Mike Napoli performance thread.

[marklmw]

Jung,

 

The pay scale of minor league players is an interesting topic and would require a lot of digging to clearly understand the issues related to it. Most players are best served to go the college route but every now and again you have a phenom come along and like any other sport it makes more sense to skip college and big ones career. You also have to take into account that many of these players are getting some pretty decent signing bonuses that it takes the average person 10 years or more to earn. I think when players embark on a career in baseball they should be giving themselves a time frame to reach various milestones. Most eventually leave the game. A kid that goes go college and is playing Division 1 ball is getting an education but they are not living high on the hog unless Daddy and Mommy say so. I guess that I would have to spend some time in the minors at age 18 - 26 to know how difficult life is. As far as the majors and FA are concerned I think the system is working pretty well for the players and the ownership. I am a big fan of the free market system.

[jung]

High draft picks generally are playing minor league ball under contract to a ML team, like Iggy was for the Sox. Those guys are doing fine. Guys on the 40 man roster are doing fine. But MLB really does not work without a minor league system and the minor leagues don't work without those journeymen players that may never see more than a week if that in an ML uni. Those guys are playing for the love of the game while living on the thin thread of a hope that they will get a shot someday.

[Behindenemylines]

Fielder trade is a positive for the Sox. It makes one less team that would be after Nap. Is not hearing anything a good thing or a bad thing? Naps solid D makes the strikeouts easier to deal with so I can't see why the Sox would shut the door. Unless the years he is asking for is out of the Sox way of doing things now. Right handed power is in short supply and Naps bat would be missed.

[seabeachfred]

Fielder trade is a positive for the Sox. It makes one less team that would be after Nap. Is not hearing anything a good thing or a bad thing? Naps solid D makes the strikeouts easier to deal with so I can't see why the Sox would shut the door. Unless the years he is asking for is out of the Sox way of doing things now. Right handed power is in short supply and Naps bat would be missed.

 

Whatever the case may be, the Red Sox would be smart not to dally any longer with Napoli. We need him and he wants to play for the Red Sox, but is not going to settle for a one year contract. He thinks he deserves more and so do most of the fans, including most of the posters here. The idea of signing Beltran and trying at first base is so ridiculous that the two people who proposed it should hide their faces in shame. As for Hart, he is NOT a first baseman but an outfielder who missed the whole 2012 season, so who the hell knows how he will respond missing a whole year. He is also used to playing in staid and dull Milwaukee and we know of many players who have wilted coming to Boston to play what with the demanding press and fans. Mike is a known quantity and an even better quality. I would agree that patience regarding other needs be kept on the backburner while we see how the FA market turns out, but not with Napoli. IMHO we need to sign him as soon as possible before some other team swoops in at the last minute and we're reduced to using some second rater at first base next season.

[mvp 78]

He wants to play for the Sox so much that he's said over and over that he's going to see what other teams will offer!!!

[User Name]

Fred also doesn't seem to know how to read. He doesn't seem to know what "if there aren't better options" means. He needs to take a reading comprehension course.

[marklmw]

Fred I hate to burst your bubble but rumor has it that Nap's is going to sign with the Rockies. Turns out that he and his wife are very close with Troy Tulowitzki and his wife. They even spent 1 month sharing a chalet in Switzerland. Turns out that Colorado is willing to give him a 3 year deal.

[marklmw]

McCann to NYY.

[seabeachfred]

He wants to play for the Sox so much that he's said over and over that he's going to see what other teams will offer!!!

 

I believe that came about AFTER the Red Sox only offered a ONE year deal. Correct me I'm wrong but that's what I heard on CNNSI and FoxSports.

[User Name]

You're wrong. He said that right after he declined the QO.

[seabeachfred]

Fred I hate to burst your bubble but rumor has it that Nap's is going to sign with the Rockies. Turns out that he and his wife are very close with Troy Tulowitzki and his wife. They even spent 1 month sharing a chalet in Switzerland. Turns out that Colorado is willing to give him a 3 year deal.

 

That would not only burst my bubble Mark but it would bust my balls as well. If true, I think the Red Sox will have blown a big one and be forced to put an inferior player on first base next season, one most likely can't field as well as Napoli can, can't hit with the power he can, not be the leader he is, and most likely is a pretty inferior and crappy player. Not feeling good about this at all.

[marklmw]

That would not only burst my bubble Mark but it would bust my balls as well. If true, I think the Red Sox will have blown a big one and be forced to put an inferior player on first base next season, one most likely can't field as well as Napoli can, can't hit with the power he can, not be the leader he is, and most likely is a pretty inferior and crappy player. Not feeling good about this at all.

 

Sorry Fred ... I was just playing with you. In the end it is all about winning games and setting the team up for multiple successful seasons. The way things are with the Sox right now I think from a fan's standpoint we should be looking to see how we can position our team for the 2015 season. Think of making the playoffs in 2014 as a bonus just as 2013 was a jackpot. This is what I see in 2015. Bogaerts, WMB, Pedey, Vasquez, Napoli .... make up the infield. Maybe Nap's will be playing for another contract. The outfield of Victorino (FA year) JBJ, Nava ... Lester, Buchholz, Owens, Doubront, Barnes. And the best part we will be way under the Luxury Cap ... we can make some moves.

[Spitball]

McCann to NYY.

 

He has been signed to a five-year, $85MM deal with a sixth-year vesting option. I am guessing they are going forward without Granderson and counting on Cano coming down a considerable number of dollars. Or are they confident A-Rod will be suspended for a significant amount of time?

[Palodios]

Fred I hate to burst your bubble but rumor has it that Nap's is going to sign with the Rockies. Turns out that he and his wife are very close with Troy Tulowitzki and his wife. They even spent 1 month sharing a chalet in Switzerland. Turns out that Colorado is willing to give him a 3 year deal.

 

Seriously bro, stop trolling Napoli to Rockies.

[marklmw]

Seriously bro, stop trolling Napoli to Rockies.

 

Sorry Palodios ... I can't help myself ... Just having fun with Fred.

[Palodios]

Sorry Palodios ... I can't help myself ... Just having fun with Fred.

 

No problem -- just realize that getting a rise out of Fred isn't much of a challenge. It is when you make the rest of us do a double-take that it gets a rise out of me too

[marklmw]

No problem -- just realize that getting a rise out of Fred isn't much of a challenge. It is when you make the rest of us do a double-take that it gets a rise out of me too

 

pretty clever tying in the whole friendship thing ... don't you think?

[Palodios]

pretty clever tying in the whole friendship thing ... don't you think?

 

Yeah, it couldn't hurt. People tend to be skeptical of that kind of thing though... players really do go where the money is.

[seabeachfred]

Sorry Fred ... I was just playing with you. In the end it is all about winning games and setting the team up for multiple successful seasons. The way things are with the Sox right now I think from a fan's standpoint we should be looking to see how we can position our team for the 2015 season. Think of making the playoffs in 2014 as a bonus just as 2013 was a jackpot. This is what I see in 2015. Bogaerts, WMB, Pedey, Vasquez, Napoli .... make up the infield. Maybe Nap's will be playing for another contract. The outfield of Victorino (FA year) JBJ, Nava ... Lester, Buchholz, Owens, Doubront, Barnes. And the best part we will be way under the Luxury Cap ... we can make some moves.

 

Relieved to hear it my friend, but you did get me with it because Colorado was one of the teams supposedly interested in Mike. I also agree with you on positioning the team for the years after 2014. There usually is a letdown after a WS Title for most teams unless you're the Yankees of the 1996-2001 era when they won five of six pennants and four WS, three in a row. Realistically speaking and taking in the injury factor, repeating next season will be arduous indeed but some good youngsters coming up in Cecchini, Renaudo Barnes, Brentz and Swihart during the next two or three seasons. This could be like after the 2004 season where we treaded water for two years and then back with a fury in 2007. Still the AL East will again be wide open and if we make the right moves we can finish first in the division again and make a run for something bigger. I think Bogey and WMB are two very players in our immediate future.

[seabeachfred]

Seriously bro, stop trolling Napoli to Rockies.

 

He came clean with me Pal. When he mentioned Colorado he got my attention since that is one of the teams supposedly planning on making a run for Napoli. I wish we can sign Mike as soon as possible. That's the part of just being an ardent and passionate fan. When I coached baseball I at least had some control over what was going down. As a fan I have no control over anything. I can only hope that the right decisions are made. One good thing we all learned, especially some of us more critical of Ben. He knows what the hell he's doing and I'm sure he is weighing all the pros and cons as well as thinking long term.

[marklmw]

Relieved to hear it my friend, but you did get me with it because Colorado was one of the teams supposedly interested in Mike. I also agree with you on positioning the team for the years after 2014. There usually is a letdown after a WS Title for most teams unless you're the Yankees of the 1996-2001 era when they won five of six pennants and four WS, three in a row. Realistically speaking and taking in the injury factor, repeating next season will be arduous indeed but some good youngsters coming up in Cecchini, Renaudo Barnes, Brentz and Swihart during the next two or three seasons. This could be like after the 2004 season where we treaded water for two years and then back with a fury in 2007. Still the AL East will again be wide open and if we make the right moves we can finish first in the division again and make a run for something bigger. I think Bogey and WMB are two very players in our immediate future.

 

Fred ... help me here a little ... what were the rules back in 96-01? Please do not forget JBJ ... this kid will not get 50+ SB's but he will be good with the glove, perhaps a better OBP and perhaps more HR's .... Look to 2015.

[seabeachfred]

Fred ... help me here a little ... what were the rules back in 96-01? Please do not forget JBJ ... this kid will not get 50+ SB's but he will be good with the glove, perhaps a better OBP and perhaps more HR's .... Look to 2015.

 

Rules? I'm not sure of what you're asking Mark. About the Yankees, though, they had some terrific home grown players---Jeter, Posada, Bernie Williams, Mariano and Petitte, along with trades and free agents Brosius, Martinez, Cone, O'Neill and a few others. They had the perfect balance and they were awesome. It was like all the planets in their sphere were all lined up in a straight line. It would be hard to have five solid home grown players and the same amount of trade and FA acquisitions like they had. To be sure, it won't happen that way for them for a long time if even then. However, we have to hope we can get that kind of combination. Well, we got that this year to a point but carrying it over? That will be the big and tough test.

[marklmw]

Rules? I'm not sure of what you're asking Mark. About the Yankees, though, they had some terrific home grown players---Jeter, Posada, Bernie Williams, Mariano and Petitte, along with trades and free agents Brosius, Martinez, Cone, O'Neill and a few others. They had the perfect balance and they were awesome. It was like all the planets in their sphere were all lined up in a straight line. It would be hard to have five solid home grown players and the same amount of trade and FA acquisitions like they had. To be sure, it won't happen that way for them for a long time if even then. However, we have to hope we can get that kind of combination. Well, we got that this year to a point but carrying it over? That will be the big and tough test.

I think that we have a strong farm that can produce 3-5 more players over the next two years as well as JBJ, Bogaerts and maybe Vasquez this year. Rules -- I was referring to luxury taxes. The Yankees had some pretty high payrolls.