BamaDoc

We work Kazmir's pitch count and Otero gets 5 outs with 12 pitches.

Logical guy to go but I think he may be successful.

Interesting thought but I remember the days of Herb Washington. Herb may be a great guy but in two years and 105 games he never had a plate appearance. I am in favor of baseball players having baseball skills not further specialization. I believe in platooning and match ups but there should be a trade off involved i.e. less flexibility later in the game. It is part of the beauty of the game and I am hoping that the versatile player like a Zobrist or even a Bonifacio is appreciated over players who are strictly one dimensional. There should be a price to pay for lineups with a slow, high strikeout, poor defense power only hitters. There is value beyond just stats for the rubber armed reliever who can pitch multiple days or give you several innings or spot start. He protects the rest of the pitching staff. We have historic rates for lack of contact and the ability to do the little things especially on defense.

With the budget being exceeded and a lot of new players, we may be at the point of owners wanting to see how this team comes together. If it is in contention or playing well you may add a further piece during the season. If it was your money, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say "lets see how this is working out'' before dropping further big bucks.

Could it be the winning team isn't really that excited about winning the bid and is slow playing the whole scenario? If you announce it with fanfare you are under pressure to get a deal done.

Crawford makes sense if you use the DH as a rotating rest spot so he could play left and DH. OPS .767 last year with nearly equal L/R splits. Owed 62 over 3 years. The Dodgers could also use a #5 and Danks fits in terms of dollars and in moving to NL I think he can perform. Owed 29 over two so a difference of 33 million. I would want both Pedro Baez and Yimi Garcia as young cost controlled relievers and about 20 in cash. We can leverage our payroll flexibility to acquire young ready talent with the "bad contract".

I think for a contending team, Danks is fine as a five. Experienced and now appearing healthy. Stuff fits NL better. His only problem is his price. If you take a worse contract like Ethier the Dodgers save 4 million in each of the next two years. You further leverage your return by how much you get to cover his third year of 17.5 million. If you only get back 9 or so the third year(fourth year requires 550 plate appearances or 2.5 million owed for buyout) LA would save about 18 million. That should let you get some decent young talent with him like a reliever and a prospect. Yimi Garcia made it to the majors at age 24 and was Dodger #15 prospect. Scott Schebler OF AA LH hitter with good power ranked #9 gives us a lefty bat to follow. A lot depends on how much salary relief they need. You could throw in some of our lesser prospects like Braulio Ortiz or lower ranked to make it look better on their side.

No one. Make them compete, work and get another season to evaluate.

RE: Wilkins lots of guys struggle when they first come up but he has looked completely overmatched. Had he done well, we would have said maybe we have something here but he hasn't. I would not plan on him contributing but I would not take him of the 40. Spring training and his next time in the majors(if he has one) will be key.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Sep 16, 2014 -> 09:35 PM) I would think the Sox would rather have Davidson get back on track and play that role if not start altogether. Whether he does is obviously in question, but with where the organization sits, I don't see the utility in starting Freese. I am not as averse to bringing in older players as many others are, I would just prefer it to be a starting pitcher who could be flipped if the team doesn't end up in contention happen next year or a catcher who could split duties with Flowers (and ideally be a leader in a now very young clubhouse). I too would like Davidson to be the player we thought he was going to be but after this year he has to show me. I wouldn't be crazy about him as the righty in a platoon, due to so few at bat, which is why I thought about a veteran with favorable platoon splits.

I look at him kind of like when we had Beckham. Maybe not worth an arbitration raise. He is hitting .260 about .700 OPS and getting over 5 million playing third. I do like his career .800 plus OPS vs left-handers and experience. If the angels cut him rather than give him a raise could he fit as a platoon partner at third for us?

i still have a hard time figuring him out. His overall numbers the last four years have declined perhaps because we played him to much. His splits against left handers get worse and worse while he has a career OPS of .748 vz right-handers and this year is actually .772. Acceptable on the right team but I don't know if that is us. As a part time or platoon player yes but maybe not what we would have to pay at arbitration.

Who would have ever thought that at the end of the WS game the WS position player in the game with the highest batting average would be Cleuluis Rondon? I have hope for him and glad as young and light as he is that he has not worn out this year.

Perfect…out of inning…over 100 pitches….take him out and trade him! LOL

Really! Really! He has probably been our biggest positive surprise this year. He doesn't have a home run. Big deal! His slugging percentage is about sixty points higher this year. His ops is 140 points above last year(.832). His ops is better than everyone except Abreu. He is not an all or nothing option. I would bet if our whole team had his production it may lead the league. Yes, I would like his glove to improve but he is doing fine overall.

I also recall an article in which Jack discussed warm up pitches both before a game and between innings. He always used less there and commented that no one counts those. He has a valid point. If you are exerting max or near max effort it doesn't matter if a batter is there. He talked of using 2-3 less per inning warming up than allowed, he was pitching in the day of complete games so 18-27 less "pitches" warming up meant 1-2 more innings.

I thought Jack had elbow surgery and had a nerve injury. Am I wrong, I could be thinking of someone else?

Freese would be an upgrade at third but would be pretty old by the time we rebuild. I would go younger prospects. Cardinals don't have a ton of infielders in their top 20 per MLB.com but something like Cooney a LHP and 14th ranked and perhaps and either a replacement like Kozma or maybe a young outfielder close to ready like Piscotty or Ramsey. I think you have a better chance of two mid prospects than any of their top 5.

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 7, 2013 -> 03:01 PM) https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/37633...0094338/photo/1 Leury leadiing off. Semien batting 9th. Seems backwards!

Andy Wilkins at third base?

Austin Jackson has the worst avg of today's Tiger lineup at .266 (OBP .333) . That is better than six players we are starting!

Nestor Molina three scoreless innings 25 pitches 23 strikes Hope start of something

I would really love to hear his explanation on why Peavy was sent back out. Must be something I don't understand. I see no benefit only potential harm.

Thanks for the expressions of support. The tickets have sold, wish I could be there. Go Sox

I had planned to attend Fridays game vs Oakland which is also fireworks night. Unfortunately, my mother is dying and on life support so I will not be able to make the trip from Alabama. I have put them on stubhub with instant download available. I paid $143 apeice and am asking $100. They are five rows from the field, right by the Sox on deck circle next to the dugout. Sec 136 row 5 seats 3,4,5. Hope someone can enjoy the game. Go Sox!