moonslav59

We used 137 different line-ups this year. No slot had any player bat in it for more than 50% of the games. Betts batted lead off in 81 games. HRam batted 4th in 71 games. Those are the tops. I'm hopeful Bogey can fill the lead-off position next year and stay there. I'd like to see betts bat 2nd, but unless we add a big bat or two, he may be forced to bat 3rd or 4th. I'm fine with letting Beni stay hitting 3rd, but it sure would be nice to see JD Martinez batting 4th for us next season. That would allow HRam and Devers to share the 5 and 6 slots depending on the L-R splits. Pedey can bat 7th, when healthy. JBJ and Vaz can bat 8th and 9th. Maybe we'll see more line-up consistency next year.

Is ERod the next Buchholz?

Weird, since there's no reason to lie, DD said there were no known surgeries on the day Robby Scott had surgery. Now, ERod and HRam both go under the knife today. ERod's was major: he may not be ready until mid 2018. HRam's surgery was described as minor. MLBTR reports it was "an arthrocopy and debridement. It is not expected to prevent him from being ready for a full 2018 campaign.... Maybe HRam deserves some slack for his 2017 season, and this procedure will help him comeback strong.

Opening Day? 1. Sale (ACE+) 2. Price (hard to hope for 32 starts and a strong post season) 3. Pomeranz (keep the fingers crossed) 4. Porcello 5. Wright 6. Velazquez, Johnson, Beeks (ERod at some point?) Maybe we sign Cobb or Lynn.

The Sox would in a heartbeat . I think some people (not you) think GMs only look at last year's numbers to determine value. While last season does pull a lot of weight, there are many other factors involved. I bet we could find a taker who would pay $14-15M. I doubt we look for a taker.

Last 4 year OPS+ numbers (2014 to 2017) Eric Hosmer- 28 this month 99> 122> 102> 132 Logan Morrison- 31 in August 111> 92> 101> 135 Yonder Alonso- 31 in April 96> 109> 88> 133 Carlos Santana- 32 in June 122> 102> 123> 112 Lucas Duda- 32 in FEB 137> 130> 92> 116 Mitch Moreland- 33 in SEP 80> 116> 87> 99 John Jaso- 35 in SEP 118>134> 105> 91 Mark Reynolds- 35 in AUG 87> 93> 101> 105 Adam Lins-35 in JULY 143> 123> 94> 123 I'm not sure JD Martinez can play 1B, but he turns 31 next AUG 154> 139> 142> 166 wRC+ 2014-2017 combined (148 JD Martinez OF) 139 Abreu 124 Duda 120 Santana 117 Lind 116 AGon 116 Hosmer 113 HRam 113 J Jaso 109 Morrison 108 M Adams 98 Reynolds 98 Moreland 107 Alonso

I'm really curious what the top offer will be like. He's getting paid so much, I doubt 24 teams even take a sniff.

Why? Are we talking another Lackey? I've said why a number of times, but here it goes again: 1) He is too up and down for my liking. 2) He will want 4-5+ years and get 3-4, at least. He's not the type of 1Bman, I hitch my wagon to for the long term. 3) He's not a good fielder. 4) We can get very close to his power and offense from someone else on a 1 year deal. Just say, NO!"

Or, move Bogey to 2B. SS Defense Bogey -1.7 UZR/150 and -11 DRS Cozart +6.2 UZR/150 and +2 DRS Last 2 years combined: Cozart: +10.0 UZR/150 and +14 DRS to Bogey: -0.7 and -21 DRS

I don't understand what you mean!

I don't think anyone wants all of those together. Each one, by themselves, are not too wild and cray.

As the 28th guy, maybe.

Like Nunez, he will want a FT job, but he only plays 2B. I'd prefer Nunez, but if we can't get him, we might try Walker or Kendrick.

He never had a Stanton.

Only if they offer the most/best.

As long as it's not just an electric garage opener...

If ever a player could hit one-legged, it would be Pedey. I hope he can do something over the off season to help lessen the chance of a re-occurrence. Maybe just extended rest. If we make a big acquisition like Stanton or two like lesser ones JD and Duda, maybe we can get by without Pedey being Pedey. Adding Nunez or Kendrick would help.

That's the point I've been making. To teams not looking to go over the luxury tax limit, that added "value" is lost. It makes sense he goes to a team always near or over the limit: LAD, NYY or BOS. I hope it's us, but there's a limit to what I'd give.

I agree, and though I don't think it will take what some here are suggesting to get Stanton, I'm willing to go pretty far. His contract is much higher than Sale. His injury history is a concern and should lessen what is needed to bet him, even if just slightly. I'm not sure including HRam is what Jeter had in mind by trimming down to $90M. We don't know if there's a great need to get to $90M for 2018, if so, HRam will not be a part of the deal. Including him would sure help us stay stocked up full for the next 2 years ("the window"). Maybe Jeter is looking 4-7 years down the road, and would maybe want 3-4 prospects from Mata, Flores, Groome, Brannen and Scherff. Maybe he'll look for a mix of prospects- older and younger by asking for 1-2 from Chavis, Travis, Houck, Ockimey or Shawaryn along with 1-3 from the younger list. Maybe he'll want one vet under team control for 3 or more years (JBJ or Beni) plus a few prospects. I doubt he wants two vets, unless he plans on flipping then shortly after acquiring them. Maybe we'd have to include a 3rd team. I'm not sure what the Dodgers will offer. I have to think they will at least kick the tires. The Yanks will probably be there, too. Not many other teams are as high as we are in total salary, but a team like the Giants or a sleeper could surprise. Maybe I'm totally underestimating what it will take, but my guess is they may take JBJ and flip him plus Groome, Chavis and one from Mata or Flores.

At the time, I felt we should have signed HRam to play 3B and Scherzer to pitch. At least, we'd have been half right.

Yeah, of course it is. Besides, I didn't want him after 2015 anyways, despite the good season. He was getting too old.

I'm for dumping Moreland and Young and bringing in Martinez and Duda (plus Nunez, if possible). Duda does not play 2B. Maybe you meant "Doo Daa" as in anyone to play 2B?

I share your enthusiasm for Beni, but we're talking... Giancarlo Freakin' Stanton!

Depends on their plan for when they want to be competitive. They might write off 2-3 years like the Astros did, and look to 2000 or 2001. If that's the case, the may prefer Mata and Flores to JBJ or Bogey.

Personally, I do not think the package is going to have to be all that big. I doubt it will take JBJ, ERod and Groome. I think we might get him for JBJ and maybe 2 from: Groome, Chavis, Mata and Flores. Why should Stanton cost us more than Sale? Sale's making half what Stanton is making per year. If we thro in HRam, maybe it will take Beni + 2 of the three, or JBJ and 3 of the 4 listed above.