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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 17, 2022 11:13:35 GMT -5
For some reason the defense looked slow and old. That has to change. Hightower is a shell of his former self. The whole linebacker crew was just plodding. DB's couldn't cover. Lack of pass rush. Can't stop the run. No amount of coaching can fix that. However, a good draft could. Also, need some speed at WR. Harry is gone. Lots of guys won't be resigned to free up cap space. Going crazy signing players to big multi-year contracts last year looks like a big mistake. Never should have done it, I guess. Now they are strapped with no cap space and little to show for it. So, they'd better have a great draft. Needs among many - WR, CB, LB Well not to say you are totally wrong as there are issues but the Pats were 2nd in the league in points allowed this season so maybe they did something right along the way. And that is what coaching does. It has always been a bend but don't break scheme and it has a decent track record over the last 20 yrs. Sometimes it doesn't look so good but it has been effective under BB wouldn't you say? As for your second paragraph. Big mistake? Well it got them back into the playoffs didn't it? I know as Pats fans we have been spoiled over the last 20 yrs but some good teams that were expected to be in the playoffs this season didn't make it. Miami, the Chargers, Baltimore, Cleveland all didn't make it. Making it into the playoffs after last season and moving on from the Brady era is an absolute success. The Pats had ONE losing season and are back in the playoffs. Go look at every other team in football and look at what their rebuilds looked like if they happened at all. Three traditionally very good teams haven't been to the playoffs in 5 yrs, Broncos, Dolphins and Giants and the Jets haven't in 11 yrs. Maybe we are being a bit too reactionary over one bad loss. I can understand it during the game but now that it is over it is time to look at the big picture and that picture looks a whole hell of a lot better than it did a year ago. In fact what BB did in the offseason has him favored as executive of the yr and you are calling it a big mistake, I disagree. Was it perfect, no but the pros completely outweigh the cons.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 16, 2022 17:26:40 GMT -5
LOL some of you guys just crack me up with your comments. GOAT coach is washed up and can go coach another team..... sorry the Pats can't win the SB every year.
This was a successful season by any measure. Sure it ended on a really bad note but hey that should be motivation for them in regards to Buffalo in the future and that is a good thing. The Bills are for real and they aren't going anywhere so suck it up you bunch of buttercups.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 13, 2022 17:40:50 GMT -5
You guys read what Kreiji had to say about playing with Pasta? That he always wanted to but coach wouldn't do it much. I wonder if they told DK that he would have Hall and Pasta as linemates if he would have stayed. That would be one helluva line and Bergy and Marchand would still be good with someone else like Smith.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 13, 2022 16:59:50 GMT -5
In retrospect this would have been a great trade LOL. I guess we can look at this and realize that tempering expectations for prospects is a good idea. There was also talk of Mookie Betts for Cole Hamels. That would've been very bad! (Hamels obviously maintained his value pretty well). Usually against bumping old threads, but this one is quite a trip. Don't want to slam anyone in particular for being wrong, because we're all wrong a lot. But a lot of this is quite funny, especially the undercurrent of "the Cubs aren't ready to be adding free agents like Lester before they're ready to compete." I agree on the old threads but this is a great one to read thru, I only made it part way thru this morning and I am looking forward to going thru it tonight. It is like bonus material with an offseason with little to nothing to discuss. I have yet to read any comments from me but I am sure there are some.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 13, 2022 9:19:22 GMT -5
How much would you have given lester if he was a FA after the 2012 season where he pitched like crap? He had a career year in his contract year. And those are not B players. Maybe that's why the Redsox final offer too Lester was six years and $135MM because he pitch like crap in 2012 lol. Good bye too Blake Swihart and Henry Owens for Cole Hamels. Time for the Redsox too panic and save face. In retrospect this would have been a great trade LOL. I guess we can look at this and realize that tempering expectations for prospects is a good idea.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 12, 2022 4:27:14 GMT -5
What was Judon doing here going for the sack instead of contain? The second he blew past Tua that was game over. Getting held badly with no call and the game on the line, that's what I see. But to your point, he will need to think about contain this week.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 19:31:21 GMT -5
Jameson Williams with our 2nd round pick now *eyeball emoji* Drafting injured players is a BB specialty, it netted him Gronk in the 2nd rd.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 18:05:51 GMT -5
Shank is a waste of oxygen, he should just be cutoff. Simply a blowhard who must have been picked on a lot as a kid.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 17:56:42 GMT -5
As someone who has been following sports for a long time I have a gripe. It used to be that when you read about a "rumored" trade it at least had some semblance of being real as it was actually being discussed between teams most of the time. Now with so many outlets for information and the competition for clicks all it is is someone in their living room dreaming up some scenario that has no more basis than what they think up. It is annoying but I guess it is just up to me to stop wasting time clicking on worthless clickbait.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 11:24:11 GMT -5
Latest from Buffalo. No wind, No snow, but 3F at 8PM. Good luck with that. Everything is brittle in those conditions, it's actually too cold to snow at that temp. I wonder if Mac tries to become accustomed to wearing gloves this week as hands get painfully cold pretty quick in that weather. Can the Pats go up there and run it 90% of the time again and pull off another win? Gonna be a tough game for the players and if they can keep the Bills D out on the field they will wear down. Thinking about it I really like the combination of Stevens and Harris running hard and that is what they both do, run hard. Tackling is going to be painful and all of the Bills RBs are small, I think the advantage goes to the Pats they just need to contain Allen. Another advantage for the Pats is that the passing game will be mostly short stuff, going deep will be harder so that makes the Bills less dangerous IMO. This game is going to be similar to the last one in Buffalo and that is good news for the Pats.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 11:08:17 GMT -5
A little ways back in this thread you guys were pointing out who has been the best surprises and some disappointments, I don't think anyone brought up Brandon Bolden. Sure there are guys who have done more but for a player who has been around a while and all of a sudden had a much bigger role he has really come thru. I think I remember some negative comments here about how the Pats were in trouble if he was going to be the answer to White going down. Well he has really been much better than any of us could imagine. I just looked at his stats and one really stood out, 41 receptions on only 49 targets, even for backs out of the backfield that is crazy efficiency. And I am sure you guys have all seen some of the over the shoulder catches further down field that are not typical RB throws that they have pulled off.
On another note, do you guys remember years ago when running a sweep he pulled his hammy and just dropped the ball? I had never seen a back just let go of the ball like that and maybe that is one reason why he hasn't been used like this til now. If that is the case it took him years to get out of BBs doghouse for that one.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 9:08:20 GMT -5
Being the Nick Yorke homer that I am, I will be hoping to add his name to this list by the end of 2023 when he makes his MLB debut. I understand the chances of this are slim along with the idea he will continue to rake at the same level as he moves up the ladder. But IMO that is what makes following soxprospects fun. It's when someone cruises thru the system crushing it and we get to see the whole process unfold as they become ML stars. Ala Mookie, Xander and Raffy.
Although it most likely won't happen it is simply fun to think/hope that the Sox could be adding 3 guys over the next 3 years that could all compete for a ROY award. Casas, Yorke and then Mayer in 2024. I know I should cool my jets but why not dream big, I don't let the disappointments affect me. As a long time Sox fan since "71" I have had plenty of experience in disappointments.
One of my favorite memories as a Sox fan was 1975. Fred Lynn had an amazing season, he won MVP and ROY. He came in 2nd for batting average behind Rod Carew and won the GG as a CFer. The 3 HR, 10 rbi game in Detroit was unbelievable and he just missed a 4th. Then the World Series was an all time classic with so many great memorable plays. To think Jim Rice came up the same season, had ROY numbers himself coming in 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting but was then injured for the playoffs. What a season but nothing compares to being at games 3 and 4 in St Louis to watch the curse end.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 8:04:50 GMT -5
I think Miami will take a step backwards next season and I am glad the Pats won't have to face a Flores coached D anymore, at least not in the division.
And hopefully this continues to be another example of a bad owner that keeps Miami from becoming a good team. All Flores did is lead them to back to back winning seasons for the first time in almost 20 yrs, hopefully it is another 20.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 10, 2022 8:24:36 GMT -5
Need and the financial ability to do it at this point in time leads to the Red Sox. The Yankees have less need and less $$ ability right now due to other priorities and their budget. I also think this aligns with how the FO would like to build a team, the upside vs the floor seems like a good business decision. And it is like adding a seasoned top 5 pick to the system IMO. I could be wrong but the Sox seem to have the ability to offer the best contract.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 10, 2022 6:51:54 GMT -5
I think I have mentioned a few times how QBs that can run make it really hard on a defense to get a stop when needed. Of course they need to be able to throw from the pocket but the added dimension is a killer especially on third down. And now it seems like teams have figured out how to clear a zone just to give that QB an opening for a big gain. Maybe an answer would be to rush 5 with contain being a top priority along with pressure. They need to come up with something that helps or Allen is just going to do it again next Saturday.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 14:37:09 GMT -5
Maybe presumptuous but I am sticking to my guns on this one. As redsox0407 said as far as I'm concerned all the signs point to a Red Sox signing. The need after the Renfroe trade, the thought that Koji had heard about it thru back channels and stated it so matter of factly, Seiya's response, the position the Sox are in all points to the Sox.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 13:41:56 GMT -5
I agree that there are reasons but combine them with realistic scenarios that could happen this season and the possible (and plausible) trade Marcus options seem VERY watered down. Maybe the other side of that coin is there are always teams that pay too much at the deadline to get the guy they think they need to put them over the top. Isn't it pretty much a given that buyers are willing to pay more to get there guy at the deadline? It sure is in baseball. I don't take the time to go and look at other teams payroll situation when making these comments so you could be right and there aren't many buyers in position to do something but that could just lead to a bigger better deal. Between Horford, Smart, Schroeder, Josh and the young guys the C's should have the flexability to do just about anything. Including sucking up a bad contract as long as it doesn't last too long. Admittedly I am not good at the trade scenario game so I am just spitballing. Bottom line for me is it is time to cut bait with a lot of these guys.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 10:22:51 GMT -5
TBC you don't have to convince me of his value. Conceptually, there could me moves to make. But in reality, is there? The teams that have combinations of room, exceptions, need and something of value to Boston is a VERY short list so it automatically "dumbstruck down" the return. Seems to me it would be a LOT easier to make deals that surround those 4 with better fitting players and see how it goes. This is NOT a contending year so, depending on how the rest of the year goes, reevaluate when there would be more teams in the mix. Except for one caveat, they have been trying to do that for years and just seems to be going backwards. Which is why I am saying goodbye to Smart at this point. He isn't a PG, he isn't a SG, he is a very good defensive player and that is it. He just doesn't mesh with a starting lineup that doesn't allow him to just do what he does best. I think he needs to play with a ball dominant PG/SG so when he is on the court he focuses on D and not screwing things up on the offensive end. Just my thoughts on the matter but he has been the same guy for 7 yrs now and although he has improved he hasn't improved enough to be effective as either a SG or a PG on the offensive end. Put him beside Ja Morant and he is just fine.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 7:38:57 GMT -5
D-linemen in the Pats system usually don't stand out much so it is easy to overlook but I would add Devon Godchaux to the list of guys having a good season. I also have hope for Jonnu to be more productive moving forward and they have made efforts to get the ball in his hands. The 2021 draft has already been a hit with Mac, Mondre and Barmore but being greedy I am hoping to see Perkins added to that group as a legit player. He was a force at Oklahoma and the Pats just opened up his chances of getting some action this yr. One more hit from that draft would make it a draft for the ages and man did it come at a good time as the Pats really needed it. If there’s one rookie, who didn’t really play this year, that we could pick to be really good, I think i e have to hope it’s McGrone, they could really use that fast athletic inside linebacker. Small MLBers haven't been a thing for as long as BB has been in charge but I agree with you that it would be nice to see one with speed for the way the game is played now. Actually smallish fast MLBers have always had success but BB has always preferred the big thumpers. It took a while to find but supposedly he has 4.4 speed comparable to Deven Bush when he was at Michigan. So yeah add him to the list of guys who could make this a draft for the ages. One thing I have noticed this season is backs catching balls out in the flats have had too much success against us, meaning the LBs have been late. Even though the Pats have used a lot of draft capitol on LBers and edge rushers over the past few years it does seem to still be an area of need with some guys getting up there in age. So that is 2 more guys to still have high hopes for. Hightower coming back is questionable and I am not so sure he is going to be a difference maker at this point in his career anyways. He has looked a step slow this year and that step means a lot.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 6:34:17 GMT -5
This validates my take from the post a few hrs earlier. The J's have put themselves up on a pedestal based on their early success and could be finding that out right about now.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 6:24:20 GMT -5
Do you believe those numbers? I certainly haven't seen Barmore get 3 pressures every game. Football Refrence has 18 pressures and frankly that matches what I've watched. He flashed, had good games, shown you upside. I haven't seen one of the best DL in Football every week. You can't argue QBKD or Sacks, he has 7 and 1.5, so the difference is hurries of 9 versus 27. If they have Barmore at 45 pressures, what does Judon have 125? I mean Football Refrence has Wise with 17 pressures, one below Barmore yet more sacks. Heck PFF rates Wise higher than Barmore, grade 65 versus 68.1. Now I've always been a Wise fan, good solid player, yet not close to elite. Frankly I've seen the same Barmore that was at Bama, a top 10-15 talent that can dominate games, yet also disappears in other games. It's the reason he dropped in the draft. For whatever it is worth when buying in on a subjective stat you should at least be assuming that all the players are being evaluated the same way. So whether or not he has that many pressures in your mind the bottomline is he is in an elite group at the top of the league for that stat. But while I do agree that he hasn't been the same force in every game isn't that normal for a D-linemen? Even the very best are not a beast all the time based on how the O-linemen are playing it. BB regularly takes stars and makes them look pedestrian. And like you said, he is only a rookie. Another thing I see is the Pats D-line staying in their gaps and not trying to use speed moves that take them out of those gaps so the QB can't get out. As a rookie especially I can see him just trying to do his job and pushing the middle of the pocket. One thing we can all agree on is that he was a great pick and is someone that should only get better.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 6:07:02 GMT -5
I forgot to play, so I'll do both. Sadly Agholor is exactly who I thought he was but NOW WITH MORE INJURY PRONE (R). As an aside, free agent WR do not work out. I still have hope for Jonnu, but what a bad first year. Glad they doubled dipped at TE. I hate having an "in between" left tackle, and Wynn has neither dominated nor been a huge detriment to make his long term future any clearer. I expected someone from the D-line to step up but it seems like Baremore is the only one beyond Judon standing out. I'm now high on the Duggar/Phillips combo if McCourty leaves so great job by them hitting new levels (though we still would need to bring someone in to make sure Phillips and Mills can move around). Contrary to my tweet share above, Bourne has been a hit. D-linemen in the Pats system usually don't stand out much so it is easy to overlook but I would add Devon Godchaux to the list of guys having a good season. I also have hope for Jonnu to be more productive moving forward and they have made efforts to get the ball in his hands. The 2021 draft has already been a hit with Mac, Mondre and Barmore but being greedy I am hoping to see Perkins added to that group as a legit player. He was a force at Oklahoma and the Pats just opened up his chances of getting some action this yr. One more hit from that draft would make it a draft for the ages and man did it come at a good time as the Pats really needed it.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 5:11:02 GMT -5
I saw the article on Seiya's comment and was going to post it but of course someone here already did so.
Looks like the Sox have their RFer of the future and I am psyched. Getting this guy for no other costs such as a trade with prospects involved seems like a Bloom type move. When you combine this move with all the others that they have made over the past 2 yrs it really is impressive. The team is in great position to contend and the system is loaded. Of course having one terrible season that led to Mayer and Whitlock and others helped a lot but Bloom has made many moves to build it up.
I know this might be premature as Seiya isn't signed yet but I really like what the team looks like going into next season. I have also been a proponent of building a staff of many pseudo starters and that is exactly what they have done. Add 1 or 2 more pitchers to the staff and the Sox will be done and looking really good, now get the CBA figured out plz!!
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 7, 2022 21:22:37 GMT -5
If Smart is as bad as is being said on this board, you are "paying" someone to take him off your hands. That's bad business right now. Disagree, on the right team he is a major factor with his D and tenacity that leads to winning plays that don't always show up in the box score but helps you win games, especially in the playoffs. Problem with him on the C's is that he isn't forced into just being that player and he has too prominent a role in other areas where he shouldn't. Then he ends up hurting the team more than when he just plays the right role and helps you win. In the right circumstance I don't think his salary is a detriment so the C's shouldn't have to pay to watch him go ala Kemba.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 7, 2022 8:38:07 GMT -5
Like I said a few weeks back, plan for next year and the future now. Which Brad just hinted at in his latest interview. Everyone other than the J's are fair game but as I said before, DS, MS and JR have the most value for teams in the hunt. RW belongs in that group but he has value for the C's moving forward so I would rather he sticks around.
Play the young guys and see if some of them can become more than roster dressing. I think there is a real chance that they have some young guys that will shine given more playing time to develop some consistency. I still think PP is a guy that can be more effective with some regular minutes.
One silverlining from last nights game is 9 assists for Tatum, in his prime he should be a 6+ assist player. I know some might not see that but I do. I still look at his age and see more coming even if it doesn't look like that this season. Just look back to who you were at the age of 23 and how much you have grown since, mid 20's are formidable yrs. I still expect him to become a top 10, top 5 guy during his prime. And having a shooter/slasher like Brown by his side is only going to help him get to that top level. Both of those guys will get better at court awareness as they continue to develop IMO. Patience is a virtue and this team is a real test of that, time to move on.
edit: One last thing. Maybe blowing it up, playing the young guys and finishing in the lottery does more than get a better draft pick. It might also knock the J's off the pedestal they could be standing on from the days they did make it to the ECFs, they could realize it is harder now and they need to focus even harder to be better.
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