FoxForce2

Don't stop believin' - isn't that what Tony Soprano was humming along to before... [crash zoom to black]. Dunn - don't forget Adam Dunn

Pretty old school stuff hitting Robert third.

For all of TLR's flaws and faults as a modern manager, I have to give him some credit for effectively juggling the lineup. Of course, getting first class SP through the AS break and a lightning-in-a-bottle April from Mercedes didn't hurt.

But the extended loss of Robert and Eloy was a loss of concentrated value. Extreme bad luck? Maybe not, but the concurrent loss of those two was pretty much a sharp stick in the eye.

General thoughts on Spring Training. How do you define meaning and meaninglessness? Straight stats don't have much meaning in Spring ball but in-situ analysis of mechanics is a different story. e.g. Veteran Jim Bob may have developed a bad habit of opening up too early on breaking stuff and can get time to correct it. A young Joe Blow may have a hole in his swing against RHP that spring cam-analysis can at least reveal and give him a baseline as he moves to correct his address at the plate. Jose M. may not be stretching his stride quite far enough thus putting harmful strain on his shoulder as he compensates with arm speed in order to bring his 4-seam up to 97-98. And just to name names - Eloy might just get smarter about playing the field with some dedicated coaching that can be worked into the more open ended schedule of Spring Ball Mechanics. I have little doubt that many veterans consider ST nothing more than a warmup, but if they're smart, there are opportunities available to improve their game in March. And HEY SOX! ST just might be a place to dedicate some real, no-shit time to working the fundamentals of team play in the field. Not to mention making the right moves on the basepaths etc. I have a different take on April ball than most - but that's grist for another post.

It appears that Hahn gambled on Kimbrel having trade value and Rodon not being able to get a QO level deal. We know now that half that gamble didn't quite work out.

If?

Well, it is 2:00 o'clock somewhere...

1. Barring a complete change in direction on Conforto or taking the flyer on Joc, the only way we really strengthen RF is getting someone in a Kimbrel deal. By most appearances, that forces the Sox into a stand-pat position until the trade deadline. 2. Keuchel won't be in a Sox uniform in 2023. 3. The only way Jose signs for $20M anywhere is if he goes OPS at .850 or better this year. After Jose's comment upon spring training arrival, he becomes even more of a wildcard than he already has been. Abreu's leadership and clubhouse/dugout presence is a dynamic I wouldn't trifle with. If he is up for going more DH and days off and still driving in runs at a monster rate, I definitely bring him back for 2023 - but not at $20M. 4. Even if Moncada can insert 15-20 HR into an .825-.850 OPS he has real value. Yeah that $23M-$25M appears a stretch though. 5. IMO the Sox need an overhaul in MiLB pitching both in talent and coaching/development. Over the past several years the Org has done well in working up a 'hitting culture' throughout the system. Pitching --- not so much.

For the Pads - this is Machado's make or break year. If he comes through with the numbers AND leadership they could pose a real challenge to the Dawjahs. Otherwise, could contend for the last wildcard.

The Giants lose a lot and I wonder at their prospects of breaking 90 wins, but that FO and Org is too solid to drop much below that. They're not exactly hurting for money either.

A case of lowered expectations, at least insofar as Soxtalk hopes go. I'm still holding out for something like value from Kimbrel in getting prospects. But the third part of the 'wants' is - there is a question of whether anyone else wants the expensive closer.

HaHaHa ------ wait - I don't get it. How do you buy out Kimbrel at $1M?

A multi-team collaboration would likely serve the Sox interest better than 1team-1team deals. Ideally, Kimbrel and a prospect or two going into a pool and pulling Manea out of that pool would be equitable. Obviously, a RF remains a priority (and remains and remains...), and would be something the Sox would be angling for as well. One thing that would be a near certainty - the Sox would likely weaken an already extra thin list of prospects.

Play a lot of cricket do you?

Pitching is specialized. Baseball is the only major sport where the defense initiates the play and the play starts with the pitcher. Obviously, other than catchers, the players in the field handle the ball far less than the pitchers. How many innings of those 140 are going to be complete games? And that's only some 15 starts at that. And how frequently will that starter do that over the course of say 2 weeks? Back in the day... starters would go 250+ innings a year. Koufax went over 300 in 3 different season, leading the league in IP in 2 of those years. Can you imagine that occurring in today's game? At the same time the notion of the 'fireman' came to the forefront as the use of Dick Radatz cast a whole new angle on the use of RP; then came leverage guys like Gossage with specialized closers and loogies coming into the mix over time. Other than knuckleballers, I can't imagine a pitcher riding one pitch into the HOF ala Rivera - and he earned every vote that he got. Sutter threw a lot of splitters but he didn't rely on it as much as Rivera did the cut.

Wailing and gnashing of teeth. Any dentists here?

They sure passed up on a decent crop of experienced FA #2 catchers. It will be at least interesting when Grandal goes on a 30-day DL, likely due to knee/hamstring issues resulting from overwork behind the plate. O'Hoppe is well regarded around the league as a MLB ready defensive catcher. Yes, i realize Langeliers is at least something of a pipedream. Perez is a work in progress. Is Collins progressing behind the plate at all? My point - as best I can tell, the FO feels little sense of urgency in moving Kimbrel and filling perceived and demonstrable needs in the field and in the lineup. JR has a record of delaying moves counting on discounts and bargains the longer deals are stretched out. My original post was at least half tongue in cheek. but still criticizing the Sox for hanging fire on a Kimbrel move. I don't think they're going to get a lot in the way of experienced MLB help for him. Bad contract-for-bad contract maybe... I say move him and get it over with.

OK, so what do you think is impossible about the O'Hoppe deal? I sure didn't see Correa ---> Twins move coming and these moves aren't apples and oranges. If nothing else the A's are well established as an innovative trader (who gets over on the Sox on a regular basis.) It's certainly not a likely move, but not entirely out of the question, especially if Manaea/Montas were to stay put.

Pitcher's park is one factor. If The A's are going to do anything in '22 it will be due to their pitching. Kimbrel may be a box of chocolates, but if he's good he would be a steady influence on their staff. And yes, if it goes downhill, flipping him in-season would likely yield 1-2 quality prospects. Considering Soderstrom's upside, Langeliers is near-surplus in the A's system. OK, make it Kimbrel/Burger for Langeliers and a warmer body. The Sox need a #2 catcher. They need to move Kimbrel. And maybe most importantly, they need to quit hanging fire on this roster.

Morning coffee and snap decisions. Kimbrel to Philly for Logan O'Hoppe + a Class A LH. or Kimbrel to Oakland for Shea Langeliers + something. Eat some salary either way. Issue settled. Nothing else to see here. Move along.

He's going to have to get by Leury to get any playing time behind the plate.

So we're adding Abreu and Grandal to an already crowded DH set. It's not unexpected, but that's quite an ensemble. I would think Grandal would be the primary DH (50-60 games) in light of age and health. Is TLR really sharp enough to juggle this many butcher knives? Not many would be.

Hmmmmmm isn't JR the one delivering the pie and sharing out the dividing thereof among RH, TLR and KW? We haven't heard much from KW in awhile though and there is reason to believe that he's losing at least some of his juice in the org. That, not to say that JR is giving up his 'dividing' prerogative, but he's aging and delegating more of the operational game to his management team.

Well right. But considering the DH candidates already in the mix, what does this do to the Vaughn/Sheets/Eloy DH slots? Having a MLB competent #2 catcher would help too. But I guess this will all work out in the Kimbrel + whoever trade. /s