SoxProspects News
|
|
|
|
Legal
Forum Ground Rules
The views expressed by the members of this Forum do not necessarily reflect the views of SoxProspects, LLC.
© 2003-2024 SoxProspects, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Home | Search | My Profile | Messages | Members | Help |
Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
Recent Posts
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Jan 2, 2020 17:30:19 GMT -5
Pitchers and catchers reports on February 11th. So it's not like we have months and months here. It's kinda of crazy how slow everything is moving. The big guys signed kinda early this year, which I thought would move the market along more. It just hasn't happened. Let's pick a path. If our owner was truthful and resetting was just a goal, then we should have options. Can't find the right deal, then keep Price and build a team for next year. It's going to be a lot easier trading him when he shows he's healthy and pitching well. Let's give this team one more legit shot at a championship! I miss the old days, when this time of year most free agents had already signed and most major trades already happened. You know when teams spent money and most teams wanted to try and win the next year. You’re right... pitchers report soon— don’t you think that suggests teams with pitching needs are going to get very anxious very soon? The Sox were never gonna get a decent deal as long as other options remained in free agency. Now that those options have become very shallow, teams are going to circle back to the Sox. Unloading Price for a reasonable deal was always going to take time and patience. The only reason we need to “pick a path” right now would be to satisfy certain impatient members of the baseball writing community— that’s hardly a reason to do it.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Dec 26, 2019 11:46:16 GMT -5
What they do here will tell us a lot about what they think of Dalbec. If they're trying to save money and think Dalbec is an MLB regular as early as midseason, my bet is that they take the spaghetti-against-the-wall approach at 2B and 1B with combinations of Chavis, Peraza, Travis, Hernandez, Lin, Arauz, and perhaps even the likes of Chatham and Longhi. If they do not think Dalbec is likely to force his way into the lineup midseason, then it would appear they need to do something, but moving a big contract first would be necessary. As for Chavis, as I've said, he has earned a roster spot going forward, to be sure, but he hasn't earned an everyday role at the plate nor in his failure to this point to show he can stay healthy for 162 games. He's suffered a serious injury of some kind each of the last 4 seasons. What does it tell us about Casas? Nothing.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Dec 24, 2019 11:33:15 GMT -5
Would DD move him though? He’s acquired him twice, he seems to really like the guy. Plus it would be pretty much admitting the big FA move of his tenure was a mistake I think bloom may be the right guy because he doesn’t have any connection with this roster. These guys didn’t win HIM a World Series, he won’t have that sentimentality that DD seemed to have (given the contracts he handed out in hindsight) Yeah, fair enough about the actual Dombrowski. I'd just prefer Bloom had a little more of DD's take action approach with Price's current situation. You do realize that it was DD’s approach that got Price and his problematic contract in the first place, right? There is little need to hurry considering there are still numerous teams with starter needs and little in free agency to plug those needs. I think if the Sox are willing to eat 35-ish million from Price’s contract, they’d easily find a buyer. So why not wait until a team gets desperate? If no one does, trade him at the beginning of training camp and eat the 35 million. The need for speed in this context is fan-based, not situationally imposed.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Dec 5, 2019 11:05:25 GMT -5
Toot! Toot!!! Great article!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Dec 5, 2019 2:22:29 GMT -5
So well said to someone who would throw a Red Sox modern day legend under the bus. Every little league, Babe Ruth, HS coach should hold Dustin up an a player to emulate. The guy lives baseball, wants to win, is always the first one into the Clubhouse and who always gets his uniform dirty. His record, ROY, Gold Gloves, MVP, All-Star, etc. speak for itself. he's literally the only jersey i've ever bought and my favorite sox player ever... i still want him to retire. and i want him to retire because he's proven that he's physically unable to play regularly anymore and he's eating valuable payroll. i dont care if the sox give him a spot in the front office and pay him the 30+ mil he's owed but i don't want it to come off the payroll and hamstring the team. i don't think that's too ridiculous to think a player who can no longer perform should hang it up. count me among the "please retire" crowd and i will be first in line to thank pedroia for his tenacity when his number is next to papi's and pedro's I think it’s ridiculous to ask a player who has given everything for his team to ask him to hang it up and the tens of millions he’s owed. It’s completely ridiculous actually. And, no, it’s a fantasy to think he could just retire and become a 30 million plus front office adviser. You really think the league would allow that? When you sign a player to a fully guaranteed, multi-year contract, injuries are part of the risk involved in it. That’s baseball. Tough luck. Dustin is not the reason the team is in the salary cap situation it’s currently in, nor should he have to be the solution to to getting us out of it. Pedey deserves to determine for himself when his playing career is done. Period.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Nov 7, 2019 12:02:25 GMT -5
I see even more room. At 34 now. Leon gets non-tendered but replaced, a wash. Weber and Kelley are fungible, DFA depth. -2 I still don't get the Reyes add last year. I think he clears waivers. -1 I actually think Travis stays. Dalbec won't be up on day 1, and I think there is a chance they save money at 1B by not signing someone and instead mixing and matching Chavis & Travis (by essentially platooning Travis and Hernandez and moving Chavis) at first until they get Dalbec for an extra year. Pedroia will go on the 60-day as soon as necessary, so you can go into the spring with 40 even if you want flexibility. - 1 eventually. So that's 30. Even with additions, plenty of room for Chatham, Dalbec, Wilson, Bazardo. BUT all that said, this is a fruitless exercise imo. They're going to make trades involving major league players this offseason that are going to remake the 40-man. Even if 208 is a goal and not a mandate, it being a goal means they're going to take steps to get closer to it. I don't see how they enter 2020 with all of Benintendi, JBJ, Betts, and JDM. I think at least one is gone and maybe two. And that will require acquisitions to replace what they lose. We can speculate all we want with this 40-man, but that's almost certainly not going to be how it plays out. Your last paragraph is just not backed up by the numbers.
Here's a team ("X" is an acquisition):
Vazquez, 1B X1, 2B X2, Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi, CF X3, Betts, Martinez C X4, Platoon 1B X5, Chavis, M. Hernandez
Sale, Price, Eovaldi, Rodriguez, (opener) Workman, Barnes, D. Hernandez, Taylor, Walden, Osich, Reliever X6, Johnson, Long Man X7.
The 18 guys listed by name, plus benefits and optioned players, count $200M towards the tax limit.
That gives you $8M to spend on 3 regulars and 4 reserves. Which really amounts to $5.5M to spend on a new 1B, 2B, and CF.
It's completely doable. The question then becomes, do you really want to move a valuable long-term asset to make the team a bit better at those three starting positions, when next year you can spend very freely to fill them, or maybe fill them internally?
Right now I want to sign Logan Morrison, Brock Holt, and Cesar Puella for the three starting spots. That might cost you $7M. You can trade Barnes or Workman and sign a second relief arm to make that happen.
So there is demonstrably no need to dump any major asset in order to get under the tax limit. The key is to find your own versions of Mike Tauchman and Gio Urshela to fill the 1B and CF spots, and fill the other four spots with guys who will also provide major bang for cheapo bucks.
I don’t understand what your problem is with Hatfield’s final paragraph. He said we’re going to have some trades within our 40, some players will go, new ones arrive. He also, and I agree with him, that it’s almost impossible to see a scenario where Benny, JBJ, Mookie, and JDM are on the roster. What do you do? You get rid of JBJ and you trade Barnes or Workman. Exactly what Hatfield is arguing. Am I missing something? Edit: oops or what Hatfield just said above.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Nov 6, 2019 17:13:50 GMT -5
Sticking to my guns from years ago, package him, middlebrooks, and others for Stanton. Willing to bet that gets a deal done. No way! Didn’t you hear that middlebrooks got contact lenses? Now that he can see his strikeout and lack of contact will disappear. Trust me.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Sept 9, 2019 1:35:51 GMT -5
i dont think the budget is the only thing here. There have to be other factors. Given the timing of the situation, it seems a bit personal. Besides, there is no guarantee that spending more money would have helped this club. A lot of things just went wrong this year. Do I think he should be fired ? No, I don't. However, Henry is the owner and he did. You don't have to explain to me how firing people works. lol I completely understand that Henry is the owner, and he fired people as is his right. My disagreement is where we differ. I'm ready to hear the real reasons. I mean reading between the lines there seems to be many reasons why this happened. You don’t just fire a guy 45 weeks after winning the WS unless other issues have developed. My recommendation is just relax. I’m sure more will he come out soon. I would imagine the reason is something like this: where do the Sox go from here— complete rebuild, compete next season budget be damned, soft rebuild, etc. DD had one view. Ownership clearly had another. They had to decide extend him or cut him loose. I disagree with the timing but if they disagreed with his vision of what’s next, then I don’t have a problem with the decision. This decision is probably less about this season and more about future seasons. What will be interesting is finding out what ownership wants for next season vs what DD wanted. Regardless, he helped us win a championship and I’ll always be thankful for that.
|
|
|
Sale to IL
Aug 19, 2019 18:51:43 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Aug 19, 2019 18:51:43 GMT -5
I’m not saying he would. My concern is that while Sale doesn’t need TJ at this time, his elbow might be vulnerable enough that rest and treatment are not sufficient to heal the inflammation completely. Spring training comes along, Sale still has elbow trouble (or it comes back during the season) and they go “oh well, that didn’t work— in hindsight maybe he should have gotten TJ earlier. Then we lose him for 20 and parts of 21. I’m obviously not an expert but just because Andrews said he doesn’t need TJ doesn’t mean he didn’t see something that concerned him. Don’t get me wrong— I’m happy he doesn’t need TJ and don’t think he should get it if the doctors don’t recommend it. But I’m still a nervous nelly over this. Given that the alternative - he has unnecessary surgery and is then never the same pitcher again, it's always the right thing to do even if it doesn't work out. I don’t disagree. I just said I’m worried. 🤷🏻♂️
|
|
|
Sale to IL
Aug 19, 2019 18:34:00 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Aug 19, 2019 18:34:00 GMT -5
Exactly my concern. Still I’m relieved! I really don't think Andrews would tell Sale he didn't need surgery if he needed surgery. Still this whole situation is the trouble with Sale. He simply wears down every year and things seem to be getting worse. Personally I think he ought to consider trying to put on 20 pounds. Even at 200 he would still be on the thin side for someone who is 6'6". I'd bet his old scouting reports read something like this, " Considerable remaining projection. On the skinny side at present." Now it may be that a pitcher "filling out" is not a significant factor and does not mean much of anything but if so why is it stressed in scouting reports ? Sale might want to consider something different. Even with the cautious approach in an attempt to keep him fresh he broke down. That tendency (and I feel this affects him in single innings and games as well) limits his up side which is admittedly one of the best in baseball. I’m not saying he would. My concern is that while Sale doesn’t need TJ at this time, his elbow might be vulnerable enough that rest and treatment are not sufficient to heal the inflammation completely. Spring training comes along, Sale still has elbow trouble (or it comes back during the season) and they go “oh well, that didn’t work— in hindsight maybe he should have gotten TJ earlier. Then we lose him for 20 and parts of 21. I’m obviously not an expert but just because Andrews said he doesn’t need TJ doesn’t mean he didn’t see something that concerned him. Don’t get me wrong— I’m happy he doesn’t need TJ and don’t think he should get it if the doctors don’t recommend it. But I’m still a nervous nelly over this.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Aug 19, 2019 16:35:48 GMT -5
I’m not aware of any of the details, but see no surgery, which to me is just plain shocking, but a major sigh of relief. With that said, I seriously hope this isn’t a case where they do rest and rehabilitation, comes back throwing 87 and then they say, “we should have gotten the surgery, see you in 2022”. Exactly my concern. Still I’m relieved!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Jul 29, 2019 17:07:38 GMT -5
Does anything the Mets do ever make sense anymore? I'm not counting on any team being stupid to help the Red Sox out. Why would they trade Diaz to the highest bidder right now if they didn't offer close to what the Mets gave up? What's the harm in keeping him? If this trade happens, I think a lot of fans are going to be sick to their stomachs. In addition to this, the Mets have said they want to contend next season (hence why they got MS), which would require having a really good closer. So why are they even talking about moving Diaz unless they’re offered a massive haul? I’m getting nervous that we do something dumb here.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Jul 13, 2019 6:56:36 GMT -5
For most of the at-bat, Maeda's motion had him fooled and he was in front of the ball. But the wheels were cranking and I wondered if he wouldn't get one of those timed. Took a while but that's just what he did. The board is funny about the guy, with a lot of revisionist thinking, trivial stuff about this and that. Hard for some people to accept that he's a very good defensive catcher and now he's turned himself into a very good hitter also. It's not as if he's playing in isolation. The talk about how juiced the ball is for Devers and Vazquez is often in the same gameday threads where posters worry about Betts' lost mojo. But that's a typical baseball season, no? Some are up, some down. He deserved serious consideration for the all-star team though he didn't get it. Still flying under the radar. He's likely going to be worth ten times his salary this year when all is said and done. Hard for people to accept that he’s turned into a good hitter? Yeah, it is hard to accept. Know why? Because he’s been a lousy hitter for the vast majority of his career. In his first 900 plus at bats in the bigs he hit a grand total of 10 homers. He’s hit 15 in what 250 plus plate appearances. Maybe the ball is juiced? Maybe he’s finally put it all together? Maybe it’s a combination of all those things? Honestly I don’t know and don’t particularly care. I’m thrilled with what’s he’s doing and hope it continues. And he has been worth every dime he’s getting this year and then some. But I’m not going to act like I’m not nervous that the clock’s about to hit midnight and he turns back into Sandy Leon (offensively speaking).
|
|
|
Noah Song
Jun 8, 2019 16:52:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Jun 8, 2019 16:52:42 GMT -5
Just my two cents, but if our military is going to spend Millions training a pilot, after paying four years of College I want to see a lot more than a two year commitment. No wonder we have a pilot shortage. As for Song, man talk about living life if he becomes a fighter pilot, then professional baseball player. For the record, you owe six to eight years AFTER flight school, which can take years to complete depending on the type of platform you’re flying.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Oct 28, 2018 22:19:02 GMT -5
We did it!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Oct 18, 2018 0:16:18 GMT -5
Oh god my heart can’t take many more games like this! But we won!!!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Oct 9, 2018 22:35:34 GMT -5
God.... my heart.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Sept 22, 2018 21:52:47 GMT -5
I liked the pitch selection when Kelly was up— lotta of change ups and knuckle curves
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Sept 20, 2018 23:08:19 GMT -5
Threeeee!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Aug 18, 2018 20:57:43 GMT -5
David Price has been pitching like one of the best pitcher's in baseball when Leon started catching him. Leon has called for a lot more change ups behind the plate in Price's starts. I’m sure Leon has helped but I don’t think it’s Sandy on his own doing it. I recall a few weeks ago Price mentioning he watched some film with the pitching staff and he made some adjustments (throwing more change ups was one of them, changing where he sets up on the mound etc). I’d say the success over the last few starts is because of these adjustments, not necessarily who is catcher.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Aug 14, 2018 20:58:46 GMT -5
Wow anyone else go from joy to anger/ fear back to joy in the span of seven seconds like I did that last play? Worth it though! Another W!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Aug 11, 2018 14:44:37 GMT -5
A couple weeks ago I said something I wat to repeat. The world is a better place when Jackie Bradley hits home runs. Bump!!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Jul 30, 2018 22:20:36 GMT -5
Ohhhh mamacita!!! Yes! Yesss!!! Yessssss!!!
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Jul 25, 2018 17:31:20 GMT -5
Well I think some of the pushback is: 1- the scouting reports might not be accurate; 2- even if they are, a six-year, cost-controlled back of the rotation pitcher isn’t anything to sneeze at. This type of player is valuable and in this age of ridiculous contracts might be a necessity to have on a team; 3- Nathan might not be a particularly good pitcher; 4- in isolation, trading a prospect to improve your team is reasonable and at times justified (we after all have a historically good team right now). But this type of trade has happened before... multiple times. It’s a symptom of a bigger problem: inability to scout, draft, and develop homegrown pitching. It highlights a management that’s so desperate to win now that they get stuck in this perpetual cycle of throwing prospects at rentals or near rentals and when they don’t work out... you throw more prospects to fix the holes you failed to fill earlier and if you fail to fix the problem... throw more prospects at the problem. In fairness, the Sox aren’t the only team like this. But that doesn’t make the pill any easier to swallow.This strategy has been such a disaster that the Red Sox are going to win like 110 games this season. Yes, you’re right: DP, Smith, and Thornburg have been essential to this success. My mistake.
|
|
|
Post by jackiebradleyjrjr on Jul 25, 2018 17:07:39 GMT -5
So as long as Sox Prospects scouting reports are accurate and he is nothing but a back of the rotation guy I don't see what the complaints are. If Beeks had shown anything when he had the chance this year they probably don't trade him he would have been the guy they turned to. But Wright and Erod got hurt and Drew still has not found those 5 miles an hour he lost at the end of last year. They need a starter. So I hope Nathan pitches good for the Sox and trust that Ian who has actually scouted Beeks is correct. Well I think some of the pushback is: 1- the scouting reports might not be accurate; 2- even if they are, a six-year, cost-controlled back of the rotation pitcher isn’t anything to sneeze at. This type of player is valuable and in this age of ridiculous contracts might be a necessity to have on a team; 3- Nathan might not be a particularly good pitcher; 4- in isolation, trading a prospect to improve your team is reasonable and at times justified (we after all have a historically good team right now). But this type of trade has happened before... multiple times. It’s a symptom of a bigger problem: inability to scout, draft, and develop homegrown pitching. It highlights a management that’s so desperate to win now that they get stuck in this perpetual cycle of throwing prospects at rentals or near rentals and when they don’t work out... you throw more prospects to fix the holes you failed to fill earlier and if you fail to fix the problem... throw more prospects at the problem. In fairness, the Sox aren’t the only team like this. But that doesn’t make the pill any easier to swallow.
|
|
|