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Life For The Red Sox After The Work Stoppage

Life for the Red Sox after the work stoppage will be interesting. The team has currently added Rich Hill, James Paxton, and Jackie Bradley Jr. Still a long way to go. Currently, the organization has spent 190.000 000 on next year’s salaries. They still have to solve the second base dilemma. In this post, we will explore available options for next season.

Roster Chaos

One obvious answer is roster chaos. With Chaim Bloom already committing to washed _up veterans, one has to wonder what direction is next. Pitcher Michael Wacha is not the pitcher he once was. Rich Hill is in his third stint with the Red Sox. And Jackie Bradley is coming off his worst season ever.

In 2021 Bradley hit a disappointing 163 6 home runs, and 39 rbi’s. Plus an OBP/236, OPS/497, and 261 slugging percentage. Certainly not marketable numbers. No doubt the club will miss Renfroes production. His 14 assists were tops in the league. His postseason performance is what got him dealt. With, not much cap space left, Chaim Bloom’s options are minimal.

Number Three Starter And Closer

Replacing Eduardo Rodriguez is a priority. Michael Wacha and Rich Hill aren’t the answers. James Paxton is a reclamation project who we won’t see until 2023. That leaves only help in the farm or another free agent.

Notable free agents still available are Carlos Rodon, Alex Wood, and Michael Pineda. The most attractive name is Rodon. He had his best season in 2021 winning 13 games and losing six posting a 2.37 ERA. At 29 years old he would be the perfect fit for the Red Sox. A dependable lefthander who is still in his prime.

Another avenue to explore is the fam system. Two pitchers I like are Jay Groome and Chris Murphy. Groome is a monstrous 6’6″ weighing 262lbs. A slider, curve, and fastball are his best pitches. Murphy was 3-2 at Portland last season and throws 94 mph. Reliever Durbin Feltman went 7-0 at AAA Worcester

Outfield Depth

Replacing Hunter Renfroe will not be easy. Renfroe is coming off a career year, slamming 36 home runs. With Alex Verdugo in left and Jackie Bradley in centerfield, the club. is better defensively. With no help on the farm free agency is their option.

Several key free agents are still available. My personal favorite is Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos. Castellanos had a career year in 2021 belting 34 home runs and knocking in 100. Adam Duvall of the Braves and Tommy Pham of San Diego are still unsigned. Renfroe’s bat will be sorely missed. Free_ agent Kyle Schwarber is still available will be too expensive.

Japanese free agent Seiya Suzuki is a possibility. Suzuki is the best player on the market. He has a lifetime average of 309 with a 402OBP and 189 home runs. He would also be an asset defensively.

Conclusion

With the lockout still on hold, the team is not much better than last seasonWith the lockout still on hold, team is not much better than last season. Replacing Hunter Renfroe’s bat will be difficult. However, his twelve errors were the worst in the league. Resigning Kyle Schwarber will be tough even if the Luxury tax increases a little after the strike. Look for the team to pursue Seiya Suzuki is the most logical candidate.

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Patriots End The 2021 Season On a Downer

The Patriots ended the 2021 season on a downer. Instead of clinching a division title, they finished in second place at 10-7. Although respectable to most fans, a lot of Patriots nation were left disappointed. Most people thought they had the talent to win the AFC East. Instead, the season ended in disappointment. A frustrating loss to the Dolphins set reality in. In this post, we will review three areas that they need to focus on the road back to the Super Bowl.

Get More Receivers Involved

Quarterback Mac Jones needs more help. Outside of the run game, he has only three weapons. Receiver Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, and tight end Hunter Henry. Off_ season acquisitions, Nelson Agholor and Jonnu Smith have been non-existent. Offensive coordinator Josh Mcdaniels needs to find a successful formula for these two receivers.

If Mac Jones is going to be successful, then he needs everyone healthy and involved. The team needs big contributions from the run game.

Improve The Play Of Special Teams

One area that has been disappointing is the Special Teams department. Too many penalties has been a problem all year. Overall, the team ranked fourth in the NFL in special teams’ play.

Kicker Nick Folk is one of the best in the game. The team continues to get solid production from Gunner Olszewski in the return game. Punter Jake Bailey has been disappointing. If the Patriots expect to beat Buffalo, they need consistent play from special teams.

Mix It Up

In order to beat the Bills, the Patriots will have to mix it up. With the weather expected to be around zero, throwing the ball may be unrealistic. Getting Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith involved is crucial. A run game may not be enough.

Conclusion

Mac Jones needs a big gameMac Jones needs a big game. He needs a victory. The naysayers are already out. Fans will continue to question the drafting of Jones. Look for a Patriots victory.

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Bruins Ring In the New Year Making Points

The Bruins have rung in the new year making points. Boston currently sits fourth in the Atlantic Division. Since Christmas, the Bruins are 3-4. With many players injured with Covid head coach, Bruce Cassidy remains optimistic. In this post, we will review three areas the team needs to focus on going forward.

Rotate The Goalies

The Bruins have experienced recent success by rotating their goalies. Rookie netminder Jeremy Swayman has been impressive since the start of the season. Free _agent signing Linus Ullmark has been a pleasant surprise.

Last week the organization announced they have signed Tuukka Rask. Rask for years has been the team’s number one netminder. How the club utilizes three goaltenders remains to be seen.

Rask was the big reason the Bruins went to the Stanley Cup finals three years ago. Swayman has won the respect of Bruins fans with his athleticism. If the team has any hopes of reaching the finals, one of the three needs to play consistently.

Add A Left Shot Defenseman

Overall, the Bruins rank seventh in the league in Goals Against. The top four are Charlie McAvoy /Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk/Derek Forbort/ Mike Reily/Connor Clifton. The group is OK but not Stanley Cup material.

Two players I like are Jakob Chychrun and Cam Dineen both of Arizona. ChyChruns name has popped for several weeks. Chychrun is a towering 6’3,” 210lb defenseman. The beauty of Chychrun is he is a left shot. Salary_ wise, he is carrying a 4.6 million cap hit with three years left on his contract. Dineen is a promising young defenseman. Standing at 5’9” Dineen would not be as expensive as Chychrun. The reality is the Bruins would pay a hefty package in return. It would take a hefty package to acquire a player of his skill.

Depth At Center

Adding another centerman is another option for the Bruins. The experiment of Charle Coyle on the second line is not working. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has had to rotate Players like Coyle and Jack Studnicka. since Deave Krejci left finding a replacement hasn’t been easy.

In, thirty games this season Coyle has eight goals and eight assists and a plus_ minus rating of 1. There is no doubt that Bruin fans miss David Krejci. His playmaking skills were exceptional.

Conclusion

After a 3-2 loss to the Wild, the Bruins hope to rebound against Tampa Saturday. The goaltending issue is worth keeping an eye on. Rookie Jeremy Swayman is proving he belongs at the NHL level.