A Realistic View at 2017 Part II

[Thunder]

As a (very) long time Sox fan , I can say that I have never been more optimistic going into a season than I am this year. This is an excellent team. If the pitching gets healthy , they may run away with the division.

 

As a lifelong Sox fan (10 years of distinguishable memories), I feel the same way.

[moonslav59]

I understand, but a year when we all knew Papi was retiring... that's a situation to gamble and take a chance in my opinion. It wouldn't have been a huge gamble money wise. Wouldn't have been much of a risk at all. A team full of gambles isn't ideal, but one here and there shouldn't be detrimental. When CarGo is on, he's really on. There was just as much of a chance of .830-.840.

 

HanRam 1B (just like last season), CarGo DH (more OF depth if injuries happen... and they do), still room for Young vs LHP and to spell whoever.

 

If Young or Gomez both caught fire with great first halves, there'd be a chance to trade one of them for some relief help mid-season...

 

CarGo got $11.5M. He can't play 1B, and apparently neither can HanRam, so where would Cargo play for us?

 

His contract would put us right at the tax limit with no room to wiggle.

 

(I guess we could trade Young.)

[mvp 78]

Wrong thread?

 

Nah, Sale was noted as the 2nd best pitcher. I was just stating that the 1st is a playoff choker. That's all.

[mvp 78]

mvp showing us that he is indeed human? You don't see that everyday...

 

False. I'm NOT human.

 

 

 

 

I'm super human.

[mvp 78]

As a (very) long time Sox fan , I can say that I have never been more optimistic going into a season than I am this year. This is an excellent team. If the pitching gets healthy , they may run away with the division.

 

You didn't like 2011's chances?

 

04 - 08 (excluding 05) were very optimistic for me.

[moonslav59]

I wouldn't argue with Scherzer at #2 and sale at #3, but since 2012, Sale is clearly top 3, IMO.

 

Over the last 3 years, Sale is 5th in WAR, but 4th in WHIP and 8th in ERA-.

 

Over 2 years, 3rd in WAR, 9th in WHIP and 20th in ERA-

[mvp 78]

I wouldn't argue with Scherzer at #2 and sale at #3, but since 2012, Sale is clearly top 3, IMO.

 

Over the last 3 years, Sale is 5th in WAR, but 4th in WHIP and 8th in ERA-.

 

Over 2 years, 3rd in WAR, 9th in WHIP and 20th in ERA-

 

I love Scherzer, but I think Sale is the better fit for the Sox and probably the better pitcher. Scherzer is dominant in the NL, but Sale has the perfect make up for Boston. They still should have signed Scherzer in the offseason they let Lester go.

[moonslav59]

I love Scherzer, but I think Sale is the better fit for the Sox and probably the better pitcher. Scherzer is dominant in the NL, but Sale has the perfect make up for Boston. They still should have signed Scherzer in the offseason they let Lester go.

 

I agree. They probably could have afforded Scherzer and HanRam (to play 3B) by saving on not signing Pablo and Masterson.

[moonslav59]

Looks like we won't face our first lefty until April 8th (Detroit's Matt Boyd).

 

Will this be the line-up?

 

R Pedey

L Beni

R Betts

R Ramirez 1B?

R Bogey

R Young

L JBJ

# Pablo

R Vaz

 

If HanRam can't play 1B, Young should play LF with Beni in CF giving JBJ a day off vs the lefty. I'd bat Moreland 8th vs a lefty or try Selsky at 1B.

[Emp9]

CarGo got $11.5M. He can't play 1B, and apparently neither can HanRam, so where would Cargo play for us?

 

His contract would put us right at the tax limit with no room to wiggle.

 

(I guess we could trade Young.)

 

Well, Hanram's minor shoulder issue is after the fact of course. I doubt that he couldn't play 1B, say... yesterday by any means. But I digress.

 

Moreland of course is the safer bet and less $ ( noting $11.5M - $5.5M = $6M ), but who's also coming off a disappointing year.

 

It's a toss up for me. But I'd have still leaned Gomez (over Moreland), unless it got to some kind of a bidding war ( $13M would've been my limit ).

[Emp9]

CarGo got $11.5M. He can't play 1B, and apparently neither can HanRam, so where would Cargo play for us?

 

His contract would put us right at the tax limit with no room to wiggle.

 

(I guess we could trade Young.)

 

Then again, we've been burnt quite often with the likes of Craig.

 

I'm thinking of the times we haven't been burnt.... like Lowell.

 

Fair enough.

[mvp 78]

Looks like we won't face our first lefty until April 8th (Detroit's Matt Boyd).

 

Will this be the line-up?

 

R Pedey

L Beni

R Betts

R Ramirez 1B?

R Bogey

R Young

L JBJ

# Pablo

R Vaz

 

If HanRam can't play 1B, Young should play LF with Beni in CF giving JBJ a day off vs the lefty. I'd bat Moreland 8th vs a lefty or try Selsky at 1B.

 

Not to worry, Young will get PLENTY of at bats before then! See: Farrell managing in April 2016.

[mvp 78]

Well, Hanram's minor shoulder issue is after the fact of course. I doubt that he couldn't play 1B, say... yesterday by any means. But I digress.

 

Moreland of course is the safer bet and less $ ( noting $11.5M - $5.5M = $6M ), but who's also coming off a disappointing year.

 

It's a toss up for me. But I'd have still leaned Gomez (over Moreland), unless it got to some kind of a bidding war ( $13M would've been my limit ).

 

If his shoulder is still not ready, why push it on the first day of the season?

[Emp9]

If his shoulder is still not ready, why push it on the first day of the season?

 

His shoulder was good enough to swing the bat all game.

 

Plus, I don't remember seeing Moreland throw anything yesterday, besides throwing back to the mound.

 

Am I wrong to suspect, if not for Moreland, HanRam would've played 1B yesterday, and the odds of him having to over exert his non-100% healthy throwing shoulder would've been minimal to non-existent? I guess there could've been a play at the plate, or a run down. There wasn't. But it could've happened, I guess.

 

My point was that regarding signing Gomez over Moreland, at the time HanRam's shoulder wasn't a question.

[mvp 78]

His shoulder was good enough to swing the bat all game.

 

Plus, I don't remember seeing Moreland throw anything yesterday, besides throwing back to the mound.

 

Am I wrong to suspect, if not for Moreland, HanRam would've played 1B yesterday, and the odds of him having to over exert his non-100% healthy throwing shoulder would've been minimal to non-existent? I guess there could've been a play at the plate, or a run down. There wasn't. But it could've happened, I guess.

 

My point was that regarding signing Gomez over Moreland, at the time HanRam's shoulder wasn't a question.

 

Different motions, I guess?

 

The Red Sox have been stating that the injury is keeping him from playing 1b. I'm just following their lead.

[mvp 78]

http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2017/02/hanely_ramirez_injury_update_r.html

 

Very first sentence: Hanley Ramirez hasn't played first base yet this spring, in part because he's dealing with shoulder soreness when throwing.

[mvp 78]

Red Sox's Hanley Ramirez: Throws out to 100 feet

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Ramirez should be ready to play the field by the time Boston plays in Detroit next Friday, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports.

 

Ramirez, if healthy, is expected to play the field whenever the Red Sox are facing left-handers. The first southpaw they'll see is the Tigers' Matt Boyd, who is scheduled to pitch next Saturday, April 8.

[Emp9]

http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2017/02/hanely_ramirez_injury_update_r.html

 

Very first sentence: Hanley Ramirez hasn't played first base yet this spring, in part because he's dealing with shoulder soreness when throwing.

 

Is that for me? Bud, I've read all there is to know on the topic. I'm fully aware of it.

[Emp9]

It's just that I'm not that worried about it. If his shoulder was that bad he wouldn't be playing at all.

[moonslav59]

....Am I wrong to suspect, if not for Moreland, HanRam would've played 1B yesterday...?

I think Selsky would have started had Moreland not been ready.

Edited April 4, 2017 by moonslav59

[Emp9]

....Am I wrong to suspect, if not for Moreland, HanRam would've played 1B yesterday...?

I think Selsy would have started had Moreland not been ready.

 

You mean if Moreland wasn't signed? Because that's what I was referring to.

[mvp 78]

Is that for me? Bud, I've read all there is to know on the topic. I'm fully aware of it.

 

That was for everyone. For each and every bigly fan of my posts.

[moonslav59]

You mean if Moreland wasn't signed? Because that's what I was referring to.

 

If they hadn't signed Moreland, they'd have signed some other 1Bman or used Selsky on opening day.

 

I think they want Young at DH vs LHPs, so they don't have to sit JBJ or Beni, and having HanRam just play 1B vs LHPs makes a lot of sense. My second choice would be to have HanRam DH FT with Pablo (Marco-Rutledge/Holt platoon at 3B) or Shaw at 1B had we not signed Moreland.

[Slasher9]

I agree terrible call on that 0-2 pitch, did not look like he could come close to Kimbrels fastball. On the 0-1 pitch looked like he swung a half hour late.

 

Blame Leon. he walked to the mound 0-2 and told him to throw the curve.

[Slasher9]

I kind of expected more blog traffic after an opening day win.

 

Maybe everybody is busy with spring here and all.

 

I like our chances with Sale tomorrow.

yes sir. we finally were able to get on the field yesterday evening. it's been underwater for a month. more rain overnight. sigh.

[Slasher9]

I'm "attached" to Betts & JBJ and will soon be to Sale and Beni.

 

I seem to be rooting harder for these guys for whatever reason:

 

Marco, Hembree, Wright, ERod and Vaz

 

JBj, E-rod, & X-bo for me. Espinoza would have been my #1 player mancrush.

[Slasher9]

You didn't like 2011's chances?

 

04 - 08 (excluding 05) were very optimistic for me.

 

2003 was the year i thought was ours and was most confident on breaking the curse.

[mvp 78]

2003 was the year i thought was ours and was most confident on breaking the curse.

 

That was a confusing one for me. So many moving parts with the cluster f*** at 1b (Millar being signed away from a Japanese team, s***** Giambi, unknown Ortiz) BH Kim signing, closer by committee nonsense, etc...

[moonslav59]

JBj, E-rod, & X-bo for me. Espinoza would have been my #1 player mancrush.

 

Espi was my top hope.

[moonslav59]

That was a confusing one for me. So many moving parts with the cluster f*** at 1b (Millar being signed away from a Japanese team, s***** Giambi, unknown Ortiz) BH Kim signing, closer by committee nonsense, etc...

 

Maybe he meant by the time we reached the playoffs.

 

I agree, at the start of the season, there were too many big question marks to feel very optimistic about our chances.