5GoldGlovesOF,75

According to Cora, one path to improvement for the Sox is "to catch up with the speed of the game". He mentioned areas like defense and baserunning, and an overall lack of depth on the roster in '19 and '20. Checking one aspect of speed -- stolen bases -- reveals a stark contrast in offensive strategy from '18 to '19. The champs were third in the MLB with 125 steals, and then only 17th the next year with 68 (they were 11th in the short season). What may be most telling is that every key baserunner had his number of swipes basically cut in half; here are '18/'19 SB totals: Betts 30/16, Beni 21/10, JBJ 17/8, Bogie 8/4. It almost seems "restgate" extended beyond the pitching staff. But stealing bases was certainly contagious in '18, as guys like Nunez, Holt, and Kinsler nabbed 7 each, while Swihart and even JD stole 6 apiece. Whereas nine Red Sox stole 6 or more in '18, only four players had as many as 6 in '19. In '20 the SB leader was Bogie with 8, then JBJ 5, followed by Verdugo and Vazquez 4 each. We won't replace Mookie, and it's not just about getting younger (can't steal first). But hopefully a hustling mindset can be reinstilled, if not reinstalled.

Nooooo! Not Ara-oooz! He'll be Correa's back-up when Carlos' back acts up...

I'd do it. I have to say I'm skeptical about a "top prospect" who hasn't played past Double A and has already been in three MLB organizations. He's obviously touchable. Seriously, the only guys in the Sox' Top Ten list (per Globe) I wouldn't trade yet are Casas, who from reports might be a hitter and not just an all-or-nothing slugger, Mata, because, well, we need one future/almost-now starter, and Yorke, who should get three or four pro years of development so we can find out if Bloom and Co. really discovered that rare gem in a rockpile.

I like Ozuna, but he'll just make a suspect defense worse -- because he or JD will have to play outfield on a regular basis. A guilty pleasure won't help a beleaguered pitching staff that can never afford to give away extra outs. A big name SP trade means we will give away a big name regular; who? Bloom couldn't possibly move top prospects, could he? As far as Correa -- if anyone can maximize his potential in a change of scenery, starting at his primetime age of 27, isn't it Alex Cora? And I say this assuming Bogie will still be here (unless he's the guy key in the big pitcher trade). Remember, on Cora's club in the World Baseball Classic, Correa played third in deference to Lindor at short.

Ok, but since we both agree Boston needs to make a splash -- and there are very few big names available this year besides Bauer, which most doubt will happen here -- then how would you rank '22's Big Five free agent shortstops as future Red Sox? I have 1. Correa and 2. Lindor, because of Cora, and then 3. Story, 4. Baez, 5. Seager.

Back to Jimenez: has anyone actually seen him play in person? Speier lists him at 220 pounds, while Tomase lists him at 160 pounds. Both say he has elite speed. So is he Pablo or Pedey? At age 20, a kid is usually still growing... In Kirby Puckett's rookie year he hit zero home runs in 538 at bats at age 24. Two years later he hit 31 bombs. He played, however, in that era... though he was more of a hitter than slugger, averaging 19 HRs but 209 hits in 12 seasons.

From sheer memory -- and the eye-test -- Alex Gonzalez was the best, but then I'd choose Orlando Cabrera. No OC, not even ahead of Mike Aviles? I guess not by stats, but he was money throughout the '04 postseason. Drew was maybe the steadiest, but OC always seemed like he made the big play when it mattered most.

Both Moon and Notin make good points about catchers. It's not fair for me to be disappointed in Vazquez because he didn't turn out to be IRod, whose arm he had coming up, or as good as the Molinas, who he worked out with in the winters. But for another perspective, we shouldn't forget how certain pitchers preferred Sandy Leon in the title year when it was their turn to start.

This is true but depressing. No Fisk/Lynn/Burleson in sight. Which of this century's title teams had the best D up the middle? '04: Varitek/Cabrera/Bellhorn/Damon? '07: Varitek/Lugo/Pedroia/Ellsbury? '13: Ross/Drew/Pedroia/Ellsbury? '18: Vazquez/Bogaerts/Kinsler/Bradley? The Best Team Ever had the most Gold Glovers, with JBJ, Kinsler and Mookie, with Beni a finalist in left, and Moreland a past winner at first. But I may give the edge to the Bearded Bros, after Ross took over in the postseason; Pedey and Stephen Drew were that good in October.

Don't forget in 2022 that Noah Song will be a force -- his arm will have two years rest!

In contrast, Bogaerts' bWAR the past half decade is 17.4; still good, but the stark difference is in the D -- 2016-2020 dWAR: Lindor 8.3, Story 7.5, Bogaerts negative 1.6

Agreed. If you think the guy wants to leave, like Mookie (his opt-out was impending free agency), then you're compelled to move him. If the guy wants to stay, like X (so far), then you have to "adjust" his contract; as long as he's still producing -- and part of the plan going forward -- the cost-of-living increase is worth it. But it also has to be looked at from a marketing standpoint. A winning team is the best fan attraction, but as some posters echo, stars are a draw no matter what. This Face-of-the-Franchise value can't be found in WAR, but it's definitely part of what the Dodgers saw in Betts, and which the Red Sox seemed to overlook (at least, some analysts consumed by only quantitative and not also qualitative data). The latter is also a factor that has to be considered when deciding whether to extend Bogie... or to ask him to switch positions for a charismatic Mr. Smiles-type acquisition... and why Lindor may be worth a bigger and better investment than Trevor Story, even though both are comparable players (24.4 vs 20.7 bWAR the past five years) on the verge of their primes. Lindor turns 27 tomorrow, Story turns 28 on Sunday.

The doubleplay -- getting two outs on one pitch -- is just as vital as ever. But maybe the third base "men" are just as much or more important than second sackers these days, at least when playing shortstop in shifts. Such scenarios -- manning the entire left side -- might make a superior defender like Bregman that much more valuable than a guy like Devers.

Especially since second basemen play in right field half the time nowadays... and stand in shallow center behind the bag the other half.

Jimenez also has "elite speed", so he has the two tools that can't be taught. The fact that he won the NY-Penn batting title bodes well. It's also encouraging to read about Lugo's defense, since his bat is supposedly what got him drafted (besides being Beltran's nephew).

I think this is a question they won't ask until after next season. Cora and Rafie (and the Sox) are certainly expecting improvement and progress at the hot corner now that there's a reunion between mentor and pupil. I also think the same question may be asked about X, at the end of his current contract (if he's still here). As for first, the best player right now is Santana, but he'd also be the most expensive. I just want him to join so we can sing, "Everything's Coming Our Way."

That was like 30 years ago; the last time we heard John Henry speak in public, he was waxing nostalgic for his boyhood idol, Stan the Man -- who the Cardinals' never traded (partly, because they owned him because of the Reserve Clause). Since then, the owner has been in his bunker, still refusing to concede that Mookie Betts won the World Series.

Ask the Bronx Bombers if they're ready to admit defense matters at key positions like shortstop and catcher.

Bloom says he looks forward to Cora's input on possible new additions to the Red Sox. The Astros' free agents are intriguing, because they feature talent and familiarity. So who winds up back with Cora this year -- Springer, Reddick, Brad Peacock or Collin McHugh -- or next year -- Correa, McCullers, Chris Devenski, Joe Smith, or old man Verlander (I didn't include guys like Brantley or Greinke, who joined Houston after AC left)? Boston may avoid any taint of the Houston connection this season, since Cora will have enough to deal with just about himself. But if the Sox show improvement, expect more reinforcements for 2022, especially primetimers in their 20s who can be part of "sustained contenders". Prediction: Correa and McCullers are '22 Red Sox. Edit: I forgot Jake Marisnick; if JBJ is gone, Marisnick -- a Met in '20 -- is a likely replacement.

Bauer, the Cy Central winner who also pitched great in the playoffs (unlike Bieber), rejected his QO and would cost a draft pick. Bloom now says he'd still pursue such a player, if he fits into longterm plans. Bauer is 30 and smack dab in his prime, an ace to build around. No one younger or better is available. Would anyone object to watching Bauer lead the rebuild for the next four years... instead of watching him in pinstripes with Cole?

That would mean the Sox make the postseason (though realistically, I'd be happy with one good solid final month of starts that signal a full recovery).

Beni is my candidate for Comeback of the Year (if healthy).

I'm glad this forum didn't explode when Cora listed his core players yesterday (in order): "Rafie, Xander, Beni..."

This is a baseball forum, guys. It's not like catchers had to be convinced of the safety of wearing masks the past century. Hockey goalies were stubborn awhile back, but even they came around (a strict diet of mush and porridge was the alternative).

My impression is that cow has a lot of holes in his swing.