Kimmi

I really thought Hanley would be able to handle left field, but obviously I was very wrong on that one.

I'm looking forward to the pitcher's duel, which likely means it will be a slugfest. It would be nice to leave Detroit with a split.

I am aware of that. I posted that as an aside. I don't have a problem with the job that Kimbrel did for us, frustrating as he was at times. I just don't believe in paying a fortune for closers, and I have never agreed with doing so. IMO, you can get pretty comparable value for a lot less. Your best closers often come out of nowhere. The prospects given up for him might not have helped our team in 2016, but that's not the point. Maybe they could have been packaged for a starter. We already had Koji. In building a bullpen, I'm of the philosophy that you stockpile as many inexpensive, quality arms you can, and see what sticks. If you want specific names, sorry I don't have those for you without going back and looking to see who who might have been available. If we had another top starter instead of Price? It's very likely that we would have won. As far as going off the cliff is concerned, Dombrowski still has time to fix that. We'll see what happens over the next few years.

I don't think it's a big leap at all to think the Sox would have made the post season had Cherington remained the GM. He would have made some moves for pitching. He would have traded some of his prospects to do so. Anyone can sign a free agent by outbidding the nearest opponent by $37 million. I'm not sure going after Price was Cherington's style either, but with Henry having a change of heart and opening up his wallet, who knows what Cherington would have done? However, I am pretty confident that Cherington felt that the time was right to 'go for it'. He just wouldn't have gone for it to the extent that Dombrowski did.

I don't disagree with most of what you posted. I understand that prospects have to be traded away sometimes to fill the holes. I have no problem with that. I just think that what Dombrowski did was overkill. I think he could have fielded a competitive team both last year and this year without gutting the farm to the extent that he did. That said, I fully acknowledge that I have no idea who was available and what kinds of prices were being asked for anyone who was available.

It's way too soon to give up on him. He should be a very serviceable starter.

Nice win for the good guys. Let's get the split tomorrow!

Sandy Freaking Leon! Dude is clutch!

I like this post.

Extremely frustrating. Have to give it to the offense for coming back time after time.

I was going to post this, but I bit my tongue. LOL

1pm @ Comerica Porcello 1-0/ 4.26 Began his season on a high note, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings. Porcello, who faces his former team, is 1-0/ 1.29 in 2 starts vs Detroit. Norris The Tigers are looking for an emergent season out of Norris after he posted a 3.04 over 10 starts down the stretch last year. The 23 year old made a point to try and pitch more efficiently this spring. It sounds like Norris has had some difficulty with high pitch counts early. Detroit's pen has not been that impressive. We need to get Norris out of the game as early as possible. It's time to take this flu bug by the horns and get this offense kick started. Enough with this losing already. Get it done boys! Win!

I like those odds. That works the other way too. For average players who have terrific postseason numbers, players go through hot streaks all the time too.

lol

I would have liked and maybe even loved it. It's hard to say without knowing what other moves might have occurred in place of getting Kimbrel and Pom. I understand that part of the reason for building a farm is to use the prospects in trade. I get that and have no problem with it. It's the overkill that I have a problem with. Let me reiterate that I love having Sale and Price on the team. Some people (not you) don't seem to be able to differentiate between hating the deal but being thrilled with the player.

Clay is so misunderstood. I do miss him, warts and all.

I would have started the offseason before by locking Lester up to a Homer Bailey like deal. But, I digress... I had confidence in Porcello being a much better pitcher than he was for us in 2015. That negates some of the dire need for starting pitching. I would not have done the Kimbrel trade, and instead put together a package for Sale, Quintana, one of the Guardians young starters, or some other young, cost-controlled starter. I do not claim to know more or to be able to do a better job than Dombrowski or any GM. I have said that many times, and am just voicing my opinion as is everyone else here. I just have a very strong belief in the philosophy of building the team from the farm system up and not handing out ridiculous contracts to free agents, especially to pitchers, and double especially to pitchers north of 30, although I understand that such contracts are sometimes necessary. I would not have done the Price contract though. I also have a very strong belief against the 'win now at any cost' philosophy. There are very, very few players that I'm going to gut the farm or break the bank for. I believe in building a team that is not going to fall off a cliff in 2020 or 2021! Also, I wholeheartedly believe that this team was bound for the playoffs in 2016 without having to bring in Dombrowski to 'get the job done'. The youngsters were ready. I have no way of proving it (look at that S5, something I believe in with absolutely no proof), but I am very sure that the team would have made the playoffs if Ben had remained, and I am also pretty sure that I would have agreed with his moves more.

Define it any reasonable way you want. The statistical results are still the same.

Arod was a beast in the 2000 ALCS and in the 2004 ALDS. He was also very good in the 2009 postseason, as you pointed out. If he is truly a choker, how was he so good in some of the postseason series? Again, the point is that there is no 'repeatability' to the ideas of clutch and choke (MLB level). Great hitters go through tough streaks all the time.

LOL Why is it that 'infinite' is pronounced one way and 'finite' is pronounced a different way? These are the types of things that keep me awake at night...

Infinity is a mind boggling concept, much like the concepts of space and time. Good stuff to think about.

Today is the day. They will score runs in 3 different innings.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you're saying. The trade for Sale on its own is something that I'd be okay with. The trade after all of the others was the tipping point, as you said. I am thrilled that we have Sale, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with the deal. It was the same with Price - thrilled that we have him, but don't agree with the contract.

Being a calculus teacher, I deal with the concept of infinity all the time. I just finished up a unit on infinite series, as a matter of fact. I love the concept of infinity. I'm not sure how that relates to clutch.

Not only that, but I'm guessing (I'm too lazy to look), that from year to year, that difference in OPS between high and low leverages situation varies, with it actually being lower in high leverage situations during some years. Clutch is a great story, a feel good story. The Detroit announcers mentioned during the broadcast today how clutch Papi was. I'm okay with calling him the greatest clutch hitter ever, but the fact of the matter remains that he was a great hitter in all situations.