5GoldGlovesOF,75

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.

Could be an organizational issue, not just totally the fault of only the GM and manager. Like every MLB club, Bloom has an entire department analyzing data to determine -- or at least trend -- personnel decisions; Cora also has a coaching staff of specialists. Boston's weakest links of 2022 included a bad bullpen, shoddy defense (mainly from players playing out of position), and anemic offense with runners in scoring position. If roles were reversed -- and Cora assembled the same roster, and Bloom the line-up cards -- would the same posters be calling for a change in skippers? My main gripe with Cora was in extra innings -- but only if all decisions were his, which is dubious. The Red Sox proved over and over they were miserably inept at moving runners over and driving them in. How many Ks does a ghost runner have to witness in horror before someone takes mercy on his soles (of his spikes) and mixes in a bunt? But for all the fans know, Cora may just be complying with the modern company philosophy: refusing to give up an out. But when your team leads the league in extra inning losses, maybe it's time to try something else... Another half dozen wins in extras for the Sox could've kept them in the hunt -- like Cleveland; behind Boston in virtually every team batting category, but 12-4 in extras, and winning the Central (I know, I know: the Guards also have an actual big league bullpen).

New thread title needed. Quick options: Dire Bloom. Liar Bloom. Buyer Bloom? Retire Bloom.

Better get used to that idea. There's no way Bloom is finally getting salary relief for a DH-only guy and then committing to another one. Already covered internally: DH, catcher, 1B (it's 50-50 they even carry Hosmer on next year's roster, and only because he's free; he's not even a good hitter anymore). The Sox will be serious about improving next year if they add a legitimate run-producing outfielder, three starting pitchers, and three relievers -- including at least one or two established bullpen arms (not just guys they're going to convert). If there is any talk from management about counting on guys returning from injury -- and that includes Sale, Whitlock, Houck, or the next Paxton -- then they're building and burning bridges again.

If Kyle is overpaid, imagine JD -- does he really only have 12 homers and 55 ribbies? For the entire season? I was going to say $20 million is the going rate for a 40 HR DH-type... but then realized that Dombro is the only guy who established that, by paying JD and now, Schwarber.

It's going to be tough for NY without the Twins in the postseason.

Old guys like me have seen plenty of Red Sox teams full of longball hitters who failed to drive in more runs than their own crappy pitchers gave up. But all those clubs were more fun to watch than top-5 offenses that hardly ever make contact with runners in scoring position.

But if we put this team in the dumpster now, we'll be diving into ourselves all winter...

Aren't the Badlands in SD?

Another ghostly loss for the AL's losingest extra-inning team. All these 10th-inning Ls are easy to pin on blah relievers -- and maybe they're too casual, as well as causal, since they don't get charged with giving up an earned run when the ghost scores. But do the Red Sox have a club rule when they bat with a ghost on second that their first hitter is always required to strikeout? Forget about getting a hit -- that's too much to ask of a top-5 offense in late innings -- but it is uncanny how Boston never advances its free baserunner to third so he can't even score on a fly ball or grounder or wild pitch or error or balk. Here's a new organizational philosophy for future sustained contenders: first batter up in the 10th -- touch the ball!

Can't imagine why Price is retiring. With next year's pitch clock, he can still hold his arms straight up over his head on every single pitch, eye clouds suspiciously, blow smoke rings, and just count five Mississippis, instead of 10. Before coming to a set. And then. Slowly. Slinging. His cesta. ... pelota in the dirt.

Geez, guys, Casas is 22. At age 21, he batted third on a team with big leaguers in an international tournament. Manager Mike Scoiscia raved about his future. Casas is a huge guy with a deliberate approach in the batter's box. When Aaron Judge -- another large human -- was 22, he was still in A ball. When Judge was 25, he led the AL in home runs, but also with 208 strikeouts. He's improved since then...

Meanwhile, Tampa calls up Jonathan Aranda to play first base from Triple A, where he hit 18 HRs, 85 RBI, .318 BA, .915 OPS. A few differences: Aranda also plays second base and third base, and is 24 years old. When he was 22, like Casas is now, Aranda hit 3 homers in 40 games in Mexico.

... not replace Mookie, but at least get another All-Star. The old Duquette/Epstein Red Sox would've probably signed Springer, who's maybe not a Hall of Famer, but at least a World Series MVP. Don't want to re-sign Cabrera, sign Renteria; he didn't work out, trade him and sign Lugo. Trade Renfroe, sign that outfielder from Japan, etc. You can say Sox fans are spoiled and greedy, but the recent history of the franchise has bred such expectations. Just like fans in Tampa, KC, Cincy and Pittsburgh expect to lose their best players when they reach free agency.

That's exactly what is happening now with Bloom, who every fan has to admit was hired because of the specific way he does business (watch, someone will argue Henry is a fan of Latin Classics). And if the current plan doesn't work -- in probably less time than ownership originally committed to -- changes will be made.

Both of these beliefs are inherently true when it comes to paying any star player. At the same time, fans also don't care if the Red Sox have access to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the U.S. Mint or the keys to Fort Knox. The only truths fans really know are what they pay for Fenway tickets, parking, beer, souvenirs, cable TV, etc... and what they see when they look at the American League standings.

Sammy didn't sound too encouraging recently when he reminded the Nation that the Red Sox shortstop is already under contract for the next three years, and only Xander can decide where he'll be.

Your first question is a good question; if Bloom cleaned house at the beginning of August, there'd be no veteran voices left in the clubhouse to complain about later cuts. And we'd all expect the team to suck, no matter what Sam Kennedy said. I don't think the second question would be a determinant, since returns for JD, Nate and Hill wouldn't be much more than someone's #39 and #40 prospects, like in the Vaz trade. If Bogey agreed to be dealt, though, there'd probably be an uproar no matter what (even if we got someone's top 20 prospect)... unless Bloom then extended Devers, which I can never imagine him doing that far in advance, especially with what it will cost.