harmony

Impressive win.

Again, I don't hate (and question the priorities of a fan who derives hate from a pastoral pastime). I probably don't hold a grudge against the Dodgers for the 1965 World Series any more than I hold a grudge against the Red Sox for overtaking my Minnesota Twins on the final two days of the 1967 season en route to the American League pennant. My only trip to Fenway Park (2010) was more recent than my last trip to Dodger Stadium for the 2009 home opener. I have not returned to Los Angeles since although each year I make a few trips to San Diego. I was last in Boston two years ago for the Head of the Charles Regatta. I did not see the Dodgers or Red Sox (or any other team) play in Seattle this year. The Red Sox open the 2019 season in Seattle and I will join friends for a game or two. In other words, it's a close call on my allegiances. I simply hope to see some exciting baseball. I follow the Red Sox the way a person studies a second language. In the process I learn more about my native tongue and language in general. I apologize to the extent that I have annoyed anyone. That is not my intention. Warm regards.

I tend to cheer for, not against. It's that quirky positivity thing.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/community/dodgers-foundation/

West Coast bias. Gimme a reason to cheer for the Red Sox. BTW, I avoid hate.

I've held a grudge against the Los Angeles Dodgers since the Blue topped my Minnesota Twins in the seventh game of the 1965 World Series that spanned my 10th birthday. I've probably seen more MLB games at Dodger Stadium than at any other venue but I could never embrace the Dodgers despite living within walking distance* for six years. Nevertheless I find myself pulling for the West Coast team in this year's World Series. Sorry, Sox fans. I hope we see an exciting series. * actually I walked the four miles to and from my home to Dodger Stadium for one afternoon game.

For what it's worth, when Hanley Ramirez was released Blake Swihart had played 19 games, posting a .139/.244/.167/.411 line: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=swihabl01&t=b&year=2018

That "deep slump" in May was limited to 19 games that saw Hanley Ramirez post a .163/.200/.300/.500 line. As a point of reference, ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr. posted a .158/.238/.228/.466 line in his first 19 games in May.

With the advanced analytics in every front office, the impressive five-game postseason series would do little to enhance Jackie Bradley’s trade value.

Despite their flaws the Seattle Mariners have Edwin Diaz and Alex Colome, who have each led the American League in saves in a season the last two years. The Mariners also have a crowded middle infield with three former All Stars -- Robinson Cano, Jean Segura and Dee Gordon -- as potential replacements for Dustin Pedroia. Rick Porcello would be a decent target but for the $21 million price tag for the righthander's final year of team control. A match is doubtful.

Jackie Bradley Jr. joins Alcides Escobar and Delmon Young* as past winners of the MVP award in the American League Championship Series. I hold Bradley in high regard but an impressive five-game postseason series (preceded by a less-impressive four-game postseason series) won't have a great impact on his value. * and Marty Barrett!

Perhaps versatile nearly 26-year-old Texas infielder Jurickson Profar, who this year posted 2.9 fWAR in 146 games to Jackie Bradley Jr.'s 2.8 fWAR in 144 games. Like Bradley, who turns 29 in April, Profar has his third and fourth arbitration seasons remaining although Profar has a projected 2019 salary of only $3.4 million to Bradley's projected $7.9 million. Of course the Texas Rangers already have a surplus of lefthand-hitting outfielders.

Steven Wright pitched 13.1 innings for the Red Sox in 2013 but did not make a postseason appearance: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=wrighst01&t=p&year=2013 That year Wright made one start in a 15-10 Red Sox win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU201308060.shtml

MLB Trade Rumors projects Jackie Bradley Jr. with a 2019 salary of $7.9 million: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/10/mlb-arbitration-salaries-2019.html

Holt and Wright for six? https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2013.shtml

The runner-up for the Red Sox job can apply here: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/job-posting-new-york-yankees-baseball-operations/

The Seattle Mariners might be willing to part with two years of Alex Colome or four years of Edwin Diaz, relievers who each have led the American League in saves in the last two seasons. Colome, who topped the league in saves while pitching in the AL East, is projected to earn a 2019 arbitration salary of $7.3 million. Diaz remains near the league minimum salary as a pre-arbitration player. I'm not sure the Red Sox would be interested or whom the Sox could offer in trade.

I suspect that won't get it done. FWIW, righthander Andrew Moore, whom Seattle dealt to Tampa Bay in the Colome/Span trade, had lost his prospect status after making nine MLB starts in 2017.

Alex Colome posted an ERA of 2.53 and an ERA+ of 162 in 46.1 innings with the Seattle Mariners. As a point of reference, Craig Kimbrel this season posted an ERA of 2.74 and an ERA+ of 160 in 62.1 innings with the Red Sox.

From Tuesday's FanGraphs chat with columnist Kiley McDaniel: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/kiley-mcdaniel-chat-10-16-18/ I question whether Jay Groome andf Michael Chavis would be enough to land two years of Seattle reliever Alex Colome, who led the league in saves only a year ago.

According to ESPN: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25001681/mlb-investigating-houston-astros-photographer-alcs-vs-boston-red-sox

You're hired! https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/job-posting-boston-red-sox-analyst/ Unless Kimmi applies.

You are mistaken: https://nypost.com/2018/10/11/70m-for-gregorius-five-questions-yankees-should-mull-early/ https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/didi-gregorius-needs-tommy-john-surgery-in-yankees-downer/ On an unrelated matter, would the Red Sox be interested in four years of Seattle closer Edwin Diaz, as a replacement for Craig Kimbrel, and/or four or five reasonably priced years of Seattle shortstop Jean Segura as a Dustin Pedroia replacement and a hedge against the potential departure of Xander Bogaerts to free agency following the 2019 season? Whom would the Red Sox be willing to trade for either All Star?

After attending five Spring Training games in three days I ended up seeing only two regular-season MLB games, neither featuring my endearing Seattle Mariners. In my first Cactus League game I was in the second row among Brewers fans down the first-base line at Surprise Stadium. I thought the massive Jesus Aguilar was only a March wonder and that Josh Hader was a quirky but unspectacular reliever. Last month I saw Aguilar (and Manny Pina) blast three-run homers in my first-ever game at Miller Park in Milwaukee. For the rest of October I'm a Milwaukee Brewers fan.

Shortstops Xander Bogaerts and Didi Gregorius each have one more season before free agency. Just before the announcement of the latter's pending Tommy John surgery, New York Post columnist Joel Sherman wrote that Gregorius could be in line for an extension similar to the five-year, $70 million deal the Seattle Mariners gave shortstop Jean Segura in June 2017: https://nypost.com/2018/10/11/70m-for-gregorius-five-questions-yankees-should-mull-early/ Over the past three seasons Bogaerts has posted 12.8 fWAR in 441 games, Segura 11.8 fWAR in 422 games and Gregorius 11.4 fWAR in 423 games.