poppysox

At this point in time, they have improved over last year in RF and SP...while being worse in RP and the Catcher position. I think a catcher like Flowers or Molina...a closer like Hendriks or Colome and an SP like Q are the bare minimum we see. Now...step back slowly.

John Middleton doesn't seem like the type to turn over full control to a Dave D. Doesn't seam like a marriage made in heaven to me.

Yeah...you are right. Their 2021 payroll stands currently at 132.6 million. I thought the Harper and Wheeler contracts did more damage than that.

His greatest success has come from ownerships with open wallets. Philly will be interesting since the money has already been spent.

DD always wins wherever he goes. He is never afraid to jump into the deep end of the pool. Just one of those guys who you know will be fired when the money runs out.

I am aware of that...simply don't like how that approach ends in general. He could come into our current situation very easily and I would be the first to predict almost immediate success. However, when that run was over... it would really be over IMO. I prefer how the Braves and Cardinals run their respective organizations for long term success.

But when he leaves...the organization has aging veterans with salaries that hamstring the club for years to come. Miquel Cabrera's contract is an example. Whenever we talk about giving guys 10-year contracts I get really nervous.

I am glad he isn't running our ship. Those of us who hate giving up our young guns would be mortified how fast those hard-earned prospects would be on the next plane out of town.

We all are asshat's from time to time. It kind of happens when you see a comment and shoot from the hip in your response. Coincidentally it was just yesterday that I complemented Monkey for his calm reasoned responses when under attack. He's the best at patiently dealing with posters who use the attack mode postings.

It seems like 10 years ago to me actually. Nice to know we agree on something.

No planes to catch.

Of course, I liked the Grandal signing...who wouldn't? I believe I have been consistent in my advocating for two strong regular catchers because the position is physically draining. There was even a time we talked about the 3 catcher system with rotating DH being a reasonable take on all this.

Go look it up asshat.

That's correct...and six months after that "meh" initial reaction a number of us were calling for his being extended. There was also a good number of you saying there was no rush...plenty of time if he becomes anything.

You obviously don't know the difference between a lie and being off on the date by six months.

He weakened the second half of 2019 but the term "disaster" doesn't fit the crime. Catcher is such a taxing position I favor the co-catcher system. I'm sure Grandal is the superior choice when all is considered, but James could have been kept in the Sox harness along with Grandal for a third of Grandals money if extended a year ago.

Two years ago many of us were calling for him to be extended before it became obvious to all.

Any of us who watched Eaton make the switch from center to right know he was a natural-born right fielder. His jump on the ball was first class and his arm was both strong and accurate. Like others, I haven't seen much of his play in the last several years. With the recent scouting reductions, I do wonder how the FO gets the info on Eaton's current abilities.

In general, I am a Hahn fan but he blew it with James getting away.

It is my understanding that the scouting staff was greatly reduced last October because of Covid. Does anyone know who the talent evaluators would be who helped give RH the info that Eaton or anyone else is still able to perform at a high level. I am sure Hahn relies heavily on the info he is given by the "baseball" people when making these trades.

Michelangelosmonkey...you really have a ton of patience. You have been in the crosshairs several times lately and yet do your best to calmly explain your viewpoint. Several of the resident negative posters have obviously baited you and yet you plug on with your well-reasoned response. I will have to try to emulate your approach. In general, I think your approach is much better than mine which is to tell them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine.?

This is a year where agents should be very careful not to overplay their hand.

Go back and read the thread.

Thanks for your cheap opinion. I'll give it the consideration it deserves.

Interestingly, after I retired and stayed home for a little over a year...I went to work at a big box store earning the minimum wage. I worked alongside a man who had owned 3 McDonald franchises in Chicago before retiring. Neither of us needed to work but enjoy work. Both of us had hired more than our share of minimum wage workers and in both of our cases promoted many of them to management positions over the years. Your take that I somehow am against the little guy is both offensive and wrong. I had many employees over the years and you would be hard-pressed to find one who viewed me through your jaded eyes.