moonslav59

Minor league deal would be fine.

Most players benefit from playing in Fenway, Mookie included. My point was that this article only addressed the HRs Fenway given by Fenway, but it's my guess is he had at least 1 or 2 taken away by high walls and a deep CF and Cf-RF gap.

Again, I've never said he's not a choke or that his losses might be a result of tightening up when it matters. My point is the sample size is too small to call anyone a choke. One could view that tweet as a sign of him being able to joke about it, and having a relaxed outlook.

The article does not mention how the Monster can and does turn some line drive HRs into DBLs (and singles) high off the wall. How many HRs to CF-RF were taken away by our enormous right-CF gap or the triangle area and extra high CF wall?

I never claimed small sample sizes have NO relevance. I just don't make definitive judgments about a person or player based on tiny scattered sample sizes. Also, the question at hand was about adding 2-3 great starts to Price's sample size to possibly change his designation (by others not me) as a "choke". Price has 9 GS'd in the playoffs with 55 IP as a starter. Let's say 3 more starts at 7 IP each, he'd be at about 75 IP and 12 career playoff starts. Schilling has 19 career starts and over 133 IP in the playoffs. That's almost double the IP sample size Price would be at after 3 more starts. I still think 133 IP and 19 scattered starts over a 15 year period is still not enough to make a definitive judgment, but it's a hell of a lot close to a legitimate sample size than Price's. Also, not making a definitive judgement does mean I'm not okay with saying, "Schilling has done a great job as a playoff pitcher." David Ortiz has played in 85 playoff games. I would not definitively judge any player over a half season's worth of games, especially scattered over several years. Papi has done great. I've never seen a player deliver in the clutch more than him. Having a slightly higher playoffs OPS than regular season OPS is not easy over 369 PAs. In no way am I taking anything away from his achievements by saying his sample size is still small. He's done great. That greatness was enormously important and essential to our championships. Sample size arguments do not deny great accomplishments or poor performances. Sample sizes are just part of the context. Papi was great. Schill was great. Price has been pretty bad. Nobody is denying that. My beef comes when someone wants to call Price a choke, basically judging his mental make-up, based on just 9 starts scattered over several years.

Not on the 40 man roster, but I could see us dumping Brentz and adding Jr at some point.

Agreed. I'd rather have Swihart before Holt, if we needed someone for more than a few days stretch.

Yes, I was talking about next year and beyond as well. Just because the luxury tax rate will be reset, it won't mean Castillo's contract is much more attractive. $10.4M at 50% is $15.6M, but at 20%, it's still $12.5M. I'm not sure the $3M differential will make a big impact on the decision to add Castillo to the 40 man roster or just find another de Aza type at a fraction of the cost. Even though we lose Young, Moreland and Abad, the arb raises will just about eat all those savings up. Hopefully Devers can replace Moreland (Pablo to 1B?) and Swihart can replace Young, but my guess is, we add a 1B/OF type player. I just don't see us ever calling up Castillo for more than a few weeks in an emergency, and then DFA'ing him again. For us to add him for a full season, he's going to have to prove he can earn that money. Even with an 1.000 OPS at AAA this year, I'm still not sure that would be enough for management to bring him up long term. I suppose, if we intend to bring him up for a 3-4 week stretch while an OF'er recovers from injury, and he does very well while up, then things could change. I think those are long odds.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/41753448/pedro-martinez-having-a-blast-in-new-role-with-red-sox/

It's sad we have nobody better than Bryce in the minors that is ML ready and on the 40 man roster.

He'd have to not only be doing great in AAA, Sox scouts and management would have to view those numbers (skills) as being transferable to MLB at a value equal to or more than his luxury tax cost, which is $10.4M. It's not impossible, but I see us trying to find the next de Aza at a fraction of Castillo's cost. I don't see us ever bringing Castillo onto the 40 man roster, except for a brief time in a pinch. With Young, Swihart and Holt ahead of him, IMO, there would have to be some wild things happening for Rusney to be called up.

That's how I see it. What else could DD do? Maybe Cueto will turn out better and a little cheaper, but Price looked to be as sure a bet as you ever could hope when deciding to take the deep plunge.

Not even close for me. Making a definitive judgement about who a player is based on teenie weenie sample sizes, especially when scattered over time, is just not something I do. I think I have math and science on my side, but I also don't see the need or the purpose in assigning such labels to a person even if the sample size neared large enough.

Probably a waste of time and money.

Even though our luxury tax may be reset for next year, arb raises and one or two acquisitions will put us over the limit and in tax territory. Although the tax won't be too high, adding anything to Castillo's already high salary will just about always keep him off the 40 man roster for any extended time.

How many good games does Price have to pitch in the playoffs for people not to call him a chock...errr, I mean choke? If you say 2-3 great games, do you see how ridiculous that sounds? A tiny sample size of greatness can change a label that quickly!

That indeed.

The Sox could add him to the 40 man roster, call him up for a month or so, and then DFA him again (taking him off the 40 man roster once again). His luxury tax cost would be a lot, but not so much that it couldn't be absorbed by flex budget. It seems easier to just find the next de Aza, if we need one, but if Castillo has an 1.100 OPS at AAA in June...

Shows you how much money dominates. If he really wanted to play MLB, wouldn't he try to renegotiate his contract (downward)? Perhaps the union (or by-laws) wouldn't let him.

They should trade him, but the Sox are probably near the bottom of the list of potential trade partners due to contract costs and out recent steep decline in available top prospects.

The Sox once had a farm team by that name. (I think 1967 was the last year.)

I'm not "unduly" either for expecting him to the pitcher he normally is most of the time.

I'm optimistic Price does well in his next playoff start. Where does that come from? (I'm just as optimistic about that start as any other Price start after 200 IP.)

Was it slash back at BDC? Was it really a typo? Inquiring minds want to know!

Yes and Bregman http://soxprospects.com/dh-unsigned.htm