5GoldGlovesOF,75

Upon review 20 times he's safe 20 times... the ump was standing directly over the bag, staring straight down on Devers and Gio. He should be insulted that anyone could ever see something in NY on a video any better.

Started to wonder if any NL teams would choose to take Sale if we threw in Houck for free... but no contenders would, because they might have to play Toronto in the World Series...

Darwinzon is so good in the minors he only needed two strikes apiece to K two guys! (replays show the ump called automatic strikes on both batters for not getting back in the box in time; new AAA rule, and I love it)

Not as a Red Sox ambassador; Nomar always looked and sounded like he was annoyed having to deal with the press, while Bogey comes off as a friendly guy, happy to be a pro player in Boston. But Nomar pouting about his contract situation became a drag in '04, as much as his diminished range at shortstop. Xander seems to be above such distractions... thus far.

Look at it more as a split fandom over tradition and new philosophy. Everyone wants their team to win, but most will admit a big part of being a fan is rooting for and identifying with favorite players. And it's not just old guys, but even younger fans growing up after the end of the reserve clause... Though many posters favor Bloom's fiscally-sound approach, it's not blasphemy for others to view it as sometimes cutthroat. Few posters actually want to trade Bogaerts, but most will understand decisions made in the best interests of the ballclub. I don't think Barnes inconsistent history had quite as many worried about his status last summer...

Agreed. But do you think Bogey was reciting a rehearsed line fed by Boras, reminding that his biggest market value will always be as a shortstop?

He'll be looking for fair market value, sure. But maybe he also wants to stay, so will be open to compromise. The thing is, there has to come a point where a club serious about building a core of contenders has to invest in quality. What's better for a team all-in: Eovaldi for three years or nine other mediocrities on one-year contracts?

So how many years to offer Eovaldi? Three for $60? $75? He's better than ever, throws five pitches for strikes (72 of 101 pitches last outing), wants to stay in Boston, is the legendary work-out monster lead-the-staff by example veteran pro... and where the Eck would the Sox rotation be without him?

that that that

He went to UCME LATER.

Neither side chooses to play the Cashman game and go public... except for the side strategically "leaking" info to Heyman, of course. As for whatever offer the Sox made that so discouraged Bogaerts the day before the season, does anyone think for a second that our ivy-league front office doesn't anticipate every possible outcome of their very deliberate decisions in advance? There's no chance it was spontaneous at the last minute, like Ah, offer him 30 for another year -- what's the worst that can happen: a flock of lame ducks apathetic about winning for a lost cause... banging the doldrums slowly? Does anyone doubt that Bogie's gloom suddenly makes it likely he'll accept a midseason trade to a more "respectful" club that shows it really wants him?

Bloom drawing align in the sand: "it was fairly clear early on that we weren't going to align. If we were seeing the world exactly the same, we would've aligned. But those guys are still here, and we didn't find that alignment this time..."

I guess my position is that it's wrong to skimp when it comes to the most important position. Of course there are many examples of mixed mound history... from this century: maybe the Sox were right letting Pedro walk after '04, but replacing him and Derek Lowe with Wells and Matt Clement was a joke. Lowe won over 100 games post-Boston and started at least 32 games every year for a decade. The Beckett trade was a winner, but Lackey was overrated (especially as a Plan B after losing out on another free agent). Lester was a PR disaster... though Lester-for-Cespedes-for-Porcello turned out OK. Obviously, Price as Plan C wasn't worth the biggest contract in the history of the world. Kimbrel only cost prospects and was a necessary acquisition at the time. The Sale trade was great, the Sale signing not even good. Dombrowski's best pitching move was swapping for and signing Eovaldi. Bloom has been in charge since late '19 and his top transaction was swiping Whitlock from New York...

Reading beat writers now stating the obvious, that the Red Sox didn't recruit enough quality pitching depth this winter, relying too much on a return to form by Sale. Maybe the Sox were right, and this is a literal return to form by Sale, who hasn't pitched a full season since his first year in Boston in 2017. The point I'll never agree with is when posters or execs argue that it's just not the right time -- yet -- to invest too heavily in quality pitching. It's always the right time, and you're never going anywhere without it, whether rebuilding or looking for a push over the top. The Red Sox had a losing record in 1997, but after the season traded for Pedro Martinez. Then Dan Duquette immediately locked him up longterm. Was that time right?

That was my entire point. Tampa has so many prospects that they can spare a future top of the rotation arm for an old DH in a pennant race.

The big problem is the Sox are facing Joe Ryan, acquired from the Rays by Minny in the Nelson Cruz deal. Ryan was Tampa's 765th-best pitching prospect...

Well, Pivetta is our Number Two pitcher. Last metaphor: this one's on Bloom!

I'm with her. The Brewers said Ok, as long as you take back Jack.

If only someone deems him worth the cost of a Jalen Beeks...

Bogey wouldn't be the first young pro athlete to accept a trade to a new team that has a chance to win and expresses a strong pitch to make him feel wanted.

My point on the budget isn't how much is being spent but what we really argue about here (and at work, at home, pre-Covid bars, etc): who it is being spent on. For Bloom's goal of continuing to build the farm, some strategies have to shift. Even if the Sox let all their free agents walk and they finish last again, the new draft lottery makes it even harder to land a gem like Mayer. So where will the truly top prospects come from, assuming Boston stays competitive? Maybe from other organizations... ... which can make trading high-priced commodities like Devers almost desirable.

They may already have. But he rightfully considers himself a $30 million per year player, which is the going rate for a top of the industry bat at his position. With the Red Sox, it's never about whether they are big market spenders. As many posters love to point out, Boston's payroll is one of the top three/four/five/whatever every single year. What this is all about -- what other posters continually counter -- is that the Sox keep changing budget plans, sometimes to align with trends, sometimes to defy trends. Bloom can give Story $23+ AAV, but then offers Bogaerts only $22.5 AAV? How blatantly disrespectful; it's like they're intentionally forcing him out the door (which may very well be the intention, to get X to soon waive his no-trade clause -- so Bloom will get something back instead of letting him walk for nothing). Seriously, how hard would it be to at least offer Bogie $25 AAV? They know Boras will reject anything less than $30 anyway, but at least the Red Sox wouldn't be spitting into the face of the franchise...

In that case, can I have my old back back?

It's also more fun than constantly reminding ourselves of what we already know: it's still early, before it's summer, before we near the deadline, before it's getting late. But don't forget: Devers' best month is July, JD's is August... and Bogie's is May (if his leg is healed by then).

Bello will be up before the end of the summer; he's on the 40.