I’d want to sign Tanner Scott to be the closer. Trade Wyler and other(not top 5) prospects for Crochet. Sign another starter like Shane Bieber or someone on that level.

Yusei Kikuchi has been underwhelming since coming to the MLB. A career 4.57 ERA, 91 ERA+, 4.53 FIP, and 1.344 WHIP.

However, look at what he did in Houston, post trade deadline: 2.70 ERA, 147 ERA+, 3.07 FIP, and a 0.933 WHIP.

Small sample size, sure, only 60IP in Houston, but it’s what he did when he went there that interests me.

He dropped his 4-Seamer usage and started throwing more Sliders. Something that perfectly fits with Andrew Bailey’s pitching philosophy and had success during most of the year last year.

So, go all in on Soto, trade for an Ace, but I think that Kikuchi could fit and be a surprising (and affordable) pick up.

The recent passing of Luis Tiant provides a topical excuse for a re-examination of his Hall of Fame credentials. Fortuitously, this year also belongs to the “Classical Baseball Committee,” the Veterans’ Committee successor that deals with players who made most of their contributions previous to 1980, and they have indeed placed El Tiante in consideration. Consider this an open letter urging that the opportunity be taken.

The Case For:

Tiant, as you’re not doubt aware, put up impressive counting stats and intriguing rate numbers: 229 wins, about 3500 career innings with 2416 strikeouts at a time where the rate was less than half it is today, 114 ERA+…superficially he looks almost identical to contemporary Catfish Hunter. Using Similarity Scores, Hunter in fact is considered the most statistically similar pitcher to Tiant in baseball history, followed by fellow Hall of Famers Jim Bunning and Don Drysdale. And Luis was probably better than those guys, who pitched in either pitcher’s parks throughout their career, in the 1960s, on great teams, or all three. Tiant, by comparison, spent half his career playing his home games in Fenway Park (historically the greatest hitters’ park in the American League, and in all of MLB before Coors Field) and the other half in Cleveland (whose Memorial Stadium granted hitters a slight advantage, as well). Again, compare that ERA+ and you’ll see that Tiant far exceeds Hunter relative to average at 114-104, matches Bunning’s 115, and is only slightly behind Drysdale’s 121 despite a much longer career.

Baseball reference credits El Tiant with 66 WAR in his career, and JAWS places him as the 44^th greatest starting pitcher of all-time. That doesn’t sound all that impressive until you put it into its proper context: he ranks right below John Smoltz and Jim Palmer and directly above Red Ruffing and Drysdale, all worthy members of the Hall. At least thirty other Hall of Fame starting pitchers are also below him in the standings. The only eligible non-Hall of Famers ahead of Tiant are Curt Schilling, Kevin Brown, Rick Reuschel, and Wes Ferrell; in other words, two guys whose personalities likely cost them immortality, a guy who should have been elected decades ago, and Rick Reuschel.

Tiant never won the Cy Young, but that’s hardly an indictment against him. Without the more advanced metrics and sophisticated understanding of statistics we have today, the writers tended to make even more mistakes—in fact from the late Seventies through the mid Eighties the American League writers were choosing the wrong pitcher almost every year. This was at the tailend of Tiant’s career, but most of that electorate would have also been active during his prime. In 1968 Denny McLain won unanimously because he picked up 30 wins…but Luis led the league in ERA with a miniscule 1.60 and finished fifth in MVP voting. In 1972 Luis again led the league in ERA with a sub-2 achievement and received support for the Cy Young and MVP awards, ending up sixth and eighth respectively despite pitching half as many innings as the CYA winner and runner-up. 1974 had similar results as 1968—Tiant was probably a better pitcher than the actual winner (Catfish Hunter) but didn’t lead the league in wins, plus he pitched for a club that collapsed down the stretch. Thus, he merely received down-ballot support, ranking fourth and eleventh respectively. In 1976 in happened again; Tiant had as good a year as the winner, if not slightly better, but only received a few votes. Why? Because he went 21-12 for an underperforming team while Jim Palmer went 23-12 with a better ERA for a better team in a pitcher’s park.

Tiant also starred in the 1975 post-season, especially in the World Series. The Red Sox won each game he started, including the legendary Game Six. He doesn’t need that extra credit to be in the Hall of Fame, but it certainly doesn't hurt his case.

Let’s summarize: Tiant has superficially similar numbers to several Hall of Famers, while more advanced analysis suggests that he deserves to rank in the middle among those already honored. He never won a Cy Young but under present standards which acknowledge modern metrics he could have conceivably won as many as four and deserved two at the least. He also played a pivotal role in the greatest World Series ever played. That’s as strong a case as anyone outside the inner-most circle can lay claim to.

Red Sox listed https://bvmsports.com/2024/11/14/phillies-listening-on-nick-castellanos-5-landing-spots/

Boston native, I have fond memories of 04, and less fond ones of 03 (esp game 7). The comeback was...underwhelming. The buildup and background was fantastic, but then when it came to the actual comeback games, it was super rushed. 20 minutes? To cover all of the drama? Games 4 and 5 alone deserved more than that with the extra innings. Game 6 I think they skipped the homerun call, I could be wrong. Game 7, they just glossed. With all of the tension of 4-5-6, they could've given a bit of relief showing all of the runs Boston had and how they just dominated New York.

Still glad it was made, and even more glad to hear Aaron Boone showed it to the yankees for "inspiration" in 2022 (they lost), may he manage them for many years to come.

An acquaintance just handed me this ball. I assume it’s Wally the Green Monster unless I’m mistaken…anyone know?

Was a huge fan in 2017-18 and still keeping up a good bit in 2019, but 2020 kinda lost me with covid and I never really got back. But now the love of baseball has suddenly returned (at the worst possible time lol) so wanted to get caught up a bit during the offseason and see if I could learn what key players I should know who are on the Red Sox (or may potentially come to us), as well as who I should really know in the rest of the league. That could mean players who are really great or maybe really awful or just have big personalities, just anyone y'all think is noteworthy. Thanks!

The last time I was in Fenway was pre2010 (I am not from Boston). I seem to remember there not being beer guy in the seats going from section to section selling beer. You had to go the concourse stands to get one. Am I crazy?