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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jun 20, 2022 12:51:14 GMT -5
Let's see what Downs has. Might be just a limited opportunity, but I hope he'll make the most of it.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jun 19, 2022 13:36:33 GMT -5
Lots of moving parts as this season goes on. Seller or buyer as the trade deadline approaches? Boston has 2023 pitching options, whether those coming back from injury/surgery or in the minors. Decisions on extending current stars. It'll be interesting, for sure. They're close in age - Evoladi is a year or so older - but Evoladi's salary is a good bit higher. If keeping under any sort of tax penalty threshold is a factor, then go with the lower $$$ guy, since it'll also help with extending Devers and possibly others.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jun 12, 2022 9:37:25 GMT -5
I see where Rafaela was recently promoted to Portland. I had the chance to see him when Greenville visited the Winston-Salem Dash. I caught their 6/3 and 6/4 games. Rafaela made an outstanding diving catch very early in, I think, the Friday game. He really looked good. Fielding, running, hitting. Exciting player!
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jun 6, 2022 18:46:01 GMT -5
Let's not judge, er, Judge. Let the NYY or other teams pay his freight. I'd rather lock up Devers and/or spend $$$ elsewhere, for all the reasons other posters have already put forth.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on May 28, 2022 14:48:40 GMT -5
As Bugs would say, "What a maroon!"
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on May 7, 2022 13:54:10 GMT -5
Last place after a month in is a tough pill to swallow. I don't have answers, other than to say to bring up the top prospects and let them perform. At this point, it's looking like a rebuilding year.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Apr 25, 2022 17:52:54 GMT -5
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Apr 18, 2022 16:58:40 GMT -5
I haven't seen this idea talked about much at all on other sites, but I'll throw it out for discussion. While "conventional wisdom" says NE needs speed at LB, help at CB, WR, and the interior line, we also know Belichick zigs when most think he'll zag. What about NE picking a future left tackle in the first round and sliding Wynn to left guard, a place he'd ideally have been from the beginning? And if the rookie isn't up to protecting the blind side, shift Trent Brown to left tackle and put the rookie at right tackle for a season. Moving Wynn to guard would go a long way to solving the interior line issue this year, while also allowing for NE to groom its next left tackle. The alternative? Do you re-sign Wynn? Sign a pricy free agent next season? I doubt NE wants to do that. Thoughts?
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Apr 17, 2022 16:04:49 GMT -5
If Boston's gonna lock up one player, albeit overpaying in today's dollars, it's Devers. His production, his age, the fact he could slide to first or DH in later years... he'd look to be a foundational piece of Boston's teams over the next xxx number of years.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Apr 7, 2022 19:23:03 GMT -5
I, too, enjoy reading The Athletic and initially got my free month trial from a person on this site. I then canceled before the trial ended... and within a week or two, I got it for about a dollar or two a month, I think, via a Facebook promoted post. Great content. As to the detail, yes... lots and lots of info from "The Beast" - a ranking over 1,600 college players. It's more than I care to digest. But for players tabbed in mock drafts as going to NE, I find it a fun and informative read.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Mar 27, 2022 12:32:46 GMT -5
I really enjoyed reading your breakdown on the top wide receivers. I wonder how much that fifth year of control for first-rounders will play in trade scenarios. We all know Belichick's desire to trade back for picks when there isn't a clear-cut choice at NE's draft position. Hypothetical here... if there are a couple/few remaining WRs or perhaps LB/DBs sitting there at 21, would trading out of the first round be as likely this year, given how expensive WRs have become? Does that 5th year of control offset picking up a later-round selection? My guess is NE still makes the trade.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Feb 28, 2022 20:35:05 GMT -5
The game will survive. It has, through the Black Sox scandal and many other changes over the decades. As a guy in his 60s, I've witnessed decades of change... some good, some maybe not so good - in my view. But it survived.
Frankly, at this point I wouldn't complain if the game is blown up. Let the players create their own league. Let the owners keep their franchises and chart their own course. Competition and a break from "this is how we've always done it" might be both interesting and a needed re-set.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Feb 24, 2022 19:55:00 GMT -5
Most all teams have issues at multiple positions. Between impending free agents, deciding to release guys whose performance doesn't equate to their salary, to gauging college players' strengths relative to your schemes/current needs, etc. It's gotta be a HUGE task to sort out relative value and available options, all while operating within a salary cap. Anyone's guess is good as another's because there are so many variables in play.
While it's not my money... I'd like to see them re-sign Jackson. Maybe even take another CB or LB in the first couple of rounds. Grab a solid OT or interior lineman or DL guy in the middle rounds. Hate to say, but I just think NE stinks at drafting receivers. That said, NE will take a WR in the first round, then the requisite safety in the second...
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Feb 20, 2022 14:02:59 GMT -5
The other day I was thinking about this very topic - does Boston have a legit catcher-in-waiting? Made me reflect on the 'what might have been' with Daniel Flores. Not unlike with Ryan Westmoreland. It's expected that injuries can limit a guy's ability to perform, but death and very serious health issues are an aberration for athletes at that early stage in their adult life.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Feb 12, 2022 17:17:53 GMT -5
Up-thread I read a great point about how MLB is competing with the NFL/NBA for talent. Most minor leaguers play for peanuts vs perhaps realizing a greater initial payday in the other two sports. Just thinking here... maybe reduce the draft to a handful of rounds, then make all those unselected players free to sign with any team they wish. There would be a cap to a team's overall $$$ available to sign talent. Along with that, have - as the poster indicated - a minor league salary in the 30-35k range... perhaps a bit higher... to entice talent. It seems, to me, that more attention needs to be paid to the minor league pipeline... a source of cheap, young talent for teams (owners).
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Feb 7, 2022 19:49:36 GMT -5
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Feb 7, 2022 19:33:35 GMT -5
Speaking as a kid from the 60s & 70s in Rhode Island who grew up LOVING baseball... I played it, attended games, watched it on TV, listened to it on radio... collected cards and memorized the stats... been to the Hall of Fame a handful of times - even dragging my ex-wife and my kids there... it was a great passion. Key word is "was." Today, aside from reading sources like this website and others, aside from keeping an eye on the Red Sox, I'm done with MLB. Didn't watch the World Series. Didn't watch any baseball unless it was Boston. I'll attend about 10 or so minor league games with our local Winston-Salem Dash (High A), especially when Greenville comes to town. The traffic is easy... games are reasonably priced... no rowdy fans looking to get liquored up and fight... the entertainment value is there. My partial season ticket package gets me free parking, all the burgers/dogs/chips/drinks I want... front row seats behind the dugout... and ushers who know me. Fireworks after the game... small town fun. I don't miss MLB. Nor do my 34 year-old twin sons. Baseball isn't on their radar. I'm sure my story isn't the only one like it. My guess is that baseball will continue to diminish as a fan favorite, in large part due to the lack of interest from younger generations. Lockouts... strikes... at some point people just say, 'enough' and move on with other parts of their life. Late night game times mean many young kids won't see the games. Sad, but it's another chapter in our lives.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jan 16, 2022 10:11:36 GMT -5
We're on to next year...
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Jan 1, 2022 17:46:43 GMT -5
Nice to see NE lock up Phillips. Seems to be on pretty reasonable terms, too.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Dec 26, 2021 16:42:16 GMT -5
NE didn't seem to get a great rush on Allen when they knew it was going to be a pass.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Dec 15, 2021 19:50:24 GMT -5
I'd think a healthy, rested Barnes should/will be our closer. As with everything, especially relievers, it's subject to change.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Dec 1, 2021 7:48:19 GMT -5
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Nov 7, 2021 15:10:53 GMT -5
I've read most of the pros and cons of JD's scenarios. He's here another year and you know he'll put forth his best effort to earn a big contract after this coming season. Sox have salary certainty with him... and can place a qualifying offer next offseason if they desire. Might not have been Boston's best option, but, well...
From the 'glass is half full' perspective... we can focus on areas aside from adding another DH/outfielder like Schwarber. Lock up Devers... explore the bullpen situation.
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Nov 4, 2021 19:34:31 GMT -5
As Belichick does with the Pats, I hope the Sox don't get sentimental and look to keep players too long. Better to let them go sooner vs a year or two later. In this case, the player has a choice, so that adds another big variable. Regardless, Boston will end up with a combination of draft compensation or dollars to otherwise allocate (Devers?) should players end up elsewhere. However it all works out, 2021 was a great year and I'm excited about the future!
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Post by ghostofrussgibson on Oct 21, 2021 15:10:25 GMT -5
Not sure who the haters were, but I'd think turning pro and kicking butt might be a way to address it. We don't know all that went into his decision. Maybe he felt another year would generate not only a higher draft $$$, but also the chance to have 'fun' in the college atmosphere, banking on himself that he'll have an even better season and get drafted higher in 2022.
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