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Post by tonyc on Mar 14, 2015 10:05:10 GMT -5
This is a sad admission, but with my nearly 13 hour workdays including commute, other than playoffs baseball has become too slow and the mental constructs of the players- their stats and potentials is what has now preoccupied me much more than actually watching, other than occasional fast forwards- excepting playoffs and key games. In terms of actual action, if anyone saw that recent Bruins overtime, hockey is about 50 times better.
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Post by tonyc on Feb 25, 2015 22:43:21 GMT -5
This is somewhat reminiscent of- does anyone recall this?- roughly 10 years ago there were pages of scouting projections on Jon Lester and Johnathan Papelbon. Even though Papelbon at the time seemed to have more of a wipeout type of arsenal, scouts liked Lester's overall repertoire and his being a lefty. It was very close overall. Some similarities, no? If only one of these two becomes some fraction of one of the previous pair, we can smile.
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Post by tonyc on Feb 23, 2015 11:40:36 GMT -5
Shocked! For as long as free agency has existed I cannot remember outbidding the Yanks for anyone they truly wanted (resulting in "learned helplessness")..we did snatch Mike Torrez from them. They even took Luis Tiant from us at the end of his career (Bowie Kuhn was sickened). I cursed the sox fate of having the uber wealthy Yawkey die just on the eve of free agency- the "curse" would otherwise have ended long ago. Then decades of losing every bidding war with them- El Duque, etc. This is wonderful!
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Post by tonyc on Feb 22, 2015 22:24:55 GMT -5
Amen to the thoughts of Steve and Brian. If you recall the transcript of the punto deal, it was extremely complex and difficult and industry professionals with 30 year careers said they had never seen anything like it on many levels. I too was quite concerned after Theo left, but that deal, his many signings in 2013, his wonderful 2014 deadline and his winter this year are all highlights. To look simply at the standings in two out of three seasons and not delve deeper is a very simplistic fan perspective of what have you done for me lately.
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Post by tonyc on Feb 21, 2015 13:27:46 GMT -5
Regarding Kopech, the vast majority of pitchers- even with two wipeout pitches become relievers until proven otherwise. Ball has the advantages of being lefthanded, a more projectable frame with a repeatable delivery, was a high draft pick by some sharp scouts. Most importantly if you recall, a high level director in the Dodgers minor league system saw ace potential.
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Post by tonyc on Feb 18, 2015 12:18:34 GMT -5
I've reflected on Peavy's value during 2013..first of all, we had a borderline overtaxed pitching staff, so any additional innings allowed relief of this, and enabled more optimal performance-something key but not easily measured. He allowed Workman to go to the pen, pitched well during most regular season starts- and we just beat Oakland by one game, so the playoff schedule may have been different and tougher otherwise. Then, as stated he helped in the playoffs by closing out a tough Tampa bay series. Easily worth it.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 24, 2014 17:17:17 GMT -5
Thanks, hope that's helpful, now the qualifiers- I'm not a physician nor specialized in that field,and cannot give medical advice on the record- actually run a Radiology dept, with clinical duties. However, I have done research in a number of areas. So ryantoworkman, I would ask the Dr. if there are different types of multifocal lenses and what their history has been- sounds like you need this procedure fairly soon. I will say that wheras there is somewhat of a fixed focal ability with the cataract lenses, a key is that the brain is able to correct quite well and reconcile the differential nicely between my "driving lens" right eye, and "reading lens" left eye, and although both can do both duties independantly, it's pretty seamless integrated, so if your physician feels you are a candidate for a good result, it may be presently appropriate.
Django, if indeed you are facing corneal transplant surgery (keratoplasty), this is different, and I assume has more risks than routine cataract surgery. In cases of cataract surgery, the risk of infection with the contact lens, plus the degradation of that lens during its span of use would have to enter into the equation vs. the procedure risks.
Good luck both!
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Post by tonyc on Dec 24, 2014 14:30:13 GMT -5
Django,
I am in the medical field and also have a bunch of eye history- retinal detachements. An alternative to Lasik, depending upon certain factors may be cataract surgery, which would replace the lens in your eye. Eventually eyes develope cataracts over time and this may need to be done. One downside is that unlike the natural eye, the lens has a primary focal ability, near or far. Quite often one eye is down to focus on each. There is a new lens which can be multifocal, but experimental at this stage, and not for people with astigmatism. The end result for me was a correction from 20/300 unaided, to close to 20/20. I do not recommend those quick mall clinics, but a major clinic or hospital, best of luck.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 22, 2014 23:55:59 GMT -5
Welcome libertine, I too lurked here for many years before posting last season. I agree, and am pleased and a bit surprised that an article in the globe today cited projections that have Boston expected to have one of the better starting rotations in baseball. If that is indeed the case, then perhaps the older flyball throwing Shields and the overpriced Hammels will indeed wait. We'll see how the starters led by Porcello, and E.Rodriguez and the prospects fare; this keeps our budget down and offers options for the many starters, hopefully at a reduced price during the July deadline.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 15, 2014 20:15:01 GMT -5
On what people think of Kelly- I really liked his stuff a good deal. It remains to be seen how he is as a starter, and he could be afflicted by his size in two ways- despite his muscular trunk, enabling those high velocities, he may need more weight to consistently pitch deep into games for a full season. And I speculate whether his height, or lack thereof, similar to Rubby D.L. caused a more level plane on his pitches, so that in both cases hitters did not swing and miss despite velocities of both pitchers reaching 99mph. Contrast this with tall pitchers, like Henry Owens, who might get more misses than the pure velocity indicates (aside from his wonderful changeup).
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Post by tonyc on Dec 11, 2014 13:20:22 GMT -5
Last night upon learning Miley would go for both Delarosa and Webster, like others, I was disappointed, though felt a bit of understanding based upon explanations here. I loved the excitement of D/W's great stuff upside; an ability to dominate with swings and misses, and wanted to accord them a lifetime leash to give them that shot, whether or not (and perhaps not is more likely) that potential is ever achieved. Obviously, a greater weight is being applied here to the likelyhood of each roster player achieving above average status- not necessarily high ceiling/low consistency, with roster space at a premium given an attmempt to contend. This begets a different player acquisition philosophy which is quite opposite the buy low and develope into high predominant in a forum like this, with people like me, too who love the classic Andrew Miller for Eduardo Rodriguez type of deal. It is more, dare I say, a Yankee type method (though hopefully with more creativity and intelligence)- knowing you have the resources to fill each hole, so go for a shorter and surer term move. This is opposite the Dan Duquette method, who with limited resources for most of his tenure, did not just make the great deals- Pedro, Varitek/Lowe, but also picked up many starting players for nothing- Wakefield, Daubach, Oleary and others while trying out and dumping many others.
The main point I will postulate, is that aside from Duquette's obvious intelligence playing a role, this type of aquisition method enabled him to have a very low rate of getting burned long term in trades (the classic Jeff Bagwell type deal i.e.), wheras a Yankee method will leave them much more vulnerable to such deals blowing up in your face (Jay Buhner, amongst many others). For those with resources, though, it works, they won, and this should too- though it represents one of the potentially riskier moves of Cherington's tenure.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 10, 2014 12:59:33 GMT -5
As I get older and delve more into philosophy such as Zen, it's apparent that multiple viewpoints- seeming exclusive all have "truth" or validity at the same time. This seems quite relevant to the complex Lester situation and the viewpoints here, all of which have some validity-"hypocritical mercenary who was not going for the biggest deal," true.. sympathetic hometown star who wanted to go into a situation where he felt comfort- and felt wanted-true..Front office screwing up, perhaps both initially and in the end, given what alternatives they'll be stuck with, true, front office displaying discipline to their principles (re) players over 30 and preventing themselves from a longterm ripoff true.
This multifaceted viewpoint seems to fly in the face of a website devoted often to making specific points and backing them with the most precise data, yet seems to be the only way to view all the aspects here.
While I felt a bit of a gutpunch, part of me did not want to win simply by spending close to what the Yankees did last year, and become more like them, with fans as spoiled as theirs, expecting that and winning it all every year..let's do it with intelligence/trades etc. Same part of me is delighted for Theo and those wonderful dedicated Cubs fans and is really pulling for them to go all the way- perhaps even if we go against them (I used to pray for one WS and we've got 3).
As an aside for pieces that may get traded, I was a bit disappointed in the recent podcast's report on Eduardo Rodriguez, as I had/have higher hopes for him than expressed via the inconsistency of his stuff, we'll see.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 8, 2014 13:51:09 GMT -5
Eric, tough choice on Dewey vs. Rice- not only did Dewey hit over .300 with power as a 20 year old in AAA, along with the best defense/arm since Roberto, but as I recall he started out badly in AAA and ended up hitting over .400 for an extended stretch before playing in Fenway in September (my only time being at Fenway ever). Granted, you make points about Rice's fielding and walks-although I wonder if he was a better fielder than reputed, seemed to cover some decent ground and actually ran track in high school. However, the talent was the greatest as a hitter since Tony C for any sox player before or since. His strength was well documented when he broke bats on check swings..and Hank Aaron once claimed Rice would be the biggest threat to his record. Anyone know what happened to him in '80 to suddenly decline at age 27? By the way I'm shocked that Chad Finn didn't include Andy Yount in that piece for greatest prospects- before he trajically tore his hand up gripping an alcohol bottle at his friends funeral, he threw an easy 97 with movement busting in on righties. The Atlanta socouting director said he was the best prospect he'd seen in 20 years!
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Post by tonyc on Dec 7, 2014 14:32:11 GMT -5
Good thread..I'm with Eric. Yes the likelyhood of an amazing career being derailed due to injuries and many other factors is high (look at my name) so that Tears, you have a good chance to win that bet. But the talent and ceiling potential of Mookie is generational due to true 5 tool talent. How many players that age control an atbat running up pitches and fouling them off like Wade Boggs did? Or have a blistering sprint through the minors, with the strength and athleticism Mookie has? Morgan was about the best player I've ever seen, so I don't make that statement about his potential ceiling lightly. They do, however, have similarities in position, build and athleticism. Again, even Rice as great as he was did not approach what he started out to be (don't know if he had a wrist injury or something interrupt his too early prime).
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Post by tonyc on Dec 7, 2014 0:19:53 GMT -5
Danr,
I agree that the Ellsbury contract will, given his dependance on a speed skill set and the size of it and his age be a noose around their neck eventually. I do however, see a particular lack of loyalty- he shut the sox down from any attempts to resign him for years and was obviously going to the highest bidder without a damn to whom that was. At one time, Curt Schilling had it right that you just don't go to the other side, but that's past, along with identifying a team with players- like Seinfeld said, "we just root for the uniform." There are, certain players emblematic of outright mercenary values- Texeira was called a "businessman" by his Texas Ranger owner well before he pulled the Sox chains.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 6, 2014 15:04:06 GMT -5
Danr, before reading your post I was also going to say thank goodness we don't have Lou Gorman as GM today. Mind you, Bagwell was a powerless high average hitter at the time they dealt him and put on a remarkable 40 lbs or so of muscle. I also believe Betts is barely scratching the surface- I have said before he has, at least the appearances of similarities in ceiling to Joe Morgan- athleticism, hand eye, scouting, minor league record, and a remarkable 275 lb. bench press! That comment was ripped a bit, until until Eric showed in some tables how truly rare his early career stats/vs. age are- a list of hall-of famers appeared next to him. He should be untouchable, just like Bogaerts.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 6, 2014 14:15:34 GMT -5
I am not happy with Lester, a player who really did want to stay probably leaving, but he is not an outright mercenary like Jacoby, who is truly a Yankee despite the wonderful things he did here. It is more the culture that he is in- where is he under huge pressure from the players association, his agents, and players from other teams to leave if the differential is too high. This is an unfortunate reality in what has become even more a business and less a sport. When we flew over Shea Stadium this summer, my girlfriend noticed how large "CiTifield" was written, and how small "Mets" was.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 3, 2014 19:02:16 GMT -5
Now I'm hoping Wesley doesn't have crediblility, with his last blurb stating "reports" that a Yankee offer is blowing everyone else out of the water on Lester. If we had to lose him, at least the Cubs have Theo, the most loyal and longsuffering fans, the one traditional ballpark that I think could even top ours- But this I cannot stomach, and I will view him as a hypocrite if he bites..
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Post by tonyc on Dec 3, 2014 18:13:26 GMT -5
Apologies, but part of me still lives in the '70's, so another entry. Yes John, LESS did seem like so much more- I grew up in NY as a fanatic (and of course much argued with) Sox fan. You could not see any games (other than an occasional NBC) and could only, after the sun went down on clear nights, move the feedback screaming screechy radio to a certain upturned angle to barely hear Ned Martin's wonderful broadcast on WTIC Hartford.. I met a woman at a sports bar who got a signal on the radio for the sox game and drove back and forth on the same 5 miles of highway for the whole game. Yes about the box score- was thrilled when on the last day of the 1974 season Yaz did not play, to preserve his .301 average.
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Post by tonyc on Dec 3, 2014 16:38:25 GMT -5
In response to the earlier, nostalgic comments about reading it in the paper- I spent all my early summers living with family in Montreal. In the early '70's, when Boston could forget about ever catching Baltimore, my first childhood job ever was a paper route. Before doing delivery of the Montreal Gazette at 5:30 AM, I of course would check the 'sox box score. I was shocked and ecstatic upon seeing the Sox swept a doubleheader from Baltimore, and started screaming, until my cousin quieted me!
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Post by tonyc on Nov 23, 2014 22:58:20 GMT -5
Eric, great post as always. I attended a medical workshop specifically on apnea and someone as highly intelligent as you is probably aware that the long term potential consequences are systemic and devastating, so please consult someone about it. Surgery is not necessarily an outcome, there are various devices (granted some past ones had issues, but they are getting better) to treat them. Otherwise I enjoy your "sleepless" posts.
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Post by tonyc on Nov 23, 2014 22:14:37 GMT -5
Soxchamps I would love that too..but I am concerned the Yankees are favored for Moncado and lurking for Lester..wouldn't mind the Cubs getting him as much- those are the most loyal ( and patient, unlike our) fans and I'd love to see them win one, and still love Theo. I suspect if Sox sign both Panda and Hanley, they are reading that the market is too high for Lester and will be making trades of the created surpluses for pitching- hopefully Cespedes + Renaudo ie., but hopefully not Betts or Bogaerts, who should be untouchable.
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Post by tonyc on Nov 20, 2014 21:29:38 GMT -5
Off the top of my head one of the worst of this type of incidents for the Redsox..the Bruins had Craig Mctavish kill someone while driving drunk. Fortunately, they released him to Edmonton, where he picked up his career and not only played well and became a coach, but stopped drinking and became a big advocate against it. I'm in the medical field and can tell you that a world conference with lots of research has discredited the former nonsense about a bit of alcohol helping with health- none is best.
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Post by tonyc on Nov 17, 2014 20:21:44 GMT -5
Indeed Sox champs, I loved Cooper- hit over .300 at every level in the minors, great bat, it was stupid. Dumping Oglivie not great either, Cooper was maybe their worst move until Bagwell- but that had good Karma, because I felt Gorman was not going to win a WS and Duquette could, and that caused his pink slip.
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Post by tonyc on Nov 16, 2014 15:56:19 GMT -5
That's right re: no guarantee of performance going up when weight goes down- those of us who've been here a while can recall the exact opposite- George Scott at 6'3" and 320 lbs in '77 hitting about 36 homers, then losing the weight and the power together.. one of the more amusing plays was when the pitcher threw an errant pickoff with him manning first and Dave Kingman (with the Yankees at the time) who went 6'6" 280 and Scott scrambling and jumping all over each other. Still Rue the day the Redsox blundered by picking Bob Bailey over Kingman in the waiver draft at that time- every time Kingman fouled off a ball it skied over the monster in that series.
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