mvp 78

I would have signed on for any of those 3 options.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/al-east-notes-hernandez-swihart-dickerson-orioles.html Marco Hernandez had a set back and will miss all of ST. Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston argues that while the Red Sox could benefit from a year of carrying the out-of-options Blake Swihart as a utility player, they may not ever get a higher return for him in a trade than they would this spring. Other clubs still view Swihart as a viable catching option, he notes, whereas a year of scarce opportunities behind the plate thanks to the presence of Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon could change that. The Sox seem to have three players for two bench spots — Brock Holt, Deven Marrero and Swihart, with the latter each being out of minor league options. On the flip side of the coin, one could also argue that a full year of production at the big league level, even in a part-time role. It also seems feasible that Sandy Leon could see his role diminish if his 2017 struggles at the plate carry over into the 2018 season.

Not a $13M, definitely not.

He's going to rake this year.

Especially after he didn't make it past April. I think he had some decent value in the pen at the end of 2016. I wouldn't want him on my roster though.

I bet it was Jeter.

In 2014 and 2015 he was better in the 2nd half than the first.

I think he was saying that it would only cost $12M to keep him, not to let him go.

All you guys sleep on Xander. X gonna give it to ya this year.

But what if the Sox could use the cryogenically frozen head of Teddy Ballgame attached to a robot body in the 9th inning? That’s sounds reasonable to me.

@ScottLauber By my count, Rafael Devers is younger than 10 players on Northeastern's roster.

Ortiz struggled for 2 weeks in April and then mashed in May. What a weirdo.

See here

When? He was still in A ball at the start of 2009. After July 1, Ortiz hit 20 HR and went 250/341/521. Nava wasn't able to hit that OPS in AAA until 2012. That person was under some delusion.

http://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/alex-cora-wants-see-quick-changes-boston-red-sox-hitting-approach?amp&__twitter_impression=true The Sox of yore strove to work counts for the sake of booting a starter out of the game early. A higher pitch count made it easier to get into a presumably weaker bullpen. The difference now is manifold. For one, relievers are simply better. “We used to wait them out. But that was 10 years ago, 13 years ago,” Cora said Thursday morning, before the Red Sox first exhibition game of the spring. “It's been a while. It's a different game. I had a conversation with Mikey [Lowell] about that. I was like, ‘Mikey, the starters, they go four or five innings.’ “[They don’t] bring in the 87-88 [mph] cutter/sinker/breaking ball guy. Now the guy in the sixth inning is 97 with a great off-speed pitch, secondary pitch. I'm a big believer when you get to that starter, if you can get him right away, get him. Either he'll get you or you'll get him.” And everyone is very directly trying to "get” one another. Attack plans are both more deliberate and more easily accessible these days. The proliferation of analytics has led to better scouting reports. Waste pitches may still be thrown with some sense of purpose, but there is a trend toward maximizing efficiency. See Chris Sale, who has talked a lot about the need to reduce wasted pitches -- not necessarily the same as a purposeful pitch outside of the zone , but still in the same vein. You don't necessarily need a fastball to set up your amazing curveball, or may not need it as frequently. The best offense in the majors in 2017 belonged to the world champion Astros, and they saw the second fewest pitches per plate appearance of anyone in the majors, 3.78. Cora was their bench coach. Now, you can still have a great offense and work counts. The team the Astros beat in the American League Championship Series, the Yankees, had 3.98 pitches per plate appearance in the regular season, the second-most. The Red Sox were seventh, at 3.94. Another effect rooted in the same causes: Lineup construction doesn’t mean quite as much. A left-right balance may be helpful throughout the regular season, at least, but it doesn’t have to drive the boat. “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter,” Cora said. “You put the best lineup out there. I hate to bring up last year, because I want turn the page, but you saw what happened at the end. We had five righties [in the Astros lineup consecutively], it didn’t matter. If you can hit, you can hit. “They’re good hitters. Throughout the minor leagues, you face lefties and righties and all of a sudden, your first month in the big leagues and you can’t hit lefties. I never got that. Probably have to make that decision later on, but it doesn’t matter.” Lineup protection isn’t a priority, either, from the sound of it. “I believe in lineup construction, that’s most important,” Cora said recently. “You’ve got David [Ortiz] and Manny [Ramirez], you pick your poison. You’ve got Miguel [Cabrera] and Victor [Martinez], you pick your poison. You decide when to challenge who at certain times. But I think it’s making that lineup long enough to keep putting pressure on the opposition. “The way the league is pitching sometimes, it doesn’t matter who is hitting behind you. It’s a matter of how they attack you. There are certain teams [where] this is how you’re going to attack this guy, regardless of the situation, and they’re going to go there. If they walk him, they walk him. And if they strike him out, they strike him out. If they put together a good at-bat and they get on base, so be it. It’s a lot different because of the way stats are attacking guys. So for me, it’s all about construction."

@EvanDrellich Alex Cora on (not) giving up on lefty hitters vs. lefties: "Throughout the minor leagues, you face lefties and righties, and all of a sudden your first month in the big leagues and you can’t hit lefties. I never got that."

@jcmccaffrey Red Sox lineup vs. Northeastern: Bradley Jr. CF, Benintendi LF, Devers 3B, Moreland 1B, Swihart C, Holt 2B, Marrero SS, Selsky RF, Rei DH, Beeks LHP *insert it's happening gif*

@jcmccaffrey Northeastern lineup vs Red Sox: Koppens CF, McConnell RF, Burt SS, Perry DH, Lang 3B, Farrell 1B, Holzwasser 2B, Gealson C, Walsh LF. RHP Ennen

Fine. Same as before.

You can deal him, but I don't know how much value he has right now. You'd probably get more for Pomeranz who has a good chance of massive regression this year.

They are both replacement level players. The difference between them is hardly noticeable over the long run. I'd keep Lin because he has also worked out in the OF and could be a super UTIL guy. Marrero has only played IF from what I remember.

All I'm saying in people on THISSSS board had no problem calling out Chapman for what he did, but are now clutching at pearls in order to defend Steven Wright.

^ This 100%

He's 34 with multiple years hindered by shoulder issues. Surgery can only do so much. He's no longer playing on the back 9 of his career. He's approaching the 19th hole.

I'm not sure that's even possible after all of his shoulder issues.