5GoldGlovesOF,75

Good point about the D. We'll live and die with the left side; Rafie and Bogie may even be starting All-Stars (as long as fans keep voting based on offense). The only obvious spot we can upgrade is centerfield, where the Sox can really use a late-inning lockdown specialist who isn't an adventure -- especially in the post-sticky stretch run. As much as Kike rates as a good outfielder, my eyes show me he's below average going back on deep drives. The inexperienced Duran doesn't sound the answer there, either. This isn't JBJ bias, either, because last winter Bloom passed on many cheaper regular centerfielders with range and cruising speed where doubles go to die. Can Bloom can admit his mistake and pony up a low-level arm for one?

A year when things are going mostly right is rare, so I'm ok with trading a few prospects for a rental. Acquiring an established big leaguer that veteran players respect can boost team morale. It shows that management is trying to augment the roster, more so I think than calling up unproven young guys vying to take someone else's job. As a fan -- if the team is a contender -- I always expect the GM to make a few moves to go for it, to assure me that it will be worth investing my time and money through the rest of the season. I'm never thinking about two or three years from now. For an example, I loved the 1988 Mike Boddicker trade because it won two division titles for the Sox. I hated to see Brady Anderson go, but Schilling was just a minor leaguer at the time -- and a pitcher who would take five years in the majors to reach stardom.

I've never thought of X as a Gold Glover at short, but regarding the Sox crappy D... any player at any level is better when he's not standing back on his heels trying to stay awake while his pitcher goes to a full count on almost every batter for an entire month straight.

"Oye como va" -- originally written by Tito Puente, no relation to Tito Fuentes (the second baseman who led both the NL and AL in range factor/game in 1975 and 1977, respectively). The song title is a shortened form of an entire phrase meaning "listen to how my rhythm goes"... though I've had first-language friends translate the more literal: "How's it going..." We should know the answer by his third at bat.

Any team would love to promote a stud pitcher if he was dominating the minors, especially contenders that welcome the boost of another quality starter. Boston's current club as constructed -- without the sticky -- has barely one: Eovaldi. He's also the only starter who can throw as hard as Leiter, so nobody would be blocking his path to the majors in the near future. A cellar-dweller has no incentive to bring up a future ace, except to ease him into the bigs... as long as he wasn't so good he'd sabotage their tanking.

You did have Davis in the top 5 early. The catcher I liked, Adrian Del Castillo, has dropped in one poll to 40th... but I still like his bat, and see him as a possible second rounder for Bloom. There are four catchers projected in the top 40, three with a 55 hit grade (per scouts): Davis, Del Castillo and Joe Mack. The latter and Harry Ford are high schoolers. None are locks to remain behind the plate... As others have noted, drafting an amateur catcher is almost as risky as taking a pitcher. In 1965, seven catchers were drafted before the #36 pick: Johnny Bench.

I attended a Double A game a few years ago and watched Duran in CF and Wilson in RF. Based on just the way they carried themselves -- approach to hitting, fielding and running -- my impression (which meant about as much as the kid in the seat next to me) was that Duran was a future big leaguer, Wilson a future Triple A guy.

Just heard college analyst Kyle Peterson on MLB radio discussing the Vandy aces. He says right now, Leiter has the better fastball, and knows how to use it, but Rocker has the better secondary -- slider and cutter. Leiter's curve isn't wipeout yet, but it's assumed he'll develop a cutter (considering the lineage). Peterson said he'd be thrilled to get either pitcher.

That's why I don't see Bloom giving up a top pitching prospect for a guy like Mancini. The Rays dealt a #1 pick for Arozarena, probably as much for the years as the potential.

Maybe not now when he's hurt, but one of his coaches last winter was raving he had the best stuff in the organization. Usually, it's the fans who overrate prospects (mainly because they want that hoard of rookie cards they're sitting on to bankroll their kid's college fund... or at least pay for turtle food).

... which, on this Red Sox defense, is worth more than a lot of bats. The D, as currently constructed, will be more of a detriment to postseason chances than a lack of sticky stuff.

I just don't see a guy like Bloom trading his top pitching prospect unless it's for a young future star like Arozarena. Or -- unless he's planning on drafting a new No. 1 pitching prospect...

Fans have nothing to do with Cordero's pro status. Several franchises have tried to tap his potential but it has yet to translate at the big league level. Cordero is still highly regarded among his peers for his talents... and feared; in the Woo bench-clearer last week, everyone avoided Franchy. Instead, he was the peace-keeper, calming intervening between hotheads, who cooled immediately upon his presence.

I don't mind the Sox trying any of these guys, but Duran needs to play every day, no matter what level he's at. I watched that Woo game that Duran won on a walk-off HR. The Pigs walked Cordero intentionally to get to Duran. Yes, it set up the DP with the automatic runner on second, but they didn't want to face Cordero -- Duran isn't a groundball hitter, but he had Ked three times... Still, gotta like him driving the ball oppo to win it. History has seen young prospects get called up to the bigs and improve with hot starts, while others fall cold. There's more pressure and tougher competition, but many factors also favor performance: better travel conditions, meal money, training facilities, playing field/lights resulting in better rest, nutrition, conditioning and conditions. Seeing more strikes to hit with (hopefully) better umps can also help... or hurt. Duran has 12 homers in 30 games. At that pace, if they leave him in Triple A the whole season he'll hit 50 HRs. At what point will he be deemed ready for Boston? He's 24, seven years older than Bob Feller was when he was striking out major leaguers.

I really have to wonder what their plan is with Devers. He's clearly a monster offensive talent -- 24 and there's so much more -- the kind of bat any team's core would covet. Locking him up longterm -- before he gets too expensive -- would just seem good business for the franchise and fanbase. Maybe they just don't trust him to improve on defense, or are worried about complacency from a fat contract. Though fans and media suggest a future at first base, I don't think it's ever been an option discussed in public from management. Have to assume the Sox view Casas as the first baseman of the future, and maybe Rafie at DH... or a bigger trade chip than when the Rays dealt their star third baseman, Longoria.

So no Red Sox pitchers have ever thrown a curveball their entire lives without using stick-em? In our town, Little League bans curves for ages 10-12 (caution for young elbows), but in national All-Star competition this summer, curves are allowed. After one week of practice, a few kids are already spinning some down in the zone. None of them use Gorilla Glue.

Betts is gone, but the aspect to consider here going forward with the current admin is what happens when a guy like Verdugo, if he continues to progress into stardom, gets closer to free agency. As a fan, I'm not going to say I'm worried yet, but I will continue to be skeptical until Bloom signs or extends any Red Sox player longterm.

I was with you on offering the big money up front for ages 28-32. Of course, we all know these guys will always want the dough for more years. Regarding JBJ, I haven't read this anywhere, but I think part of his issue is adjusting to a new league, new pitchers, new ballparks -- all factors that can make a mediocre to bad hitter have a brutal first season. He is actually the kind of guy the Sox can use going forward; not to start, but to add quality defense. Bradley would've been more valuable than Cordero this year, anyway.

I tend to agree, and that's why I continue to be frustrated at the franchise. I have no issue reminding anyone to ignore the numbers -- and I know that it's nigh impossible for humans who make non-immortal wages -- but it's so much easier to decide one thing: is the performer worth top-of-the-market salary? Yes or no? Fans in LA who already have one season they'll never forget may always say yes. Club owners and GMs can't ignore all the other factors: budget, window, eggs in one basket, etc... but fans can (until they won't let us).

Here are regular season games played from baseball-reference's Stathead... I used 5 foot, 10 inches as the dividing line. All-Time (since 1871): =71 inches, all-time: 14,748 players = 2,000 games: 55 players; >=71 inches, >= 2,000 games: 191 players = 1,000 games: 451 players; >=71 inches, >= 1,000 games: 1,171 players Divisional Era (1969-2021): =71 inches, total: 8,582 players = 2,000 games: 13 players; >=71 inches, >= 2,000 games: 128 players = 1,000 games: 133 players; >=71 inches, >= 1,000 games: 749 players When analyzing longevity, great players don't always have the longest careers, but guys that stuck around the longest (and kept on rosters by clubs) were almost always all-time greats. On the "short" list, most of the Top 20 are Hall of Famers. For the taller men, the Top 30 or so were Cooperstown caliber. Most of the former played around a century ago through WWII, while the majority of the latter played in the past 50 years.

But... but... whadabout Juan Chacon??? Ok, only 18 years old, but already 6'2", 170 lbs, and "a potential 5-tool player". I know, a lot fans' beer guts weight 170... but we have potential to stomach even more! https://www.prospects1500.com/al-east/red-sox/boston-red-sox-2021-top-50-prospects/

Nope, he was singled out because he was the exception, stepping out, tugging on sleeves and other things. Now they all do it. I'm not opposed to new rules that help the game. One announcer the other day commented on a young pitcher working quickly, noting he had to be a product of the minors' pitch clock. I'm all for the pitch clock (as long as batters are also required to stay in the damn box)... I went to a Double A night game two years ago that finished when it was still light out. The postgame fireworks plan was delayed for 15 minutes until it got dark.

This dinosaur fondly recalls the days when 20-game winners threw 300 innings per year throwing clean spheres only scuffed from mud or belt buckles. Guys that threw spitters like Gaylord were novelties. It was a major crime back then to hide an emory board in your pocket. Before velcro was invented, batters used handfuls of dirt to get a better grip on bat handles... some of them even made it to Cooperstown. None of them left the batter's box after every single pitch and paced around the diamond to readjust their minds, either. Never forget the words of Pedro Martinez: "I dictate how I want my balls to be rubbed up."

We can only pray to the Church of Baseball that these major league pitchers will be able to make adjustments so they can PLAY A GAME. Remember in Saving Private Ryan when the corporal tries to bring his typewriter on the mission? Tom Hanks held up a pencil.

Don't you mean bare-handedly? Didn't you read Richards' comments -- we're going to see slugfests and hit by pitches the rest of the season! He didn't throw a single curveball all night; welp, there goes the analytics dept.'s reason for signing Richards; "the spin-rate, the spin-rate!" is his-tor-y. I know and play with some pitchers who are twice as old as MLBers and have never used substances of any kind (except those they ingested). The poor pros... Btw: if it's a guy's job to throw strikes, and he can't get control his throws without rule-breaking -- thus becoming a danger to co-workers -- then he needs a new profession.