moonslav59

Compared to other sports and even other positions within the sport of baseball, the DH is a cake walk. There's really no getting around that. That does not imply that there are not demanding aspects of the sport or position of DH. There certainly is. It's not easy hitting a ball, but that's different from being very physically demanding. That's not an ignorant position to hold. Being a DH does involve some running, and keeping one's feet healthy is an important component of hitting well. I have never downplayed Papi's injury. I have never pretended to know how much pain he is in or is expected to continue being in going forward. My position is that Papi's decision is his choice, and that he obviously loves the game as much as anyone. He's having a great time and a great season. Many players are willing to play through injuries out of an extreme love of the game. That's not an ignorant observation. I brought up the position of DH, because in my opinion, if Papi played any other position, I'd be 100% on board with not even asking him to come back another year. As a GM, I might drop light-hearted hints, but I would not make a enticing offer, unless Papi responded in some way showing he may be interested in a return. As a DH, however, and the added aspect of offering him a reduced playing time role, I do not think it is disrespectful to make a fantastic final one year offer to Papi presented in a way that is respectful of his wishes. I hardly think this position is "ignorant". I know there are personal, emotional, business and family demands that are associated with a 7-8 month MLB season. Travel. Batting practice. Working out. Occasional running. Fouling balls off your aching feet. I know there is a risk of serious injury and even just adding to a condition already existing that may jeopardize his well-being for the rest of his life. Maybe the situation is more grave than I imagine it is. If that's the case, I'm sure the Sox are aware of his condition and may choose not to make an offer based on that information. I'd be fine with that. This doesn't mean I'm back-tracking or moving a goalpost. I still believe Papi is like a child loving baseball for the wonderful sport it is. He is baseball to me. I do think if ever there was a personality or personal disposition to want to play through pain, because of his love for the game, it would be a guy like Papi. I'm not asking the Sox to take advantage of this disposition to coax a guy on a fine line of being crippled the rest of his life to selfishly try to persuade him to come back for the team and the fans sake, but in the past, Papi has equated "respect" from the team to dollar amounts offered in contracts. I can see how he may view a $25M offer after he has said he wants to retire as a slap in the face, since why didn't we pay him that much for 2016, but that is why I would begin by putting out some feelers and mentioning a possible reduced playing time role for 2017 to lessen the day-to-day stress on his feet, by mentioning added perks involving less travel or more luxurious travel accommodations. If he seems firm in his decision to retire, then fine. No harm done. What surprised me about the reaction to my position was how many posters seemed to actually want him to retire. Like somehow a 400 PA season batting .275 with 22 HRs and 80 RBIs would somehow tarnish his legend. Like even thinking about asking him back is sheer lunacy. This whole DH is a comparative cakewalk statement has been blown out of proportion and beaten to death. I'm fine with anyone disagreeing with me, but I really do not think my opinion on how hard it is to be a DH is ignorant. I've played organized baseball, basketball, football and rec hockey and other sports. I used to play basketball in the winter on a snow-shoveled court until my fingerprints were worn off and my fingers bled with blisters. I've suffered 2 football concussions and one in basketball. I had a severe collision with a 3rd baseman of all people in baseball. Two of my best friends played college hockey and have has no front teeth since childhood. I know the rigors of sports and varying positions within sports. I don't pretend to know the rigors and stresses involved with being a celebrity or playing one sport for 8 moths in a row, especially at age 40, but I did play several sports maybe 300 days a year from age 12 to 34 or 35. After age 22, it was mostly basketball, baseball, racquetball and swimming. After wrecking my knee playing basketball at age 31, I gave up baseball and played rec league softball and basketball and began swimming more. It was hard for me to ease up on sports, because I always played with reckless abandon and high intensity. I was always a fierce competitor who hated to lose. I wish I was a good enough hitter to have continued baseball as a DH, but my game was more about speed and defense than hitting. I'm sticking to my position that the DH position is easy enough for someone like Papi to consider playing one more year. The DH position is probably the main reason he has lasted this long in MLB. He loves the game as much or more than anyone I've ever see play the game. He's got to be enjoying his success this year. He's having a career best year, so far. I do not think it's absurd or ignorant to think he may want to do it another year. I'm fine if you disagree, but I take issue with anyone calling my position ignorant or absurd or crazy.

If the idea is to determine how good each team's pitching staff is when you take away their worst 5 games (a complete rotation), then my methodology is sound, and that was what I was responding to- the guy who said our staff was pretty good beyond a once around our rotation. My point was that, if you were going to take our worst 5 games away, then you need to do it to all teams and then re-compare the ERAs. Your method would also be very telling methodology and probably is a better gauge at determining how good a staff is after removing their outlier games, but that would answer a different question.

Our worst 4 games in runs allowed total 47 runs. The next 3 worst games were 9 runs each.' My guess would be the 56 runs allowed in our worst 5 games is more than with teams ahead of us in ERA, but that's not really true. The more defining sample is probably the next 5 starts. Here's a look at the other AL teams and their worst 5 games combined run totals allowed and then the next 5 worst combined totals: Worst 5/ Worst 6-10 byTeam (Total worst 10) 56/42 Red Sox (98) 56/ 36 Astros (92) 65/ 45 A's (110) 57/ 36 Blue Jays (93) 42/ 34 CLE (76) 54/ 36 Mariners (90) 48/ 38 Orioles (86) 53/ 43 Rangers (96) 46/ 33 Rays (79) 48/ 35 Royals (83) 52/ 41 Tigers (93) 56/ 42 Twins (98) 48/ 35 White Sox (83) 47/ 37 Yankees (84) As you can see, taking away the worst 5 or worst 10 games from all AL teams would not change the ERA differentials too much The biggest run differentials with the Sox are: worst 5: Cleveland 14 less runs next worst 5: Rays 9 runs less Over 50 some odd games, it's not going to change the ERA differences very much.

Actually, I think the more feasible thing to do would be to take away the worst 5 games from every team and then compare team ERAs.

True, but out of 57 games this year, we've let up 0-3 runs 26 times (including unearned runs). We've let up 4-5 runs 14 times, so 40 out of 57 games we've let up 0-5 runs. If we took away the bottom 5 games, it would be something like 56 runs.

I understand your point, but would never call you "ignorant" for disagreeing. My point is that it's not like we're asking Papi to come back as a 1Bman, catcher or pitcher. Yes, being a DH with painful feet could be much more difficult than any of us imagine, and I have said all along that if the pain Papi feels or the prognosis for his future ability to walk pain-free is indicated, then I have no issue with him retiring. My position is that the Sox should respectfully make him a fantastic offer and then respect his choice. Many players weigh their love of the game vs pain or probability of life-long debility and choose to play longer. I'd say NFL players do this from the first day of practice.

Do a front teeth count on NHL players.

Actually, it's probably more accurate o say he spent that money on Victorino, Napoli (1st & 2nd signings), Dempster, Drew, AJ P, Mujica and other minor signings from 2013 to 2014, but your point is well taken, The fact is, we've failed pretty miserably at signing FAs, especially big named ones. If one looks at the record or most big signings, only a handful could be called big successes from the team's standpoint.

The guy had one of the most grueling off season workout regiments in MLB. I think that's what made him so good with the Rays, but if you look closely at his numbers, even with the Rays, he was always awful vs LHPs. That's why I called him a "glorified platoon player" when we signed him. I also said his contract would "cripple us for years to come". Luckily, Ben found a way to undo Theo's biggest mistake.

These are probably our deadline options: 1) stand pat and pray one our our many mediocre or worse starters catches on fire 2) trade (overpay) for a 4th/5th starter type that may or may not end up being better than option A 3) trade (way overpay) for a good pitcher who is clearly better than our #4/5 starter, but who is only under team control for 2+ months. 4) trade the farm for a controllable SP'er that is a solid #1 or #2 or top #3 type. I'm always for upgrading the rotation near the top, but I'm just not sure any of the above options appeals to me.

I don't think this helps our position one bit, but if you do.... http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills Most demanding sports: 1) Boxing 2) Ice Hockey 3) Football 4) Basketball 5) Wrestling 6) Martial Arts 7) Tennis 8) Gymnastics 9) Baseball/Softball 10) Soccer and... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/832927-what-is-the-worlds-toughest-sport/page/12 Youghest sports... 1) Water Polo 2) Aussie Rules 3) Boxing 4) Rugby 5) Ice Hockey 6) Football 7) Hurling 8) Basketball 9) Gymnastics 10) Gaelic Football 11) Soccer/Tennis 13) Ironman Triathlon Again, this isn't my choice of proving anything, but neither is ghost busters, errr, I mean Myth Busters.

Yeah, I mean no Myth Busters references so no legitimacy.

Yes, and I'm fine with that angle, since I was referring to Papi's physical issues. I still think injuries are more likely in the NBA, especially if you are not in good shape. I think a significant amount of baseball injuries are due to the fact that players do not need to be in good shape to be good at it, so they tweek hammies and backs, and groins, and...

For Papi, it doesn't matter which one, but I was intending to mean Physical fitness needed to play the game well- injuries were secondary but focused on foot stress.

Can't be much worse than what we've had so far.

We play in a hitter's park. I'm not trying to say our pitching is fine as is, because I think it needs a serious upgrade, but it's not as bad as ERA shows it is: 17th ERA- at 101 15th WHIP at 1.31 14th in SIERA at 4.07 Now, if we breakdown our SP'er numbers: 18th ERA- at 108 15th in WHIP at 1.34 19th in SIERA at 4.38 Bad, but still not bottom third in MLB. I went through the rosters of all the teams that look like they may be serious sellers this July, and I couldn't find anyone I felt would be the type of guy we need AND who could realistically get without giving up too much of our future. I hope we don't settle on a band-aid pitcher for a very good prospect or two.

the NBA. But, in the context of Papi's situation, I can't see him running up and down the court with NBA players. Playing any MLB position, other than maybe catcher and pitcher, would rank as less physically demanding than the NBA. Out of all positions in the 4 major sports, in my opinion, only punter and placekicker rank as less demanding positions than DH.

This topic has gotten off course. This all was started in the context of Papi playing DH vs other major sports (in general- not specific positions) and how it relates to his injuries. . I meant it in the context of Papi playing DH in MLB vs another major sport (other than maybe as a punter or place kicker). I was too vague in my initial statement and have been roasted alive with tangents and semantics. Only a few have actually responded to the, what I felt was obvious, intent of my statement.

I lived in the Portland area most of my life.

Yeah, playing baseball is a horrible grind and is much more physically demanding than other major sports. You guys win. Those football players are woosies. I mean, only 16 games!

Oh, Mythbusters is absolutely factual in every sense. I said baseball "In general", not the hardest position in every sport. Man, you guys like to nit-pick. Hitting is a very difficult skill to master, but that's not the same as saying it is "physically demanding". I've said I erred in the wording of my initial statement, but if you want to roast me alive for that, then have fun.

Now, who is talking in absolutes?

I should have been clearer when I said "easiest sport in the world", that I meant major 4 sports, but just to be clear, are you saying major league baseball, in general, is a more physically demanding sport than the NFL, NBA and NHL?

Sorry. Newbie mistake.

How quickly he fell.