A Realistic View at 2017 Part II

[Kimmi]

I agree, you see other teams have relievers come out of nowhere and we struggle to develop them.

 

And this is how it should be. We should not be spending a fortune on relievers.

 

We should be able to find them 'out of nowhere'.

[moonslav59]

People talk about the failure of the Sox system over the years producing starting pitchers. Out homegrown closer production history is worse.

[Fisk]

Hopefully Brian Bannister will help with our pitcher development

[Nick]

Ben Taylor emergence out of 'nowhere' is more of what we need. Yeah this maybe a temporary promotion but he earned a shot. Edited April 2, 2017 by Nick

[Fisk]

Ben Taylor emergence out of 'nowhere' is more of what we need. Yeah this maybe a temporary promotion but he deserves a shot.

 

Hopefully Cosart, Callahan, Maddox Ysla, Sheperd can join him next couple of years.

[cp176]

And this is how it should be. We should not be spending a fortune on relievers.

 

We should be able to find them 'out of nowhere'.

 

I'm starting to develop my own theory actually about where someone elses $ (glad of that) is best spent. Spending much money to acquire any kind of relief pitching would be a low priority for me. in most situations, these guys are failed starters. You need something out of them for a short period of time when you need it. I really do think that we should just keep yarding what we have out there in hopes that eventually we might actually get lucky. Sadly i guess I really don't have a great deal of confidence in Kimbrel either after watching him do his thing last year.

[Nick]

Per Boston.com...10 takeways from Red Sox

10. They haven’t gained on Cleveland

 

The Guardians are the team the Red Sox need to catch in the American League, after Cleveland finished a game ahead of Boston, sweeping the Sox in the Divisional Series, and capturing the pennant. But even with the addition of Sale, the Red Sox don’t seem to have made any ground on the Tribe.

 

The Guardians team that eliminated the Sox was missing Carlos Carasco and Danny Salazar, two starters with the potential to be among the AL’s better arms. They added slugger Edwin Encarnacion to the heart of their order, and they’re also awaiting the return of former All-Star Michael Brantley.

 

Especially with the uncertainty surrounding Price and Thornburg, it’s hard to say Boston is better than it was last October. For the reigning AL champs, though, making that case is fairly easy.

These guys actually get paid for this? I don't give a damn what anyone says. I feel much better knowing that Sale will start two games vs White Sox if it comes to that.

Are you kidding me? Why doesn't he ask the White Sox hitters? See what they think. Sale has the highest ceiling among our starters in a short playoff series.

 

I know that Moon is with me on this.

[moonslav59]

Per Boston.com...10 takeways from Red Sox

10. They haven’t gained on Cleveland

 

The Guardians are the team the Red Sox need to catch in the American League, after Cleveland finished a game ahead of Boston, sweeping the Sox in the Divisional Series, and capturing the pennant. But even with the addition of Sale, the Red Sox don’t seem to have made any ground on the Tribe.

 

The Guardians team that eliminated the Sox was missing Carlos Carasco and Danny Salazar, two starters with the potential to be among the AL’s better arms. They added slugger Edwin Encarnacion to the heart of their order, and they’re also awaiting the return of former All-Star Michael Brantley.

 

Especially with the uncertainty surrounding Price and Thornburg, it’s hard to say Boston is better than it was last October. For the reigning AL champs, though, making that case is fairly easy.

These guys actually get paid for this? I don't give a damn what anyone says. I feel much better knowing that Sale will start two games vs White Sox if it comes to that.

Are you kidding me? Why doesn't he ask the White Sox hitters? See what they think. Sale has the highest ceiling among our starters in a short playoff series.

 

I know that Moon is with me on this.

 

We lost Papi: they gained EE & Brantley, however, we "gain" a whole year of Beni, Pablo, Young, Moreland Leon (Vaz-Swi).

 

The addition of Chris Sale is "priceless" to me.

 

I think we both got better.

 

I still think we are the better team on paper, but it is close.

[Fisk]

We lost Papi: they gained EE & Brantley, however, we "gain" a whole year of Beni, Pablo, Young, Moreland Leon (Vaz-Swi).

 

The addition of Chris Sale is "priceless" to me.

 

I think we both got better.

 

I still think we are the better team on paper, but it is close.

 

People forget how favored we were in the division series last year, Guardians got hot at the right time. Guardians gained EE lost Napoli, and if Brantley is half the player he was I would be shocked.

[moonslav59]

People forget how favored we were in the division series last year, Guardians got hot at the right time. Guardians gained EE lost Napoli, and if Brantley is half the player he was I would be shocked.

 

Good points, but some where some Indian fan might be saying same about Porcello, Beni, Leon, JBJ and others.

[Fisk]

Good points, but some where some Indian fan might be saying same about Porcello, Beni, Leon, JBJ and others.

 

I didn't say anything about the Guardians having career years, my comment was on the perceived chances of the Guardians going into the divisional series and Brantley.

[moonslav59]

I didn't say anything about the Guardians having career years, my comment was on the perceived chances of the Guardians going into the divisional series and Brantley.

 

Yes, and my point was that some Indian fans might be shocked if Porcello and or another(s) have half the seasons they had last year.

[TylerD]

I threw up today from the excitement that regular season is finally here!!

[Fisk]

Yes, and my point was that some Indian fans might be shocked if Porcello and or another(s) have half the seasons they had last year.

 

The difference is a lot of people thought Brantleys injury could be career ending, you went somewhere where I was not going.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR...

 

The Orioles have placed outfielder Aneury Tavarez, one of their two picks in last year’s Rule 5 Draft, on outright waivers, reports Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun. If no team claims Tavarez, the 24-year-old will be offered back to the Red Sox organization, from which he was selected in December.

 

Any club that claims Tavarez would need to follow the same Rule 5 restrictions facing the Orioles; in other words, Tavarez must be carried on a team’s 25-man roster or else be placed on waivers and, upon clearing, offered back to Boston. Tavarez’s waiver period ends on Friday, according to Meoli. If he ends up back in Boston, the Red Sox are free to option Tavarez back to the minor leagues.

[moonslav59]

The difference is a lot of people thought Brantleys injury could be career ending, you went somewhere where I was not going.

 

Okay. The context is different; I agree.

 

Even if Brantley does not produce, adding EE (with loss of Naps) and the return of Carrasco & Salazar for the playoffs certainly make the Inidans look better than before the series started last fall.

[Fisk]

Okay. The context is different; I agree.

 

Even if Brantley does not produce, adding EE (with loss of Naps) and the return of Carrasco & Salazar for the playoffs certainly make the Inidans look better than before the series started last fall.

 

I agree it could make them better, but like the sox they have many questions. Can Salazar and Carrasco stay healthy, can Naquin, And Ramirez repeat their career years. Will Bauer continue to develop.

[Nick]

7year $153M for Jacoby Ellsbury, 4 years left on the contract. We sure dodged a bullet.

[moonslav59]

I agree it could make them better, but like the sox they have many questions. Can Salazar and Carrasco stay healthy, can Naquin, And Ramirez repeat their career years. Will Bauer continue to develop.

 

I agree. I think they have more Qs than us.

 

Even without Price, I see us as the AL faves.

 

Did I forget to mention we have...

 

Chris Feakin' Sale!

 

[moonslav59]

7year $153M for Jacoby Ellsbury, 4 years left on the contract. We sure dodged a bullet.

 

He had the team's 7th best OPS the year before he bolted.

 

The Yanks made a big mistake.

 

(At the time, I said I wouldn't have paid him half of what the Yanks did.

[Nick]

He had the team's 7th best OPS the year before he bolted.

 

The Yanks made a big mistake.

 

(At the time, I said I wouldn't have paid him half of what the Yanks did.

 

Beware of Boras clients

[Fisk]

He had the team's 7th best OPS the year before he bolted.

 

The Yanks made a big mistake.

 

(At the time, I said I wouldn't have paid him half of what the Yanks did.

 

That is the importance of a good farm system we get to pay Bradley 10% of what Ellsbury makes and he is the better player.

[Kimmi]

I'm starting to develop my own theory actually about where someone elses $ (glad of that) is best spent. Spending much money to acquire any kind of relief pitching would be a low priority for me. in most situations, these guys are failed starters. You need something out of them for a short period of time when you need it. I really do think that we should just keep yarding what we have out there in hopes that eventually we might actually get lucky. Sadly i guess I really don't have a great deal of confidence in Kimbrel either after watching him do his thing last year.

 

I have always thought that there is a better way to spend money than on relievers. I think Kimbrel will be fine, but outside of that, I agree completely with this post.

[Nick]

Lester has pretty strong outing, 5 innings, 1 run so far (left 2 runners on base, his responsibility). He did throw 102 pitches. 1-0 Cardinals.

[moonslav59]

I have always thought that there is a better way to spend money than on relievers. I think Kimbrel will be fine...

 

I was fine with paying Kimbrel good money or trading top prospects for him but not both.

 

[Fisk]

Opening day is here let's hope for a healthy exciting season.

[Nick]

I have always thought that there is a better way to spend money than on relievers. I think Kimbrel will be fine...

 

I was fine with paying Kimbrel good money or trading top prospects for him but not both.

 

 

If I'm going into my first winter meeting after finishing dead last 3 out of 4 seasons, I'm going to make sure I address two urgent needs, starting pitching and a closer.

 

Anything you bring up at this point is irrelevant because YOU don't know what was available at the time and at what COST. It's all Monday morning quarterbacking because any trade YOU MAY have proposed may not have been doable.

Edited April 3, 2017 by Nick

[mvp 78]

How were you getting Kimbrel without sending prospects? Were the Padres going to just hand him over for free?

[mvp 78]

This guy is deserving of lots of money! Just can't give up anything to get him! Huh?

[harmony]

If I'm going into my first winter meeting after finishing dead last 3 out of 4 seasons, I'm going to make sure I address two urgent needs, starting pitching and a closer.

 

Anything you bring up at this point is irrelevant because YOU don't know what was available at the time and at what COST. It's all Monday morning quarterbacking because any trade YOU MAY have proposed may not have been doable.

Falmouth native Steve Cishek was available in the 2015-16 offseason. Compare the 2016 lines for Cishek and Craig Kimbrel:

 

SC 62 G, 64 IP, 2.82 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9. 10.7 K/9, 144 ERA+, 1.6 bWAR, 0.9 fWAR

CK 57 G, 53 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 5.1 BB/9, 14.7 K/9, 135 ERA+, 0.9 bWAR, 1.2 fWAR

 

Cishek signed a two-year, $10 million contract with Seattle that offseason but lost the closer role to rookie Edwin Diaz in August. Cishek opens the 2017 season on the disabled list after undergoing hip surgery.