5GoldGlovesOF,75

"Get a good pitch to hit, and take a slight uppercut swing." "Oh, and pitchers suck."

As MVP points out, the biggest factor that may give the edge to keeping Wong is pitchers on the staff (except the new guys) already throw to him. This means way more to the team than whether he can contribute with the bat or even peg out baserunners. It's normal on ballclubs at all levels to have starters request to pitch to their favorite, even if he's not the regular catcher. Batteries that work well together in game-planning and setting up batters give their team the best chance to win. The implicit trust hurlers have in their catcher to call pitches -- because he's on the receiving end of their stuff as the game progresses and knows each hitter's tendencies -- gives the entire club confidence. As a defender playing behind such tandems, the only thing worse than watching a pitcher lose command is a catcher who can't stop the deliveries. Varitek was the Red Sox' best catcher since Fisk, but who wasn't horrified with the 2004 ALCS on the line when Wakefield came in and knucklers started bouncing to the backstop...

Definitely.

Early would be my pick as the one guy on the entire staff to give the most consistent starts over the entire season -- a guy the team never has to worry about giving the Sox a regular chance to win... ... I didn't say the best starts, but consistent innings from a repertoire and delivery that seem less likely to have command issues or blow out an elbow -- compared to the rest of the rotation. Crochet had injury concerns before last year, Gray and Suarez are vets with mileage on their arms, and Bello's career so far has been a Russell Stover box of chocolates. Tolle and Oviedo are monsters but still working on control. However, though he deserves to break camp with Boston, Early will probably be sent down because management has more invested in other starters. But as soon as he's promoted to fill in for an injured arm, he'll be up to stay.

Most Home Runs: DR 15, Italy 12, Red Sox Outfield 10... ... three were game-winners: Yoshida, Abreu, Anthony, but another one made a pitcher quit the tournament. Nate! When Wilyer's HR off Don McLean flew over the fence last night, all I could think of was a song. I started singing Bye-bye Miss American Pie...

Cepeda was the greatest DH in history that year in Boston. I was in the stands the day he went 4-for-4 off the Monster and limped into second with 4 doubles. I was 13 and realized Orlando was the first big league ballplayer I could beat in a running race.

I have a confession; I wasn't rooting for them. I just can't root for Judge, who's not a bad guy but always the Number One obstacle for Red Sox fans. Plus, I'm sick of Fox constantly showing him in the dugout whenever he's on quadruple deck or when a teammate does something more noteworthy. I know the US players care, but a certain arrogant vibe turns me off, like when Skubal commits to participate, then bails on his teammates when they make the playoffs. Everyone can say they understand he has to consider future money and family and agents, but quitting on your team is unacceptable. And then the MLB-run WBC was going to let USA replace Skubal with another All-Star starter in Joe Ryan? That's just disrespectful to all the other rosters from all the other countries. Teel pulling a hammy and getting replaced by Gasper is legit, but Joe is a no-go -- I'm glad the Twins refused to let DeRosa start him. I was really just rooting for the Red Sox players on all the teams. But I'm happy for Team Venezuela, and a win that means so much more to them than gold medallions. Especially for their fans, whose passion for baseball comes from a place where football and basketball haven't supplanted it in interest. Captain Sal Perez, who guided his pitchers in keeping the US offense down, was asked what meant more -- winning the World Series or the WBC. "I love Kansas City," he said, "but tonight we're playing for 30 million people."

I know I was one of the first posters to suggest trading for Contreras -- righty pull power in Fenway, big contract Bloom loves to hate. And I look forward to watching him mash. I'm just baffled that he's being counted on as Cora's clean-up man, essentially replacing two All-Star bats in Bregman who replaced Devers, and he can't even pinch hit for Venezuela... Or as Drewski points out in his thorough post, not even DH? Sure, Geno hits more homers, but also strikes out more. Overall, Willson has a career edge in WAR and OPS, and made more All-Star teams. We've also been told Contreras is a better first baseman than Sox fans have seen for years -- while Arraez is not noted for his glove... so wouldn't Willson be an option for late-inning defense in a close game? Ok, that's my last WC fields comment.

I don't mind the tomatoes -- or peppers and eggplant -- because my mom ate them all her life and just turned 90 (take that, Nightshade Tom Brady). And nothing against Arraez -- who the Red Sox could've had for a measly $12 million instead of Dobbins and Yoiker Fajardo, the arms they traded for Contreras (I know, Arraez bats lefty and doesn't have the Fenway pop that Willson hopefully does). Then again, couldn't any line-up of swing-and-missers use a guy who recently won three straight batting crowns and led the NL in total hits twice? He also struck out less in the past four seasons combined than Contreras did last year. For what they cost, Boston could've had both Contreras and Arraez... and before someone asks where would Luis play, I'd say somewhere in the top of the order. You find a place for bats like his. Of course, this was all before Brez dealt for the Durbin Legend.

I asked if anyone knew why Contreras was benched in a world tournament, because as a curious Red Sox fan I know Cora has already stated Willson will be his new clean-up man on a club the team president says is all about winning championships. I could care less what the Cubs think.

Oh woe is me -- I actually paid attention to an international tournament where guys are trying and watched the Red Sox players participating. Quick, now quote me some Spring Training stats... and then post on another thread how Spring Training stats mean nothing.

Venezuela benching Contreras is curious. They're obviously doing well without him, but in some close games where he hasn't even been called on to pinch hit. As a Sox fan it's hard not to notice, especially since management seems to be counting on Willson to be the veteran force in the heart of the order this year -- our one "big bat" that Breslow acquired in a winter where a lot of fans graded him an A for the offseason.

Anyone who's watched the Venezuela games know why WiLLson hasn't played or even pinch hit in almost a week? I don't want to start getting Jack Clark vibes from this guy...

I like your attitude. This tournament has been exactly what I was hoping for to fill the time waiting for the Spring. It's fun to watch ballgames the world cares way more about than Grapefruit or Cactus, and the young Red Sox all had clutch moments and experiences in intense competition that can only bode well.

Merloni is also high on Abreu. Making a trade at this point doesn't just make for a better balanced team, but it makes a better team, period. Maybe they're just being extra cautious with Mayer, but if this is another nagging ish, it deletes the strongest infielder on a club built around pitching. We're not winning a ring with part-time utility guys platooning. Even the front office has to be prepared to shift -- immediately -- if they finally concede the Sox can't rely on a guy who's been injured his entire pro career... while yet to prove he's a big league regular.

Let's get into it: three Red Sox have hit game-winning home runs in the WBC: Yoshida, Abreu and Anthony. Duran has been hitting HRs for a month. So do we take any of this seriously this year? Sure, not all of these WBC pitchers are MLB stars or even big leaguers, but the international competition and stage requires a little more clutch than a Grapefruit contest where guys are trying new grips or stretching their arms out. No one can argue Eaton taking Skubal deep wasn't legit. Unless the two-time Sigh wasn't giving it his all while trying to protect his future free agency... While considering if Boston is going to be more powerful than projected, also wonder this: why has a singles hitter benched Cora's clean-up hitter Contreras in Venezuela's batting order? Now is the time to fortify -- center a trade with Houston around Yoshida and Paredes. Mayer may never stay healthy, and Durbin has had one decent rookie year (though announcers are pushing his D as if the administration is trying to rewrite Bregman from Sox history).

Speaking of Will Smith... wonder if he'll start behind the plate in the WBC Final Four. Nothing against Cal Raleigh (0-for-9, 5 Ks) -- except that he's apparently a germaphobe avoiding handshaking and fist-pumping teammates he's going to have to be in close proximity with in dugouts, clubhouses, bus stations, airports and hotels for the next 8 months... ... but Smith has only caught 72 postseason MLB games compared to Raleigh's 17, and won three world titles. Sure, Cal can hit a lot of homers, but Will's HR in extra innings of 2025's Game Seven won ring bling for every trolley dodger in LA.

Abreu, Anthony and Duran have had huge home runs for their teams, and Whitlock has been lights out on the mound. But we all knew the Red Sox star of the WBC would be Greg Weissert.

It's not impossible that the star in a World Series-winning season is The Rotation. But it's been 20 years since over half a world champion's best regular season players were pitchers. Based on the Top 8 bWAR of annual champs, the 2005 Chicago White Sox were the last to feature 5 of 8 on the mound. That includes their Big Four starters who threw four straight complete games to win the ALCS (after an ALDS sweep of the Red Sox). Since '05, only one other ring winner has had as many as 4 pitchers outright among its top 8 bWARs... you guessed it -- the 2018 Boston Red Sox: Sale, Price, Porcello and Rodriguez. There's no Mookie this year, but there's an Anthony. And there is a JD. But while monitoring the BoSox' trek back to the top, check their bb-reference page often, and the mugshots from left to right --- if at least 4 of the top 8 WARRIORS include the likes of Crochet, Suarez, Gray and Bello, plus even Chapman again, we could be alright...

Don't sell yourself short! Remember, it was Moon research that ranked all MLB starters by WAR way back on October 11 that inspired Breslow's plan for the offseason... after my reply post, of course: "That is a lot of work, and makes me want to trade for Sonny Gray even more now. Plus, sign Cease or Suarez (because Dombro "can't keep them all")."

The longterm contract was the same reason I didn't think anyone would want to trade for Rafaela -- a few years when Moon suggested him as trade bait. At the time, Ceddanne was a guy who posted these stats at age 23: 15 HRs, 75 RBI, 19 SBs... but also, 15 BB, 151 Ks and 10 CS. He looked like someone who could go either way -- and still does for those who freak over average MLB offensive numbers. But now entering his prime and due $43.5 million over the next six seasons, Rafaela doesn't look so overpaid. Unless you think $7 mil per year is too much for the sport's elite defensive centerfielder through age 26-31.

So if a ballplayer is worth no Wins and not a negative WAR, then he's a complete Zero -- the definition of a Replacement Player... (... who I always equated as one of us, walking down the street with a ticket to the ballpark, but stopped by a team official with an offer of a one-night stipend to wear the laundry and stumble around on the diamond because they needed one more guy to field a Nine and not forfeit so they didn't have to refund all the other fans).

That's because Mickey's in Houston right now -- Italy needed to replace injured Teel and called up Gasperini. (sorry for the vowel movement, but I, too, could qualify for that team -- except I can't play catcher -- nor would I wear Columbo's raincoat indoors... but outdoors... remember, the two best times to go fishing are when it's raining and when it's not).

I'm confused about the tiebreaker of "the lowest quotient of runs allowed divided by defensive outs recorded," and welcome any math whiz on the forum to correct me -- because I hope I'm wrong. That tiebreaker could penalize any team that won by a mercy score -- which makes zero sense to me... Ex: two winners allow 4 runs each. Team 1 wins 5-4 in 9 innings. Team 2 wins by mercy, 14-4, in 7. Team 1's quotient of 4 divided by 27 outs is 0.148. Team 2's quotient of 4 divided by 21 outs is 0.190. So Team 2 -- so dominant they only had to play 7 -- gets eliminated because they were better?

Until Goomba Greg swept them off their feet!