A Realistic View at 2020: Part I

[notin]

Lowell actually said he would take the job, but only for one year as a fill-in for Cora.

 

I think whoever the Sox hire will be a one year fill in

[S5Dewey]

Lowell actually said he would take the job, but only for one year as a fill-in for Cora.

 

I think I'm in on this. Lowell has always ("always" meaning since he came to Boston) my favorite Red Sox player. Classy guy.

 

The only downside of it is that I wouldn't want to see him take the abuse that managers take in Boston.

[jacksonianmarch]

How do you know Ron Roenicke isn’t bilingual?

 

The guy has 4 years experience under his belt. Safe bet he talked to a Dominican player at some point in that tenure.

 

And really, with maybe 4 weeks until pitchers and catchers report, whoever manages the Sox this year is likely to be considered an interim manager with the real search starting next year...

 

Your last paragraph is absolutely the truth. With the “hot names” already gone, it would behoove the Sox to hire an interim manager and do a full search for 2021. That is unless the 2020 manager pulls a rabbit out of the hat

[moonslav59]

At least we finally gave some excitement this winter. Not what I’d have hoped for, for sure, but let’s hope this is the bottom of the bottom and 2021 will mark the upswing.

[Sox75]

The tide is turning in this offseason!

 

Sox just signed a 30th round RHP, with "EXTREME" fly ball stuff in the ALE, & a mere 4.90 ERA.

 

We're BACK BABY!

[moonslav59]

The tide is turning in this offseason!

 

Sox just signed a 30th round RHP, with "EXTREME" fly ball stuff in the ALE, & a mere 4.90 ERA.

 

We're BACK BABY!

 

The cliff is here and now.

[notin]

The tide is turning in this offseason!

 

Sox just signed a 30th round RHP, with "EXTREME" fly ball stuff in the ALE, & a mere 4.90 ERA.

 

We're BACK BABY!

 

I totally missed the Sox signing Mike Kickham.

 

Kickham is 31, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2015, has a career MLB ERA of 10.98 (30 IP), and, of course, is left-handed.

 

Now there is no such thing as a bad minor league contract. But at some point, can we sign a right-handed pitcher to one?

[Larry Cook]

Yahoo sports reports that if a team wants to trade for Betts, they have to take price and give up two top prospects.

 

I think I understand why hang ‘em chaim’s cell phone has cobwebs on it.

[harmony]

Yahoo sports reports that if a team wants to trade for Betts, they have to take price and give up two top prospects.

 

I think I understand why hang ‘em chaim’s cell phone has cobwebs on it.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-rumors-latest-red-sox-154139647.html

[harmony]

A positive spin on Red Sox prospect Triston Casas:

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-red-sox-prospect-triston-casas-is-brobdingnagian-and-emulates-joey-votto/

[Larry Cook]

Haviland promoted to pitching coach performance. Any idea what that is?

[moonslav59]

Yahoo sports reports that if a team wants to trade for Betts, they have to take price and give up two top prospects.

 

I think I understand why hang ‘em chaim’s cell phone has cobwebs on it.

 

He might have multiple "calls" and is weighing the best offer or trying for better.

 

I like the idea.

 

It doesn't say he wants 2 top 10 prospects.

Edited January 21, 2020 by moonslav59

[jacksonianmarch]

Looks like Mookie is staying for 2020. What a ridiculous ask

[Jack Flap]

Sounds like they're not too concerned about moving him unless another team goes crazy, and I'm okay with that. If you're going to move Mookie Betts, the asking price should be ridiculous...you're not getting the best non-Trout position player in baseball for a collection of spare parts and middling prospects. If that means he has to stay put, then I'm content to suffer through another 7-10 WAR season in 2020.

[jacksonianmarch]

Then you burn your best trade chip in a season that’s looking like it’s gonna be lost

[Sox75]

Looks like Mookie is staying for 2020. What a ridiculous ask

 

A ridiculous "ask" by whom?

 

mlb history is replete with ridiculous ask & ridiculous takes.

 

Is your point that the Sox should entertain "moderate" / average offers for an mvp tier 1++ everyday position player, who happens to be the only guy in the mlb to give Trott a run for his money?

[Bellhorn04]

Sounds like they're not too concerned about moving him unless another team goes crazy, and I'm okay with that. If you're going to move Mookie Betts, the asking price should be ridiculous...you're not getting the best non-Trout position player in baseball for a collection of spare parts and middling prospects. If that means he has to stay put, then I'm content to suffer through another 7-10 WAR season in 2020.

 

Yeah, it seems that Bloom didn't want to trade him unless it was going to be a clear win.

[Bellhorn04]

Then you burn your best trade chip in a season that’s looking like it’s gonna be lost

 

I get what you're saying, but the front office has to look at more stuff than we do. They know the fanbase isn't exactly enchanted right now. Ticket sales are down, unsurprisingly.

 

Trading Mookie for less than blue chip prospects could easily make matters much worse in that area.

 

And the possibility of trading him in July is still there.

[moonslav59]

A ridiculous "ask" by whom?

 

mlb history is replete with ridiculous ask & ridiculous takes.

 

Is your point that the Sox should entertain "moderate" / average offers for an mvp tier 1++ everyday position player, who happens to be the only guy in the mlb to give Trott a run for his money?

 

Exactly, and the "two prospects" may not be great ones.

 

There's no mention of money being added, either. If the deal was Betts + Price + $10-15M a year x 3 years and 2 prospects, it's far from "ridiculous."

[mvp 78]

I get what you're saying, but the front office has to look at more stuff than we do. They know the fanbase isn't exactly enchanted right now. Ticket sales are down, unsurprisingly.

 

Trading Mookie for less than blue chip prospects could easily make matters much worse in that area.

 

And the possibility of trading him in July is still there.

 

JH coming out and saying that they are cutting payroll last fall was pretty dumb.

[S5Dewey]

Looks like Mookie is staying for 2020. What a ridiculous ask

 

Of course it's not a "ridiculous ask". Betts is the only bargaining power the Sox have right now so they're using it. If they find a taker at that price they're willing to part with him and it's not unreasonable that someone will be willing to pay the price - if not now then in mid-summer.

If someone wanted to talk about ridiculous, how about trading the second best player in baseball for a couple of A prospects just so they can say they got something? The chances of those A prospects actually being ML players are very slim so If they're going to do that they may as well just release him.

 

THAT would be ridiculous.

[moonslav59]

My guess is we try to give the impression we will compete, so we can sell more season tickets and keep people from cancelling NESN, but by July, we will be looking at a fire sale.

[mvp 78]

My guess is we try to give the impression we will compete, so we can sell more season tickets and keep people from cancelling NESN, but by July, we will be looking at a fire sale.

 

If you want to give the impression you're trying to compete, field a competitive team and make some offseason moves. The Sox still have a few holes and haven't really addressed them.

[Bellhorn04]

JH coming out and saying that they are cutting payroll last fall was pretty dumb.

 

Maybe. But it was also what a lot of people were expecting, being Year 3 over the threshold and subject to punitive tax rates.

[Bellhorn04]

If you want to give the impression you're trying to compete, field a competitive team and make some offseason moves. The Sox still have a few holes and haven't really addressed them.

 

Sign Bird and Buchholz and we're good to go.

[moonslav59]

If you want to give the impression you're trying to compete, field a competitive team and make some offseason moves. The Sox still have a few holes and haven't really addressed them.

 

I said "impression." They are NOT going to spend.

 

They have already spent more than I expected. I'm wondering, if they are second-guessing the JBJ offer.

 

JH should not have said what he said, but most fans knew we were going frugal in 2020. The only question was to what extreme?

[mvp 78]

Maybe. But it was also what a lot of people were expecting, being Year 3 over the threshold and subject to punitive tax rates.

 

Ok, but I don't think the majority of baseball fans give two shits about that.

[mvp 78]

Sign Bird and Buchholz and we're good to go.

 

IN!

[moonslav59]

Out! (Esp Buch)

[notin]

Sign Bird and Buchholz and we're good to go.

 

No Yasiel Puig?