Don't they do MRIs when they sign free agent contracts of a certain size? I'd say it's far more likely this is new.Have to wonder if this is the real reason Giolito pitched so brutally at the end of 2023.
Don't they do MRIs when they sign free agent contracts of a certain size? I'd say it's far more likely this is new.Have to wonder if this is the real reason Giolito pitched so brutally at the end of 2023.
Houck.Legit concern...who the hell is the team's 6th starter now that Whitlock is most likely moved to the rotation? Nobody else in the bullpen is a capable starter and AAA doesn't seem to have anyone who is ready. We are 1 injury away from having to rely on an opener like last year, except this year this is happening in the 1st week of March. I would love to have Montgomery, but at this point we have to have a Clevinger or Lorenzen at BARE MINIMUM. Ideally, I would take 1 of those guys and Montgomery.
Well, for starters, the opening press conference will be about an hour of some version what you just wrote.I know this was probably said as a joke, but why won't teams take a chance on Bauer? The woman has literally admitted that she set him up, lied about the rape, all to get at his money. He reportedly likes rough sex, he's clearly not a saint, but neither are a bunch of other professional athletes...and he didn't rape the woman and it was mostly her idea in order to make it look like rape so she could set him up. Should her lies ruin his livelihood forever? It's already ruined several years of his life. I say give the guy a chance.
I count Bello, Pivetta, Crawford, Houck, Whitlock, and Winckowski. That’s six.Legit concern...who the hell is the team's 6th starter now that Whitlock is most likely moved to the rotation? Nobody else in the bullpen is a capable starter and AAA doesn't seem to have anyone who is ready. We are 1 injury away from having to rely on an opener like last year, except this year this is happening in the 1st week of March. I would love to have Montgomery, but at this point we have to have a Clevinger or Lorenzen at BARE MINIMUM. Ideally, I would take 1 of those guys and Montgomery.
From yahoo sports. In a text with one of her friends, she says: “Need daddy to choke me out,” another “Being an absolute WHORE to try to get in on his $51 million.”Care to cite a source for anything you just wrote?
Winck was our 3rd best reliever last year. I definitely don't want him in AAA. I will admit, he's probably the next most likely starting candidate, but he should be in the pen on opening day. No way is he a minor leaguer after the numbers he posted last year.I count Bello, Pivetta, Crawford, Houck, Whitlock, and Winckowski. That’s six.
I too would add Montgomery. We want Winck in AAA to start the season IMO.
I sleep fine setting my bar above “fantasizes” about beating up women.From yahoo sports. In a text with one of her friends, she says: “Need daddy to choke me out,” another “Being an absolute WHORE to try to get in on his $51 million.”
There is still a lot of he said, she said, and I don't think he's a saint by any means, but she says to her friend that she wants it rough so she can get in on his money.
He’s a piece of shit, you saying it’s ruined several years of his life shows you sympathize with him.I know this was probably said as a joke, but why won't teams take a chance on Bauer? The woman has literally admitted that she set him up, lied about the rape, all to get at his money. He reportedly likes rough sex, he's clearly not a saint, but neither are a bunch of other professional athletes...and he didn't rape the woman and it was mostly her idea in order to make it look like rape so she could set him up. Should her lies ruin his livelihood forever? It's already ruined several years of his life. I say give the guy a chance.
MLB banned Bauer for an unprecedented number of games under the domestic violence policy.Nuttiness.
I don't think the argument is that he's a minor leaguer. I think the purpose to starting him in AAA is to keep him stretched out as a starter. If he can be an effective starter, I don't give a shit how good a reliever he was last year. I want to see him in the rotation. If he's not one of the top 5 starters at the end of camp, the bullpen is where he should be but as a long man so if necessary he can transition to the rotation like Crawford did.Winck was our 3rd best reliever last year. I definitely don't want him in AAA. I will admit, he's probably the next most likely starting candidate, but he should be in the pen on opening day. No way is he a minor leaguer after the numbers he posted last year.
What do you think Atlanta would want for him?This seems bad.
Bummer.
100% correct. Can you please apply for a position in the Red Sox front office?Injuries always happen. Always, which is why the plan should have always been to have Houck and Whitlock in the pen
One less value to shop for next winter!100% correct. Can you please apply for a position in the Red Sox front office?
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It's time to sell, and to promote AAA guys and see what they can do. Apologies to anyone working in the ticket office, it will be a tough job for them this year.
I'm very optimistic on 2026
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I can't believe I got laughed at when i criticized the contract structure.
And also you don't play those kind of games with guys who have logged a campaign like Winckowski did last year. It may make sense from one perspective, but it sends the wrong message to everyone to stick him with a minor-league salary and stop his service-time clock so you can have a backup starter stretched out in AAA.I don't think the argument is that he's a minor leaguer. I think the purpose to starting him in AAA is to keep him stretched out as a starter. If he can be an effective starter, I don't give a shit how good a reliever he was last year. I want to see him in the rotation. If he's not one of the top 5 starters at the end of camp, the bullpen is where he should be but as a long man so if necessary he can transition to the rotation like Crawford did.
Leaving all moral judgments out of it, after we saw what happened with Dermody last year, we can be pretty sure the Red Sox aren't going to sign anyone with potentially serious PR baggage again.Lawyer here - I'm not saying we should sign Bauer, I don't think it would be worth the drama and this team needs as few distractions as possible. But to be fair, that case against him was thrown out and a lot of evidence was released which shows he wasn't guilty in the criminal sense and liable in the civil sense. It looks like it was a scheme to extort him out of money. Again, I'm basing this on the evidence I've seen with my own eyes. There are texts from the former plaintiff where she discussed extorting him for money with a friend, and there was a video that showed she was perfectly healthy and happy at the same time she was allegedly raped and beaten.
There were multiple accusers/victims. He likes violent sex. AFAIK, he has basically said nothing was his fault. So what are the odds he's going to violate the MLB DV policy again and get suspended as a second offender?Lawyer here - I'm not saying we should sign Bauer, I don't think it would be worth the drama and this team needs as few distractions as possible. But to be fair, that case against him was thrown out and a lot of evidence was released which shows he wasn't guilty in the criminal sense and liable in the civil sense. It looks like it was a scheme to extort him out of money. Again, I'm basing this on the evidence I've seen with my own eyes. There are texts from the former plaintiff where she discussed extorting him for money with a friend, and there was a video that showed she was perfectly healthy and happy at the same time she was allegedly raped and beaten.
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. Maybe not a rapey duck, but it's a duck.Lawyer here - I'm not saying we should sign Bauer, I don't think it would be worth the drama and this team needs as few distractions as possible. But to be fair, that case against him was thrown out and a lot of evidence was released which shows he wasn't guilty in the criminal sense and liable in the civil sense. It looks like it was a scheme to extort him out of money. Again, I'm basing this on the evidence I've seen with my own eyes. There are texts from the former plaintiff where she discussed extorting him for money with a friend, and there was a video that showed she was perfectly healthy and happy at the same time she was allegedly raped and beaten.
As for Giolito, this was unexpected. I expected on some level that he might not pitch to his potential, but I didn't think it'd be an injury that's the problem. He has had ups and downs statistically but he has been generally healthy. Thinking out loud about the options, we either double down and sign Montgomery, or do a soft rebuild. That current rotation doesn't inspire any confidence, though I do think the offense will be a fine. It just feels like we are more than one Montgomery away from even being a borderline contender.
Assuming because of giving up a draft pick?Is there some reason everyone immediately wants a pivot to Montgomery but no one seems to mention Snell?
Not that we will get either one, and Snell has his warts, but he would still be a nice addition if we actually are trying to compete.
Snell is more talented, but more expensive and less durable than Montgomery. Especially when we know how frugal they're being, Snell just doesn't seem like an option. Plus there are indications Montgomery is more likely to want to play in Boston.Is there some reason everyone immediately wants a pivot to Montgomery but no one seems to mention Snell?
Not that we will get either one, and Snell has his warts, but he would still be a nice addition if we actually are trying to compete.
Beyond the fact that this team is clearly not trying to compete: how exactly would this FO sell Montgomery or Snell on this situation? "Come join a last-place team in the toughest division in baseball so you can get your ass kicked every five days, oh and by the way it's too late and expensive for us to add any other impact players" doesn't seem particularly appealing to guys who are coming from contenders.Is there some reason everyone immediately wants a pivot to Montgomery but no one seems to mention Snell?
Not that we will get either one, and Snell has his warts, but he would still be a nice addition if we actually are trying to compete.
Peaks and variance vs solid and steady. I think the former is a signing you can make if you already have a better, playoff capable, team.Is there some reason everyone immediately wants a pivot to Montgomery but no one seems to mention Snell?
Not that we will get either one, and Snell has his warts, but he would still be a nice addition if we actually are trying to compete.
Snell's 31, has an uneven record of production, and wants long years. So it's the same issue as Montgomery, really. Assuming this year is a stretch, do you want to commit X dollars to Snell in 25, 26, 27, etc.? There's a point where you do, and a point where you don't. And since Boras is his agent, we can assume he's starting well above the "don't" point for any and all teams, otherwise he'd already be signed.Is there some reason everyone immediately wants a pivot to Montgomery but no one seems to mention Snell?
Not that we will get either one, and Snell has his warts, but he would still be a nice addition if we actually are trying to compete.
He had an All-Star first half, but he had a rough month of July [ERA over 8, WHIP over 1.6, OPS over .900] before getting hit in the head.Clement was having a great first season until getting hit in the head. Damn Carl Crawford.
What sucks the most is the contract they signed him to - though I don’t think anyone expected for it to go this badly this quickly. If the Sox aren’t making the playoffs either way, it’s probably better for Bailey and Breslow to focus on young pitchers who the team will control if/when they develop into keepers. Had Bailey been able to help Giolito who would have been gone at the end of the year anyway.Dan Shaughnessy breaks out the typewritter and starts "The Curse of the Mookie Betts trade" (fuck him and his schtick)
I'm so bummed, I was starting to get somewhat hopeful about this season after reading the development plans for the pitchers and the unique approach of Coach Bailey. This sucks
To be clear, I want him in AAA *starting.* It’s not that I think he’s a minor leaguer, it’s that he has options remaining so he can be that depth SP.Winck was our 3rd best reliever last year. I definitely don't want him in AAA. I will admit, he's probably the next most likely starting candidate, but he should be in the pen on opening day. No way is he a minor leaguer after the numbers he posted last year.
I hear you and understand what you're saying. To be super clear, I'm not a supporter of his or anything, as I do believe its not worth the risk. From some of the things I have seen, he does appear to have character issues, though at the same time not all of the accusations against him may be true. So, as an example, he may very well be a right-wing asshole who likes violent sex, but that doesn't mean he raped that plaintiff in the most recent case that received coverage. That said, he may very well have been guilty and liable in the other cases against him. Where there's smoke, there's fire, as they say.There were multiple accusers/victims. He likes violent sex. AFAIK, he has basically said nothing was his fault. So what are the odds he's going to violate the MLB DV policy again and get suspended as a second offender?
Apart from the moral aspect, that's the question teams will be asking.
I don't think you're deliberately conflating the two risks (MLB suspension v. criminal law conviction), but it sometimes seems that Bauer supporters forget about the first in their eagerness to point out the second. And the first is a non-zero. Perhaps significantly so as Bauer has (AFAIK) shown no remorse or indication that things have changed for him.
Yup. Fortunately, the player and team should have aligned incentives here. Crazy how quickly you can light $40M on fire. Hated that player option due to no performance upside but this was the other part of it. Sox assumed all the injury risk. There admittedly wasn’t a ton to be worried about health wise but this is MLB and tons of pitchers go down every year.They need to figure out quickly if he needs surgery and if so get it done as soon as possible so there will be a chance of him contributing at some point in 2025.
I can't recall where, but I'm pretty sure that I read earlier in the off season that this was being considered.To be clear, I want him in AAA *starting.* It’s not that I think he’s a minor leaguer, it’s that he has options remaining so he can be that depth SP.
Didn't you hear they're bringing Heinz Ketchup back?If this doesn't push a lot of people off the pollyanna train, I don't know if anything will.
Yeah, that would be insane...though Merloni isn't exactly someone I would take word for word.Relying on him opting out when giving player opt-outs is highly risky. Hope that's not how they're doing business.
If the 2025 budget / offseason plan is constrained by this, that's just another strike against Henry for me (who I am trying to give every benefit of the doubt to still, but...).
And one who was TERRIBLE the second half of last season. Yes, he had personal issues. Though I'm sure a lot of guys do, and still perform not too far from their mean. He was abjectly bad at the end of the season, and as a guy who has been historically good, that should raise some red flags and health concerns.Unless you can point to some kind of pre-season injury concern (I am unaware of any after a casual search, but would like to know if there was such), Giolitto is a quality player who has been durable and who was not recently injured.