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The Sox are clearly playing the "depth" game at bullpen. To me, I think this means it will be a big surprise if both Workman and Thornburg are not on the opening day roster, and from there it becomes a matter of time before either are both are either established or released. With 2 open spots on the 40-man roster, the Sox do have a few internal options they can promote. A lot of the arms the Sox signed might never see Fenway. Who has high hopes for Schlereth or Runzler or Ellington or Tapia? (OK I have mild hopes for Tapia, but they aren't likely to come true.) Before any of them, the other 40-an options include Poyner, Hernandez, Lakins, and Colten "Big Offseason Acquisition" Brewer. I would expect the last 2 spots to go to pitchers like Mejia, Feltman, Putnam, and Sharwyn at some point. And to get all 4, there are a few expendables like Walden and Shepherd and possibly even Sam Travis who might get DFA'd. We might even see Mejia on opening day, since Dombrowski says he believes closers need a special mentality (although his history does make me question if he believes it or to what extent he does) and Mejia is the most experienced closer in the entire Sox system. I'd like to see the Sox ad another bullpen arm - notably Josh Fields - but I don't think it's going to happen unless a minor league deal is involved...

Requiring speed for the leadoff hitter is the 1980's style of baseball, when stolen bases were king. It actually makes more sense to have the speediest player - particularly if he has limited OBP - batting 6th, 7th or 8th in the lineup, when the weaker hitters who are less likely to hit extra base hits are coming up and stealing a base to get into scoring position is more valuable. People like the 6th spot to still have some power potential. However, if you better SLG bats are hitting 2 through 5, you might not have anyone left by the 6th position anyway. And in that case, a speedy hitter who can start a rally in front of the weaker hitters does make sense. Stolen bases at the top of the lineup are an unnecessary risk. If the SB is part of the strategy, it makes more sense to use it when you actually need it...

Yes we get that Jose Abreu or Paul Goldschmidt might break the bank. We’re operating on the assumption he won’t be the Red Sox most pressing need. And in the past few years, the Sox needs have been supplementary players who don’t cost top prospect talent. The real question is - what will the Yankees do? Since Cashman would rather watch the Yankee season end prematurely rather than wait and learn some of his prospects might not be as good as he thought...

U It works in both leagues. Boggs didn’t steal bases, but he did hit over 40 doubles nearly every year. He did have a great OBP (.428 in 11 seasons in Boston). But don’t forget it was bolstered by his 0.338 batting average in Boston...

So you didn’t like Wade Boggs as a leadoff hitter?

Curse that other new rule!!

4 days and no decision. I wonder what Rotoworld was referring to. My guess is "plastic"...

I hear another new rule MLB is considering is that if you're one game behind on June 1, you win the division....

That the rotation has only thrown 9 innings might be a factor in that record...

Anyone’s take. I was thinking I should have started a dedicated thread. Out Dodgers Cubs A’s In Phillies Cardinals White Sox

But hopefully 60% of those on-deck appearances are in the bottom of the 8th or top of the 9th in games the Sox are winning...

Pawtucket

Sort of like how Pearce was a lock for 4 years $36mill...

Where was Oakland one year ago? Did you think they were any better then than you think Seattle is today? A lot can happen over 162 games. A key injury here and a breakout season there and an unexpected team makes the postseason. One year ago, I as listening to Steve Phillips and Edward Perez on MLB Network play a game they called “Three In, Three Out”. The premise was to name 3 postseason teams from the prior year that wouldn’t return to the playoffs and replace them with three new teams that would, based on recent history for how the postseason plays out. They invited a few guests to join in, but I forget who they were. Boston (along with Minnesota) was a universal “out” choice. Washington was not selected by anyone. Oops and oops. If we had to do a “Three In, Three Out” this year, what would your choices be?

But there is a huge difference between expectations and results. Even in those highlighted seasons, did everyone expect that level of disparity in March? (I don’t expect an actual answer.) And for the 12 “no chance” teams, bear I mind in each of the last two two years, a “no chance” team in the AL grabbed a Wild Card spot. Sure we look at the 8 AL teams listed above and think the remaining 7 have no shot, but there’s actually a decent chance and enough precedent to say it might not play out that way. Baltimore is certainly a mess. Toronto has a rough schedule. KC is trending downward from their pique in 2015. And nothing looks right with the Tigers. But every MLB team does have 25 MLB-caliber players, and MLB-caliber players sometimes do manage to put it all together when no one expects them to. Can the White Sox make an unexpected playoff run? They do have a lot of good young player’s capable of breaking out. (They may not this year - or ever - but they have a lot of potential talent). Or maybe Seattle can make a run. Certainly Los Angeles of Anaheim has some great players on the field, but can they overcome their constant influx of problems on the mound? While Toronto does have said rough schedule, even they might not be so bad. We credit Tampa with a shot at contention based upon 2 good months and a huge chunk of lackluster play that encompassed the rest of the season. Can Toronto or Anaheim or Chicago put together 2 good months? And these teams also have the potential to add the still-unsigned Keuchel and Kimbrel. Although in doing so, any run might feel less surprising...

MLB has always had bad teams and teams you knew had no chance from day one. But there is no denying this off-season and last year’s were boring to unprecedented levels...

Oh. Whoops...

“Come” to the Dark Side? Dude my mailing address has been on the dark side for years. I’m thinking of running for Dark Side School Board...

... can be very messy. (That adage needed a realistic update.)

I assume you failed him...

Change it back !! You’re making me look bad!!

And even sillier to think that Dombrowski would bow out in that case. If Martinez wants to opt out and reduce his AAV, how exactly is that a hindrance to Boston?

So true, but DD has given us so little to talk about this off-season that we have a 23 page thread dedicated to who should be the backup catcher. And even still no decision seems imminent...

I expect Cora to have input but ultimately the decision falls with Dombrowski.,,

Eh. I’ve read plenty who say Leon is. Of course all of this is the speculation of sportswriters when the only opinion that matters is Dombrowski’s...