5GoldGlovesOF,75

We need to spend more of our top-6 payroll on rehabbing pitchers that we can't count on to make second-half comebacks to take the place of old reclamation pitchers we sign who break down after the first half. Sly big-market tactics.

Yes, pro sports teams are unique compared to other businesses. But how feasible is it that any of these clubs would take the risks that come with a big contract if they couldn't afford it? Has any modern team in the history of baseball paid out kajillions to one or two stars, who then suffered debilitating injuries (on the diamond, motorbiking, running over big screen TVs on bicycles, etc)... and the club had to close its doors, declare bankruptcy or sell the franchise because of it?

I also agree with this, and have posted before I think it's the company blueprint going forward for the next young Red Sox core. I just wish Devers was a part of the plan, but we all concede it's too late for him to fit that model. The Sox will find new sources of power, as always, but man, there have been few here quite like young Raffy. And I've been watching a long time...

This is the real issue, having to use the same relievers over and over to the point of burn-out. Eck keeps pointing this out. Others point to injuries for the lack of bullpen depth; some point to getting rid of Diekman, but not replacing him. Maybe Strahm returns to help while there's still time.

Put it this way: when the Red Sox reportedly offered Mookie $200M -- the one his mother famously talked him out of accepting -- it was below market-value at the time to sign a star of his stature longterm. A couple years later when they offered him $300M, it was again below his market value at the time. Each time, his agent knew it, he knew it, and apparently so did his mom. Maybe Boston could've locked up Mookie for his prime if they had offered him a little over market value the first time, instead of a little less...

When it happened, the guy who traded him said they weren't. But you'll still get arguments about how the Sox were gonna suck either way in 2020, and that all the money saved on Betts was sunk into great signings (like two Wachas, instead of 10 Diekmans). How any part of a budget is specifically spent is all conjecture, no matter what; as if trading Benintendi's salary specifically allowed Bloom to sign Renfroe, instead of say, paying off a fraction of Price's contract to LA to make sure he no longer pitches in Boston. Teams have been locking up young stars at reasonable lifetime riches longterm since Cleveland in the 1990s. The Braves are getting done now, but the Astros and even the Yankees (with a few players) have retained part of their cores this way recently. For some reason, the Red Sox always seem to push lowball offers too late, and push favorites away, like Lester and Betts. Devers could be next. Bogey was an exception, but only because he wanted to stay in Boston so badly. Why do all our front office intellects assume every good player has the same love affair with Beantown...

Funny interview on MLB radio yesterday with Seattle closer Paul Sewald. He had three career saves before becoming closer last year at age 31... When Sewald was asked who makes the best set-up man, he replied, "A guy who pitches the 8th with a four-run lead, and gives up one run to set up a save situation for the 9th."

We all loved Schwarber's power and sure missed him this year. I'm also with you on Iglesias, an underrated from the '21 playoff push. He stuck around and cheered when disqualified from the postseason, and reportedly helped coach Arroyo on a key bunt vs. Tampa. That's the kind of dugout/clubhouse veteran no analytics can measure. I would welcome Iglesias back to Boston as the fill-in shortstop, and retain him as a mentor when the Mayer Era arrives...

Like the "head" doctor who made me wait two hours past my appointment time to check my concussion, and when I told him I get dizzy when I look down, immediately referred me to a neck doctor. After security escorted me from the large waiting room, where I advised everyone to leave while there's still time, I instead visited a neurologist... who laughed, and said my brain was misfiring, and prescribed some actual useful therapy.

They're all smart businessmen, but the fans who care more about the team than doing the wave and singing "so good" would love such a gesture. And that would make them smart baseball people... ... of course, there would still be a few in the media and on here who'd complain.

It's an educated guess, based on Bloom's history in Boston. He didn't spend to get a real first baseman because of Casas, and there's no reason to change now; Casas and Hosmer can handle 1B and DH, at least on a rebuild. And if there's one position Bloom loves to avoid big costs, it's the bullpen. He'll find a few decent guys cheap, and blow small bills on handfuls of others. But even if there ever comes a time when it's deemed as right to "go for it," does anyone ever see Bloom winning a bidding war with, say the Mets, for an Edwin Diaz?

Max, I know your main issue with the narrative regarding bullpens is with the designation "closer" and what constitutes "saves" and "blown saves." But I cringe every time you bring up the Sox' '21 postseason... because basically every Boston reliever failed at least once. Every game was a stressfest, even when they won: Whitlock gave up a bomb to Stanton; Barnes loaded the bases in one IP vs. Tampa and wasn't used again; Robles blew a 2-run lead via HR, 2B, 2B in one IP; Houck gave up a HR to Franco; Braiser blew a 2-run lead via 2B, 2B, 1B in one IP; Houck blew 2-run lead on Altuve's 2-run HR; Robles allowed a game-losing HR to Correa; Sawamura: BB, 1B, HBP, SF in one IP; Darwinzon: 2 HRs in one IP; Whitlock blew the lead on an Altuve HR in the 8th of ALCS Gm 4... and Boston never led again; then Braiser, Robles, Taylor, Houck, and Ottavino each gave up a run or more in the last two games. The bullpen was so bad that Cora had to use Eovaldi and Perez in back-end duty, and both starters also got lit up. Pivetta was a hero, but even he lucked out when Renfroe kicked Kiermaier's drive into the... yup, you know where. Bottom line is that the Red Sox relief crew was not good enough to take them to the World Series, unlike Houston's, which added better arms at the deadline.

Good points. My step-dad who played for money always preached team chemistry as the biggest difference between a championship team and other contenders. I could never quite understand how much that matters in baseball -- the sum deeds of isolated individuals. You can't block for a teammate or set a pick or pass the ball. Even if your line-up is comprised of sworn enemies only out for selfish stats, if successful, would'nt those hits and runs on offense, or outs and goose eggs on defense result in victories?

I never said that about the O's. Maybe they're just better adjusted pros. And from what many fans sense are players wearing Boston shirts going through the motions, maybe some of the Red Sox aren't. Yet.

Rob's been an ok fill-in, but is also a guy who has never started more than 37 games in his seven years in the bigs -- with a career sub-.700 OPS. We all know he wasn't the regular right-handed outfield bat needed to complete the roster at the outset of the season.

The wretched refuse of your teaming... sure. Give us Liberty to celebrate all things Raffy. Sincerely, Someone who remembers when Riff Raff was a wolf gangster villain on Underdog

Could it also be that anyone playing for Baltimore this century knows and accepts a lot more about the professional angles of being annual tradebait and tanking? Just saying: Red Sox players with World Series rings might equate being respected -- and disrespected -- a bit differently.

Thus completes your image on this forum; showing true colors in words and not hue.

I agree if you refer to TV blogs that intentionally use titles with the initials for the directions on a compass to mislead the masses. I disagree with the old print media that I was once associated with; all of the reporters I worked with were sincere about reporting facts. In those days it was standard to have at least two legitimate sources verify information before publishing it. Columnists were a bit different, since it was their job to give opinions... but those who sought constant incitement weren't very well-regarded by colleagues.

Chaim has shown he is a capable student. I am sure his scores can improve with more focus on academics, and less on social issues; with a recommendation of winter school, and a few sessions with Professor Dombrowski, the budget's the limit!

I tend to believe media members who aren't employed by the franchise but who are much closer to the actual vibe of the club, since it's their job to be, after all... unlike, say, fans who watch from afar and might not know or speak to any team personnel on a daily basis.

Maybe, but a true team still needs leadership from actual players. One of the media said the other day, "There's no Pedroia in that clubhouse..." Who's missing from last year's stretch run? Schwarber? Iglesias? Hunter, ERod? Sale or Kike, who both participated (which gives more creed to voices) in the games? Could it be Ottavino was more important than we thought; look how good his new team is this season... But yes, responsibility is also on Bloom for not replacing them with new difference-makers.

It's hilarious imagining if Bloom targets a Thor and has to ask Henry permission to outbid Dombro... What would ownership do? Can John, Linda and Tom combined beat Lebron in an arm wrestle?

With so many contracts coming off the books after this year, who is going on the books? I'm not a GM, but I play one online, and can't see any way the Red Sox will spend enough to fill all the glaring and/or looming holes on the roster to contend in 2023. Despite what Sam Kennedy publicly espouses, it will be a rickety, swinging, collapsing, over-a-Wil-E-Coyote-canyon bridge year. Predictions: 1). Story will not move to SS, mainly because he knows Mayer is coming soon and would rather not be dancing around the diamond year-to-year, especially to be displaced by a fresh-faced kid. Instead, the Sox will acquire a veteran glove-first placeholder for SS. Rafaela will also make the team by '24 for his versatility, taking turns at both SS and CF. 2). Pham and Verdugo will be back in LF and RF, maybe joined by Nimmo in CF (but only if the Mets sign Judge; Boston will not). 3). Valdez will get a shot at DH out of ST, but other hot minor league bats could make debuts and share time there as the season progresses. 4). A top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher will be the big investment, either via free agency or through trade... 5)... which means, either Casas... or Devers will be dealt. Hosmer is already paid-for at 1B, and Devers may not be at 3B.

Yup, that's what I totally meant... it's the reason a guy like Sandy Leon is still a big leaguer with a batting average of .191 the last six years...