Snopek

Yeah, I think there's something to being more critical of the teams you follow/love. I also think that ties into the difference in opinion between fans and national writes. Many of us here watch most, if not all of the Sox games, so we are all too familiar with the roster and its strengths and flaws. Then you have someone like Jim Bowden's write up from the Athletic, as quoted above, and there's not a single mention of starting pitching. Nothing about losing Rodon, nothing about hoping Kopech can provide a significant increase in innings from his 69.1 IP from last year, nothing about the lack of depth. It's just a really high-level, borderline lazy view of the offseason IMO.

Really curious to see how Lynn does this year. I keep having this annoying gut feeling that we see some pretty significant regression from him. Wouldn't exactly be a shock to see age catch up to him a bit. That said, I also wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he continues to be a workhorse and a really good SP. I guess I see him as having the widest range of outcomes among the SPs. And no, I haven't forgotten that Cease exists.

This sounds like one of those "Stop Whining" posts.

Maybe that’s been the problem all along. Wheeler would have actually signed had he been offered a propeller hat player option.

If I'm understanding correctly, criticism that you don't agree with is called whining, while the rest of it can be referred to as complaints or trashing.

Right on. Blocking Colas and Cespedes would be a great position to be in.

Yeah, a little confused as to why people are suddenly taking FO quotes as truth.

I’ll go with the Rays, even though that almost feels like cheating. Which of course means they’re about to win 105 games.

- Dallas Keuchel throws a no-hitter. - Josh Harrison makes the All Star team. - Turns out Michael Conforto has actually been retired this whole time.

Joke's on us when they ruin the bet by rolling several dudes out there who can be considered a half player.

That jacket kinda rules.

It does feel weirdly low key, maybe because the Robbie Ray signing feels like ages ago. I did like the Winker trade for them.

Need more time to misread the market.

I wonder if some sort of three-way trade with the Sox, Dodgers and A's is plausible. Something along the lines of the Sox getting Bellinger, Dodgers getting Kimbrel and Montas or Manaea, A's getting prospects and/or MLB ready talent (Sheets? Lux?).

I understand the sentiment that Conforto may lose a lot of value in year 4 of a contract, but I don't understand why that should matter to a team trying to win NOW. So, what are we actually trying to do here? Is it maximize our chances of winning now? Or is it trying to sustain some moderate level of success and relevance for as long as possible? Because it's incredibly hard to do both.

Fair enough. And that’s why I’d like to see them add as much talent as possible i.e. Conforto.

Lol the poster I quoted literally said they were 100% positive.

The 100% grateful part I get, but why do you feel the need to be 100% positive? If a front office “lucked their way into building a championship caliber roster,” I’d be less inclined to have unwavering positive feelings towards them.

The thing is, being hesitant to hand out a risky contract because it might not work out is such a passive way to operate for a title contender. That leaves you with hoping smaller contracts end up as bargains, hoping current players have breakout/bounce back seasons and hoping everyone stays healthy. And that’s the real handcuffing IMO.

Yup, just saw that as well. Was looking forward to seeing how he did when not used every single game.

aka The Victor Diaz Trade

Them adding shit players isn't true because they haven't added shit players yet. Unless you're deciding that Leury is the starting 2B. In that case, still not a shit player, but a shit decision.

Yup, that was the assumption I was making. With Kemp and Harrison being those lesser options I'd be okay with.

Great post, gross options. Gimme Harrison, Segura, Kemp or McNeil I guess?

I know I'm oversimplifying here and being a GM is an incredibly hard job (despite what many of us on here seem to think), but the idea of waiting to shed the salary of guys that were brought in to help win a championship so that we can...bring in guys to help win a championship makes feel all kinds of loony.