5GoldGlovesOF,75

Betts' range and Fenway's relatively small centerfield territory have both been mentioned in the industry for reasons why JBJ's metrics don't rate him higher among peers. Also, since this is the realistic thread: if EHern was as good as Jackie in center, he would've been a regular centerfielder in the majors somewhere -- if not LA, then for another club willing to trade value for him. Kike has been in the bigs since age 22, and to say he's developed into a better centerfielder now at age 28 contradicts (to me) that a Gold Glover like JBJ has developed into a worse centerfielder at 30... worse, that is, than a guy who's never played there fulltime.

I felt fat-i-goo from sitting around for a year avoiding Covid.

Right, but it just feels like this may be a point in this ownership/Chief Officer's history that they can't afford to miss with such a high pick. That is, until they show that they can afford to pay for transcendent talent again.

And you're right, it was the perfect time to tank. The only problem is not being able to watch and evaluate potential draft picks the past year. Because of that, some gems may just elude the first few rounds.

What new revelations am I missing here? The only new thing we learned this winter is that even Cora said he stopped watching, too, last summer.

And if it was a 162-game season, the '20 Red Sox may have lost 100 games. Or Houck and Pivetta may have led them to the playoffs. But they didn't, and they didn't. All we know for sure is that Boston was the worst team in the division. I'm not down on any of the offseason acquisitions. There are many players that went to other teams that I would have preferred, but by now we all understand why the Sox didn't sign them. That feeling among us may change if Cora has them close to contending and Bloom doesn't add reinforcements, or if they have another losing year and don't open the wallets next winter.

While people who post about baseball all year long may not be average fans, we may represent overall reactions. We are a spoiled lot, used to contending and winning titles this century, and often fortifying our chances with high-profile talent. The acquisitions this offseason have ranged from part-time yet versatile depth and stockpiled prospects to never-has-beens. Some of them will help and some will be beyond help. Remember, this is a last place team until they're not anymore. When this administration starts adding established bonafides or even legitimates on the way up (instead of on the way back), the reactions will be more commensurate with the encouraging improvements.

First we should sign Jake "Blues" Odorizzi (brother of Elwood) -- he's not ancient, but his namesake once had a bit part as John "Bluto" Blutarsky in an entire movie about Ancient Greeks...

While I'm not advocating a multi-year for JBJ -- and would be beyond shocked (more irked, since Bloom avoided multi-years for a lot of "better" all-arounders at many positions this winter) -- he remains an elite defender. I'm sure there are stats that show Bradley isn't as good as many other centerfielders -- he also had a 1.000 fielding % and finished in the 99th percentile in outs above average in '20 -- but none of those matter much to me. When a longball off the bat is launched and Jackie starts jogging, you know he's got it. JBJ is the best the Sox have had out there in half a century -- according to Fred Lynn -- and whether he's lost a step or a few mph off his cannon, he's still only 30. An artisan doesn't forget how to do his forte in his prime. His skills can still help a good team become a great team, and just like with Mookie, we will be watching replays (at least) of future highlights for years to come... because defense wins championships.

We already have a cancelled player and ST's just begun... Teams aren't going to risk pushing full returns on guys like ERod in the beginning, or probably throughout the entire first half. Pitching depth will be more of a factor than ever, most likely with younger arms bouncing back faster than older vets who opted out in '20; for example, Kopech should be better than Price or King Felix. As always, the best teams may just be those lucky or crafty enough to receive break-out seasons by pleasant surprises on the mound -- like a Sixto Sanchez starting or a Devin Williams relieving. Do the Sox have any of those candidates this year?

This explains the trade with Tampa; someone's gotta catch all those pitchers reporting tomorrow.

Never mix church and altered state.

When fans return to Fenway, Sogard is going to think they're chanting his name every game in the seventh inning stretch song.

The Rays did get Mejia in the Snell trade, though his stock has dipped since the Pads got him in the Hand trade. Mejia is regarded as more of a hitter than catcher, but when I saw him at Citi Field in '19 he was hacking at everything.

But is Boston as a second Wild Card more of a sure thing than comparable teams in the NL Central -- where someone has to win the division and automatically make it?

Is this realistic? Fangraphs odds to "make the playoffs"... https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds: Red Sox are 47%... that's almost a coin-flip... but not even that is as unrealistic as some of the teams they're far ahead of: Washington at 24.6% (with three top starters and Soto), A's at 21.8% Tampa at only 18.6%, Cleveland at 17.4% and every club in the NL Central. Have at it.

Nobody here or elsewhere is picking the Red Sox to win the '21 World Series, but since this is the realistic thread: are the Sox, set to open with half a lineup of platoon players, THAT much worse on screen than the favored Yankees? To help answer, here are quick match-ups of the two rivals... 1B and 2nd go to Voit and DJ, no questions asked. But X is a better shortstop than Gleybar, and though Urshela is solid at the hot corner, would any GM turn down a straight trade for Devers? Nope. Frazier and Judge rule over any Red Sox corner outfielders, but in center, Verdugo at 24 > Hicks at 30. Behind the plate, NY has a guy they don't even want behind the plate, so Vazquez wins easily over Sanchez. DH is a pick-em, but here are three-year OPS in the Bronx and Beantown: Stanton .860, JD .938. Both starting rotations are full of questions marks, but the Yanks have Cole. New York also has an edge with their greatest bullpen of all-time (the one that keeps keeping them out of the World Series every postseason). While some Yankee fans may strongly disagree with the above ratings, realistic fans know that every position but second base could go either way this year. The Yankees are certainly better, but they just better hope Cole stays healthy. The doormats aren't realistically that far away from the AL's heavy favorites.

And to me. Some posters insist Bloom is waiting to spend big next winter, but my question has always been: who are the targets? I just don't see any pitchers due to hit free agency in a year that have the combined skills, age, and cost of Odorizzi. It can't just be blamed on Bloom's budget, either, since he has added a lot of new faces. Maybe it's just too late, after Odorizzi waited for Bauer to up his own market. But Chaim knows Jake personally, and for some reason, doesn't think he's worth what he's asking.

I would revise: "for 2021 and beyond". For just '21 -- with an entire pitching staff full of question marks (except for Perez, who's not an answer) -- JBJ in center is arguably the most important glove we could have. That is, in terms of support, stability, and perhaps the difference between a winning record and a losing record. But giving him three-years is illogical for a team that already announced it's not all-in.

At least to live forever. ... or would that be: hope springs immortal?

This will be a better year, as long as the bullpen hinges don't open to start any games.

Thanks. Here's what I found for individual careers... New guys: Cordero 34.9%, Renfroe 28.0%, Hernandez 20.8%, Gonzalez 20.2%. Old guys: Dalbec 42.4%, Chavis 32.8%, JD 24.2%, Devers 21.7%, Vazquez 18.8%, Bogie 18.2%, Verdugo 15.8%. Gone guys: JBJ 25.2%, Beni 19.0%, Betts 13.0%. Perspective guys: Wily Mo Pena 30.3% Manny 18.6% Ortiz 17.3% Rice 15.7% Yaz 10.0% Pedroia 9.7% Williams 7.2% Boggs 6.9%

Back to the K rate: just wondering if you have stats for the average MLBer -- '20, maybe include '19 since it was an actual season? Reason I'm wondering is the reason I'm skeptical of the new Sox semi-regulars touted for the batting order. And also why a guy like LaStella (I think it was you who cited his above-avg contact) would have literally helped more to change the swing-and-miss culture contagious in Boston.

Grumplestiltskin, I acknowledge this timeline and agree with your side of the story.

By the fall of '19, it seemed more like they were really hoping JD would opt out. Writers seemed to be making either/or claims about JD and Mookie, and then we had Kennedy's quote: "There is a way to keep them both." Of course, he never told us or showed us that way, or if it had a sound-effect like "Cha-ching!"