the Sox say goodbye to both X and Raffy, the only free agent infielder they might sign is Carlos Correa. When Correa played for Cora on the Puerto Rico team, he moved to third so Lindor could play shortstop; that kind of versatility and personality will grow in value when Mayer does arrive. Plus, Correa has a career-high .980 OPS at Fenway in AL road parks (100 PA min.).

One can't just have a black heart in the modern game any more, where there's a new calculus in the four quadrants, with a lot of gray chambers that overlap. That said, any evil can't just be based on spite or revenge, but would have to work for the entire organization going forward. While we're not limited in our budget, it might be in our best interests to keep our vessels open with a lot of stents, rather than go all in with a transplant. Subsequent heartburn can be treated longterm with prescription meds, but we prefer over-the-counter antacids for quick relief.

Now you're just being inciteful. Luckily, there are two outs, so just making contact (when all 2022 Red Sox ghost hitters know better than to touch the ball) won't suffice. Has Bloom learned anything by watching this season? Will he/can he, be as deft as Devers -- and swing at a two-strike bounce-pitch that kangaroos over the backstop?

All good points... and what it means, as usual, is that good, durable, reliable starting pitching is the key to everything. There seem to have been several spells lately -- usually at the beginning of the season or in the first half -- where the Red Sox bullpen actually looked decent... especially in early 2021, when the All-Star caliber combo of Barnes and Whitlock had them vying for first place. But the bottom line that always leads to relievers bottoming out is overuse, and it's usually because the starters can't even give us five innings, never mind a "quality start." Hence, the never-ending need to find, develop, promote, buy, and trade for more starters, starters, starters! ... yes, I wrote it three Blooming times (not even a subtle hint, hint).

Yes, both already look better than all of the mostly fill-ins that have been picked up or brought up, at least this season. They are two building blocks. Casas looks like a future middle-of-the-order bat, and is definitely a legit first baseman (forget sample sizes when looking at defense; the plays he's making aren't luck). Bello has ace stuff, and apparently the determination and poise to develop it; no way he is just a #5 next year, like some posters are guessing.

Even if my team is out of it, I want them to win. It's why they keep keeping score, even when eliminated. I keep watching to preview future regulars, and to see if veterans can finish up strong and reach personal milestones or goals. Lately, I'm wondering if Devers wasn't hurt for two months, and just tried to make hard contact instead of swing out of his shoes in every AB, if he could've won the AL batting crown. A few more 4-for-4 games, and he'd be right behind the three leaders -- none of whom are very hot right now.

The bullpen needs new blood. And not to spill. We don't know who those new guys will be, but way too many words have already been typed about just redefining or reshuffling roles for pitchers on the existing staff. Is it even feasible that the organization thinks it can convince fans to keep in watching in 2023 by hoping and insisting that some of the current arms will improve and others will heal? New faces are needed to trust. Old ones are tired and suspect, and even if they develop new pitches won't prevent viewers from grabbing the remotes.

... not even that; don't forget poor Catfish and The Bird. Spaceman's still kicking -- and throwing and hitting -- because he never retired. He was also smart enough to drop dead in a ballpark celebrating EMT Night, and not Sausage Makers Night...

It's bleak. If we're being honest, there's no reasonable expectation for any has-been or never-has-been to become a star... much less for two or three of them to arrive at the same time in 2023. Who among them will even be an impact player some year? Maybe Casas -- who at least we now know is a legitimate first baseman... maybe Valdez (would you take an Odor-type ceiling: 30 HR seasons with a ton of Ks and below avg D)?

I know, but they're in and we're out this year. The Jays sure talk a lot of smack for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since Joey Bats got decked by Odor in '16.

I don't recall any being "trashed" unless "here" was this forum, where a few posters disliked Beni for some reason. I wasn't a forum member when Ellsbury left, but I was personally happy because I knew Bradley was a better centerfielder for his arm alone. Boggs and Clemens were admired for their skills but had quirks (chicken, affairs, losing every big game to Dave Stewart). Tiant was always beloved in Boston, from his first full year in '72 to his last game when threw a shutout on the final Sunday of '78 to clinch a tie after Game 162.

No pitcher at any age is guaranteed not to get injured. Looking at their recent histories and current training programs is all we got... I consider Toronto as the model of a club that never stops upgrading its pitching. Berrios flops in his prime late-20s (so far), but in recent years the Jays keep adding starters in their 30s with value: Ryu, Ray, Matz, Gausman, Stripling, etc. A few Sox fans might argue that Bloom keeps counting on over-30 starters, too... but that he's just unlucky because they always get hurt. Other fans may counter that's also a good example of the adage You make your own luck...

I thought it was a bad contract at the time because they didn't offer it to Bogaerts as well. And I do believe at the time it had a negative effect on Xander and his friends in the clubhouse. Bogey is at least as valuable and around the same age as Story. But my opinion is just as a fan, not from a seat in the front office.

Arizona's Merrill Kelly leads the NL in games started with 31. That stat alone should make him a Red Sox target. Kelly is 33 and under contract for three more years at a modest $8M AAV. His third comp on bb-ref is Pablo Lopez. What kind of trade would it take to bring Kelly to Boston? BBTV gives him an affordable 12.9 value. Feel free to expand the deal and add the following to the package: 4.8 WAR rightfielder Daulton Varsho (26 HRs, 13 SBs, 1.9 dWAR), Madison Bumgarner (owed $40M), and Ketel Marte, 28, who hit 32 homers when he was 25 (with a livelier ball?)? Is this a good buy-low winter for Marte? Is any winter time to add a guy signed through 2028 and owed around $86M? BTV lists Kelly at 12.9, but Varsho is 78. Bumgarner is -32.2, Marte is -34.7...

... not charged? Further box score review reveals this line (under the pitching stats) - Inherited runners scored: Kelly, Z 3-2.

It's really just anti-pinstripes: anti-Boggs, anti-Clemens definitely when they were Yankees. Tiant, Ellsbury, Benintendi, even Youk looked dumb for about a week there...

Grimm.

They said it was for slicing his non-pitching hand chopping peppers -- did you forget? He had to be sent all the way back to Double A this summer to re-learn how to cut peppers.

I eye I, captain.

Pitching plans in this coming offseason could make or break Bloom and will certainly determine any chance of the Red Sox being "way better in 2023." To count on any pitcher fully healing from surgery is folly. It's ok to hope for timely recoveries and returns to pre-op levels for guys like Sale, Paxton, Houck and Whitlock, but history shows nothing is guaranteed, even for "successful" surgeries. Contingencies for quality and durable arms in the rotation and bullpen are imperative. Investing big money on veterans and/or pitchers in their primes is always risky, but that's the nature of the sport, and every team that is committed to winning has no choice if they are sincere about contending.

He's also a frozen TV dinner kind of guy, and those peas never thaw out... even in the microwave.

Well, they already failed scientifically and geographically, and withdrew philosophically. They even flunked gym class. But Kike swears Chaim told him they're going to hire new tutors this winter so they can prepare to retake the entrance exam into the AL East next spring.

There it goes: K number 162!

Don't lean on me, man.

I intentionally didn't use the C word, because in the ghost runner age, all that's needed is for the first batter to make freaking contact. A hit isn't necessary to move the runner to third... and then there are many ways to score him with what is often the winning run. Bunting, slashing, just choking up and putting the ball in play -- actually are repeatable skills... with reps of practice, of course.