BamaDoc

I don't disagree with a lot of what you point out but George Brett and Frank Thomas and later Carlton Fisk were Lau disciples.

I would say setting the tone for the team which to me includes managing the clubhouse egos and drama is job one. The second biggest job to me is the handling of the pitching staff and especially the bullpen. I think he has been decent here and concede we don’t have all the information on players health that he does and may not divulge. I also can’t for sure say how much of bullpening is actually done by Cooper.

Tayron Guerrero was designated for assignment on Jan 2.........guess he is going thru waivers? Encarnacion and Cishek not formally announced and 40 man is full. Delay do to trying to make a deal for 40 man relief? If you say" no big deal, lots of dead meat " why haven't they already done so? Who are your cuts and/or who would you trade?

I believe Keuchel has won some as well.

Happy New Year to all and may we do something new.........Win! Been a long time for us old timers. Thanks to everyone who contributes.

I appreciate the effort. I get long posts from when I started the Reasonable Off Season but this looks like it was written a long time ago and then edited not by deleting but by more comments. Better if you just cut out the unnecessary stuff. Goodish first post and welcome to the board.

If he is “kinda average “ that would be a tremendous improvement over what we trotted out there on many occasions!

I wonder if the 40 man issues are why the signings haven't been announced? Obviously teams know we have to remove someone so not sure you could be working on a 2:1 trade or getting a return not requiring 40 man placement.

Ok I have probably called out more people for wanting Alex Wood who couldn't pitch last year because of repeated back issues. In the interest of fairness, I found this in an Athletic article about Houston sign stealing where they talked to Wood As he drove to a throwing session this week near his offseason home in Atlanta, so he is maybe somewhat healthy. At least it didn't say he was in traction or bed ridden. The article also stated he was looking for a pillow contract to be a FA again after the season.

Nice find. I was wondering how they worked together. It goes both ways, Grandal probably put in a good word. Also, Gio probably liked throwing to Grandal or he could have gone elsewhere.

He is a good addition. I had him in my plan to start the year in the rotation and then piggyback with Kopech when he comes up.

isn't he going to be a catcher? LOL for whoever used to post that

Reds pitching coach used to be Vanderbilt's pitching coach. Had Gray in college. In another post, I discussed how many of the college coaches learned how to communicate analytics to players in part because of smaller staffs. I think it helps at the pro level that a coach is talking to you instead of a "nerd".

And easy path to roster as the Sox have several on 40 man who will return to 60 day IL. Some other teams may not want to risk someone on their 40.

I had him in my plan on three years maybe with incentives triggering a fourth. He wants max money and should have a chip on his shoulder after last year. He might like sticking it to his old team several times a year. He is okay if your #3 this year then #4 then #5 in third year. He will want to be paid like a #2. I think he is out there because no one has gone to four years.

Part of me is hopeful that we could have meaningful games in the fall. If the average outing is 4 innings x 30 starts = 120 innings. It leaves enough innings to let him go six innings his last few starts or multiple 5 innings or most hopefully make post season starts. If his hard cap is 140-150 you might not have to shut him down yet you have still protected him. Obviously, this all changes if he appears fatigued/pain etc.

Thank you very much and hopefully this board can be a place where people can respectfully disagree. Appreciate your thoughts as well.

Keeping him in warm weather and potentially a reduced/modified work load is not grounds for a grievance. You are protecting an asset. Regaining the year is a happy byproduct of protecting him. Maybe the next CBA addresses players on a injured list for a prolonged period should get partial service time accumulation. I could see that concession from players if the overall time to free agency is lessened but that should be another thread entirely.

Rereading I will add for clarification. One start of 3 innings or 60 pitches. The next start 4 innings or 80 pitches. Third start 5 innings or 100 pitches. Repeat the cycle. The rest of my post stands. This could work for other pitchers coming back as well.

I addressed Kopech in more length here for those that missed it and how I expect him to be handled. It was based off Hahn comments though I don't have quotes. The specifics of the plan are mine.

Has anyone seen anything anywhere regarding Wood's health? He seems to be a favorite add but couldn't pitch because of his back. I have looked and found nothing.

Meh vets would be a tremendous improvement over what we put out at the end of the year.

Getting something better than nothing. Maybe a DSL flier or SS throw in? Obviously he wouldn't have a lot of value so probably best to give him his last chance. Just spitballing that they may be a team willing to give something. Hell, I hope Carson is working with Vandy or some pitching guru this off season.

Poop! to quote a famous poster but thanks for the info. Maybe we resign him.

Wonder if Cincy would have interest in Fulmer. Their pitching coach came from Vandy and fixed alum Sonny Gray. If we have to expose Carson to waivers, I bet they bite so maybe a winter swap when we can get something?