A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

I agree Corbin is a much better comp, but I was just curious why many want to extend ERod (me too) but many hated the Sale deal.

 

If Sale looked like his normal self at the end of 2018, most would have loved the extension. Injury worries tend to dampen enthusiasm. And some of it is 20/20 hindsight, methinks.

[mvp 78]

If Sale looked like his normal self at the end of 2018, most would have loved the extension. Injury worries tend to dampen enthusiasm. And some of it is 20/20 hindsight, methinks.

 

Sale's deal is fine. I think the bigger concern is Eovaldi's contract. Even a greatly diminished Sale should be able to be a #3 starter.

[moonslav59]

I liked the Sale deal, but I had my worries...

 

Me, too, but we were talking about ...

 

Chris Feakin' Sale!

 

I really like ERod, but he is no Chris Sale. Will he get close to what what Sale or Corbin got?

 

Bauer got $102M/3. ERod is no Bauer, either, but maybe the longer deals will come back into fashion, soon.

[moonslav59]

If Sale looked like his normal self at the end of 2018, most would have loved the extension. Injury worries tend to dampen enthusiasm. And some of it is 20/20 hindsight, methinks.

 

If he was his "normal self" at the end of 2018, he'd have gotten a much bigger contract. Maybe you wouldn't have loved that.

[moonslav59]

Sale's deal is fine. I think the bigger concern is Eovaldi's contract. Even a greatly diminished Sale should be able to be a #3 starter.

 

Good point, but Eovaldi has just 2 years left, and Sale has 4.

 

I'd still rather have Sale and his remaining deal over Eovaldi's.

[Bellhorn04]

I'd rather have them both.

[mvp 78]

I'd rather have them both.

 

I don't care much for Eovaldi.

[moonslav59]

I don't care much for Eovaldi.

 

He's nice to have but not at that price.

 

I hope he earns it, this year and next.

[cp176]

It "already has been?" The extension started in 2020.

 

Well ok - my point is that he could not have been paid enough prior to as well as after the extension. I believe that any talk of what he earns is silly talk. He earned it and for those concerned about his future, I believe that he will continue to earn it.

[moonslav59]

Well ok - my point is that he could not have been paid enough prior to as well as after the extension. I believe that any talk of what he earns is silly talk. He earned it and for those concerned about his future, I believe that he will continue to earn it.

 

I totally agree. Your perspective is right on point.

 

Players are often "underpaid," in terms of comparing them to players of similar value who have reached the open market, for several years. Sale was underpaid even beyond the normal years of team control. He "earned" the contract he signed, and whether he gets hurt or sharply declines does not take away from the fact that he earned that contract.

 

One could claim he earned enough to have gotten a bigger contract.

 

The 20/20 hindsight often neglects these aspects of contracts.

 

I loved the Sale contract and thought he would have gotten more, despite the injury concerns. I still think he will give us some very good to great productivity over the rest of his contract.

 

I also think ERod should be extended, perhaps at a slightly lower rate due to his unique health concerns, but I would not be upset, if we paid him FA market money for 4-5 years. (He turns 28 very soon.) He's still got prime years left.

 

The Eovaldi signing was more problematic. He played well for us after the trade and had an inspiring playoff season that (bigly) helped pull the team together and win a ring. His record and injury issues beforehand probably showed he did not "earn" $17M x 4 years, but I'm not blasting any GM for that contract. I know Houston was very interested in him. (He was born and raised in and around Houston.) Even his deal is only half over, so the 20/20 hindsight judgments are still TBA.

 

I'm glad we still have Sale on the team. I think we will become strong contenders in 2022, and Sale will be a big part of the winning team.

[jacksonianmarch]

ERod scratched from opening day due to “dead arm”

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

 

Sox are going to evaluate Rodriguez in the next few days, once he can throw a bullpen, to see where he slots in the rotation. It’s possible he only needs to be pushed back and might not land on injured list. Sox characterize this as a precaution.

 

Well, fanfreakintastic.

[mvp 78]

This is what was said right after his last start:

 

@bradfo

Eduardo Rodriguez done for the day after just two innings. Gave apprearance of someone with a dead arm.

[jacksonianmarch]

Sooooo. Remember how I said he’d have endurance issues. Maybe just a little? While this is a normal event for a lot of pitchers, it seems fitting it’s the guy who missed a whole year due to heart inflammation who wasn’t allowed to jog for 6 months

[notin]

Sooooo. Remember how I said he’d have endurance issues. Maybe just a little? While this is a normal event for a lot of pitchers, it seems fitting it’s the guy who missed a whole year due to heart inflammation who wasn’t allowed to jog for 6 months

 

It's not a surprise and he won;t be the only pitcher who has endurance issues after a partial season in which many players opted out. It's a big part in why the Red Sox are carrying 14 pitchers right now...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I just read this on a Yankees forum: Whitlock just got turned on for having a live arm.

[moonslav59]

[/b]:OF,75;1373805]I just read this on a Yankees forum: Whitlock just got turned on for having a live arm.

 

Lol. Who takes ERods slot?

 

Andriese?

 

Whitlock?

 

Houck?

 

Opener or pen games?

[mvp 78]

Lol. Who takes ERods slot?

 

Andriese?

 

Whitlock?

 

Houck?

 

Opener or pen games?

 

Probably Andriese.

[moonslav59]

Probably Andriese.

 

If it looks like more than 2-3 starts, they may call up Houck or Seabold or try an opener here or there. If Andriese does well, maybe not.

[mvp 78]

If it looks like more than 2-3 starts, they may call up Houck or Seabold or try an opener here or there. If Andriese does well, maybe not.

 

I think the current plan is for him just to miss one start, but if he goes on IL they should definitely promote somebody. I don't know how much Seabold has thrown as he's only been in one official ST game.

[mvp 78]

Porcello is still unsigned. Why not kick the tires???

[Bellhorn04]

Porcello is still unsigned. Why not kick the tires???

 

Yes, it's baffling that no one has signed him. Wish we would.

[harmony]

Probably Andriese.

Trivia: Righthander Matt Andriese once surrendered back-to-back home runs in each hitter's first MLB plate appearance. Who were the two rookies in August 2016 (neither of whom are favorites of Red Sox fans)?

[mvp 78]

Trivia: Righthander Matt Andriese once surrendered back-to-back home runs in each hitter's first MLB plate appearance. Who were the two rookies in August 2016 (neither of whom are favorites of Red Sox fans)?

 

Tyler Austin/Aaron Judge

[harmony]

Tyler Austin/Aaron Judge

Bingo.

[mvp 78]

Bingo.

 

From Aug 2016:

 

Austin and Judge promoted. The new era dawns

 

Don't forget, we also have Bird for next yr

 

I thought Sanchez would come up and platoon DH and C, but he's been the every day catcher for a bit now. And from what I have seen, I am impressed. Good arm, received well, blocks well, handles pitchers well. He's been awesome. I would like to see Austin supplant the ghost of Mark Teixeira on a regular basis and even get some play over Aaron "I SUCK' Hicks in the OF and Chase "I am a large singles hitter" Headley. Austin is an unusual utility guy. He can play all corners in the IF and OF and he can run enough to steal double digit bases.

[notin]

Porcello is still unsigned. Why not kick the tires???

 

Because he missed almost all of Spring Training and probably won’t be ready any faster than ERod?

[moonslav59]

Let’s see what Andries has got.

[oldtimer]

If it looks like more than 2-3 starts, they may call up Houck or Seabold or try an opener here or there. If Andriese does well, maybe not.

 

Extremely bad luck for the Sox as he was our planned #1 starter. I hope he can return to form quickly, but a dead arm for a pitcher sounds ominous.

[moonslav59]

Extremely bad luck for the Sox as he was our planned #1 starter. I hope he can return to form quickly, but a dead arm for a pitcher sounds ominous.

 

It does.

 

It's hard to imagine us competing without ERod doing well.