mvp 78

Cobb, Arrieta or Darvish? After Darvish's postseason, I can't imagine Red Sox Nation liking that signing.

Mmmmm, I do love good hashbrowns!

Not to have to rehash mythical cliffs every day forever and ever.

Oh boy. More cliff talk.

Nomar would be a WS hero. Todd Walker would have signed for a few more years. Even dum dum Lou Merloni would have a ring. Would they repeat in 2004? Schilling would not have relocated to MA. RI would have saved almost $100M that would have been wasted elsewhere. Dogs and cats living together!

Peak Red Sox CBC was 2003, right? That year, they had 10 different players earn saves. In total there was 36 saves and 21 blown saves. Last year, there were only 5 (only Kimbrel had more than 1). In total there were 39 saves and 18 blown saves. Seems to me that if the Sox had the 2003 bullpen last year, they should have had 3 additional losses. At 90 wins, the Sox would have hosted a WC game. The 2003 relief corps had some solid arms too: Mendoza, Timlin, Embree, Williamson (coming off a solid 2002), Seanez, Lyon, etc. Most people thought the relievers would be good. There were enough arms there and an improvement from guys like Sauerbeck or Rupe could have really solidified the staff. The only question mark was the closer. At the beginning of the season, the CBC plan didn't work. "On May 29, Kim was traded to Boston for Shea Hillenbrand. Kim remained as a starter through June, but the Red Sox needed him as their closer because the Red Sox's closer-by-committee approach implemented following the advice of statistician and Red Sox adviser Bill James was failing." I remember a lot of TALK RADIO CALLERS worrying about Kim and how he handled himself on the mound in 2001 WS and worrying that he wouldn't be able to handle it. He was ok and had an 84 save %. In 2017, there were 8 relievers with over 10 saves that had worse save percentages. What if the bullpen had a lockdown closer in 2003. What if they had simply re-signed their All Star 2002 closer Ugueth Urbina? Old friend Tom Gordon? Would that have put them over the top in 2003 and given Grady Little more confidence in the pen? WHAT WOULD THAT ALTERNATE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE?

Also important to note that after Dombrowski sprinkled his magic dust on the team on August 18th, 2015, the team went 26-18. Prorated that's a 96 game win total. Otherwise, the team would have wound up with a ho hum 71 season the same as 2014. All in, the team has a .576 win % since Dombrowski came aboard. That's good enough for 93 wins.

I'm hoping for some good closer by committee talk! Anyone in?

Not a terrible idea.

I'm a fan. Hope he can at least get a shot at a September call up someday.

@Sean_McAdam Thornburg gets $2.05 million, same salary as last year.

@EvanDrellich Red Sox avoid arbitration with Tyler Thornburg.

14 years ago today, the Sox smartly hired Terry Francona.

Jeremy Barfield @BarfontheField I’m glad the @RedSox realized there’s no need to sign Shohei Ohtani when they already have me in the system. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Chen has only pitched 6 innings in relief. Colon will be 45 years old sinker baller than had negative value last year.

LA and Chicago are two small markets!

Devers was rushed? He was ready!

It's never over until it's over!

@EvanDrellich Red Sox announce they’re tendering contracts to all 34 of their guys. Nobody non-tendered.

Hogwash.

Don't throw sweet Kimmi under the bus. It's not her fault that you can't help yourself to some good cliff talk.

I'd wait until after he pitches a full season first. His value could spike if he pitches well this year. Right now you'd be selling low on him.

That's fine. I just think a computer spits out the projections and they get posted for better or worse. I don't think actual humans have any real input in the process. The projections are basically hogwash.

I don't think so either.

Jeff Sullivan is a NOBODY!