sk7326

So would I - which is why fewer divisions would work!

Far less likely 84-78 wins an 8 team division vs a 5 or 6 team one.

Why do you want to take credit away for winning a division. A larger division is harder to win - that is reward in its own. I think the geographic rivalries are cute - but ultimately rivalries come from games that matter. Also the schedule should be more balanced, not less between division and outside.

I am okay with Tampa staying where it is - the move was about whether there was a spot where the franchise could do better ... but I am open to the idea that a new stadium could help. But I think moving to a Northeast market would be better. But if you do realign - 30 or 32 teams, I much favor 4 divisions with wild cards. It goes a long way to preventing geographic accidents allowing an 83-79 team to make the postseason. Go with 12 teams and have the play in game. Elimination baseball is fun! Postseason baseball is manifestly a crapshoot - so might as well make the best entertainment product possible within reason. (just port the current postseason format which is perfectly fine)

I noted in my realignment that the territorial monopolies would prevent it from ever happening - it is the same thing preventing Oakland from moving to San Jose which is the most natural thing in the world. Since this was a dream world, I figured I'd dream without that ground rule. Obviously a San Antonio or Austin also is sensible.

I agree ... and really the decision point is essentially now.

I still remember seeing him on SportsCenter in 1994 talking about Michael Jordan's progress. All the best.

The questions for the trade deadline vis a vis 3B have to be ... 1. Do you think we can get enough from Pablo/Lin. I don't think this is an obvious answer - but I'd lean "no". 2. Do you think Todd Frazier can fill the gap in amply enough to trade something of value? He is an improvement, but I am not sure it's enough. Though his power is interesting. 3. Is Beltre actually gettable? The 2nd wild card is still within the Rangers reach - so I am skeptical. Devers clearly makes sense for a September call-up. But, as I've noted - the best time to promote him if you want to take the plunge is next weekend - when the team goes out West. Would you be comfortable just putting him 9th and seeing what happens? Obviously you have to count on the kid being ready. Being ready in this case means simply being able to make adjustments and to grow without the hand holding you can get in the minors. I am firmly in the Devers plunge camp here fwiw.

Middlebrooks was this interesting case - a terrific athlete, two sporter who basically took to baseball late. When he came up to replace Youkilis (Youk's sudden decline is a positional issue the team has never really recovered from - a lot of their future plan in 2011 was based on having one of the top 10 offensive players in the league ... and his body fell to pieces) he had that BABIP driven hot streak. You knew it was fool's gold the entire time. The real question - and my hope - was that his defense and enough on-base (like if he could just be below average - like .310) to get to his power would provide a solid starting package. (basically a 3B version of Josh Reddick. Alas)

If anything, baseball could survive expanding more ... if I ruled the world? (imagine that - some of this will never happen for lots of reasons, territorial monopolies mostly ... and I am assuming stadiums can happen in every place, which is obviously not true) 1. Move A's to San Jose - they've wanted to do it, and SF's territorial claim is nonsense. 2. Move the Rays to Brooklyn - NY can sustain 3 teams easily 3. Add 2 new teams. Put the Expos in Montreal again. I'd probably add a team in North Carolina. Strong minor league baseball tradition yada yada yada. Go to four eight team divisions AL East: Red Sox, Yankees, BROOKLYN, Orioles, Blue Jays, Tigers, Guardians, CAROLINA AL West: White Sox, Royals, Rangers, Astros, Angels, SAN JOSE, Mariners, Twins NL East: Nationals, Braves, Phillies, Mets, Marlins, EXPOS, Pirates, Reds NL West: Brewers, Cubs, Rockies, Cardinals, Padres, Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks Division opponents 12 times ... 84 games Other division opponents 9 times = 72 games One cross league rival = 6 games Yankees-Mets, Orioles-Nationals, Blue Jays-Expos, Cubs-White Sox, SAN JOSE-Giants, Royals-Cards, Guardians-Reds, Dodgers-Angels locked in 4 east:east cross rivals locked in, 4 west:west cross rivals locked in The other teams rotate east:east and west:west. So Red Sox would rotate between Braves, Phillies, Pirates and Marlins over 4 years. 2 division winners and 4 wild cards from each league

Oh he is by far the best choice. Having a Boston past helps too. However, this is where the 2nd wildcard is such a scourge. The Rangers are struggling - but essentially 2 good weeks away from being in the mix.

They darn well should prevent a player from writing down a contract - otherwise it becomes ripe for the sort of coersion that happens in the NFL. There will be a few who are not served by that - but not giving the owners that hammer is well worth it.

Thing with the 4/5 is that it is all so low risk - and (if you were being honest), Dempster delivered a totally fine performance as a #5. Would it have been nice to be cheaper? Sure - but as always, I have very little interest in John Henry's marginal wealth.

I don't think anybody will rush him. But if they think he can handle it - and that's really about the kid - then plug him in 9th and let him figure it out.

You are right - Judge, their best hitter - bats 2nd ... something a numbers guy would do. Headley has not been very good. Neither has Ellsbury. The guy hitting 28 HRs makes it better - and that better is 4 games behind, so who knew.

The Astros and Yankees lineups are also pretty top-heavy (the latter more than the former). That sort of thing is pretty common. The production from 3B has been putrid - this spell of Lin not turning into a pumpkin yet notwithstanding - but the baserunners otherwise are about what you'd expect from a good lineup. Really what the Sox have missed is a general lack of 3-run homerness, although that is getting better.

The only real impactful 3B available is probably Beltre - and he might not be available. The trade market sucks - which has to matter here. My guess is the 3B future right now is 50% Pablo, Lin and a wish 25% a trade 25% Devers If it's Devers - my guess is you won't hear anything until July 20, when the Sox head out West

The league OBP is .325. Every one of our starting position players, besides 3B and C are above average - even Hanley and Moreland are above that. Our catcher production is worse, but a shade below the median - it's bad, but catcher production is bad too. What has happened lately is just some of this stuff catching up - the opportunities have been there the whole time. Given the pitching has largely been excellent - and now the team is gaining steam.

In 2013, the Sox had the top of the rotation figured out, especially once Lackey showed some chops - a low, cheap one year deal to a pitcher who has at least been pretty good before was fine ... would I have rather traded for King Felix? Sure. But that is living a world that did not exist. The ripple effect is real - but Chris Sale is not available all the time.

The Dempster deal was okay - for a #5 starter who is pretty durable, he was okay. Masterson had almost no chance of being good - his splits were so disgusting that it prevented that from being a realistic possibility.

it's again a trade off - getting on with dudes on base vs opportunities to get the hitter up ... you'd like to maximize both. Again the differences are small - but every edge helps.

AAV which is really the only way they can make apples to apples comparisons across all sorts of contract structures

Can never have too many relief arms - that's always on the menu.

ERA is nice - and super important ... but durability in starting is also very important ... Pomeranz has been very good - even if he has not gotten into the 8th as often as you'd like. The best example of my point is Dice-K's 2008 where the numbers were good but he was pitching so few innings per start that he was forcing the bullpen to lift a lot considering.

I said he was good.