Nick

I have not looked up the stats but my gut tells me that Moreland should not play much on the road. He seem to hit better at home. Now I've not looked at the stats but it feels as left field fence gives him more comfort. Knowing he can reach it without trying. Consequently he hits better at home because he simply hits it where its pitched. How's that for scientific analysis?

Saturday night, I went to a local pub, watched NCAA and the Sox side by side. Yesterday, I went to another pub, watched the Sox, Cubs and Houston Open side by side by side. Gotta spend a little, drink a little.

No one is losing their mind. This forum is no different than Sox season. It will have its ebbs and flows. Happy Easter to everyone by the way. I hope you got to spend it with your love ones.

We should be 4-0.

I think we all need to have a short memory. I've battled with you about your tired argument over giving up too much on Kimbrel trade. (that's a joke Moon). But I enjoy your posts and contribution to the Board. I really can't think of anyone that I dislike here. Maybe except for that guy keeps ragging on DD. (that's another joke) You and I do see eye to eye on that one player.

I respect you. My first instinct is always to be funny. And it's not directed at the poster. Comedy is not easy. I am good with this team except for one player. I will move on.

Let's all play nice. We're 3-1.

Second tier penalty of 12.5% maybe acceptable to Henry. That percentage remains the same. Basically it's $2.5M. Problem is the 1st tier penalty because the penalty rate increases quickly from 20% to 30% to 50%. I seriously doubt Henry wants to be stuck at 50% penalty long term. So from where I sit, we have three year window before the team is somewhat dismantled. Dismantled maybe little strong. What I'm saying is we can't keep everyone. Henry will pay 50% ONCE, but no more. He will want a reset. One mitigating factor is that new CBA will come into play in 2022. I suspect that players are not happy with current arrangement. Acceleration in revenue far exceeds that of luxury tax limit. More money is flowing into owner's pocket. Sox will need to prioritize. Hanley situation will play out. If we're able to get out of his contract, ie no vesting, I have no illusion of THAT $22M savings going nowhere but to pay for arbitration increases. I'm hoping Pom has a great year so that we can offer him a qualifying offer to recoup some of his acquisition price (our once highly rated prospect that went to San Diego). Someone like Johnson will need to step up and fill the void. I think DD values Kimbrel and he'll be back. It's silly to have Sale and Price and not to have a quality closer. No doubt, juggling money will be a challenge. Something Yankees have under control. For 2020, Sandoval's money will pay for arbitration raises and Porcello's $20M will be used on top of Sale's $13M to re-sign him. Again, another starter internally needs to emerge. Our top 3 should be Sale, Price and E Rod. We can do worse. Kimbrel, Sale and Betts are my priorities. (yeah I can day dream and think Carson Smith can replace Kimbrel but that appears not to be realistic)

Don't we want to recoup something?

Hanley situation will play out. I have no interest in bringing back Kelly. If Johnson develops this year than you have to think about simply making Pom a qualifying offer. Again, something has to give. Sale, Price, Porcello, E Rod and Johnson/TBD. I'd also think about trading away JBJ. I prefer not to do anything, but you can't have it all.

Timely hits today...

In 2013 being patient at the plate worked. The goal was to get into opponent's bullpen. I'm not sure that's a big deal against the good teams in 2018. Several teams pose good 1 2 3 punch to close out the games. Why would anyone want to get to Kimbrel as an example? Our record was 76-19 when tied or lead after 4 innings. It really is about scoring 1st.

We'd be all in.....like I said , fantasy baseball. But definitely had the AAV payroll appeal.

To think Stanton could have been had for $25M AAV. Not sign Moreland and trade JBJ, savings of $12M. RF Betts CF Beni 1B Hanley LF Stanton DH Martinez SS Xander 3B Devers 2B Nunez C Vazquez. One can only dream.....it's just money.

Yep, someone's contract needs to come off just to pay the arbitration raises. We can also look to move someone like JBJ (hey I don't want to), knowing we have JD Martinez along with Nunez and Swihart.

Real problem is Sandoval's contract. $19M for nothing. I suppose one can argue that at least he won't have negative war numbers. You lop off $19M, our payroll would just be the 'highest'.

It doesn't have to be Betts. As Moon has laid out eloquently, something has to give at some point. We're already at second penalty phase. The trouble is that penalty rate keeps going up. We probably have two years of keeping this team as is. We just need to let 2018 play out and keep our eyes open.

I think there are several ways to go about our business. We maybe too hung up about building the future with 'our' players. I doubt I'm going to feel bad winning using different players. So here we go.... Betts maybe a good trade bait after this season. Say it's going to cost us $18M after he lead us to World Series win. Can we get a young, controllable pitcher for him who is major league ready? You also let Pom go, may be his market value is $20M. You take that money and go sign Harper. You gain additional cliff hanger time by postponing permanently having to sign Betts. Betts $18M $22M $33M Pom $20M $20M $20M Harper $33M $33M $33M Kid SP $500 $500 $4M We can take the Tampa Bay approach and trade out some of our players. Keeping everyone together is unrealistic. We need to think outside of the box.

Moon I'm little confused with your position. I'm all for responsible spending. It's my hope Hanley's contract does not vest. I hope Carson Smith can take over the closer's role. We go without either Pom or Porcello for 2019. It's probably easier to just let Pom go this year and Porcello next year. That saves $43M (Hanley, Pom and Kimbrel). You throw Wright or Johnson into starting rotation in 2019, Price, Sale, Porcello, E Rod, Johnson/Wright is a rotation you can win with. Sign a cheap 1 year deal do platoon at 1B. We can't have it all.

I'm not sure dropping 10 picks if we finish in the top 5 is a big deal. We'll be picking low anyway. We definitely helped ourselves drafting Beni 7th after crappy season. Hopefully that won't happen again soon. I'm not too worry about losing Kelly unless you think Kelly can replace Kimbrel. Someone else will emerge. We just need to let this season play out and see where we are. You never know who will come out of the minors.

It just took extending Vazquez to get off the steep cliff? Don't get me wrong. I am a Vazquez fan. I'm glad he's been extended. We had a little hiccup with him due to his injury but he looks to back on track. Essentially Sox can have him for 5 years. I'm pleased Swihart is getting a second look. He's also had a little detour due to his injury while playing left field and Sox really not sure where to play him. I still think he has plenty in his tank. He's also under team control for 5 years. Basically we have locked up C, 2B, 3B, LF and DH. If Martinez opts out we have his $20M+ to replace him so that won't be a big deal. As Moon has pointed out incessantly, finding a replacement at 1B won't be a big deal. Basically that leaves SS, CF and RF. We still have 3 years of Betts and JBJ. Emergence of Poyner again points to not having to spend much resources for bullpen, as long as you have a reliable closer. Starters will require real money but it's doable.

Maybe my head in the sand but you head is definitely up Holt's ass. Change in his body will make him better defender? He sucks at every position. If we need long term replacement, Holt isn't it. Let see how long it takes Holt to get injured.

+1,000,000 Best post by Moon, ever.

Yanks haven't done it. It doesn't mean they can't do it. But looking good on paper does not always translate to performance on the field. We've won two in a row. And I think this team is better than the last two.

Don't forget to add $2.2M for All Star Holt.