5GoldGlovesOF,75

All the MLB analysts are saying the reason the Dodgers haven't won a game in the NLCS yet is because they haven't hit a home run.

Good points, but a guy as smart as Breslow knows if he wants his team to play in October, he'll figure out a way to fit in a guy with a square jaw who hits a round ball pegged really hard for long distances.

Moneyball focused on the importance of On Base Percentage. But it never won the A's any rings, even combined with one of the top starting rotations in the majors. It did win Epstein at least one banner, thanks in part that he didn't part with Youkilis, coveted by Billy Beane. And yet, decades later, we still have team announcers like NESN's O'Brien introducing every player at bat with batting average, home runs and RBIs. Seldom does he or anyone mention WAR, OPS or even OBP. Why? Don't tell me it's just habit or for the majority of TV baseball viewers who are as old as us (or contaminated soil). "Here's Seigler, with 3 home runs on the season," OB will say -- because to him, everything will exist in the future tense. Never do we hear that Tony Sigs has the same On Base % as Wilyer Abreu, or higher than Wong and Duran... NESN, owned by the Red Sox, must have access to their analytics, where stats only seem to matter to those who care about them.

Breslow would brag he replaced Bregman's 18 homers from '25 with 22 combined from Durbin, Monasterio and Seigler. But the Cubs would brag Bregman hit 28 this year.

I wanted Bregman and either Alonso or Contreras (I suggested trading for him and Gray early, mainly because Bloom knows Boston's system). I knew we weren't overpaying for Schwarber, nor was Dombro underpaying to keep him. I also wanted Suarez or Cease. That's asking a lot, but not just from a wishful fan. We all knew the Sox needed Bregman and another big bat -- or two new big bats -- and a full healthy year from Anthony if they wanted to play in October. Breslow knew it, too -- all last winter, and all spring and summer, but didn't get any help for Contreras for the heart of the order until he swapped Early for Mead.

Breslow is not going to splurge on home run hitters. He said at the season-ending press conference that the Red Sox are going to train guys already on the team to hit more HRs. Don't argue how that worked for Durbin when he first joined Boston. Brez already invested too much in Mead and Rutschman not to wait and see how the line-ups looks when they're 100% healthy. He doesn't have top pitching prospects left to trade, and better not deal Justin Gonzales or any other position player that's a few years away from making an impact -- when he'll still be CBO. Breslow now has his workforce in place, all the staff he chose to surround his roster that he built. Don't be shocked if he doesn't add anyone this offseason but Gray's replacement if necessary and a reliever. Pitching -- it's what he does best.

I'm on your side, but if I'm adding two bats, instead of two all-or-nothing slugger/swingers, I'd rather have an elite contact man in front of an elite home run hitter. The Red Sox are below average in bases on balls but I don't want guys looking for walks. Put it in play! Kevin Cash knows what he's doing, but it's curious he feels he can afford to bench Simpson -- the AL SB leader and one of two .300 hitters in the league (.318 vs RH, .285 vs. LH)... I'd bat him in front of Junior and take my chances.

Say what you want about the remaining teams and their lack of longball power and cite regular season stats and rankings all day. But the home runs they are hitting are huge reasons why they're winning. Ramirez in the ALDS, DeLauter and Bailey last night, and Wild Bill Contreras and Turang in the NLCS. The defending champs are down 0-2 and have zero HRs.

All I can add reading this discussion while watching two LCS games is that two Hall of Famers in action tonight are named Betts and Ramirez. And maybe Bobby Dalbec is watching them on TV somewhere.

No, but could he inject some youthful exuberance into this morbid offense? Who knows, chances are he becomes part of the K machine comprised of other top prospects and stiff veterans. But what if he doesn't flop -- young guys come up and find instant success every year, and get votes for AL Rookie of the Year (Boston has had its share the past half century). Lookit Joshua Baez -- that kid literally from Boston and not Cohasett or Walpole who led the minors in longballs: 3 HRs in his first big league game! And then he only struck out 33 times in his next 100 times up.

But can you still get guys out the third time through the order?

I wanted Arias brought up in September. He earned a promotion, just like most top-rated prospects every year who star in their final minor league season. Boston needs more flash in the field -- the last time they had any of that coming up was four years ago with Rafaela... when was the last time in the infield: Jose Iglesias, 13 years ago? But the main reason the Dead Sox owed it to their cause and their fans is for Arias' potential to help the offense (which can use serious help, like the average MLB batting order). I don't assume Franklin Arias will step in and become an instant threat to win a batting crown, circa Lynn, Boggs or Garciaparra. But he will get challenged by egotistical veteran pitchers -- and maybe he'll barrel for awhile... until they write the book on him. It happens a lot in the majors, and gives teams a spark, which the Sox can use after mediocre Big Threes and invisible playoff line-ups the last couple years. If he came up for a cup of coffee and raked, why wouldn't they play him in the postseason -- especially when the rest of the line-up was basically the worst in the majors the last month. I know -- pitiful that I'm just looking for any hope at the plate. But which Sox look more invigorated right now: the one blown out in the Bronx last week or the young whiffers on the south side of Chicago who almost made the ALCS?

ONE bat? Then I take it that only the other 20% of posters think we need more than one. I doubt anyone's counting on a big year from Anthony, at least until we see him in Spring Training -- if there is a ST and if he's even there (Sox may ship him up to Boston to rehab so he's away from all the distractions in Florida). But why is there already so much speculation here on trading more assets? We had career home run years from Mickey (10), Mona (6), Sogard (5) and Seigler (3)!!!! I'm not being sarcastic; Brez bragged about it at the presser. I'm with Maddie -- to paraphrase a 70s expression: this rots.

I'm not thinking Arias will bump Story from the starting line-up or even over to 2B in '27. There will have to be player movement: to the IL or another team. But try ranking these potential leftfielders by most ABs in the majors next season: Duran, Anthony, Kristian Campbell (notice I didn't say for the Red Sox). And I didn't forget The Password! It has to be either a combination of my dogs' names or my son's birthday.

I like Sato but apparently so do the "Dodgers, Mets, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Phillies" (according to online article). Breslow may not be able to outbid any of them since he plans to be very busy training players already on the roster to improve their power strokes.

Horsehide Trivia reports today that in the 2021 HR Derby at Coors Field, Trevor Story hit one 518 feet to break Judge's record of 513... a mark that stood for 20 minutes before Juan Soto hit one 520. But seriously, did Story ever look like the Incredible Hulk? I don't think people realize the elite hand-eye coordination required to barrel a BP pitch right on the sweet spot to make it carry that far... ... then again, Coors: America's Fine Light Beer. Or... can Trevor ever regain such longball skills? Arenado did.

Sounds like how Mickey crushes righties... hmmm, a new DH platoon partner? (sorry, Jahmai, but Mead's K-rate is league average, not so bad he'd be cuttable in Detroit). Now we just have to convince Story to play 2B. Something tells me he may not be quite as amenable to moving for a rookie as when he first joined Boston and deferred to a veteran legend "for one year."

But Rose and Shoeless Joe could both work for MLB's sponsors. Integrity left capacity long ago and moved to audacity. Thank dog I'm a country boy. Meanwhile, in the current offseason, Red Sox employees who respect the thirst of a fanbase for young homegrown ballplayers who actually perform to the level of hype should do everything they can to prevent Breslow from trading Franklin Arias. Arias is now the #2 prospect in baseball, mainly based off this past season when he was Boston's Minor League Offensive Player of the Year. That's great, but we've seen mixed production from other recent winners, like the Password passed over, KC and the sunshine banned, and the flickering Roman candle. Here's the reason the Sox need Arias longterm -- he's a solid if not spectacular shortstop. With quick hands, footwork and a strong arm, he'll be the middle infield leader to build around. Yankee fans know they can't say that about their top prospect George Lombard, whose stats were dwarfed by Arias at the same levels this year. Lombard and Volpe can hit, but NY can't trust either in the infield right now (just like the Blue Jays knew they couldn't win a title with Bichette at SS). Even if Arias doesn't hit right away, plug him in at short and leave him alone. Above-average D at MLB minimum wage gives the Red Sox an asset at a key position they won't have to worry for a long time.

Absolutely shouldn't count on Anthony as a full-timer or even ready for Opening Day. He basically missed four months, then rushed back before healed and broke down again. Spring Training is in another four months, so why would anyone think he'll be ready by then -- especially now that he's re-aggravated the originally injury and done additional damage to other connected tissue from compensating. The big question is: will those damaged areas ever be ready to withstand the punishment of a Roman swing making contact with a 100 mph pitch... from just resting?

Tampa's first three hitters in the batting order were better than Boston's all year. And they didn't turn invisible vs. NY: Yandy, Aranda and Junior had 10 hits in the sweep.

Watch the one from last night where Papi pours ARod and Jeter shots of tequila to toast the loss. ARod drank his, but Jetes refused. So Papi downed his, too.

Ya, after watching the Yanks get swept by the first-place team, I have to admit I had no elation. Seeing fans slink off in their pinstripes offered some closure, but I was a bit depressed looking at the imperfect players... ... because these were the guys who absolutely demolished the Red Sox. It just shows how far away Boston can be from true contention. Of course, some of the clubs who made into this postseason reiterate how quickly losers can become winners -- just by using bullpen games night after night (sure, some ex-Red Sox faltered yesterday, but there was Cam Booser again, getting outs in the 8th inning of a one-run game in the Bronx).

Rico needs to be found, a guy with the perfect swing for Fenway Park. And if they find him, maybe Brez can hire him to teach all current Red Sox his technique so they can double their home run output next year. Imagine the impact if Wong can crank 8 HRs instead of 4, and Seigler hits 6 instead of 3, and Yoshida blasts 10, and Mona 12, Sogie 10 -- that's as many right there as Ben Rice!!! Anthony might even reach double figures with one hand... until he ruins that one, too.

Don't tell me he's skipping school again. I can see it for his girlfriend, but not for the Brewers (unless they're tapping a good nut brown ale or stout; it's cold up here now).

What were you watching? Career highs for Caleb, Mona, Mickey, Sogie and Tony Seagulls! And the most invigorating Brez statement is that the offseason plan is to "develop even more power internally" (just think of the budget that saves: no money blown on actual new humans... they'll only have to pay for lots of rice and beans). Who need Paredes, Herrera, Marte, Arozarena and a dumptruck full of juiced minor league baseballs like they pitched to Arias?