Postseason Happenings 2016

[S5Dewey]

How is this effectively a 3 year deal? Are you counting on Price opting out if he doesn't think he's worth the money?

 

I didn't like that opt-out clause right from the beginning. What it says to Price is that if he's pitching well he can move on for more money leaving the Sox to try to sign another good pitcher, and if he's pitching poorly he's guaranteed $30M a year to do it.

 

My take on it from the start was that it was a Red Sox gamble that Price would pitch well, they were going to make a run at it within the first three years, and they'd worry about the 2019 season when it gets here.

[a700hitter]

Dombrowski stated that the main job of the manager is to keep the ship running, not tactical maneuvers. It's the organizational philosophy at the moment. If you don't agree, you'll just have to hold your nose until Dombrowski is gone.

Or maybe that is all that he expects from a manager, because it is a very shallow pool.

[Spudboy]

Do you guys still want to sign EE for 100M even if he's attached to a QO?

 

I do. 4/100.

[a700hitter]

Do you guys still want to sign EE for 100M even if he's attached to a QO?

I would put that in front of him and hand him the pen.

[Spudboy]

Oh but doing so will damage our precious pipeline of burgeoning studs!

 

The thing is that DD SHOULD make a big splash in free agency to supplant the loss of Ortiz's bat while this team still has most of it's skilled core. The window for a World Championship will close quickly.

 

Strike while the fire is hot, as it were.

[a700hitter]

Oh but doing so will damage our precious pipeline of burgeoning studs!

 

The thing is that DD SHOULD make a big splash in free agency to supplant the loss of Ortiz's bat while this team still has most of it's skilled core. The window for a World Championship will close quickly.

 

Strike while the fire is hot, as it were.

Some people don't understand that. They ooh and ahh over the farm system, but by the time Groome and others get here Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley will be ready to walk. Pedroia will be gone. Hanley will be gone. And we will be coming up short even if the prospects pan out.

[mvp 78]

Some people don't understand that. They ooh and ahh over the farm system, but by the time Groome and others get here Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley will be ready to walk. Pedroia will be gone. Hanley will be gone. And we will be coming up short even if the prospects pan out.

 

If they walk, it'll because the ownership cheapened out. They can afford to keep any guy that comes through the system. If they choose not to, that's another discussion altogether.

[Bellhorn04]

Sometimes it's not who you play, it's when you play them.

 

This is one of the quintessential truths of major league baseball, and it plays a huge role in the postseason.

[Bellhorn04]

Oh but doing so will damage our precious pipeline of burgeoning studs!

 

The thing is that DD SHOULD make a big splash in free agency to supplant the loss of Ortiz's bat while this team still has most of it's skilled core. The window for a World Championship will close quickly.

 

Strike while the fire is hot, as it were.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Henry authorizes a big offer to EE. Henry loved Papi and he will probably want to replace him as best as possible.

[Bellhorn04]

If they walk, it'll because the ownership cheapened out. They can afford to keep any guy that comes through the system.

 

I would say they can afford to keep any guy, but not every guy.

[mvp 78]

I would say they can afford to keep any guy, but not every guy.

 

So if that means they get to pick 2 out of 3 of the B's (Bogey, JBJ and Betts), would it really close the window if JBJ moved on? This team has the financial structure where it doesn't have to go through extensive rebuilding phases.

[Bellhorn04]

So if that means they get to pick 2 out of 3 of the B's (Bogey, JBJ and Betts), would it really close the window if JBJ moved on? This team has the financial structure where it doesn't have to go through extensive rebuilding phases.

 

Just for fun we should all have a go at figuring out the payroll for the next few years.

 

For example, let's say the payroll budget is 200 million, and let's say half goes to the pitching staff and half to position players.

 

It's pretty obvious they can only do 2 out of 3 on the B's you mentioned, at best...

[a700hitter]

If they walk, it'll because the ownership cheapened out. They can afford to keep any guy that comes through the system. If they choose not to, that's another discussion altogether.

I would be thrilled if they could keep Betts and Bogaerts, but they will be very expensive. Still Pedroia would be gone as would Hanley. IMO, Pedroia wil be very difficult to replace. When I first saw him, I was completely unimpressed, but I really think that he has been the spark for the red Sox for many years. I realize that you might disagree with this.

[mvp 78]

I would be thrilled if they could keep Betts and Bogaerts, but they will be very expensive. Still Pedroia would be gone as would Hanley. IMO, Pedroia wil be very difficult to replace. When I first saw him, I was completely unimpressed, but I really think that he has been the spark for the red Sox for many years. I realize that you might disagree with this.

 

The Sox are at their best when Pedroia is playing well. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8370&position=2B When Pedey stays healthy and uses RF more often, I have zero complaints about him.

[Spudboy]

It wouldn't surprise me if Henry authorizes a big offer to EE. Henry loved Papi and he will probably want to replace him as best as possible.

 

I hope so.

 

I wonder what the Jays will offer him. And how about the Yankees?

 

As a Sox fan I am susceptible to falling for the idea that anything my team wants it will get. That may not be the case here.

 

Is there another player that would provide so much of what is now gone that EE?

 

And, he can play in the field. No more worrying about how to field a decent lineup without a DH in inter-league away games.

[Dojji]

Except that EE is a worse defender at 1B than Hanley.

[illinoisredsox]

Except that EE is a worse defender at 1B than Hanley.

 

Hanley has gotten better as the year has gone on. He made several plays in September/October that he would not have come close to making in April.

[Spudboy]

Except that EE is a worse defender at 1B than Hanley.

 

Is he really THAT bad?

 

Enough so to keep his bat on the bench in NL parks?

 

Weaksauce.

[cp176]

sign EE for 4 and no more. The dollars will not be the primary concern

trade for that totr youngster

tinker with the bullpen

 

Say hello to baseball in October again.

 

If getting that young pitcher via trade means giving up a current starter not named Betts, go for it.

[Slasher9]

i would rather use that $100MM to get a top level pitcher.

yes, i understand we willl have to trade for one but there will still be a price tag.

pitching = parades

i wouldnt spend a dime on a DH.....

[mvp 78]

i would rather use that $100MM to get a top level pitcher.

yes, i understand we willl have to trade for one but there will still be a price tag.

pitching = parades

i wouldnt spend a dime on a DH.....

 

I agree with you.

[cp176]

i would rather use that $100MM to get a top level pitcher.

yes, i understand we willl have to trade for one but there will still be a price tag.

pitching = parades

i wouldnt spend a dime on a DH.....

 

i'm thinking that if a trade is made for the right guy, he will already be under contract. Everybody wants pitching as opposed to signing a dh. That isn't even an issue. 100 million spent on any free agent starter this year would be a waste of money. This isn't an either or situation. Multiple choice quiz - A. great young starting pitcher B. gets you an aging but solid hitting dh. Do you see much of a debate over what the right answer is? it really has nothing to do with money being spent this year unless you want the organization to save up. I don't - I want them to spend.

[Slasher9]

i'm thinking that if a trade is made for the right guy, he will already be under contract. Everybody wants pitching as opposed to signing a dh. That isn't even an issue. 100 million spent on any free agent starter this year would be a waste of money. This isn't an either or situation. Multiple choice quiz - A. great young starting pitcher B. gets you an aging but solid hitting dh. Do you see much of a debate over what the right answer is? it really has nothing to do with money being spent this year unless you want the organization to save up. I don't - I want them to spend.

 

i dont want them to spend a dime on a dh. let them spend it on middle relief arms then. or use that $25MM per to sign an early deal with the B's. ideally we trade for a proven 1/2 thats under team control. secondarily we trade for a proven 1/2 thats under a $$$ contract. i would rather have that 25MM sitting there for them than for EE (or any other DH not named David Ortiz).

 

oh and guess what? the most we ever spent for per season for the greatest DH of all time - $16MM.

pass on big $$$ DH. use it for arms.

pitching = parades

 

Slasher's stance: EE can suck it.

 

feel free to think otherwise....

Edited October 12, 2016 by Slasher9

[cp176]

i dont want them to spend a dime on a dh. let them spend it on middle relief arms then. or use that $25MM per to sign an early deal with the B's. ideally we trade for a proven 1/2 thats under team control. secondarily we trade for a proven 1/2 thats under a $$$ contract. i would rather have that 25MM sitting there for them than for EE (or any other DH not named David Ortiz).

 

oh and guess what? the most we ever spent for per season for the greatest DH of all time - $16MM.

pass on big $$$ DH. use it for arms.

pitching = parades

 

Slasher's stance: EE can suck it.

 

feel free to think otherwise....

 

Cp's stance - john henry please spend your money on our team.

[Bellhorn04]

i would rather use that $100MM to get a top level pitcher.

yes, i understand we willl have to trade for one but there will still be a price tag.

pitching = parades

i wouldnt spend a dime on a DH.....

 

Need 'em both Slash...if EE didn't hit the home run in the Wild Card game Jays might be playing golf these days.

 

And no Papi no parades for us...

[S5Dewey]

Need 'em both Slash...if EE didn't hit the home run in the Wild Card game Jays might be playing golf these days.

 

And no Papi no parades for us...

 

Here's my problem with that, and why I agree with Slash. There's an old adage that good pitching beats good hitting. Papi went through a short period of time when he never 'missed" a hittable pitch but I don't want to go into any series relying on that. When the playoffs come I'll take a pitching staff of four pitchers who have ERA's .800 every year and twice on leap year.

 

I may not always win but I believe I'll come out a winner over a period of time.

[cp176]

It is not some sort of new revelation that pitching is ultimately what gets it done. We all know that . We all get it. it is the top priority and I am going to guess that at least 95% of the people posting here get it. It is first and foremost. Aren't we lucky though that the team we cheer for can have both - big time hitting and pitching. This is in no way an either or situation!

 

It is actually laughable that someone suggests that because there are some of us who would like to see EE in the middle of our lineup that we would pass on an opportunity to improve our pitching in order to sign him. That is a joke. The Red Sox can do both.

[Bellhorn04]

Here's my problem with that, and why I agree with Slash. There's an old adage that good pitching beats good hitting. Papi went through a short period of time when he never 'missed" a hittable pitch but I don't want to go into any series relying on that. When the playoffs come I'll take a pitching staff of four pitchers who have ERA's .800 every year and twice on leap year.

 

You're in denial if you think Papi's postseason heroics weren't the key to our parades. 'Good pitching beats good hitting' - yeah, sometimes, but guess what, not all the time. The teams we faced in the World Series had pretty good pitching, but Papi destroyed them.

[Kimmi]

Doesn't always work out for sure but I'm going with the fact that over 80% of the teams playing mlb had better records at home as opposed to on the road. Those are odds I like.

 

As I posted before, if it's a choice between having home field advantage or not having home field advantage, of course you would take the HFA. If it's a choice between having well rested players and having your rotation lined up or having home field advantage, you go with the former.

 

HFA is not as important as people think it is. Also, the lack of HFA is not why we lost this series.

[Kimmi]

Do you guys still want to sign EE for 100M even if he's attached to a QO?

 

That would be a big resounding NO.

 

I don't want him for $100 mil even if he's not attached to a QO.

 

I'd love to have him on my team, but signing him to a large contract at his age goes against every baseball fiber in my body.