2014 Roster Projections

[User Name]

Beltran at 1B? Not sure where did it come from... Just sign Napoli and cut the s***.

 

Do you even follow baseball? When has it ever worked like that? Napoli is clearly part of the process of, you know, where he'll play baseball to make a living. The Red Sox can't just shake a wand and magically get Napoli on the roster. It takes two to tango. Please stop.

[sk7326]

Brentz was drafted when he was 21 and it does take some time to make it to the Bigs, like three or so seasons in the minors. He also got injured one season and that might have set him back, and you don't ignore a person who has the capability of being a solid corner outfielder with a good arm and good power. But you can ignore him if you sign some 37 year old greybeard with weak knees who wants a three year pact. That also blocks Brentz. Apparently the Sox think he is worth the protection and we will need some good hitting outfielders within a year or two.

 

A lot of options out there? For first base? Who? Loney, Morales, Hart, Beltran? Come on Ski, you know damn well Napoli is the best choice for us. He knows how to play in Boston, loves playing here and we need him in that lineup. I might also mention he hits the Yankees pretty damn well. Our team also is not going on a 5-19 stretch in my opinion unless we replace those players we lost with other types who can't come together as the newcomers did for us last Spring. I also insist that Napoli is best for our team and not of the other people mentioned. Yes, I am pretty adamant about that but I'm convinced we have to sign Mike before some other team does. This is the one player we must move fast on. The rest we can wait to see how the FA market goes, but not Napoli.

 

All you need for a 5-15 stretch is a half a dozen one-run losses (and those games are basically coin flips) and a few injuries. The team came together last year and had remarkably little adversity. I do agree that our team won't collapse because we have leaders who are used to winning a lot. As long as the guys are healthy they will be some version of good.

[jung]

All you need for a 5-15 stretch is a half a dozen one-run losses (and those games are basically coin flips) and a few injuries. The team came together last year and had remarkably little adversity. I do agree that our team won't collapse because we have leaders who are used to winning a lot. As long as the guys are healthy they will be some version of good.

 

True but the bottom third of "some version of good" is the top half of "just plain average" and when you are playing things as close to the vest as BC did in building the 2013 team, you could just as easily have had a plausible argument for just about any of these versions with or without injury....that so as long as you could pitch. That team sure as heck could pitch.

 

No knock on BC intended. I admire what he did and am happy to suggest that while it appears that he had the religion before the 2013 season drilled into him by bearing witness to the excesses of the past, he must really be a true believer now. At this rate he will end up with his own flock to shepherd.....Praise the Lord!!!

[User Name]

You mean praise Bodacious Ben, as the new "Benlam" religion will call its principal deity.

[sk7326]

True but the bottom third of "some version of good" is the top half of "just plain average" and when you are playing things as close to the vest as BC did in building the 2013 team, you could just as easily have had a plausible argument for just about any of these versions with or without injury....that so as long as you could pitch. That team sure as heck could pitch.

 

No knock on BC intended. I admire what he did and am happy to suggest that while it appears that he had the religion before the 2013 season drilled into him by bearing witness to the excesses of the past, he must really be a true believer now. At this rate he will end up with his own flock to shepherd.....Praise the Lord!!!

 

Oh we need to make some moves to get to where we want to go. Moreover, we need the performance from the kids to achieve our true promise. I guess the way I look at is, Ben put together a pretty good team on paper last year - and between the fact that the team got to field it's "on paper" lineup far more often than in recent memory, along with the positive performances of Victorino, Uehara and Drew particularly, you get the best team in the majors from wire to wire.

 

The team with a minimalist offseason is still a 90 win team or so with just some solid "typical" seasons from the guys. But you can't count on the injury good fortune - especially the fortune that resulted in basically 6 pitchers making virtually all of our starts.

 

I just take issue with Fred's idea of "Ben put together players with amazing spirit" hooey - chemistry to me forms during the season. It comes when a group of guys is successful together, and each season you are starting from scratch there. It is hard to get that sort of team success when your players - especially your leaders - just cannot perform, and then when you add a manager who cannot fill in the gap, we see what happened. When that stuff starts to slip, and losing becomes all too regular - any set of professionals can let the bad vibes seep in.

[Palodios]

I can't say it enough, but the reason the 2013 team was so good was depth. Even if your top five hitters are great, it means very little if 6-9 suck. When Drew went down with a concussion early, Iggy was there to back him up. When Middlebrooks struggled, Drew stepped in. When Iggy was traded, Bogaert stepped up. When Ortiz was out, Gomes DHed. Buchholz? Webster, Workman, Peavy.

 

When did we ever see players on the field who had no right being in the major leagues? Having good players and building depth -- quality depth-- is what will keep this team successful.

[sk7326]

I can't say it enough, but the reason the 2013 team was so good was depth. Even if your top five hitters are great, it means very little if 6-9 suck. When Drew went down with a concussion early, Iggy was there to back him up. When Middlebrooks struggled, Drew stepped in. When Iggy was traded, Bogaert stepped up. When Ortiz was out, Gomes DHed. Buchholz? Webster, Workman, Peavy.

 

When did we ever see players on the field who had no right being in the major leagues? Having good players and building depth -- quality depth-- is what will keep this team successful.

 

This. You also look at the other 2 champions - there were the Eric Hinske's, the Bobby Kielty's, and obviously Dave Roberts. We were turning to basically fringe starters as our bench guys - which is a great luxury to have. Any spending on bullpen arms (not a ton on a guy, just signing a bunch of dudes) for this reason is ALWAYS a good idea, even if you think your pen is good.

[marklmw]

This. You also look at the other 2 champions - there were the Eric Hinske's, the Bobby Kielty's, and obviously Dave Roberts. We were turning to basically fringe starters as our bench guys - which is a great luxury to have. Any spending on bullpen arms (not a ton on a guy, just signing a bunch of dudes) for this reason is ALWAYS a good idea, even if you think your pen is good.

I do not think as fans we give Koji enough credit for the 2013 Championship. Our top 2 closers go down and Koji steps in and sets records. I hope that he can do it again in 2014. To have a dependable closer is as important as any position on the team. The Yankees were fortunate to say the least to have Mariano for all those years.

[sk7326]

I do not think as fans we give Koji enough credit for the 2013 Championship. Our top 2 closers go down and Koji steps in and sets records. I hope that he can do it again in 2014. To have a dependable closer is as important as any position on the team. The Yankees were fortunate to say the least to have Mariano for all those years.

 

Oh I think Koji gets plenty of credit - hell, his leap into Salty's arms is the final image! He had a marvelous season, so marvelous that if he turns into a pumpkin this season (after the hardest season of his 38 year old life), I won't lose any sleep over it.

[iortiz]

I do not think as fans we give Koji enough credit for the 2013 Championship. Our top 2 closers go down and Koji steps in and sets records. I hope that he can do it again in 2014. To have a dependable closer is as important as any position on the team. The Yankees were fortunate to say the least to have Mariano for all those years.

 

And some still saying that it is an overrated position.

[marklmw]

And some still saying that it is an overrated position.

 

We do not loose the WS to the Mets if Mariano were our closer. We do not have a one game play-off in 78 if Mariano were our closer. The list goes on and on.

[sk7326]

And some still saying that it is an overrated position.

 

It is ... remember, the Dodgers, Tigers, Cardinals and Red Sox all made the semifinals without the closer they expected entering the season. Koji had a stupendously amazing season for any sort of reliever in the modern era. But teams have won with much much less at that position. (see 2012 Giants, 2011 Cardinals, 2006 Cardinals, 2005 White Sox, 2008 Phillies)

[iortiz]

Cut the s*** is right. The idea of putting Beltran at first only came about because some of our friends here had too much time on their hands. The idea is idiotic!!! He has never played first base in his life and the fact he is 37 with weak knees and we don't need another greybeard on our team. We have a couple as it is and that's enough. Now that the Rangers have traded for Prince Fielder they have no need for Napoli unless they want to make him their DH. User as usual is playing his routine game of taking the party line and disagreeing with everything anyone says that smacks of disagreement with the front office. Napoli we need; Beltran we don't and I'd rather have him than Hart as well since that guy is coming off a year on the sidelines. Just because things are moving slowly doesn't mean we have to follow suit. Besides, some signings and trades have already happened, and Napoli is still hanging around Boston. How much more does Cherington need to know that Mike wants to stay in Boston. He is 32 and has three or four more productive years ahead of him. Just sign him and then fix the other problems as they are needed, but Napoli is a must. T hat is my opinion and I don't give a s*** if USER finds that offensive or not. I don't follow the party line.

 

If they want to sign Beltran, fine... I simply don't want to see him at 1B.

 

About UN, don't engage with him, he always takes things out of context and never will understand that it is about opinions. He loves to start s*** and fight with other posters when he disagrees hahahaha. Never will understand why he takes this so seriously.

 

Anyway... As you said, hopefully they resign Napoli (IMO, they will), he's the best option for us at 1B.

[User Name]

It is ... remember, the Dodgers, Tigers, Cardinals and Red Sox all made the semifinals without the closer they expected entering the season. Koji had a stupendously amazing season for any sort of reliever in the modern era. But teams have won with much much less at that position. (see 2012 Giants, 2011 Cardinals, 2006 Cardinals, 2005 White Sox, 2008 Phillies)

 

....and iortiz himself spent all season saying that Koji "had no experience at closer" and we needed "a stud like Papelbon who is riding on Rivera highway" whatever the hell that is. The fact that he's trying to use this as evidence to prove the "closer is so important" point is both misguided and hilarious.

[User Name]

If they want to sign Beltran, fine... I simply don't want to see him at 1B.

 

About UN, don't engage with him, he always takes things out of context and never will understand that it is about opinions. He loves to start s*** and fight with other posters when he disagrees hahahaha. Never will understand why he takes this so seriously.

 

Anyway... As you said, hopefully they resign Napoli (IMO, they will), he's the best option for us at 1B.

 

Yes yes, let the butthurt flow through you.

[Bellhorn04]

It is ... remember, the Dodgers, Tigers, Cardinals and Red Sox all made the semifinals without the closer they expected entering the season. Koji had a stupendously amazing season for any sort of reliever in the modern era. But teams have won with much much less at that position. (see 2012 Giants, 2011 Cardinals, 2006 Cardinals, 2005 White Sox, 2008 Phillies)

 

But in a really close series, or game, the closer can be the tipping point.

[User Name]

But in a really close series, or game, the closer can be the tipping point.

 

Just like any other position if the teams are evenly matched.....

[User Name]

I'm reading all over the internet that people think that Texas landing Fielder has all but secured a Napoli-Red Sox reunion, although some claim the Rockies are a dark-horse candidate and could be the ones who end up signing him. I don't think the Rockies have the kind of $$$ required to fit Napoli into their budget and deal with their other needs, but stranger things have happened.

[Bellhorn04]

Just like any other position if the teams are evenly matched.....

 

But in general closer is the only player that can potentially be in the position of ending the game or blowing the game 3-4 times in one playoff series.

 

You have to admit it's a unique position, if nothing else.

[User Name]

But in general closer is the only player that can potentially be in the position of ending the game or blowing the game 3-4 times in one playoff series.

 

You have to admit it's a unique position, if nothing else.

 

A closer isn't even the guy who's in game-deciding situations most of the time.

[iortiz]

We do not loose the WS to the Mets if Mariano were our closer. We do not have a one game play-off in 78 if Mariano were our closer. The list goes on and on.

 

IMO they play a very important role in a team, and they have become key pieces. Some teams take a lot of time/money in order to find out a good one. We wasted tons of money/time with a lot bums while taxed us with W since Pap go. Look at the Tigers. As you said, the list goes on and on. Hopefully Koji can keep this level; one thing is for sure without him we wouldn't have won last season.

[sk7326]

Here is the thing. I've railed about the "relief ace" idea. But we are a decade away at least from that getting traction. The groupthink behind closers -as well as the way that salary arbitrators use the statistics for compensation - the closer is going to be the best compensated reliever. Managers, even the Joe Maddon sorts, fall into line with this stuff - that the 9th is special etc. There is some risk aversion at work - the same things that prevent football coaches from going for it on 4th down when anybody who has played Madden knows better. Nobody wants the media or fans getting on their ass, easier to deflect to players than to take the bullet.

 

SO, with that being said, closers now are essentially like how running backs have evolved in the NFL. You need a running back, but it doesn't matter as much who he is. He can be Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, whomever. The team structure is more important. Now there are a few RBs (like closers) who can do a heavier lift - THOSE guys, yeah, are real value adds. The Red Sox in their three title runs were blessed with true value-added closers, in Foulke, early Papelbon, and Uehara last year. Value-added closing is very hard to find, and Rivera was one of them. But Bobby Jenks wasn't, and Sergio Romo isn't, and 2006 Adam Wainwright wasn't.

[iortiz]

But in general closer is the only player that can potentially be in the position of ending the game or blowing the game 3-4 times in one playoff series.

 

You have to admit it's a unique position, if nothing else.

When you have a guy that SV over 40+ and has a 90+ SV%, is definitely giving you ton of value to your team, mostly when a game/standings are so close.

[sk7326]

When you have a guy that SV over 40+ and has a 90+ SV%, is definitely giving you ton of value to your team, mostly when a game/standings are so close.

 

Neither stat offers much aside from being on a team that plays a lot of close games.

[User Name]

Here is the thing. I've railed about the "relief ace" idea. But we are a decade away at least from that getting traction. The groupthink behind closers -as well as the way that salary arbitrators use the statistics for compensation - the closer is going to be the best compensated reliever. Managers, even the Joe Maddon sorts, fall into line with this stuff - that the 9th is special etc. There is some risk aversion at work - the same things that prevent football coaches from going for it on 4th down when anybody who has played Madden knows better. Nobody wants the media or fans getting on their ass, easier to deflect to players than to take the bullet.

 

SO, with that being said, closers now are essentially like how running backs have evolved in the NFL. You need a running back, but it doesn't matter as much who he is. He can be Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, whomever. The team structure is more important. Now there are a few RBs (like closers) who can do a heavier lift - THOSE guys, yeah, are real value adds. The Red Sox in their three title runs were blessed with true value-added closers, in Foulke, early Papelbon, and Uehara last year. Value-added closing is very hard to find, and Rivera was one of them. But Bobby Jenks wasn't, and Sergio Romo isn't, and 2006 Adam Wainwright wasn't.

 

Man this is a real good post. However, i'll disagree on the value-added closing, since by your own definition, it varies wildly depending on what said closer is offering on a per-year basis.

[Bellhorn04]

A closer isn't even the guy who's in game-deciding situations most of the time.

 

This would have to be analyzed, but I am guessing that with most teams the closer is near the top of the staff in high-leverage plate appearances.

[User Name]

This would have to be analyzed, but I am guessing that with most teams the closer is near the top of the staff in high-leverage plate appearances.

 

I'm willing to bet the top setup man either sees more or is right there with him.

[User Name]

Mariano Rivera and David Robertson saw 135 and 120 high-leverage AB's last season respectively. I bet that if you look around the league, that's what you'll see.

[marklmw]

I'm willing to bet the top setup man either sees more or is right there with him.

 

Closers do have one advantage over the set-up man. A Closer often enters the game without a runner on base ... unless he is being asked to get 4+ outs. The Set-up man often comes into hairy situations. The last 3 outs are still the toughest outs in baseball. Closers are subject to a lot of scrutiny when they blow a save or incur a loss. I do not think that anyone would argue the fact that Rivera was a big asset to the Yankees over the many seasons that he played.

[User Name]

Closers do have one advantage over the set-up man. Closers often come into the game without runners on ... unless that are being asked to get 4+ outs. The Set-up man often comes into hairy situations. The last 3 outs are still the toughest outs in baseball. Closers are subject to a lot of scrutiny when they have a blown save or loss. I do not think that anyone would argue the fact that Rivera was a big asset to the Yankees over the many seasons that he played.

 

Yeah but so have been some of the setup men he's had over the years. Look at Robertson right now.