The Pen

[dgalehouse]

No way we get both.

 

I'm doubtful we get one.

I would be surprised, maybe even shocked, if we did not sign at least one of them.

[vegasbob]

Not losing any sleep over the Sox bullpen at this stage. DD has time to make a move , including all the way to late July. This is a 100 win team with no further additions, and the possibility that Pedroia will be somewhat productive. Kelly and Kimbrel, if not returning, definitely create large openings to fill, but after Game 1 last year Kelly could have been had for a bag of balls.

 

The reality is that winning the 108 games and the WS beating NYY, Astros, and Dodgers convincingly gave the FO/ownership some ability to slow walk into 2019 and attempt to deal with the major personnel/salary issues arising in 2020/2021. Again this team will win 100 just showing up. That will get them in the playoff mix. Before then the FO can buy what they need when the time is right.

[jacksonianmarch]

Assuming a team waltzes into a season and wins 100 games is a really good way to be let down, even for a team poised to make the playoffs. Your team, as is, will lose a lot of games you should have won with your pen the way it is

[sk7326]

Realistically the Red Sox could be better than last year and win fewer games. That's the nature of baseball. The Red Sox had a Pythag of a 103 win team last year. They were awesome, but they also had some close game fortune.

 

If you just use the WAR projections from Steamer, the Red Sox are proejcted to win about 93-95 games. (if you take the 50 WAR and assume that a 0 WAR team would win 42-45 games, basically the worst teams we have seen recordwise) That seems reasonable.

[Kimmi]

Didi isn't dead. CC is the #5 starter. If Voit is still at 1b by season's end, then he will be having a great year.

 

So, the Yankees can start the season with less than ideal players at SS and 1B, but the Sox starting the season (maybe) with a less than ideal closer is going to doom the team?

[notin]

Didi isn't dead. CC is the #5 starter. If Voit is still at 1b by season's end, then he will be having a great year.

 

 

What exactly is the history on shortstops coming back from Tommy John surgery on their throwing arms? Which in Didi’s case is also his lead arm at the plate. (Torres was his non-throwing arm.)

 

But I guess Sox fans can play this game too.

 

Pedroia isn’t dead and if Brasier is closing by season’s end then he will be having a great year...

[jacksonianmarch]

What exactly is the history on shortstops coming back from Tommy John surgery on their throwing arms? Which in Didi’s case is also his lead arm at the plate. (Torres was his non-throwing arm.)

 

But I guess Sox fans can play this game too.

 

Pedroia isn’t dead and if Brasier is closing by season’s end then he will be having a great year...

 

Didi's lead arm at the plate? The arm injured by Torres was his lead arm too as he is a righty. So no real point there. It isn't going to affect his hitting. It may affect his throwing. I am sure they wont be bringing him out until he can make all the throws. I had a teammate, a catcher, who blew out his elbow in the fall. He was back by June and this was college, so assuming better access to rehab, he may beat that timeline

 

Pedroia isn't dead, you are right, but his baseball career might as well be.

[jacksonianmarch]

So, the Yankees can start the season with less than ideal players at SS and 1B, but the Sox starting the season (maybe) with a less than ideal closer is going to doom the team?

 

Our 1b will outhit your 1b in 2019. Bank it

[Bellhorn04]

Our 1b will outhit your 1b in 2019. Bank it

 

You were saying 'bank it' or similar words of certainty about some things last year too. If you keep doing that, of course, sometimes you'll be right.

[notin]

Our 1b will outhit your 1b in 2019. Bank it

 

Really? Which 1b is that? The career minor leaguer with the .380 BABIP or the one who is injured so often, his position on his Topps baseball card is listed as “DL”?

[sk7326]

Really? Which 1b is that? The career minor leaguer with the .380 BABIP or the one who is injured so often, his position on his Topps baseball card is listed as “DL”?

 

Most likely the one who think he can catch.

[moonslav59]

really? Which 1b is that? The career minor leaguer with the .380 babip or the one who is injured so often, his position on his topps baseball card is listed as “dl”?

 

lmao!

[Jack Flap]

Dombrowski is sticking to his guns on the chances of a big relief addition...

 

 

The Red Sox have already lost Joe Kelly to the Dodgers via free agency and stand to lose Craig Kimbrel in free agency as well if they don’t make a push to re-sign him in the coming weeks. However, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski downplayed the possibility of retaining Kimbrel in an interview with Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “Craig did a great job for us,” said Dombrowski. “He’s a Hall of Fame reliever, but we have not anticipated having a large expenditure for a closer.”

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/red-sox-rumors-dombrowski-large-expenditure-closer-craig-kimbrel.html

[jacksonianmarch]

Music to my ears

[Jack Flap]

My choice was always to sign a couple of guys from the sub-Kimbrel class (you probably could have picked two of Britton, Miller, Robertson, Kelly, Familia, Soria, and Herrera for around $50 million at one point), and maybe they still will, just with Allen+Brach or something along those lines.

 

I don't know how low Kimbrel's price is going to drop, and re-signing him has never been my preference, but it's sounding like some team could end up getting him at a huge discount. At a certain point, it would be dumb not to jump back in.

 

I'd be lying if I said I knew what Dombrowski is doing or what the plan is, but he's more than earned the benefit of the doubt at this point and I'm still not concerned. This time a year ago, people were freaking out because we hadn't added a big bat yet.

[notin]

Music to my ears

 

Was it also music to your ears when the same site reported the Yankees were the least aggressive in pursuit of Machado?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/al-notes-machado-yankees-tigers-white-sox.html

[jacksonianmarch]

Was it also music to your ears when the same site reported the Yankees were the least aggressive in pursuit of Machado?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/al-notes-machado-yankees-tigers-white-sox.html

 

We don't "need" Machado. You do "need" a closer

[BillyWilliams]

Was it also music to your ears when the same site reported the Yankees were the least aggressive in pursuit of Machado?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/al-notes-machado-yankees-tigers-white-sox.html

 

Big difference between a GM coming out and stating something and a reporter "suggesting" something ..........

[notin]

We don't "need" Machado. You do "need" a closer

 

Your starting shortstop is Troy Tulowitzki. You sure you don’t need Machado?

[notin]

Didi's lead arm at the plate? The arm injured by Torres was his lead arm too as he is a righty. So no real point there. It isn't going to affect his hitting. It may affect his throwing. I am sure they wont be bringing him out until he can make all the throws. I had a teammate, a catcher, who blew out his elbow in the fall. He was back by June and this was college, so assuming better access to rehab, he may beat that timeline

 

Pedroia isn't dead, you are right, but his baseball career might as well be.

 

 

Regardless of your college teammate, the recovery for shortstops having TJ surgery is largely unknown at the MLB level...

[notin]

Big difference between a GM coming out and stating something and a reporter "suggesting" something ..........

 

Very true.

 

For example, GMs lie. You said so yourself on the Robertson thread...

[BillyWilliams]

Very true.

 

For example, GMs lie. You said so yourself on the Robertson thread...

 

They certainly do.

 

Do you think dd is lying in this case?

[notin]

They certainly do.

 

Do you think dd is lying in this case?

 

 

No idea. But it certainly makes sense for him to do so. Lots of closers on the market. The Cubs need one but seemingly can’t spend (which could also be a lie). Ditto for the Angels.

 

This leaves the perennially budget-conscious Braves as the biggest rival. Better to bid against their terms...

[dgalehouse]

My choice was always to sign a couple of guys from the sub-Kimbrel class (you probably could have picked two of Britton, Miller, Robertson, Kelly, Familia, Soria, and Herrera for around $50 million at one point), and maybe they still will, just with Allen+Brach or something along those lines.

 

I don't know how low Kimbrel's price is going to drop, and re-signing him has never been my preference, but it's sounding like some team could end up getting him at a huge discount. At a certain point, it would be dumb not to jump back in.

 

I'd be lying if I said I knew what Dombrowski is doing or what the plan is, but he's more than earned the benefit of the doubt at this point and I'm still not concerned. This time a year ago, people were freaking out because we hadn't added a big bat yet.

 

True . We do not know what the game plan is right now . I see three possibilities. 1 - D.D. is just playing hard ball in negotiations. 2- D.D. truly believes we can win with the bullpen pretty much as is . 3 - John Henry has reached the limit of his spending on the team. At least for now. We will know more in a couple / few weeks . Stay tuned.

[notin]

True . We do not know what the game plan is right now . I see three possibilities. 1 - D.D. is just playing hard ball in negotiations. 2- D.D. truly believes we can win with the bullpen pretty much as is . 3 - John Henry has reached the limit of his spending on the team. At least for now. We will know more in a couple / few weeks . Stay tuned.

 

34 days until pitchers and catchers report...

[dgalehouse]

Our 1b will outhit your 1b in 2019. Bank it

 

Very hard to predict which first baseman , or combination of first basemen , will outhit their counterparts . The Sox combo is more certain to reach a particular level of productivity, while the Yankee combo probably has more of a chance to really excel or really fail . I don't care much about " projections ." We will find out the answer soon enough.

[jacksonianmarch]

Your starting shortstop is Troy Tulowitzki. You sure you don’t need Machado?

 

Didi will be back by June. We’ve been without him to start a year before

[BillyWilliams]

No idea. But it certainly makes sense for him to do so. Lots of closers on the market. The Cubs need one but seemingly can’t spend (which could also be a lie). Ditto for the Angels.

 

This leaves the perennially budget-conscious Braves as the biggest rival. Better to bid against their terms...

 

Who do you consider the "lots of closers"?

[notin]

Who do you consider the "lots of closers"?

 

Kimbrel, Allen, Brach, Romo, and Boxberger plus several others with closing experience like Ottavino, Ramos, Madson, Johnson, Norris, Clippard and Kelley. Probably a few others as well...

[jacksonianmarch]

Who do you consider the "lots of closers"?

 

The only proven effective closer on the market right now is Kimbrel. Ottavino had the best season of the relievers left. Beyond them, the rest are reclamation projects coming off bad years or trending in the wrong direction.