notin

OK. So we can trade Swihart for Bartolo Colon and then demote him. Colon easily takes up two roster spots...

Page 1 was a lot of Edwin Starr jokes, But after that the criticisms of it start. ..

And you went put that awful wedding dance in my head now...

No. He Needs to be a hitter to really find a way to stick. I always liked him as a prospect, but in MLB today most players have a very brief window to develop and stick, And if they can't do it, there is always someone younger and quicker and less injured trying to take your place. That said, I could see some faltering team giving him a decent shot in RF. That might be the position he fits into best...

Well, bear in mind the thread title we are posting on...

But the difference here on TalkSox is it's a debate you might be able to win.

So does that make us the Floyd Mayweather and Colin McGregor of TalkSox? If so, you're McGregor...

It wasn't about obligation; it was a simple debate on a message board. We both had opposing sides and I tried to alter your view of mine. But then, that's how debates work...

And here is the Backfire Effect, but with a twist. I'm actually trying to explain these concepts and there relevance and how to use them to enhance the game whole deliberately not sounding like a know-it-all. But my perception has been that you and others are actually the know-it-all's and don't want to hear any of it. Odd comical twist to the debate...

I bet you get fan mail in your inbox when you say stuff like that to me. I know I get it when I say stuff like that to you...

Any reason you think the Sox won't just demote Bobby Poyner? They've already done it once this year...

If you go by fWAR, the Sox have the second best bullpen in the AL, behind NY. If yo go by ERA they are fourth best, behind Houston, NY and Toronto. Houston has fewer fWAR because the bullpen has pitched roughly 25% fewer innings. Toronto has a better ERA but less fWAR because their team ERA in the bullpen is a mirage. The Jays' relievers are walking more, striking out less and giving up more home runs that the Sox relievers. Their better bullpen ERA won't last if they keep pitching this poorly...

I want to disagree with that lineup, but I can't figure out a better way. Except maybe flipping 7 and 8, but that's just nitpicking and probably inconsequential...

Extend him now!!! Give him the Wakefield contract!!

No. He does have a crazy high BABIP considering his hitting profile. Since he is still hitting line drives/groundballs/flyballs at roughly his career rates, it should unfortunately normalize for him at some point...

His swing doesm't look different to me. I keep wondering if it's an eyesight issue. But then that is one of those things I assume he has had checked by now...

His offense was so abysmal that series. Let's let his defense be brilliant. He needs that much...

Well, I guess accusing and deflecting would be easier than actually answering the questions I keep posing in this debate...

I would counter by saying it hasn't even been implied. Most of these WAR arguments start with someone saying how useless the new statistics are because they don't agree with them for one reason or another, including this very thread. Some do start with other logic, such as when people were angry omit the omission of Bradley from the Gold Glove, and UZR and dWAR were brought into it. But the arguments against Bradley for Gold Glove all had the same flaw that had NOTHING to do with sabermetrics or advanced stats - none of us had seen enough of the other candidates to refute their nominations. The problem is, the non-sabermetric crowd to me appears to be taking the stance "I don't like these new stats because they don't always agree with what I see." And they ignore the obvious reason for that - because they see more. Many of them are based on floating baselines of replacement level or league average. But rather than taking the opportunity to enhance the appreciation of the subtleties of the game that they can capture with their own eyes, or look at certain aspects of the game in a new way, or using them to decide to explore seeing other players (Andrelton Simmons became a must-see for me after I saw how he was destroying MLB with defensive metrics, and wow. The man does not disappoint.), it instead turns into a giant pissing match with a bunch of fans deciding they know more than the stats and stats guys, and already have their pants down, rulers out., with their high school baseball war stories at the ready to back them up. And heresy to anyone who dare try and bring up these new-fangled numbers. Their very existence is a personal insult to my expertise!! And oh my God, try and explain some of these advantages of new stats over traditional stats and over eye test. I think Galileo had an easier time with heliocentricity. The Backfire Effect in full force...

Really another longshot might be Devers gets demoted. As much as we have made of Bradley's (4 for his last 56) struggles, Devers' slump (8 for his last 57) is fairly comparable. Both players have options. And Devers has been less of a defenisve contributor. I doubt it happens, but it certainly is an option. Of course, if Nunez is still somewhat gimpy, placing him on the DL is certainly the frontrunner. Unless someone else gets more seriously hurt between now and Pedroia's return...

Well by using that logic, shouldn't "Pedroia gets traded" be on your list?

Yes. Because I never posted there

Possible, although I think less likely. Especially less likely than Nunez going on the DL, which allows the Sox to keep everyone for a while and not deplete any depth. (The only reason they might is because Swihart demanded a trade.) Of course, Nunez to the DL is a temporary solution. At some poiint, they are going to activate him.

Why would the Sox need a DH? Is JD Martinez going to retire? If Hanley struggles, Moreland plays more. Seems pretty simple to me...

Ranked in order of likelhood (my opinion) 2, 1, 3, 4.