moonslav59

I think HanRam will play 1B vs LHPs when healthy. I think Selsky was added over Marco due to Moreland's illness. I think he'd have played had Moreland not been ready.(Rutledge and Selsky combined played more ST'ing minutes at 1B than Holt. Holt will never be more than an emergency sub at 1B. We'll bring Shaw up before letting Holt play 1B long term. I'm pretty certain of this. Yes, Marco isn't on the roster, but I was talking longer term sub- not emergency fixes or an occasional spot start to give a FT'er a breather. If Pablo, Bogey or Pedey went on the DL, would you really give the job to Holt over Marco? (Maybe the Sox would at one or two of these slots, but not SS.) Even if you place Holt above Marco (SS & 2B & maybe 3B) and Rutledge (at 3B), is it really a big step down to one of those guys, if he was gone? I do not think so, and the basis of my trade idea would be that the upgrade elsewhere would have to be greater than the "downgrade" at utility IF/OF, or I don't make the trade.

That was a tough one, especially since he overcame cancer early in his time with Boston. One of our biggest most recent "what ifs" will always be what if we kept Lester instead of signing Price (the next season).

One could argue Chris Sale has been the second best starter since 2012.... Top starters since 2012: WAR 35.9 Kershaw 27.7 Scherzer 26.4 Price 26.2 Sale 21.8 Kluber (8th) 20.6 Greinke (10th) 19.6 Cueto (12th) ERA- 55 Kershaw 71 Cueto 74 Sale 75 Greinke 76 Scherzer 78 Price 83 Kluber (13th) WHIP 0.89 Kershaw 1.05 Bumgarner 1.05 Scherzer 1.06 Sale 1.08 Cueto (6th) 1.10 Greinke (8th) 1.11 Price (9th) 1.13 Kluber (13th)

We have Chris Freakin' Sale! We have Chris Freakin' Sale! We have Chris Freakin' Sale! We have Chris Freakin' Sale! We have Chris Freakin' Sale! We have Chris Freakin' Sale! We have Chris Freakin' Sale!

I'm not an early hook guy either, but this was opening day. I'm not being critical of JF. I totally understand his call. I'm just saying, I said to myself, I'd yank him after 6. We have today off and an extra guy in the pen.

Because he's been under .725 for 2 years in a row. I live in the Houston area. He was horrible here last year. I realize he turned things around in a short stint with the Rangers last year, but I'm not into gambling anymore.

I'm "attached" to Betts & JBJ and will soon be to Sale and Beni. I seem to be rooting harder for these guys for whatever reason: Marco, Hembree, Wright, ERod and Vaz

I meant first sub, if a player goes on the DL- not who goes in late in a game with the current 25 man roster. Young is the 4th OF'er, so Holt is not the first guy in, unless Young is DH'ing. With Selsky on the 25, he might now be the 5th OF'er. Holt is not the first man in at 1B, so it's not "all IF". With Rutledge on the DL and Marco in AAA, yes, Holt is the "first guy" at 3B, 2B, and SS, but if anyone goes on the DL, Marco would be called up and be in front of Holt, IMO. My long term (10 day DL or worse) depth chart: 1B: HanRam/Moreland> Selsky (T Shaw when ready), eventually Pablo, Maybe Swihart, then Holt 2B: Pedey> I have Marco slightly ahead of Holt here, but I would not argue with anyone wanting Holt at 2B, if Pedey gets hurt. Next is probably Rutledge or Marrero. 3B: Pablo> I like Rutledge as a Pablo platoon, but I'd take Marco over Rut and Holt, if Pablo gets hurt or benched FT. SS: Bogey> Marco is the first sub here with Holt second. LF: Beni> Young, then maybe Holt over Selsky but maybe not. CF/RF: (Beni moves to cover)> Young to LF then Holt/Selsky

Exactly that. I think he would start just about every game (maybe at rotating positions) for at least 3-4 teams. He hits lefties a little better than righties, so he could play day to day. Plus, I only see Holt as our first sub off the bench for MAYBE one position: 2B, and even there, personally, I'd prefer Marco. Holt would surely be the first sub off the bench at numerous positions for numerous "other teams".

I kind of expected more blog traffic after an opening day win. Maybe everybody is busy with spring here and all. I like our chances with Sale tomorrow.

Okay. I took it the wrong way. Porcello pitched very well. I know he was on a roill, but I wondered why they didn't yank him after 6- being his first game. (I thought it before the first guy got a hit.)

Porcello - got tired a little at the end but he looks so much in command. Tough - very tough - I hate the fact that he had to be responsible for 2 of those 3 runs. He was charged with all 3 runs.

I think Holt has a lot of trade value. I've never been for "handing him away", but I've always felt that if a player has more value to another team, a foundation for a good trade is set. I could see us waiting until one of our big RP'ers is set to return (Thornburg or Smith) and then trading Holt and a RP'er (Abad, Hembree, Barnes?) for a much better RP'er... most likely a RP'er with no options remaining (Hembree and/or Abad).

We could really use Pom right now. With Price & Pom out, I'm sure glad we have... Chris Freakin' Sale!

Weird slot for Moreland. JBJ or Pablo vs the righty made more sense.

why?

I hope we do, but then why hold onto Holt then? I can see Pablo ending up as a platoon, but it's too bad Marco is wrong-handed.

It's always nice to start off with a win. Good to see the offense put together a string of hits- all with 2 outs. JBJ got things started with the triple, Pablo knocked him in, 2 hit Leon and Pedey got hits to set up Beni's big blast. Porcello looked sharp through 6. Great win! Keep it going.

I thought DMac did very well in the role he was given. Nice to see Pablo, Leon and Beni come through today (so far) among others. Too bad Porcello wasn't yanked after 6, but I'm sure he's happy with his outing.

24 McCutchen 22 Polanco 21 Kang 18 Rodriguez 13 Freeze 13 Joyca 11 Mercer

I was one of Buch's best supporters over the years, but I don't miss him at all.

I try to avoid the "blame game". Both trades filled needs we had at the time, but I thought we gave up too much for what we got. I didn't mind overpaying for Sale. I didn't mind overpaying for Thornburg, since he's not making $13M.

The Paw Sox are set to break the record for highest AAA roster salary in history thanks to Allen Craig ($11MM) and Rusney Castillo ($10.5MM). Both are not even on the 40 man roster and probably never will be added due to luxury tax implications. Craig is in his last year as will pay him his $1M buyout for next year. Castillo is still owed $46MM through 2020

No. I would have not paid that much for Kimbrel and would have looked elsewhere: Clippard, KRod, Benoit and others. I'd have rather settled on two lesser closers than grossly overpay. Just because we had an obvious high need for a closer, doesn't mean any cost is okay. I happen to believe the cost was excessive for a RP'er making near top dollar as a closer at the time. I get why the deal was made, but I hated it then, and dislike it now.

While true, you don't know if we got the best deal out there. We do know what FA pitchers signed for, and while the RP'er FA market was not very strong, many decent to very good RP'ers were traded that winter. Some did well: some did not so well. Pretty much everyone agrees we overpaid, and overpaying is necessary at times, but in my opinion, we overpaid in two ways: money and prospects. I hated the deal at the time, but I understand why it was made. Since the deal was made, the closer salaries have sky-rocketed, so that aspect does not look so bad, in hindsight. My opinion of the trade has nothing to do with Kimbrel's somewhat lackluster 2016 season. When we got him, I thought of him as a top 3 closer in MLB and expected top 5 closer going forward. That being said, I thought the "overpay" was too excessive. I still do. In comparison, I thought the Price contract was "overpay" but essential and logical.