5GoldGlovesOF,75

Great line, notin. Those wily Red Sox sure were clever in getting so many runners to stop at second in '18 -- now we know why they led the majors in doubles. Wait a minute, they led in doubles again in '19...

"It's not like people admit to everything." ... like all the other players and teams who are not on trial this week. Did Altuve know a slider was coming from Chapman last October? Or did he only know what Sale was throwing when he hit three HRs in Game One of '17 ALDS? Or which year did he do PEDs? Manfred can pretend to the public he's in charge, but he'll never change baseball or stop technology from evolving. Banning all video from dugouts, bullpens and clubhouses might work, but we all know that's not even feasible in 2020...

Remind them that the '17 Astros won 53 away games vs. 48 at home; .654 winning percentage on the road, compared to .593 in Houston. And that the '18 Red Sox went 7-1 on the road in the postseason, when the MLB took measures to ensure that no teams could use videos unethically. The hypocritical MLB said it's ok to peak at signs with human eyes, just not with electronic eyes. Sign "stealing" has been part of the game forever, but how much it helps can never be proven. I remember in high school with base coaches rooting for batters: first names for fastball, last names for offspeed... some of us didn't want to know; we only had seconds to react either way (especially since the "signs" were often unreliable).

I totally disagree. Astros in the investigation reported they know of at least eight more teams involved in the same types of tech-based subterfuge. We can assume those are mostly American League teams... are we that naive to think players and clubs in the NL aren't privy to or don't participate in the same culture and methods? The Astros and Red Sox won, so of course they're targets of whistle-blowers; nobody cares about how the Orioles or Marlins tried to get an edge. They all honor their oaths of Omerta until after the conquests -- and then we notice that only (perhaps resentful) EX-employees start squealing. I've downplayed this sign-stealing "scandal" from the beginning, because players and teams will always try to get an edge on competition. I can't downplay the consequences, but the "integrity" of the game isn't as much at stake as the pace of the game because of all this crap.

Astros' owner just fired Hinch and Lunhow. Maybe Henry brought Bloom in when he did so he didn't have to fire his GM right before the next season...

You're just saying that because you want it to be true. Henry will bring back Lovullo, who should've been appointed full-time skipper the year after he interimmed. They already offered Manny Sanguillen in trade.

MLB pretending to the public that no baseball teams will try to intercept secret codes contrived to deceive opponents ever again... Now we have something almost tangible to discuss... Biggest future question of the offseason: WHO will manage the Sox in 2020? A minion controlled by a Cora drone? A Bloom recruit? Varitek? Bobby V in a fake beard disguise? WHO???

Henry is right about the media: it keeps recording his words, replaying them on the news and quoting them in the papers.

C'mon, you know Joe D and Say Hey were reputed to be as good or better than anyone in the outfield alone last century; their batting and base-running made them two of the best all-around all-timers at any position. Though Mantle was the most cherished baseball card...

The writers on MLB.com are even worse when it comes to these rankings. They always favor bats over gloves, even in defensive positions. Anybody who plays knows defense is more important up the middle -- at least still at catcher, short and in center in the majors (third basemen, who shift to short more frequently than ever, are now more vital on D than second basemen, who shift to right). Gary Sanchez is always rated near the top of these catcher lists -- solely because of his HR power -- but whether the Yankees can win with him behind the plate remains the elephant on the field.

Almost all start out as starters; there's not many Feltmans in the world... there's not even a Feltman in our world, yet. And of course you want your best pitchers to be starters that go deep into games, since they're entrusted to get the most batters out. But when a starter struggles in the minors to keep his K/BB ratio above 2:1 (like DHern), it just isn't working out; there's not many Pedros or Schillings... but they were both in our world.

Probably, but there's such a different mindset in preparation and approach to starting and relieving. Guys who know they're starting have days and nights to get on their game-face, then try to pace themselves following a plan. Relievers sit around for hours spitting and waiting, and don't even get up to stretch until around mid-game, lest they waste adrenaline. I don't how a starter-turned-reliever-turned-opener thinks, but it could be an interesting interview topic to read around mid-summer this year.

If you guys can get Bloom to swing a deal that includes both Price and Yates, it would appease fans of 2020 and 2021! “There is another world, but it is in this one.” W.B. Yeats

I have doubts about DHern as opener. His biggest issue is control, and that's why they like him in relief (but not yet closer material). If he could produce quality starts he'd be exactly the best young hope to join the rotation, and with his arm, could be a monster... But giving him the ball in a one or two-inning opening, where guys get to throw as hard as they can and not hold anything back, may not be the best way to harness control.

I've thought all winter that the Sox could deal Price for Myers, maybe with one or two others going back and forth, and then even just cut Myers if it's not working out. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't Boston still save $10M towards the payroll reset with Myers instead of Price, even if they have to eat the contract?

A shutdown first frame can set the tone for the entire game, so I thought I'd contrast first-inning numbers for the 2019 starting rotations of Boston and Tampa. The differences are stark; as great as night and day, north and south, big market and small market: 1st IP ERA, BA, K/BB: Sale 3.60/.174/5.75 Price 4.98/.222/2.2 ERod 5.03/.300/2.71 Eovaldi 5.25/.279/2.33 Porcello 6.32/.311/4.5 And the Rays: Chirinos 2.00/.117/4.67 Glasnow 2.25/.186/3.4 Morton 2.45/.167/5 Stanek 2.67/.222/3.3 Snell 6.45/.271/3.2 Snell had an injury-filled season, so his stats are closer to the unhealthy Bosox... but we all should be glad the Sox made pitching coach changes their first offseason priority and then also hired a GM with different staff philosophies, as well. The intriguing guy was Stanek, the opener who was second on Tampa with 27 starts to Morton's 33. Stanek's numbers were even better in the second inning: 1.12/.130/4. Such improvement is most likely attributed to facing the second half of the order -- or not the top or heart like in the first frame. So how about trying out Matt Barnes as an opener? He throws harder than any Red Sox except maybe Nate, could let it all hang out, and may respond better without late inning pressures. He's less effective on back-to-back days anyway, so a start every fifth day or so, plus a few mid-game appearances in between may maximize his value. If not Barnes, who would you like to see used as an opener (it's not a question of whether you like openers, because it's a-happenin', barring a major trade or unexpected rookie promotion)?

I saw Houck in Pawtucket and definitely think his stuff can get outs in the majors. Shawaryn, I dunno if he can miss bats; he had a higher ERA than Nunez!

How many in the first inning? That can set the tone for the defense, but mostly in the eyes of beholders like me, beholding a mug of ale...

I'm ok considering it, SGhost, as long as cost-controlled pitching with upside comes back. ERod is good, but I'm not so sure he'll ever stop nibbling and just trust his stuff; he did lead the AL in walks last year. And losing him wouldn't be the end of contending, either... remember, he was the #5 starter in '18, and only started one game in the postseason, working the least amount of innings of the rotation through all three rounds.

I, for one, look forward to going into 2020 with the best 26 men the Sox have right now. We don't know exactly who will make the roster, but we do know Boston has good regulars at most spots on the diamond and good pitchers in the rotation. Many of them are or have been recently among the top at their positions in the entire MLB. I'm not saying this because I want it to be true or because I'm sentimental... just stating the facts off recent statistical accomplishments or performance awards. Here's a list of current Red Sox players who in the past two years either led the league in a major stat or received votes of recognition from peers or professional observers: Betts, Bogaerts, Devers, Martinez, Bradley, Vazquez, Benintendi, Sale and Rodriguez. To expect them all to continue to be stars yet again may be overly optimistic... but to expect them all to regress -- when many are just entering their primes -- is just unreasonable. This group of Red Sox is as solid with as much or more potential than any other contender's core. And this year they have something to prove. Let's go!

I think how the Red Sox ultimately approach second base depends on the type of bullpen Bloom assembles. If he collects power arms, then it makes sense to go with a power hitter at second who doesn't get a lot of action. If relievers are more pitch-to-contact guys who induce a lot of grounders, then gloves up the middle are crucial. A modern second baseman's value more than ever is the ability to turn two; other than that, any player can shift to shallow right field, grab one-hop liners on the grass and make the short throw to first -- even JD (look at some of the names that have become "second sackers" lately). Sanchez was my son's favorite White Sox player because he wore cool goggles, but he's also fast -- leading the AL in triples in '18 -- and just won the Gold Glove for '19 (which means a majority of managers and coaches consider him the best defensive player at his position). But Peraza is already supposed to supply speed and leather... at half the cost. Chatham was leading the Eastern League in batting last summer when he was promoted, and then hit .300 in a short stint in Triple A. He doesn't have elite speed or pop, but is still considered a solid professional infielder... worth a look as a backup at minimum salary.

I think people here having been underrating the importance of Martin Perez and how he may be the key to the season. IF the Big Three can rebound to win, say, an average of 10 games apiece -- those 30 total wins in '20 (2x their 15 total wins in '19)... is a plus-15 from a year ago, which can account for Porcello's missing 14. And the Sox' record would still be plus-1. Or 85 wins. Meanwhile, IF Erod regresses but still stays good -- let's say 15 wins -- now we're at minus-3. Or 82 wins. So to get back to the 90-win column, which is usually Wild Card contention, all Boston would need is 8 measly wins from Martin Perez. (this is assuming the same production from the up-and-down bullpen -- and though it may be optimistic to count on all three of Sale, Price and Eovaldi to bounce back... their 30 Ws can be distributed in any number of feasible combos... like if just one can re-discover the touch and win 15, another 10, another 5, etc). But clearly, it's all on the Filler P's.

Walden and Chavis were up early in the spring and contributed. The one that I thought really revealed a disconnect among the braintrust was Owings; none of us - and I'm guessing AC included -- could understand why he, rather than Marco, got the call in August... And it almost looked as if Cora was saying, "Oh, yeah?", by immediately starting Owings at second and batting him leadoff. The guy went 0-for-5 with 3 Ks in an extra-inning loss.

Without even looking up names, I have to say that the "replacement players" that were either called up or acquired last summer reflected the worst organizational depth I can remember as a Sox fan of 50+ years...

That's a first-place ballclub...