5GoldGlovesOF,75

Ah, I knew an old pro who always used to say, "The team that drinks together wins together." Think of Kevin Millar handing out shots of bourbon in the clubhouse before the '03 ALCS games. Although Jack Daniels can make friends out of foes, and foes out of friends.

And yet, ol Nick was a saint in last year's ALDS clincher vs. Tampa, with four shutout extra innings. Was that recent enough?

If the Sox do sign any $20+ million dollar shortstops, it might mean they'll be dealing Mayer. Personally, I just don't see that happening; top prospects who are future cornerstones when they make the majors -- at minimum wage -- are the keys to a rebuilding team. And the Red Sox are so needy in so many areas that it makes sense for Bloom to hang onto Casas, Mayer, and Rafaela so they don't have to spend resources on 1B, SS and CF longterm. Remember, Kike was re-signed, but for only one year...

From today's Boston Globe: "Pivetta’s divisional ERA is the 14th highest among the 1,256 instances of a pitcher making 13+ starts in a season against the AL East since the introduction of division play in 1969." I don't play a math teacher anymore, but I think that's over half a century. But be confident the Red Sox analytics department can plan next year's rotation so that Nick only starts against the MLB's other five divisions next year. ps. this is the latest on a Saturday morning in October of a season in which Boston will not be participating in the playoffs that I have typed something about any Pivettas in 6,051 posts.

Do you think Sam Kennedy's kids even believe him when he says he's taking them to buy ice cream? Waves at the front door: "Come on! We're going all out!" ...parked in the driveway is a Mr. Softee truck.

This whole post reminded me of Ripken. I can't remember him ever dazzling, but he was always positioned where the ball was going because he knew every pitch that was coming and the batter's tendencies to handle them. One year he made three errors... playing every inning of every game..

Boggs almost always took the first pitch, so everyone threw it right down the middle. Drove me crazy. And from the stats I could find, he had a higher batting average swinging at the first pitch than taking it (maybe it was a selective set-up on his part, for big moments). Doesn't matter, he hit over .300 for his career in either approach.

My eye test is from what I just read: in his first 22 games, Casas has an identical 21.8 K-rate and BB-rate. The average MLB K-rate is 22.1; the average BB-rate is 8.4.

Maybe because he already landed in the city and state where he wanted to work? (inferred the poster)

Eee-gaads. According to their grades, Bogey was #1 as an A- and no one else was even a B+ except Barnes, with "the stuff of a rotation anchor"... which many would say was prescient in a literal sense (heavy metal object dragging rotation to the bottom of the sea). The evals were pretty honest, though. No one was rated as a five-tool player like we've read, seen or heard about Mayer, Rafaela and Bleis...

This has to be in play, but the pitcher can't be a prospect, too. He has to already be good in the majors. It could happen if they do decide to pay Bogey for another half dozen years.

Prior to Bello's rise, Mata had been the org's top pitching prospect for what seems like three or four years. He may still need a stable spring training to solidify his status as a keeper. Romero is one of many Sox middle infielders who have value -- and so may be expendable. Corner guys like Jordan and Kavadas could be prime trade candidates. Niko's award could make him more desirable to other teams (and the Sox awarding him could be strategic). It's advisable to give Yorke at least another year of development before including him in a deal, since many believe he profiles as a big league bat. Those are rare in Beantown these days...

I guess they could attack Garcia with his own bat, since it wasn't doing him much good in producing a .583 OPS...

They don't; I just don't think spending for a shortstop who will want more than Bogaerts is in the plans. But if the Sox need an entire new left side, Correa has already shown that he is amenable to moving to third for Alex Cora. Bogey has been there and said he is done with that.

Of course it is, and anything is on the table. Every player in the system is trade bait. Personally, I'd be surprised if Bloom parted with any of the four or five prospects the organization projects as future core members of the next sustained contender (and the first since the 00s Red Sox). And part of the reason is they'll all earn minimum wage upon promotion, with the potential to sign lucrative, albeit below-market contracts. Guesses include Casas, Bello, Mayer, Rafaela, Bleis, Perales. Anyone else?

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.