CaliSoxFanViaSWside

What better way to squash any headlines and ink . press whatever the Sox get if they sign Machado by Harper going to the Cubs. Good grief ! Even worse if no Machado then Cubs get Harper.

I haven't seen this brought but does anyone think part of the pitch to Manny was "we are going after Harper too and we think we have a good shot at him " ? If they really want to sell him on how quickly they could be competitive that might be their biggest selling point. I think I read that MM 's agent and Boras didn't get along so I don't know if that would help or hurt .I mean you have to think being the face of a franchise means nothing if you can't convince him we are going to be winners quickly.

Just seems like the Greinke deal fell in line with the D'backs getting a new TV contract and the same with Cano and Seattle. Now I know your point was for multiple teams rather than just the Sox but either way I have to believe it's a good thing . We will know for sure when the terms are announced. I'll just throw out 20yrs. $2 Billion . Could be less years higher AAV or higher AAV on same years if I had to guess.

I couldn't read the article so I just gave my opinion on it because every time I see it on this board I can guarantee they don't use the same factors as Sarris did. My projection is Harper has a big 2018 . He does particular well in his even age years .22 and 24 were his best years so 26 will be a big one . Nothing scientific about it and I'm just guessing .

I often wonder what leads to anyone thinking one will age better than another ? I always read posts like that and think how the hell does one even figure that ? It's not like they look at genetics/family health history. Machado has played a lot of games so he's been healthy while Harper has had his share of injuries. You could make an argument that injuries at a young age might be indicative that more injuries will follow as you age. On the other hand you might say Machado has played a lot of games so might wear down sooner or think the law of averages might catch up to him and get more injuries . My point being there's no way of predicting how one ages when all it takes is one catastrophic injury to derail a whole career. In my eyes its mostly luck and genes and neither of those can be predicted or investigated through;y enough.

That;s a fair question since many players hit better at home than on the road. Machado's home and away splits for his career aren't that good either but it still comes down to having MM for 2018 and beyond as a 26 year old and getting better quicker or waiting for Arenado in 2020 when he is 29 prolonging the possibility of competing sooner while career difference in OPS home and road is Machado -126 and Arenado -197 .

I always discount that factor when discussing superstars. I wouldn't call it a significant chance . Playing for Colorado does mean he's more likely to have a HOF career when his home and away splits are so drastic But i think there's a better chance of him resigning than most superstars because he plays in Colorado.

You are absolutely right. The oldest arguments I've been making about the rebuild is the same thing Hahn said. You can't pick and choose when the top guys become available and waiting til after this season and subsequent seasons just keeps diminishing the odds of getting someone . Once Harper and Machado are gone it gets a lot tougher . I'd take Machado over Arenado just because he plays in Colorado where even average player become All Stars. All one has to do is look at Arenado's home and away splits for his career. Aother huge plus for Machado will be playing in his age 26 season in 2019. If you wait on Arenado it will be his age 29 season in 2020.

While in the Alonso trade thread I was kind of amazed so many saw a problem with it. I mean what's the downside when compared to the upside which is something I posted in that thread......." the whining about Alonso is off the charts absurd when if you really think about it, it could end up in a chain reaction like this : Alonso = Machado = Harper =OMFG ! "

Was just going over some Sox highlights for 2018 on NBCSN. Engel had that week where he robbed 3 HR's . Who did he rob on the third one ? None other than Yonder Alonso.

And everyone who hated getting Alonso because it was a supposedly dumb baseball move can suck it. I know ,too soon !

Anyone who has Horlen and Berry ( my childhood favorite guys) and all the rest you mention makes this my favorite list . I'd like to add Nancy Faust to the list. Nice to see so many guys from the red pinstripes days. Kaat pitched great for the Sox in his 2 full seasons ,had 20 wins both years and so respected . Still going strong at 80 doing the nationally televised games with Costas. Who can forget that SI cover with Dick Allen in the dugout in the red pinstripes cigarette dangling from his lips. The CF shower was a great idea from Veeck . That would be awesome to some how bring it back. And for the youngsters out there who want to learn about the former Sox owner and champion of the working class who was a pioneer trying to integrate baseball, wanted the DH and interleague play and a playoff system long before it happened here's a place to start https://www.americanheritage.com/node/132704 . He is probably personally responsible for keeping the Sox in Chicago.Every time you watch a Sox or even a Cubs game you see things Veeck innovated like the Ivy in Wrigley field and the fireworks scoreboard . Every time you see a players name on the back of the uniform think Veeck , the first owner who did that. Ever sing along to "Take Me out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch? Veeck started that with Harry Caray with the Sox.

Haha now this saddens me. I always thought you were being completely objective when you argued against Avi. Poor guy he may have been the ultimate tease but you really want to put him 1st over a guy who threw a World Series, wife beaters and a guy who tried to run down trick or treaters with his car ?

No Pierzynski ?

Yes they were just like they post on not letting Robert attempt so many steals. You have to let players do their thing, That's part of development. After all the injuries last year some are going to want to be overly protective.

Unlikely on just about everything you mentioned. Harper more than likely wants to break the Stanton deal as the richest contract ever. The Sox aren't going to make the playoff this year. Too many holes and not enough pitching. The good starting pitchers are gone already and the Sox won't trade prospects. They need to give most of them more time. The starting pitching FA market is much better next year and we will have Kopech coming back and Cease and Dunning both get a shot at opening the season in 2020 barring injury. Hansen gets time to rediscover his mojo and young relievers get another year to separate the wheat from the chaffe. The young OF prospects also all need at least another year.

It's just another Manny Monday . I loved the Bangles !

Why would the Sox spend $100M on a CF ? Didn't I just say they got a bunch of prospects they are waiting on and probably 3 of them can do a good job in CF between Robert, Basabe and Luis Gonzalez. I frankly don't understand why you want to argue for Cleveland . Who's next, the Twins ? We are in a great position to succeed in either 2020 or 2021 when some of the young guys get more seasoning. Why keep mentioning Nova , Alonso and Colome ? 2 of the 3 are unlikely to be here in 2020 maybe all 3 depending on how the young relievers do. I readily concede 2019 to the Indians. Beyond that fuck the Indians and the Twins Tigers and Royals.

2019 is irrelevant to the discussion by 2020 we should be competing with Cleveland. Out of 30 teams their Farm was ranked 25 at the end of the season. Ours was 3rd. The gap between us and them is closing rapidly. We have money to spend they don't. By 2020 we should have a pretty good idea about a lot of our top prospects abilities . Eloy this year, Cease and Kopech should be in the rotation, maybe Dunning too. We give Lopez Giolito Moncada another year to figure things out . We see how close Robert,Madrigal and the next wave of OF's are doing. Maybe Hansen finds his mojo again. Add Harper or Machado and a top tier starting pitcher next off season to take some pressure off the young guys. We have the 3rd pick in the upcoming draft. Need I go on ?

I've been all over their message boards and the tweets. My $18M is correct . I can't go over every contract they dealt and lost and received. Don't forget they extended Carrasco.

In fairness the Alonso deal doubled what they have saved so far taking them from $9M tp $18M saved. Still not a significant amount. They've been operating higher than they want as far as payroll goes to keep their window open but its closing fast and they lost a lot of good pieces from their 25 already. They had 8 FA's non tendered Chisenhall who promptly signed with the Pirates, Donaldson gone he wasn't on the original 8 I listed. Traded Encarnacion, Alsonso, Yan Gomes, Yandy Diaz; Their OF is in shambles and their relief pitching took a big hit. If it wasn't for Lindor and Ramirez their 40 looks as bad as ours and that's right now while we wait to see if the fishing is good.

So far they are $18M ahead. Lindor isn't signing an extension, I already said Cleveland's pitching is better. Why do fans always insist that guys are going to sign an extension ? It rarely happens when you are talking about megabucks. You can try to sell me on Cleveland all you want. I never said they were bad . I said they are 1 bad season away from rebuilding. by 2020 the gap should be closed between us by quite a bit.

Yes that huge $9M life preserver should make all the difference in the world to them. All I said was one bad season. They won't be getting much competition within the division next year but we shall see after that.

For now...

Sale was just an example of a front line starter for next year.