moonslav59

Oh, I listen!

People point to the days of Lester, Buch and masterson, like we used to be really great at finding and developing great pitchers. We never were. The only really great pitcher we ever did that wth was Clemens, and we drafted him in 1983! Okay-okay, having another Lester or two, right now wouldn't help, but we have won 4 rings with a system that excels at finding and developing enough everyday players and promising pitching prospects to build a team and have enough left-over for trading for guys like Pedro, Schilling, Beckett and Sale. So we overhaul the whole system and end up with what? Of course, the answer is easy, but making it happen is not. We might want to be careful what we wish for. I will add that the current system recognized Whitlock, and guys like Houck, Bello and Mata might be the best looking top 3 pitching prospects we've had in a long time. Maybe we should give the new regime time to change over a system that has been structured a certain way for decades.

Bleacher Report: ESPN's Kiley McDaniel spoke to "10 sources" who all "thought the Red Sox overpaid by a hefty margin." One executive went as far as to say, "We thought he was worth less than half of what they paid." Masslive had a longer quote... “I sent texts around to a number of scouts and execs explaining what I thought his tools were (high contact, very good approach, average-ish power, limited defensive ability) and asking what I was missing between that scouting report and what the Red Sox paid,” McDaniel wrote. “‘Nothing,’” replied one international scouting director. “‘Overpay for me ... too rich imo,’” from another scouting director. A third exec: “‘I have no idea.’” A fourth: “‘Nothing ... I wish they and him luck.’” A fifth: “‘We thought he was worth less than half of what they paid.’” A sixth added, “‘I have no words.’” “In total, I spoke to ten sources in the aftermath of the signing and they all had a similar breakdown. They all had some level of appreciation for the player, but thought the Red Sox overpaid by a hefty margin.” Some of the "10" seemed to give no opinion, and he seemed to take it as agreeing it was a major overpay.

The purchase price for the A's in 2005 was just $180M. The Rays cost $200M in 2004. The Pirates, Rockies and Royals in the mid $90M in the 90's. The Twins $44M in 1984. CWS $20M in 1981.

Yes. I read the stories. I think they quoted "industry people," and again, I ask who are they? Again, I'm not arguing we didn't overpay for him. Many felt we bid against ourselves for Dice-K, way back when, and it looks like we did, in hindsight. I'm cutting Yoshida some slack. I think he is experienced and good enough to know how to adjust and improve.

It sure doesn't help Yorke's development to have him DH, but maybe we can DH EValdez at AAA (or call him up) and slot Yorke in AAA. That will not happen, soon.

I know that, and I do agree with others that we could have had Bogey for less, had we acted earlier. I'm just not so sure about the numbers some seem to think he'd have taken. I'm fully on board with the $160M/6 type suggestions and am even okay with $200M/8, but nobody is certain he'd have taken either of those, so I'm finding it hard to just assume, we could have gotten him at a deal that ends up working, in hindsight (6-8 years from now.) The Story injury sure slams the point/choice in our faces. The Kike defense at SS created a double slam, and his O has not helped, either. Now with Duvall gone, and Kike needed in CF, the hole at middle IF and near total failure by Chang and Arroyo is killing us. We have become the masters of one year deals, but missed the boat, here. I was all aboard the Andrus train, even after the sketchy Mondesi trade. I was fine giving up Taylor for Mondesi, but he should not have been our only depth at SS.

Nice numbers. His .314 OBP seems out of place, but that SLG% has carried us.

Unless we call "waiting" a plan. Does anyone even know what the plan is, when and if Mondesi is healthy enough to play nearly everyday? Plus, there is no firm idea on when he is due back. Hell, we may see Story back before Mondesi, at this rate.

It's hard to pinpoint a reason Sale has been horrific through 3 starts. It could have something to do with McGuire, but even if it is/was, it is no certainty Wong will give Sale what he needs from a catcher. I think Sale is rusty and needs to find his groove. Maybe, if Sandy Leon was still here, his numbers would be better. 2.79 with Leon over 436 innings (1721 PAs) 4.08 with Vaz over 132 innings (567 PAs) 11.25 with McGuire over a measly 12 IP and 64 PAs I'm way more concerned about Sale than McGuire's D and staff handling skills, but that may change over a few months.

In no way am I sure Whitlock will be a good SP'er, or if keeping him in his special pen role was the right call. I think he deserves a shot as a starter. A long look without being jerked here and there. If it does not work out, it could end up being a major reason we are not successful, this year.

Maybe McGuire's next start with Sale was going to bring the comfy, plush binky blanket to fruition, and you end up pulling the rug out and making Sale start all over again with Wong. Maybe not.

He went from the "no trust list" to staff ace, overnight.

If Bleier didn't implode coming in after Kluber, he's have had 2 straight decent starts. Bello has had one short start, and he "can't be trusted?" Sale has not pitched in a long time, before these 3 starts. I'd give him at least 3 more starts, before I even begin to consider the word "trust."

I think the term was "industry people," whatever than means. Do scouts assign contract value to players?

It very well could be. I'm not defending the signing, but he still has 4+ years left to go, and Bogey has 10.5+ to go.

I think modern philosophy has the 4th slot as more valuable than 3rd. I think it goes, 2, 1, 5, 4, 3

I never took you for a poster who reacted so forcefully over 2 week sample sizes.

If he can get on base at .390, I'm fine with a 390 SLG.

No doubt, and looking at today's FA values, is paying Story $140M/5 an overpay (counting out 1 year for injury during his 6 year deal?)

We will never see everyone healthy at once, and who is in the rotation affects the pen, too, especially Houck. It looks like Whitlock is in the rotation to stay. (Whitlock, Sale, Kluber, Pivetta and Bello/Paxton (piggyback for 2-3 rotations?) A 100% healthy pen would then look like this: 7 man pen + Paxton/Bello= 8 Closer: Jansen 8th/9th short: Martin, Schreiber, Bleier (odd men out: Joely, Brasier, Ort, Kelly, Mills) 5th to 9th long: Houck, Winckowski, Crawford (odd men our: Mata, Walter)

So far, no and a big no. I guess the injury was to be expected.

I just can't bring myself to worry over anybody's 14 game sample size.

You are on a roll. Don't stop, now.

Well said. I think the Sox scouts were in love with Yoshida before Bloom ever got here.