jacksonianmarch

What a disgraceful call by Sam Holbrook, but the Atlanta fans are showing even more with their shameful behaviour.

And where have I said anything else? I havent read as many glowing reviews of his changeup, but it is all about consistency and command with everything. I have said he looks like a pen arm because he hasnt built innings, has inconsistent offspeed stuff and poor command. If he goes to AAA, builds up to 140-150IP, starts getting consistent with his slider and starts locating his stuff, he will be a starter. But you keep touting him as an option for Boston in 2013. If he is in Boston in 2013, he will be a reliever or a s***** starter and will get hit tits lit

It is an effort to keep the interest in the game. Back in the mid 2000s when the Yanks and Sox would regularly have the two best records in the AL, it wasnt even interesting. The funny thing is, they instituted this rule when the sox have started to swoon and now the O's and A's are in it. While they arent big market teams, you do have a lot of interest generated in markets that have been dormant for awhile. Selig's goal isnt to do what is in the best interest of the competition. His job is to do what is in the best interest of the game and business. And this extra wild card is good for business. Attendance was up this yr by nearly 2%, and that is a TON of extra revenue

No, he doesnt. He typically goes off information that is second hand and old, yet presents it as if he was there last week. He frequently gets easily researched information wrong (like their handedness) and has done some scouting of the yankees prospects and had their pitches thrown completely wrong. And then when presented with how wrong he is, he gets all uppity about the fact that he is a scout. He's f***ing horrible

The MVP is typically an offensive award. And Cabrera's season is one for the ages. He should win the award, even though Trout is the more complete player by a long shot

They most certainly can be treated. And those that are treated and remain stable are non-issues. Those who lose full season's due to their mental illnesses, OTOH, are a different story. Hamilton nearly lost his career. Greinke lost a full season. You want to stoke a guy's mental illness? Put them in Boston

He's not conservative, he is typically flat out wrong. And you can usually take his reports and read them exactly backwards in terms of projection

or it could have been a bout with depression. Or, it could have been a bout of anxiety, which is common in people with concomitant psychiatric disease. Where did you get your medical degree?

you just quoted Keith Law. You are aware of this, right?

He has a plus fastball and a plus slider at times. His change and curve, from what I have read, are way behind his FB and slider. His walk rate was over 4.5 in 2011 and effectively through his entire minor league career. He never played in AAA and wasnt great in his initial taste of the bigs. He has an IP max in the minors of 110IP in 2010. In 2011, he barely broke 100IP and he lost almost all of 2012 due to elbow surgery. So, as of right now, he looks like a guy with 2 swing and miss pitches who has trouble locating, hasnt really pitched in a yr and hasnt built up his arm strength (BULLPEN). If he ends up in Boston at the start of next yr, it will be in relief, or it will be a pretty stupid adventure. He needs AAA time to build arm strength and work on his command and his final 2 pitches. If he gets his walk rate down, can command his change and curve and solidify that slider, then he projects well in a rotation

Dan Haren isnt an ace right now. Neither is Lincecum. And with the injury issues with Roy Halladay, I doubt they would deal Lee.

Cause he is a two pitch pitcher with no innings behind him and a penchant to get very wild.

Maybe you are completely uninformed, which you are.

Greinke is an agoraphobic. Hence, he gets overwhelming sensations of fear due to situations that he feels he cannot escape. They are typically wide open spaces, like a mall, airports, bridges OR BASEBALL STADIUMS! Hamilton is a substance abuser. He did everything. Boston, the drunkest city in America and one of the hubs in the heroin trade, is probably not the best place for him. Especially when substance abusers use the substances as crutches in times of strife/anxiety, etc. Boston is a boiling cauldron of pressure. Pressure causes substance abusers to crack. I am not saying either will crack, but to take two guys with fragile psychiatric illnesses and put them in this situation is a risk. And at their money, it is a humongous risk

we were both wrong, it's six, lol

Split the first 2 and they have to win 2 of 3 in Yankee Stadium in the playoffs.

I said it three times, so as a resident of North Carolina, I am not surprised you can't count past 2. J/k

So, with the season at autopsy and the head coach removed, I think all will agree that the sox pitching was the major culprit. With only 3 spots taken in the sox rotation and the top 2 spots open, pitching will need to be acquired. So, I figured a run down of pitchers available via FA would be good for those who are so inclined to read (and I am going alphabetically). 1. Scott Baker, 31, RHP- Baker is coming off TJS and should be ready either by the beginning of the season or by May. He had been consistently good in Minnesota with 3 seasons of WAR's greater than 3. His last full season in 2011 showed a WAR of 4.2. He has some serious durability issues as evidenced by his one season of 30 starts or more and currently being in rehab from TJS, but when he takes the mound he is a good #3 type pitcher who averages a tick over 6IP per start. He'd likely take a 1 yr deal at a pretty low base with escalators should be come back healthy. He might be a good guy to sign, but not count on in the rotation from day, ie consider him your #6 starter 2. Jorge de la Rosa, 32, LHP- He fits into the same boat as Baker. He should be fully healthy come the spring and actually revitalized his career in Colorado of all places. His K rates are high, he has lightning stuff but poor command. He will undoubtedly have his option declined in the offseason and might be a good guy to sign and stash 3. Ryan Dempster, 36, RHP- A lot of people wanted him traded for this season. Well, Texas got him and he has sucked it big time in Texas. He was completely dominant in Chicago this yr after having a forgettable 2011. But his move to Texas likely cost him years and millions of dollars. He went from being a guy who looked like a lock to get a 3 yr deal, to a guy who looks like a lock to get a 1 yr deal. When on, he is a deceptive strikeout pitcher who found his command again this yr. When he is off, he is a homer allowing machine who puts a lot of runners on base. I dont see him as a great option in Fenway, but he would at least give you innings. Prior to going to Texas, he was on pace for his 5th consecutive 200IP season, but ineffectiveness and a trip to the restricted list cost him that. He's durable, he's a veteran, and he should come on a short term deal. Should the sox not land anything better, he could be a pretty good stop gap option in Boston 4. Gavin Floyd, 29, RHP- Floyd is almost a lock to have his option declined. He's coming off a season where he threw his lowest IP total as a full time starter and ended the season with injury concerns with his throwing elbow. Prior to this yr, though, he was a lock for 30 starts and over 6IP per start. He gives out the long ball like candy, but limits the walks and puts up a respectable strikeout rate. He is also one of the youngest candidates available. I am unsure what the read will be on his contract status due to his injury concerns, but if he checks out in the post season physical, he is a lock to get a long term Pavano type deal (4yrs $40 mil). When he is on, he can eat innings, get a fair amount of K's and win you a lot of games. When he is off, he is a complete batting practice pitcher capable of causing Landsdown to be pelted. If there arent any better options, you might have to go here. If Doubront is dealt in a package with a few more guys for a bona fide #1 or 2, then Floyd is a good middle of the rotation option 5. Zach Greinke, 28, RHP- Since 2008, there are few pitchers as consistent. Low 1.2 WHIP's, solid ERA's, high K numbers, big innings. And dont forget his ridiculous 2009 campaign in the AL where he won the Cy Young. Greinke has all the goods and the durability to demand a monster contract on the open market. His problem will be the anxiety issue. Greinke is a lock to get a 9 figure contract, but should he recede into his emotional shell in the beanpot cauldron, he could be as lost a sum as Crawford's contract or Lackey's. This would be the kind of all-in move the sox might want to show their fan base, but it might also be the move that causes the kingdom to spin out of control should he need time in a mental institute. 6. Dan Haren, 32, RHP- Dan was the model of consistency since 2005, regularly logging 215-220IP with high K totals and a great walk rate. But this past yr, he threw up a negative WAR, averaged less than 6IP per start and missed time with a dreaded back issue. His high dollar figure option will be declined and he might be the kind of player the sox could try a pillow contract on. 1 yr deal, $10 mil, come to Fenway and see how you do. If he does great, then you can get draft pick comp or sign him long term. If he sucks, you're out the money, but not the yrs. If the sox cannot do anything on the trade front and shy away from Greinke, this is the kind of low risk, high reward place holder move the sox should pursue 7. Edwin Jackson, 29, RHP- Jackson has been an innings eater for a long time now, but his terrible walk rates and mediocre K rates have created skeptics. Enough so that he couldnt get a long term deal last yr. Well, he was much more consistent this yr on the best team in baseball, and even though he faltered in the last few meaningless weeks, he should be able to parlay his talents into a long term deal. He isnt exactly the front end pitcher the sox desire, but he eats innings, stays healthy, and has shown an improvement in the power department. 8. Hiroki Kuroda, 38, RHP- I do not think Hiroki will actually make it too far into FA, but if he doesnt, he is the absolutely perfect place holder for your young pitchers. He doesnt sound like he wants more than a 1 yr deal at a time and was just the most valuable pitcher on a pretty good Yankees staff. 9. Brandon McCarthy, 29, RHP- I think this guy should be avoided with a 10 foot pole. Chronically injured, now recovering from a brain injury from a batter ball. Add to that the fact that he never reaches 200IP and you have exactly what the sox dont need. A jumpy pitcher guaranteed to get your 6th starter some work 10. Shaun Marcum, 31, RHP- Marcum is a middle of the rotation guy with minimal stuff and now an elbow issue. Due to his age and his numbers over the past 3 seasons, he is likely headed for a 3 yr deal. I do not think that is a good idea in Boston 11. Jake Peavy, 31, RHP- Wanna roll the dice? Peavy has been in Chicago since 2009 mid season. And he finally threw his first 200IP season with them in what amounted to a contract yr. Peavy was brilliant this yr, and with his stuff and stats, will likely be in for a pretty nice contract as he is a solid #2 or weaker rotation ace when healthy. You are likely looking at a 4-5 yr contract on this guy. If healthy, this is a huge move. If not, then you will be saddled with more bad money 12. Anibal Sanchez, 29, RHP- will finish later

you have a lot of money in your coffers without the marquee free agents to spend it on. The 2 biggest guys this offseason are Greinke and Hamilton, and both have psychiatric issues. And after watching the debachle at Fenway this yr, do you think either would be able to avoid the local pub after crushing defeats? You want to see how to recover from a poor season? You have to time your poor season well. The Yankees sucked in 2008 due in part to a lack of pitching and had a slipping offense. It just so happened that 2 marquee free agents at positions of need came available. It is rare and will be even more rare in the future for guys like Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia to hit the FA market.

It's poetic that the Yankees clinch with the sox on the field. 93 losses plus watching the Yankees clinch should leave a horrible taste in sox fans mouths. Should be fun this offseason

With the O's loss, we won the east! With the Yankees win, we'll clinch home field.

Pushing guys allows you to see the really good ones sooner, but the guys who will fill out your lineup, you bullpen and your pen dont have to be really good players. And pushing some guys too fast will ruin them. I wouldnt look at Detroit as a bastion of minor league success. Verlander turned out great, but they ruined Porcello's development and saw two humongous talents turn into s*** in their hands (Miller and Oliver). They are the definition of a system that is a buzzsaw.

You had to do the deal you did. I think it was a great trade and gives the sox a chance to hit the reset button this offseason instead of languishing in mediocrity for another 3-4 seasons then resetting. I just think you are going to see a much better Beckett next yr since he is a prima donna who gave up this yr on Boston.

I cannot blame Theo thus far. He took over a team in salary cap hell that was terrible. It always gets worse before it gets better. And he did end up making 2 brilliant trades this yr. He received Anthony Rizzo for Andrew Cashner, which should lock up his #3 hole in his lineup for yrs to come. And he dealt Paul Maholm for Arodys Vizcaino. If Viz comes back healthy, he has ace potential. And he got him for a 1 yr rental. Theo will turn them around, he just has to remember that his eyes get big when he starts winning and he gets away from development.

The funniest thing about Beckett is that he pitched to exactly the same WHIP in LA as he did in Boston, but his K rate went up, hence his ERA went down. The thing that was so inexcuseable IMO, about him is the fact that he learned how to pitch last yr with diminished velocity, but this yr, effectively threw both his middle fingers up and said, f*** this, I'm done. He goes to LA, starts mixing his stuff up again and hitting corners and he pitches well. And, he will reinvent himself next yr in LA, just in time for him to start talking extention with Ned Colletti, who I am sure will give him a 17 yr deal worth $37 mil per yr.