2014 Offseason Thread

[cp176]

I will ask this though: How do you know that never re-signing Lester wasn't their intent fred? Pitching speculation as fact is fun fred, but none of us actually knows what happened there.

 

I would suggest again that once Lester left, it is very questionable that he wanted to return to Boston. We truly don't know what the thinking was. Henry might have been given that message when he visited him for the last time. Believe it or not folks, he might not have wanted to be here.

[Bellhorn04]

I would suggest again that once Lester left, it is very questionable that he wanted to return to Boston. We truly don't know what the thinking was. Henry might have been given that message when he visited him for the last time. Believe it or not folks, he might not have wanted to be here.

 

The reported facts certainly indicate that Lester was willing to return to Boston. He told the Giants he had narrowed his choice to the Cubs and the Sox. Apparently the Giants had been preparing an offer that was equal to the Cubs offer or more.

[Kimmi]

For all our sakes you better hope you've got Miley pegged better than the rest of us, and while offense in the AL isn't as good as before it's a helluva lot better than that miserable NL West with stiffs like the Padres, Rockies and D'Backs cavort......and while I'm about it the Giants didn't look like a Murderer's Row offense either while the Dodger one was vastly overrated. I hope Miley does well.....and he's going to have to for us to make a real move upward this season. We'll see.

 

 

It's not whether UN or any other poster has it right when it comes to Miley or any other player. It's how the FO assesses the player. They obviously see something there, and they have a lot more resources, both scouting and analytical, to make that assessment than we do. Why not try to have a little confidence in the FO's ability rather than thinking that some naysayer fans know more than the FO does?

[Kimmi]

I don't know anything about Montero so are you saying his reputation is being not a very good handler of pitchers? I'm surprised that Theo brought him in if that's the case.

 

 

Actually, Montero has a reputation for being a rather good receiver. Vazquez, I believe, is even better.

[Bellhorn04]

Are you kidding Spud? The lowballed Lester and lost him and they will not pay big money for pitching otherwise they would have done it THIS off season when the AL East is up for grabs. The only way your take on things can happen is that our team has another disastrous season like two of the last three and the media and press and fans absolutely go off the deep end and plaster Prune Face and his cohorts into embarrassment along with a lot of cancelled season tickets. And with so many pink hats around who don't s*** about the game or the team just the fact that they can get a ticket to Fenway will be enough for that. Good God, some of those types have been too frequent at Red Sox games the past half-dozen years and they're starting to act like those stupid and baseball ignorant fans we have our here in LA.

 

"Prune Face and his cohorts" - sounds exactly like villains from Dick Tracy or Batman.

[Kimmi]

The reported facts certainly indicate that Lester was willing to return to Boston. He told the Giants he had narrowed his choice to the Cubs and the Sox. Apparently the Giants had been preparing an offer that was equal to the Cubs offer or more.

 

 

I believe that Lester was still willing to return. But once he left, that certainly opened the door to the idea that Boston wasn't the only place in the world. It made his decision to leave a lot easier IMO.

[Bellhorn04]

I believe that Lester was still willing to return. But once he left, that certainly opened the door to the idea that Boston wasn't the only place in the world. It made his decision to leave a lot easier IMO.

 

Yes, that and $155 million. I'm kidding about that. But the presence of Theo and Hoyer and Dempster and the idea of helping the Cubs break their 100 year + drought obviously appealed to Jon. This was a huge decision in his life and he treated it as such.

[Kimmi]

Yes, that and $155 million. I'm kidding about that. But the presence of Theo and Hoyer and Dempster and the idea of helping the Cubs break their 100 year + drought obviously appealed to Jon. This was a huge decision in his life and he treated it as such.

 

 

I agree with that. I'm wondering what Lester would have done if the Sox had matched the Cubs offer. Would the allure of the Cubs still be enough? Or would he have re-signed with the Sox?

[a700hitter]

I agree with that. I'm wondering what Lester would have done if the Sox had matched the Cubs offer. Would the allure of the Cubs still be enough? Or would he have re-signed with the Sox?

The Allure of the Cubs. This will have me laughing all day long.

[Spudboy]

Baseball season cannot start soon enough for me. I am going through some serious withdrawal.

 

I need to make plans to get to Ft. Myers one year. I have never been.

 

I'm with you Sister woman!

 

I need a fix badly!

 

By the way, Ted can tell you much more I assume. But when I visited Fort Myers in the mid to late '90s I found it to be a dump. Of course it may have morphed into a world class city by now. I don't know. In any case, I'd love to be there now because I am sick of shoveling snow and shivering in 0 degree temps.

[sk7326]

The Allure of the Cubs. This will have me laughing all day long.

 

Such as having more of your evenings off!

[Spudboy]

Are you kidding Spud? The lowballed Lester and lost him and they will not pay big money for pitching otherwise they would have done it THIS off season when the AL East is up for grabs. The only way your take on things can happen is that our team has another disastrous season like two of the last three and the media and press and fans absolutely go off the deep end and plaster Prune Face and his cohorts into embarrassment along with a lot of cancelled season tickets. And with so many pink hats around who don't s*** about the game or the team just the fact that they can get a ticket to Fenway will be enough for that. Good God, some of those types have been too frequent at Red Sox games the past half-dozen years and they're starting to act like those stupid and baseball ignorant fans we have our here in LA.

 

Chillax dude.

[Spudboy]

The Allure of the Cubs. This will have me laughing all day long.

 

It does sound strange. But we both know what she means.

 

I believe, ultimately, Lester craves Italian Beef Sandwiches.

 

Done deal.

[seabeachfred]

It's not whether UN or any other poster has it right when it comes to Miley or any other player. It's how the FO assesses the player. They obviously see something there, and they have a lot more resources, both scouting and analytical, to make that assessment than we do. Why not try to have a little confidence in the FO's ability rather than thinking that some naysayer fans know more than the FO does?

 

Why? Maybe because I saw how the front office's moves in 2012 and 2014 had saddled us with two complete duds. They haven't done all that well to engender a lot Pollyanna ideas from where I sit. Maybe this year we get vindication of some sort. They didn't exactly hit the confidence button with Middlebrooks and Bradley, did they? And the jury is still out as far as I'm concerned with Bogaerts, who was about the worst hitter in baseball with RSP last season.

[Bellhorn04]

The Allure of the Cubs. This will have me laughing all day long.

 

The Cubs time may be here for real.

 

The Sox brass is probably relieved we don't play the Cubs in interleague for awhile.

[Bellhorn04]

Chillax dude.

 

Telling Fred to chillax is like telling your wife to calm down, or trying to herd cats.

[Palodios]

Badenhop to Reds. Meh.

[Kimmi]

The Allure of the Cubs. This will have me laughing all day long.

 

 

LOL The allure would be much greater if Maddon were not the manager.

 

They might not be quite there yet, but should be within a couple of years. You can't deny the appeal of helping to lead a team to their first WS Championship in 100 years.

[Kimmi]

I'm with you Sister woman!

 

I need a fix badly!

 

By the way, Ted can tell you much more I assume. But when I visited Fort Myers in the mid to late '90s I found it to be a dump. Of course it may have morphed into a world class city by now. I don't know. In any case, I'd love to be there now because I am sick of shoveling snow and shivering in 0 degree temps.

 

 

I've read some his posts about visiting Ft. Myers every spring. I'm guessing it's a much nicer place than it was back in the 90s.

 

You have more snow coming Sunday through Tuesday, I believe. I'm a little farther south than you now, so not much snow, but regardless, I'm sick of the freezing temps. I do not miss the NE winters, that's for sure.

[Kimmi]

It does sound strange. But we both know what she means.

 

I believe, ultimately, Lester craves Italian Beef Sandwiches.

 

Done deal.

 

 

LOL Maybe he likes ivy?

 

I will likely be in Chicago for a week this summer. If so, I'm going to try to catch a game at Wrigley.

[Kimmi]

Why? Maybe because I saw how the front office's moves in 2012 and 2014 had saddled us with two complete duds. They haven't done all that well to engender a lot Pollyanna ideas from where I sit. Maybe this year we get vindication of some sort. They didn't exactly hit the confidence button with Middlebrooks and Bradley, did they? And the jury is still out as far as I'm concerned with Bogaerts, who was about the worst hitter in baseball with RSP last season.

 

 

Why focus on the down years when there has been so much success? Ben is relatively new to his position, but this FO has been around since 2003, and Ben was part of the FO under Theo. Three championships during their tenure - you can't deny that success. And according to you, we probably should have even won a couple more championships if not for "Francoma", so they must be doing something right. No, they're not going to get it right with every single player and every single move. What FO is? These guys have a pretty good idea of what they're doing. This team is set up to look good not only now, but for several years to come.

 

As far a Bogaerts goes, I expect big things from him offensively this year. No surprise there, huh?

[Kimmi]

Telling Fred to chillax is like telling your wife to calm down, or trying to herd cats.

 

 

This is an insult to wives and cats everywhere. LOL

 

Just kidding Fred.

[sk7326]

Why focus on the down years when there has been so much success? Ben is relatively new to his position, but this FO has been around since 2003, and Ben was part of the FO under Theo. Three championships during their tenure - you can't deny that success. And according to you, we probably should have even won a couple more championships if not for "Francoma", so they must be doing something right. No, they're not going to get it right with every single player and every single move. What FO is? These guys have a pretty good idea of what they're doing. This team is set up to look good not only now, but for several years to come.

 

As far a Bogaerts goes, I expect big things from him offensively this year. No surprise there, huh?

 

Memories are very short ... the idea that a manager blew a title in baseball short of a World Series game is ludicrous. What is funny is that Francona is indisputably one of the two best managers of the modern era for Boston.

[mvp 78]

No more bitching about WAR and "stat nerds." WAR is now on the back of Topps cards.

[seabeachfred]

LOL The allure would be much greater if Maddon were not the manager.

 

They might not be quite there yet, but should be within a couple of years. You can't deny the appeal of helping to lead a team to their first WS Championship in 100 years.

 

Make that 107 years and counting. Not saying they can't or won't do it; in fact I hope they get to a WS within the next three or four years, but keep in mind the Cardinals always seem to be in the mix and they are run very well with a deep farm system. The Pirates have turned it around and are now a dangerous team and the Reds are better than they showed last season. As for Milwaukee they have learned how to compete. That division has become real tough and it would behoove the Cubbies to keep bearing down all the way. Nothing is written down in stone that it's automatically going to be "their" turn. It took our Red Sox 86 years to get out of hock. Hell, even out my way here in So. Cal the big bad Bums have now gone 26 years and counting and haven't even won a pennant, let alone a WS----and the Angels one title in their 54 year history. The Astros none in 53 years. Nothing is assured in this game.

[seabeachfred]

This is an insult to wives and cats everywhere. LOL

 

Just kidding Fred.

 

No offense taken Kimmi;) There might an element of truth to what you said. I do sometimes take the Red Sox too seriously. I do believe, however, that the Red Sox should be able to contend EVERY year-----not win a title every year but compete for one. I do not accept that our team should finish last two out of the last three years even if one sweet candy bar was thrown in between the two. And here I thought I heard the last of that word FrancoMa!!!!!!!!

[Kimmi]

Memories are very short ... the idea that a manager blew a title in baseball short of a World Series game is ludicrous. What is funny is that Francona is indisputably one of the two best managers of the modern era for Boston.

 

 

I am in complete agreement about Francona.

 

I have a difficult time blaming any manager for losing any single game, much less for losing a series. Even with Grady's infamous decision. There is just too much that happens during a game that affects the outcome to put the blame on one single play or one single decision. Was it a contributing factor? Sure. Should the manager be blamed for the loss? No.

[Kimmi]

Make that 107 years and counting. Not saying they can't or won't do it; in fact I hope they get to a WS within the next three or four years, but keep in mind the Cardinals always seem to be in the mix and they are run very well with a deep farm system. The Pirates have turned it around and are now a dangerous team and the Reds are better than they showed last season. As for Milwaukee they have learned how to compete. That division has become real tough and it would behoove the Cubbies to keep bearing down all the way. Nothing is written down in stone that it's automatically going to be "their" turn. It took our Red Sox 86 years to get out of hock. Hell, even out my way here in So. Cal the big bad Bums have now gone 26 years and counting and haven't even won a pennant, let alone a WS----and the Angels one title in their 54 year history. The Astros none in 53 years. Nothing is assured in this game.

 

 

The Cardinals are indeed a very well run organization. The Cubbies are a much improved team this year. I don't think they're quite where they need to be this year, but they should be a strong WS contender in a couple of years. They might even be a surprise this year. I know nothing is guaranteed in this game, but the Cubs have to feel good about where they are and where they are headed.

[Kimmi]

No more bitching about WAR and "stat nerds." WAR is now on the back of Topps cards.

 

 

Kudos to Topps. The nerdy stats are becoming more and more mainstream everyday, as they should be.

[Ogden]

The Allure of the Cubs. This will have me laughing all day long.

 

 

I wouldn't laugh too loud. Theo is building a contender in Chicago just like he did in Boston with the difference being he started with a lot less in Chicago. Their farm system was awful and the major league roster had only a few decent players. Now they have one of the top rated minor league systems and bonafide threats at most positions on the roster. They may not be ready this year, but next year they should be as competitive as anybody in that league.