jacksonianmarch

I think the thing we must realize between the two is that Bogey is looked at as a middle of the order hitter with untapped potential. He’s got a Machado type upside that he just hasn’t tapped yet. I think most people see Didi right now and say that he’s maxed out his potential and he’s about as good as he will get. also, a 5/70 for Didi was after his injury. Prior to the injury, he was in line for a 9 figure guarantee

Good. I hope one of them do come to us. How do you see them imploding? I think that’s more wishful thinking. Neither of them are in their prime yet, which is crazy. I’d love to have either, I’d just be concerned with the commitment and if it sets us up for another 2013-2016 type run of mediocrity

I doubt we’d be that dumb. A guy with an immense homer rate in the NL who’s velocity is going south as he ages isn’t a good bet to be successful in NY. Also, one must consider the lost time he had due to an anxiety issue which clearly won’t be helped in NY

Don’t want Greinke. Far too expensive for a guy who’s fastball velocity dipped below 90mph this year. He on the Sabathia curve for decline and his homer rates have risen dramatically.

Watch it be appendicitis

We need to get out of that 4 spot. I am hoping we are 3 or 2. I don't want to face Bama. Let another SEC team get the 4 slot and knock off Bama before we would have to play them. As it stands right now, I don't think the Irish can even get within 20 points of Bama

The Astros aren't a big market team. While they are in one of our largest cities, they don't have the same revenue as the Yankees, Sox, Dodgers, Cubs etc. They locked up Altuve, which they needed to do. They still have a great young core coming through. But they are gonna be hit much harder than the sox will when their guys need to get paid. The other thing the Astros have is a ring in their pocket. They don't have to artificially prop open a window to get that elusive ring. If it is looking like it's gonna collapse, they will let it fall. I think their window extends into next year with their rotation still being good and their lineup not losing much. But come 2020, they will collapse.

You won a game at home with your offense. Your team got no further clarity aside from the known Price playoff bugaboo and Kimbrel continuing to struggle. The Stros are actually better on the road. They are throwing 2 of their battle tested starters, although I know Keuchel doesn't have a great history vs the sox. This is gonna be a fun series. Before the series, I thought Astros in 6. After game 1, I was thinking Astros in 5. After game 2, I think this series is gonna go 7

Price "wasn't that bad"? Is that like saying my morning turd wasn't too stinky? He sucked. He just managed enough to be able to avoid the one big hit that would have sunk the sox. Kimbrel is another guy to watch. His breaking ball is not locating, so he has to be extra fine with his heater. While he does throw gas, his fastball seems pretty straight. He needs that slider to remain effective

What a confusing game. David Price started, sucked, and the Sox still won. The Sox much maligned pen was nails sans their relief ace, who allowed a run and faced a top 5 MVP candidate with the tying run on. Cole comes out not throwing strikes, which is a deviation from his norm. The Astros, typically fundamentally sound, had a huge error in the first and then three passed balls to add an insurance run. AJ Hinch leaves Cole in with the sacks packed and gets burned by JBJ. Kindler, a veteran of many a post season series, didn’t even have a competitive AB. Just an all around weird game. The Sox won a must win and now throw their hottest two pitchers at the Astros in Houston while the Astros counted with their long time former ace and the ace from last post season. Question for Sox fans. Let’s say Eo and Big Dick Rick are nail and the Sox win Sale’s game 5 with an all hands on deck performance, do you go with the righties against LA (they’re winning that series btw).

Might be intriguing to see if he gets dealt with the Sox eating some cash in the off season. He’s just awful in the POs

Not sure how he’s expected to go again in the series. He’s death to your chances

Kinsler gives you better D, but he's an absolute offensive liability now

Big hit for the kid. Devers hits velocity. Cole cannot locate his breaking ball. This has the makings of a 10 run game

I know Cole was a regular season ace, but you have two guys following him with playoff pedigree. I am unsure why the Stros decided to go Cole here. Morton was the better choice

Now the Astros are falling apart. Cole looks really rattled

Cole isn't tested. He cannot go up there and throw 100 down in the zone. If he is gonna overpower the sox, you have to go up and you have to show breaking ball. You cannot go down, they drop the bat on the ball better than anyone. You have to go up like Verlander did.

I know many on here (myself included) have brought up the sox impending cliff after 2019. Well, the class of the AL last season and maybe this season is staring one right in the face as well. Now, the Astros have a good farm with 2 in the top 10 and 3 in the top 50, but there is no guarantee they will be able to flesh out their roster with them. The Astros start seeing attrition this offseason After 2018- The Astros lose Charlie Morton and Dallas Keuchel. They will still have Verlander and Cole as well as McCullers. There is a top 5 prospect in Whitley who will be ready as well. So they should still be able to field a good rotation for 2019, but they will lose proven performers and depth. On offense, the Astros lose Marwin Gonzalez, who had a down year this season, but is still a clear asset to the club due to his versatility. Now, they should be able to have a pretty good offense still while bringing up Tucker or Alvarez to fill out the OF with Gonzalez gone After 2019- The Astros fall apart. Verlander and Cole hit the bricks. Springer is a FA. Correa enters the big money phase of arb. Bregman enters arb. This is when being a 100 win team for a few years in a row start to hurt. They'll bring up their big guys and won't have premium talent to replace them So with the Sox and Stros battling it out in the ALCS and a good chance they are both expected to be the class of 2019, their outlook beyond this season isn't rosy either

I think Devers is your long term 1b. Kinda like how Andujar might be ours. Both have been abhorrent defensive players. Devers, though, has a body type that won’t age well as a 3b. Might as well cut the cord after 2019 and move him over when Moreland is gone and when Devers starts putting up numbers expected of a big league 1b.

The story tonight isn’t the outcome. If someone told you before the game that Verlander would beat Sale, I’d think most people would say, so what? The most important thing from tonight was Sale looked bad from the start. No location, no velocity, nothing. If you’re to advance, he needs to be on point in game 5. Suddenly, David Price’s start tomorrow becomes almost a must win.

Workman is a gas can

Not a contraindication, just not recommended

Kelly in for Sale. Gonna be interesting now

Sale looks like dog s*** yet he’s gutted out 4 without giving up a huge inning. Verlander looks ridiculous, but that’s his MO. Sale might need to be pulled here

Terrible management by Counsell. He managed today as if he had Hader available. Miley had a two hit shutout going and he pulls him in the 6th