|
Post by threeifbaerga on Apr 25, 2023 8:30:19 GMT -5
Paxton is a mythical creature not unlike a Hydra in my interpretation. I have real doubts that we ever see him pitch for the Sox(if he even exists). As for Sale, it HAS to be a weird experience for him being healthy and just lousy(at best). He has blown away just about every hitter he’s faced from the time he was about 10 years old. For him to be so vulnerable now must feel very strange. His velo is good and his breaking stuff is moving. I wonder if it's a combination of control and tipping the fastball. He's shown that he still can do it. He's thrown 72 innings since August of 2019, maybe it'll take more than one month for him to put it all together? It isn't fun watching him figure it out right now but I think he deserves more of a leash here.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Apr 4, 2023 19:49:19 GMT -5
Old friend BC at least has a respectable squad by the looks of it Only took four years.
|
|
|
Soccer
Dec 27, 2022 22:32:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 27, 2022 22:32:42 GMT -5
Based on the reporting I have seen today - nice win by LFC as well - this signing looks like very good value for the money, particularly for a player who just distinguished himself on the world stage and was in demand. Liverpool have several key attacking forward players down with medium to long term injury and this looks like a play to try to blast their way back into the top four and Champions League money. Reminiscent of the love for Luis Diaz in the last January window. Man it's such a shame Diaz has had such a rough go of it this year. He looked like such a great replacement for Mane at the time.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 16, 2022 12:26:15 GMT -5
- The redundancy is in what they contribute to the lineup. Swanson's steamer projected OBP is .309. Segura's, e.g., is .331.
- I know people keep bringing up this "you can't plan with prospects in mind" canard, and I think it's one of those things where it's a good rule of thumb, but sometimes you need to break those rules. When you have most of your top position prospects in the two middle infield positions, do you really want your two expensive log-term contracts to be in precisely those two positions? And unlike Correa or Bogaerts, neither Swanson nor Story can really move off of middle infield (while retaining any real value at least). Having one expensive long-term contract there in Story - okay. Having two though...?
- Obviously Swanson is good defensively. Just as obviously, not every good defensive shortstop is worth any contract. Past 6/150, plus the QO cost, I'm just not interested. - Okay, wRC+ then. He's at 107 over the last two seasons, 109 over the last three, 104 over the last four. That's fine; not great. And even if you don't want to say there's a trend there, he'll be 29; it's not likely there's remaining upside, and he's very likely to be below average offensively before the contract is up.
I still don’t get the redundancy argument. The whole point of WAR is that it’s supposed to capture value added in different ways - offense, defense, baserunning, etc. EG in the following scenario: Team A has a 4 WAR 2B (105 wRC, strong defender) and a 4 WAR SS (105 wRC, strong defender). Team B has a 4 WAR 2B (105 wRC, strong defender) and a 4 WAR SS (130 wRC, slightly below average defender). Unless you think WAR undervalues offense and overvalues defense, I don’t see any reason why Team A would be any better or worse off than Team B. I think it's more that should team B have an opportunity to add a plus defensive middle infielder with potential for an impact bat they can move that 130wRC infielder to third, first, left, etc. Both of those 105 wRC lose their value as they move down the defensive spectrum, the 130wRC guy doesn't lose as much. Maybe even gains if he becomes a plus defensive 3b or something.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 15, 2022 20:42:59 GMT -5
Ha Seong Kim checks a lot of boxes for me. 27, under control, plus defensive shortstop, seemingly available, upside with the bat.
Have I missed any real discussion about him?
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 10, 2022 23:14:36 GMT -5
You just said you didn't think Law should make inferences based on video of his mechanics and then did that exact same thing, didn't you?
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 10, 2022 18:31:44 GMT -5
Why do people assume all Japanese players are pals who follow each other to American teams? Has any team ever had two major Japanese players at once? It is, let’s call it, gently, presumptuous? Dice-K and Okajima. I never heard it was because they were buddies. Tazawa and Uehara were also bullpen mates. Edit - also Ichiro was teammates with Kaz Sasaki and Hasegawa in Seattle. Tanaka joined the Yankees when Ichiro was patrolling their outfield as well. Wow the Yankees also had Hiroki Kuroda on that team. Kei Igawa joined Hideki Matsui's Yankees too. Yu Darvish joined Yoshinori Tateyama and Uehara on Texas' pitching staff his rookie year.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 10, 2022 18:29:28 GMT -5
If Yoshida has 35 power then Benintendi has 20 power I mean... .095 isoP last year so you might be right? He was will a 3 bwar player so that's okay. I'm not really going to get hung up on home run totals if he's getting on base at an appropriate level.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 6, 2022 20:40:12 GMT -5
This is my thought as well. And for all the hand wringing over "the state of baseball journalism" it isn't just baseball, and it isn't just journalism, but the internet happened. To quote 30 Rock "It's the 24 hour news cycleJack, there's no time to do it right." That's simply an excuse for lowering the bar. It's not an excuse it's an explanation.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Dec 6, 2022 17:37:58 GMT -5
I'm actually even more convinced that he's going to SF now. You don't tweet that without hearing something from someone trusted. I bet he got a call from Judge's agent telling him to back off because they're still "negotiating". This is my thought as well. And for all the hand wringing over "the state of baseball journalism" it isn't just baseball, and it isn't just journalism, but the internet happened. To quote 30 Rock "It's the 24 hour news cycleJack, there's no time to do it right."
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Nov 17, 2022 12:47:12 GMT -5
The problem is that you're buying an 11 WAR player but will not get that production in a single year ever again. If you want to avoid paying big bucks (which he will get) for a bunch of years (which he will get) you definitely want to avoid giving that out for a guy who is coming off of a career year (which he definitely is).
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Nov 9, 2022 11:42:06 GMT -5
FSG might be best served selling Liverpool outright. Chelsea was sold for $4.25 billion in May 2022. Michael Edwards, Director of Football operations, left within the last year. Klopp, their manager, is likely leaving at the end of the current season. The time is ripe for a sale. Klopp just signed a multi-year extension, not sure where the likely leaving at the end of the season is coming from. The only way I see him leaving is if the team gets bought with oil money.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Oct 29, 2022 17:13:47 GMT -5
I'd imagine they get a lot of corporate sponsorship with the casinos purchasing up the boxes to use as comps for their high rollers. Plus lots of tourists. Very true and absolutely against the spirit of sports. Different conversation, definitely, but the industrialization and commodification of the game has just gotten so gross lately.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 23, 2022 10:22:59 GMT -5
If you guys want a good lol, look at Jordan Montgomery’s stats with the Cardinals. Just threw a 99 pitch one-hit shutout For a laugh fest, also check out Gallo with the Dodgers. I have already talked myself into Gallo being my #1 target for starting RF with Sox next year.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 23, 2022 8:50:45 GMT -5
I think a Judge signing is unlikely, but I would absolutely welcome him with open arms if it did happen. I’ve never heard any negativity towards Judge. He seems really professional and knows how to talk to the media. Doesn’t seem bothered by that New York atmosphere. The guy is a beast. He can sign here as long as he doesn't blare a boom box playing "Dirty Water" during a Red Sox/Yankees post-season series the way he blared "NY, NY" when the Yankees beat the Sox at Fenway in Game 2 of the 2018 ALDS, the only game they'd come to win - seemed to fire the Red Sox up. So you don't want to sign him because he's a good teammate?
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 16, 2022 9:07:37 GMT -5
RE Pham - aside from the situation with Pederson I think Pham has always been looked at as a fiery teammate, a real emotional leader and competitor in the clubhouse which is something I think the team is missing without Sale in the dugout. The leaders and stars on this team aren't the rah-rah type which I think can be detrimental when the team isn't performing as it should. This is obviously something that isn't necessarily quantifiable, just what I feel about the team.
As for the outfield going forward, my team building philosophy emphasizes CF defense so I'd start with re-signing Kiké to a 1 or 1+1 year deal and find a backup outfielder who can play above average defense at the corners and you would be comfortable giving regular at bats to should Hernandez go down for an extended period. Both of these deals would be made with an eye toward Rafaela breaking in should things break our way in 2023.
As for the corners I don't see the impetus to move on from Verdugo at what would amount to yet another sell low situation. Bring him back and hope his power returns. For the other corner I see the allure of Brandon Nimmo for sure but if the Mets or another contender want to give him a huge deal let them.
Am I crazy for thinking that Joey Gallo might be a good buy low candidate for RF? He was a plus defender there in Texas and already looks like a new man with the bat in LA. His power would be welcome in the lineup and at 28 there's reason to believe he isn't just toast. He could be the Schwarber replacement who can actually be an asset in the outfield instead of a problem.
I'm not sure who that backup OF is and I don't know what happens with Duran in that situation but we'd have good outfield defense and valuable bats without any huge commitments.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 16, 2022 8:37:39 GMT -5
Here's a scenario I can see happening next year: It's spring training, opposing pitchers stilll working on their mechanics and fastball command, not trying to expand the zone or attacking hitters with a specific game plan and so Rafaela hits the living crap out of ball like Ryan Fitzgerald, Bobby Dalbec and Sam Travis etc before him... Pete Abraham and Jason Mastrodonato and some posters here and on Twitter will be clamoring him as opening day CFer but he won't make the final cut and will start the season in AAA. Book it. You seem to think his carrying tool is his offense.
I think it's more that his offense isn't his calling card and some seemingly "ahead of schedule" offensive production will make some think he needs to be in the majors next April.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 12, 2022 20:09:46 GMT -5
I don't get this. You make Eovaldi throw 1,093 pitches I'm assuming in hopes of winning, so you follow it up with Matt Barnes? I don't see 108 pitches being out of line for a guy like Nate.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 10, 2022 15:58:28 GMT -5
Reese McGuire fact of the day: He has accumulated .4 more WAR than Christian Vazquez since the trade deadline. Kevin Plawecki has been worth -1.4 bWAR in 44 games. No reason it couldn't have been Vasquez and McGuire.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 9, 2022 22:37:16 GMT -5
Blaze Jordan doesn't turn 20 until December Looks pretty thick up top for a 19 year old, not in a particularly flattering way.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 8, 2022 10:17:47 GMT -5
While I also enjoy Kevin Millar in the booth there is just nobody more fun to listen to than Dennis Eckersley. We have been so lucky over the past couple years to have him, I'll miss it a lot.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 7, 2022 13:40:48 GMT -5
Lots of space here on the Reese McGuire bandwagon, everyone's welcome I prefer not to get in a vehicle with him. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Aug 4, 2022 14:12:55 GMT -5
Kolbrin Vitek for me. Every time I came across a Nick Castellanos highlight (who I was high on) I remember that draft lol I think I wanted Jesse Biddle and Mike Olt with two of our picks, but even that would have been better lol. Also could have had Yelich at that pick. We took Brentz before Syndergaard and Ranaudo before Castellanos and Taijuan Walker. Lol so yeah, that’s a fair one to shake your head at too. Ranaudo at 39 was looked at as a windfall if I remember correctly. Maybe he's just who I wanted.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Jul 30, 2022 12:44:22 GMT -5
I feel like it's either an overpay or a fair deal. Can't be both. An overpay can be a fair deal depending on the ROI If it's a fair deal how is it an overpay? An overpay is by definition not a fair deal I feel.
|
|
|
Post by threeifbaerga on Jul 30, 2022 11:52:22 GMT -5
What a terrible trade for Seattle. Nobody would have came close to topping that offer If that’s any indication of the market I can’t wait to sell They overpaid but they also got a year and a half of a top flight starter. Fair deal. Overpay for sure but if they win or even make a deep run at it I doubt anyone will care. I feel like it's either an overpay or a fair deal. Can't be both.
|
|