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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 14, 2024 22:45:10 GMT -5
I never before realized that only a dozen teams are carrying the other 18. Rich billionaires carrying the water for the “poor” billionaires? That sounds very upside down. And the owners being carried are also the ones whose teams consistently tank and pick the best talent but remain “poor”. Am I reading this right?
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 13, 2024 2:32:39 GMT -5
Agree with your reasoning BUT if it takes 225 or 235 to field a winning team in 2024 as the players and systems develop (and instill 2024 player/prospect/FO/fan/media confidence, pride and winning attitudes in the process) then spend the extra money now. Go over budget for a year to jump start the whole thing. It will ensure you can win with 200M or less and a fully operational organization in the near future. Penny wise seldom works.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 12, 2024 3:01:17 GMT -5
I am going with this: his prior flashes of awesome were part of the process of figuring things out. At age 30 he showed that he has figured things out. He was ok to excellent for most of 2023, improving as the season moved on. The eye test and his projections pretty much agree on this so why not be excited in what could be his best (and contract) year. He won’t be the first guy who achieved his potential at age 30.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 8, 2024 19:51:37 GMT -5
I still want that RH power bat too. I have higher hopes for O’Neill than some but am not alone in this. If he can yoga his way to flexibility he may be an answer. Some power, speed, gold gloves, arm.
Casas, Devers, Masa and Story will carry the offense but If most of O’Neill, Duran, Grissom are good, along with Abreu and Rafaella, they will be awesome to watch for a long time. Lot of “ifs” but maybe not.
We will know so much about so many very soon. ST. Yayyy. Answers soon, bad or good. Hoping for very good.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 8, 2024 16:26:18 GMT -5
We could know in ST but if Duran is what he seems to have become he will be among the most impactful, run generating lead off hitters in the game. Losing him could not only make the team less successful but also less fun to watch. A Duran Grissom 1-2 could be worth buying tickets and NESN to see. I would rather take the reasonable chance that he could be that guy than trade him for anyone not at his level as a potential difference maker. I understand selling high, etc., but we may also be selling very low.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 8, 2024 2:46:29 GMT -5
You make good sense. What are we missing??
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 7, 2024 18:05:13 GMT -5
This may not be a team of AllStars (though it might) but the Sox have very interesting players with stories to cover; and worthy of coverage. Kids like Bello, Rafaella, Teel. Characters like Casas, Devers, Pivetta, Giolito. Fighting back from injuries like Houck, Grissom, O’Neill, Story. 3 Asian countries represented by Masa, Ref and Wong. Hot prospects like the big 5. This is good content. I don’t imagine this will be limited to the players. Hopefully not. Great story about the new pitching system and the gurus implementing it for example. Probably lots of retro looks at ‘03, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18, ‘21 as well as historic stuff from Ruth, “the curse”, Tommy John, Williams, the “other DiMaggio”, Yaz, Gold Dust, Pedey, Papi, even Remy. I Look forward to coverage of historic Fenway, greater Boston and New England and their fans. Clam Chowdah! Tea Party. Boston Latin. Marathon. The real Sons of Liberty. Only a few teams and MLB cities have such a rich history. Netflix writers and producers have, literally, a golden opportunity to create a classic. Japan, California, and Texas? I'm not sure all of those are Asian countries...
On another note: the silver lining of their inevitably being two games back of the wild card at the trade deadline is that it should make for some good tv drama.
LOLOL. You know what I mean. Actually Ref was born in Seoul and adopted to Laguna Hills. And don’t forget the Mayor. As an Irish American I represent dear old Erin proudly. My Asian wife proudly represents her heritage. Our starting catcher likely feels the same about his background. We are a nation of immigrants after all. And agree that a fight for a wild card spot is a good storyline. And as both travel and food are hot TV venues right now, and baseball teams travel constantly and eat locally, usually pretty well. So how about, for example, a taste test for FLA raised Sox players in ST to compare regional foods: Ft Meyers’ shrimper fleet is historic. New England is the place for Lobsters. Or Sanibel mussels vs Cape Cod clams. Or Snook vs Bluefish. A brief segment on this with promising Sox rookies at Fenway South and then again in Portland might be fun for the foodies among us. I hope the writers and editors plan to take advantage of all this potential.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 7, 2024 17:14:14 GMT -5
This may not be a team of AllStars (though it might) but the Sox have very interesting players with stories to cover; and worthy of coverage. Kids like Bello, Rafaella, Teel. Characters like Casas, Devers, Pivetta, Giolito. Fighting back from injuries like Houck, Grissom, O’Neill, Story. 3 Asian countries represented by Masa, Ref and Wong. Hot prospects like the big 5. This is good content.
I don’t imagine this will be limited to the players. Hopefully not. Great story about the new pitching system and the gurus implementing it for example. Probably lots of retro looks at ‘03, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18, ‘21 as well as historic stuff from Ruth, “the curse”, Tommy John, Williams, the “other DiMaggio”, Yaz, Gold Dust, Pedey, Papi, even Remy. I Look forward to coverage of historic Fenway, greater Boston and New England and their fans. Clam Chowdah! Tea Party. Boston Latin. Marathon. The real Sons of Liberty. Only a few teams and MLB cities have such a rich history. Netflix writers and producers have, literally, a golden opportunity to create a classic.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 6, 2024 18:14:02 GMT -5
Interesting personal corroboration. In an extended family chock full of advanced degrees throughout the Southwest, the large, multi-generational Vegas clan has exactly one college grad and mostly work in the casinos. Successful, happy, concerned citizens all, but don’t especially favor the A’s move. The Athletics would do so well in so many locations, even Oakland if done right.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 6, 2024 13:35:27 GMT -5
Agree on the A’s sad decline; and that of the city. The move to Vegas entails blowing up the “historic” Tropicana and a $380 gift by taxpayers. Yuck. Imagine what 380M would do for students and the functions of other city services paid for by those taxpayers. Good on the Union and the mayor.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 5, 2024 2:36:19 GMT -5
The Dodgers have other advantages not just money. LA is a sprawling set of communities, including Japanese and Korean-Americans. They'll be competing with SF, their long-time rivals with that team's Korean import. It should be good baseball. So right. L.A’s Little Tokyo is quite large and almost a stone’s throw from Chavez Ravine and has been there for ages. It’s residents were sent to camps in WWII, their belongings stored in and aggressively guarded by church schools, such as Maryknoll’s. As Japanese businesses expanded after the war in what the residents themselves called “J-Town”, much of the again successful community moved their homes east along the I-10 to suburbs like Monterey Park (along with other large Asian communities including Chinese and Korean.) It’s a fairly short commute to the thriving J-Town and Chinatown. The L.A. Korean community established itself in the 70’s-80’s, west of J-Town and not far from McArthur Park (the one Jim Webb wrote about) and just grew and grew. I noticed the other day, approaching Little Saigon In Garden Grove in north Orange County, a newish freeway sign saying Korea Town. LA is also home to large Thai, Samoan, Tongan, Philippine, and Indonesian and Indian communities. Which is why SoCal has the most and best Asian and PAC Island restaurants probably outside of Asia. Which is awesome. So many choices. And Dodger hats are worn in every one, except in OC where Angel hats are also worn. Though that may be changing this off-season.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 2, 2024 3:01:52 GMT -5
Excellent points in favor of lefty leaning lineup. Also, add O’Neill and hopefully a Duvall/Soler bat and we have 5 or 6 RHB starting. Plenty of handedness to cover most situations.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 1, 2024 21:16:21 GMT -5
Impressive. If I count right they have picked up nearly a dozen players this off-season which have a chance to contribute to the system, more than a few at Fenway. The crew has been active.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 1, 2024 14:17:20 GMT -5
Fenway is not that HR/K/BB park. It absolutely is the kind of park that encourages guys to hit 2B off the walls or in the gaps. I love taters and am happy with 200+ from the Sox.
I also love a good running game including hustle doubles, SB havoc, etc.
This roster should be good at taking full advantage of Fenway’s century old peculiarities. I am really looking forward to getting excited when Devers, Duran, Story, O’Neill, Grissom, Abreu, Rafaella, Refsnyder, Yoshida keep “moving the chain” with well placed, rally building XBH and hustle. Yes we need a big bat to get to 200+ HR, but more to provide offensive balance.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Feb 1, 2024 13:21:21 GMT -5
It looks like Fenway slightly suppresses HRs (presumably that's the deep RF) but that's more than offset by its huge inflation of doubles and triples (presumably the monster for the doubles and the triangle and RF corner for the triples). I am sure everyone knows this but just in case, Fenway’s bullpens were built specifically to accommodate Ted Williams’ LHB. He, and others, we’re getting lots of FB outs there. It was dubbed by the always friendly Sox beat reporters as Williamsburg and Williamsville.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 31, 2024 1:08:38 GMT -5
I am thinking last five years of guys like Bogaerts, Devers, Renfroe, Schwarber, Turner, Duval, Casas, Masa’s first half, and Duran’s second, Dugie’s hot streaks.
Lotta punch there for ‘24, especially if all xbh are counted, with Devers, Casas, Masa, Story as the base. Wouldn’t Soler or Duvall fit nicely here? It’s not really just hoping, using their youthful past successes as offensive upsides, but several of Duran, O’Neill, Grissom, Abreu, Rafaella. Valdez might surprise some folks with their contributions.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 31, 2024 0:39:56 GMT -5
After an off-season of surprises I guess 2024 projections really are simple. This is a demonstrably capable team in all elements: hitting, fielding, SP, RP but still need that big bat and steady arm for the next level. If they sign a Montgomery and a Soler or Duval, the Sox will win more than 85 games and compete for the playoffs. If they don’t they won’t.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 30, 2024 11:15:15 GMT -5
While hopes are quite high on Grissom at 2B imo it’s time to wait and see, as we just don’t know yet … and sadly $$$ are very tight right now. Would rather improve the team before ST.
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gerry
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Noah Song
Jan 28, 2024 12:28:42 GMT -5
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Post by gerry on Jan 28, 2024 12:28:42 GMT -5
So what will happen with Song in 24? There was so much chatter when DD grabbed him and tried to see if he could stick with the big league club. Any chance he could be a surprise in 24? Interesting. He may well become the crown jewel of this new pitching program by 2025. Timing is good.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 28, 2024 12:17:39 GMT -5
Yuck.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 27, 2024 21:20:50 GMT -5
I read somewhere, maybe here, the possibility of O’Neill becoming that RHB to share DH/LF with Masa, which puts Rafaella in CF. I can see the big defensive upgrade but the offense could/might suffer. But also might, (though with about 20 fewer HR and a lot of K’s minus Soler) provide a ton more xbh from Duran, Rafaella, Grissom, O’Neill, Abreu to still be strong enough. I still hope for a Duran, Grissom, Devers, Casas 1-4 out of all this. If O’Neill, Yoshida, Story, Rafaella are #5-8 this could still be a good offense.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 26, 2024 13:55:35 GMT -5
Unless, of course, Mata shows marked control improvement in ST. Then we have what we originally thought we might have in his ascent through the system. Getting older, for me, has been a lesson in patience. I was less excited about Drohan than Mata but would have been patient with him; and will be patient with Mata (and others on this young team.) We will know soon.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 25, 2024 14:00:02 GMT -5
IMO a good ST puts him, or maybe stashes him, in the Pen for a longer look. Pre-injury Mata was the GUY. His return has been slow but he looks good enough now to hope on. His ceiling could be very high. It’s up to him and Bailey et al.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 24, 2024 13:32:59 GMT -5
Think about the timing of these injuries. Duvall. He was looking like the second coming of Barry Bonds when he broke his wrist. One of the best starts ever for a Sox player, poof gone. Chang. Delayed by the WBC then delayed further by visa issues he arrived in camp with about 5 days before the season start. A plus defender at all 4 infield positions he struggled with the bat. Then all of a sudden he found it and was hitting line drives all over the field then boom a broken hamate. It takes a year to recover fully from a hamate (see the Kalish thread for an extensive look at hamate injuries).It wasn't the same Chang that returned to the field. Kluber. It wasn't so much that he sucked when he was pitching, at least he was pitching. When he went down, it necessitated the bullpen being used as the fifth starter and a host of callups that just weren't ready. McGuire. It's not so much that McGuire was contributing but at the point when he went down, Wong was statistically near the top for catchers both offensively and defensively. The lack of a reasonable backup forced Cora to use Wong everyday. No rest and his game took a nosedive. Hopefully Perez will at least be a reasonable emergency catcher. Your painful reminders are excellent points about 2023 and also remind me of star power issues: Masa’s WBC likely contributed to his mid-season swoon, Duran’s injury as he was finally living up to his pedigree, Turner’s foot at the same time, plus issues on the returns of Story, Sale, Paxton, Schreiber and the list goes on. All teams have injuries but IMO they could have had that WC with better health. 2024 Sox can be a good team. C’mon Craig
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jan 23, 2024 3:07:41 GMT -5
Agree on Duran, Grissom and Soler or?? Really like Casas backing Devers, Soler backing Casas, and Yoshida backing Soler and setting up Story. Not afraid of handedness with most of these studs. I.e. Duran, Grissom, Devers, Casas, Soler, Yoshida, Story, O’Neill/Abreu, McWong. Assuming questions are mostly answered and all cylinders are firing in ST, this is a long, difficult and likely deadly lineup to start the season.
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