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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Feb 8, 2023 20:53:11 GMT -5
My first thought about Boston's 2023 win total was 86, but we all know what happened in '86 and I don't want to jinx things, so let's go with 87. (With an outside hope to hit 90 if everything falls into place)
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jan 22, 2023 15:57:55 GMT -5
Let's let Casas play a year and demonstrate success at the MLB level before throwing a long-term deal his way.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jan 10, 2023 21:56:49 GMT -5
Anyone know Rico Petrocelli's number? Maybe the Rooster? Spike Owen, anyone?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jan 4, 2023 17:59:20 GMT -5
Big dollars for a 'face of the franchise' guy - glad he'll be hanging around. I didn't think Boston would sign both Devers AND X. Of the two, I think this makes more sense.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Dec 18, 2022 17:30:00 GMT -5
A painful offense to watch. Sad...
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Dec 5, 2022 18:14:29 GMT -5
How would signing Senga play into Boston's financials? Would the signing fee count against this year's luxury tax... or would only his salary? I'm assuming Boston wouldn't suffer any penalities regarding international pool money or having to surrender any draft picks.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Nov 24, 2022 17:05:30 GMT -5
Saw him play for Greenville in Winston-Salem this summer. He impressed, perhaps his team's best offensive player. He was a high draft pick, so there must have been something Boston saw in him. He's still pretty young, so I wonder where management views him. For example, if not for Mayer, where would he rank? Could he be a utility guy? Where would that leave Jeter or, possibly Yorke? Could one of them play outfield?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Nov 5, 2022 15:46:37 GMT -5
Looks like the NHL is going to bar him indefinitely. You have to assume the B's looked closely into his past and present. No one condones his past. Looks like Boston will stash him in the minors until further notice. So here's where I am on it. We're a nation of second chances, especially if/when a person offers remorse/regret/apologies. The B's will keep him on a very short leash. He'll really need to show contrition publicly, including directly to the victim and the family. If Miller chooses to, he could be shining example of a redeemed life. As to those who say playing professional sports is a privilige, I see the point, though I suspect the adverse publicity would be a big hinderance no matter what sort of semi professional job he'd ever hope to get. It's a PR/culture issue for the NHL, which is under a microscope vs Miller picking up a job as a supervisor at a manufacturing plant in the middle of nowhere.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Oct 28, 2022 16:32:35 GMT -5
Here's a thought... and maybe it's been hashed out... or maybe it's never been agreed to with any player. Seems like so many contracts give the player an opt out after a certain number of years. Has that ever been reversed, where a team might front load a contract, but the deal allows the team to opt out midway through the contract? Not saying that Devers would agree to it, but it got me thinking about lower level players who'd want more front-end monies.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Oct 13, 2022 14:30:20 GMT -5
Not sure how to look for threads other than the most recent ten or so... so please move this to wherever appropriate. Carlos Correa is opting to become a free agent. That kind of surprised me, given his 2022 performance. With Xander likely looking to opt out, our boards have dealt with Swanson and others, but not Correa. I get it that people have a distaste for the Astros and their cheating, but what would someone like Correa likely earn on the open market? Might he be a solution for Boston, ensuring Story stays at second... and then Correa moving to third when/if Mayer is ready at short or if Boston needs a third baseman should Devers leave or move to DH? Where does that put Yorke... and, as perhaps and afterthought, Downs? www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34788732/carlos-correa-opting-twins-deal-become-free-agent
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Oct 1, 2022 17:24:20 GMT -5
How's his glove? Assuming he'd hit enough to DH, could he play a passible first base?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Oct 1, 2022 16:56:20 GMT -5
My guess is that wherever X signs, it'll be for a handful of years or so... certainly a long enough deal to where he'll have to move from shortstop part way through his contract. For a host of reasons, Boston should be in on securing X long-term. He'd keep Story at second... would allow ample time to see whether Mayer, Lugo, or other draft picks could take over at short. He'd provide insurance in case Boston can't extend Devers at third. He's an icon in Boston and, while his value diminishes if he moves to a lesser defensive position, he also provides leadership and a face for Latin American players on the team. There's a public perception 'cost' of letting him go, much as with Betts, although Boston's not currently in the budgetary jail they were when Betts was traded. Maybe Boston offers a couple/three high-dollar years with a player opt-out. The remaining few years at less money, since by then he'd likely be an outfielder.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Sept 23, 2022 20:22:10 GMT -5
I guess as I age I've become more of a casual Sox fan. Help me understand why Boston would only be over the CBT by $4.5 million. What's the financial/draft pick benefit to have sliced another $5 million and gotten under that threshold, especially when Boston was a long shot to make the postseason? Or, at least, the $4.5 million wasn't worth the marginal difference it'd have made in reaching the postseason. What does being over the CBT mean for the next year, two years, or three years? It would seem to me that if Boston wanted/needed to go over it, they would not only spend BIG but also do so with it being a great chance to make the playoffs and possibly win their division.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Sept 11, 2022 16:25:49 GMT -5
Maybe open a new thread for this season?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Sept 10, 2022 15:11:10 GMT -5
Rafaela may never become Betts at hitting, but I'd think we'd all be thrilled if he's close to another Jackie Bradley, Jr., with at least a little better than average hitting.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Sept 5, 2022 17:13:16 GMT -5
Pure Baseball by Keith Hernadez. He dissects a couple of games with great insight.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Aug 22, 2022 16:29:34 GMT -5
I follow the SABR page on Facebook. Just ran across this post: "With Patrick Corbin offering a quality start on Sunday but dropping to 4-17 on the season, the Nationals' starters have now gone 39 straight games without getting a win — the longest streak in MLB since at least 1901." I'm not readily seeing this elsewhere online. Anyone else see this?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Aug 11, 2022 17:06:07 GMT -5
As a side note, what a fall for this fella. Back with the White Sox, he was probably the game's best value stud starter... signed to a totally team-friendly deal. And now...
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Aug 9, 2022 17:07:44 GMT -5
What does releasing Bradley do for helping Boston get under the tax? And, as another poster just asked, is Boston in any still on the hook for a 2023 option? Gosh, it just seems like Boston was thisclose to getting under the tax.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Aug 6, 2022 15:27:34 GMT -5
Who'd been our #4?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Aug 6, 2022 5:25:15 GMT -5
No. For a variety of reasons. One that I haven't seen kicked around much at all is this: In a couple years we'll likely see yet another great "gotta have" talent. In recent years it was Harper, Trout... now Ohtani. Financially, a team could make it work. Its ripple effect - limiting spending in other areas - puts a team in a potentially tight spot. Couple that with the "putting all your eggs in one basket" factor makes it a crippling move if Soto's injured. In basketball, one or two studs can carry a team. Not sure that extends to baseball. I'd prefer to see monies spread a bit more evenly throughout the roster, if possible.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jul 23, 2022 6:29:59 GMT -5
For a guy (Duran) who already is known to struggle defensively, his failure to run after the ball makes things even worse. Had that been a Little League game, I suspect the center fielder would have been pulled for lack of effort and gotten a good talking to. Talent/skills and the lack thereof is one thing, but a poor attitude - compounded by his comment after the game - is a whole 'nuther issue.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jul 16, 2022 13:51:39 GMT -5
Excited about the draft! Boston has some picks and money to sign em. As far as strategy, who knows how Bloom will play it? Seems to be a draft with similar talent through the second and third round. Fabian is gone. Probably a blessing in disguise.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jul 12, 2022 18:01:15 GMT -5
What a swing and a miss with Harry. I guess it's "cut our losses and move on." At least we got something - maybe another Matthew Slater - we could hope, right? Glad I'm not a Browns backer with what Cleveland's going through with Mayfield and the cost of his replacement. I'd certainly hope NE's brain trust would learn from this. From my reading, it wasn't a case of taking a stud with some injury concerns or perhaps some character issues. Am I wrong with that assumption?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jul 3, 2022 14:54:19 GMT -5
As with others over the years (Betts, for example)... make your best offer to them now, but if that doesn't get it done, then you're faced with losing them after the season for what, a draft pick if you make a qualifying offer? Boston has young talent in the minors and trading any combination of those three vets would bring in more young talent - and keep payroll in check to extend Devers or make other moves. I'd look to deal Eovaldi (aging pitcher, health concerns) first. Then JDM (DH only player), then X. Xander has been a great franchise guy for years. Everyone and everything has a price, but if it doesn't work for Boston, then move him, put Story at short, and figure it out from there. We aren't going to overtake the Yankees. All Boston needs to do is make the playoffs.
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