sk7326

I think a lot of guys still think the job is like the managers in the movies. I think in 2016, it is a much more corporate gig and the guys who can work that part as well as the baseball are a much more exclusive set. The combination of media relations, executing organizational strategy, managing a coaching staff ... in addition to the stuff in the dugouts during those 3 or so hour a night ... that is a really complex deal.

Maybe .. Mike Lowell was not espacially patient

It does - in so far that it is a real job that some people do better than others. I live outside of DC, so I got to witness the Matt Williams experience up close. It'd be nice to have a guy who has at least managed somewhere professionally. (Gabe Kapler would be another really good candidate) For this job in particular, a true first timer would be hard to work with. Francona had a perfect storm of qualifications - that doesn't happen every day.

Devers can either stay at 3B or move to another LF/1B (if he hits the milestones expected). Nobody significant is blocking any of those spots. Moncada is likely to go to a corner too. He is playing 2B which makes sense, but given his size and age - he is probably going to outgrow it. In terms of guys who could be dealt? Swihart - you'd have to get something really good for the deal he's in. (like a #2/#3 pitcher with at least another year of control) His star has not been dimmed. He has burned two of his options, so the Sox will have to make decision on him one way or the other. Somebody named Travis - you could go either way on this. There is no doubt that Shaw is a legitimate starter. But Travis could be ready for the bigs by the end of this year, and Ramirez could probably handle 3B. One again, this assumes there is a deal which makes sense to move Shaw. Travis has his own potential as a high on-base 15 HR Dave Magadan sort of guy ... that is a solid starter as well. Jackie Bradley - he has done a lot to rehabilitate his stock. A quality center fielder who is cheap and controlled has innate value, especially since he seems to look like he can hit. Now offensively he is a baby Mike Napoli, the hot streaks can be great and the slumps can be deadly but the on base skills should play. But really, if Moncada is the real thing, Betts at CF and Moncada in RF makes a ton of sense. Deven Merrero - a vacuum cleaner middle if who can hit enough to play. Not a centerpiece, but a very useful trade enhancer.

There are two general aspects to managing - the part we see and the part we don't. UN is right - relative to the part we see, Farrell is not very good. He makes suboptimal bullpen decisions, and while in 2013 there was decent evidence he knew how to deploy the position players optimally, that has not continued in 2014-15. His treatment of the young players in particular (and I cannot separate this from management since he is following their strategy) has been profoundly problematic. To the part we don't see - Farrell is better. The players respect him, and I don't think you have the sort of dogging it open rebellion issues which plague lesser leaders. He also has dealt well with the media, which is a very important part of the gig.

I'm glad he does. Does not alter the likelihood that Varitek's actual impact on something like that was moderate. Pedro had one of the best pitching years of all time before he got to Boston and well, you know his time here. And none of that has anything to do with his managerial qualifications (basically, none).

To me there was something to the idea that he wanted to play here (and with Ortiz and whanot) that he was willing to try something new. And then between his shoulder and the disaster in LF, things got to his head. Right now, he is doing something defensively that fits him. Hopefully the offense comes around - walk rate is a bit frightening so far.

Absolutely not - Tek has never filled in a lineup card. His time as catcher is wildly overrated - he was an outstanding catcher, but vintage Pedro Martinez could make a trained seal look good back there. If Farrell is gone, you look at guys like Lovullo, Alex Cora, Bud Black. Managing is an actual job - and I'd like somebody with some experience doing it.

Also underrated was Ortiz' remarkable revival - if you remember 2008 (where he was borderline useless against the Rays) through 2010 there was a decline which raised legitimate questions as to whether the party was over.

Well 2013 he was worthy of being on MVP ballots (basically the best AL CF not named Trout). (at least downballot) The Yankees thought they were getting that CF defense augmented by the chance to drop the head of the bat on some inside pitches and pull some homeruns. For that price it was a reasonable bet for a team with their coffers. A bet that hasn't worked, obviously.

Ortiz' legacy to me has to be the greatest non-tender FA in the history of free agency. His last season in Minnesota was .272/.339/.500 which is quite good, but given 2002 offensive norms (1.3/1.1 bWAR/fWAR and 118 rc+) it was a fairly disposable performance. Just remarkable.

0.4/1.5 depending on flavour ... the fangraphs post on him seemed reasonable http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/blake-swihart-the-red-sox-mythical-third-prospect/

One more season after this to be exact - since that's his last option year.

I think we get clouded because the comparison is with somebody who is a bit of a prodigy. This is not Ryan Lavarnway or late career Mike Piazza.

He was solidly above replacement last season with 300+ PAs and basically no time at AAA. He already has passed adequate.

Everyday lineup is fine ... no automatic outs in the order (although jury is out on Vasquez to some degree). Defensively the team is middle of the pack - which is an improvement on last year, whether or not you see any untapped potential. (Jackie Bradley has a negative UZR to date for one) What they need is another middle class to upper middle class starter. Possibly two.

Exactly how I remember it with Steve Young and the 49ers

So - the Red Sox spent $30M on an ace, and whaddya know? They have one of the league's first 4 game winners. Just like they planned it!

I am fairly optimistic Vasquez won't be striking out in 1/3 of his at-bats. MVP is right that I can accept an empty .310 OBP, Where he is right now is genuinely not good. But it's early.

Mendoza is fine. It is pretty obvious she puts in more work than Boone does. It is easy to coast on being an ex-MLB player and the halo that comes with it. You see it on FOX's coverage last year where Verducci, the guy with the writing background, is so much more well informed than Harold Reynolds who barely seemed awake.

True - I believe in making it less situational ...

The plusses have been: The hitting has largely been there The defense has largely been there - replacing LF/3B with basic competence perks up a lot The bullpen has largely been there - assuming you expect Kimbrel to sort himself out and the starters do not overwork them Starters have been poor. The games that leave me talking to myself are not the blown saves - nobody is perfect - it's an ace not holding a big lead.

Yeah. I mean what I'd do is (on Buchholz and Owens/Kelly starts) is plan for a Barnes or Hembree to come in - I mean have them sort of rested like starters. Starter does not get more than two trips through the order. Let Hembree or Barnes get through the next trip through the order, then hand it off. So you'd think in terms of 30-50 pitch outings and prepare for it. It is outside the box a little, so it won't happen.

I think the way the bullpen should be racked and stacked is obvious right now: - Use Barnes and Hembree as the first guys out if the starters have not gotten past the 6th. I'd just let them pitch - to me, just rotating them and letting them get one go through the order would be ideal. Then go to the situational guys. When Joe Kelly comes back, add him to the group. Although I'd also hold Kelly as a true long man in the cases where it's needed. - Stop worrying about leading/trailing (I know managers do this all the time) vis a vis close-ish games.

Not betting on it. Hanley has been comfortable defensively and he has not look overwhelmed at the plate. The spike in strikeouts is worth watching - evidence of lost bat speed. That said when he has made contact it has been solid. Would be nice to see the walk rate perk up a bit too. But it's early - I am optimistic.