CentralChamps21

Rodon wins the NL Cy Young Kimbrel saves Game 7 of the NLCS Manaea is Top 5 in AL Cy Young Conforto hits 30 HR Madrigal gets 150 hits

I don't have the time to do this anytime soon, but if someone really wants to shed some light on things: Run three correlations on the 2021 season or if you're really adventurous, a set of seasons. 1. Starters ERA to winning % 2. Bullpen ERA to winning % 3. Team OPS to winning % My instinct is that #3 will have the lowest correlation, but I'd be interested in the data.

Sox need another starter Kimbrel needs to close Solution: Make Hendriks a starter

After the second round, I like to compare the conferences' Top 16 seeding to the number of teams they actually got into the Sweet 16. Conference / # of Top 16 seeds / # of Sweet 16 Teams SEC / 4 / 1 B12 / 3 / 3 B1G / 3 / 2 P12 / 2 / 2 BEast / 2 / 2 ACC / 1 / 3 WCC / 1 / 1 AAC / 0 / 1 MAAC / 0 / 1 Underperformed: SEC. Only 1 of 4 made it to the Sweet 16, and that one was the lowest seeded of the four. Perhaps the conference was overrated. Overperformed: ACC. We heard all year about how down the ACC was, but they got 3 teams through to the Sweet 16 and very nearly a 4th.

ACC was not as weak as everybody thought. #8 UNC beat #1 Baylor. #11 ND beat #6 Bama (by a lot) and almost beat #3 TTech. #10 Miami beat #7 USC and #2 Auburn.

Somebody forgot to tell the Big Ten that today's games count.

Nobody other than you understood that.

I don't think the Sox are cheap for the sake of being cheap, nor do I think they are deliberately trying to finish in 2nd. I do think they have an extreme fear of a winning bid for a premium free agent turning into an albatross, like the guy on the north side who is still owed $44 million and is on his best day a platoon player and more often than not a guy you bring in during a double switch (which is going away). I think they're being a little bit risk averse though. There are some FA signings that I thought were reasonable and the Sox could have been in the running for without an extreme level of risk: Ray, Schwarber, Marte and Stroman to name a few. I think not giving Rodon the QO was too risk averse, as that's only a one year commitment, and it's only 50/50 that he takes it anyway.

Yes, and if the Sox were done spending elsewhere, it wouldn't be a big deal to eat some money. The fact that they're waiting to minimize how much they have to eat tells me that they might have plans for that money.

It's pretty clear at this point the Sox have offers for Kimbrel. It's just a matter of whether they choose any of those offers over keeping him. If Conforto really is an option, then they'll definitely get something worked out with one of the suitors.

I'm not even worrying about Conforto or any other bat at this point. Package Crochet with Burger or Sheets and go get Manaea, unload Kimbrel paying as little as possible, and address RF and/or 2B at the trade deadline.

If they're willing to wait to trade Kimbrel, then that pretty much means: 1) the money saved from moving Kimbrel isn't going to sign Conforto or anyone else 2) the potential return in the trade isn't going to be flipped to get a SP

Is there a reason they aren't ready to make a decision, other than to get all the fans' blood pressure up? Does JR have a stake in a pharmaceutical that makes blood pressure meds?

Purdue's had the red carpet rolled out for them. If they can't make the Final Four this year, they may never do it.

In a few days, a new, mysterious account will appear named NotCraigKimbrel.

Jansen signed last night. That was the domino that needed to fall first. I think Kimbrel is gone by Monday, if not sooner.

I disagree. The difference between Graveman/Kelly and who would take their innings is greater than the difference between Conforto and Sheets/Engel.

This team would be way worse with Conforto and without all three of those relievers.

Not giving Conforto a deal in that range because he's not worth it would be something different.

☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

Would have offered Schwarber this much before Conforto.

Do I think Conforto would be better than Vaughn/Sheets/Engel for RF? Yes. Do I think the difference would be large enough to throw 5/$100 at him? No. Offer him 2/$35 or 3/$45 and if someone beats that offer, let them have him and play the trade market in July. I think the team is helped a lot more by trading for Montas, Manaea, or whoever else is on the market. If there's only one transaction left before the season starts, that's the one I hope it is. Schwarber, on the other hand, I would have matched or even topped what he got. He would have been a beast in between Jose and Eloy.

He only had routine plays and made them all. Not really challenged.

I guess the Bears are going to try having just one Pringle.

Perhaps the Sox have to throw in someone else to even out the trade?