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Post by taftreign on Jul 22, 2015 21:12:01 GMT -5
Competitive Balance Lottery was today. The results: Round A: 1. Reds 2. A's 3. Rockies 4. D-backs 5. Marlins 6. Pirates Round B: 1. Padres 2. Indians 3. Twins 4. Brewers 5. Orioles 6. Rays Best part of this was St Louis not getting one!
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Post by taftreign on Jul 21, 2015 8:08:15 GMT -5
Welcome aboard Brian Johnson. Show us what you got!
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Post by taftreign on Jul 19, 2015 23:15:41 GMT -5
Seems to me there could be a fit with the Mets. They could easily use Holt in a 4 man OF mix, as a 3B option for an injured Wright or Daniel Murphy and as a current/future replacement for Flores/Murphy at 2B. Probably a long shot but if NY is willing to talk Syndergard, Matz, Wheeler (obvious injury questions) or Dominic Smith then you have a starting point. Throw in a couple pieces going both ways to balance. Mets more likely to try to sell Niese but I have my heights set a little higher as a number one priority. Maybe you can get a third team in who can provide more MLB ready hitting in addition to Holt for NYM and Boston can move Uehara or Tazawa and/or a prospect to the other team.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 19, 2015 21:09:19 GMT -5
Greinke has 43.2 innings of scoreless ball. Could beat Orel in 2 starts. Only the 3rd pitcher in baseball history with 6 games in a row of 1 run or less. He's making himself some serious money with his upcoming opt out. He's been unbelievable this season and for me a front runner for NL CY Young even against tough competition from Scherzer and Kershaw. Add: There's part of me that says we need to get Greinke this off season because of what we're seeing now and then there's the part of me that still questions if he can pitch in Boston and come close to earning the huge AAV he will get as a 31+ year old.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 18, 2015 10:56:59 GMT -5
The in progress perfect game and then no hitter made Miley commenting off limits at the time but I wanted to give him his credit for a well pitched game coming out of the break. He has taken his share of hate at times but I have to say I think he has been a solid addition. He is a very serviceable #4 or #5 making only 3.67 mil this year, 6.167 mil next year and 8.9 mil in '17. That's pretty good value IMO.
Add: Take away his March/April adjustment period which was fairly disastrous and he has put up a roughly 3.80 ERA over that period. I believe his xFIP is in line with this as well.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 16, 2015 13:36:06 GMT -5
So looking ahead, if he is another Mookie, where is he going to play? Can he play 3B? Panda then could go to first. Or, like Mookie, should he go to the OF? Lots of time yet to consider these questions, but they are fun to think about. He is playing second, I love pedey as much as the next guy but all data regarding age curves and peak performance tell us that his best offensive days are behind him. Even with his "power surge" this season his lack of foot speed doesn't allow him to stretch long non home run balls into xbhs like he used to thus he has an average 140 iso and this is probably his ceiling from a power iso department as we can't expect him to continue on his 16 homer pace into the future and the footspeed will only continue to decline meaning even less xbhs in years to come and without those homers aided by a flukey power surge his iso numbers are going to plummet. Beyond that he provides virtually nothing in the base running dept and that's not going to get better and so that leaves a above average ie 290 to 300 hitter with no power/no speed, now the only way he could make up for some of his offensive regression is by stepping up his defense but that seems unlikely as he has begun to pleatue in recent history with his glove mostly due to that lessening in foot speed which was already mentioned...this, we are left with a singles hitter who has no pop, no speed, and average defense for 15 million a season. Or we could have Moncada who even in the "worst case" scenarios could provide all of those things with plus speed for a fraction of the cost as he would be on a cost controled con for the foreseeable future and most importantly there is the possiblity that he will mature and improve on all those tools, something that would be a rare feat for a 32 next month diminutive player... The timing of Moncada's ascension to the minors and Ortiz's departure sure look as if they will coincide. What better way to take the sting off of losing a franchise great than selling the beginning of the next. Its not out of the question Pedroia sees a game or two at DH two years down the road as he ages allowing Moncada to get a few at 2B and also see a few games at 3B each week when either Sandoval or Ramirez are DHing (dependent on how 1B is filled.) Moncada is consistently playing second which is the right thing to do with a player who has missed game action for an extended period to streamline his focus and allow Devers to play his most valuable and natural position. Now as Moncada is promoted through the system, assuming his bat continues to produce, I expect the team will introduce him to other positions including 3B and LF/RF. I have to believe Boston sees through the completion of Pedroia's contract and see 2B as the best position for him to do so for most of his remaining years. If Moncada is a superstar from the beginning they will find him a permanent position from the possibilities named but otherwise I can't see why having Moncada play multiple positions isn't the best option. Devers looms on the horizon after Moncada as a 3rd/1st option but the contracts of Ramirez and Sandoval will be expired or expiring so it should sort itself out by that point.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 16, 2015 13:02:04 GMT -5
First list that's had Devers above Moncada, and I don't think I disagree with it. Notes in the Margot comment section " Scouts absolutely adore Margot -- more than one has told me he'd put Margot ahead of Devers and Moncada in Bostons system-- not just because of his tools but because of his instincts, with Margot potentially a plus-plus defender in center who has an excellent eye at the plate."
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Post by taftreign on Jul 12, 2015 20:46:48 GMT -5
Why keep him in the club house for several hours then? I believe NESN said pregame the Sox were giving him treatment for his upper respitory infection because it was thought he might be able to go and the staff was waiting to see how he felt after which held up the lineup card. No need to question Ortiz here.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 11, 2015 22:37:20 GMT -5
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Post by taftreign on Jul 9, 2015 9:20:33 GMT -5
GCL infield crisis averted! Hallelujah! Great signing. As stated we all loved Brakeman but it just wasn't likely with the remaining budget.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 9, 2015 9:08:00 GMT -5
I believe Boston is now 11th, percentage points ahead of Cleveland, and out of a protected pick on there way to winning the division. Bos is 10th. Bos "wins" tiebreakers with Cle. Ok. I did a sort and Boston has a .477 win percent and Cleveland a .476 so I went with it even though the games back number is the same. Wasn't sure which reigns supreme since Boston had played two more games.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 8, 2015 23:16:19 GMT -5
I believe Boston is now 11th, percentage points ahead of Cleveland, and out of a protected pick on there way to winning the division.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 8, 2015 23:07:28 GMT -5
Looks like Gordon will be missing the All Star game. Not sure if the replacement necessarily needs to be an OF or if the player finishing second in the 5 man voting will get the slot. At this point it would be Moustakus and Dozier. Would love for it to be Betts but imagine it probably falls to Cespedes or Gardner who actually made the 5 man Final Vote list.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 7, 2015 21:37:55 GMT -5
Moncada now 13 for 13 on SB attempts.
He's still striking out at a high rate but Chavis has been hitting better lately. Contact rate is on the low side and I hope he can put the bat on the ball more consistently going forward.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 6, 2015 22:29:16 GMT -5
Yost's mistake was taking 7 relievers. It's nice to celebrate relievers but not at the expense of more valuable players such as Bucholz or Bogaerts or Betts or Dozier or Gardner.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 5, 2015 20:21:21 GMT -5
You would think so but with the every team representative rule I imagine Buchholz gets the slot and Betts and Bogaerts get squeezed out. Plus with Yost as the manager it wouldn't be shocking if he selected either Moustakas or Hosmer for a last spot because well he's Ned Yost. I can definitely get behind Bogaerts as the reserve SS because really the competition is not very strong. Betts is deserving but has much more competition with Bautista, Cespedes, JD Martinez, Adam Jones, Gardner and so forth. At worst I'd love to see Betts and Bogaerts make the final five vote.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 4, 2015 18:21:11 GMT -5
Benny Baseball strikes again!
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Post by taftreign on Jul 4, 2015 18:15:58 GMT -5
Teams without a CG this year: Pirates, Mets, Rays, Orioles, Marlins, Brewer, Phillies, Red Sox. Why did you cross that out? Buchholz just threw a complete game. Therefore Boston no longer fits this list. Add: Or maybe I just missed some sarcasm or other statement being made in your post.
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Post by taftreign on Jul 3, 2015 13:46:34 GMT -5
Trent Kemp has been hit by a pitch 3 times and it's only the sixth inning! By three different pitchers as well. Everyone gets a turn!
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Post by taftreign on Jun 26, 2015 13:32:42 GMT -5
Its gotten to the point I'm just rooting for development and not worrying about the standings. Porcello's start is real important for him to get back on track. I still think he is going to help us a lot, but I want to see that consistency. For as big of a mess things have been, the rotation has had some strong performances. Important night for Porcello, but just as important for the Sox. Lets get this rotation set and have a strong 2nd half. Have to agree Steve. Even though the record is showing the worst team in the AL I feel as if the team has been showing positive signs of late. We have seen what looks like real growth from Betts, Bogaerts and Swihart. Rodriguez has shown the ability to dominate a lineup and after a few rough patches has the opportunity to learn how to make adjustments to ML caliber hitting. Sandoval is hitting. Hanley has been better w the bat again of late. Buchholz has been really pretty good. Miley has been steady. JBJr has an opportunity to establish himself as a valuable part of the team. There are still questions such as will Napoli ever hit and does it matter since he will be a FA which brings up the who's on first debate for next year, how good is Porcello and where does he fit in the rotation, what parts are right for the bullpen and which are not and how to go about fixing the lack luster defense. But as a whole I've felt better about the team of late. Very likely we will see a few more arms get a shot in the second half (B. Johnson, Barnes, Light) and eventually see a second opportunity for Castillo to establish himself.
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Post by taftreign on Jun 26, 2015 10:13:12 GMT -5
Take 2 for Cosart! Here's to the sequel being better than (or at least equal to) the first!
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Post by taftreign on Jun 26, 2015 10:09:35 GMT -5
Damn those Orioles. They high jacked our Rays games on Saturday and Sunday!
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Post by taftreign on Jun 21, 2015 8:24:17 GMT -5
I have high hopes for Cosart this season. Here's to a good start!
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Post by taftreign on Jun 20, 2015 23:32:04 GMT -5
Are we just going to go back to the misjudging of what it would take to resign Lester? Essentially that seems to be what drives this line of thinking. If the front office resigns Lester the pitching staff has its ace and the team likely doesn't sign Masterson and one of Sandoval or Ramirez which would seem to appease most of the griping. So if you want to put not resigning Lester on Ben I think that is fair. And in hindsight (and probably foresight) this is perhaps the root of this seasons issues. Dwelling on a mistake that has been made in the past and can't be undone doesn't fix this team. That's what the focus is here.
Part of the solution is rearing its head as we speak. Bogaerts has shown himself a solid defensive SS and above average bat thereby starting to remove doubt about the long term solution for the position. Betts is answering the call as a future CFer/RFer who can fill the 1 or 2 hole. Rodriguez has progressed to the point he may be the new # 2 going forward even with undoubtedly a few bumps in the road ahead. So Lester isn't here. Won't shock me if they target a SP via FA or trade who has clear #1/2 potential with experience to fill the Lester role and to anchor the rotation with Buchholz and Rodriguez as the 2/3 in some order and Porcello and Miley as the 4/5. It won't hurt Owens to repeat in Pawtucket next season with Johnson playing the 6th rotation arm via call up assuming neither is traded.
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Post by taftreign on Jun 20, 2015 23:05:11 GMT -5
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