mvp 78

Sure it is. You even said it's 51.5% to 48.5%. I'll take that 3% difference every day.

cle ops 2017: 789 col ops 2007: 791

I can be convinced either way. I do believe that batting order is overrated, but also believe it's fun to talk about. It's the most basic strategy that you can discuss ad nauseam.

I look forward to their season ending rankings podcast.

I'd say losing the last two series was as big of an indicator of ALDS success as the following theory:

Sox had the best offense in the league and then did this: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/boston-red-sox-team-stats?season=2016&category=BATTING&group=1&time=2 Not sure that had anything to do with the last two series of 2016's regular season.

After 9/11 last year, they went 13-7. Can't really say that was a late season swoon. Yes, they stopped winning games the last week of the year when they rested everyone.

If they won homefield advantage, maybe they could have started out that series stronger? IDK. That's the only conclusion I can draw at this point. I wasn't brimming with confidence over that team prior to their late season swoon. They only won the division because of their crazy streak in Aug/Sept or whenever.

They will only sign Cozart if they trade Xander beforehand.

The third batter, in the three-hole, is generally the best all-around hitter on the team, often hitting for a high batting average but not necessarily very fast. Part of his job is to reach base for the cleanup hitter, and part of it is to help drive in baserunners himself. Third-place hitters are best known for "keeping the inning alive". However, in recent years, some managers have tended to put their best slugger in this position. Typically the greatest hitters for a combination of power and OBP on their teams bat third, as is shown by the use of such hitters as Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Chipper Jones, Barry Bonds, Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, Andrew McCutchen, Miguel Cabrera, Ken Griffey Jr., Josh Hamilton, Evan Longoria, José Bautista, Edwin Encarnación, Mike Trout, and Hank Aaron in this position in the lineup. Even without the combination of extreme power (Yogi Berra, Al Kaline, George Brett) or high batting average (Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, Johnny Bench, Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson) this batting position contains an inordinate number of hitters who eventually become members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Everyone knows that THE THREE HOLE COMES UP WITH 2 OUTS AND BASES EMPTY MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE. Duh.

Correct. I'd rather a guy go 50 for 50 on stolen bases than a guy who goes 65 for 85.

I think either his mechanics are off or he has an underlying injury. His velo is down substantially this year. He's trying to rely more on his slider, which is a terrible offering.

No, primarily becaue Cozart is a 32 year old guy with a substantial injury history having a career year. Signing him would be a dumb move imo.

The hot team in September continuing its streak into October isn't a real thing. It's not an indicator of future performance.

@redsoxstats Barnes is now being pitched like a mop-up man. Allowed runs in the two games he was trusted in (high leverage) over the past month. Barnes definitely pitched himself out of the 8th inning role. I really was hoping he'd make that leap this year.

@alexspeier Why J.D. Martinez is starting to look like a central target for the Red Sox this winter http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/09/11/why-martinez-may-emerging-red-sox-top-offseason-target/wl1N7dEvg9NtaNrrwp8RwO/story.html

Hosmer = 4.1 WAR LoMo = 3.4 WAR Santana = 2.8 WAR

Would Hosmer really make that much of a difference?

There are other options if they don't want to spend as much: Santana, Reynolds, LoMo, Alonso, Duda, Frazier or even in house options like Travis/HanRam/Brentz with a platoon left handed DH.

Martinez is a poor defensive OF. He should be moved to 1B or DH this offseason. I'd go: Martinez Hosmer Moustakas if I'm just ranking those 3.

Please don't talk about the upcoming cliff like that...

And Gray kinda sucks. I wouldn't trade Kimbrel for Gray.

By calling him a RP'er you are really underselling what Kimbrel is.

Well, it should be easier to find a cheaper 1B type than signing Moustakas. No, I'm not moving Devers off of 3B for Moustakas when talent evaluators are saying Moustakas needs to be moved to 1B.