moonslav59

I've been trying to pump up HRam's reputation all season, but I'm close to giving up on him.

I try to avoid micro-inspection of a manager's moves. Chapman is one of the best RP'ers in the game. He was throwing 103 mph. He's not let up an HR all year or let a lefty take him deep in 6 years. I can't blame Giradi for Devers' HR anymore than I can blame JF for Betts' dropped fly ball against the wall. Sure, managers are by and large judged by winning or losing, and we're winning right now, but this team is making 2 or more mental mistakes or blunders every game, and that's going to bite us in the ass someday. I just hope it's not the 7th game of a playoff series, but can't we all imagine us saying, "It's fitting that we lost because a player forgot how many outs there were. We've been making these fundamental mistakes all year long." My other bone of contention with JF was what I called a lack of "fire and desire." I think Devers and Nunez have sparked this team upon their arrival. I'm not giving JF credit for that, but at least that area seems to have improved enough for me.

Brentz is a minor league FA this winter. I'm not sure he'll be back on a team with an OF so stacked. He'll sign with a team like the A's and have a real shot at winning a starting job that might spring-board him to a higher-paying contract later on.

Good points. I was thinking 1B all the way. He can't play 3B well enough anyways. LF is blocked. 1B is easier to fill, but it is our high need area. When's the last time MLB has seen a legitimate 1B-2Bman two position guy?

The Rays are even smarter. The sign their best guys to long term deal pre-prime. They apparently missed on Matt Moore, but they we still smart enough to trade him before it was too late.

Yes I did, and he may still end up as one, if he can't get better consistency vs lefties. He's still at just .579 vs LHPs with nearly 100 PAs over his ML career. He's at .868 vs RHPs. That's nearly a 300 point swing! He's hot as hell right now. I'd keep trotting him out there everyday for now. I'm fine with adjusting line-ups based on who is hot and who is not. My biggest peave against JF is how he keeps slumping players in key line-up slots for too long.

(I was being tongue and cheek.)

Good point. As ,long as we save enough luxury tax space for the summer, we could probably do better via the trade route.

Hosmer does seem like "the safest choice", but what does that tell you about the choices. The guy's OPS yo-yos 100 points nearly every season! Plus, he'll want 4+ years and will likely get it. To me, that cancels out the "safest" argument. I agree, I think we'll go as short as we can (1-2 years tops) in hopes that Chavis, Travis or Dalbec can win the job by 2019. However, this option probably keeps us from getting a true difference maker to bat clean-up and extend our line-up. Personally, I believed all along that we can win without being a top scoring offense, but looking at next year's roster, I think our biggest weakness is not having a big power bat who can also get on base at a decent rate. Sure, maybe Morrison will take a 1 year deal and repeat 2017's numbers. Maybe Moreland could hit like the first 3 months all year. Maybe Alonso or Duda will take a 1-2 year deal, but I would not sign Hosmer for 4+ years, just because he happens to be the "safest pick" in a group of mediocre 1Bmen. Just because we have a big need, doesn't mean we have to sign the best of whoever is available that year. That looks to much like what we did with Pablo & HRam.

This kid is special!

The look on JF's face was priceless. He didn't go argue, so he must have known he blundered. What a clown!

What cliff? Our best two players are our youngest two players (20 & 22 years old). Devers & Beni

Game over.

Winning doesn't change the fact that JF is a complete idiot. 700 is too kind in crediting him with 2 whole brain cells. Just imagine if Jacoby hit an HR after JF blundered the pitching substitution he wanted.

The Sox had just made a mound visit while Jacoby was being announced, so Reed had to finish the next batter, unless there's an injury.

...for someone like Farrell who has been in baseball for as long as he has been, you would think that he would know that once a pitcher has thrown one pitch to a batter, that pitcher can not be removed for a relief pitcher until the at-bat is completed, except of course in the event of an injury to the pitcher. To come out of the dugout with that intent, and having the umpire remind him of that rule is embarrassing. "Embarrassing" is being too kind. I can't remember the last time we've made it through a game without at least 2 mental blunders by players, coaches or the manager. Keeping Barnes in when the whole world could see he was in a coma. Pinch-hitting Moreland vs a lefty. I'm not going to blame the best defensive player in MLB for that dropped ball, but nevertheless, it was a "blunder". I'm glad JF finally played Devers. I'm glad he brought in Kimbrel for 4 outs not 3. I'm glad we've won 9 of 10 and put some distance between us and the Yanks. I finally see some, what I have called, "fire and desire", but I'm not sure JF should get the credit for what Devers and Nunez brought to this team thanks to DD's. Look, I'm pissed at JF, but I know you don't fire a manager after winning 9 of 10. It doesn't change what I think of him. He's an idiot. Kimmi tried to talk me into calling him an "imbecile" or "moron" instead, but that's giving him too much credit.

Oh, and tonight he brought in Kimbrel at the exactly right moment for the 4 out win. Brilliant. We might as well give HRam credit for the win.

Probably. (He's not a FA though.) I'm not sure I want to bet on any one year wonder. At least Duda has shown steady growth over 4-5 years in a row, except for the injury year. There really aren't many good choices on the market this winter. I have no confidence in any of these guys. Hosmer, the yo-yo, might be the best bet, but he'll want long years. Moustakas will too. Duda Santana Alonso Morrison Moreland Napoli A Lind HRam at 1B and sign a DH? JD Martinez (will get long years)

Those last two cells shorted out tonight. If he plugs into the recharger, he's likely to cause a blackout over the whole East Coast.

JF is a genius. Extend him now to a lifetime contract!

y e s ! ! !

LOL 4 months out of 34.

Lock it down!

Agreed. Devers da man!

For now. Pitchers will adjust. Maybe they already have: .674 last 28 days .594 last 7 days No thanks.