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Post by Guidas on Jul 26, 2023 15:16:43 GMT -5
None of this challenge crap either. All balls/strikes should be called by robo umps. It's completely incomprehensible to me why there would be a challenge system rather than simply using electronic balls and strikes on every pitch.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 26, 2023 15:15:05 GMT -5
None of this challenge crap either. All balls/strikes should be called by robo umps. Word! (I said that a few weeks ago, and an intern told me, "No one says 'word' anymore." I looked at him, nodded and said, "Holla!" He walked away shaking his head. I am considering using both word and holla in his evaluation.)
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Post by Guidas on Jul 26, 2023 15:13:03 GMT -5
Line-upage:
Duran LF
Turner 2B
Yoshida DH
Devers 3B
Duvall CF
Verdugo RF
Casas 1B
Wong C
Chang SS
Bello P
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Post by Guidas on Jul 26, 2023 6:58:54 GMT -5
Great win!
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Post by Guidas on Jul 25, 2023 17:13:14 GMT -5
Best of luck to Kiké. He had an amazing, outlier year in 2021 and burned through the playoffs. Never a big fan of playing him every day, as Cora was want to do, and was sad to hear he'd become a bit of a clubhouse cancer this year while mired in his slump.
He ended up at the best place for him, and, seeing what the Dodgers seem to do with cast-offs, he'll probably morph back into his 2021 form within 2-3 weeks.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 25, 2023 17:07:48 GMT -5
I'd be surprised if the Sox didnt get two Justin Garza level relievers for Hernandez. Anything more valuable than that cannot be expected. Yeah, they can't be guys that need to be protected from Rule 5. So, yeah, these are Brennan Bernardino (as of last year) types. (The point being that they may have something in mind for one or both guys, something creative that the Dodgers haven't tried. One in 20 odds they get a player of any sort, but that's better than zero. And always interesting!)
This would be something to see. I am wary of getting minor league pitchers from the Dodgers or Rays, as they seem to have the best magic dust for pitchers in baseball. Anyone they cast off is a bit sus until the pitcher proves otherwise. Maybe Bloom can flip one or both of these guys in a package for someone more useful.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 24, 2023 16:53:30 GMT -5
Meanwhile...
Jarren Duran vs. LHP this year:
.289 AVE/.333 OBP/.421 SLG
Alex Verdugo vs. LHP this year:
.229 AVE/.333 OPB/.303 SLG
Really Mr. Cora, you need to play Duran every day and Refsnyder should be spelling Dugie in RF vs. lefties.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 24, 2023 16:07:53 GMT -5
I know a lot of fans might not love this, but thoughts on Houck for India and then Verdugo, Yorke, and others for Cease? White Sox wouldn't have much use for Dugie as I think they look for younger prospects with more control but it could be a 3 team deal with another playoff team looking for an OF. I'm just a little worried that Duran & Yoshida (Duvall, Refsnyder, Abreu, Rafaela, Anthony) basically have their spots locked in for the upcoming 4+ years in the OF, we won't want to pay Dugie ~$18 mil a year. Yoshida could move to DH sooner rather than later which could make Dugie much more valuable. Only downfall of this could be defense. India is 20th percentile OAA, Devers is 18th percentile OAA, Casas is 2nd percentile OAA, and Yoshida has been below average at best. On the other hand, Verdugo has been a revelation this year in RF, much improved from previous years. Get two guys with control in India (3 years after this) and Cease (2 years) while trading Verdugo (1 year), Yorke (would be blocked by India, Story, Mayer) and Houck (still questionable his role, SP/bullpen?). Cease might be too expensive for many's taste but could see them pushing some chips in for this year and the future. I like the idea of Cease - a 4.4 fWAR starter for the last three years (this year's trajectory included) who is not a free agent until 2026 and not even arb elligible until 2024. But I think he'd cost much more in prospects than you have here. The White Sox will probably want Mayer and Anthony, plus a pitcher with some helium (Pereles or Gonzalez). I also don't think they think they are in rebuild mode as much as "some alterations" mode. After all, they were the pre-season favorite and just failed to perform. India seems better than our current second basemen, but I don't see him as a long term solution there, at least not for Boston. If they want a finish the season or 1.5 year stopgap, go get one, but Story at SS should create a lengthened order and produce a survival of the fittest at second, who would presumably be the 8-9 hitter. Chang would be kept in case Story goes back down so you pick from these three with their 2023 stats: Reyes 72 PAs .303 AVE/.338 OBP/.364 SLG out of options Arroyo 189 PAs .247/.277/.382 FA 2025 Arb Eligible Hernandez 323 PAs .222/.279/.320 owed about $5M Pros and cons to each, including defensive ability.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 24, 2023 14:56:33 GMT -5
QO is prob 20M$. But 1 year. I like that play. I love it. But if you're Paxton and his agent and he finishes the year as a 2.5+ fWAR starter in just 20ish starts this season, you know you can get more. Why take the QO? Gotta give to get. That's the risk part.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 24, 2023 12:33:24 GMT -5
19 years ago today we experienced one of greatest Red Sox games in history. There were so many twists and turns, even before the game which likely would have rained out if it was not a network broadcast and Red Sox players insisting they wanted to play. I was fortunate to attend this game, sitting in the rightfield grandstand. A bunch of MFY fans were sitting in front of us and there was a lot of back forth between us throughout the game. They got up to leave after the 8th inning as the MFY had a 10-8 lead after 8 innings and Rivera warming up. I told them they were chicken shit to leave the Red Sox come back to win. I imagine their ride back to New York became much longer when Billy Mueller hit the 3 run walk off HR. What’s are some of your best memories of this game? I was at this game, too - and the game in the Bronx they referenced. In fact, in the latter, Pokey Reece made a much better play than Jeter diving into the stands. Jeter caught the ball then fell into the stands. Pokey dove into the stands and caught the ball in mid-air, snatching it before a spectator could. Of course, NYY, the media and crush Mr. GoodyTwoSpikes got all the accolades. Typical. As for the game in Boston, if I remember correctly it rained hard the day and night before and they weren't even sure that they were going to play. We were on the RF line beyond 1st base up near the top of the seats and we could hear ARod yell F-you. There were MFY fans all around us. The place became rabid when the fight broke out and then after the NY fans were all pissy that Tek didn't take his mask off. I mentioned to one of them that Tek's not stupid. He was so drunk he wanted to fight me, but then puked all over himself and fell down. One of his buddies walked him to the rest room to clean him off. Anyway, we always stayed to the end. Millar I think went 4-4 that day and Billy Mueller finished the game off of Mariano. The NYY fans were gone when we turned around. I think we stayed with a lot of people in the stands just celebrating for like 15 mins. Good times.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 24, 2023 8:41:12 GMT -5
I'd point out the last two years Duval has better numbers versus LHP than Hernandez. You have to go all the way back to 2021 for Hernandez to be smashing LHP like his career numbers. Declined greatly 2 years in a row. So what makes you think his career numbers matter more than the last two years? I'm getting Bradley vipes that his days of being really good might be over for good. If you trade Hernandez, can't you use Rafaela a great defender as depth also? Single-season performances vs. LHP are full of random noise, so that's why I went as far back as possible. Re what I bolded, the standard for hitter projections is to start with the last 3 seasons and weight them 5-4-3. So that great season is still 1/4 of his projection. Given that he played hurt all last year, "all the way back" made me laugh. I do agree that Duval is likely to be a bit better vs. LHP than Kiké, but the defense makes that a wash, and then the clubhouse continuity makes it a better choice -- at a minimum. Admittedly I'm a notorious optimist, but I put the chances that Kiké recovers his 2021 mojo at 35 or 40%. And that of course would be huge.
His 2021 was an outlier year, however. Not sure how he gets back even a percentage of that during the season. I could see him doing what JDM did in the off-season and go work on his swing (JDM even said last year he acquired a hitch in his swing in early June and couldn't work it out as hard as he tried). Anyway, there may be one more good offensive year in Kiké, and even a short stretch this year where he gets lucky a few games in a row, but he seems like he's second-guessing himself and pressing at the plate. And what good is a utility guy if he's really bad at some of the positions he plays (SS, and even 2nd)? Maybe you can use him for an inning or two at either spot and get away with it, but for the rest of the year, I think he's a glove-dominant CF/OF who would be a great late-inning defensive add. Then again, if he goes back to LAD, they seem to have magic dust they sprinkle on everyone, so who knows? Hell, they've turned 2023 Ryan Braiser into 2018 Ryan Braiser with a touch a Mariano Rivera.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 24, 2023 8:33:00 GMT -5
Lot's to be determined in the next week and a day, but I see a lot of people here opining about the haul in trade packages for Paxton. I've been considering the other question: Should the Sox extend him right now? I know he's been broken for most of the last few years, but he's very effective right now, hitting high pitch counts with ease and holding velo and command late into appearances. He's also sung praises about the rehab and training staff with the Sox, liking the team and the city, and, like most players, would like some certainty for the next few years. It's a risky move, but if the terms are right, it could be well worth having a 2/3 like Paxton who is capable of pitching like a 1. So what would be reasonable for both sides? My proposal 2 years at $21M per year with an automatic option for a 3rd year at the same price if he pitches 150 or more innings in year 2 of the deal. If I'm his agent I'd probably push for 3 years with that option for the 4th, but given his age, injury history, and a pretty flush pitching market coming up this winter, I think this offers a fair and reasonable proposal. What to all y'all think? Too much, too little or just right? This is a rather polarizing topic on the board from what I've seen, I'm with you though. I'd float something like what Eovaldi got from Texas which is pretty much what you outlined. 2 guaranteed years with a 3rd year vesting option based off innings pitched in that 2nd year. Sure you run the risk that he gets hurt again but fingers crossed/knock on wood he looks healthy and strong right now. I think if his elbow holds up I don't see why he can't be a valuable starter the next 2 years and at the end of the day if not it's just 2 years. Obviously I don't want them to end up just eating money if he gets hurt but I think the risk/reward can be enough to make it worth it. I think so too, especially considering that with him currently on the Sox, they know his medicals better than the other 29 teams.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 24, 2023 8:30:15 GMT -5
Senator, we are both a part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family. Senator, you can have my answer now...my offer is this.....nothing. ha. That "Senator" is a thinly veiled caricature of Nevada's Pat McCarran, as vile a creature as ever haunted the halls of Congress. That's a high or low bar, depending on one's perspective. I was a stringer for some newspapers in the 1990s and met more than a few national politicians. I have nothing good to say about any of them on either side except several are now dead.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 23, 2023 21:08:42 GMT -5
Great win!
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Post by Guidas on Jul 23, 2023 16:26:01 GMT -5
1. Automated Strike Zone.
2. Ability to Trade Draft Picks and Their Associated Money for Rounds 1-5 for Up To Two Years (i.e. A team could've traded picks from this year and next year to Pittsburgh (or whomever) for their #1 pick, etc. Like the NFL and NBA).
3. Two Mound Visits Per Pitcher Maximum, Including Catcher Visits. Pitcher Must Be Removed If There's a Third Visit.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 23, 2023 16:20:27 GMT -5
Lot's to be determined in the next week and a day, but I see a lot of people here opining about the haul in trade packages for Paxton. I've been considering the other question: Should the Sox extend him right now?
I know he's been broken for most of the last few years, but he's very effective right now, hitting high pitch counts with ease and holding velo and command late into appearances. He's also sung praises about the rehab and training staff with the Sox, liking the team and the city, and, like most players, would like some certainty for the next few years. It's a risky move, but if the terms are right, it could be well worth having a 2/3 like Paxton who is capable of pitching like a 1.
So what would be reasonable for both sides?
My proposal 2 years at $21M per year with an automatic option for a 3rd year at the same price if he pitches 150 or more innings in year 2 of the deal.
If I'm his agent I'd probably push for 3 years with that option for the 4th, but given his age, injury history, and a pretty flush pitching market coming up this winter, I think this offers a fair and reasonable proposal.
What to all y'all think? Too much, too little or just right?
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Post by Guidas on Jul 23, 2023 15:18:06 GMT -5
Kiké must play, apparently:
Duran CF Yoshida LF Turner DH Devers 3B Duvall RF Casas 1B Wong C K. Hernández 2B Chang SS
Bernardino P
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Post by Guidas on Jul 23, 2023 15:17:05 GMT -5
How about some cheerful news -- Looks Like a Shortstop: He's ready.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 23, 2023 8:38:01 GMT -5
You just have to give respect to Dombrowski or whomever it was on his staff that made this move. Shrewd and could give them an effective reliever and perhaps even a #4/3 starter down the road. This is the kind of low risk high reward move that The Rays, Cleveland and LAD have excelled at over the last several years.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 22, 2023 20:53:42 GMT -5
Great win!
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Post by Guidas on Jul 22, 2023 14:55:16 GMT -5
And here comes the part where taking Duran out may look absurd.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 22, 2023 14:51:52 GMT -5
We were assured before the season that he was above average at fielding his position. He looks more and more like a left-handed Dalbec at first, defensively.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 22, 2023 14:46:41 GMT -5
Merloni: If you're the Red Sox, Casas is the guy you want at the plate right now. He's given you three good at bats today DOB: *Long silence* His ABs with runners in scoring position are generally awful. Distracted driving, no doubt.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 22, 2023 14:37:28 GMT -5
I need all the Duvall peeps to tell me how he's actually awesome and has been trending the right way since mid-June or whatever. Because right now he looks like he should be driving the DFA Zamboni with Kiké on his lap.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 22, 2023 14:31:01 GMT -5
Cora's taking Duran out of a 1-run game and putting Kiké in. This seems...dumb. Refsnyder did his job. Why not move Duran to CF. In case, y'know this becomes a tie game and you need to scratch over a run? ADDED: Doesn't matter. Bleier is in to put this one out of reach and give another sub -.500 team some hope. It's generous of the Sox to do this for so many teams this year. ALSO ADDED: Glad I could fix Bleier here. I still have the touch.
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