A Realistic View at 2017 Part I

[S5Dewey]

I liked it too.

 

I'm in. Literally LOL about the line of dirt thing.

[Jack Flap]

Now we all have to say something.

[S5Dewey]

Now we all have to say something.

 

Not all of us. Only the ones with a sense of humor.

[cp176]

Well see, CWA+ (Opened Can of Woop Ass) has much more meaning than the old CWA (non-opened). It takes into other considerations like park factor, sea level, and whether there's a line of dirt from the pitcher's mound to home plate or if it's all just grass. [sighs..] f*** man, keep up.

 

I was out for awhile! s*** - now it is even difficult to rely on now simple can of whoop ass.

time for my nap I guess.

[harmony]

Boston Globe columnist Alex Speier reports that the Red Sox are currently under the luxury tax threshold:

 

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/12/07/red-sox-have-some-payroll-flexibility-but-not-lot/8kxd3dJOmnTWjEbsCODbfO/story.html

[moonslav59]

Boston Globe columnist Alex Speier reports that the Red Sox are currently under the luxury tax threshold:

 

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/12/07/red-sox-have-some-payroll-flexibility-but-not-lot/8kxd3dJOmnTWjEbsCODbfO/story.html

 

He's wrong.

 

He even got sale's salry count wrong. It's not $12M, it's $6.5M on the luxury budget.

 

Maybe he's forgetting the player pension fund hit.

[Bellhorn04]

He's wrong.

 

He even got sale's salry count wrong. It's not $12M, it's $6.5M on the luxury budget.

 

Maybe he's forgetting the player pension fund hit.

 

I think he got it right. Take a closer look.

[Spudboy]

This is not thread worthy.

 

I'm just sitting here reading all the discussion of roster construction, rotations, which starter should be moved and when, etc..

 

For some reason I am thinking about what this team has lost going into 2017.

 

Specifically, Tazawa and Koji.

 

I know that moves have been made to upgrade the pen and I get that. But I will miss those two guys. A lot.

 

I remember watching Taz the night he was brought up and faced the Yankees in New York. This lanky Japanese kid just tossing. He gave no f***s and just threw. He got totally f***ing schelled but you could see that he had stuff and was very serious about competing.

 

I think about all those big innings he came in and slammed the door. Yes, I remember him failing as well. He gave this team a s*** load of good innings in some pretty tough situations. He was a work horse.

 

I'll remember Koji being throw in as closer because there were no better options remaining. He was lights out and I thought, that was cool. But I have no reason to expect him to do that all the time.

 

Then within weeks I was looking forward to "KOJI TIME". When ever he came in I knew the game was now in the bag. As a 50 year fan of this team, I have rarely felt that way. The best season of closing for my team I had seen. All by this scrawny little guy with a full body motion.

 

I will never forget David Ortiz and what he did for my team. But one of the things I will miss is seeing Koji shutting the door and pumping his fist while coming off the mound. Ortiz would come out of the dugout and give Koji a big bear hug and lifting him off the ground.

 

Those were good times. I'm going to miss them.

Edited December 8, 2016 by Spudboy

[bosoxmal]

It makes zero sense with Beni since he can hit both R and LHP. JBJ struggles more with LHP.

JBJ struggles with everybody,I'd let him do his struggling in Pawtucket until he gains at least a little consistency. I guess the bosses have forgotten how well Swihart hit and played LF last year before he was hurt. And he was watched closely with every move he made. Opening day should see an outfield of Swihart, Benintendi and Betts. Vazquez gets at least a month's trial. Panda about the same. Tell Swihart to throw away his catcher's mitt. Originally, he was to be a "try out" behind the plate. Didn't work, forget it. He was terrible right from the start. and looked great in left. Are these people blind?

 

This is now one helluva pitching staff. Don't f--k it up, John

[Hugh2]

JBJ struggles with everybody,I'd let him do his struggling in Pawtucket until he gains at least a little consistency. I guess the bosses have forgotten how well Swihart hit and played LF last year before he was hurt. And he was watched closely with every move he made. Opening day should see an outfield of Swihart, Benintendi and Betts. Vazquez gets at least a month's trial. Panda about the same. Tell Swihart to throw away his catcher's mitt. Originally, he was to be a "try out" behind the plate. Didn't work, forget it. He was terrible right from the start. and looked great in left. Are these people blind?

 

This is now one helluva pitching staff. Don't f--k it up, John

 

JBJ earned his keep last year.

 

He hit .267/.349/.456 with 26 HR's and 87 RBI's playing all star caliber defense in the outfield. You don't start that guy in Pawtucket on any planet. He struggled down the stretch, particularly in August but I think that's who JBJ is a streaky guy. I'm ok with that, if he can win some gold gloves in his career and post those numbers or anything close to it by seasons end I'll start him every game in Center if I can.

[Hugh2]

JBJ's .728 OPS down the stretch was still better than Swiharts.

 

FTR I had high hopes as Swihart as an outfielder as well. I actually would have been ok with him in LF if the Sox shipped JBJ off for some starting pitching but they went the all prospect route.

 

It will be interesting to see how the Sandy/Swihart/Vaz situation plays out.

[moonslav59]

I think he got it right. Take a closer look.

 

Yeah, you're right. He got the sale part right.

 

He got the totals wrong though.

 

2017 Red Sox Luxury Tax Budget

 

148.875M Signed (9): $31M Price, $22M Ramirez, $20.625M Porcello, $19M Sandoval, $13.75M Pedroia, $13.5M Buchholz, $10.5M Kimbrel, $6.5M Sale, $6.5M Young, $5.5M Moreland

$25.9M Projected Arb (10): $5.7M Bogaerts, $4.7M Pomeranz, $3.3M Bradley, $2.6M Kelly, $2.2M Thornburg, $2.0M Abad, $1.8M Ross, $1.7M Holt, $1.3M Leon, $600K Workman

$11.235M Others (21 x $535M minimum MLB salary): Betts, Benintendi, Rodriguez, Wright, Vazquez, Swihart, Smith, Barnes, Hernandez, Hembree, Owens, Johnson, Scott, Elias, Marrero, N Ramirez, Jerez, Brentz, ______, _______, _______

 

Total: $186.01M minus $250K frm Atlanta paying Kimbrel’s bonus= $185.76M

Add $12.9M to player pension fund and the total is:

 

$198.66M

 

[moonslav59]

This is not thread worthy.

 

I'm just sitting here reading all the discussion of roster construction, rotations, which starter should be moved and when, etc..

 

For some reason I am thinking about what this team has lost going into 2017.

 

Specifically, Tazaw and Koji.

 

I know that moves have been made to upgrade the pen and I get that. But I will miss those two guys. A lot.

 

I remember watching Taz the night he was brought up and faced the Yankees in New York. This lanky Japanese kid just tossing. He gave no f***s and just threw. He got totally f***ing schelled but you could see that he had stuff and was very serious about competing.

 

I think about all those big innings he came in and slammed the door. Yes, I remember him failing as well. He gave this team a s*** load of good innings in some pretty tough situations. He was a work horse.

 

I'll remember Koji being throw in as closer because there were no better options remaining. He was lights out and I thought, that was cool. But I have no reason to expect him to do that all the time.

 

Then within weeks I was looking forward to "KOJI TIME". When ever he came in I knew the game was now in the bag. As a 50 year fan of this team, I have rarely felt that way. The best season of closing for my team I had seen. All by this scrawny little guy with a full body motion.

 

I will never forget David Ortiz and what he did for my team. But one of the things I will miss is seeing Koji shutting the door and pumping his fist while coming off the mound. Ortiz would come out of the dugout and give Koji a big bear hug and lifting him off the ground.

 

Those were good times. I'm going to miss them.

 

I'll miss them most, but the loss of Ziegler might hurt more than both of them.

[moonslav59]

JBJ struggles with everybody,I'd let him do his struggling in Pawtucket until he gains at least a little consistency. I guess the bosses have forgotten how well Swihart hit and played LF last year before he was hurt.

 

I guess you've forgotten how well JBJ did for most of the year and the end of last year.

 

Projecting future performance based what you did the prior month or two is not a good strategy.

[Jack Flap]

This is not thread worthy.

 

I'm just sitting here reading all the discussion of roster construction, rotations, which starter should be moved and when, etc..

 

For some reason I am thinking about what this team has lost going into 2017.

 

Specifically, Tazaw and Koji.

 

I know that moves have been made to upgrade the pen and I get that. But I will miss those two guys. A lot.

 

I remember watching Taz the night he was brought up and faced the Yankees in New York. This lanky Japanese kid just tossing. He gave no f***s and just threw. He got totally f***ing schelled but you could see that he had stuff and was very serious about competing.

 

I think about all those big innings he came in and slammed the door. Yes, I remember him failing as well. He gave this team a s*** load of good innings in some pretty tough situations. He was a work horse.

 

I'll remember Koji being throw in as closer because there were no better options remaining. He was lights out and I thought, that was cool. But I have no reason to expect him to do that all the time.

 

Then within weeks I was looking forward to "KOJI TIME". When ever he came in I knew the game was now in the bag. As a 50 year fan of this team, I have rarely felt that way. The best season of closing for my team I had seen. All by this scrawny little guy with a full body motion.

 

I will never forget David Ortiz and what he did for my team. But one of the things I will miss is seeing Koji shutting the door and pumping his fist while coming off the mound. Ortiz would come out of the dugout and give Koji a big bear hug and lifting him off the ground.

 

Those were good times. I'm going to miss them.

 

Good post. I for one will miss those two as well...lots of great memories, particularly from 2013.

 

Koji is now close to signing with the Cubs apparently...I'd been hoping we'd be able to find a few $ to bring him back, as beyond Kimbrel and Thornburg our rotation still contains quite a lot of 'ifs' and 'maybes.' (Kelly, Hembree, Barnes, etc.) Too bad.

[Emp9]

This is not thread worthy.

 

I'm just sitting here reading all the discussion of roster construction, rotations, which starter should be moved and when, etc..

 

For some reason I am thinking about what this team has lost going into 2017.

 

Specifically, Tazaw and Koji.

 

I know that moves have been made to upgrade the pen and I get that. But I will miss those two guys. A lot.

 

I remember watching Taz the night he was brought up and faced the Yankees in New York. This lanky Japanese kid just tossing. He gave no f***s and just threw. He got totally f***ing schelled but you could see that he had stuff and was very serious about competing.

 

I think about all those big innings he came in and slammed the door. Yes, I remember him failing as well. He gave this team a s*** load of good innings in some pretty tough situations. He was a work horse.

 

I'll remember Koji being throw in as closer because there were no better options remaining. He was lights out and I thought, that was cool. But I have no reason to expect him to do that all the time.

 

Then within weeks I was looking forward to "KOJI TIME". When ever he came in I knew the game was now in the bag. As a 50 year fan of this team, I have rarely felt that way. The best season of closing for my team I had seen. All by this scrawny little guy with a full body motion.

 

I will never forget David Ortiz and what he did for my team. But one of the things I will miss is seeing Koji shutting the door and pumping his fist while coming off the mound. Ortiz would come out of the dugout and give Koji a big bear hug and lifting him off the ground.

 

Those were good times. I'm going to miss them.

 

What I'd like to do is trade Buch (dump some salary and get a fairly decent prospect) and free up room to sign Koji. Maybe even get under cap?

[harmony]

What I'd like to do is trade Buch (dump some salary and get a fairly decent prospect) and free up room to sign Koji. Maybe even get under cap?

Koji Uehara reportedly is on the brink of signing with the Cubs:

 

[Eddy Ballgame]

What I'd like to do is trade Buch (dump some salary and get a fairly decent prospect) and free up room to sign Koji. Maybe even get under cap?

 

The Sox made Koji an offer prior to the Thornburg trade. He told them that he wanted to look at other options. They pulled the offer once they acquired Thornburg. Now he's a Cub. I hope he does well.

[moonslav59]

Koji Uehara reportedly is on the brink of signing with the Cubs:

 

 

We could have-should have beat $4.5M. I don't care, if it would have caused us to lose all of our out of options RP'ers: Hembree, Elias and Abad.

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox have announced that they’ve designated lefty Williams Jerez for assignment. The move clears roster space for first baseman Mitch Moreland, whose one-year deal is now official.

 

The Red Sox drafted Jerez in the second round in 2011. They added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season, in which he posted a 2.54 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 while pitching in the bullpen at three minor league levels, ending at Double-A Portland. But he didn’t fare as well in a return to Portland in 2016, with a 4.71 ERA, 9.0 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 across 65 innings.

[moonslav59]

We also added Kyle Martin and Luis Ysla to the 40 man roster. We now have 40.

[Emp9]

Something tells me they DD still has a little faith in Abad. The talk has always been we needed at least 2 RPers this off-season. I don't know what's changed? Thornburg and who else? Did I miss a signing?

[moonslav59]

Something tells me they DD still has a little faith in Abad. The talk has always been we needed at least 2 RPers this off-season. I don't know what's changed? Thornburg and who else? Did I miss a signing?

 

Nope.

 

Sale moves another starter to the pen. There's the two.

 

We'll have this to hold us over until Carson Smith returns:

 

Kimbrel

Thornburg

Kelly

Buchholz

Pomeranz

Ross

Barnes

 

That's 7.

 

Abad, Hembree and Elias are out of options

Scott, Owens, Johnson, N ramirez and others are not

[Emp9]

But.. but I planned on getting Sale.

 

Ok I got it thanx

[Eddy Ballgame]

Something tells me they DD still has a little faith in Abad. The talk has always been we needed at least 2 RPers this off-season. I don't know what's changed? Thornburg and who else? Did I miss a signing?

 

My guess is that they will probably bring some guys in on minor league deals, but I don't ever remember them saying that they needed two "top" relievers. They have plenty of options right now and they can always go get someone if they need to. They now have 4 guys who throw gas at the back end in Kimbrel, Kelly, Barnes & Thornburg.

 

Carson Smith could provide a big boost by August as well. They are also hovering around the cap.

[Bellhorn04]

Yeah, you're right. He got the sale part right.

 

He got the totals wrong though.

 

2017 Red Sox Luxury Tax Budget

 

148.875M Signed (9): $31M Price, $22M Ramirez, $20.625M Porcello, $19M Sandoval, $13.75M Pedroia, $13.5M Buchholz, $10.5M Kimbrel, $6.5M Sale, $6.5M Young, $5.5M Moreland

$25.9M Projected Arb (10): $5.7M Bogaerts, $4.7M Pomeranz, $3.3M Bradley, $2.6M Kelly, $2.2M Thornburg, $2.0M Abad, $1.8M Ross, $1.7M Holt, $1.3M Leon, $600K Workman

$11.235M Others (21 x $535M minimum MLB salary): Betts, Benintendi, Rodriguez, Wright, Vazquez, Swihart, Smith, Barnes, Hernandez, Hembree, Owens, Johnson, Scott, Elias, Marrero, N Ramirez, Jerez, Brentz, ______, _______, _______

 

Total: $186.01M minus $250K frm Atlanta paying Kimbrel’s bonus= $185.76M

Add $12.9M to player pension fund and the total is:

 

$198.66M

 

 

His figures are right, he just did it differently. The difference between his numbers and yours is in the salary costs for minor league players on the 40 man but not on the 26 man. He shows the cost of the 14 minor leaguers as only 1.2 million to start the year. But then he has some other calculations where he factors in the cost of call-ups.

 

He goes on to project that we will go over the threshold with the call-ups etc.

[moonslav59]

His figures are right, he just did it differently. The difference between his numbers and yours is in the salary costs for minor league players on the 40 man but not on the 26 man. He shows the cost of the 14 minor leaguers as only 1.2 million to start the year. But then he has some other calculations where he factors in the cost of call-ups.

 

He goes on to project that we will go over the threshold with the call-ups etc.

 

Some of his figures are wrong.

 

Pedey's contract is $110M/8. That's $13.75M not $13.3M as he has it.

Sale's contract is $32.5M/6. That's $6.5M not $6.77M as he has it.

 

I guess they just about even out, and I think we'd only be about $180K more than he has us at.

 

He also left out Workman, who is still on the 40 man roster. His estimated arb is $600K, which is more than a minor league contract.

 

He's probably right on the minor league contracts. I counted all 21 pre-arb players as ML minimum salary. He has the 14 minor league players at $1.2M. Do they really all make less than $100K each? Wow, I thought it was more.

 

His Benefits number is probably the updated one. If he's right, I guess we're at just about $193M not counting the call-ups. With no trades and counting the minor league call-ups and incentives, maybe we'll end up at about $198M.

 

That's $3M over, and probably what we should assume our starting point is going forward. Trading Buch for a non-40 man roster or minor league contract would put us about $10M up.

[Kimmi]

Koji Uehara reportedly is on the brink of signing with the Cubs:

 

 

That Theo is a smart guy...

 

Koji is the man.

 

Best of luck to him wherever he goes.

[Bellhorn04]

Some of his figures are wrong.

Sale's contract is $32.5M/6. That's $6.5M not $6.77M as he has it.

 

I think he's right there too, because there's a $1 million buyout on the 2018 option, which is guaranteed money, so it has to be factored into the AAV.

[Bellhorn04]

That Theo is a smart guy...

 

Koji is the man.

 

Best of luck to him wherever he goes.

 

Now Theo's got Lester, Lackey and Koji - all our studs from the 2013 playoff run.