notin

The Chapman scenario did involve a lot of luck. It's not every year you have a team with a chance to break a 108 World Series drought at all costs. Torres was preseason #41 on BA. Manny Machado was traded at the deadline, and while the Orioles did receive 3 prospects for him, only one was ever ranked and he never cracked the top 30 on anyone's list. So trading at the deadline likely gets you a ranked prospect in the 35-45 range. And some other ancillary pieces. Is that enough?

It also helps that the Sox media doesn't massively overhype any system 19yo with a fastball over 95mph and build up our hopes with a slew of Luis Cessa / Jonathan Loasigia / Joba Chamberlain types as MLB future aces. Exactly how many starting pitchers has the Yankee farm put in their rotation in the past ten years besides Severino and Ivan Nova? I guess you can count that one season from Jordan Montgomery. Maybe he can pitch again someday...

Screw objectivity. Astros-Twins.

I'm thinking Nats and Braves

Dodgers are 4-3 against the Nationals this year. But they are 1-3 in games started by Corbin, Schezer and Strasburg. Braves are 4-2 against the Cardinals.

I'm fine with that. I think far too much blame fell on Levangie anyway. If he winds up managing the Worcester Red Sox or something, that's ok with me...

Tell that to Terry Francona...

I don't think it does him a favor. The topflight free agents like Harper and Machado were not limited due to the draft pick loss. It's the middle tier Stephen Drew/Kendrys Morales types who are. The limiting factor with Betts will be the price tag. Just like it was with JD Martinez (who also had no qualifying offer attached)...

One year of Betts is already a fire sale price. Trading Betts at the deadline - when he loses any potential drat pick compensation - lessens his value more. If the Sox are trying to reset the tax limit, it will be tough if they keep JD and Betts. Not impossible, but very difficult. But I hope they do keep at least one of them...

Very possible. Of course, a "near miss" has become a reason for firing a manager in MLB. Like Girardi and Dusty Baker...

There's no indication Eppler is leaving Los Angeles, and he's not such a marquee name that he would automatically be a candidate in Boston if he did...

The Nationals can be very dangerous in a short series, with Strasburg, Corbin and Scherzer lined up...

I like to think that. But honestly, I have no idea how true it is for any owner of any team...

There is a hierarchy in play here. DD was fired. They will bring in or promote a new GM. That GM will make a decision about Cora. If Cora is fired, then the new GM will bring in a new manager. That manager will make a decision about Levangie. As well as all the other coaches. Firing Levangie now is no different than firing him in January. There is no reason to rush for the same of rushing...

Can you blame his wife for being concerned about the finances? She just turned 40 and her days of being a trophy wife are numbered...

Do you think the ROI was just the financial return? Or was some of it the loss of prestige for not winning another title? I guess it really depends what motivates Henry...

Not sure why so many are quick to direct the anger at Henry. The guy has been spending in excess of $200mill each year on our entertainment. Other, more wealthy owners have tried to keep spending in check for whatever reason. Remember Carl Pohlad? He was the former owner of the Twins and was one of the wealthiest people on Earth, but he insisted on keeping the Twins' payroll near the bottom of all MLB teams. And no one knows why. While he was the owner, the Twins became the first MLB team ever to draw 3,000,000 fans in a season. It's not like they weren't popular. There is no reason a good GM cannot build a good baseball team for less than $200mill. Other GMs do it every year. The Sox just need a GM who can do that, preferably repeatedly. In fact, I'm not even impressed at all if a GM has to spend $240mill to build a competitive team. I'll take it a step further; it's actually a bad idea to do that, because it all but ensures a period of non-competitive baseball as those expensive contracts start getting older...

THe Rays are nice, but GO TWINS!!!

Point?

According to Sam Kennedy, a reset is “a goal but not a mandate.” That does mean there is a good chance Porcello, along with Moreland, Holt, Pearce, Wright, and Bradley, is probably gone. And Heath Hembree is on the fence...

No guarantee either of them are back...

Point?

Is it all talent recognition? The Dodgers did take Devin Smeltzer and Luke Raley ahead of Tony Gonsolin...

My choices in order: 1. Cora 2. Ausmus 3. Hurdle 4. Maddon 5. Scioscia

But if he opts out this year, he is walking away from $60mill. If he opts out after next season, it's only $38,4mill...