Moncada is coming

[cp176]

It will only be 15 years for me cp when August rolls around, but don't let anybody kid you....once you get Red Sox fever it becomes a itch you cannot scratch and it gets more intense with each passing year. My wife and I were comparing notes the other day. She knows that when I was a kid I rooted for the Brooklyn Dodgers, 11 years of it and got only one WS Title. I have three with the Red Sox in 14, a much better record, but four would be better. There is no way we will be as bad as we were last season and that should buoy us all up. I especially want to take care of our rivals in the division.

 

I am starting to feel good about what we are seeing. It's not a complete picture just yet, but I wouldn't want to be associated with any other team in either league right now.

[iortiz]

I'm away on business, In the middle of the second martini, things become clear. Our staff is a collection of medicrity and "ifs". It is a long shot that this turns out well. That slim chance rests in the narrow shoulders of Buch. Without a big year from him, third place at best.

 

Salud compadre, enjoy your drink and do not worry about the Sox. It is going to be a tough year for our rotation for sure but as I said if they s*** the bed probably next year they will finally grab a couple of solid pitchers.

 

BTW... Are you ready for FM?

[a700hitter]

Salud compadre, enjoy your drink and do not worry about the Sox. It is going to be a tough year for our rotation for sure but as I said if they s*** the bed probably next year they will finally grab a couple of solid pitchers.

 

BTW... Are you ready for FM?

Yes, I am counting the days to Fort Myers.

[Spudboy]

I'm away on business, In the middle of the second martini, things become clear. Our staff is a collection of medicrity and "ifs". It is a long shot that this turns out well. That slim chance rests in the narrow shoulders of Buch. Without a big year from him, third place at best.

 

Lol.

 

2 martinis and clarity.

[iortiz]

Yes, I am counting the days to Fort Myers.

 

Nice to hear. Would be great to hear your opinion about this kid Moncada (hopefully they give him some ABs), and the other prospects when you are there.

Edited February 26, 2015 by iortiz

[example1]

Swihart/Betts aren't going into a Cole Hamels trade. If Amaro could get that kind of value, he would have done it already. It would likely be centered around guys like Devers/Margot/Barnes, with an outside shot of Owens/Rodriguez.

 

This. I assume that if the Sox were willing to part with Swihart or Betts it would have happened already, so any scenario of getting Hamels in my mind would be based on some other package. I would make a lot of my young players untouchable: Bogaerts, Betts, Vazquez, Swihart, Owens, Rodriguez and try to squeeze Hamels out anyway. They still have some pretty good pieces to offer even if they keep their best pieces off the table. The Phillies could get out of 22m a year and get the careers of some combination of Cecchini, Bradley Jr, Johnson, Margot, Devers, Barnes, Escobar, etc., Maybe they won't bite, but it's worth trying.

[User Name]

They've tried, and failed, because Amaro is an idiot. Remember that at one point San Diego offered a package centered around Austin Hedges, and they didn't take it and run as they should have.

 

"Our" ideal scenario as fans is utterly unrealistic most of the time, in this case, it's because of Amaro's stubbornness. Maybe he'll relent, but i doubt it. I'd rather gamble on Lee anyways.

[SeanJohn93]

The sox signed one of Moncadas friend. I think this was more of a move for him to make Moncada feel comfortable in the States rather than a legit baseball player

[Kimmi]

As much as I get frustrated with them on occasion, I feel so fortunate right now that the Red Sox have been in my blood for the past 60 years. One of the best farm systems in the game - owners willing to spend(regardless whether or not we like what they spend for) and a management team that has a plan that is starting to take shape. Also - i think that it is a plan that we all will enjoy. the future success of this franchise looks to me as though it might take me right to the finish line.

 

 

Red Sox fans should feel very fortunate. On the whole, we have been very successful since this ownership group took over, and we are set up to look very good for the foreseeable future. IMO, the team put together on paper has been a potential contender every year. Sure, there have been years when the plan did not work out, but I don't feel like there was a single offseason where the FO punted.

 

The FO is willing to spend. As you mention, they might not spend it the way the fans want them to, but they always spend. That said, they were willing to blow past the luxury tax this year. They will be working to stay under it next year, so that will limit them somewhat in their spending.

[Kimmi]

I believe Cherington has a plan with his ground ball specialists. It is a conservative plan, but it is a safe plan. I like it far more than trading for a Hamels at this point. If it proves his plan has glitches, he has the prospects to trade for a Cueto or a similar pitcher.

 

 

I was reading an article from The Hardball Times on groundball pitchers. Yes, they are valuable, but that value is also overrated to some degree. I don't remember the specifics, but their higher than average HR per FB ratio and their inability to induce pop ups take away from some of their value. I'm on board with the FO's plan nonetheless, but it will be interesting to see how it works out.

[Kimmi]

I am starting to feel good about what we are seeing. It's not a complete picture just yet, but I wouldn't want to be associated with any other team in either league right now.

 

 

How can you not get excited at this time of the year? The players look good, they feel good, and they all have great attittudes. Seeing the ST clips and pictures always puts me in a good mood.

[mvp 78]

The sox signed one of Moncadas friend. I think this was more of a move for him to make Moncada feel comfortable in the States rather than a legit baseball player

 

Ok? Is that a problem or smart business?

[Kimmi]

They've tried, and failed, because Amaro is an idiot. Remember that at one point San Diego offered a package centered around Austin Hedges, and they didn't take it and run as they should have.

 

"Our" ideal scenario as fans is utterly unrealistic most of the time, in this case, it's because of Amaro's stubbornness. Maybe he'll relent, but i doubt it. I'd rather gamble on Lee anyways.

 

 

Not that I disagree with gambling on Lee, but if Amaro is being stubborn with Hamels, he might not be any less stubborn in dealing Lee.

[User Name]

Not that I disagree with gambling on Lee, but if Amaro is being stubborn with Hamels, he might not be any less stubborn in dealing Lee.

 

37.5 million dollar and a spotty recent health history say otherwise. Hamels is the surer bet, but Lee would be the cheaper play with higher upside.

[User Name]

Ok? Is that a problem or smart business?

 

Last time they did that, you know what they got out of it? Hideki Okajima.

[mvp 78]

Last time they did that, you know what they got out of it? Hideki Okajima.

 

I will not repeat what my Grandfather-in-law said about Oki after the first time he faced the Yanks.

[User Name]

I will not repeat what my Grandfather-in-law said about Oki after the first time he faced the Yanks.

 

Okie-Dokie!

[Palodios]

Last time they did that, you know what they got out of it? Hideki Okajima.

 

Who was he a friend of? Dice-K?

[User Name]

Who was he a friend of? Dice-K?

 

They were teammates, yes.

[Palodios]

They were teammates, yes.

 

I was under the impression that they didn't get along very well. Okajima also got a 3 million dollar signing bonus.

[sk7326]

I was reading an article from The Hardball Times on groundball pitchers. Yes, they are valuable, but that value is also overrated to some degree. I don't remember the specifics, but their higher than average HR per FB ratio and their inability to induce pop ups take away from some of their value. I'm on board with the FO's plan nonetheless, but it will be interesting to see how it works out.

 

The thing with groundball pitchers is that they are more likely to give up actual hits than flyball guys are - flyballs for the most part are either outs or disasters. Groundball guys challenge the team run prevention concept a bit more. K's are still the best

[Spitball]

The thing with groundball pitchers is that they are more likely to give up actual hits than flyball guys are - flyballs for the most part are either outs or disasters. Groundball guys challenge the team run prevention concept a bit more. K's are still the best

 

True, but flyball pitchers generally surrender more extra base hits.

 

I don't think there is a answer as to which type of pitcher is preferable. I do believe the team's ball park and its defense would ideally be the keys to determining which type of pitchers should developed and acquired. Looking at last season's Park Factor statistics, Fenway Park far and away led the majors in favoring doubles. I imagine they want their pitchers to keep the ball on the ground and off the wall. As for the defense, the Red Sox should have defenders that will benefit groundball pitchers. I know some are not sold on Bogaerts, but we will have to see how he develops.

[cp176]

True, but flyball pitchers generally surrender more extra base hits.

 

I don't think there is a answer as to which type of pitcher is preferable. I do believe the team's ball park and its defense would ideally be the keys to determining which type of pitchers should developed and acquired. Looking at last season's Park Factor statistics, Fenway Park far and away led the majors in favoring doubles. I imagine they want their pitchers to keep the ball on the ground and off the wall. As for the defense, the Red Sox should have defenders that will benefit groundball pitchers. I know some are not sold on Bogaerts, but we will have to see how he develops.

 

 

I think that Bogaerts will be fine. I also think that when that hard throwing youngster becomes available it won't matter one bit whether most of the balls hit off him are in the air or on the ground, (it's more likely that many of them will not be hit at all) they will pay whatever they need to get him. Whoever he is, he will be worth it. My question is --- who might it be. Doesn't look to me as though this franchise is going to cut corners when it comes to getting who they want.

[a700hitter]

AL East Notes: Moncada, Beckham, Duquette

By Charlie Wilmoth [February 28, 2015 at 11:03am CST]

The $31.5MM bonus the Red Sox will reportedly pay Yoan Moncada has generated a variety of reactions from players around the league, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe writes. Moncada’s bonus is well beyond what most other 19-year-old prospects might be able to make, since he was able to negotiate with all 30 teams. “It’s not right that a Cuban 19-year-old gets paid [$31.5 million] and the best 19-year-old in the entire USA gets probably 1/6 of that,” wrote Rays pitcher Drew Smyly. “Everyone should have to go through the same process.” An international draft would help standardize the system by which amateurs sign with teams, and new commissioner Rob Manfred seems to favor discussing it in the next round of CBA negotiations. Abraham polls Red Sox players about an international draft, leading to a large range of answers. Here’s Jackie Bradley Jr.’s: “I would have loved to be a free agent in college and made the best deal I could. Maybe I should have moved out of the country. If everybody was a free agent, you’d get what your real value is.” Here are more notes from the AL East.

I can understand that this would not sit well with US players. I am glad that the Red Sox got him, but $31 million is very high for any 19 year old. Nevermind, that we paid $62 million overall.

[BSN07]

I can understand that this would not sit well with US players. I am glad that the Red Sox got him, but $31 million is very high for any 19 year old. Nevermind, that we paid $62 million overall.

 

It's certainly a flawed system.

[a700hitter]

I hope that he smokes the minors. If he starts slow, there will be a lot of jealousy directed at him by other players.

[Kimmi]

I can understand that this would not sit well with US players. I am glad that the Red Sox got him, but $31 million is very high for any 19 year old. Nevermind, that we paid $62 million overall.

 

 

The US players have a point.

[mvp 78]

Drew Smyly and the union didn't give a rats ass about broke minor leaguers until now.

[Behindenemylines]

Nice! 30m seems like a steal. Thats a big add to the farm system. Can not believe the Yanks or Dodgers didn't to that.

 

Its like the Sox got another number one draft pick. His size will probably move him to the outfield. To keep him away from the Spanks is just icing on the cake.

[vjcsmoke]

Some are saying, if he came from the United States he would have been the #1 overall pick in the draft.

So, I have no problem with the Red Sox spending money for a 19 year old they feel can be a top class, future impact player.

 

I feel like the penalty for signing international players is way too steep though. Really, dollar for dollar tax penalty?

Kinda unfair there.

If you want to limit the ability to sign international players, maybe you should have a separate draft for them?? But the monetary penalty is pretty darn heavy!

 

I'm pretty excited to have Moncado joining the Red Sox though. Apparently our scouts love him. So I'll just have to trust our scouting on this one.