5GoldGlovesOF,75

NESN's guest announcers the other night were extolling the virtues of Yoshida's running style. Not the fastest, but technically perfect.

When the Sox gave Devers that contract, it's possible not even they expected if Raffy turned into a selfish diva that they could find another team to take on his entire remaining contract. But at least they got some pitching back, including Harrison, only recently baseball's top southpaw starting prospect... and now, indirectly, May (for Tibbs) -- ironically, one of the arms with potential Chaim Bloom should have insisted on receiving in the Mookie deal.

Of course it's not easy. Hitting a pitched baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. You made a good point about having less than half a split second to decide whether to swing or not. It's not like Little Leaguers who are taught to be ready to hit every pitch by thinking, "Yes, yes, yes- no!" MLB batters have the best hand-eye coordination in sports, but modern velo and spin barely let them prepare with, "Ye- na!" That's why I loathe check-the-check as the worst change in big league baseball in the past 50 years. Batters HAVE to start early if they want a prayer of being on time. Is any human really getting fooled when modern pitchers throw five different pitches in the mid-90s? The one thing I look forward to with the impeding automated strike zone is some kind of computerized ruling on what actually constitutes a legitimate swing. And finally, there is no such thing as a batter "ambushing" a pitcher. If I step in the box with a bat in my hands, it's my job to use it. There's absolutely nothing sneaky about hitting a first-pitch fastball down the middle -- especially since it just may be the best pitch to barrel in the entire at bat.

Buehler can be up and down inconsistent the rest of the way, but he's still a guy you give the ball to in a postseason start. He's proven, battle-tested, and pitching for another contract. He's not Schilling pitching on one leg, but he won't back down, nor never make excuses. Jack Nicholson told Tom Cruise in court you want him on that wall.

Good points by drewski about the trajectory of inflated contracts. The second thing I predicted about Mookie -- besides leading baseball in WAR and rings for his first half decade after leaving Boston -- is that the Red Sox would soon sign someone who was not as good for more money... than they were willing to pay to a homegrown fan favorite first ballot Hall of Famer. They did, and his name was Raffy.

The biggest difference is the Red Sox' perceptions of the two players from the get-go. Mookie was athletic but undersized, so wasn't drafted until the 5th round and the #172 pick. Roman had the size but still lasted until the 2nd round at pick #72. Both rocketed through the Boston system, but when Betts had early success in the majors, the Sox chose to wait and see about trying to lock him up. In his first full season he earned 6 WAR at age 22. It should be said right here that none of the Sox' current extended core have reached 6 WAR at any age... (though Crochet should, and maybe Ceddanne, if they stay healthy the rest of the season). Boston loved a bargain with young Mookie, but at 23 he posted 9.8 WAR and finished 2nd for AL MVP -- and it was too late. His agent knew what he was worth, his mother knew what he worth, and he knew he should be paid like one of the top stars in the entire industry. Everyone did. When the Sox offered Mookie $100 million, he knew he was worth $200 million. Later, when the Sox offered $200 million, he knew he was worth $300 million. Then he won MVP and the World Series, and led MLB with 10.7 WAR. When they finally offered him $300 mil, he was a better player than Bryce Harper, who signed with Philly for $330 mil. Betts only just wanted market value, which was always at the top of the market when he was a Red Sox. They blew it, over and over again. They just made sure they wouldn't this time with Roman Anthony.

Which also needs to be considered when evaluating lefty relievers (even though they face some righty hitters, too, with the 3-batter minimum). WAR disfavors relievers because they pitch a lot less innings and record fewer outs than starters. But is WAR per IP even legit, with all the leverage innings, closing... and what about the value of a good starter who sets the tone with a scoreless 1st -- or maybe the most underrated feat in frames 1 through 9: the shutdown inning after a pitcher's teammates just scored.

The two-strike approach has been around forever, though most big leaguers have ignored it all century in pursuit of longball paychecks: choke up, get closer to the plate, shorten up your swing, and put the damn ball in play. This should be more relevant than ever, with Ghost runners and bunt haters. And whatever you do, don't bat an eyelash or the battery will check the check, so all egomaniacs wearing blue down the baselines can have their 15 seconds of air-punching fame (notice announcers don't even pretend those calls are "swings" any more... it's just, "George Wendt!")

I've been a big critic of swing and miss this whole decade, but am encouraged that it's obvious the Red Sox have made positive adjustments in the past month plus. And it doesn't take much to envision guys like Story or Rafaela whiffing less if they stop chasing pitches that land in the dirt of the lefty batter's box. Those aren't strikes if they don't swing, and they couldn't reach them with a meter stick fitted with a decimeter extension (sorry to decimate fans of metrics).

Do you say that because basing it on games might be deceptive, if a guy only pinch-hits or pinch-runs once? Wondering -- would a better gauge of a position player's per game value be WAR per 3 or 4 plate appearances (to reflect participation in full games)?

If WAR is an accumulation of overall contributions in all aspects, does this breakdown just show the isolated batting that is calculated towards WAR? Or is it overall offensive contribution, which includes stolen bases and who knows what else -- since there is never any formula with all specific factors listed for baseball's secret sauce... ... though I once heard Big Mac's special sauce was Thousand Islands dressing (McDonald's, not McGwire's).

glad you didn't say only God knows... that pic last winter of Henry smoking a cigar by the fireplace seemed eerily like a final scene from an episode of Twilight Zone or Night Gallery, or the last panel from a story in House of Mystery.

He has two home runs. A rookie for the A's doubled that in one game. I'd say Roman did alright for himself.

Just be glad they held onto Username, brother of the Password.

A lot of posters think W-L records are useless -- but only for pitchers, not for teams. That's about as sane as it gets here; it couldn't be because the Sox didn't want a pitcher who would average 2.7 WAR (and counting) every season for the past four years like Wacha... because they have had zero guys accomplish that.

I researched. The offer was more than Hamilton for Castillo. It was Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds.

How does Anthony compare to Betts, except that both made the majors as 21-year-old outfielders for the Red Sox? Did Mookie ever sign an extension in Boston? Can Roman bowl 300? Does he have a song named after him by A-Bliccy? Can he host a podcast and play shortstop in Hollywood at the same time? Will Anthony ever be traded for Connor Wong???

Yahoo really likes this signing. Their reporter said it was similar to the contract for Triston Campbell.

You -- you articulated this so well... Sam Kennedy just said that by October, the veteran moderators on talksox should be better than no matter how many new posters the forum recruits. MVP for GM!! The other 8,000 members for Asst. VPs!!!!!!!!!

This is the kind of post that risks criticism from those that need cold hard data to quantify meaning. Good job.

Nope. There was no "that's gonna be Ball 4" -- after a walk, or "they're gonna take the lead" -- after the go-ahead run scores, or "he's going to be sick" -- after I throw up.

Garcia is a good outfielder with right-handed power. As much as we like the current outfield crew, it makes more sense to give the Password the opportunity to become part of the core of Boston's next sustained contenders.

All these defensive comparisons started 60 years ago with the standard model, Brooks Robinson. His nickname was "Hoover."

NESN team of Emma and Alanna announcing tonight's game... hope they keep in present-tense. No OB "He's gonna walk him," after Ball Four has already been called. He's gonna listen to announcers calling a game in real time.

Maybe, but a $16 dollar beer anywhere is nothing to joke about.