3rd Third III

[Kimmi]

He has never been a top glove man.

 

No he hasn't been a gold glover, but he's been average to slightly above average until his horrid and fluky 2015.

 

I think he can return to that pre-2015 level.

[Kimmi]

A wag might observe he is on pace for 162 error season. Give him a break, he may go 20 games without another error, I hope.

 

I hope so too. I was never a fan of the contract, but I am really pulling for the guy.

 

IMO, he got a lot of undeserved attacks on his character.

[oldtimer]

I hope so too. I was never a fan of the contract, but I am really pulling for the guy.

 

IMO, he got a lot of undeserved attacks on his character.

 

He nearly won for us today. Took bad relief pitching to do us in.

[Kimmi]

He nearly won for us today. Took bad relief pitching to do us in.

 

Yeah, the loss kind of stole some of Pablo's thunder from yesterday's game.

 

He would have been the game hero if we had won.

[devildavid]

I'm not expecting any miracles from Pablo, but I do think he'll be at least league average, which would be an improvement over last year's 3rd base production.

 

Personally, I had no issues with the contract given to Hanley.

 

Good to see you posting again.

 

Thank you.

 

The problem with the Hanley contract imo was twofold: he had a recent history of injury and they really didn't have a defensive position for him to play. The OF experiment was an overly optimistic experiment. He was also injured in his first season. The departure of Ortiz makes Hanley more valuable. But he still is a question mark physically.

[Kimmi]

Thank you.

 

The problem with the Hanley contract imo was twofold: he had a recent history of injury and they really didn't have a defensive position for him to play. The OF experiment was an overly optimistic experiment. He was also injured in his first season. The departure of Ortiz makes Hanley more valuable. But he still is a question mark physically.

 

I really thought Hanley would be able to handle left field, but obviously I was very wrong on that one.

[Spudboy]

I really thought Hanley would be able to handle left field, but obviously I was very wrong on that one.

 

You aren't alone. He appeared to have enough remaining athleticism.

 

Hanley at 3rd and no Pablow deal would have been okay with me.

[notin]

I really thought Hanley would be able to handle left field, but obviously I was very wrong on that one.

 

I wouldn't feel bad about being wrong there. Cherington and Farrell were also wrong about it. ..

[devildavid]

The Panda is heating up. Watch out! It's the year of the big man.

[Spudboy]

The Panda is heating up. Watch out! It's the year of the big man.

 

He will always frustrate us with his swing at anything approach. The thing is he showing signs of life.

 

I hope he cleans up his defense but I suspect his bat will play all season.

[moonslav59]

The Panda is heating up. Watch out! It's the year of the big man.

 

Sox RBI leaders:

 

10 Pablo

10 Beni

8 Moreland

 

SLG

.604 Moreland

.489 Betts

.446 Beni

.413 Pablo

[Emp9]

I've no major problems with Panda, I just hate his contract ('18: $18.6M, '19: $18.6M, '20: $17M or $5M Buyout). If he has a good season I hope they shop him hardcore over the winter. I don't care if Devers is ready by then or not (and I'm guessing not). Humor me: If Panda does have a good to great year and there turns out to be a small market for him over the winter, what could we expect salarydump-wise? There's no way a team would pay all of it. Is there a chance we could get off paying half ($18.6M) plus the buyout?

[Fisk]

Pablo is very streaky, gets red hot and then cools off.

[Jack Flap]

Worth noting that Travis Shaw has 4 homers and an .890 OPS for the Brewers in the early going. (Of course, we've all seen him start off hot and fail to sustain it over the course of the season.)

[moonslav59]

I've no major problems with Panda, I just hate his contract ('18: $18.6M, '19: $18.6M, '20: $17M or $5M Buyout). If he has a good season I hope they shop him hardcore over the winter. I don't care if Devers is ready by then or not (and I'm guessing not). Humor me: If Panda does have a good to great year and there turns out to be a small market for him over the winter, what could we expect salarydump-wise? There's no way a team would pay all of it. Is there a chance we could get off paying half ($18.6M) plus the buyout?

 

Let's say Panda ends up at .275 17 80 (.340 OBP/.460 SLG/.800 OPS). We might be able to trade him by paying half his salary, or we could include a prospect to lessen the financial cost.

 

More likely, Panda moves to 1B or DH vs RHPs and sits vs LHPs for the remainder of his contract here.

 

Devers and Travis try to squeeze him out of a job, and HanRam DHs and plays some 1B until his contract runs out (one year before Panda's).

[S5Dewey]

Let's say Panda ends up at .275 17 80 (.340 OBP/.460 SLG/.800 OPS). We might be able to trade him by paying half his salary, or we could include a prospect to lessen the financial cost.

As Oldtimer pointed out in another thread, Sandoval has now made 3 errors in 12 games. If he continues to make errors at that rate - or anywhere near it - that .800 OPS still isn't going to cut it with me. Or probably any other team.

[moonslav59]

As Oldtimer pointed out in another thread, Sandoval has now made 3 errors in 12 games. If he continues to make errors at that rate - or anywhere near it - that .800 OPS still isn't going to cut it with me. Or probably any other team.

 

There's another choice at minimizing his defensive short-comings: move him to 1B or DH.

[mvp 78]

As Oldtimer pointed out in another thread, Sandoval has now made 3 errors in 12 games. If he continues to make errors at that rate - or anywhere near it - that .800 OPS still isn't going to cut it with me. Or probably any other team.

 

SSS. Panda is a great defender. Bigly.

[sk7326]

As Oldtimer pointed out in another thread, Sandoval has now made 3 errors in 12 games. If he continues to make errors at that rate - or anywhere near it - that .800 OPS still isn't going to cut it with me. Or probably any other team.

 

He probably won't - and his ability to get to balls is of course more important. Actually defensively he is off to an okay start. He has been a distinct improvement over a potted plant at that position - which wasn't true in 2015.

[Slasher9]

i love me some Panda. that is all.....

[Fisk]

There's another choice at minimizing his defensive short-comings: move him to 1B or DH.

 

Not going to do that this year with Moreland and Ramirez.

[oldtimer]

Not going to do that this year with Moreland and Ramirez.

 

Moreland has been a happy surprise so far this season. Good pickup for us when we had a real need.

[Fisk]

Moreland has been a happy surprise so far this season. Good pickup for us when we had a real need.

 

Yes he has hoping he continues this .

[Northern Star]

Not going to do that this year with Moreland and Ramirez.

 

Just echoes of Ben's horrid roster mismanagement continuing to haunt us.

[Fisk]

Just echoes of Ben's horrid roster mismanagement continuing to haunt us.

 

I see no way Pablo lasts 5 years here not with Hernandez and Devers on the way, and Chavis and Dalbec behind them.

At some point we are going to be eating a big portion if not all of the remainder of the contract.

[moonslav59]

Not going to do that this year with Moreland and Ramirez.

 

No, I was talking Pablo's next two years, but I suppose if Moreland slumps badly or gets hurt, or HanRam gets hurt, moving Pablo sooner than I meant might be an option. This is all based on the assumption that Pablo's bat is a plus if and when all this comes down. Lot's of "ifs" here.

 

Finding a way to get something plus out of Pablo in 2018 and 2019 could help us avoid having to fill Moreland's shoes after 2017 and HRam's shoes after 2018.

 

2018:

3B: Devers/Hernandez (Rutledge/Holt/Pablo)

1B: Pablo/Travis/HRam

DH: HRam (Pablo)

 

2019:

3B: Devers/Hernandez (Chavis/Dalbec)

1B: Travis/Dalbec (Pablo)

DH: Pablo/Dalbec

 

If can save money by not needing to replace Moreland, Young and HanRam with a FA, we might be able to keep one more of our studs.

 

Now, if some team wants to pay half of Pablo's contract to take him off our hands, I'm listening.

[Nick]

No, I was talking Pablo's next two years, but I suppose if Moreland slumps badly or gets hurt, or HanRam gets hurt, moving Pablo sooner than I meant might be an option. This is all based on the assumption that Pablo's bat is a plus if and when all this comes down. Lot's of "ifs" here.

 

Finding a way to get something plus out of Pablo in 2018 and 2019 could help us avoid having to fill Moreland's shoes after 2017 and HRam's shoes after 2018.

 

2018:

3B: Devers/Hernandez (Rutledge/Holt/Pablo)

1B: Pablo/Travis/HRam

DH: HRam (Pablo)

 

2019:

3B: Devers/Hernandez (Chavis/Dalbec)

1B: Travis/Dalbec (Pablo)

DH: Pablo/Dalbec

 

If can save money by not needing to replace Moreland, Young and HanRam with a FA, we might be able to keep one more of our studs.

 

Now, if some team wants to pay half of Pablo's contract to take him off our hands, I'm listening.

 

Sad thing is no one paying $10M for Pablo. Just a bad signing by Cherington.

 

Here's the bottom line. We got lucky and rid of bad contracts to the Dodgers. Never again was the refrain we heard from Sox management.

Then they turn around and sign Hanley and Pablo for $200M. Ben should have been fired.

[Bellhorn04]

Sad thing is no one paying $10M for Pablo. Just a bad signing by Cherington.

 

Here's the bottom line. We got lucky and rid of bad contracts to the Dodgers. Never again was the refrain we heard from Sox management.

Then they turn around and sign Hanley and Pablo for $200M. Ben should have been fired.

 

Henry and Lucchino had a quick change of philosophy after finishing last in 2014.

[Fisk]

Sad thing is no one paying $10M for Pablo. Just a bad signing by Cherington.

 

Here's the bottom line. We got lucky and rid of bad contracts to the Dodgers. Never again was the refrain we heard from Sox management.

Then they turn around and sign Hanley and Pablo for $200M. Ben should have been fired.

 

We also have to give Ben a lot of credit for the team we have now. Some good drafts and very good international signings.

[mvp 78]

Henry and Lucchino had a quick change of philosophy after finishing last in 2014.

 

I think Tom Werner wanted some of that sweet, sweet panda action too.