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So therefore it is quantifiable, just by metrics we can’t find on Fangraphs...

When? And how dumb were they? This team started out 17-2 or something like that. Was the “2” proof of fallibility and therefore too much for some fans?

Tend to agree with Jacko here. Porcello might want to come back at a reduced cost, he can’t go too low without the union getting upset. And the Sox commitments for next season might be too prohibitive. Especially with the JD Martinez situation looming. Holt has stated he wants to come back, but hasn’t Ben extended. I don’t think this means he is definitely gone, but it certainly leaves the door wide open...

Once the financial implications became clear, I was critical of the Pearce signing. And when Wilson Ramos signed for something like $1.5mill more, I found it disappointing. In fact, the Sox could have signed Ramos, and cut Thornburg and/or Leon (assuming no one wanted Vazquez) and saved cash and maybe even had a better team. Heck, for less than the cost of Pearce, Thornburg, and Leon, the Sox could have brought in Ramos, Alex Wilson and lefty-mashing 1b Danny Valencia. But it’s too late for that now. Fixing 2b? Lin and eventually Chavis, assuming he works out. Bullpen? Domingo Tapia is off to a great start in Pawtucket. I’ve never been a fan of Workman or Johnson, and Thornburg May never be the pitcher he was in Milwaukee again. Or keep Ramirez in there. As for moving Betts, opinions seem to be divided. Some want him leading off. Some want him further down. I like the idea of keeping him 2nd. But he has to get going at some point...

It might be time to move on, at least short term. At this point in a season, trades are unlikely, since no one is really out of it yet, not even the Sox. So internal options for 2b get the first shot. Also, unlike trades, if an internal option doesn’t work out, it’s easily undone. But we might have a different case here. The Sox don’t have any 2b prospects knocking on the door, except the minimally-experienced Chavis. Lin is the only other possibility, and really, the most likely candidate if they move quickly off Nunez/Holt. I’d like to see another 2b option beyond Lin. I’d like to see the Sox offer Swihart to the Astros for 2b Jack Mayfield. No idea if Houston would want Swihart, but if they do, getting via waiver claim is unlikely. Their starting catcher is Robinson Chirinos, who, while better than Swihart, is a sketchy player. He is off to a good start however. The same cannot be said for their backup Max Stassi and his .161 OPS. And really, Swihart need not be relegated to a BUC role anyway. And they clearly don’t want Mayfield. He’s a 28yo career minor leaguer blocked by a former MVP. But he is a good defensive infielder and is sporting an insane 1.140 OPS so far, albeit in the notoriously hitter-friendly PCL. Mayfield might not solve the Sox 2b problem, but he needs a good chance he won’t get in Houston. And if the cost is a player already on DFA, why not? Neither Houston nor Boston has a full 40-man roster, so there is no ancillary damage for either team....

Bizarre 2019 Stats: Yesterday for the first time in his 6,829 plate appearance career, Joey Votto popped out to the first baseman...

No mic drop?

And here lies the issue with message boards as a method of communicating. When you say things like “practice how you play,” a phrase as a coach I love, to me it does mean practice intense, practice hard, practice tenacious, etc. Also I like “focus.” Good word to describe another aspect of what I meant. Arguably different but inarguably related...

I think it’s easy to prove Belichick’s superiority, and in a very quantifiable way. Check his fingers. But as for the intangible/faith qualities, it’s not about existence. Sure they exist. It’s about acceptance and complacency. When the team thinks “well this worked last year,” they’re ignoring that it worked in a different league. Other teams around, particularly the closer ones, will improve. And what worked when those were lesser teams might not work so well when they’re better ones. Especially since this process involves evaluating one small part of a very large machine. Sure, there is the adage “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” But just because it isn’t broken doesn’t mean it’s optimized...

I think he’s saying Ellsbury is paid less than his estimate of the settlement with the insurance company...

The only other option is a DFA, where he will/should go unclaimed and collect his full guaranteed salary. But the 60 day IL accomplished the same results with the addition of ensuring he retires as a member of the Red Sox...

Can you imagine the uproar around other coaches on the Sox and other teams if Pedroia got $25mill for coaching? That’s probably more than all the coaches in the AL East combined. And many would probably be better than the untried rookie. Like Bryan Bannister? What happens when his contract is due and he’s done a great job but is making $24.5 mill (for example) less than a less effective coach? And really, no one knows if Pedroia wants to coach. We do absolutely without a shadow of a doubt know he wants to play...

Ok. While I see your point, bear in mind that “practice how you play” is supposed to teach tenacity and intensity. Players don’t make MLB if they don’t have these facets ingrained in their personality as tough they were instinctive traits. We all played aseball growing up. But at this level, there are very big differences from the game we grew up playing. I do agree the Sox are ill-prepared. But that’s in a comparative sense and not an absolute one. It would appear that everyone else is better prepared. Make more sense?

We don’t need Chavis to botch 2b. Nunez is quite capable of doing that all by himself. And Brandon Phillips does have a phone...

The hitting analogy can be expanded further. I would argue a .295 hitter is the same as a .300 hitter with the caveat that there are numerous other stats to help separate them. I think you agree a .295/.380/.550 hitter is better than a .300/.330/.415 hitter. As with CERA, there is a danger with small sample sizes regarding opponents. A pitcher and catcher who have 100PAs together against the three worst offensive teams can be very misleading. Or in 3 pitcher-friendly parks. Like all stats, we hope the larger sample sizes even it out. But like with a lot of other stats, it doesn’t always. And more important, fearing the unknown and accepting the status quo simply because it worked once is dangerous. Cherington found this out in 2014, and it lead to bad decisions that plague the Sox to this day...

But all of that is so unknown and so dependent on so many factors. For example, the pitcher/catcher relationship. I realized how important this was watching how Hideo Nomo suddenly became less effective when Varitek got hurt. But that doesn’t mean it takes years to build. Jose Molina, for example, changed teams more often than many people change underwear, but was certainly able to establish himself with many pitchers very quickly. The issue with intangible arguments is they get categorized two ways: “worked” and “didn’t work.” And this simple method leaves many thinking “worked” is good enough and there is no need/little room/small possibility for improvement. The fact is there is an infinite array of possibilities, and the new ones aren’t all bad...

The goals of Spring Training should be 1) get ready and 2) don’t get hurt. They were massively successful at the second goal. But appear to have fared miserably at the first. As for “practice like you play,” this is absolutely wonderful advice for little leaguers and high school players. But we are talking about grown-up adult professional players here. Many already levels of intensity and tenacity beyond our mere mortal comprehension. These people enjoy competition for a living. The same advice our little league and high school coaches just does not apply...

And if he retires, his contract is voided. Just like with Gil Meche and Ryan Dempster, and would be the case with Prince “Technically Still Active” Fielder...

And why would Pedroia want to do that? I know why fans want him to, but not why Pedroia would want to...

Then how do you know they even exist or are effective?

You are incorrect. If Pedroia retires, he is out and gets nothing more. This is why Prince Fielder is technically not retired but remains in name only on the 60 day IL for the Rangers, and will for another full year. If Prince officially retired, he would have forfeited $96mill...

Given his off-season spending spree, DDis going to need some minimum wage rookies to step in. This means it’s actually almost safe to pencil in Mike Shawaryn or Darwinzon Hernandez (or more likely, both) for the 2020 rotation. Both are certainly huge question marks as MLB pitchers, even with Hernandez having limited success this ST. But neither alone will be able to fill Porcello’s one undeniable skill of durability...

But outside of CERA, which is questionable, what does quantify that relationship?

If he retires, he walks away from $25mill over the next two years. Not happening...

Looking at a bigger picture like WAR, you are...