5GoldGlovesOF,75

I would've re-signed Schwarber over Story, mainly because Schwarbs was a known commodity proven successful in Boston, which isn't always a guarantee -- as Big Papi tells us. Story is a better all-around player and might still have a good career in Boston, but we know the Sox already won with Schwarber. In retrospect, the latter's HR bat would've made more of a diff in this year's power outage, while Arroyo was more than competent at second (with promising middle infielders in the pipeline). I also wanted Rodon, especially at market value for one year... even Thor; if we're staying over the tax threshold, might as well put some quality out there, as least for the spectators... As for the mystery behind the Story signing -- if it indeed was insurance in case Bogey leaves, the cost left too many roster holes unfilled this season... and that's not only inexcusable, but unfeasible. I'll still be surprised if Story moves back to short, even if X is history...

Couldn't access; what are Ken's big takes?

A lot of posters saw this preseason and either anticipated or wished for at least one more starting pitcher, preferably someone younger and ideally more durable. Some of them seem to have forgotten this, and instead try to keep defending the Story signing -- which only fortified another position filled by an injury-prone player. In foresight, hindsight and eyesight, which position would be better prioritized for committing $140 million: pitching or second base?

And yet, a massive power outage was one of the many factors that killed the 2022 Red Sox, who most of us consider a big bunch of whiffers. With a month to go, the Sox have actually struck out less than the Braves, Rays and Orioles, and are just a bad Dalbec night ahead of the Yankees and Mariners. The thing is, a 40-home run slugger is going to cost $20 million per -- minimum. And it's been that way in Boston since at least 2018, when Dombrowski recruited JD Martinez. He also hit .330 and finished runner-up to Mookie for the batting title that first year, but a lot was made of his influence on teammates as a professional batsman. We heard and read similar praise for Schwarber and his contributions to the Sox, and how he fit right in and augmented the clubhouse. Guys like that are worth paying for because of their positive effects on team chemistry. Unfortunately for front office types, there may not be a stat for it that factors into WAR calculations...

... especially in this age of ghost runners. It's almost like the industry won't tolerate bunting -- because why? Analytics has data that says it's bad to give away outs? Or do all the agents and players outright refuse, because there's no money in not swinging for the fences? It just has to kill certain old school managers, who absolutely know how to move runners from scoring position to the plate without launch angles -- and that keeping their jobs is based (ideally) on wins and losses.

Schwarber. And before some semantic posters jump down my screen because he didn't hit 30 HRs or lead the league for us, we all know how much more potent the Sox' heart of the order was when Kyle joined it. All reports from the clubhouse noted Schwarber was a difference-maker, providing more thump in the batter's box, lengthening the line-up, and influencing teammates in both his approach to wearing down pitchers, and the subsequent meatballs that they got to feast on. He wasn't re-signed nor replaced, and the club isn't as good without him.

The two veteran starters added last winter were definitely better than the two you listed that left. But some of the other match-ups are a stretch, since guys like Marwin, Andreise and Santana didn't even last the season last season. You've made other posts that Story effectively replaced Renfroe, right? Plus, you left out Diekman, and that Robles replaced Robles, and the fact that Bloom didn't replace a league-leading home run hitter he didn't even try to resign. Most of the additions you listed have been ok, except for 10-1 Wacha, this year's unexpected star. But with all the money coming off the books, the Sox are primed to add legitimate All-Star players and not just another handful of mediocre acquisitions (and that counts Story, a decent contributor, albeit with a 30% K-rate).

Traded by Tampa for a 40-year-old DH... and yet, the Red Sox couldn't get anything for a 34-year-old DH (or wouldn't take just anything).

If the concept of a pen is keep things in, then the Red Sox need to open all the gates, turn off the electric fence, cut all the barbed wire, and hit the hay.

I approve of this message, and I'm not running for anything.

The comparisons to the situations of Betts and Devers may be similar, but a valid question is who is the best bet to produce a consistent HOF career going forward? Some of the factors could include age, injury history, body type, and (the perception of) personality. For the latter, we know Raffy can hit hard line drives to the opposite field on outside pitches any time he wants, but we've also seen him try to obliterate every single pitch to kingdom come the last month; is that his way of overcompensating for a nagging injury? This is a guy who can hit liners on pitches that bounce in the dirt... Will he mature and someday contain his swing just enough to lead the league in batting average, as well as OPS? Has his fielding also been affected by ailments? Already slowed by leg and/or back ssues, is Devers' body at age 25 worth investing in for the next decade and committing $300 million dollars?

That's always been my point. Verdugo's batting .284, and only five RBIs from the team lead, and he's still only 0.4 WAR better than a replacement player? Watching him play defense or run the bases sometimes, and it seems like his ceiling is no higher than the top of a door. And I like the guy... Like Bell alludes to, there are questions about Betts in Boston that will never be answered. But seeing how fast, long-and-large the Dodgers moved on locking him up, I'm convinced Friedman had every intention -- and confidence -- of dealing for Mookie to keep him in LA. But fans will never know what's really discussed behind closed texts between execs, agents, players and their families...

Not necessarily, if he wins the trade. But the return would have to include a few diamonds in the polish, specifically on the mound. If ownership expects an another quick about-face in the MLB standings, the organization has to be committed to spending both funds and prospect capital on massive amounts of pitching. We're talking three legitimate established arms that are more dependable than injury comebacks in their mid- to late-30s. And since the last time Boston splurged to acquire a relief ace in his prime was the Kimbrel trade in 2015, expect an influx of starters. The new rotation members should be innings-eaters to solidify the bullpen by lessening the workload, and also by moving younger guys like Houck and Whitlock to the backend permanently. As uncomfortable as it is to ponder for fandom, the front office knows that Devers is its best trade chip for a successful overhaul...

Long Gone: Dixie Lee Boxx was hotter than Annie Savoy.

We're Numbah 13!

Remdawg always tried to be multicultural: Spanish greetings, Italian food Here comes the pizza!, nibbling grasshoppers, playing air guitar...

We get you, Moon. A Globe story last week said the Red Sox' actual spending -- not what they owed before Bloom took over -- was only ranked 13th of 30 teams (and it added "15th, not counting Story"... though, I don't know how we couldn't). But even Sam Kennedy noted yesterday that a lot of dough is coming out of the oven this winter. Let's see if they can cook up something new (please, no more refried beans).

I seriously doubt Red Sox Nation cares or even thinks about the team paying a starting outfielder a whole $3 million less than what was wasted on Garrett Richards last year. Even if it's two or three posters who post daily about the budget the budget the budget -- the rest of us could care less if Chaim Bloom is "allowed" to spend $40 million or $400 million... it's who he spends it on, and how those players perform that matters.

"98 with a change" -- that's a primetime Rays' pitcher already. Can't you just see Bello all over the Tampa moundscape: opener, bulk, high lev relief, then all of sudden he's throwing a no-hitter through seven, and the rest of the division goes, "Who dat?" Bello is winless with a bad ERA, but anyone watching closely sees a guy not that far away from MLB success. He's already better than Darwinzon, and I trust the front office not to trade him for mediocrity used to promote the guise of temporary stability. What sets Bello apart from all the other young Red Sox pitchers: he has dominated at every level except one (so far). And many of those peers he dominated will soon join him again at this last level.

Ol Franch -- good ole or bad ole -- maybe the worst defensive Red Sox player in recent memory, because he can't play outfield nor first base. But here's how bad this '22 team is: most of us would rather see Cordero in centerfield than Duran anywhere. At least Franchy looks like a nice guy, is friendly with the media, and from what I've observed, is well-liked by teammates in the bigs, Triple A and Quadruple A. So screw Toronto's Alex Manure for throwing at our Franchy.

Wacha has been great, but was signed to take a regular turn in the rotation from Day Four of the season. They may have hoped Paxton would play the '21 Sale role -- join in August, and be a better value than anything they would have to spend prospects on to acquire at the deadline. These retread deals aren't always complete wins or losses; Richards didn't work out as a starter last year, but at least contributed a bit in relief down the stretch. But next year's approach has to be different. The rotation needs to be completely rebuilt if the Sox are to regain respectability (and I'm not even using the "c" word). Start backwards from #5 with Pivetta, then Bello at #4, and hope he develops into at least a #3. It's doubtful Bloom will pay market value to keep Eovaldi or Wacha, so that means he has to make trades and/or promote Mata or another top arm (not Winckowski or Seabold, who look destined to be injury fill-ins). Veteran guys trying to make comebacks simply cannot be counted on -- or sold to this fanbase in any way, shape or form. Anything we get from Sale or Paxton should be treated as a bonus -- forevermore.

Understood. But we also understand how unacceptable that is -- budget-wise (a theme that defines this forum) -- to fans looking forward to 2022, and improving on the previous postseason.

In hindsight, it was a complete failure for the front office to anticipate Sale and Paxton making viable contributions to the starting rotation. Yes, the Sale extension was Dombrowski's goof, but many observers had foresight at the time of the signing, because of recent shoulder woes... remember, the elbow ish came next. But taking a chance on Paxton is on Bloom (and don't say that's all he could spend on, because of Sale's contract). A lot of us also had foresight when Wacha and Hill came aboard -- not because they weren't good, but because they're weren't good bets not to break down, again, at some point. It would seem investing in younger arms in their primes would give provide more durability... but how does that explain Jose Berrios' bad status since he joined Toronto? Did he have Covid? Is some longterm Covid effect a subtle reason for disappointing performances this season? Consider: Sale falling apart, ERod's summer, Xander/JD power failures, Kike's injury-prone down year, etc.

For all we know or don't know, the bin-diving may just be Bloom's main asset as an officer, and the reason a successful businessman like Henry hired him. When Bloom discusses player contracts and says it has to work for the plan going forward, he never says whether that's his plan or ownership's. And we'll never know if it's the latter, because if he blamed it on his boss, he wouldn't have one for very much longer...

The most glaring reality is that mediocrity describes this team's best players. Maybe the All-Stars are all hurt -- good hitters don't forget how to drive the ball over the fence, like X and JD this season... and Raffy is definitely hobbled. But please spare the batting average comparisons to show that Verdugo is as good as Betts -- not when our guy has 7 HRs and a .728 OPS. Mookie only has 31 home runs and a .910... and 5.7 WAR with a month to go. Dugo's WAR: 0.5. If everyone got hot and Boston went on an epic run, it would have to be led by the pitching. Bello would turn into Dwight Gooden, Houck would return as a no-look Okajima to prevent burnout for Whitlock, doing his Andrew Miller special. A rotation, if healthy, would be led by veterans who've all had postseason glory: Wacha, Eovaldi, Pivetta... in this century!