Doubtful. With how much data we get on each pitch, it'd be hard for the MLB to come up with a scheme that would be sneaky enough to even look like that.
When fan favorites are no longer kept around, you'll see more an more grumbling. If the Sox are a mediocre 85 win team next year, you'll hear LOTS of complaints.
If the Sox really believe in his skill level, they'd be smart to protect him just in case. However, I agree that another team carrying him on their roster would be a substantial burden. Could it make sense for a team already at the bottom of the standings?
Ward is probably the third best player on that list.
Doesn't matter. If the Sox are perceived as penny pinching (Lester, Betts, Bogaerts?), fans at some point will no longer be ok with forking out a thousand bucks to take their family to a game.
Seems like this year should have been the perfect storm to go over since they got to the ALCS. A few spendy moves could have pushed them into the WS.
It's an upgrade if you think Dalbec won't repeat that performance.
If I was GM, I'd just hold onto Dalbec and try to find him another position once Casas is ready.
I get it, but I think selling prospects at their peak in value is a good way to manage your investments. Mountcastle could move to LF when Casas is ready.
I think it's not even the speed. The problem is that umpires struggle to call outside pitches because of where they set up behind the catcher. If they went back to more substantial protection they could have a better angle on all pitches.
It doesn't change the game. The effect is much less noticeable than extreme shifts, starters not going longer than 4 innings, the numerous ads that a fan is subject to while at a game or watching from home.
At some point, if the Sox owners continue to limit themselves due to a luxury tax, fans will turn on them for the ever increasing cost of going to a game or even just wanting to watch the product from home.
27.5% isn't great, but it's better than Dalbec. Which one is more likely to become Chris Davis?
Yes, when we collect some of the greatest hitters of the modern era (Manny, Papi), the team is more likely to be better. Agree 100%.