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Post by libertine on Oct 31, 2021 18:35:45 GMT -5
RIP Jerry. Always was a joy watching any game he was calling. My favorite moment was the air guitar/falling over in the booth. Baseball for me is going to be less enjoyable without Jerry involved in it in some way.
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Post by libertine on Aug 14, 2020 21:30:17 GMT -5
Again...
Outside of the overmatched matched minor league relievers being trotted out to pitch what is RR and the rest of the team supposed to do? When a team finds itself down by 5-6 runs by the third inning of every game it is understandable that it is difficult to retain one's focus/competitive edge. Plus they lost 4 key players in terms of leadership and ability (2 to trade and 2 to injury/illness). This team was demoralized this season before the first pitch was thrown in anger. What we are seeing was always going to be the outcome...
Well, I don’t disagree that when you trade your best player and second best pitcher, you are in trouble. Losing your 1, forget it. But RR seems bad. Ok, maybe we give him a break and say he’s just mixing things up to see what works. But there have been some bad decisions, and the team is unforgivably sloppy. And they are not the only team who didn’t get a full prep. Can't argue these points with you. But I think it is partly a function of where they find themselves any given game.
My problem with what Werner said is I don't blame the players for how uncompetitive the team is and I don't think that everyone of value who isn't on a long term deal should be moved because of it. And I am not sure that Red Sox fans will be happy paying the 2nd highest ticket prices in baseball to watch a 65-97 team next season as the glorious rebuilding process rolls on.
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Post by libertine on Aug 14, 2020 21:10:43 GMT -5
Ok, I can understand needing to get under the cap. But this ^^^ is a BS reason for what is about to happen. They lost their top 2 starters before this abortion of a season began and are trying to pass off a bunch of AAA quality relievers as a major league pitching staff but it is the player's fault? Really Tom? In fairness, they were unlikely to win 1-0 tonight with a full staff. Their offense can’t hide behind their pitching. And their defense is no great shakes. And RR doesn’t seem like a good manager. So.... Again...
Outside of the overmatched matched minor league relievers being trotted out to pitch what is RR and the rest of the team supposed to do? When a team finds itself down by 5-6 runs by the third inning of every game it is understandable that it is difficult to retain one's focus/competitive edge. Plus they lost 4 key players in terms of leadership and ability (2 to trade and 2 to injury/illness). This team was demoralized this season before the first pitch was thrown in anger. What we are seeing was always going to be the outcome...
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Post by libertine on Aug 14, 2020 20:35:00 GMT -5
Boston Strong @bostonstrong_34 · 2h Tom Werner was on NESN earlier today, mentioned that they’re extremely dissapointed with the team’s performance even if they have some key players down. A lot of trading expected to come for players that don’t have long term contracts with the team. Ok, I can understand needing to get under the cap. But this ^^^ is a BS reason for what is about to happen. They lost their top 2 starters before this abortion of a season began and are trying to pass off a bunch of AAA quality relievers as a major league pitching staff but it is the player's fault? Really Tom?
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Post by libertine on Aug 3, 2020 21:52:02 GMT -5
File under: boys will be boys
Going out to casinos/bars/nightclubs/ etc, etc, etc after games, or on off days, has been part of the dna of baseball players forever. Was I hoping for better judgement/conduct on their part? Absolutely! Am I surprised that they are operating off field with the same "business as usual" pre-pandemic mindset? Nope, not surprised at all...
I am sure MLB will muddle on with the season unless the infection rate of the players gets to some stupid level. I am following it right now more out of a morbid curiosity to see how this plays out rather than any love of the game.
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Post by libertine on Jul 28, 2020 21:13:32 GMT -5
At least when we had that bad year with Bobby V managing there was a Bobby V to blame. This year's edition just appears to be a bad team. Plus with Mookie and Cora gone there appears to be a leadership vacuum and a bunch of players just going through the motions.
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Post by libertine on Jul 27, 2020 21:13:32 GMT -5
I was just going to say we've maybe found something with Godley. Looking for silver linings and all...
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Post by libertine on Jul 27, 2020 20:46:46 GMT -5
If they play this season through until the end, with the staff being what it is, we might end up with the #1 pick in the draft next year. Or maybe the WS this year could be the Mets vs. the Orioles. They've both looked real tough to beat. I am betting on the first scenario being the far more likely one to occur. At this point, resetting the cap and securing the #1 pick would be a dream come true in this otherwise abysmal year..... I still want to extended looks of the young pitchers and trade any/all assets not X or Possibly Devers I know they have to reset the cap. But that does not fully explain the pitching staff they've assembled. The 1st overall would be an added bonus for having to put up with this. Them not trading Xander or Devers would be nice also. But with things being what they are I wouldn't be surprised if we trade the rest of our homegrown talent for other team's prospects to restock the system while we reset the cap.
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Post by libertine on Jul 27, 2020 20:31:01 GMT -5
If they play this season through until the end, with the staff being what it is, we might end up with the #1 pick in the draft next year. Or maybe the WS this year could be the Mets vs. the Orioles. They've both looked real tough to beat. I am betting on the first scenario being the far more likely one to occur.
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Post by libertine on Jul 23, 2020 20:26:53 GMT -5
I don't disagree with your take. The only thing I can think is how long will the Red Sox fans tolerate paying some of the highest ticket prices in baseball (once they start allowing fans back in) to watch mediocre teams while the farm is rebuilt in the hopes of catching the next Mookie lightning in a bottle again?
After 4 world championships I don't think Sox fans have turned into a group who now expect a championship every year. But they do want to watch teams that are competitive and exciting. This team is neither and under your "rebuilding with Bloom" scenario they won't be for the foreseeable future.
Devers extension would really be nice. Has anything been said on that tho? I've not heard a thing, other than what read here, the globe and Weei, which isn't much. One other thing is finally developing starters, which this team hasn't done since the early 80's in Clemens, Schilling, John Tudor and Bob Ojeda. That bunch, over a few year period in the mid 80's was it for the drafting of talented starters. Now that Mookie has made it clear he will officially not be returning to Boston I would hope the club would make extending Devers their top priority. With Devers and Xander they have two players to rebuild around long term. Casas is exciting but it will be a while before we know how good a major league player he will be.
Good point about the staff from the 80's. Who was the last really good SP the Sox developed in the system? Lester? I like to look at the teams from the late 90's and early 00's. It was a mix of homegrown talent, cast offs from other teams (Papi,), trades (Pedro, Schilling, Varitek, Lowe) and some free agent signings mixed in (Manny most notably).
But being able to develop in-house talent is key. That is why I was so dismayed by Dombrowski's tenure. The farm system was stripped bare to win that 2018 championship. Maybe the thought was enough elite talent had been developed in-house to allow that rebuilding to occur naturally over time. But central to that strategy is to make sure that all that young talent remains in Boston long term while it seemed that Dombrowski deprioritized the importance of a strong farm system. Losing Mookie was tough but if we go through the same thing with Devers in a few years it will be a very difficult pill to swallow.
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Post by libertine on Jul 23, 2020 18:25:36 GMT -5
I don't see the Red Sox throwing a huge contract at a 30 yo elite outfielder after being unwilling to do so for a better, homegrown elite OF who is two years younger. Springer probably just had his best year. I can see the interest and the fit, and I figured he'd be the guy the Sox naturally turned to if/when they lost Betts, but with Bloom at the helm, unless Springer gives the Sox a big discount, it probably won't happen. I don't think ownership dumped DD and hired Bloom so they can blow a bunch of money on 30 year old free agents. I think they hired Bloom to redevelop the farm system and make the small crafty moves and value deals, kind of what Andrew Friedman did so that when it was time to make an investment in the free agent market they had the money and farm system to get the premier pending free agent on the market. I can see the Sox extending Devers which would be wise. The pitching? I don't think Bloom will use free agency $ there. Probably trades (benintendi) and perhaps a scrap heap raid hoping to find the next Luis Tiant? I just don't see the Sox spending big until they're back in a position where one key free agent could put them over the top. They're nowhere near that right now, George Springer or no George Springer. Hopefully Duran gets a chance and gives the Red Sox a good reason not to spend money on OF help. I don't disagree with your take. The only thing I can think is how long will the Red Sox fans tolerate paying some of the highest ticket prices in baseball (once they start allowing fans back in) to watch mediocre teams while the farm is rebuilt in the hopes of catching the next Mookie lightning in a bottle again?
After 4 world championships I don't think Sox fans have turned into a group who now expect a championship every year. But they do want to watch teams that are competitive and exciting. This team is neither and under your "rebuilding with Bloom" scenario they won't be for the foreseeable future.
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Post by libertine on Apr 3, 2020 22:13:14 GMT -5
Yeah, as someone who gives blood regularly, part of me almost wants to get covid and recover so that I can donate blood with antibodies. Read some descriptions of what this virus can do and you will not want to be a victim. But what is weird is that many people contract it and hardly know it and others are dead in just a few days. They have no idea why this is happening. I had an outbreak of what I thought were spring allergies last week but it kept on and on. No fever or headaches but big problems with my eyes - which is a symptom of COVID. The Internal Medicine Clinic of Oregon Health and Science University sent me to have a COVID test. The test is not very comfortable as they shove the stick inside your left nose almost to your left eyeball. The test came out negative. I suffer from severe seasonal allergies. It kicked in early back east because of the mild Winter. My nose has been running and burning non stop for two weeks straight. Constant dull sinus headache. A few sneezes mixed in. And on top of it a cough (I'm a fairly heavy smoker). No congestion. No fever. No muscle aches. So I'll only get concerned if that stuff shows up (hopefully it won't). If I get it I am guessing with my pre-existing conditions , being in my late 50's and being a smoker I'll be one of the people gone in a matter of days.
Very glad to hear the test came back negative for you.
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Post by libertine on Feb 11, 2020 21:56:06 GMT -5
Oh, I forgot we got Martin Perez didn't we. OK we need one starter...
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Post by libertine on Feb 11, 2020 21:54:12 GMT -5
I am focused on SP. With Price and Porcello gone we have Sale, E-Rod and Eovaldi left fill the 5 starters roles. We are short 2 SP and 2 of them we already have had major/significant arm troubles last season and were out for extended periods. Add to that I get the distinct impression that the club isn't interested in bringing in someone that will significantly add $$$ to the payroll this season. Golden opportunities for our top pitching prospects?
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Post by libertine on Feb 11, 2020 10:16:33 GMT -5
Generally I am not too upset about players being traded. I view it as part of the game. This is one of those rare exceptions though. I'll get over it but it'll take a while...
Mookie hasn't accomplished as much at this point as these guys did in their careers but for me this would've been like trading Big Papi, Yaz or Rice.
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Post by libertine on Feb 6, 2020 18:51:30 GMT -5
Day 3 of my melancholy. The more I think of it, and i am not sure I have been totally fair to Bloom, but he was put in a tough spot. He pulled the trigger, it was likely all he could get, and he desert some credit for having to make a tough decision. I think what is disconcerting is the feeling that we are running this club like a small market club. The notion that you have to get return on assets because before they inevitably leave or you'll left holding your you know what in your hand. That doesn't sit well with me. However, in this case, it does buttress up against the fact that they have been taxed recently, because ownership has really always tried hard for us fans. I wonder if the cycles are driving people's anger In the end Mookie, as great and popular as he is and deserves, is just one guy, in one era, on a franchise that so much history and is so beloved. The letters on the front of the jersey are more important, that is how I have always felt about the Sox. I am gonna give Bloom my full backing and I think this year's team is gonna play their ass off and may surprise us. The thing that sticks in my craw the most is the trading of an elite homegrown talent. That is exactly what small market teams do. The homegrown Red Sox greats are kept until the end of their careers (i.e. Williams, Yaz) and are properly valued by the club and cherished by the fans. As soon as those types of players are viewed only as assets whose values are based on hard to understand mathematical formulas about possible future performance baseball ceases to be a game and completely becomes just another business...
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Post by libertine on Feb 5, 2020 20:01:01 GMT -5
I actually feel a bit sorry for Verdugo. He has impossible shoes to fill in RF. And I doubt Red Sox fans, with their well deserved reputation for being very unreasonable at times, are going to cut him much slack. Oh I'd bet if he's playing opening day that he'd get booed. I hope not also. I figure there will be at least a 7 day grace period. But the first time he goes 0-4, grounding into 2 DP's, and leaving a small village of runners on base he will hear it. It has happened to much better players than him, and even to so verifiable Red Sox legends. I can remember a ton of abuse Yaz took in the 1970's because Sox fans expected 1967 every year, nay, every at bat...
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Post by libertine on Feb 5, 2020 19:45:26 GMT -5
I actually feel a bit sorry for Verdugo. He has impossible shoes to fill in RF. And I doubt Red Sox fans, with their well deserved reputation for being very unreasonable at times, are going to cut him much slack.
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Post by libertine on Feb 5, 2020 12:07:18 GMT -5
Now that Bloom has got the Mookie trade out of the way, I would like to see him trade for a cheap starter still under control. The Pirates seem to be rebuilding and I would love to see someone lkke Groome moved for Musgrove who is under control for 3 more yrs. I think Bloom will now make a bunch more trades to pair salary and form this team for the future Trade more prospects?
I would rather we held on to Groome, and all the better prospects, finish in the cellar for a handful of years and accumulate a bunch of high draft picks to restock the system...I'd just assume they trade Xander and Devers at this point as opposed to any more prospects (and, no, I don't want the club to trade those guys).
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Post by libertine on Feb 5, 2020 12:03:13 GMT -5
I will be operating under the premise that I will be rooting for a small market team. This will be the first of many departures of higher priced on field talent. Why hire Bloom away from Tampa if a small market operating system wasn't/isn't the plan?
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Post by libertine on Feb 5, 2020 10:00:32 GMT -5
I would like this deal more/wouldn't hate it if we had a loaded system with top prospects lined up to step up, but...……….
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Post by libertine on Jan 13, 2020 21:36:52 GMT -5
MLB just used Houston as an example of its zero tolerance of cheating in the game. And just in case people still aren't convinced that MLB is serious about this the Red Sox will be example #2...regardless of whether what the Sox did was as bad as the Astros, or any other "mitigating" factors. I will not comment on whether it is "right or wrong" for MLB to do this. It is what it is.
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Post by libertine on Sept 30, 2019 21:45:46 GMT -5
If the Fenway Sports Group told then denizens of Anfield that Liverpool had to sell one of the best young players in the game, who they developed and came through their academy, because they didn't want to pay him the money (and might not qualify for the Champions League for a few seasons as they financially "reset") they would be run out of the Merseyside on the first boat...
I guess you can get away with that jive BS on this side of the Atlantic and in this game.
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Post by libertine on Sept 9, 2019 22:07:36 GMT -5
As much as I love the Sox they seem to have these seasons that can't end soon enough on a regular basis. And that is in terms of both on the field and off the field issues. It felt like they went from having one of the best seasons in baseball history to a five alarm dumpster fire in 3.2 seconds...
One thing is certain. Win or not it is never dull.
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Post by libertine on Jun 11, 2019 22:11:53 GMT -5
I was expecting some regression this season but this is ridiculous...
They are struggling with the most basic things like putting the ball in play with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs to get a run home. I have seen more K-K in those situations this season than I care to see in any 3.
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