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We have to trust Bloom will be telling potential trade suitors the same thing... as he looks nostalgically at the best team in the league the past two years "getting by" with a 2:1 platoon ratio at third base of Joey Wendle and Yandy Diaz.

Pitchers often speak of those moments with phrases like "bear down", "grow a pair", and "pick up my teammates"... True aces are able to do it sometimes. Others reveal body language that bodes ill... maybe their arms and focus can only take so much, but what happens after a bad play or bad call or cheap hit says a lot. It's also why I don't offer a qualifying offer to a guy like ERod.

The Wild Card game isn't a series, though that match-up would feature a series of young Blue Jays running up to the plate, salivating to swing from the heels and model the same dirty jacket to pimp for the cameras. Boston's best hope would be to hit as many groundballs as possible to Bichette and hope he throws them into Lake Ontario -- even if they're playing at Fenway.

And X is such a good pal of Devers, that could cause Rafie to want to leave, thus justifying a clean sweep for Bloom, who can acquire legit stop-gaps while awaiting his self-assembled infield of the future sustained contenders (L to R): Jordan, Mayer, Yorke and Niko Kavadas... just kidding, Casas (Dombro draft).

And yet nothing that happens should surprise us, especially when the vocabulary includes arbitration, agents, and extensions. Once the Sox traded Mookie -- a star hitter, fielder and baserunner -- it's a lot easier to trade Rafie, merely a star hitter.

Not disagreeing with you, but my post wasn't made as an option I favor. I'm only trying to prepare myself for what Bloom may be thinking. And as far as I know, the only people who have ever discussed moving Devers to first base are fans or media. The Red Sox didn't even try it when they were dead last in a lost pandemic year with Rafie leading the majors in errors.

It's not time yet, but have to believe the Sox brain trust will sit down soon and explore all options for upgrading this team for '22 and beyond. And that's where Bloom will certainly toy with the idea of dealing the player who could bring back the most logical haul to expedite Boston's rise to sustained contention. Hint: it's not Bogaerts, who can opt out and go free from any new acquiring club. It's also not the ever-improving Dalbec, but it does involve him, because one of the defensive improvements could see him moved back to his natural position. For those not exactly enamored with the thought of Devers' D at third base for the next half decade or so, what exactly could the Red Sox get for him in trade? If it's both an impact pitcher and an impact position player, does anyone who has followed Bloom's strategies the past two years think he could resist such an offer, especially instead of paying Devers what he will command on the market? PS: I love watching Rafie play, and hope he's a Red Sox for life. Unfortunately, I doubt that concept is realistic going forward...

I would be because I think the Jays will absolutely mercy the Sox. But I don't cower at a Sox-Yanks WC, even in the Stadium, because I believe Eovaldi can shut them down. And I don't fear a Sox loss to NY, either; it's just not Sparta vs. Athens any more these days, and though both teams can be good, they're also kinda meh... albeit with better hopes for the future.

Frances? Wrong flag; my first stripe is green... yours, too?

See, that's the spirit needed throughout Red Sox Nation right now. May it be reflected in the Boston clubhouse to bring the team together -- no wait, to keep them six feet apart -- stop confusing them, they're just young men!

Why show a list of honest injuries to a rival team that has apparently at least taken the responsibility to stop the spread of a highly contagious virus; are you trying to persuade Red Sick fans to switch allegiances? Because it may ultimately work...

That wouldn't work because politics has nothing to do with eradicating a worldwide health crisis.

His body, his teammates.

There's a good chance those chances will change again soon. But let's talk; if the Sox go .500 the rest of the month and finish with 90 Ws, are they in?

Definitely. He never could hit lefties-- career avg: vs. LHP .000, vs. RHP .176.

Now we're waiting for the GBP to cool off the Jays, but maybe they get a pass after being forced to be nomads half the season.

We've already been through how horrible some posters think Duran has been in center for the Red Sox, just killing them, based on some metric. Meanwhile, we haven't read one single fan who has seen Verdugo in centerfield all season think he's a good fit in the middle of the outfield. I actually like Verdugo on either corner outfield spot, and thought he was just as good in right last year as this year's Renfroe, who leads all big league outfielders in errors.

I don't disagree, but we know the offense can't outbash all the issues on the mound and on defense. So who do you trade to improve the team for '22? Surely, no one is suggesting Bloom stands pat and brings back the same starting nine with the MLB's worst Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Avg (a hideous NEGATIVE 65)...

Everybody would, because right now Dalbec is a better big leaguer. But he might also fetch a better return for Bloom as part of a trade, and a deal makes sense if the Sox sign Schwarber or someone else to keep first base warm until their top power-hitting prospect is promoted.

Did you watch him play outfield this week?

I just meant that while Duran and even Verdugo have struggled lately, Dalbec has really improved, and thus, so has his trade value. A lot can happen in the final 20 games, but if Dalbec stays hot, fans and media will grow more attached to his potential. Two months ago, we couldn't have gotten Mazza, Kickham, Hart or Hall for him. Dalbec is still the most logical trade candidate, as he remains blocked in the near future at 1st, 3rd and DH... unless there's a major blockbuster (I just figured out the literal meaning of the term). And now, he's better than Chavis...

That line-up would probably mean Bloom sold high on Dalbec, which would be both unpopular with fans, and probably the best way to bring back an actually good young arm. It's also makes the most sense -- dealing from strength, with Casas knocking on the door.

It would be great... but teams would insist rosters expand so they could carry 20-man bullpens... then it wouldn't be.

Like I said, some fans really want to believe him... ... but we can't help it, since we're used to straight shooters like his predecessor, who once told us, "They're just prospects" -- before trading most of them.

This may be jinxing the Sox, but who would fans rather face in one game: New York or Toronto? I'd love to see a one-and-done vs. the Yanks, who sport many of the same flaws as Boston. I actually favor the Red Sox in Fenway or the Stadium (but only if Cora starts Eovaldi in the Bronx). I also think the Blue Jays will crush anyone if they get to the Wild Card game. I'm not assuming any of them get in; maybe it will be an A-M match-up...in the PM.