What will be the 2017 greatest weakness for the Sox?

[moonslav59]

Both are in trouble if they're actual injuries and not organizational caution. Wright's shoulder should have healed by now if it was just a rotator cuff strain. Pom has had 4 months off. If his elbow is still barking then someone might need to take a look in there. These would be big developments if you weren't talking about your #5 and #6 starters...

 

Well, with ERod's tweak of his knee, the 5th and 6th starters might be 4th and 5th starters.

[moonslav59]

If a "strain" still hurts 6 months after the injury, then it probably isn't a strain

 

You know one thing that bugs me about this sort of thing?

 

We wait until ST'ing to find out he needs surgery, and the return clock is pushed back by 4-5 months.

 

I'm not saying it's the case here, but I often wonder why it seems to happen so often. I know doctors sometimes think pro-longed rest will help, and it doesn't, but it's something that has me scratching my head from time to time.

[moonslav59]

Obviously I don't know anything about there injuries but it did seem to me that in Wright's case particularly, if it wasn't serious enough for some kind of procedure (unless I missed something), he should have healed up. They are both young men.

 

I thought there was talk of these guys possibly being ready for the playoffs last year. This doesn't make sense.

[mvp 78]

Just go sign Doug Fister now.

[a700hitter]

Farrell may have ruined Wright's career.

[moonslav59]

Maybe, if all these pitchers signing minor league deals knew we had so many starter injuries, they might agree to sign with us.

[mvp 78]

Farrell may have ruined Wright's career.

 

It was worth it though? No one else could have pinch run in that situation! Playing station to station with Big Papi would have been too reckless!!!

[S5Dewey]

It seems like there are only two possibilities. Either the Medical department is incompetent or the Sox FO has a history of not being candid with the fans regarding injuries, going back to Buch's being listed as day-to-day because he slept with the baby wrong.

 

I understand competitive advantage and why the FO doesn't want every Tom, Dick, and Harry knowing about the health of the players. If they don't want to tell US... that's fine. But now it goes back to our medical department. Are they accurately diagnosing injuries? If they aren't they need to be replaced and if they are the FO needs to be more pro-active in getting treatment for these injuries.

[Bellhorn04]

It seems like there are only two possibilities. Either the Medical department is incompetent or the Sox FO has a history of not being candid with the fans regarding injuries, going back to Buch's being listed as day-to-day because he slept with the baby wrong.

 

I understand competitive advantage and why the FO doesn't want every Tom, Dick, and Harry knowing about the health of the players. If they don't want to tell US... that's fine. But now it goes back to our medical department. Are they accurately diagnosing injuries? If they aren't they need to be replaced and if they are the FO needs to be more pro-active in getting treatment for these injuries.

 

Not only that, but maybe trading Buch on the assumption these 2 were good to go wasn't such a great idea.

[moonslav59]

I still the money saved by trading Buch will allow us to acquire a better player when we need it.

[S5Dewey]

Not only that, but maybe trading Buch on the assumption these 2 were good to go wasn't such a great idea.

 

Yep. Again, it goes back to the medical department.

[Bellhorn04]

The Curse of Dr. Bill Morgan lives on.

[S5Dewey]

Two things...

 

Given the possible lack of depth, Chris Sale is looking better every day.

 

and..

 

If this injury to Pom is a part of his history we really got screwed on that deal!

[Bellhorn04]

mvp forgot to include the medical staff on the list of the team's weaknesses. They might be #1.

[moonslav59]

Two things...

 

Given the possible lack of depth, Chris Sale is looking better every day.

 

and..

 

If this injury to Pom is a part of his history we really got screwed on that deal!

 

I think we still should be given the chance to back out of the deal right now.

[S5Dewey]

I think we still should be given the chance to back out of the deal right now.

 

Again, IF Pom's issue is related to the original - unreported - issue at the trade this is pretty good ammunition for the Sox to go to MLB with to get the trade reversed. Or at the least get some compensation. We gave up a lot for Pom and apparently we got "damaged goods" in return.

[mvp 78]

Two things...

 

Given the possible lack of depth, Chris Sale is looking better every day.

 

and..

 

If this injury to Pom is a part of his history we really got screwed on that deal!

 

Pomeranz had enough of an injury history to scare away potential bidders anyway.

[mvp 78]

mvp forgot to include the medical staff on the list of the team's weaknesses. They might be #1.

 

Yeah, should have had a front office or baseball operations pick. My bad.

[moonslav59]

Again, IF Pom's issue is related to the original - unreported - issue at the trade this is pretty good ammunition for the Sox to go to MLB with to get the trade reversed. Or at the least get some compensation. We gave up a lot for Pom and apparently we got "damaged goods" in return.

 

The league might argue that we were given an updated injury report and the chance to reverse the trade already. We rolled the dice and maybe lost, if he is indeed still recovering from that same injury and performs poorly as a result.

[Kimmi]

Yeah, should have had a front office or baseball operations pick. My bad.

 

The FO definitely cannot be considered a weakness of this year's team. The team they have put together is very strong.

[a700hitter]

I am taking this opportunity to recruit new team owners for the 2017 TalkSox Mike Grace Memorial Fantasy League. As of now, it looks like we have 8 confirmed teams down from the 12 that we had last year. TalkSox members are welcome to join. Statheads/StatGeeks are woefully under-represented in this league, which is all about stats and nothing about intangibles. If you are already in the league, please spread the word as it was a fun and competitive league last year with 12 teams. Let's try to get 4 new teams into the league.

[mvp 78]

The FO definitely cannot be considered a weakness of this year's team. The team they have put together is very strong.

 

Anything can be considered a weakness. Whether it's true or not is up for debate.

 

Someone could legitimately make a point that DD traded away too much, especially if Sale's delivery catches up to him.

[jgreene2417]

I am taking this opportunity to recruit new team owners for the 2017 TalkSox Mike Grace Memorial Fantasy League. As of now, it looks like we have 8 confirmed teams down from the 12 that we had last year. TalkSox members are welcome to join. Statheads/StatGeeks are woefully under-represented in this league, which is all about stats and nothing about intangibles. If you are already in the league, please spread the word as it was a fun and competitive league last year with 12 teams. Let's try to get 4 new teams into the league.

 

I am interested in joining. I am a new member to this forum. I have played fantasy baseball competitively for the last 4 years, and really enjoy it. I would love to get some more details on this league

[southpaw777]

I am taking this opportunity to recruit new team owners for the 2017 TalkSox Mike Grace Memorial Fantasy League. As of now, it looks like we have 8 confirmed teams down from the 12 that we had last year. TalkSox members are welcome to join. Statheads/StatGeeks are woefully under-represented in this league, which is all about stats and nothing about intangibles. If you are already in the league, please spread the word as it was a fun and competitive league last year with 12 teams. Let's try to get 4 new teams into the league.

 

Im still with the old BDC fantasy league but would be interested in joining this one too...I know some are really really into it and competitive, but Its more a fun thing for me. I will however be very involed with trades and such.

[a700hitter]

Im still with the old BDC fantasy league but would be interested in joining this one too...I know some are really really into it and competitive, but Its more a fun thing for me. I will however be very involed with trades and such.

This is a fun/competitive league. I don't think anyone is going crazy in this league with subscriptions to advanced statistical fantasy reports in this league. There is an entry fee of $20 -- a small fee in the Fantasy Sports world. This league is more for bragging rights and fun. PM me with your contact information, and I will send you an invitation.

[Wade Boggs]

I still worry about the pen. The third base and catching spots kind of scare me a little. With Ortiz not being there DP will be the captain and take the leadership role of this team. So I also worry about that type of stuff as well. With Wright not throwing unit 2/20 is not a good sign. His injury is a mystery. They will hit enough. The verdict is a 93\95 win team. If they can stay healthy which is always a big concern.

[Kimmi]

Anything can be considered a weakness. Whether it's true or not is up for debate.

 

Someone could legitimately make a point that DD traded away too much, especially if Sale's delivery catches up to him.

 

I think what the FO has done is a weakness in terms of the long term outlook of the team. However, in terms of the way this year's team looks, the FO did a great job. As I posted before, I don't think this year's team really has a weakness.

[Kimmi]

I still worry about the pen. The third base and catching spots kind of scare me a little. With Ortiz not being there DP will be the captain and take the leadership role of this team. So I also worry about that type of stuff as well. With Wright not throwing unit 2/20 is not a good sign. His injury is a mystery. They will hit enough. The verdict is a 93\95 win team. If they can stay healthy which is always a big concern.

 

Third base is a big question mark for sure. Pablo seems to be in great shape (for him), but that still does not guarantee that he will be successful. If I had to guess, I think he'll be a 2-3 WAR player.

 

Leon is going to regress, but he should be able to provide league average offense for a catcher. I am not concerned about the catching position.

[Fisk]

Third base is a big question mark for sure. Pablo seems to be in great shape (for him), but that still does not guarantee that he will be successful. If I had to guess, I think he'll be a 2-3 WAR player.

 

Leon is going to regress, but he should be able to provide league average offense for a catcher. I am not concerned about the catching position.

 

I'd be very happy if Sandavol is a 2-3 win player. I do not have high hopes for Leon, hope I'm wrong. My guess is by June Swihart or Vasquez will be the starting catcher.

[Kimmi]

I'd be very happy if Sandavol is a 2-3 win player. I do not have high hopes for Leon, hope I'm wrong. My guess is by June Swihart or Vasquez will be the starting catcher.

 

I was reading an article today about how well pitchers adjusted to Leon, decreasing their use of fastballs thrown to him from 85% to 66%. Leon grounded out on a lot of those off speed pitches, which was the difference in his success from earlier in the season to later in the season. Even with that, his line drive rate stayed essentially the same, which is a good sign.

 

We'll see how well Leon can adjust to the off speed pitches. Supposedly, he has already made an adjustment to help keep him from pulling those pitches.

 

I am hopeful that we'll see decent numbers from him. If not, it's reassuring that we have both Vazquez and Swihart available.