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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 29, 2022 12:31:04 GMT -5
Rafaela has become my binky because I treasure outfield defense abpve all else. Probably goes back to my days as a fifth grader shagging ball for the big kids (7th & 8th graders) for a chance to occasionally get to hit. My hero growing up was Jimmy Piersall - not for his batting with that ridiculous wide stance - but for his taking away hits from others. It's what I liked best about Freddy Lynn even though he was a great hitter and, of course, JBJ. Can't wait to see Cedanne patrolling center field in Boston, hopefully some time later iin 2023.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 28, 2022 23:12:15 GMT -5
Looking at the league the only team that currently presents a real challenge is Carolina and the schedule is not kind to the B's They play them at Carolin in the 2nd game of a back to back where the Hurricanes have a rest day and then at Carolina at the end of March in the second game of a back to back for each team but Carolina is at home for both of theirs. DIdn;t see any games against them in Boston. It seems like the degree of difficulty for Boston is quite high this season although they have had more home games early and this will travel more late. Anyway it makes what they have been doing all the more impressive. Go Bruins!!
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 27, 2022 22:13:50 GMT -5
Man, when this offense is clicking, it’s fun to watch, especially with R. Williams’ lob threat back in the picture. They’ve built a roster with a lot of guys who are good at making the right pass (and guys like Tatum and Brown have developed that skill), and when the ball is ping-ping-pinging around the perimeter and finds an open three or a cutter at the basket, it brings back memories of the old Spurs. Or the older Celtics, when they've been at the top that is how they played going all the way back.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 26, 2022 18:20:33 GMT -5
Sounds like he mainly goes by Masa, according to Quattlebaum. Hmmmm, that one might not really work here.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 25, 2022 10:14:23 GMT -5
I think that citing relatively high ranking prospecets from a weak system (one of whom was playing totally out of the position that earned him his ranking) isn't the same as high ranking prospects from a stronger system and who have achieved higher rankings across systems as well.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 24, 2022 18:18:44 GMT -5
I read it, and, like everyone here, I hope it all pans out. I have been saying for a while that stocking a team with 4 or more high OBP singles/doubles BB guys is a market inefficiency right now. This doesn't mean they have have to be <10 HR guys. One or more 20 HR guys in that group would be a great plus, but I really believe in the "keep the line moving" high OBP philosophy, combined with at least two good OBP (.330 or better) 30 HR guys, is the best way to win and beat elite pitching. You can have a couple low OBP guys (.300ish) in positions of high defensive need, especially catcher and either CF or SS if they are truly plus defenders, but guys who are "pests" at the plate are the best way to burn down elite starters and relievers. Fully sign on to this which is why I am loathe to trade Rafaela even if he never develops the plate discipline we all hope as he is already an elite CF. Casas and Yoshida are possible 2 of the 4 already on the roster, Yorke is a possible 3rd on not that far away. Story is one of your 300ish obp guys at a premium position (post shift) with some pop. So the Sox may not be as far away as some think.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 24, 2022 14:51:06 GMT -5
I think "bridge year" means a year or more when the team is basically non-competitive with turnover expected as a core evolves. Whether or not that core can compete at the top level is the criteria by which any plan should be measured. Winning a Series is the ultimate goal, but as has been stated many times before, that has become ever more a crapshoot with the gauntlet of multiple short series in a game where 60% win percentage puts a team in the upper echelon. So effectively creating a team like the Dodgers today or the Braves of a while back or the Sox of earlier this century maximizes the opportunity to win that Series which the Sox did better than the others. The Sox maintained much of that core for a number of years (with a few disasters interspersed), after 2018 they were no longer in position to do so and now we "bridge", or transition if you prefer, to what is hopefully the next core that provides a basis for extended top tier competitiveness.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 24, 2022 13:42:11 GMT -5
I don't think we know exactly where the front office and management are at this point. We do know that they are not willing to offer large, long term contracts to the top FA *at this point in time*. That last point is the critical one because until we can understand what their core approach is we cannot assess how well they are doing. My guess is that they believe that it was not possible to sustain a top team by spending over the top on Mookie, extending X (at near what the market provided him) or through the trade makret without stripping what was a fairly barren farm system given their position at DD's exit. I also think that they believe that the ascendancy of the TTO era is coming to a close and that the time to get back to more fundemental baseball with an emphasis on getting on base plus defense is returning. If that is the case then Casas and Yoshida are the tip of the spear that moves the team in that direction. Yorke (if he returns to form) could be another piece, while Rafaela will at least provide exceptional CF defense as the farm, hopefully begins to bear fruit in a more consistent manner which may, for the first time in forever, actually include pitching. If/when that develops it will be time for the Sox to play hard in the FA market to fill out the roster with whatever the minor league system does not supply them and then and only then can we truly judge what kind of job management has done. In the meantime, the Jansens and Turners may provide a "catch lightning in a bottle" type of bridge to the next great Sox team. Or I could be completely out in left field and they all suck. Bridge year!!! We are actually approaching bridge-half-decade. I was born in 1947, went to my first game in 1952 (thanks Grandpa!) and then waited 20 years for them to finally reach the Series with the miracle 1967 team - lost Game 7. Then 8 more years for the 1975 Series with the greatest game (Game 6) ever - lost Game 7. Then waited 11 more years for 1986 - greatest choke ever (thanks Calvin) lost Game 7. Then waited 18 more years for 2004 greatest comeback in baseball history plus no need for a Game 7. Since then 3 more Series wins. And now a budding farm and a future worth dreaming on even if it's 2 or 3 years away. That would be 6 or 7 years total since their last triumph so I really can't take your bitching seriously.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 24, 2022 11:31:21 GMT -5
I don't think we know exactly where the front office and management are at this point. We do know that they are not willing to offer large, long term contracts to the top FA *at this point in time*. That last point is the critical one because until we can understand what their core approach is we cannot assess how well they are doing. My guess is that they believe that it was not possible to sustain a top team by spending over the top on Mookie, extending X (at near what the market provided him) or through the trade makret without stripping what was a fairly barren farm system given their position at DD's exit. I also think that they believe that the ascendancy of the TTO era is coming to a close and that the time to get back to more fundemental baseball with an emphasis on getting on base plus defense is returning. If that is the case then Casas and Yoshida are the tip of the spear that moves the team in that direction. Yorke (if he returns to form) could be another piece, while Rafaela will at least provide exceptional CF defense as the farm, hopefully begins to bear fruit in a more consistent manner which may, for the first time in forever, actually include pitching. If/when that develops it will be time for the Sox to play hard in the FA market to fill out the roster with whatever the minor league system does not supply them and then and only then can we truly judge what kind of job management has done. In the meantime, the Jansens and Turners may provide a "catch lightning in a bottle" type of bridge to the next great Sox team.
Or I could be completely out in left field and they all suck.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 23, 2022 12:14:46 GMT -5
Going to need a 200' 60 minute effort tonight against NJ even though they've been off a bit lately they're still a top team. Go B's!
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 21, 2022 20:45:16 GMT -5
At least the Bruins are for real.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 20, 2022 16:34:40 GMT -5
This is much more than a hot start now, the Bruins are very much for real. They have beaten top teams both at home and in their house, even in their losses they were in the game except for one and the fact that they are getting contributions across all 4 lines and 3 defensive pairs bodes well for avoiding a prolonged slump. It's still early, but not *that* early. What a great time for a real traditional hockey town. Let's not forgot that in the early 70s Boston had 3 professional teams playing out of The Gahden: the short lived AHL Boston Braves, the WHA New England Whalers (later Hrtford Whalers, now Carolina Hurricanes) and, of course, the Bobby Orr led Bruins. And at that time BU was probably the top national collegiate hockey program although they had severe local challenges from BC and Harvard who were both nationally ranked and Northeastern was no slouch either. What a golden era for the Boston icemen.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 19, 2022 10:01:58 GMT -5
I want to return to carita 's point which I made earlier (and less eloquently)in another thread which is that the plan is to extend the upcoming talent that proves out and supplement that with Fa Stars as required. It's too late to fix last year's team without going to $400mm in payroll and then three years out being in albatross hell for who knows how long. As mentioned earlier Casas could/should be the first proof of this philosophy. If he demonstrates value this season they should immediately extend him while they wait for the arrival of some of Mayer, Yorke, BBello, Mata, Bleis, along with some of the next tier of Kavadis, Valdez and Jordan, Romero and Anthony (that's a lot of possibles many may fade, but some will hit). Then perhaps offering contract to guys in their early to mid 20s along the lines of 12 years struected as an example: $150mm for years 1-8 with mutual options for years 9-12 at $15mm per if the payer opts in and $25mm per if the Sox want to keep him. The kid is guaranteed $210mm over the life if he opts in and the Sox have a potential super stud at 12 for $250 which sill be a bargain long term versus nice sureity for the player early in his career.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 19, 2022 8:48:05 GMT -5
We don't really know if Mac Jones is broken, he needs an opportunity with a real OC and QB coach and he might return to the promise he showed as a rookie. His mental toughness, or lack thereof, will be the key.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 16, 2022 20:52:43 GMT -5
I think you can offer Story 6/132 (AAV @24m), but use the Sox financial muscle to do the following: Years 1-3 pay him $29 per then he has a one time opt out. If he leaves you have either Mayer or Romero. If not you can trade him to a second tier team who has cap space for the $24m, but only has to pay him $15. That way Story has the incentive to leave having already cashed in and is more likely to find a way to get the additional $45 or more elsewhere.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 14, 2022 11:47:18 GMT -5
Really? Bleis, Yorke and Mata plus Devers for Tatis. So no real overall roster improvement plus give away 3 potential players, all currently SP10, for what gain exactly?
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 14, 2022 9:12:43 GMT -5
So 10 year for a *quarter of a BILLION dollars* is "illegitimate? Seriously guys, Devers is a very good player, but not a great one. I will echo what chr31ter said above and that I posited in another thread - the strategy might well be to offer the large, long term deals to players in their early 20's while the team has leverage in terms of buying our some arb (or even pre-arb) years like the Rays just did with Franco or the Padres with Tatis. If that is the case the first test may be Casas in couple of years if develops as we all hope. That and hopefully they hit on some of the up and coming youngsters from Rafaela to Meyer to form a new, affordable core that will then allow them to supplement with a key FA when they are truly competitive again. What's the difference between sacrificing years now vs later? Well for starters sacrificing now allows them to build that consistent contender and besides where are you going to get a stud RF, an 1/2 pitcher, a SS, and a catcher with losing almost all of your top prospects plus spending about a $ billion give or take to contend now? If they resigned X for $250 when they could have, extend Devers for $300 you still need 2 or 3 more top talents to be in serious contention today. The horses aren't - and weren't available and the future costs would be more than one or two more seasons of purgatory. I say this as someone whose grandfather took him to his first Sox game 70 years ago. I can wait and so can many others I suspect.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 14, 2022 8:50:39 GMT -5
So 10 year for a *quarter of a BILLION dollars* is "illegitimate? Seriously guys, Devers is a very good player, but not a great one. I will echo what chr31ter said above and that I posited in another thread - the strategy might well be to offer the large, long term deals to players in their early 20's while the team has leverage in terms of buying our some arb (or even pre-arb) years like the Rays just did with Franco or the Padres with Tatis. If that is the case the first test may be Casas in couple of years if develops as we all hope. That and hopefully they hit on some of the up and coming youngsters from Rafaela to Meyer to form a new, affordable core that will then allow them to supplement with a key FA when they are truly competitive again.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 13, 2022 13:05:26 GMT -5
Too bad Cohen already bought the Mets Maybe Elon will go team shopping Yeah, because he's done such a marvelous job with the "cesspool of interaction" h/t Anthony Fauci
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 8, 2022 13:22:11 GMT -5
Mookie wasn't staying, Bennie was a shell, the farm was junk but by all means throw 100s of millions after at-to-past-their-peak players to try to stay in the hunt TODAY. Or take what I believe is their new approach, rebuild the farm, bring in some talent on reasonable contracts (Story, Yoshida?) and then when the farm boys emerge extend them by buying out arb and early FA years (that part TBD - we may get a hint with how Casas' career goes). By all mean trade Devers for really top prospects and an aging thumper on a short deal and then let's see if they have a good eye to minor league talent a la Tampa Bay.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 8, 2022 8:34:49 GMT -5
A beloved philospher once said, "Predictions are hard, especially about the future." I might add - predictions are easy, especially about the past - where you have no danger of being proven wrong. Why are so many so certain that X would have accepted the 6/160 deal last Spring? Of course we'll never know, however, I think it's a safe bet that many on this site would have been crying "massive overpay" at the time had it happened. Just as likely Boras would just have used that as a starting point in negotiations, not the end. In that vein I am beginning to think that the Sox (and Bloom) are taking a more TB Raysd approach albeit with more $$. That is that they may be willing to offer large dollar long term contracts, but it will be to young on the rise stars (like what the Rays did with Franco). Take the risk of locking up the up and comers after 2 or 3 seasons from their early to mid twenties for 10 years that way you are paying for future production instead of past. Yes the risk is they flame out, but the dollars will be less then paying for 10 years going into their late 30's when decline is virtually assured. The first possible test may come with Casas in a year or two if he continues to develop as he has. More will come as others arrive (perhaps Bello and/or Whitlock on the pitching side though probably not 10 year deals). As an aside, I'm not trading Rafaela until he has a chance to show wheither or not he can learn patience and plate discipline - if he does that he is likely a frequent All Star at a premium position and a great back up at another. If he doesn't he's still Kiké with an even better glove. Given the above, I'm probably trading Devers for a great package of MLB and near MLB players and am prepared to suffer one more down year before the tree begins to bear fruit.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 7, 2022 19:29:19 GMT -5
Agreed, he has little to no chance of breaking camp, but if he has a s trong first few months who knows. And unless Bleis really shoves this year I don't think you trade a Gold Glove CF with speed and a bat - and if he learns patience he becomes virtually untouchable. CFs have always been my binky so I miiiight be a bit baised.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 7, 2022 19:21:20 GMT -5
I agree, they need some sort of RH who can pop 20+ HRs preferably one who can play RF, none really come to mind right now so not sure who thatd be. Ceddanne Rafaela says "You called?"
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 4, 2022 22:32:00 GMT -5
Celts lead the league with a record breaking offense and a great home record. And.... they're the second best team in Boston right now.
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Post by maxwellsdemon on Dec 2, 2022 16:13:25 GMT -5
audentis fortuna iuvat....Virgil. Worked out super well for Matt Damon... Also worked out not so well for Pliny the Elder (the originator of the quote according to his nephew Pliny the Younger) who didn't take the advice of his experienced helmsman and sailed on to attempt a rescue of the people of Pompeii.... you can guess how that turned out.
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