poppysox

Good pitching has a way of making hitters look bad.

They added Shane Greene, Mark Melancon and Chris Martin at the trade deadline. Most professional writers thought that improved them significantly.

The Braves look a lot like we will look in a year or two. Good hitting with speed and power. Great pitching both starters and pen. Really nice defense and hustle constantly. It will be really nice watching this kind of baseball on a nightly bases.

He is a good utility infielder but has gotten expensive. Would Avi have taken a pay cut without first testing the waters? Whatever they decide works OK for me. He no longer serves much purpose since he is not a better defender than those he would replace in late innings, etc.

They do have rights. They have the right to be represented by a union who negotiates their labor agreement. Don't get mad at the FO for abiding by the agreement in place. That's how the system works. Surly you don't expect management to throw away millions just to be nice guys.

To equate people making millions with employees is a little disingenuous. I understand your point but these are business decisions involving millions not one dollar per hour raises. I imagine both parties involved have discussed ways to fairly offer an extension to come to the major leagues now while not harming the players eventual right to test the free agent waters. Apparently they haven't found a compromise as of yet.

Four million doesn't buy much anymore.

Yes he is...but he's spry.

Stop the presses!

I agree but I don't really see a free agent fit for right field.

Who cares...everyone is entitled to their own opinion. There are lots more Jose fans than Negative Nellies. Move on.

If they call them up it will be because extensions have been signed. Stay calm.

Those are some ugly numbers...doesn't matter if you are a stat guy or a traditionalist.

Scotty Pods was a big part of 2005.

Now that's something I can agree with.

There are no bad hitters with 100 rbi's or who bat .300. Advanced stats have a role in evaluation but they are not the end all.

Aren't we all.

I agree with everything you said in this post.

Like your Gennett guy...good name to consider. Nova would work OK for me as well...more for starter depth and long relief. Smoak, Puig an Wood don't do much for me.

I have an irrational dislike of Castillo.

My grade was B+.

Robert and Madrigal will help greatly in this area. This thing of not calling for the ball just drives me nuts. There is just no excuse.

I agree with your comment about the juiced ball. It doesn't mean anything that Minnesota is breaking the record with so many guys with 20 HR's. The juiced ball makes every hitting record suspect. Just to much playing around with a game that has withstood the test of time.

I agree with your analysis of Jose's strengths and weaknesses. Also, I agree with your take on stats both traditional and new. My grade is B+ and the Sox have bigger things to accomplish this offseason than finding a replacement for Jose.

I get your point but it seems he accomplished something with the time spent. I would like to see Eloy do this as well. Heck...invite Abreu and they can have a party.