5GoldGlovesOF,75

Before anyone starts screaming in uppercase exclamatory sentences, it is early, even for the Grapefruit League. However... we haven't even seen Bogie on the field yet, but what we have seen on D is inconsistency. It may take longer for all these versatile, multi-positional players to hone their skills in so many areas, at the same time trying to accustom themselves with so many new teammates' proclivities. Meanwhile at the plate, despite the early bashing stats, there have been lots of swings and misses from guys we're counting on heavily to be good, like JD and Rafie, still flailing away at pitches nowhere near the strike zone. Maybe just some pitchers are ahead of just some hitters so far. Question for anyone who has watched the Braves vs. the Sox so far on TV: does Atlanta look like an 82-win Pecota team, just two projected Ws better than Boston?

Richards struggled again, but Winchowski looked decent. He has pitched with more confidence since he changed his name from Babipchowski.

I'm on record on many posts on this forum about how overblown the whole "scandal" of sign-stealing was/is/will ever be. I really could care less about something that's been part of the game since its inception and will always be (no matter how many "puritan" journalists and PR departments try to pretend it's not). You being a former ballplayer know exactly what I'm talking about. You being a fan of a team that employed Carlos Beltran as its special coach to "pay careful attention to details" also know exactly what I'm talking about. We're both part of the same hypocrisy.

At least nobody on the Yankees will try to steal signs ever again. The MLB would make a rule outlawing signs altogether, since players, coaches and managers don't need to give them anymore... but Manfred's too busy hiding the report on the Yankees that he won't release to the public.

Don't dismiss Santana's "Evil Ways"!

Hopefully, they'll get to work out with Pedro.

Steals and speed in general were more valued in that era, especially through the mid-80s, because of Astroturf stadiums -- most of which were in the National League. The Royals had turf, and were the closest thing to an NL team in the AL. From '76-85, our slugging Sox had a winning record against Kansas City once in 10 years.

The Sox really need Sale back to being Sale, which isn't guaranteed... and which is why they also need another frontline starting pitcher, at least -- called up/developed, signed, and/or traded for -- before we can make a serious run at more bling.

I'm with you on most of this post, except every one of those 2018 rounds had some serious drama. That club will always be remembered for the totality of the season, but a few plays in NY or Houston, or manager moves in LA, could've changed everything.

Or he just wanted to sign in a place with palm trees all along...

I can't pro-rate or compare dollars, but in context, Fisk, Lynn and Burleson were allowed to go because the Red Sox refused to meet their new free agent market values. Fisk's free agency was supposedly a timing error, but we all knew Boston didn't want to triple his salary. Lynn's either; they traded him during his arbitration hearing. It may also be fair going forward to see how much the Red Sox wind up paying Verdugo, Downs and Wong, and how much WAR the trio earns, compared to Betts and Price in LA.

We know some Sox fans will talk about Mookie forever, but I'd double his loss as nothing like it "in a Sox narrative over the last 40 years" (since the Fisk-Lynn-Burleson debacle). The Red Sox always keep their stars in their primes. Trading a guy just entering his prime and a year after he was the best player in the game was nothing like dealing Nomar or losing Pedro, who were no longer even the best player or pitcher on the team (Manny Shermaned his way out of town, enhanced LA for few months, then got caught about 17 times). Boggs and Clemens (pre-PEDs) best days were behind them. This may even be sacrilege, but it is arguable based on WAR value: at the time of transaction, trading Betts was worse than selling Ruth. The Babe's six years in Boston were worth 19.1 WAR. Mookie's six-year WAR in Boston was 41.6. Remember, the Babe was still doing the Ohtani-thing his last year in Boston. Unlike Betts, who led the majors in WAR in '18, Ruth didn't lead the AL or MLB in WAR in 1919, finishing second to Walter Johnson. Of course, Babe was only 24, but had unhealthy lifestyles (gone at age 53). Mookie might have a ways to go, though, before he beats George Herman's career WAR of 182.5...

Thanks for the research. Love me some Rooster. He's still one of my favorite shortstops, right up there with X and '04 Cabrera. My query is exclusive to '78: if Lynn and his .380 OBP batted leadoff all year instead of Burleson and his .295 OBP -- in front of the the majors' top slugger, Jim Ed Rice -- would/could that have resulted in one more stinking victory on the entire season... thus, eliminating the initials BFD from the history of Boston fandom forevermore???

We could also develop it, and a blend of both is what most posters are advocating for longterm contention. I also think almost all would like to retain homegrown talent. Regarding spending -- and those who are confident that Henry and Bloom will soon or eventually invest in new stars -- unless someone knows these two gents personally, it's all speculation until it happens again. So those who are sure have to also appreciate those who are dubious.

Good point. It's also worth noting they couldn't win the pennant again until '67, when they had Scott at first, Foy at third, Smith in center, Howard at catcher, Santiago in the rotation, and Wyatt in the bullpen.

No, I'm saying before I joined this forum, I never knew that Burleson batting leadoff was quite possibly the reason Boston finished second in 1978. Is there any doubt that Lynn's .380 OBP may have translated into more runs than Burleson's .295 OBP batting in front of three Hall of Famers? I can't help but think some of those additional runs could have resulted in one more victory in the 162-game slate... and thus, a division title, and maybe the pennant and World Series the other great team that year won instead of the Red Sox.

Of course, Red Sox lore (and Bill Lee) tells us Zimmer blew '78 with his mishandling of the pitching staff and overplaying of injured regulars. For some reason, I'll bet posters here might point at the middle of the order -- Rice, Yaz, Fisk and Lynn -- and point them to the top of the order to get more at bats. Dammit. Here are the OBP: 1. Burleson .295; 2. Remy .321; 3. Rice .370; 4. Captain Carl .367; 5. Fisk .366; 6. Lynn .380. (somebody do me a favor and bold face Rooster and Remdog).

On field Crawford led the Sox in 0-2 counts and missing catches of soft liners to eliminate them from the postseason.

For perspective: Jackie Bradley, Gold Glover, ALCS MVP, World Champion -- signs for $24 million; it was over ten years ago the Red Sox signed Carl Crawford... for $142 million.

Thanks for clearing that up (I had read there was one scout involved, too). So if it was the owner and GM who were racists -- and they already changed the name of one street -- shouldn't they un-retire Number 4?

Would love to see Duran hit about .800 with 10 bombs in Florida: Cora and Red Sox Nation salivating with hope, writers campaigning for Verdugo to stay in right where he belongs... and then see if Bloom tries to sell sending him to Worcester "just for a month, to work on getting better routes in center" (or something like that).

We may recall that Epstein and Co. thrived in the farm industry -- but a huge part of that was back when not just ownership, but the MLB, allowed limitless spending, especially world-wide...

I wanted to say the outfield that had both Ted Williams and Willie Mays, except the racist scout the Red Sox asked to check out the teenage Mays refused to go... so the Giants signed him, instead.

Nope, but I did say "no Red Sox fan alive" has seen any better than the Bs...

I wasn't alive then so I can't remember them... but I heard they could go get 'em, when the ball was a rolled-up, pair of socks, soaked in tabacky juice (yuk-yuck). I know, I know: context. Ask Ottavino about whiffing The Whammer.