A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[Kimmi]

Fans will also buy tickets and tune in when the team wins with a bunch of no-names, but selling season tickets in the winter is tied to big splash sign ings.

 

Absolutely. If the team is winning, fans will come to the games and they will come to love the Sandy Leons of the baseball world.

[Spudboy]

I completely agree. Most fans don't follow things like the offseason, , payroll, CBA penalties, etc. closely enough to know any better.

 

Exactly.

 

Even members of the media have their heads up their asses sometimes.

 

Yesterday Chad Finn from the Globe made a stupid statement about the Sox payroll being so screwed up that they could not sign a top starting pitcher.

 

Of course I had to correct him by stating almost verbatim what Moon has said regarding signing a top pitcher AND still getting a second tier power bat like Morrison or Duda.

 

The prick must have known he was wrong because he did not respond. Usually he responds to my provocations!

 

He had no chance in this one as I posted all the cap info I had gleaned from Moon.

[moonslav59]

Exactly.

 

Even members of the media have their heads up their asses sometimes.

 

Yesterday Chad Finn from the Globe made a stupid statement about the Sox payroll being so screwed up that they could not sign a top starting pitcher.

 

Of course I had to correct him by stating almost verbatim what Moon has said regarding signing a top pitcher AND still getting a second tier power bat like Morrison or Duda.

 

The prick must have known he was wrong because he did not respond. Usually he responds to my provocations!

 

He had no chance in this one as I posted all the cap info I had gleaned from Moon.

 

Surely, if we can afford JD, we can afford a solid pitcher and someone like Duda. Morrison might be a bit too expensive, depending on which pitcher we get, but it looks like we could get Darvish & Duda or Cobb (or Lynn) & Morrison for what it appears JD might get.

 

Doing this might also allow us to trade ERod mid season, if our rotation looks healthy and we have a big need somewhere (2B? Clean-up?)

[Bellhorn04]

Absolutely. If the team is winning, fans will come to the games and they will come to love the Sandy Leons of the baseball world.

 

That's the way it should work, but NESN ratings have been dropping even with the team winning the division 2 years in a row. Hopefully the team will be a little more fun to watch with Cora as manager.

[moonslav59]

That's the way it should work, but NESN ratings have been dropping even with the team winning the division 2 years in a row. Hopefully the team will be a little more fun to watch with Cora as manager.

 

Health is going to be a big factor. With Pedey, ERod & Thornburg out to start the season, we can't afford much more.

[Nick]

I'm anxious to see who gets the 'call up' this year.

 

We've had Benintendi two years ago and Devers last year.

 

Who are likely candidates? Perhaps a pitcher this year?

[moonslav59]

I'm anxious to see who gets the 'call up' this year.

 

We've had Benintendi two years ago and Devers last year.

 

Who are likely candidates? Perhaps a pitcher this year?

 

Chavis or Brentz?

 

Sam Travis could get a long look, if Moreland/HRam struggle or get hurt.

 

Hernandez, Lin, Marrero, Quiroz at 2B.

 

Velazquez, Johnson, Beeks, Shawaryn at SP'er.

 

Is Maddox still considered a rookie?

Edited January 17, 2018 by moonslav59

[Spudboy]

Chavis or Brentz?

 

Travis Shaw could get a long look, if Moreland/HRam struggle or get hurt.

 

Hernandez, Lin, Marrero, Quiroz at 2B.

 

Velazquez, Johnson, Beeks, Shawaryn at SP'er.

 

Is Maddox still considered a rookie?

 

You mean Sam Travis I presume.

 

I saw an interview with Chavis today from the Sox Rookie workout at Boston College. He seems like a nice kid but he also looks small. Another "Smurf".

[jacksonianmarch]

Beni and a Devers were the last in a line of top prospects that were MLb ready

[Spudboy]

Beni and a Devers were the last in a line of top prospects that were MLb ready

 

Yes.

 

Clearly there will never be any more!

[jacksonianmarch]

Yes.

 

Clearly there will never be any more!

 

Not never. But unlikely to be this year. The sox graduated 2 top 20 prospects in consecutive seasons. They don’t have a top 20 this year

[moonslav59]

Not never. But unlikely to be this year. The sox graduated 2 top 20 prospects in consecutive seasons. They don’t have a top 20 this year

 

They traded away the other top 20's.

[Kimmi]

Exactly.

 

Even members of the media have their heads up their asses sometimes.

 

Yesterday Chad Finn from the Globe made a stupid statement about the Sox payroll being so screwed up that they could not sign a top starting pitcher.

 

Of course I had to correct him by stating almost verbatim what Moon has said regarding signing a top pitcher AND still getting a second tier power bat like Morrison or Duda.

 

The prick must have known he was wrong because he did not respond. Usually he responds to my provocations!

 

He had no chance in this one as I posted all the cap info I had gleaned from Moon.

 

The members of the media sometimes leave me scratching my head with what they write. Usually, they do a good job, but it seems like they don't always double check their facts before writing some things.

[moonslav59]

I'm wondering what Sox prospects might make the top 100 this spring.

 

Groome might be top 50 or 60.

 

Chavis might squeak in the top 90.

 

Mata and Houck might be long shots.

[Kimmi]

That's the way it should work, but NESN ratings have been dropping even with the team winning the division 2 years in a row. Hopefully the team will be a little more fun to watch with Cora as manager.

 

Doesn't make much sense. Fans are weird. LOL

 

I heard a lot of people say that last year's team was not very much fun to watch or not very likable. Personally, I had no problem with them. I found them very enjoyable and likable, though they did have a couple of moments.

[Bellhorn04]

Doesn't make much sense. Fans are weird. LOL

 

I heard a lot of people say that last year's team was not very much fun to watch or not very likable. Personally, I had no problem with them. I found them very enjoyable and likable, though they did have a couple of moments.

 

I had no problems at all with last year's team. It takes a lot for a player in our uniform to make me dislike them, I guess.

[cp176]

I'm anxious to see who gets the 'call up' this year.

 

We've had Benintendi two years ago and Devers last year.

 

Who are likely candidates? Perhaps a pitcher this year?

 

Brentz and Barfield

[Bellhorn04]

In case anyone missed it, Silverman of the Herald wrote a story about the Red Sox making a mistake going to arbitration with Mookie, and that this was the second time they'd been adversarial with him about money. MLBTR picked up the story.

[Bellhorn04]

Brentz and Barfield

 

Now we're talkin'!

[moonslav59]

Brentz and Barfield

 

2 more "killer bees?"

[Kimmi]

In case anyone missed it, Silverman of the Herald wrote a story about the Red Sox making a mistake going to arbitration with Mookie, and that this was the second time they'd been adversarial with him about money. MLBTR picked up the story.

 

IMO, both sides are being a little stubborn here. Yes, Mookie is certainly worth $10.5 mil, but as a 2nd year arb player, he needs to be realistic in his demands. I feel like the Red Sox $7.5 mil offer is reasonable (not insulting), though they probably could have offered a little more.

 

It would have been nice if the 2 sides could have agreed on middle ground. They still might before they actually go to arb.

[moonslav59]

IMO, both sides are being a little stubborn here. Yes, Mookie is certainly worth $10.5 mil, but as a 2nd year arb player, he needs to be realistic in his demands. I feel like the Red Sox $7.5 mil offer is reasonable (not insulting), though they probably could have offered a little more.

 

It would have been nice if the 2 sides could have agreed on middle ground. They still might before they actually go to arb.

 

If the Sox had put their number at $8.5M, they'd almost surely win the arb ruling.

 

I kinda hope Mookie wins, so he won't be as upset at the Sox.

[notin]

In case anyone missed it, Silverman of the Herald wrote a story about the Red Sox making a mistake going to arbitration with Mookie, and that this was the second time they'd been adversarial with him about money. MLBTR picked up the story.

 

I know the Sox want to prevent his arbitration numbers from getting out of hand, but at some point Mookie is going to point out he is still making less than Pablo Sandoval and Rusney Castillo. ..

[notin]

Brentz and Barfield

 

It's Rusney Time...

[cp176]

It's Rusney Time...

 

i'm with you!!!

[moonslav59]

Adding the tax paid for adding Rusney to the 40 man roster is irrevocable. As we stay over the limit in future years, the tax just goes up and up.

 

While Rusney may be better than Brentz or Barfield, if possibly only just slightly, the cost is probably too prohibitive.

[Nick]

If the Sox had put their number at $8.5M, they'd almost surely win the arb ruling.

 

I kinda hope Mookie wins, so he won't be as upset at the Sox.

 

"show me the money"...if Sox gives him the most money and most years when he becomes a FA, Betts will sign with Sox.

[moonslav59]

"show me the money"...if Sox gives him the most money and most years when he becomes a FA, Betts will sign with Sox.

 

I was thinking more of his frame of mind for signing an extension.

[notin]

Adding the tax paid for adding Rusney to the 40 man roster is irrevocable. As we stay over the limit in future years, the tax just goes up and up.

 

While Rusney may be better than Brentz or Barfield, if possibly only just slightly, the cost is probably too prohibitive.

 

Castillo is light years better than Brentz and Barfield.

 

He is costly, but his defense is worth it. Or appears to be in his small sample size.

 

In 723 career innings in the outfield, Castillo has 18 DRS. That number would have tied for fourth in MLB last year with Jason Heyward and Yasiel Puig. Only Betts, Buxton and Brett Gardner had more.

 

And all of them played well over 723 innings. In fact, all were over 1,000..

Edited January 18, 2018 by notin

[mvp 78]

Castillo is light years better than Brentz and Barfield.

 

He is costly, but his defense is worth it. Or appears to be in his small sample size.

 

In 723 career innings in the outfield, Castillo has 18 DRS. That number would have tied for fourth in MLB last year with Jason Heyward and Yasiel Puig. Only Betts, Buxton and Brett Gardner had more.

 

And all of them played well over 723 innings. In fact, all were over 1,000..

 

Not worth it for a 4th OF. The only way he gets called up is if one of the current OFers has a career ending injury.