jacksonianmarch

So...I will change pathways a little since we have made some acquisitions. We need to go wild in the rotation next yr. Sign Lester and Scherzer. f*** it. Sign them all. Re-sign Robertson, keep the pen intact. Then go out and sign Nelson Cruz and re-sign Headley

Shawn Kelley blows goats

Pineda was dominant today and is probably done after 5IP. I hope he finishes the yr off right and enters 2015 healthy. He's a beast

PED cloud? He failed a f***ing test, that's more than a cloud.

There is absolutely no way he gets in. DH's don't get in and steroid cheats don't get in. He's both

I have said before and I will say again, Bradley will need to change his approach QUICKLY. He said in ST that he was a "see the ball, hit the ball" kind of player and that he didn't watch film or break down opposing pitchers. If you don't study your craft, it will pass you by

I know this is one of those friend of a friend things, but a friend of mine is close friends with a close friend of Lester's. He said he fully intends on returning to Boston and that they have a contract already worked out. They dealt him to maximize the return and allow him to go to the playoffs before returning to Boston. I cannot verify the validity of this story at all, but my buddy is pretty well connected, and I hope he's dead f***ing wrong.

I love this infield right now. I sincerely hope that we re-sign these guys. Headley, Prado, Drew, Tex. That should be our IF next yr

And there was a pre-game show earlier this yr that cemented my thoughts on Jackie Bradley. They interviewed him in April and they asked him about his preparation. They asked if he watched tape, broke down pitchers tendencies or studied the opposition and he said "Nah man, I'm a see the ball, hit the ball kind of player". If you aren't a student of your craft, then you won't be successful

The problem is that the sox promote too quickly. Mollie started in A ball. Very few position player prospects reach the bigs after starting in A ball. Pitchers do it all the time if they have back end pen stuff and are blowing people away, but hitters usually traverse two levels at most per year. That means Mookie probably should have stayed in AA or at most seen AAA by the time the season ended. Finishing in Boston is too much too soon for a hitter.

Getting back to the rotation, I think the sox are going to do everything in their power to see which pitchers sink and which ones swim. The rule with pitching prospects is typically 1/3 get hurt, 1/3 flame out and 1/3 reach their potential. And we're talking prospects who dominate the upper levels. They'll see who has it maybe through next yr before they deal some off for veteran parts. I highly doubt they make a major pitching signing after what Henry said. Unless he's willing to be a hypocrite or was being distractionary in his comments

The White Sox aren't far off from competing and they're never afraid to spend, so I'd be surprised if they dealt off a guy they'd need

Lackey says he will honor his contract

So striking out 20.6% of the time is not a massive amount? That fits into the below average to poor range per fangraphs

He's a 2 pitch pitcher with control and durability issues. He's in your rotation for now, but my bet is the sox sell on him before he turns into a relief pumpkin. I gave Ben a C. For now. I am not sure Cespedes is a 40HR hitter in Fenway. Yes, he has power to spare, but he also K's a massive amount and doesn't walk. While he's probably a 30HR guy, I doubt he gets to 40. Yes he has an 80 arm, but he is a butcher who uses his arm to get a better defensive reputation than he deserves. Did anyone see those two throws he made in successive games? What did they have in common? Both balls were badly butchered before he unleashed a hell of a throw. If you had him for 3 or 4 years, I'd say it's a good deal. But you don't. The thing that actually makes this a palatable deal is the draft pick the sox get, which will increase your pool for the draft next yr. This deal is a C for the most part The Lackey deal was interesting. You dealt a horse who is under control for 2015 for a starter with durability and control issues and a DH playing the OF who is playing like s*** this yr. This deal is a D with the possibility to be a B if Craig can find himself. The Miller deal was solid, since you got a guy who is #3 in the Oriole system behind Gausman and Bundy for a lefty reliever. I'd say a B The Peavy deal was an A. Getting two prospects with A level stuff who are a little down this yr for a guy who should have been DFA'd is an A. The Drew deal is an F for the sox. Yes, you saved money. I think we are all happy Henry can now buy a bigger yacht. But you just handed the Yankees an audition on a guy they could have been stuck with on a long term deal if things didn't work out. That's huge

I've had a night I think bout it and I think they made the right move. I dislike him as a RF, which Prado will be this yr. But from a long term perspective, he's probably our 2b. Drew will be auditioning to replace Jeter next yr. Headley has been solid in NY in a SSS. There's a good chance that next yrs infield is Tex at 1b, Prado at 2b, Headley at 3b, and Drew at SS. If they keep ARod, he'd be a DH

The thing is, your rotation needed help before you dealt away your two horses. You need two horses plus. That isn't feasible to add in one offseason. Unless one of the kids hits ace level next yr, unlikely btw, then 2015 will be a bridge yr. And the funny thing is, the sox made deals to make 2015 look like it's not a bridge yr. Strange direction all around

It may be a bet on Allan Craig, but you're rotation is s*** come 2015. Who's gonna throw the ball

It's hard to grade him. He bought low on Cespedes and Craig. Kelly is a stopgap as most people think he's a pen arm. The miller deal got them a solid prospect

O'Brien is no longer a catcher. He's an all power prospect without patience, but his power is real (he leads the MiLB in HR). This is too much to give up for an overpaid utility guy

We got Stephen Drew for Kelly Johnson? Weird. I guess the sox wanted a salary reprieve

When they picked last yr, they picked a project who is looking like a dud. I'd expect them to pick a little better next yr

Better be peanuts. The guy is being paid pretty heftily and he's not that good.

The sox are 5 games up on the worst record in baseball. If they tank, they could theoretically get the top pick in the draft next yr

Thus far, all quiet on the Yankee trade front. I hope it stays that way. We shouldn't invest any more in the 2014 season.