moonslav59

I think Eovaldi grabs a big check elsewhere. Robertson might be too costly for his age. I think we go less expensive and maybe go quantity over quality...maybe.

Yes, waiting at 2B is probably what we'll do, unless we find out early that Pedey is done. We'll probably wait at SP'er as we find out about Wright, Johnson, Velazquez and maybe even Shawaryn as they all fight to win Pom/Eovaldi's slot. 1B will likely see Moreland vs RHPs and some platoon pick-up to add. Devers will have the 3B job with Nunez and Holt looking to win time at 3b and 2B. I'm not for changing out a catcher, but many here want to up our offense from that slot. It's like all our weakest areas (maybe weaker but not weak) may be put on hold, except for the pen, which need at least a couple significant upgrades.

My first though, when I saw Sale come in, was that we were going all out to win game 4 at the expense of game 5. I didn't think they use Sale for 1 inning and then let him start game 5. It's not a normal hard-throwing day. I did not expect Sale to come out in the 9th, but I had a lot more faith in him than Kimbrel, and I even said it last night before Kimbrel imploded. If we couldn't win with sale in the 9th, we probably weren't going to win with him in game 5. Now, in hindsight, I can see the reasoning about limiting Sale to 1 IP, so he can give us meaningful and multiple innings in game 5, if needed, but now that I'm looking in hindsight, I'm thinking we could have tried this.... 6 Porcello 1 Barnes 1 Brazier 1 Sale with Kimbrel available if anyone started a fire.

No, it wouldn't surprise me if neither get offered a contract, but I still think there's an outside chance they eventually become who we hoped they'd be-- probably not 2019, but the arb estimates are low on Smith ($1.2M) and probably too high for Thornburg ($2.3M, I think).

I get the argument, and it makes sense, but to me, Pedro was the best pitcher I've ever seen, and an 80% Pedro was still better than anyone else ready to pitch that game. I have no beef with those who disagree, but I think the highly charged criticism of Little went over board, considering we're talking about taking Pedro out- not a Porcello or an Eovaldi.

I agree, but if we plan on that happening, we'll likely have to find the next "kinsler" mid season.

I did mention catcher in another post. While I do think we need to try and upgrade the bottom of our order, I'm fine with Leon & Vaz next year. I love their defense and the intangibles they bring to our staff. If we can pick up a catcher that can quickly create the same comfort level with our starters AND hit over .700, fine, but that will be very costly, and would likely force us to not upgrade in areas I think need more help: Pen 2B RH'd hitter (1B) I'd also put starting pitcher depth ahead of upgrading our catching position, but I don't think we have enough resources to go down to our 4th and 5th priorities (actually 5th and 6th, because we need at least 2 RP'ers with Kimbrel and Kelly leaving. I think we wait until the season starts to find a SP'er. I think we go with the catchers we have. We could let 2B ride and hope for the best. There's a lot of wannabees and an outside chance Pedey returns: Pedey Nunez Holt Marco Hernandez Lin Quiroz We could trade Moreland and move Devers to 1B and then take one or two from Nunez, Holt, Lin and Hernandez out of the 2B mix or use 3-4 guys to rotate among the 2 positions. We could use Devers at 3B vs RHPs and 1B vs LHPs, and then just have to use Nunez at 3B vs LHPs. Lot's of possibilities. If we want to be a strong contender next year, we can't lose Kimbrel and not improve significantly elsewhere. I don't think CF is the place. Our 2B, 1B and even 3B is by far the weakest offensive position beyond catcher. We have to have faith in Devers. He's our only real hope for a big in-house infusion or improvement over this year's team, whether it be at 3B, 1B or even DH, if we trade JBJ. I have very little faith in Chavis, Dalbec or Ockimey helping us in 2020 and beyond, and near zero hopes for 2019 with those 3. Travis is a pipe dream. We got nothin' on the farm to help us in 2019. We have to make do with shrewd moderate signings and maybe a strategic trade. We can hope DD comes through, again, on mid season deals. No choices look easy. We could sign Dozier, and he could suck or Pedey could come back strong and force an issue. We could try to go large at 1B with someone like Abreu, but at what cost? We could try to acquire another ace or solid #2 starter like Carrasco, but again, at what cost (JBJ & ERod?) We could look for mid-range guys like Eovaldi, Pearce and the Cody Allens of the world, but that's not going to make up for losing Kimbrel and Kelly.

I missed that. I thought they showed an empty pen after the HBP.

Starting Price in game also allows us to use him in relief in game 1, 5, 6 or 7. He rates to be the best starter coming out from the pen, next to Sale, who we want to avoid doing, unless it's elimination time.

You don't think Nietzsche is sexier?

I'd have pitched Sale the 8th and 9th, but I have no issues with Cora going with the guy who got us here- Kimbrel. As bad as Kimbrel looked, I'm not sure any other pitcher could have regained his composure in such a high leverage situation as Kimbrel put himself into last night. Nobody was warming up in the 9th. It was sink or swim with kimbrel. (Note: I am one of the few Sox fans that still feel (or admit it) that leaving Pedro in was the right thing. Pedro was our best pitcher.)

He may go: Sale -Porcello -Price -Eovaldi

I think we'll go $39M over next year, unless we win it this year, and Henry pulls the plug. That could get us Kimbrel, Pearce and Kinsler. I'm not high on Kinsler, who looks to be in steep offensive decline. Guys like Pearce should not cost much. I'd pass on Kimbrel and maybe go with this: 2 from: Cody Allen Jeurys Familai Adam Ottavino Adam Warren 2B DJ LeMahieu 1B Matt Adams, Marwin Gonzalez or Steve Pearce I'd save some budget space to pick up a SP'er like Eovaldi or Happ this year.

Okay, maybe 50 was hyperbole, but clearly the yanks have outspent the rest of the league by quite a lot over the last 90-100 years. Sure, another team spent big here and there, but the Yanks have pretty consistently been big spenders- not just with payroll budgets, but also with International FA signings, before the limits, pre-draft era young players and just plain outright giving cash to teams for very good players. Since the Stienbreener era, it's not really even close. There were so many seasons where the Yanks let by $50-75M over the next team, that other closer seasons can't make up for. Yes, we have bought players that helped us win a ring, but the Yankees outspent us by over $180M during the 3 years we won championships. That number is mind-boggling. This year, we lead the second place team by about $35M. That includes over $35M paid to HRam and Pablito. I guess one could claim we bought a ring, because we signed JD and paid a hefty bonus to get Moncada, who brought us Sale, but even still, this is not like 2004, 2007 and 2013's differentials.

The Astros are scary, but many of the players we think of as scary are having off years- not just a mini-slump, but off years. Would we be pumped up if our best 3 hitters last year declined like this? .941 Correo to .728 .957 Altuve to .837 .889 Springer to .780 Plus.... .817 Guriel to .751 .847 Reddick to .718 .815 Marisnik to .674 .907 Gonzalez to .733 This looks like the Sox from 2016 to 2017. It's their turn to be jinxed. Granted, Bregman has given them a big boost

Yes, we are much better than last year, and the Astros have a lot of players who declined from last year- some due to injury and some for unknown reasons. Sure, they could bounce back. They have a solid team, on paper, but I like our chances with home filed advantage and Sale pitching 2 of the first 5 games.

I've been shocked by many balls coming off hitters' bats and going over the fence. I thought Kinsler's was more than 50-50.

I don't think anyone will begrudge him (except you) for taking the money. I hope he comes back, but I'm counting on zero from him going forward. I don't want to change catchers next year. I know many do. I think 2B and 1B are our best chances to improve our offense and lengthen our line-up. I think we need serious pen retooling.

Got any facts to refute it? Teams did not report salary budgets back then, but it was a well known fact, that when the Yanks needed someone, they bought them or traded scraps for salary dumps. The draft started in 1965, I believe, so players signed with whoever recruited them and offered the most. To imply that wasn't the Yankees is fooling yourself.

Start spreading the news, They're leaving today They wanted to be a part of it New York, New York These baggy-fat pants, are all in his way Right through his very hardy gut New York, New York I wanna wake up in a city that went cheap And find we're king of the hill, top of the heap These little town blues, are melting away We'll make a brand new start of it in old Hews-ton If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere It's up to you, Boss-ton, Boss-ton New York, New York I want to wake up in a city full of creeps And find we're a number one, top of the list King of the hill, a number one These little town blues, are melting away And I'm gonna make a brand new start of it in old El- Aye And if I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere It's up to you, Boss-ton, Boss ton

Come on. Who outspent the Yankees back in the olden days? Not only did they have the highest payroll, they bought players like babe Ruth, before free agency even existed.

No, I've always felt the window is open through 2020, but if we win in 2018 or 2019, we may choose to reset before hand and bring on the closed window earlier. Henry will pay a huge tax in 2020, but if we don't win in 2018 or 2019, we'll still have a solid base for 2020, if henry wants another shot at it. After 2020, all bets are off.

Sox pitchers vs the Astros 2018: (listed in order of IP) 3.65 Price (12.1) 4.50 Porcello (12.0) 6.00 Sale (6) 0.00 Wright (5) 7.20 Pom (5) 13.50 ERod (3.1) 0.00 Thorn 3.0 0.00 Barnes 2.2 27.00 Kelly 2.1 0.00 Kimbrel 2.0 0.00 Poyner 2.0 4.50 Hembree 2.0 0.99 Workman 1.2 9.00 Brazier 1.0 0.00 Johnson 0.2 2017 1.46 Pom 12.1 3.52 Price 7.2 10.50 Porcello 6 5.06 Fister 5.1 0.00 Velzquez 5 2.25 Kimbrel 4 6.75 Barnes 4 0.00 kelly 2.2 4.5o Hembree 2 27.00 ERod 1.2 27.00 Workman 0.2 Sample sizes are tiny.

Yes, but just one. I'd go with Sale and Eovaldi in Fenway. Porcello, Price and sale @ HOU Finish with Eovaldi & Porcello at home, if needed.

Really? My guess is the Yanks led the league in spending every year from 1920 to the 1980's. That's 70 years. Then, you guys led the league most of the next 28 years, so maybe you led the league in 85 out of 100 years. Subtract your 27 rings and you're close to 50.