2014 Roster Projections

[Dojji]

Hassan is worse defensively than Nava. That'd be horrible.

 

So would Brentz be, unless he can show a heck of a lot more offensive consistency than we've seen from him lately.

[SoxSport]

So would Brentz be, unless he can show a heck of a lot more offensive consistency than we've seen from him lately.

 

Brentz could be the sleeper here, though his OBP needs some improvement. He has the power. Don't know about his defense. They seem to be taking their time on another outfielder. Probably waiting for ST.

[Dojji]

One does not treat a bad OBP as an inconvenience. Brentz's inability to do something useful at the plate more than 31% of the time is a serious problem. One that historically is hard for a baseball player to seriously improve at, and the one factor that tends to most drastically thwart the success of any power hitter who struggles with it.

[seabeachfred]

One does not treat a bad OBP as an inconvenience. Brentz's inability to do something useful at the plate more than 31% of the time is a serious problem. One that historically is hard for a baseball player to seriously improve at, and the one factor that tends to most drastically thwart the success of any power hitter who struggles with it.

 

Very true Doj----in most instances, but young sluggers do improve in that regard with playing experience and improved discipline. When I was a kid in Queens we used to read story after story of how Brooklyn GM Branch Rickey used to have Duke Snider stand at a plate off to the side and have a pitcher throw balls at him while he had to call it a ball or a strike. The Duke was a notorious wild swinger. He is now in the Hall of Fame. By his second full season with the Dodgers he led the league in hits with 199 and hit 321, so it can be done. Now don't for a minute think that I'm comparing Brentz with a Hall of Famer, but with normal intelligence and a willingness to work on weaknesses the guy might turn out to be a surprise. I think if he doesn't shoot himself again and has a good start at Pawtucket this coming season me may yet get a better handle on this guy. I wouldn't give up on him just yet.

[Dojji]

Even Snider got on base at a high level in the minors. Not trying to compare the minors then to the minors now... oh hell, I'll go ahead, it's the same principle, he dominated lower levels and was up very young, younger than Brentz is now. He always had the talent to get there he just had to be pushed to make the proper adjustments. If a guy can't get it done in the minors, the way Snider did, that tells us something damning.

 

If you haven't mastered the ability to hit well enough to do it consistently against guys who don't belong in the big leagues, what on earth makes people think they CAN master the ability to hit consistently against guys that do?

Edited January 6, 2014 by Dojji

[YAZMAN]

Drew is falling back into the sox lap because nobody wants to give up the pick. Therefore the sox are the only team that doesn't have to give up a 1st rounder to sign him.

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees sign him....who do you have at 2B, SS, and 3B right now?

[Spitball]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees sign him....who do you have at 2B, SS, and 3B right now?

 

If healthy, Brian Roberts has been signed to play second. Kelly Johnson and Brendan Ryan have been signed in case Rodriquez and Jeter are out for any time.

[dupree]

If healthy, Brian Roberts has been signed to play second. Kelly Johnson and Brendan Ryan have been signed in case Rodriquez and Jeter are out for any time.

As bad as I hate to think it id say that ARod will get the full year suspended. Selig is wanting to make an example and the Yankess are wanting the payroll relief. So with those two factors its prolly gonna happen. Id say the announcement will come before Tanaka's posting process is done so they will know how far they can go in on Tanaka. So the idea of Arod not manning 3rd for the Yankees next year is all but certain but stranger things have happened. I hope he plays and that the Mariners sign Tanaka. That would make for a nice offseason.

 

 

Also I wish the other NY team would pull the trigger on Drew and sign him if they are gonna sign him. If not let him come back here on a 1 year pact and be done with it. Drew gets hurt a lot so if he comes back cheap so be it. Let him start at SS against righties and Boggey moving to 3rd on those days and WMB and Boggey playing against lefties. All should get enough ABs.

 

Wait till Spring Training and make a move on Matt Kemp if he shows that he is healthy. Trade some pitching away to get him and call it a good offseason.

[User Name]

Disagree on Kemp. Agree on everything else.

[dupree]

Disagree on Kemp. Agree on everything else.

Kemp may be a long shot, but I think it is still a possibility. I think the FO will look to see how JBJ does in ST and if he is not showing much they will pull the trigger on Kemp. Plus I seen this morning that the Sox were kicking the tires on bringing Scott Podsednik back. That tells me that they are not only scared of JBJ production but that the up and coming prospects are not that promising in their eyes, if the report on Podsednik is true. To me Podsednik doesnt make sense to waste money on even on a minors deal.

[a700hitter]

Kemp may be a long shot, but I think it is still a possibility. I think the FO will look to see how JBJ does in ST and if he is not showing much they will pull the trigger on Kemp. Plus I seen this morning that the Sox were kicking the tires on bringing Scott Podsednik back. That tells me that they are not only scared of JBJ production but that the up and coming prospects are not that promising in their eyes, if the report on Podsednik is true. To me Podsednik doesnt make sense to waste money on even on a minors deal.

Isn't Podsednik left handed. We need a right-handed OFer. I don't see the fit. Sorry VA. I realize tht Podsednik and Peavy are on you All-Hunk team.

[Palodios]

Can the Yankees just sign Tanaka already and call it a day? This offseason has been moving way too slowly.

[Bellhorn04]

Isn't Podsednik left handed. We need a right-handed OFer. I don't see the fit. Sorry VA. I realize tht Podsednik and Peavy are on you All-Hunk team.

 

Jerry Sands is available.

[Spitball]

Can the Yankees just sign Tanaka already and call it a day? This offseason has been moving way too slowly.

 

I'd rather he sign with the Astros, but you are right, waiting for Tanaka to sign is making for a slow off season.

[dupree]

The Tanaka saga has moved everything so slowly. What is the day that all the posting bids have to be submitted? And correct me if im wrong... but all teams can post the $20MM and then Tanaka has the ability to pick whichever team he choices out of those posting teams correct?

 

I hope the Mariners or the DBacks get him. And Theo with the Cubs is my darkhorse pick to be in on him and could seriosuly overpay didto time. Anyone but the Yanks would be fine with me. But honestly with all the holes on the current roster and overpays for old old men i dont see how Tanaka will be that big of help for the Yanks.

[VA Sox Fan]

Isn't Podsednik left handed. We need a right-handed OFer. I don't see the fit. Sorry VA. I realize tht Podsednik and Peavy are on you All-Hunk team.

 

Dammit 700! Way to shatter my hopes!

[seabeachfred]

Can the Yankees just sign Tanaka already and call it a day? This offseason has been moving way too slowly.

 

This is like a boxing match Palodios with each fighter feeling the other out. Only in this case there are about ten to twenty guys posing as GM's trying to fool the other and instead of fists are using words and looks to bluff their way through. There should be three or four teams now actively engaging each other to get this guy and like you I think it will be the Yankees because they have no compulsion to spend until they drop. That's why while they may occasionally win a WS they will never dominate the league again because they go year by year and think spending their way to fame will get the job done. As we have seen since their WS romps ended with the 2001 meltdown against the D'Backs, they have only one WS Title in those 13. Whatever they're doing is not working that well enough for them. Maybe they ought to build their decrepit farm system once again....you think?

[rjortiz]

Kemp may be a long shot, but I think it is still a possibility. I think the FO will look to see how JBJ does in ST and if he is not showing much they will pull the trigger on Kemp. Plus I seen this morning that the Sox were kicking the tires on bringing Scott Podsednik back. That tells me that they are not only scared of JBJ production but that the up and coming prospects are not that promising in their eyes, if the report on Podsednik is true. To me Podsednik doesnt make sense to waste money on even on a minors deal.

 

I think the absolute worst Bradley could do is still better than best Podsednik could do.

[reYoukilis]

This is like a boxing match Palodios with each fighter feeling the other out. Only in this case there are about ten to twenty guys posing as GM's trying to fool the other and instead of fists are using words and looks to bluff their way through. There should be three or four teams now actively engaging each other to get this guy and like you I think it will be the Yankees because they have no compulsion to spend until they drop. That's why while they may occasionally win a WS they will never dominate the league again because they go year by year and think spending their way to fame will get the job done. As we have seen since their WS romps ended with the 2001 meltdown against the D'Backs, they have only one WS Title in those 13. Whatever they're doing is not working that well enough for them. Maybe they ought to build their decrepit farm system once again....you think?

Hell yeah! But Im not telling them that.

[a700hitter]

Dammit 700! Way to shatter my hopes!

Maybe he is working on switch hitting .

[YAZMAN]

If healthy, Brian Roberts has been signed to play second. Kelly Johnson and Brendan Ryan have been signed in case Rodriquez and Jeter are out for any time.

 

Roberts has only played in 190 games over the last four seasons. That would be the most meh infield in the AL East.

[VA Sox Fan]

Maybe he is working on switch hitting .

 

Ha ha! Kinda late for that.

[rjortiz]

The Tanaka saga has moved everything so slowly. What is the day that all the posting bids have to be submitted? And correct me if im wrong... but all teams can post the $20MM and then Tanaka has the ability to pick whichever team he choices out of those posting teams correct?

 

I hope the Mariners or the DBacks get him. And Theo with the Cubs is my darkhorse pick to be in on him and could seriosuly overpay didto time. Anyone but the Yanks would be fine with me. But honestly with all the holes on the current roster and overpays for old old men i dont see how Tanaka will be that big of help for the Yanks.

 

Tanaka puts them in the Wild Card mix in my opinion. Maybe an outside chance at the division if things break right.

[SoxSport]

Tanaka is a big questionmark for any team that gets him. A big risk. He wouldn't help the Yankees much, but they are pretty desperate these days--Sabathia looks like he's going downhill. They really need a left hander like Price. Plus another infield. LOL.

[Bellhorn04]

Tanaka is a big questionmark for any team that gets him. A big risk. He wouldn't help the Yankees much, but they are pretty desperate these days--Sabathia looks like he's going downhill. They really need a left hander like Price. Plus another infield. LOL.

 

Not even if he's as good as Darvish, huh? Interesting insight.

[mvp 78]

Does anyone think he's as good as Darvish?

[rjortiz]

Tanaka is a big questionmark for any team that gets him. A big risk. He wouldn't help the Yankees much, but they are pretty desperate these days--Sabathia looks like he's going downhill. They really need a left hander like Price. Plus another infield. LOL.

 

Are you saying that they are going to be bad enough so Tanaka won't make any impact on their chances? I think you are overstating how bad the Yankees are. Adding Tanaka upgrades their rotation, which will help them grab a playoff spot. He could be 2-4 wins better than Pineda/Phelps. That's definitely going to increase their odds of playing in October.

[Bellhorn04]

Does anyone think he's as good as Darvish?

 

Well, even if he's halfway between (healthy) Dice-K and Darvish.

[rjortiz]

Well, even if he's halfway between (healthy) Dice-K and Darvish.

 

That's a pretty good pitcher.

[seabeachfred]

Maybe someone can help me out on this one----is there any time line when Tanaka is supposed to come to a decision on which team he's signing with, or, better yet, when all the teams interested are supposed to cast their bid for the guy. It seems to me his decision or lack of it so far is holding up a lot of other pitchers signing on with their new teams, and as my pal Palodios mentioned yesterday it is making this off season's hot stove league moving at a snail's pace.