DHL Dan CCLXIII - Standing Pat

In this week's Picked Up Pieces column, Shank's all over the Red Sox for doing jack shit at the trading deadline:

The Red Sox’ trade deadline inaction speaks louder than words, and other thoughts

Picked-up pieces while watching the Red Sox tread water at the trade deadline again . . .

⋅ The Sox treat loyal fans like chumps. They take them for granted. They continue to gaslight Red Sox Nation, making pledges about playing meaningful games in September and October, but deep down they value payroll flexibility and controllable contracts over winning the World Series.

This is the way it’s been since 2018, and nothing changed Thursday when the Sox had a chance to go all-in to support an interesting and exciting team that has put itself in position to make a serious playoff run.

Fans make an emotional investment in this team, but management doesn’t reciprocate. It’s been this way for 6½ seasons and it could not be more obvious. Actions speak louder than words. The Sox talk full throttle, then remain stalled in neutral.

Apologists and folks who’ve stopped paying attention cite “four World Series in this century,” enabling Boston ownership to perpetuate this farce.