mvp 78

You know the names of everyone on that list, or no?

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/03/27/opening-day-2019-team-by-team-previews/ AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST Boston Red Sox: Still the best team in baseball in our view. They still have the best offense of anyone and they may actually be more balanced than they were in 2018. Not that you need too much balance when you have Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and the other stars up and down the order. The rotation is likewise a strength with a healthy Chris Sale returning, the postseason David Price renaissance hopefully carrying over and a full year of Nathan Eovaldi. Whether the rotation is strong or great depends on Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez matching past performance or best-case expectations. The big issue, as everyone knows, is the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel is gone and, presumably, not returning. Joe Kelly left for L.A. As Tigers fans recall, GM Dave Dombrowski does not have a great track record in cobbling together bullpens, and the 2019 Red Sox’ bullpen is definitely a cobble job in progress. If the Yankees catch Boston, it’ll likely be because the late innings are killing ’em. New York Yankees: Like the Red Sox, the lineup is set. One can ask whether Troy Tulowitzki can really stay in the lineup and be an asset at short until Didi Gregorius comes back, but he’s had a nice spring. Aside from that the team is loaded as usual, with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks causing all kinds of problems for opposing pitchers. And that’s before you figure that Gary Sanchez is due for a substantial bounceback. The pitching is the opposite situation from the Red Sox. New York’s bullpen is absolutely stacked with Chad Green, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman constituting the best and hardest-throwing relief corps in baseball. They’ll be needed given Luis Severino’s shoulder injury and a general lack of organizational pitching depth. If things go south early, figure the Yankees to be in the market for a starter.

This org really needs one of its starters to break out.

The whole idea of a sports debate is dumb. Neither side ever accepts defeat and the debates continue ad nauseam.

Over? Who thinks the ALDS is over? The Yankee bats are clicking big time. We have 4 good to great hitters they have 9 good to great hitters. After Bogarts our lineup is terrible. As far as pitching I don’t need to say anything. Price was saying after the game he knows he can win in the playoffs but his 0-10 record would say he can’t. Their bullpen is so dominant they don’t need good starting pitching. It’s just hard for me to say they’re going to win this series after what I’ve seen the last two nights. We got lit up tonight and they almost came back the night before. It feels like the last two years all over again. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am.

He Who Must Not Be Named!

b i n g o

Remembuh when he ran into da stairs dat one time?

Jeter was an overrated stiff. If he was a better defender he'd be above 4.

He slugged over 600 in his forties tho?

He was definitely a good catcher, he just wasn't great.............................

I say we double YOTN's pay!

@SPChrisHatfield OK, I worked this all out, in my head at least (h/t to @PeteAbe for assistance). Leon can elect to become a free agent if outrighted b/c he has 3 years of service time and because he's been outrighted before. If outrighted, his money will still count against the CBT. But... (1/2) ... Because Leon does not have 5 years of service time (barely, he's 23 days short) he cannot just refuse to be sent to the minors, which would have required the Red Sox to release him and pay him termination pay. So he won't get his salary if he elects to become a free agent.

Well, at least you agree that Posada wasn't great either then.

Or keeps Blake around long enough for another team to want to deal for him?

@alexspeier Worth clarifying: Post-Rusney Rule (the 2017-21 CBA closing of the loophole that allowed outrighted players *not* to count towards luxury tax payroll), Leon’s salary *will* remain part of Sox payroll as calculated for luxury tax, even while he’s in the minors.

@OverTheMonster Sandy León clears waivers, accepts assignment to Pawtucket

@EvanDrellich Sandy Leon has cleared waivers. No team claimed him.

This is where I was in Jan: Casas Hernandez Chavis Flores Dalbec Decker Houck Feltman Groome Lakins Now: Hernandez Casas Chavis Dalbec Flores Decker Houck Feltman Lakins Groome I'm just not a believer in Mata.

Let's. f***ing. go.

BMI is terrible when accounting for athletes. Bo Jackson in his prime had an obese number for BMI. It's a terrible metric. Leon is fine.

We need more s*** talking in the draft chat this year.

True enough! He needs to defend well too though.

No.

Beltre is the best 3b of my lifetime and should be a first ballot HOFer.