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Post by beasleyrockah on Aug 12, 2019 15:11:26 GMT -5
Can you imagine how much heat Dombrowski would be taking right now if he dealt Vazquez and kept Swihart before the season started?
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Post by beasleyrockah on Aug 11, 2019 15:59:58 GMT -5
There's re-writing history and there's calling a contract "good" when ZERO teams wanted it for free. By definition that is not a good contract. You can argue Manny earned the deal AFTER the move was made, but there can be no debate that the deal was bad at the time since it was proven by history, it's an indisputable fact. If you want to harp on a non-move that literally had zero impact rather than all the other things we could discuss I think that just shows you've reached your opinion and are searching for supporting evidence rather than the whole picture. Good day sir.
EDIT: Still waiting on the names of current owners you think are better than Henry, hopefully with an explanation of why they are better.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Aug 11, 2019 15:50:09 GMT -5
Pedro, if you read my post you'd see it wasn't just Steinbrenner outspending the Red Sox, it was a bunch of teams. They didn't reach #2 status until after the Manny contract was signed. In. 2000 they were 7th, 1999 they were sixth, 1998 they were seventh (despite being in a contending window). In 1997 they were fifteenth, in 1996 they were eleventh, 95 they were eighth. They were routinely outspent by teams like the Orioles, Braves, Rangers, and Indians. So again, to reiterate, this wasn't simply being crushed by the evil empire, they were closer to a mid-market team than the Yankees.
*the payroll rankings were based on opening day payrolls for each year but that's all I could find on a quick search
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Post by beasleyrockah on Aug 11, 2019 15:34:16 GMT -5
John Henry is either the best owner in MLB or the most fortunate owner in MLB. I'll pick the latter. He hired good people to do his job, but he was no better or worse at spending than any big market team. The success of the Red Sox on field product is more on the GM's who constructed the team at the time. Spending was a good part of it, and he takes some credit, but calling him the best owner in MLB. I can't do it. He's no Steinbrenner. Not even close. Steinbrenner would put himself into debt, just to win back in the day. In fact, when John Henry intervened, you can say that's when things went south. The Pablo Sandoval signing (Panda sales!!), the John Lester disaster, the Manny Ramirez situation. We are lucky he even spent the cash to get Price. At least he had the foresight to do that. He had no other choice, but to do that. The current Steinbrenner's are trash, and the other one died, so that's like saying you can't call Bill Belichick the best coach in the game because of Vince Lombardi. Who is a better owner? It's weak to say he's not the best yet not reference a single living owner you'd take over him. The fact is no owner has won more championships than Henry since he took over, so if you're arguing for another owner's track record you're making a case for payroll efficiency over championship banners. You're giving credit to the GMs without acknowledging A.) John Henry was responsible for hiring them B.) he's won four championships with three different guys running the show. I'm at a loss for what you want from an owner, he spends, maximizes their resources, and hires good people. This wasn't Kraft lucking into Belichick and letting him run the show for two decades, they've won with teams built by Theo, Cherington, and DD. John Henry "intervened" on the Yoan Moncada negotiations too, but lets talk about the "Manny Ramirez situation" which is when they put him on irrevocable waivers and no team claimed him so literally nothing actually happened and it proved he accurately read the market. If only he could've made some extensions for the core, say a Xander Bogaerts…oh wait, nope, that must've beenl Dombrowski. The Sale signing we can attribute to Henry assuming it doesn't work out, if it does work out we can credit the GM and suggest Henry is lucky.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Aug 11, 2019 13:10:30 GMT -5
How many times did the Red Sox have the highest payroll in baseball before John Henry? Do you remember how much they used to spend before he increased their revenue streams? I'm not sure how he can be considered more stingy than say the Dodgers or Yankees ownership, considering he's spent more than them despite lesser resources. Again, if you can name an owner who is more likely to give that type of contract, have at it. Maybe some team with a ton of payroll space will go nuts, but it'll be an outlier move for that owner because there is no post-George Steinbrenner owner who has shown himself as more likely to outspend every other owner.
I'd argue if the Red Sox went crazy this past offseason and added more multi-year salaries it'd make signing Betts less likely. Adding a couple relievers on multi-year deals for $10m+ would've further limited their flexibility. If Mookie leaves it'll be because the Red Sox don't think he'll want to be here or don't project him to earn a record setting deal going forward, it won't be due to hitting a limit in the budget and refusing to sign him on what they believe is a fair deal. Now, maybe the Red Sox undervalue Betts going forward, but that's a different argument.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Aug 11, 2019 12:56:34 GMT -5
There's only 2 questions that come to my mind when it comes to the Mookie Betts extension- Will Mookie take less to stay? Will John Henry even give close to a market value deal? Right now, I have zero faith in either happening. Even the most John Henry loyalist can look at his actions of him this year. He stopped spending when the team got to certain point. Look at his actions during the Manny Ramirez contract, one of the most expensive in baseball at the time (he tried to sell him for practically nothing, or give him away multiple times). This isn't a Dave Dombrowski thing, this is squarely a John Henry thing. Like Dombrowski is only in the conversation if Betts gets traded, not extended. This is what makes the Mookie situation complicated. John Henry. John Henry gave the biggest pitching contract to David Price and has the highest payroll in the game two years running. What owner is more likely to give a precedent setting contract than John Henry?
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Post by beasleyrockah on Aug 8, 2019 11:27:42 GMT -5
The Patriots gave Harry jersey #10, which is the latest ominous sign for Josh Gordon's future in New England.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Jul 30, 2019 12:52:03 GMT -5
To use another Boston sports example, Lawyer Milloy was a leader for the Patriots and helped them win a Super Bowl. He was very popular in the Patriots locker room, his teammates loved him by all accounts, but he eventually became a negative leader and Bill had to move on. You can really only be a negative leader if your teammates like/respect you, if a player is a jerk who doesn't get along with anyone they'll be tuned out and won't hold much influence. Some would say David Price was a negative leader here at points (the Eckersley thing, etc.) but he's universally loved by his teammates. Kyrie can certainly grow/mature from this year but he lacked accountability (as did the entire team) and that's something the lead guy can't do, even in the NBA.
We should also acknowledge it's pretty rare for teammates to rip former teammates in any sport.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Jun 11, 2019 12:58:28 GMT -5
The absurdity of the max contract in the NBA is shown through KD's situation: an Achilles tendon rupture that will cause him to miss possibly all of next season will have no effect on his next contract because it was already capped to the max level. Even with the injury the max contract is still good value, which shows what a steal a healthy KD would've been at the max. The league would be much better with no max contracts in exchange for some type of franchise tag system.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Jun 2, 2019 21:25:34 GMT -5
Yeah over 30 pitches on the next pitch. You won't see Barnes for a while because of this appearance. They have an off day tomorrow, if he misses just one game he won't pitch again for 72 hours.
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Post by beasleyrockah on May 29, 2019 12:44:49 GMT -5
Portnoy is the man and those towels are cool. If you want to criticize people who co-sign Barstool and Portnoy you'll have a long list of athletes and celebrities. Pucks on net and cycling the puck was key in sweeping that scrub Carolina team.
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Post by beasleyrockah on May 22, 2019 12:07:45 GMT -5
It's a big loss, we have never started a rookie LT. Brady is older now and both guys are coming off injury. The injuries being huge, because they might miss time or need time to get 100%. What about Matt Light?
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Post by beasleyrockah on May 10, 2019 11:28:29 GMT -5
It's important to remember the Patriots aren't replacing All Pro TE Rob Gronkowski from last year's team, they are replacing final year of his career Rob Gronkowski, and that guy was a good but not great TE. In terms of pure production in the passing game there wasn't huge separation between Watson and Gronk last year. I don't see the roster battle being Seferian-Jenkins vs Watson, they'll likely need both unless two of Izzo, Beck, Lacosse, etc. emerge (or if Watson/Jenkins just crater or get hurt). They should carry 3 TE's at minimum.
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Post by beasleyrockah on May 6, 2019 23:10:35 GMT -5
Hayward doesn't need an offseason to get right, he needs a time machine before his injury. It's going to be tough to be a true title contender paying Hayward this salary and getting this type of production.
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Post by beasleyrockah on May 5, 2019 13:24:12 GMT -5
The most common context I hear people use monger in real life is fearmonger. Fear rhymes with beer, so I think they were going for a pun. Instead of spreading fear they are spreading beer.
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Post by beasleyrockah on May 2, 2019 16:33:30 GMT -5
Let’s talk about Brady... I’m ok with him missing the current workouts but he really needs to be at the passing camp. Tom Curran has mentioned Belichick usually tells players to commit to the OTA's in their entirety or not at all, but I can't imagine he'd do that with Brady. I'd bet against it, but only because Brady is unlikely to commit after skipping them last offseason. It feels like part of a compromise he's made with his family in order to continue playing. He should be there and deserves criticism for skipping out even if it won't necessarily have a tangible effect in the actual games.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Apr 25, 2019 23:16:58 GMT -5
So he doesn't play TE and he's not going to have anything close to a prime Gronk impact, but he has some of the same traits: wins 50/50 balls, high motor, willing blocker, brings physicality to offensive football. Again, not making a Gronk comp (obviously), but he gives the offense a physical receiver who can get contested catches and produce in the red area. Who knows how he'll work with in this offense (and with Brady), but it's easy to like his game. He seems like the type of receiver who won't disappear in the postseason when the refs allow more downfield contact.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Mar 28, 2019 13:22:38 GMT -5
It figures the NFL makes this pass interference replay change right after Gronk retires. I doubt there's a player in NFL history who was held or interfered with more often than Gronk on a per route basis.
I wonder if this interference replay will impact wide receivers more than we think, there's a lot of offensive interference that doesn't get called in real time but is clear on tape, so a frame by frame review might negate some offensive big plays too. It'll definitely impact defenders more, but wide receivers will have to adjust too (I hope).
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Post by beasleyrockah on Feb 23, 2019 21:49:35 GMT -5
I've got a different take on Kraft: there's NO reason he should've been frequenting such a mid-tier/public place for these type of services. Money is literally no object for him, he could've had these services discreetly in a more convenient location with less visibility/risk. The question is, why would he go to this specific location, and was he frequenting other similar establishments? My speculation: he gets off on the risk associated with the situation. It fits the profile of a billionaire who gets everything he wants. Personally, his relationship with Ricki Noel Lander already made me cringe.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Feb 9, 2019 13:56:47 GMT -5
Cya later Flowers if that is his price point. I love the guy. He's easily my #1 guy to resign. Yet 16 to 17 million? That's almost 10% of the cap. He's not that type of player. I was thinking more like 12 to 14 million. I mean the franchise tag is 17.1 million for next year. You can't workout a deal I franchise him to keep him or trade him. Patriots don't backload deals, so there's no difference. If your trading him I'm not even asking for a ton, just like a 2nd round pick. Trade him quick and make sure he gets paid. I'm not paying Brown 14 million, that's why you traded Cooks to get Wynn. The injury sucks and it's risky, but you don't have a choice given our needs. Some context, Flowers was 6th at DE for PFF, Brown was 32nd at T last year. It's not even close who the better player is. To be clear I think Flowers will ultimately sign for about $15m per year but I personally would set his open market value around 16-17m per year. I don't think Belichick will go that high though and the franchise tag is unlikely as well. I wouldn't be completely shocked if the final number was 12-14m either, especially if he re-signs, but he'll be one of the top guys on the market and that alone should push it to an uncomfortable level. If the Patriots are in the ballpark he seems like a candidate to take slightly less to stay, but if a team is going to overpay like the Giants did with Solder last year there's not much that can be done. The free agents who are better than Flowers will likely get franchised and a lot of teams have the cap space to make a splash, so I'd be surprised if there's not at least one team offering 15m per year...whether he'll take it if the Pats are only offering about 12-14m remains an open question.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Feb 9, 2019 12:16:15 GMT -5
Anyways, I’m tired of the Gordon talk. They need to build their team like he’s not there anyways then hope for the best so let’s just move on. The defense was obviously key, but perhaps the team MVP this year and thru the playoffs was the offensive line. Trent Brown was a huge part of that. He was a beast both pass blocking and especially run blocking (don’t have his grades for each but he was dominant at times in both). The smart money is on him being gone, but should they try and keep him over Flowers? Can they keep them both? If they keep Brown does that mean you move Cannon? Wynn missing all of last year makes it difficult. No idea what he can do off of a torn Achilles. But he was a first rd pick. If they resigned Brown then they could look at next year as a transition year with Wynn being the guy who fills in at guard and tackle plus plays the extra o lineman in jumbo. Thuney has been great but maybe you let him walk after next season and Wynn replaces him so you pay Brown over Thuney... I'd definitely keep Flowers over Brown if the money is similar. For the current team needs I think Flowers is more important and I believe he's the superior player. Before Brown came to the Patriots he struggled maintaining his weight and conditioning, and you always have to wonder how a player will respond to signing a monster FA deal. Perhaps the Patriots are convinced they can continue to get the best out of him, but they drafted and developed Flowers while only getting Brown in a contract year, so they should know Flowers better. By all accounts Trey Flowers is the ideal Patriot. Also, not that it means much for the present, but lets not forget that Brown was acquired for peanuts last offseason and the Patriots/Dante helped him establish himself (like they've done for many offensive linemen). Brown graded as a mid-level tackle but he'll likely command top LT money due to desperation and being the #1 available guy (like Solder last year). FWIW I'd give Flowers up to 16-17m per year while Brown would be around 12m per year, and if I had to guess what they'll actually sign for I'd project 15m per for Flowers and $14m per for Brown. I also think I'd rather pay Thuney than Brown due to the discrepancy between the salaries of LT vs. guards. Thuney has steadily improved and I'm not sure he's done improving, I wouldn't be surprised if he made the Pro Bowl next year (not that the Pro Bowl is full of the players who earned it). Wynn's injury is concerning of course, but he's on track to be ready for camp and Dante vouched for him as a first round tackle just last season, so that's good enough for me. He couldn't be any more different from Brown when it comes to size, but between Dante's coaching ability and Brady's ability to get the ball out quickly I'd roll the dice here. It's hard to put Wynn in a backup role when Thuney and Mason are so good and durable. Maybe the team unloads Cannon, but I think Trent Brown will command too much to make that a good value swap. If Brown leaves they'll definitely need to land a quality tackle as Waddle shouldn't be the swing tackle with the uncertainty around Wynn. Maybe a third round pick or another draft pick trade for a veteran like Brown last year.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Feb 6, 2019 19:18:17 GMT -5
Only add that they could offer similar deals to M Brown and Shelton(he had an excellent SB grade). Whomever takes it stays. Totally agree. I think they prefer Brown if the money is similar, but if either player is willing to sign a cheap deal before FA starts they could easily move on from the other. The draft class is loaded with DL talent but you never know how the board will fall, so entering the draft with at least one of them (or a trade/external FA signing) to go with Guy and Butler is a must. Detroit and Miami will be prime landing spots for many Patriots as Patricia and Flores look to establish their culture with some familiar faces. The Titans love signing Patriots too.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Feb 6, 2019 18:36:48 GMT -5
Early free agent predictions before the rumor season begins
Staying: Trey Flowers, Malcom Brown, Cordarrelle Patterson, John Simon, LaAdrian Waddle, Ryan Allen, Albert McClellan, Chris Hogan, Jeremy Hill Leaving: Trent Brown, Stephen Gostkowski, Phillip Dorsett, Eric Rowe, Danny Shelton
Hogan and Hill could be brought back as they'll be very cheap but aren't locks to make the roster. If Hogan is gone they'll likely re-sign Dorsett, but I think Dorsett will get just a bit more money than the Patriots will want to pay. Gostkowski wouldn't surprise me either way, ultimately if he wants to stay here they won't push him out, but if he wants to maximize his contract I don't think they'll pay him as the top kicker on a multi-year extension. They'll likely keep Jonathan Jones and Josh Gordon, but for obvious reasons you can't count on Gordon even being activated. The guys who could possibly retire include Gronkowski, Jason (another FA) and Devin McCourty, and Slater. My guess is everyone retires, but Gronkowski pulls a 2009 Seau and comes back in October for one last run (because, when making predictions, go big or go home). Allen and Clayborn are locks to be restructured or cut. Hightower is a strong candidate for a restructure but should stay.
Ignoring current free agents and retirement/restructure candidates I count about 23 roster locks for next year, with a group of 14-16 other players who could realistically make the roster but have a real chance of being cut depending on the acquisitions. They'll wheel and deal all over the draft board, but they currently have seven top 4 round picks which all count as roster locks barring injury (plus a 5th and a bunch of 7th rounders).
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Post by beasleyrockah on Feb 4, 2019 19:46:38 GMT -5
Okay whatever. ESPN and me are wrong, it took Goff 3 seconds to look at Cooks, and 2 seconds to release it. Argue with the video. I'm done too. Goff was horrible and he didn't make adjustments to account for the blitzes. He couldn't read anything before the play unfolded. Goff was selling play action and Cooks didn't get visibly open until he was crossing the five yard line, the coverage missed him around the 10. Cooks isn't open on the initial read, he looks to check down to the RB who is getting covered, and then he looks up, finds Cooks, and steps into the throw. When you say it took 3 seconds to look at Cooks, what are you suggesting exactly? Cooks wasn't open that quickly, and he got open while Goff was looking at Anderson. Only bad QB's lock into one receiver, he was going through his reads and properly identified the correct option. It's not like Goff should've expected the Patriots to blow coverage that far into his route. If McCourty doesn't make a great play it's a touchdown. It's not like it was busted coverage from the snap and he was the easy read. If there's any complaint with Goff it'd be his release time/velocity on the pass, not his inability to go through the progressions.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Feb 2, 2019 12:29:25 GMT -5
Yeah the 03-04 and 04-05 Pats team won with the 04 Sox sandwiched between each. Good times.
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