That's why if we win the Big One this year, this organization needs to do some soul searching. How to set up for success over next several years and not just 2019. At some point, we'll have to reset our payroll structure. Soon to be expensive players coming due for free agency while we have high sticker price players already under long term contracts.
Rank relievers for the playoffs as of today. I don't want Kelly. 2nd coming of Clay B.
Brasier, Thornburg, Barnes, Hembree, Johnson, Vector, Poyner, Wright, Workman, Scott, Eavoldi. Who is 1-7?
Basically anyone can see the talent in Kimbrel two years ago. It's just money and players to get him.
Can we identify next great closer? Isn't that what good baseball people are able to do?
Who saw Brasier coming this year after spending several years away from MLB? Bonus to the scout that saw him overseas.
If we win the World Series, Sox can pretty much do anything and fans will be okay with it.
What am I saying? Explore trades. Trade out some expensive players for younger talent.
Again start at $239M, subtract Hanley ($22M), Pom ($9M), Kelly ($3.8M), add $9M for additonal space on Luxury Tax, Kimbrel ($13M) for total of approximately $57M to sign a closer (could be Kimbrel) and cover arbitration raises.
Personally I'd go for another World Championship and keep the payroll slightly under the second tier penalty.
Congrats to the team for winning 100 games. Unless you're 72 and older, you've never seen it.
Poor Ynakees.
90-56 with 16 freakin' games to go. I would have taken that for the Sox at beginning of the season. 90-56 with 16 games left. Oh by the way, you're 10 games back. Just goes to show how good this season has been for the Sox.
Scary thing is both Sale and E Rod has missed several starts. Also I predicted 93-96 (max) wins. No freakin way I saw 100 win season. And it's not over yet.
Price did not put gun to anyone's head to get his 7 year, $210M deal. Just saying.
On the heels of 2 last place finishes and essentially in his first full season coming up as President of baseball operations, DD did what he thought he had to do. Overpaid? Sure but it's always easier after the fact to evaluate the money given out.
Unless someone here can predict the future, you have no case against the signing. Some of you must be able to predict the highs and lows of stock market. How many millionaires on this board?
Sox will extend the Division champion streak to all time best 3 this year. I'm happy Price is on the team. Now let's talk about Pablo.
Is it possible that Devers' power numbers will explode as Ramirez' has? Devers looks to be more of traditional power hitter than Ramirez. I think we just live with him. Give him occasional time off when he's slumping. Devers has four more years to get to age 25.
Question for Kimmi
We can shed $47M from our payroll by letting go Hanley (done), Kimbrel, Pom and Kelly. Throw in additional $9M in cap increase. We have Sale, Price, Porcello and E Rod. #5 options are Wright, Johnson and Valazquez.
Do we have enough talent to get to the 2019 trade deadline as a contender and then look for additional reinforcement?
There were tons of conversation about JBJ prior to opening day. My thought is don't create a problem where there is none. Stick JBJ out there and let him do his thing.
Catching is another area we shouldn't worry about. Sandy is outstanding defensive catcher. I believe Vazquez is too. Now we're adding Swihart to the mix. We're solid.
Biggest issue for this team right now is inconsistency of the pen. Relievers can be fickle. Good one month, no so good the next month.
It's now all about getting ready for the playoffs.
Getting Chris Sale pushed everyone else in the starting rotation one rung down. FACT
Getting JD Martinez pushed everyone else in the lineup on rung down. FACT (we can argue about Betts/JD, former#2 is now #3, etc)
And who the f**k doesn't enjoy watching JD Martinez play every day?
Better to Know than Not to Know....
I really hope we get to see some of our organizational depth in September....I'm all for turning over every rock and seeing what's under it. Not all at once of course. Spread it out.
JBJ gives us so much defense that we need patience on offensive end. Question going forward is has he truly fixed his swing? Or will he always regress to hitting in .180's. Luckily we have enough offense to carry him.
He also owns a 0.20 ERA in his last seven starts, which is the lowest ERA over a seven-game stretch by a Red Sox starter since earned runs became an official stat in 1913. Over his last 44 innings, Sale has allowed one run while striking out 79 and walking six batters.
Chris Freakin' Sale!