5GoldGlovesOF,75

Boston Globe columnist who two winters ago wrote a column about us overrating Mookie just wrote another asking why we would ever care about the savings our team made by not paying market value for a guy like Betts.

PEDs; there's no testing in Hollywood.

Ah, nostalgia... the good 'ole days. Like when the Yankees were the favorites every single year, and actually finished first and won the World Series. Of course, back then they always had a catcher who could catch and a shortstop who could field.

The thing is, that '19 club had 84 wins -- close to the average predictions of this '21 version. We should just remember that as much as the '19 Sox were a letdown -- mainly because of their record-breaking previous year -- they still had four regulars over .900 OPS, plus a 19-game winner in the rotation.

Ya, I was just mentioning them in contrast -- we didn't sign hitting stars, but then we also passed on non-starters who at least have one established tool: consistent MLB defense. Fans of bad teams can deal with batters striking out, because hitting is hard, but nobody has tolerance for poor D. I'm not saying Bloom should've dumped Devers and Bogie for prospects, but since it is a rebuild, how closer to expediting stability would this team be with say, Arenado and Jose Iglesias -- two guys who changed teams this winter -- instead? I know those contracts weren't feasible... but how about Yolmer Sanchez, a speedy Gold Glove second baseman who was cut free last week?

Good D can be just as exciting as the longball. What highlights are more fun to watch: web-gems or pop-ups that carry over the fence?

Offense can go into slumps and hot streaks, but defense is more revealing. The sport may seem to revolve around pitching and hitting, but consistent defense secures titles... and erratic D definitely loses rings. Big league regulars need to make routine plays consistently. For a bad team trying to approach contention, shoring up the defense should be the first step -- and maybe the least expensive -- towards some semblance of reliability (especially to help questionable pitching, which can never afford to give away at bats or waste extra pitches). For many reasons, the Sox chose to walk away from their best defensive outfield in half a century -- the one that won three straight AL Easts. They chose not to replace them with All-Star free agents, and not just Springer, but legit hitters like Brantley and Rosario. Ok... but they also passed on many low-cost Gold Glove-caliber centerfielders. Instead, the Sox opted for versatility -- guys who play a lot of positions, but few good enough to be full-timers at any one spot.

Dalbec scoop saves another Devers E. That's three "mental" miscues for Rafie today; I don't think those stats go against his WAR... but does he at least get a negative fistfight? heated argument? bad thought?

to the Oath power... Renfroe bobbled the hit; it's only cold for Sox fielders.

O's have a good second baseman. Sox have no second baseman, but a lot of guys who can play there.

At least there are no Red Sox fans who think they're going to win rings this year with a crappy D...

The new guy who should've just walked in a run except for Joe's wide call just refused to throw what his catcher called... the catcher, on the other end of his bad pitches all inning.

I didn't want to say it, but Matt may be rusty from false quarantine.

... not batter! Alright, bring in the lefty?

Maybe Nate's last inning...

That time, Devers should've grabbed it. Ugh, any break in a scoreless game is big.

Means' fastball is his change-up. It's like calling a majority a minority.

"Nifty."

Joe's not calling them low today. It's ok, as long as he doesn't change when new guys take the mound.

Not riding the pine in Milwaukee...

Rafie just stole a 6-3 from X.

NESN graphic: Eovaldi has the fastest average four-seamer in the big leagues for the past decade? And he's got a cutter and a breaker that not even Eck or Remdog can identify as a curve or slider? Ace stuff.

First friggin inning of the season and replay delay on a pick-off throw? This is the crap Epstein needs to change -- disputed HRs or plays at the plate only, please. And ban Check the Check.

Love the two-strike hitting (not homering) approach. The Sox and the MLB need more of that.

Draft Kings is honoring Pete Rose today by letting anyone with a credit card bet on baseball.