A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[moonslav59]

New England weather sucks. It’s the main reason my wife wants to move every winter.

 

Summers are great! I spend every summer on Sebago Lake.

 

I don't miss the winters at all.

 

I moved to Mexico City in 2004 (after the ring) and have never considered moving back full time.

 

Boston is a great town. (Yes, I think of it as a big town- not a city.)

[moonslav59]

Not all of those things that Moon mentioned are likely going to happen, but there a lot of areas where we should see improvement. We just need to have average to better than average good luck.

 

If just 4 or 5 of the 10 come true, the season could be very special.

[notin]

Summers are great! I spend every summer on Sebago Lake.

 

I don't miss the winters at all.

 

I moved to Mexico City in 2004 (after the ring) and have never considered moving back full time.

 

Boston is a great town. (Yes, I think of it as a big town- not a city.)

 

I thought you were in Houston?

 

I moved to Monterrey Mexico in 1999 (5 years before the ring), but I moved back within a year...

[moonslav59]

I thought you were in Houston?

 

I moved to Monterrey Mexico in 1999 (5 years before the ring), but I moved back within a year...

 

I lived in Mexico City for nearly 5 years, then I moved to Sugar Land, Texas. I've been here ever since.

 

The summers are brutal, but we go to Maine every summer. I can deal with the hot Mays and Septembers.

[jacksonianmarch]

New England summers are the absolute best. The last few weeks of spring and the first few weeks of fall are amazing as well. Nov 1- May 1 blows.

[cp176]

Summers are great! I spend every summer on Sebago Lake.

 

I don't miss the winters at all.

 

I moved to Mexico City in 2004 (after the ring) and have never considered moving back full time.

 

Boston is a great town. (Yes, I think of it as a big town- not a city.)

 

I live a half a mile from Long Lake. Pretty sure you know where that is.

[moonslav59]

I live a half a mile from Long Lake. Pretty sure you know where that is.

 

Yes, we take the pontoon through the locks and into Long Lake every now and then. I love that area.

[cp176]

Yes, we take the pontoon through the locks and into Long Lake every now and then. I love that area.

 

Go to Harrison - Have a bite to eat at the tie up and wander around the village. Stunning!

[moonslav59]

Go to Harrison - Have a bite to eat at the tie up and wander around the village. Stunning!

 

Will do.

 

We jet ski on Long Lake now and then.

[Hitch]

My missus has just landed a job with the UN so moving to New York in a month or so. I'm sure it'll be fun being surrounded by Yankee fans...

 

Will mean I can finally start getting to more games, however.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR...

 

The Red Sox have signed left-hander Tommy Layne to a minors pact; he’d been playing in the MLBPA camp. Brian MacPherson (formerly of the Providence Journal) was first with the news; Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal has since confirmed the report. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets that the deal does not include an invite to spring training. This’ll be the 33-year-old’s second stint with the Red Sox, for whom he pitched 95 1/3 innings and earned 20 holds from 2014-2016. He put up a 3.30 ERA during that span, but with an unsettling walk rate (4.63 BB/9). Originally a late-round pick by the Diamondbacks, Layne has also spent time with the Padres, Yankees and Dodgers organizations. He’ll compete for a spot on a Boston roster that has plenty of high-end lefty starters but little in the way of lefty relief options.

[Spudboy]

MLBTR...

 

The Red Sox have signed left-hander Tommy Layne to a minors pact; he’d been playing in the MLBPA camp. Brian MacPherson (formerly of the Providence Journal) was first with the news; Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal has since confirmed the report. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets that the deal does not include an invite to spring training. This’ll be the 33-year-old’s second stint with the Red Sox, for whom he pitched 95 1/3 innings and earned 20 holds from 2014-2016. He put up a 3.30 ERA during that span, but with an unsettling walk rate (4.63 BB/9). Originally a late-round pick by the Diamondbacks, Layne has also spent time with the Padres, Yankees and Dodgers organizations. He’ll compete for a spot on a Boston roster that has plenty of high-end lefty starters but little in the way of lefty relief options.

 

I know he get no love on this board but I always liked Layne.

[cp176]

I know he get no love on this board but I always liked Layne.

 

You and me!!! My daughter and son-in-law know the Laynes pretty well. I actually she baby sat once or twice for them. A very nice family. Good for Tommy, I hope he makes it once again.

[notin]

I know he get no love on this board but I always liked Layne.

 

I don't like the LOOGY strategy, but the way they got rid of Layne was pretty stupid. ...

[oldtimer]

I lived in Mexico City for nearly 5 years, then I moved to Sugar Land, Texas. I've been here ever since.

 

The summers are brutal, but we go to Maine every summer. I can deal with the hot Mays and Septembers.

 

I enjoyed fishing on Damarascotta Lake for many years. Beautiful place with loons. Can't say I liked the jet skiers much at all as most fishermen would like to see those craft banned. We now spend our summers in the mountains of NC. Nice there as well.

[moonslav59]

Twins to sign Logan Morrison for $6.5M/1.

 

I'd much rather have had Logan for the same yearly money Moreland got for 2 seasons!

 

Looks like late signings will be bargains.

[moonslav59]

Twins to sign Logan Morrison for $6.5M/1.

 

I'd much rather have had Logan for the same yearly money Moreland got for 2 seasons!

 

Looks like late signings will be bargains.

 

Apparently, there are escalators and a vesting option that could make it $16.5M/2.... still better than Moreland at $13M/2.

[moonslav59]

Morrison will earn $5.5MM in 2018, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. The vesting option is worth $8MM and comes with a $1MM buyout.

[moonslav59]

What's better?

 

3B Devers

1B HRam-Moreland

DH JDM-HRam

 

or

 

3B Moustakas-Devers

1B Morrison-HRam

DH Devers-HRam

 

The second option would be much cheaper.,,,maybe even cheaper by enough to add Cobb or Lynn.

[MADSTORK]

Since all reports point to the fifth rotation spot being vacant, Cobb would be an ideal #5 starter for this Club.

 

The fascination of BJohnson with this organization is mind boggling..

[moonslav59]

Since all reports point to the fifth rotation spot being vacant, Cobb would be an ideal #5 starter for this Club.

 

The fascination of BJohnson with this organization is mind boggling..

 

Who is fascinated with Johnson?

 

He's maybe a 6th or 7th starter, at best.

 

I have Wright and Velazquez ahead of him. He might get a look before Velazquez due to being out of options, but that doesn't mean we're fixated on him.

 

(BTW, I've been talking about Cobb all winter.)

[cp176]

Who is fascinated with Johnson?

 

He's maybe a 6th or 7th starter, at best.

 

I have Wright and Velazquez ahead of him. He might get a look before Velazquez due to being out of options, but that doesn't mean we're fixated on him.

 

(BTW, I've been talking about Cobb all winter.)

 

Elias might be in the mix as well.

[moonslav59]

Yes, Elias should be in the mix.

 

MLBTR reports....

 

The Red Sox expect to begin the year without either left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez or righty Steven Wright, manager Alex Cora told reporters, including Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com, on Sunday (Twitter link). Rodriguez is working back from the right knee surgery he underwent in October, and Wright had a season-ending procedure on his left knee last May. With those two on the shelf, the Red Sox will choose among Hector Velazquez, Roenis Elias and the out-of-options Brian Johnson to serve as their season-opening fifth starter

[moonslav59]

About our Sox prospects...

 

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2018?list=bos

 

Red Sox's 2018 preseason top 30 prospects list

WWW.MLB.COM

---

When the Red Sox hired David Dombrowski as president of baseball operations in August 2015, they had a big league club headed toward its second consecutive last-place finish, yet hope in the form of the best farm system in baseball. Fast forward to today, and they're the two-time defending American

[MADSTORK]

Who is fascinated with Johnson?

 

He's maybe a 6th or 7th starter, at best.

 

I have Wright and Velazquez ahead of him. He might get a look before Velazquez due to being out of options, but that doesn't mean we're fixated on him.

 

(BTW, I've been talking about Cobb all winter.)[/quote

 

 

 

All of the pitchers mentioned above have been given an opportunity. I will also include Elias and any other AAA pitcher given a chance. They have all failed..

 

You would have to think the price and years for Cobb and or Arietta would be Team friendly at this time?

DPrice or another SP goes down and your in trouble even if Wright or ERod return.

 

Unless DD is going to gamble and wait until the trade deadline to find pitching? In this Division that might be to late

Edited February 26, 2018 by MADSTORK

[moonslav59]

Who is fascinated with Johnson?

 

He's maybe a 6th or 7th starter, at best.

 

I have Wright and Velazquez ahead of him. He might get a look before Velazquez due to being out of options, but that doesn't mean we're fixated on him.

 

(BTW, I've been talking about Cobb all winter.)[/quote

 

 

 

All of the pitchers mentioned above have been given an opportunity. I will also include Elias and any other AAA pitcher given a chance. They have all failed..

 

You would have to think the price and years for Cobb and or Arietta would be Team friendly at this time?

DPrice or another SP goes down and your in trouble even if Wright or ERod return.

 

Unless DD is going to gamble and wait until the trade deadline to find pitching? In this Division that might be to late

 

We're too close to the major penalty limit to sign Cobb, Arrieta or Lynn. By my calculations, we might have $4-6M to spend, unless we dump salary somewhere.

 

Elias had a little stretch of success in Seattle before coming to Boston and dealing with injury.

 

How can you proclaim Velazquez was given a chance and failed?

 

Look, I'm not happy with our starter depth either, and hopefully ERod is not out for too long. I cans ee why we chose not to spend large at SP'er this year.

 

Maybe one of these guys will do okay as a placeholder for ERod/Wright...

 

Elias

 

Velazquez

 

Johnson

 

Beeks

 

Haley

 

I wonder, if they've considered stretching Workman out to a starter role.

[notin]

 

You would have to think the price and years for cobb and or arietta would be team friendly at this time?

Dprice or another sp goes down and your in trouble even if wright or erod return.

 

Unless dd is going to gamble and wait until the trade deadline to find pitching? In this division that might be to late

 

I've never spoken with Scott Boras either, but even I know how "team friendly" those deals are going to be received. Not very well.

 

While Cobb and Arrieta (and Lynn) all remain unsigned, it's not like they have NO offers. They just don't have ones they want. They're already receiving the "team friendly"offers and rejecting them. All the guys want now is a "team unfriendly" offer. THAT is what it will take to sign them. ..

[notin]

Since all reports point to the fifth rotation spot being vacant, Cobb would be an ideal #5 starter for this Club.

 

The fascination of BJohnson with this organization is mind boggling..

 

No one is fascinated wIth Johnson, but he is likely to make the team and pitch out of the bullpen he is left - handed and had no options left.

 

I have found more people to be fascinated with Bryce Brentz than with Johnson, And Johnson always had an infinitely better chance to help this team than Brentz did

[cp176]

Fascination versus simply cheering for someone - big difference. Many of us have been talking hitting, a need that does not look like such a need all of a sudden. Now it kind of looks like the whine turns to the pitching staff. Lest we forget though notin, Johnson just turned 28 and you know what you think of all old guys. Brian Johnson certainly has never fascinated me anymore than either Brentz or Barfield have. I think he has a good chance of making this team in one fashion or another- spot starter, long relief. In his case, it is about is health and not his sort of slow fastball. He knows how to pitch and how to get people out. If he makes it, it will be another very good story that we should cheer about.

[Bellhorn04]

No one is fascinated wIth Johnson, but he is likely to make the team and pitch out of the bullpen he is left - handed and had no options left.

 

I have found more people to be fascinated with Bryce Brentz than with Johnson, And Johnson always had an infinitely better chance to help this team than Brentz did

 

The 'fascination' with Brentz only occurred because he went on a home run hitting tear last year at a time when the big team was so lacking in power. It was nothing new or unusual for fans to cast a glance toward some guy in the minors who looks like he could help.