jacksonianmarch

We ended up 12-7 vs them. We were 12-4 before a late season sweep where we were resting guys and the Rays were fighting for a WC spot.

Here is the deal with Happ, he sucked for the majority of 2019. He did improve come September and maybe he ends up being good next year. But there is no way we are giving him that chance. He has a $17 mil option for 2021 that vests with 27 starts or 165IP in 2020. We have a viable option who replicated a recent Happ season in 2017 before going down. He is young and we have 3 more years of control of him. We are gonna exhaust his options before we turn to Happ

That’s entirely stupid and you know it. Happ didn’t exactly give us quality or quantity

Greinke isn’t what he used to be. By the Astros getting him, it means they won’t have the coin to resign Cole. It means they won’t have the coin to resign Springer. I will take it. Greinke fades under the bright lights and he is not exactly the most durable guy anymore. We owned the Rays all year outside of a late season sweep in the Trop. We hammered their relievers and handled Snell.

That’s the big thing here. Our pen has been lights out. Our team is deep. Our starters are passable. We match up well with almost every team, except the Astros and Nationals. If the Rays took game 5, we’re in the World Series. The Astros will lose a lot when Cole goes. Just like the Nats will lose a lot when Strasburg goes. Cashman has never been complacent in team building. He’s gonna get improvements. And we are only missing one thing, an ace

The way the CBA is designed, third time offenders face a 50% overage for crossing the final LT threshold. I’m wondering if the Sox are preparing for a big Mookie deal and don’t want to spend 1.5X what he is gonna get. If they reset the LT, I’d be pretty sure Mookie is gonna be suiting up in 2021 for you. Not sure about 2020, though

Exactly. And who’s to say he cannot play LF? If he was a top 50 prospect nationally I’d say dealing him may make sense. But his worth and name recognition isn’t there right now. He’s the kind of prospect you see what he’s made of on your own team

Beni seems to be the classic “underperforming” player who may need a change of scenery. The boston media hates him for some reason. Maybe they thought they were getting Trout instead of Trot. Beni has been valuable for you, but more is still in there. I don’t deal Beni if I’m in charge of the Sox. He’s mid 20’s, has produced well despite expectations and is entering his prime. I also don’t extend Beni. He’s the guy you want to play out his arbitration and see where the chips fall

Dalbec needs to prove his lack of contact can still sustain worthwhile MLB production or that he can improve on his contact. This is why Judge was not worth much on the trade market after his cup of coffee debut in 2016. Teams thought he was a .200 hitting guy with power who would K a ton. Usually they’re right.

I should have said a year after signing. What I meant was even a big deal like Price’s brought back value. Top level aces don’t just lose it entirely. They usually produce to a good to great level even when they lose their fastball

He’s not the next Devers. Devers demolished the minors as a teenager and debuted at 20. Hes a rare talent. Dalbec looks to be a corner infielder with power who’s worth is going to be directly tied to his ability to make contact

I think your opinion of Dalbec is a bit higher than should be expected. Dalbec isn’t bringing back much outside of him being part of a package. He’s worth far more to the Sox than to other organizations. That could change with a solid debut, but dealing him now doesn’t move the needle

That’s not really true at all. TJS, for the majority of the guys who get it, is a setback but changes little. Montgomery is going to get every chance to win the 5th starter role. Now shoulder surgery is a crap shoot and I’m entirely on your side with that. But TJS, especially with him being almost 20 months beyond it by ST could actually make him stronger

The golf course was closed. The Sox haven’t been replacing their divots the last three weeks so they needed to replace the sod

The Yanks have spent for sure. They’re just averse to long term contracts for pitchers. Right now, Hicks at 6 more years and Stanton at 8 more years, are our long term deals. Our longest non arb pitcher deal is Severino and his deal was for four seasons. There was an interesting stat making the rounds that we have not signed a starting pitcher for more than 4 years since we signed Tanaka prior to 2015. And they haven’t offered a pitcher more than 5 years since that time as well, which is why Corbin is playing in Washington. Chapman was our longest pitcher deal since Tanaka and at this point it was a resounding success. What Cashman needs to be willing to do is to go the extra mile for the top tier guys. Corbin wasn’t top tier, so I get the aversion. But Cole and Strasburg are top tier arms and a price comes with them. Typically, the top tier arms don’t Carl Pavano you. Even when they show diminished stuff like Price did on signing, they still give good to great production for the first half of the contract. Also, Cole just turned 29, so he’ll be a year younger than Price was on signing his deal. Now Strasburg will likely come cheaper than Cole. Strasburg is 31 and has quite the injury history. So maybe he fits the 5 year window the yanks are willing to offer. But the price on him is gonna be closer to $25-$28 mil AAV. Cole is 29, and has thrown 200+ IP 4 of the last 5 seasons. He’s also the most dominant force in baseball right now. He’s gonna get a 7-8 year deal likely with an AAV over $32 mil. Now, maybe the Yanks get creative and turn it into a 3 yr deal? 8 yr $240 mil deal with half the contract coming in the first 3 seasons and an opt out? Who knows, but the price will be very steep and we need to be willing to pay it

Strasbourg’s only disappointment has been injuries

Believe me, I’ve thought about that possibility. Twice we came up against these Astros and twice we took them deep into a series, yet twice we went home. We’ve lost to the eventual champs the last two years. I’m pretty sure it’ll be three in a row. It’s time to make a bigger juggernaut

Billy Hamilton and Juan Lagares should be very cheap and have phenomenal defensive reputations

He has one of the best ERA's in postseason history

It's kinda both. Listen, there is time for allowing catharsis and then a time to rein it in

I think he’s gonna hit for awhile, but his 8WAR baseline is far more linked to his speed and defense than his hitting.

I’m wondering if it would be Ferreira. Reason being is that hiring a female GM would be ground breaking, newsworthy, and MLB doesn’t like major announcements during the end of the playoffs to throw shade on the World Series.

The problem I have with amazing talents is that eventually they have to translate that talent into production. Puig has the quickest bat, the most power, the best arm and runs like a deer. Why is he a circa .800OPS player who has put up only 7 WAR in the last 4 seasons? because he either doesn't care or isn't dedicated or both

That is quite passive aggressive now isn't it. Nah, Teddy Ballgame follows me around with the same exact message. He's like my little lap troll. I should stop leaving out the water and the baby goats and maybe the troll will starve

So with Ford in the mix, if the Yanks allow their FA's to walk and Chap opts out, this is what we start with C- Sanchez, Higashioka 1B- Voit, Ford 2B- Lemahieu, Estrada SS- Torres, Wade 3B- Andujar, Urshela LF- Stanton, Tauchman CF- Hicks RF- Judge SP1- Severino SP2- Paxton SP3- Tanaka SP4- German SP5- Montgomery LR- Happ LR- Loaisiga CL- Britton SU- Ottavino SU- Green SU- Kahnle MR- Heller MR- Cessa Not a bad starting point