South Side Hit Men

The only series I didn't want to go five looks like it will (Los Angeles). Milwaukee was the last team I actually liked which remained alive. I don't like any of the four remaining teams if Los Angeles advances. Still hate Boston the most of the remaining teams.

No doubt, just listed the primary needs with the highest $ price tags. I think Kimbrel bounces back next year, but can't fit $18M for a bullpen guy. People are overestimating the number of teams with payroll flexibility to take that on in a trade, even if he is acquired to be a closer, at least beyond the Dodgers. Optimistically, Keuchel bounces back a bit to be a decent #5 (4.00-4.20 ERA) for the same reason as Kimbrel post trade (2021 innings > 2019 +2020, both just ran out of gas). Eloy Jimenez should bounce back if he can remain healthy, but that's a big if if he's still playing LF. Can he hit as a DH, or will he sulk about it? Dylan Cease is still very young and I see him continuing to learn his craft and improve on a solid season. Andrew Vaughn can take a major step now that he has a full season under his belt. On the flip side, I really hope the Sox talked to Lance about conditioning in so he can last a full season and be effective in the playoffs. That extension is a huge commitment, hope he reciprocates. They also need to have Kopech focus on starting from Day 1, no hybrid plan for next season. He needs to develop 4 pitches, hope he can hit 120-130 innings including postseason. Can Luis Robert stay healthy and grind out a full season and still be productive in October. He has played less ML games than Andrew Vaughn.

I understand, I would non tender all three, perhaps invite Marshall on a minor league deal.

Sox have a lot of pricey older veterans. There is a very, very limited trade market of teams willing to pay Kimbrel's salary. You only sign him if you plan on keeping him. He should improve, now that his innings base has been built, but not worth the huge payroll commitment, IMO. Player / (10/22 Age) / 2022 Salary / (2023 salary, if applicable) 5-7 Older Players $90M Minimum (+$15M Kimbrel and/or $6M Hernandez) Abreu (35) $19.7M Keuchel (34) $19.5M (2022 includes buyout, otherwise $20.0M 2023) Lynn (35) $18.5M ($18.5M 2023, $18M or $1M buyout 2024) Grandal (33) $18.3M ($18.3M 2023) Hendriks (33) $13.0M ($29M for the final two years) Kimbrel (34) $1.0M (Or $16.0M if they keep him) Hernandez (32) $0.0M (or $6M if 2022 club option picked up) 10 Core Players $18.3M Giolito (28) $7.9M Jimenez (25) $6.5M Robert (25) $6.0M Lopez (28) $2.8M Bummer (29) $2.5M Engel (30) $2.2M Cease (24) $0.6M Sheets (26) $0.6M Kopech (23) $0.6M Crochet (23) $0.6M Free Agents Rodon ($18.4M QO a possibility) Garcia ($3M-$5M AAV) Marshall ($2.3M - Minor League Deal a possibility) Goodwin (Thanks for helping, no place here) Hamilton (Thanks for the memories) Fry (As in Good-bye) Tepera (Depends on the contract, hope they don't overreact to two months) Crucial Needs Starting Pitcher (Rodon or external) Starting Right Fielder Starting Second Baseman Reserve Infielder (or Leury) Veteran Quality Defensive Catcher (Grandal splits / DH / 1B)

The Astros sure looked motivated, played motivated from start to finish. Look, I get that people are venting, but the bottom line is only one team was prepared to play or manage throughout the series. The other team's primary concern was bitching about unwritten rules. You want to show up the other team, beat their ass like a drum. You want to lose, keep the focus on bullshit. Tony is a lifetime expert in that department.

Or maybe Tepera can keep his thoughts to himself or keep them within the clubhouse. It was a real dumb thing to say, especially down 1-2 in the series. The Astros beat the Sox 8 of 11 this season, and it had nothing to do with cheating.

Grandal calls for fastballs with runners on, because that is all he is comfortable catching. The Sox really need to bring in two defensive catchers, and either add another DH/1B or move him and or others. Problem is the Dodgers want no part of him, and there are few if any teams willing to take on that salary.

Tony says it is first up to the FO, and if they want him back, then the players must also say they want him back, if not, he will walk away. Says that is how he has operated since he had security after his first several seasons in MLB.

Leave La Russa, Take the cannoli.

Say what you will about Ricky, his boys didn't quit in Oakland. Tony, I hope you get a decade plus of rest starting tomorrow.

The Sox are already starting next season with Tim suspended because they appealed so he could play meaningless games the final weekend. No need for Liam to miss games as well.

That's a fitting end to this series.

Keep it in your glove, Tim. And your pants.

Luis Robert out of the game. EDIT: Len says right leg tightness, so thankfully nothing major, but still a bad break.

Nope, he can’t throw the baseball. This delay isn’t going to help Rodon.

He pulled an Eloy, though this isn’t Spring Training. Tough break for Houston.

Double Whammy, HR and CF down.

Two hands Leury.

Only seen bits and pieces. Highly recommend Being John Malkovich. Not necessarily for John, just because it is awesome.

QFT It's more of a recent phenomenon (25 + years) coinciding with sports talk radio douchebaggery and the repulsive interleague scheme. The teams shared the same broadcasters, the same television station, most fans were baseball fans, happy to go to either stadium. I rooted for both until I let my friends / classmates get the best of me being outnumbered on the Northwest Side. I haven't liked any of the Cubs owners, don't like the Sox' current one either, but the Cubs are not among the teams I "hate" at this point. In terms of who least I would like to win a World Series coming into recent seasons: I hate Washington the most, due to the extinction of the Expos (my second favorite team growing up). Boston is next, primarily due to omnipresent East Coast media douchebaggery, the Worldwide Leader in Douchebaggery, and their obnoxious fans. Minnesota is next, my most hated division rival. It's not even close. Dodgers and Yankees, fuck that shit. The racist teams are next. Cleveland over Atlanta, because they are division rivals, though Cleveland at least they did the right thing on the name and logo front. Royals and Cardinals are next, screw Mike Matheny. Cardinals were a fan I previously liked, but they have become repulsive as well since the La Russa era. Milwaukee and Detroit were stadiums we would go to (Milwaukee County Stadium and Tigers Stadium) and cheer for the respective teams when they weren't playing the Sox, so in terms of division rivals (past and present), they were never really hated, nor did good years from either team prevent a good Sox team from winning their division. Detroit may change at some point. (Some here may cling to 2012, but the Sox never had a chance to win anything with clueless Robin Ventura). Oakland was the only division rival I really liked in the Sox division back in the AL West days, primarily because of Rickey Henderson and their awesome uniforms / colors (was a kid in those days). I also liked several players on the Royals, but 1977 pissed me off.

Giants are one win away from advancing. They are not to be underestimated.

Be careful what you wish for. Alex Cora runs his postseason record to 15-4 .789, despite entering the series as an underdog and without HFA.