Red Sox (Fitts) vs Twins (Woods Richardson): 7/28/25, 7:40pm

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

Thats not a good enough answer for a real Flops fan. We both know that the ODDS ARE that the higher the draft pick the better the chance of being able to select a player with more talent. Its not a certainty, its an odds thing. Its why there IS a draft order. Overall the higher the pick the better the chance that the player is more talented.

Seems to work well for the perennial bottom dwellers, lol.

You can talk yourself into being scared money any year.  This year, our pitchers have stayed healthy (knocks on wood) , Yankees and Dodgers have not.  The AL is wide open.

You punt 2 years, and you may walk into a crochet injury or another team may be absolutely stacked, and your talking yourself into punting 2 more years.  

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

You have to admit that the Rays and the O’s are better teams because of their recent draft pick selections. That’s what I want the Flops to be: improved from the mediocrity they have given their fans for at least four years. I KNOW that if you were the GM you would the highest draft pick possible when the draft begins. 

Right now, we are better than both the rays and orioles.  And thats after so many years of them tanking

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Seems to work well for the perennial bottom dwellers, lol.

You can talk yourself into being scared money any year.  This year, our pitchers have stayed healthy (knocks on wood) , Yankees and Dodgers have not.  The AL is wide open.

You punt 2 years, and you may walk into a crochet injury or another team may be absolutely stacked, and your talking yourself into punting 2 more years.  

They punted in '22, '23 and '24. Might as well make a half hearted effort now that they have Crochet and will probably wind up over the lux tax this year. 

[FredLynn]

11 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Right now, we are better than both the rays and orioles.  And thats after so many years of them tanking

Slightly better than the Rays (57-51 vs 54-53). But over the past several years tanking on the part of the Rays and the Os has brought them much more success than the Flops: 

2024: Flops: 81-81; Rays: 80-82; O's: 91-71

2023: Flops: 78-84; Rays99-63; O's: 101-61

2022: Flops: 78-84: Rays: 86-76: O's: 83-79

Because the Rays and O's stunk for years they got high draft picks and built overall winning teams that gave them a chance for a ring-unlike the FLOPS. High draft picks generally are more talented players, as I have written here. Denying that fact is being dishonest. I don't think a single GM would prefer pick 40 over pick 20. 

So just lose baby!

[FredLynn]

21 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Seems to work well for the perennial bottom dwellers, lol.

You can talk yourself into being scared money any year.  This year, our pitchers have stayed healthy (knocks on wood) , Yankees and Dodgers have not.  The AL is wide open.

You punt 2 years, and you may walk into a crochet injury or another team may be absolutely stacked, and your talking yourself into punting 2 more years.  

The obvious assumption is that injuries tend to even out. Are you seriously going to count on a key injury to argue against obtaining the best possible position in the draft?

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

The obvious assumption is that injuries tend to even out. Are you seriously going to count on a key injury to argue against obtaining the best possible position in the draft?

yes, right now crochet is healthy on 7/29.  Over the next 5 years, that is likely to not be the case 3 of the 5. Of course it should be considered.

And you are also punting on next year, lol.  When weve punted the last 5.

Just lose every year, that way, we never have to risk disappointment.

You are scared money, just like the sox.  "But look whats coming down the pipeline!!" (he says for seven straight years)

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, notin said:

1. The Orioles are in last place.  The Rays are just ahead of them.  Possibly not good examples.

2. The Rockies, Pirates and Marlins don’t help your case either.

3. The reality is tanking for draft picks in MLB is a losing venture.  Being a deadline seller is far more effective and even it fails far too frequently…

Being a deadline seller and tanking to obtain the best possible draft pick are not mutually exclusive. You can do both. 

I will tell you what the reality it: not a single GM would prefer lower draft positions than higher ones. You can argue about how a team got there, but its a fact that GMs prefer higher draft positions. I haven't seen a single trade where a GM trades a higher pick for a lower pick without getting something in return.

[drewski6]

There are times to tank, this aint one of them.  The MLB is wide open right now.  We just took a series from the dodgers. Cole isnt coming back this year (but will next).

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

yes, right now crochet is healthy on 7/29.  Over the next 5 years, that is likely to not be the case 3 of the 5. Of course it should be considered.

And you are also punting on next year, lol.  When weve punted the last 5.

Just lose every year, that way, we never have to risk disappointment.

You are scared money, just like the sox.  "But look whats coming down the pipeline!!" (he says for seven straight years)

This year the team is going NOWHERE. That much is obvious. While you think I am counting on Crochet to remain healthy YOU are counting on him to get hurt. You are introducing a new variable to support your losing argument.

[drewski6]

Just now, FredLynn said:

This year the team is going NOWHERE. That much is obvious. While you think I am counting on Crochet to remain healthy YOU are counting on him to get hurt. You are introducing a new variable to support your losing argument.

You said the same thing in 2013 and 2018.

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

There are times to tank, this aint one of them.  The MLB is wide open right now.  We just took a series from the dodgers. Cole isnt coming back this year (but will next).

You can argue that this is not the year to tank but you cannot with a straight face claim that lower draft positions are as good as higher ones. I say this IS the year to tank simply because we do not have the talent to make a decent Oct run, even if we get into the playoffs, which is very much in doubt. Personally I think the tanking will take care of itself in August and September. Thats the history of these bums.

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

You said the same thing in 2013 and 2018.

Want to prove I said that in 2013  and 2018? I didn't, so you would have a hard time proving it. I recognize a talented team as much as I recognize one without a lot of talent, like the 2025 Flops.

[dannycater]

Just now, drewski6 said:

There are times to tank, this aint one of them.  The MLB is wide open right now.  We just took a series from the dodgers. Cole isnt coming back this year (but will next).

1000 percent. The WS crown is so up for grabs, it will be silly to mail it in, sillier to continue with some of the empty spaces that occupy Sox lineup and certainly a need for another outstanding closer type to complement or help Chapman.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

You can argue that this is not the year to tank but you cannot with a straight face claim that lower draft positions are as good as higher ones. I say this IS the year to tank simply because we do not have the talent to make a decent Oct run, even if we get into the playoffs, which is very much in doubt. Personally I think the tanking will take care of itself in August and September. Thats the history of these bums.

So you are mad that we end the season on a whimper, and want to sell off to end the season on a whimper. Ever thnk they are correlated? We fizzle because other teams get better while we "wait for next year" every year the next 5.  In you come, proposing we do that for another 2 like its some fresh idea.

BTW if you want to stink for a draft pick , that draft pick assuming pick like 15 ish will prob not make the majors until like 2028 and will be a rookie. He prob wont be in his prime until like 2033.  So you want to punt the second half of a decade, when we punted the first half, so mystery player x who is NOT going to be a top 5 pick can help us in 2034. By, then we both know youll be screaming punt.

We have crochet right now.  That means we can beat anybody.  In a 7 game series, crochet is pitching 3x.  

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, dannycater said:

1000 percent. The WS crown is so up for grabs, it will be silly to mail it in, sillier to continue with some of the empty spaces that occupy Sox lineup and certainly a need for another outstanding closer type to complement or help Chapman.

Its up for grabs for teams good enough to participate. We got Wong, Yoshida, Toro, Boohler, Fitts etc etc. Too many holes and not enough talent out there. Time to for everyone to get realistic about our chances and plan for the future.

[dannycater]

Crochet and healthy Chapman...these are guys that can change a series.

[FredLynn]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

So you are mad that we end the season on a whimper, and want to sell off to end the season on a whimper. Ever thnk they are correlated? We fizzle because other teams get better while we "wait for next year" every year the next 5.  In you come, proposing we do that for another 2 like its some fresh idea.

BTW if you want to stink for a draft pick , that draft pick assuming pick like 15 ish will prob not make the majors until like 2028 and will be a rookie. He prob wont be in his prime until like 2033.  So you want to punt the second half of a decade, when we punted the first half, so mystery player x who is NOT going to be a top 5 pick can help us in 2034. By, then we both know youll be screaming punt.

We have crochet right now.  That means we can beat anybody.  In a 7 game series, crochet is pitching 3x.  

Yup. The FLOPS do have a lot of work to do, don't they. Best to plan for future success than to depend on bums like Yoshida, Boohler, Toro, Wong etc etc etc. Eventually their contracts will be up or we will be able to get rid of them and replace them with competent players obtained via the draft (because we did the smart thing and tanked to get better players) or via trades. Watch and weep as the FLOPS do their annual summer nosedive.

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, dannycater said:

Crochet and healthy Chapman...these are guys that can change a series.

We should be trading Chapman. He's what-37 now? He won't be as good next year most likely. Trade him for younger talent and play for 2027 or 2028. Its sound strategy.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

We should be trading Chapman. He's what-37 now? He won't be as good next year most likely. Trade him for younger talent and play for 2027 or 2028. Its sound strategy.

There goes 2027, puntsie

[FredLynn]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

There goes 2027, puntsie

Trouble reading? I said 2027-or 2028. Its going to take some patience and understanding of rational strategy, of which you clearly have none. Cheer up though: you seem to have company in that regard.

[drewski6]

There was a time when I thought we should punt on this year, but we jsut took a series from the dodgers. And we are better suited for playoffs than reg season and we are very much in the hunt.  Its just not the time.

[drewski6]

Just now, FredLynn said:

Trouble reading? I said 2027-or 2028. Its going to take some patience and understanding of rational strategy, of which you clearly have none.

by saying we'll be ready to compete by 2027 or 2028 you are hedging 2027 and weighing giving up on it.  At least thats how i took it

[drewski6]

The sox have the third best record since june 1st, third best record since july 1.

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

There was a time when I thought we should punt on this year, but we jsut took a series from the dodgers. And we are better suited for playoffs than reg season and we are very much in the hunt.  Its just not the time.

Let me understand: you changed your mind based on the fact that we took 2 of 3 from the Dodgers. Right? What about the Cubs series? The Philly series? More importantly, what about the talent level (or lack thereof) on this team? Wong? Toro? Yoshida? Boohler? Fitts? Admit it. It won't hurt to admit that this team simply isn't very talented outside of a few players. Potential for future years? Yes. Now? No way.

[illinoisredsox]

18 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

We have crochet right now.  That means we can beat anybody.  In a 7 game series, crochet is pitching 3x.  

No he’s not, unless he comes in for a relief inning in Game 7 of the World Series (not happening in a LCS) or there’s rainouts.

No pitcher goes on 3 days rest anymore and haven’t for close to 50 years.

[FredLynn]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

by saying we'll be ready to compete by 2027 or 2028 you are hedging 2027 and weighing giving up on it.  At least thats how i took it

I'm not saying any year is THE year we will compete. I AM saying that this year isn't that year. If we play our cards right we COULD be ready by 2027-but only if we don't do something stupid like trading away prospects or holding on to tradeable assets futilely hoping we can do something significant THIS year.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

Let me understand: you changed your mind based on the fact that we took 2 of 3 from the Dodgers. Right? What about the Cubs series? The Philly series? More importantly, what about the talent level (or lack thereof) on this team? Wong? Toro? Yoshida? Boohler? Fitts? Admit it. It won't hurt to admit that this team simply isn't very talented outside of a few players. Potential for future years? Yes. Now? No way.

No, I want to trade for guys to replace Toro and Yoshida.  You pitch 3 SP in the playoffs (soo Boohler and Fitts lose their spots).

And every team has these holes.

I think right now, due in large part because Cole aint coming back, we are just as likely to come out of a hilariously weak AL.

I think a team with Duran, Abreu, Roman Anthony, Bregman, Nav and Crochet may be enough to come out of a hilariously weak AL.  And I think wed be quite the dog against most NL favorites, but anything can happen in a 7 game series when you pitch crochet 3x

[illinoisredsox]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Let me understand: you changed your mind based on the fact that we took 2 of 3 from the Dodgers. Right? What about the Cubs series? The Philly series? More importantly, what about the talent level (or lack thereof) on this team? Wong? Toro? Yoshida? Boohler? Fitts? Admit it. It won't hurt to admit that this team simply isn't very talented outside of a few players. Potential for future years? Yes. Now? No way.

So what’s the worst that happens, the young players get a little taste of postseason baseball now even if it doesn’t result in winnng it all?

[moonslav59]

54 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

 This year, our pitchers have stayed healthy (knocks on wood)...

Crawford & Sandoval: out all year.

Houck, Dobbins, Giolito: missed time.

Slaten, Wink & Hendriks out.

Guerrero, Kelly & Burdi out.

True, the big 3 have stayed healthy and Chapman & Wilson, too, untill very recently, but Houck was supposed to be "big 3" and Crawford a solid #4/5 or long man. The Dobbins injury created the need for depth upon depth.

Now, we need 2 SP'ers and maybe a closer for Chapman and still need a set-up man for Slaten.

The Astros blow us and everyone else away with pitching injuries and pitching depth.

[drewski6]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Crawford & Sandoval: out all year.

Houck, Dobbins, Giolito: missed time.

Slaten, Wink & Hendriks out.

Guerrero, Kelly & Burdi out.

True, the big 3 have stayed healthy and Chapman & Wilson, too, untill very recently, but Houck was supposed to be "big 3" and Crawford a solid #4/5 or long man. The Dobbins injury created the need for depth upon depth.

Now, we need 2 SP'ers and maybe a closer for Chapman and still need a set-up man for Slaten.

The Astros blow us and everyone else away with pitching injuries and pitching depth.

Pitching depth isnt a thing in the playoffs.  Against the Astros , crochet pitches 3 games.  Their pitching depth doesnt matter.

As long as Crochet is healthy , we are in it.