2022-2023 Offseason Thread

[moonslav59]

When you go to the store to buy a dozen eggs, do you go into the Express Lane if it says 10 items or less?

 

When I say they treated like a platoon player, go look at the amount of PA's a guy like Mitch Moreland had. He was on the strong side of a platoon. He was not getting Ben Zobrist like PA's. I didn't literally mean that they platooned him based on handedness.

 

I thought you called yourself the best poster.

[mvp 78]

I thought you called yourself the best poster.

 

I didn't call myself that, it was anointed unto me by the heavens.

[moonslav59]

I didn't call myself that, it was anointed unto me by the heavens.

 

Shouldn't that be put in the 3rd person?

 

You are slipping.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Here comes the Judge. 8 AB's and 7 K's. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying that.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Cleveland is in the PO's for 3 reasons. 1)pitching, 2)defense, and 3)playing in a very weak division. Their offense is blatantly weak.

[notin]

Shouldn't that be put in the 3rd person?

 

You are slipping.

 

Or his account was HACKED!!

[harmony]

Columnist Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors offers his offseason outlook for the Red Sox:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/offseason-outlook-boston-red-sox-12.html

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Goodbye Dodgers and take your 111 wins with you. They mean absolutely nothing at this point. Goodbye Mookie, but don't feel bad. Some on this board still think you're some kind of god.

[notin]

Cleveland is in the PO's for 3 reasons. 1)pitching, 2)defense, and 3)playing in a very weak division. Their offense is blatantly weak.

 

They’re also one win away from advancing…

[moonslav59]

Columnist Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors offers his offseason outlook for the Red Sox:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/offseason-outlook-boston-red-sox-12.html

 

Good read.

 

They still have Pham as a 46M option not the $12 it is.

 

They list Joc Pederson as an OF option.

 

A few notable quotes:

 

That attempt at a last-minute push for a wild card berth well fell short, leaving the Sox slightly above the luxury tax threshold (and the only one of the six tax-paying teams to not reach the playoffs). The actual $900K in taxes is a relative drop in the bucket, but the Red Sox now face added penalties in regards to qualifying-offer free agents this winter. Should the Sox sign a QO-rejecting free agent, they’ll have to give up $1MM in international bonus pool money, as well as their second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2023 draft. Also, the compensatory pick that the Red Sox would themselves receive if a QO-rejecting free agent — like Bogaerts or Eovaldi — signed elsewhere will now fall after the fourth round of the draft.

 

In fairness, the Sox were a lot more competitive than your usual last-place team, and might have been contenders in any other division. (Boston had an ugly 26-50 record against AL East opponents but were a dominant 52-34 against non-division clubs.) The Red Sox might’ve made more of a charge in 2022 if they’d had had only an average number of injuries, yet the AL East is so competitive that the Sox can hardly just run things back and hope for better health next year, especially with so much key personnel slated for free agency.

 

The end summary...

 

As aggressive as Bloom has been in reshaping the Red Sox with under-the-radar or mid-tier transactions, some big swings may be necessary to get the Sox back into contention this time around.

[moonslav59]

Good read.

 

They still have Pham as a $6M option not the $12 it is.

 

They list Joc Pederson as an OF option.

 

A few notable quotes:

 

That attempt at a last-minute push for a wild card berth well fell short, leaving the Sox slightly above the luxury tax threshold (and the only one of the six tax-paying teams to not reach the playoffs). The actual $900K in taxes is a relative drop in the bucket, but the Red Sox now face added penalties in regards to qualifying-offer free agents this winter. Should the Sox sign a QO-rejecting free agent, they’ll have to give up $1MM in international bonus pool money, as well as their second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2023 draft. Also, the compensatory pick that the Red Sox would themselves receive if a QO-rejecting free agent — like Bogaerts or Eovaldi — signed elsewhere will now fall after the fourth round of the draft.

 

In fairness, the Sox were a lot more competitive than your usual last-place team, and might have been contenders in any other division. (Boston had an ugly 26-50 record against AL East opponents but were a dominant 52-34 against non-division clubs.) The Red Sox might’ve made more of a charge in 2022 if they’d had had only an average number of injuries, yet the AL East is so competitive that the Sox can hardly just run things back and hope for better health next year, especially with so much key personnel slated for free agency.

 

The end summary...

 

As aggressive as Bloom has been in reshaping the Red Sox with under-the-radar or mid-tier transactions, some big swings may be necessary to get the Sox back into contention this time around.

 

Edit function not working, again.

[notin]

That Japanese hurler Kodai Senga looks intriguing.

 

Given the lackluster free agent pitchers this year, maybe Senga deserves a more serious than cursory look. And hopefully he will look beyond the west coast…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

They’re also one win away from advancing…

 

 

I soitenly hope so.

[cukes]

Here comes the Judge. 8 AB's and 7 K's. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying that.

 

After Maris hit 61 he went 2 for 19 in the world series, it's not always good

[jacksonianmarch]

After Maris hit 61 he went 2 for 19 in the world series, it's not always good

 

And he hit a game winning homer in game 3 that turned the series in the favor of the Yanks. Yanks won in 5

[jacksonianmarch]

They’re also one win away from advancing…

 

Yankees 2, Boone -2, Guardians 0

[notin]

Yankees 2, Boone -2, Guardians 0

 

So the Guardians are due…

[jacksonianmarch]

So the Guardians are due…

 

It's baseball, so anything can happen. Taillon is a good starter who gets entirely demolished every now and then. Civale sucks but that Guardians pen is dynamite. With the Yanks pen really in distress, I am definitely nervous about the game. Then again, the offense should shine through early and hopefully Taillon is on his game and we take the victory

[jacksonianmarch]

I am still literally trying my damnedest to figure out why Boone did not go to Holmes in game 3. "Only in an emergency?". You had the chance to take a 2-1 lead and hand the ball the following day to your ace who has dominated the Guardians.

[Bellhorn04]

I am still literally trying my damnedest to figure out why Boone did not go to Holmes in game 3. "Only in an emergency?". You had the chance to take a 2-1 lead and hand the ball the following day to your ace who has dominated the Guardians.

 

All I can surmise is that Boone is afraid Holmes will get injured again if he rides him too hard.

[oldtimer]

In watching the playoff games I was struck by how many ball and strike calls were awful. One game that stood out was the last 18 inning game between the Mariners and the Astros. Strikes were being called on balls both 2 inches below the zone and 2 inches above. Hitters were frustrated and wound up having to swing at balls way out of the strike zone. When will we see technology aided strike and ball calls?

[mvp 78]

@mlbtraderumors

Eduard Bazardo Elects Free Agency

[moonslav59]

@mlbtraderumors

Eduard Bazardo Elects Free Agency

 

I'm crushed!

 

[oldtimer]

I'm impressed with Steven Kwan of the Guardians. He's a guy with minimum swing and miss in his game. He is a prize at $700 k per year. Obviously the Guardians will want to keep him but we should be looking for another like him for our leadoff man. I am not a big fan of putting a HR hitter up first, I'd rather have a high OBP man.

[mvp 78]

I'm impressed with Steven Kwan of the Guardians. He's a guy with minimum swing and miss in his game. He is a prize at $700 k per year. Obviously the Guardians will want to keep him but we should be looking for another like him for our leadoff man. I am not a big fan of putting a HR hitter up first, I'd rather have a high OBP man.

 

I agree 100%. For Kiké to stick there, he's going to need to get to .340 or so. It's doable, but his career line is closer to .315 which is too low IMO.

[moonslav59]

I agree 100%. For Kiké to stick there, he's going to need to get to .340 or so. It's doable, but his career line is closer to .315 which is too low IMO.

 

He did come close to .340 in 2021 (.337,) but Kike should not be our leadoff hitter. Expecting .333 is probably too much to hope for.

 

If Story could show he can get back to .340, he might be a good leadoff hitter, but we need his power deeper in the line-up.

 

When Bogey started showing signs of a decline in power, I wondered why we never led him off. He may not even be here, next year.

 

We have to make some high OBP additions, this winter.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm impressed with Steven Kwan of the Guardians. He's a guy with minimum swing and miss in his game. He is a prize at $700 k per year. Obviously the Guardians will want to keep him but we should be looking for another like him for our leadoff man. I am not a big fan of putting a HR hitter up first, I'd rather have a high OBP man.

 

Wha -- you're disagreeing with the analytics?!?! These guys have spreadsheets that will prove to you that it's better to have a leadoff man homer with nobody on base (all game, since the bottom of the order features the worst batters), rather than with a top contact hitter often on base in front of him.

[moonslav59]

Wha -- you're disagreeing with the analytics?!?! These guys have spreadsheets that will prove to you that it's better to have a leadoff man homer with nobody on base (all game, since the bottom of the order features the worst batters), rather than with a top contact hitter often on base in front of him.

 

The "analytics" says bat your best hitter second- not first.

 

The 5 slot is more important than the 4, and the 3 slot should not be one of you top 3 hitters.

 

I think the order goes: 2, 1, 5, 4, 3

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

the 3 slot should not be one of you top 3 hitters.

 

I think the order goes: 2, 1, 5, 4, 3

 

I'll always disagree with this order because I always want my three best hitters guaranteed to bat in the first inning. In a way, it's an uncomplicated extension of the manager who loves a home run hitter batting leadoff: to get a quick lead (plus, they get more at bats than the bottom in the game).

 

I prefer longball guys get more opportunities to go yard with men who are frequently on base. I know, I'm Old Fool, stuck on a line-up strategy that's been around for over a hundred years.

[moonslav59]

I'll always disagree with this order because I always want my three best hitters guaranteed to bat in the first inning. In a way, it's an uncomplicated extension of the manager who loves a home run hitter batting leadoff: to get a quick lead (plus, they get more at bats than the bottom in the game).

 

I prefer longball guys get more opportunities to go yard with men who are frequently on base. I know, I'm Old Fool, stuck on a line-up strategy that's been around for over a hundred years.

 

The "best hitter" need not be a power hitter, but I agree, I'd avoid power up first, even if I had a strong bottom of the order.

 

I would put my very best overall hitter second. I agree with that idea. So, Devers bats second. Now, out of our next two best hitters, I'd put the better OBP up 1st and the other guy up 4th (not 5th as the analytics suggests.)

 

Then does the 4th best hitter bat 3rd or 5th? I've always felt the 3 slot was important, but the analytics strong favors 5 over 3, so I'd go against my gut. My 5th best hitter bats 3rd.