moonslav59

How did all the minor league players who took 2020 off due to COVID not turn into jelly rolls or melt into their couches never to be seen again? Many looked like they barely missed a step. Others did poorly, but that happens often enough even with no missed year. I'm not saying no harm is done. I'm pretty sure almost every player would be affected to some degree, but that is not how owners view the situation. If they think a player they can get for free has a lot of potential to be great, they may select them, knowing they may end up with a slightly lower producing player in the long run because they hardly played the kid for a year. The main issue is they go from having nothing to having a potential star that was stunted a bit along the way to stardom. Also, the Rule 5 guys are not sitting on couches, either. They do get a lot of practice and exposure to some great coaching and role models. They may play a bit. They will play in ST'ing and maybe mop up or situational moments, so not everything is lost in 6 months. They can play in the Fall & Winter leagues, too.

1. Well, many lists I saw were different, so I don't think they were just mimicking each other. 2. I don't know if taking single A everyday players might be a trend or a one and done. If anything, the success of Baddoo might make more GMs look into similar profile players and take the plunge. (I do believe pitchers are more likely targets- for obvious reasons.) 3. I agree with the more pitchers take, but I will repeat my original statement that started pages of debate: "Don't be surprised if more single A players are selected, this year due to the added roster spot and the amount of ML teams seemingly in tank mode." (I think it went something like that.)

It's hard to prove he would have been any good had they not selected him.

I certainly see the value in protecting him. It's not an absurd position to hold. I think the Sox felt the odds of him being taken or taken and not returned were high enough to gamble. I do think Ward has higher upside than Beeks and Buttrey, but there's also a decent chance he never even reaches their level or even makes the bigs.

Would you think Yorke might move to the OF? I think Bello, Downs, Jordan and maybe a surprise player or two could make a big jump in 2022, but I agree- big drop off and lottery ticket stuff.

It does seem like we have 3 glaring holes in our 26 man roster (maybe 4). SP SP/RP (depending on how Houck/Whitman will be used) RP Utility middle infielder I think they new they'd cut these guys loose, eventually, and maybe did them a favor of doing it now. Plus, we may get selected players back, if the team returns them, later. The thing that puzzles me, still, and I get that my evaluation of talent/skill level is not on par with Bloom & Co, is that I think several Rule 5 list players are better than Potts and maybe Rosario, Arauz and others. Sure, these players are more likely to help in 2022, and maybe that's the deciding factor, but to me I feel those guys are easily replaced from the waiver wire with equal talent, should the need arise..

I should have said stayed near the same. I was thinking about the lock-out and if the owners win again.

1) The question was, "Why did so many baseball people talk about protecting Jimenez as a real possibility, if they felt like he had close to zero chance of being selected? 2) 100% of those single A players selected were position players (Baddoo). 3) I'm only still talking about Jimenez, because I'm responding to replies and comments made about an original post where I said he "MIGHT" get taken. I don't even think he will get taken. It seems like I think the odds are higher than you and notin, but that is why the discussion has continued- that and because what else is there to talks about? My point was more about the general state of MLB, now. The added roster spot. The tanking teams looking 3-6 years down the road. It was not really meant to be about the merits of Jimenez alone, but more about how I think guys like him, and I have said others are probably better options than him, might be selected more than we have seen before.

Knowing all the aspects of Ward's situation makes a difference.

You call my criticism of your position an attack? I said things like “be serious” about something you later said was a joke. I called a position you hold “absurd” and you think those are “attacks?” Oh,the horror! Look at your posts, dude! Those are personal attacks. It sure sounds like you want me cancelled a lot more than I do you. I’d have put you on ignore long ago after all the hatred and vitriol you have spewed, but I didn’t. You need help. Enjoy the holidays, if you are able.

I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you were a trained scout. Your thoughtful analysis has been proven correct all year long. How could I have forgotten? I’ve seen many players live that have great or awful games at those moments. I know better than to judge them over such a small Sampling. You need help, dude. Seriously. If a Sox chat borax cause so much anger and spite, do a self check. I honestly mean that in good faith. And like before, when you end up getting banned again, it won't be because I reported you.

Bloom has been severely restricted in spending. He had$40M to spend last winter and 10 slots to fill. Vent your anger at Henry- the best owner the Sox have ever had- if you feel the need to bash someone, which is obviously who you are and what you enjoy doing the most. As for the “cancel mob” it’s guys like you that prove without a doubt that some really do need to be cancelled.

Don't pretend to have any semblance of honor or decency. You need serious help, dude.

Giants Re-Sign DeSclafini $12M x 3 The Giants are also said to be close to signing Alex Wood to $10+M x 2. That's two pretty good pitchers for under $23M a year. Angels Sign Aaron Loup $7.5M x 2 with option for $7.5M with $2M buy out Essentially, $17M/2. Doesn't look like salaries are going down. DeSclafini might have been an option for the Sox- sort of near the value of Steve Matz, so there's one option gone.

He'll be 25 in a few days, just had TJS, and barely pitched at AA (8 IP). He has 165 IP in 3 seasons. 4.0 BB/9 The 10.6 K/9 is decent. 1.252 WHIP is not that bad. 3.54 ERA is good. He may or may not be selected, but he won't pitch again until he's almost 26. It may turn out to be a bad choice, but Ward would have to be pretty damn good for it to be F'ing horrrrrrrrible and stupid. It sure would suck, if he went on the become Jalen Beeks or Ty Buttrey.

I think our biggest gaps in skill value is between #4 and #5 and #13 to #14. (I guess between #2 and #3, too.) BTV has these values: 50 Casas 48 Mayer 22 Yorke 12 Downs 10 Bello 6.6 Jordan 6.0 Mata 4.8 Winckowski 3.9 Gonzalez 3.5 Seabold 3.0 McDonough & Rosario 2.9 Groome & R Hernandez 2.6 Bonaci, Decker & Lugo 2.4 Blies, Potts & Valdez 2.3 Jimenez, Wong & Murphy 1.8 Gonzalez (OF) & Lopez 1.7 Howlett & Walter 1.6 Bazardo, Cannon, Chacon & Ward 1.4 Song 1.3 Feliz, Kavadas & Vaughn 1.1 Rafaela & others (Feltman & Santos are listed at 0.5/ Cottam 0.2)

As usual, the Coaches Poll varies from the AP Poll by a little. Both have ND 5th, but I think the College Playoff Committee will put Michigan 5th and ND 6th. Both have the to 8 the same, except the Coaches has AL 2nd and Ohio St 3rd. The AP flips them.

His hitting took a big dive in 2021. I hope that changes, next year. I won't repeat my views on the rest of his game, but BTV has him as a plus 1.6, so he is doing something right. Catchers are hard to find. Between Wong and Hernandez, we may develop a decent replacement, assuming Vaz will not be extended beyond 2022.

That's 3 big holes. There were years where the Yanks went "top shelf" on 3 slots or more in a winter. I remember the 2013-2014 winter signings. There were 13 players who declined their QO's. The Yanks signed 4 of them. Ellsbury McCann C Beltran Kuroda (basically, re-signed) 2009 probably beats them all: Teixeira $180M/8 Sabathia $161/7 Burnett $83M/5 These were the top 3 deals, by far. The next was Derek Lowe at $60M/4. Those were the days, huh? Now, we both sit back and watch the Dodgers be the Yanks of old.

Actually, accepting Vaz's option was the first chosen expenditure. (JD's was not up to them.)

I think we learned from Covid 2020 that taking a full year off does not ruin the vast majority of prospects. Yes, it would be a great disservice to retard his growth, yet another year, by sitting him on the bench for most of the season, but if some GM really values an unprotected prospect (not saying Jimenez), it's not really "dumb" to snatch one for the long term future- retarded growth and all. Some teams are so clearly in tank mode and aren't even close to being competitive by even 2023. Teams are used to going with 25 players, and now they have 26. I would not be surprised if 3-5 teams take long-away players as their 26th man who rarely plays. They don't care about 2022. They are looking at 2024 and beyond and building assets for then, not now. Even if a team traded for Jimenez, they'd still be looking at 2024, at the earliest. I setting him back a year and losing team control years really a decision-killer? If one of these single A prospects turn to gold, they'd have a nice trade chip, even if the guy only has 1-3 years of team control left, or if some ssort of miracle happens and they luck into being a contender, then they have one more helpful piece. Look, I admit, I know very little about prospects, particularly single A ones. Hell, nobody knows for sure about just about all of them, but we are in a new era of young talent acquisition, and teams are valuing prospects more than I have ever seen. Look how teams value the comp picks gained or lost by QO offers or signings. Do you think Jimenez would be drafted in the comp rounds? If yes, then maybe drafting him in Rule 5 is not such an absurd idea. Yes, he loses a year of growth, when he needs it most. Yes, the team loses years of team control, because the clock starts ticking, but there is not lost slot money in a draft or anything of substantial value lost, even if they return him.

Sox Exercise Alex Cora's 2023-2024 Option.

There was a shake-up in the top 10 rankings, this week as Oregon got throttled by Utah (I've long felt the Pac-10 was over-rated) and Michigan St, was pounded by Ohio St. Of course, my team is Notre Dame. I was there, my Freshman year, when our 3rd string QB, Joe Montana led us to a big Cotton Bowl victory over the Earl Campbell led Longhorns for the 1977 NCAA Championship. One ranking has ND number 5, but my guess is the "committee" will come out with these rankings, tomorrow night- with one week to go... 1. Georga 11-0 2. Ohio St 10-1 3. Alabama 10-1 4. Cincinatti 11-0 5. Michigan 10-1 6. Notre Dame 10-1 7. OK St 10-1 8. Ole Miss 9-2 9. Oklahoma 10-1 10. Baylor 9-2/Oregon 9-2 Here is how I see it shaking out: 1. Georgia beats GA Tech and ends up #1 seeded at 12-0. 2. Ohio St beats Michigan to end up #2 at 11-1. 3. Alabama almost lost to Arkansas and has a tough game at Auburn. I put this as a toss-up. 4. Cincy should win at E Carolina on Friday. 5. Michigan loses to OSU. 6. Notre Dame wins at Stanford and passes the Michigan-OSU loser who will have 2 loses. 7. OK St hosts Oklahoma, and the winner might have an outside chance at squeaking in. Let's say all this comes true, the rankings before conference championship games might look like this: 1. Georgia 2. Ohio St 3. Alabama 4. Cincinatti 5. Notra Dame 6. OK St. 7. Ole Miss/Baylor/Oregon/ Mich St. The Conference Championship games are not set, but this could be the most likely match-ups: SEC Georgia v Alabama -If AL loses, they have 2 losses and should be out. -If Georgia loses, maybe bot team are in the top 4. Big Ten The winner of OSU & Mich will play Iowa or Wisconsin -I'm assuming OSU or Mich wins and is top 4. AAC Cincy should play #19 Houston. -If Cincy wins, they will be in. -If Cincy loses, ND should be in. Pac 10 Oregon will likely get a rematch with Utah -If Utah wins, they may sneak in, if there are some upsets. -If Oregon wins, no Pac-10 team has a chance. Big 12 OK & OK St are 7-1 in the conference but one will lose, next week. Baylor is 6-2. -I'm not sure any Big 12 team makes the top 4, unless some upsets happen. I'm hopeful ND makes it. Take care of business at Stanford, and not having a conference championship game should help, as others knock each other off.

Good post. Maybe the first question is whether Bloom will pounce before the lock-out date (Dec 1st). It seems some players want to sign before that date, especially the recently posted OF'er S Suzuki. There may be some bargain signings in the next few days, but who knows? Maybe if the owners win bigly, the post lock-out contracts will be bargains- assuming there is a lock-out.

1. Mayer 2. Casas 3. Yorke 4. Bello 5. Duran 6. Jordon 7. Downs 8. Groome 9. Seabold 10. Gonzalez 11. Mata 12. Winckowski 13. Jimenez 14. Blies 15. Song 16. Murphy 17. Wong 18. McDonough 19. R Hernandez 20. Ward 21. Walter 22. Hickey 23. Rafaela 24. Crawford 25. Santos 26. Bazardo 27. Feltman 28. Lugo 29. Gambrell 30. Howlett/Cottam/FValdez/German