5GoldGlovesOF,75

I'm one of those posters: freeing up Eovaldi money to reinvest in another pitcher with more-or-less potential and also taking on another bad contract doesn't interest me. The only reason I'd trade a guy with Eovaldi's stuff -- off an utterly, historically bad staff -- is if the Sox receive a legitimate rotation prospect in return. And the only way that might happen is if Nate has a great half-season -- missing zero starts -- and a contender is willing to bite. Let's see where he and we are at by the next trade deadline... Otherwise, leave Nate alone at the back of the rotation, where he'll be the least of our worries. The Rays hit big on Arozorena, but only because they were willing (and able) to trade a pitcher who was the 16th overall pick a few years ago. We'll be lucky if Bloom can flip a guy like Munoz for a hurler who was once a 116th overall pick.

August '18 is when I sat right behind home plate in Baltimore and watched Sale blow away the O's (his sidewinding delivery is the best of "tall guys", as it looks like he lets go of the ball already halfway to the batter). Sale was throwing a hundred mph, so all guys could do was guess if it was a fastball or slider. I think there were two balls put in play in five innings... and then he was never the same again.

I pose this theory whenever someone bemoans '19; Cora may not have had much of a choice.

Sometimes we have to look beyond the aggregate stats and focus on the "when", the moments that ignite -- like when SD no-hit LA through five, then Mookie ripped a double to kick-start a winning rally. Here's a long recap of Betts' '18 postseason: In the '18 ALCS -- easily the Sox' most intense series -- Betts led off four of the five games with three hits and a hit by pitch, and scored the first run of the game in three straight wins. Nothing sets the tone more for a team than scoring the first run in a playoff game, and Betts did that best. He also singled, stole second and scored the first run of the first game of the World Series; LA knew it was in for it. Being disruptive on the bases is another huge asset, like later when he walked, ran around the bases and scored on a ground-out. Then there's defense -- and not just the leap on the Altuve interference call, robbing Bregman the next day, and the best throw of the postseason to nail Kemp, but all the Gold Glove sprints that made tough flies and pops look routine. Finally, casual observers point to Betts' higher-than-usual strikeouts, not realizing that good teams and pitchers go into a playoff series with a plan not to let their opponents' best batters beat them. Sometimes that works, but it takes so much pinpoint precision to constantly contain Betts-Benny-JD-X, that tired elbows and shoulders often make less than perfect pitches to other guys -- and the results are MVPs named Bradley and Pearce. Winners always have unsung heroes stepping up, but there are usually team factors behind it. And this Red Sox team was the first in history to clinch three postseason series on the road vs. three Cy Youngs: Sabathia, Verlander and Kershaw. It may not be so easy to hit .346 against those guys, but I'd say Betts did "something"...

Saddles, Mongo... One guy left on Blazing Saddles, the other entered on a Blaze of Jordan.

Of course it is... like, how can anyone justify Eck as the 1992 MVP when he pitched 80 innings -- not even nine complete games -- and runner-up Kirby Puckett played in 160 games? These kinds of discrepancies are why I like WAR as a gauge, at least for valuing pitchers. Good starting pitchers almost always have a lot higher WAR than good relievers, because they are responsible for pitching to -- and retiring -- so many more batters. Total outs are important (even if it does seem like outs in the 9th inning are so much more important). The preceding paragraph is also a good defense (with a correlation in salary) for those who argue against converting Chris Sale to closer.

He's another lefty, anyway. For a low budget acquisition, I'd take Marisnick, to platoon/mentor Duran in centerfielding (as a converted infielder).

I think Bloom adds an outfielder or two, depending on the fates of JBJ and Beni, but I think it will be a righty stick, since the entire projected starting outfield, plus Jarren Duran when/if he makes it, are all lefty swingers. So that may rule out guys like Inciarte and Gordon, among others. There are not actually many free agent centerfielders that bat righthanded, just Pillar and Marisnick? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/2020-21-mlb-free-agents.html That is, of course, unless Cora comes back and somehow recruits Springer, Reddick or Marwin Gonzalez for a roster spot...

Papi is the most obvious difference maker, but I didn't want to get back into the "clutch" debate. Though he was instrumental in three world titles, I still think he was more of a difference in '04: 22 total hits in three postseason rounds in '04; 17 hits in each of three rounds in '07 and '13.

And Nick Yorke!

One guy can make the difference, but it's usually a pitcher; I'm thinking 2007 Josh Beckett, 4-0 in the postseason, or 1988 Hershiser: Cy Young Award, NLCS MVP, WS MVP. Once in awhile there's a '79 Willie Stargell: regular season MVP, NLCS MVP, WS MVP.

Or reopened: has anyone ever seen or heard the kinds of comments from teammates about Mike Trout that have been lavished on Mookie Betts this summer? In Trout's defense, I've heard a lot of "no rings" snarks for at least the past few years. And yet, Trout has never played on an MLB club with a Kershaw, Beuhler, or maybe not even a Dustin May.

One thing I finally do agree on is that Mookie isn't Mike Trout, either; Betts is more of a leader. Dodgers have been praising him since the first day of Spring Training and throughout the season for leading by words, leading by example, and spending time with teammates before and after games to help them improve (I honestly don't know if Trout is that kind of a guy, but I haven't seen or heard many quotes about him from Angels through the years...). In every way possible this season, Mookie has been the cornerstone ballplayer worthy of longterm investment as a legitimate face of the franchise. We should recall many of those similar qualities from Dustin Pedroia... except for the odd Machado contrast: Pedey apologizing for pitchers sticking up for him against a guy who ended his career, vs. Mookie yelling across the diamond at Manny to "go away" (and take his poor sportsmanship with him).

The '18 postseason was pretty much a platoon anyway, with Nunez starting 6 of the 14 games. He also made half of one of the most memorable plays in Red Sox history... though Devers made a great and underrated play in the World Series.

He was good the second half of '19, brutal the first two months. Rafael Devers has committed more errors the last three years than anyone else in the majors. The worst infield position on a team with bad pitching has to be an issue, has to be addressed, and has to improve going forward. We may never know it, but the Cora-Devers connection may be a key factor in either bringing back AC or making changes with Rafie; guys like Bogie, JD, and Verdugo can be really good big leaguers, but the bat speed, exit-velo and balance of Devers has Hall of Fame potential (the closest thing to Mookie Betts on the current Red Sox).

I look at Devers sticking at third the same way I bet Yankee fans (at least subconsciously) view their title chances going forward with Torres at shortstop and Sanchez behind the plate -- no matter how savage your mashers, you still have to play consistent, quality D to win rings. NY has promising young pitching, as well as the hopes that Severino and German return to form... their best move might just be to let Boston sign DJ, move Gleybar back to second, and spend, spend, spend on Realmuto and Lindor. Boston, on the other hand, may also pull a stunner in a couple years by dumping JD, moving Rafie to DH, and sliding Bogie over to third to make room for Correa or Story. Or instead I can even see them taking on Arenado's ginormous contract, as long as the Rox throw in one of their pre-30 starting pitchers...

Puello is a 4A player, and Wilson -- who I've seen play in person -- is not a prospect. There may be many MLB outfielders making the minimum who have at least one big league tool...

Or Devers... if he doesn't bring Cora back. Or put it this way: can Sox fans really envision Boston's next deep run in a postseason happening with Rafie's D at third?

The World Series doesn't even begin for another week and three teams are already rumored to be interested in Cora: Detroit, Chicago and Boston. Which one has the most to offer, in franchise history, connection with current players, dollars and sense? Maybe a better question: which team will get the most negative feedback -- from fans and reporters -- if another club hires Cora?

Only by someone who thinks they can teach a seven-year professional ballplayer with a decent bat to finally generate some power. He's 6'4... I know, Mark Belanger was also tall for his era, but he may have been the best defensive shortstop in baseball history.

So they're keeping basically the same coaching staff -- including guys who were around in '18 and '19 (though haven't announced if RR will be retained/reassigned). It's interesting, because if Bloom is prepared to hire his own manager, I would expect the new skip to want to bring along a few personal confidantes... maybe, he'll get to choose a bench coach, like Tito and Millsie.

Maybe it was a misprint or Pablo just misread it as worst-ass physical condition.

Yup. I like watching and cheering for my team as long as possible. But as an MLB fan, I was kind of looking forward to the drama of a Yankees-Astros ALCS... Still holding out hope for the best theater: LA-Houston World Series (but won't say which team I'm rooting for until it happens).

As a fan, I want good players on my team longterm. I know Tampa wins a lot of regular season games with its musical chairs roster, but a star core is better for the franchise fanbase (don't say "but if they win, they'll sell tickets" -- just look at the Trop). Plus, there are elements of dependability with a group of players who grow together... ... and reliability; in a sense, the constant turnover metaphor happened with San Diego's pitching staff this week. One day, nine different Padres each threw a shutout inning to blank St. Louis -- 24 hours later vs. LA it worked great again for five frames, until their 6th and 7th pitchers just didn't have it that day.

Not in an igloo bubble.