46DidIt

You think he's too stupid to see why a guy who put up OBPs around .440 at upper levels would get a crack at it before him?

Guys like Slater and Taylor do us no good long term, that's the point. Whether there's a possibility he returns to being a decent hitter against lefties is irrelevant. Considering prospects most likely to be called up later aren"t on 40 man, Sox are going to have to sacrifice young players to keep them on the roster at some point, which is counter productive. We obviously need some vets but to me Tauchman, Drury, Rojas and Thaiss are more valuable at present time. Colas may be a bone head but he also has a 99th percentile arm. Slater has never been a good OFer so not sure there's even an advantage there. If Colas bounces a couple balls off his head it would be evened out by the number of bases that would be advanced by having Slater in the OF. Carrying a defensive specialist like Taylor and a guy whose only value is maybe being able to hit lefties makes no sense for a rebuilding team

With Berroa opening a spot, I think I'd cut Owen White and one of Eisart, Ellard or Gilbert

Sox have 23 pitchers on 40 man though. No 3rd catcher either. Seems like they need to cut pitchers but with all these mediocre vets evidently making the active roster looks like that leaves the B- prospects left to DFA. Is Berroa going on 60 day list? Don't see how carrying guys like Taylor and Justin Anderson helps this team long run while cutting Colas and someone like Carela or whoever they are going to have to sacrifice. Immediate OF depth is crap so don't see how they can cut Fletcher or Colas, or any position player on 40 man really. Couple OFers and catcher go on the 10 day IL then what? Going to have to start thinking about cutting guys like Nastrini

Seemed like Taylor was signed just as insurance in event of Robert trade, but if he's still here seems to me Tauchman is sufficient to back up Robert. Colas still hasn't been reassigned unlike Fletcher. Any chance he makes roster instead of Taylor?

.337 OBP would more than decent these days. League obp was .312 last year, compared to .337 twenty years ago

I would easily rather have had Nick Senzel than Austin Riley at one point, didn't mean reality subsequently followed suit. I would trade Vargas for Mayo too if I could, but that doesn't mean it's a slam dunk he outperforms him in the future

Speaking of opening day, how is it Kikuchi gets a 21m per year contract but Quintana gets only 4.5 guaranteed. I think I'd just as soon have Perez as Kikuchi. No wonder Angels never get over the hump

I'd rather have Teel, Montgomery and Meidroth than a Mayo centered package with secondary pieces like Beavers that were being discussed anyway. Braden looks like he could develop into an absolute 5 tool beast while Teel looks close to can't miss. I don't think I'd trade either one of them straight up for Mayo. If they would have taken Fedde for him he'd probably be preferable to Vargas but that still remains to be seen in actuality.

If he wins this one, he may have to be considered the bold prediction GOAT. Can't soar with eagles if you're hanging with turkeys

I think it matters a lot for Vargas after the shitshow he put on after swapping a dodgers uniform for the sox. That had to be a major mindfuck. A bad spring wouldn't have helped.

You guys convinced me to be slightly more optimistic on Burke, although I'm still advocating maximum overall pessimism where I can in the interests of public mental health

Mayo came up as subject in potential Crochet trade, not sure how Vargas is relevant. Should be comparing to Teel and Montgomery. It is within realm of possibility Getz didn't think an O's offering that centered on Mayo was good enough and held out for the better deal.

Recently set a personal best in the mile. Made it about 1200 feet

In Burke's case, a guy issuing 5.5 walks and 2 HR per nine at AAA, usually doesn't have a lot of success at major league level one off season later

Sure it's possible for Katz and crew to work miracles, but to expect it is something else entirely.

He's referring to Schultz, Hagen and Taylor. Major league team doesn't have a big three

Arrogance can turn any man into a functional retard

48-114. They're not going to be measurably better just less unlucky

Unlike Burke and Cannon, Smith was actually successful at upper levels of minors. Burke had three good starts at MLB level but 6 ERA and 1.49 WHIP at AAA. Cannon had ERAs over 5.5 and whip over 1.5 at both AA and AAA. He's been getting absolutely torched in cactus league play. I'll give him credit for being fairly solid last year but given his mediocre stuff I think it more likely he returns to those kinds of numbers in the future. Strong chance neither of them make it past 12-15 starts with Thorpe, Iriarte and Nastrini waiting in the wings. If any of Burke, Cannon or Davis make it to 25+ starts anywhere approaching average that would be a win imo.

Never knew that. Hawk must have thought he was a genius turning a rule 5 pick into Jose DeLeon

Another factor is, no matter how you slice up the infield, looks like even more groundballs will be making it through than last year, which is not going to be good for this rotation of low k rate artists they've assembled.

I don't think 120 innings is very many innings for a starter. The only guy you cited that pitched that many was Cannon and I think he is going to get bombed this year. The others will rarely make it through the fifth inning and Sox will probably use 9 or 10 starting pitchers for 10+ starts. Cannon most likely candidate to be replaced by Thorpe who won't fair much better. By the end of July enough will have been injured or bombed out that Clevinger will be in the rotation just to eat innings. Perez, given his greater than 6 career era in AL Central parks probably on his way to s%*# season as well. Not sure how you're claiming 70 or 90 innings is same workload as 120 anyway but I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of them made it to 120. Bullpen probably have to pitch 700+ innings this year either way. Probably will have to use some of those starters to piggy back other starters

Having a hard time coming up with any positive predictions for the major league side. No sox starter throws 90+ innings with an ERA below 5. Bryse Wilson lead staff In wins primarily pitching long relief Karinchak ends up primary closer after starting season at AAA. Clevinger back in rotation by end of July Robert still on sox at end of season after ending season on 60 day IL Tauchman leads batters with 2 WAR

Kind of hard to imagine any of these guys aside from Perez racking up very many innings. Could get brutal after injuries mount with the pen worn out by July