The good thing is we play half those games on the road.Spring training can't come soon enough.
The good thing is we play half those games on the road.Spring training can't come soon enough.
This is cool to read. He bought a watch from one of my stores a year or two ago. I wanted to go down there and just talk baseball but figured that would be annoying. Now finding out he was a Sox fan make me regret it moreAs I've mentioned previously, I know Wil Myers ... he's a huge Sox fan and would've loved to be drafted by them. Not that that has anything to do with his being traded here, but he'd be VERY receptive to it, as would many of us.
Popes will just complain about SSS stats in spring training.Spring training can't come soon enough.
Did you sell him a knockoff?This is cool to read. He bought a watch from one of my stores a year or two ago. I wanted to go down there and just talk baseball but figured that would be annoying. Now finding out he was a Sox fan make me regret it more
Well, there are 2 living Popes and supposedly they're both baseball fans.Popes will just complain about SSS stats in spring training.
Edit: people*
At least it will be new content.Popes will just complain about SSS stats in spring training.
Edit: people*
Big fans of the sacrificeWell, there are 2 living Popes and supposedly they're both baseball fans.
One of them wears a knockoff watch, but I can't tell tell you which.Big fans of the sacrifice
One of them wears a knockoff watch, but I can't tell tell you which.
I would like to pontificate about this. The watch must have Roman numerals.One of them wears a knockoff watch, but I can't tell tell you which.
I'll be surprised if he gets 6/180. My guess is maybe 5/140. And it will be an overpay, but one we can live with.Boras can sell his BS 2nd half numbers as a guy who just needed a chance, became a late bloomer and now is on the upswing of his career. I see it different.
I’ll say this even if he gets something like 6/180 that’s still a crazy freaking overpay that I’d rather SF do than the Sox.
You keep insisting this but you are hilariously, spectacularly wrong. He's exactly what the team needs exactly when they need him.They more or less ignored Stanton and didn’t do much with Ozuna. That tells me they already have a player in mind. Which I’m about 99.9% sure that’s JD Martinez and I really hope it becomes the .01% and I’m wrong. He’s all wrong for this team.
DHing most of the time would probably help with that.I have no doubts about the bat, I think his “late bloomer” status causes people to overlook just how good he has been. My concern is that he has only topped 123 games once in his career. Another injury prone JD?
Most would consider Franklin Barreto the headliner, no? (edit: Chawson beat me to it.)Well you have to look at the assets Toronto gave up. Realistically Boston had 4 prospects in the lower top 10 better than the headliner, Kendall Graveman. Would never have cost Betts. Maybe Owens would have been the headliner coming back. In which case back then you pack his bags. Was never a big Owens fan
You mean Lawrie.Which ignores that Beane wanted a ML ready replacement for him in the package which he got in Lowrie and the Sox did not have. He wasn’t having a fire sale he was trying to retool.
For this to happen, there would need to be two teams ready to go to 6/$180 for him. I have to say, I don't see any evidence that that's the case, because I don't find SF's alleged interest credible (it would be a *terrible* move for them), and I don't think Arizona has that kind of money.Honestly, it’s what Boras wants. The pressure on the front office to get a power bat and literally painting themselves into a corner with zero negotiating power because they’ve more or less made it clear that Martinez is their guy. Like most free agents he’s going to get overpaid. Between SF ARI and BOS Boras has enough teams to play off of each other. Boras can sell his BS 2nd half numbers as a guy who just needed a chance, became a late bloomer and now is on the upswing of his career. I see it different.
I’ll say this even if he gets something like 6/180 that’s still a crazy freaking overpay that I’d rather SF do than the Sox.
You can get a pretty good idea from his career spray charts (and they're consistent with current patterns): http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=6184&position=OF&type=battedball&pid2=6184&ss1=2012&se1=2017&ss2=2012&se2=2017&cht1=hangtime&cht2=battedball&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALLMy biggest concern about JD Martinez from this article:
"Martinez isn’t a perfect fit because he’s a righthanded opposite-field power hitter. Martinez pulled only eight of his home runs last year. Fenway Park, particularly early and late in the year, does not serve his rightfield gap power stroke well at all."
That's unbelievable. Pulling just 8 out of 45 homers? I'd guess that Fenway would suppress his HR power so that it would be fantastic if he'd hit about 35-37 homers. Don't get me wrong - still a power upgrade, but the Sox would be paying for 45 homers, not 35-37.
EDIT: Then again, there's this spray chart from 2017 with Fenway overlay, and it makes me a little more optimistic:
And in fact, how can the SI article be right in saying that only 8 of his home runs were pulled? I see 18, not 8. And the RF and CF homers would have been out of Fenway except for two, maybe three. So ok I feel a little better.
I agree that JDM would fill a huge need for this team. But the DHing issue is the one thing I'm having trouble with. I have no problem with Hanley at 1B for maybe half the games, but he really needs to DH a bunch as well. JDM has never played first at the Major League level, so I doubt they're going to hand him a first baseman's mitt, or should they.DHing most of the time would probably help with that.
Yeah, they already don't have enough room for Robles.Translation: Boras not hearing numbers he likes, so drop a rumor using a usual suspect as a stalking horse
They are supposedly after Lorenzo Cain, there were rumors today.Other than being a potential landing spot for Jay Bruce, Toronto has been too quiet. They could be some competition for Martinez.
Changing his approach to take advantage of Fenway LF could have devastating consequences.You can get a pretty good idea from his career spray charts (and they're consistent with current patterns): http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=6184&position=OF&type=battedball&pid2=6184&ss1=2012&se1=2017&ss2=2012&se2=2017&cht1=hangtime&cht2=battedball&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALL
He can clearly hit it out anywhere, but he also very noticeably doesn't pull fly balls.
JDM in LF seems sensible and it might be what the actual plan is. But I’d be concerned about a bad, oft-injured, out-of-position outfielder for whom all value is tied up in his bat bashing his shoulder on that wall.I agree that JDM would fill a huge need for this team. But the DHing issue is the one thing I'm having trouble with. I have no problem with Hanley at 1B for maybe half the games, but he really needs to DH a bunch as well. JDM has never played first at the Major League level, so I doubt they're going to hand him a first baseman's mitt, or should they.
Which is why I keep coming back to this being a two part thing--sign JDM to play left/DH, AND trade JBJ for a First Baseman(Schwarber?), and move AB to center. I know Schwarber hasn't played there either, but many catchers have made a successful transition to first. I also like the fact that he's a lefty bat, and that he can also rotate to left at times, and undoubtedly play it as poorly as JDM does.
I may be wrong, but I don't think the plan going into the season will be to count on Hanley playing 140 games at first. They're not going to cut him and it's doubtful they'll trade him. Post-season Hanley was a glimpse of what he can still do, and frankly, what this team needs him to do.
Not sure he's that much of an upgrade over Pillar, all things considered.They are supposedly after Lorenzo Cain, there were rumors today.
Is he? All of his numbers are inflated due to his BS homer barrage in the 2nd half. Before that he had hit 30 homers once and in the 20s twice. I’m not saying he can’t be but are you willing to pay a shit ton of money to a guy with his track record? Also keep in mind that he’s had 500 at bats in a season once in his career. I would take the investment on Stanton because he has a reputation of a feared power hitter. Despite the fact he also has injury issues like JD. JD has as many 20 homer seasons as 30+ ones.You keep insisting this but you are hilariously, spectacularly wrong. He's exactly what the team needs exactly when they need him.
- They need a middle of the order bat. He's one of the 10 best power hitters in the world.
Stop it with the one year home run bullshit. You don't need to hit the most home runs to be one of the best power hitters in baseball. If he plays more, he'll accumulate more.Is he? All of his numbers are inflated due to his BS homer barrage in the 2nd half. Before that he had hit 30 homers once and in the 20s twice. I’m not saying he can’t be but are you willing to pay a shit ton of money to a guy with his track record? Also keep in mind that he’s had 500 at bats in a season once in his career. I would take the investment on Stanton because he has a reputation of a feared power hitter. Despite the fact he also has injury issues like JD. JD has as many 20 homer seasons as 30+ ones.
Believe me I’m hoping for 35-40 homers a year out of him over the next 5-7 years but this isn’t the guy you go all in on. Too many questions. Good player but not great.
I agree. Martinez is a pretty darn complete player with the bat. There aren’t too many guys you can pencil in for that kind of production with confidence, and they don’t reach free agency that often. His older years may well be a burden, but this organization is equipped to deal with that more than most. And he’s exactly the type of hitter the line-up needs while this window is open the next few seasons.Stop it with the one year home run bullshit. You don't need to hit the most home runs to be one of the best power hitters in baseball. If he plays more, he'll accumulate more.
David Ortiz' OPS+ his last 4 years: 159,140,140,164
JD Martinez' OPS+ his last 4 years: 154,139,142,166
This isn't a guy who just figured out how to hit fly balls. He was really great the past 3 years, and then took it to another level last year.
There’s also a very good possibility Eaton can’t play CF after tearing up his knee. Trading Taylor would be dumb.Yeah, they already don't have enough room for Robles.
It makes zero sense. The Nats owners have a good relationship with Boras, and I am sure they are just "the mystery team". If they were going to spend money this offseason, they could use another bullpen arm more than an aging OF who cant play defense. Jayson Werth played that role, and they just got out from under his deal.There’s also a very good possibility Eaton can’t play CF after tearing up his knee. Trading Taylor would be dumb.
Adding Cole is a lateral move from (or even backwards) if it's from the Sabatthia of '16 or Tanaka of '16. Cole has had some great moments but is basically another Sonny Gray for them. The scariest thing to me is the possibility of the Yanks dealing for Greinke (without sending prospects again...) improving their club tremendously there while giving the D'Backs the ability to get JDM and we end up with Eric Stinkin' Hosmer...... who turns into another Hanley after one year and stymies our ability to then get Machado or Harper next offseason.https://nypost.com/2017/12/14/it-may-take-ditching-clint-frazier-to-solve-yankees-rotation-needs/
Yanks talking to pirates about trade for Cole. If that passes that Yankee team is insane. The Sox are definitely going to be fighting for a wildcard at that point.
Indeed: he’s lh with opposite field tendencies. In my opinion the only drawback is expense relative to home runs.Refresh my memory please. Why are most down on Hosmer? I'll admit I'm not in love with the idea if he's the "big piece" this year but a LHH, GG first baseman with decent power sounds like someone the Sox should be looking at. The idea that the cost would somehow hamstring the Sox next year or in corresponding years is kind of silly.
His gold gloves hang out in Jeter's club.Refresh my memory please. Why are most down on Hosmer? I'll admit I'm not in love with the idea if he's the "big piece" this year but a LHH, GG first baseman with decent power sounds like someone the Sox should be looking at. The idea that the cost would somehow hamstring the Sox next year or in corresponding years is kind of silly.
His fWAR by year: 1.0, -1.7. 3.2, 0.0, 3.5, -0.1, 4,1. That's an accumulation of 10 WAR over 7 seasons. The assumption is the team that signs him is going to be paying for the player who most recently posted that 4.1. Perhaps he's turned a corner, but a 1-2 win/yr 1B is not a guy who should be getting a 5 yr/$100M+ contract. He's only a little better than the cheaper 1B options on the market (Duda, Moreland, Morrison, etc.).Refresh my memory please. Why are most down on Hosmer? I'll admit I'm not in love with the idea if he's the "big piece" this year but a LHH, GG first baseman with decent power sounds like someone the Sox should be looking at. The idea that the cost would somehow hamstring the Sox next year or in corresponding years is kind of silly.
This plus the QO draft pick(s) penalty is what makes him an undesirable signing to me. Without the QO thing, Hosmer on a deal somewhere in the 3/45-4/65 range would be a great fit.His fWAR by year: 1.0, -1.7. 3.2, 0.0, 3.5, -0.1, 4,1. That's an accumulation of 10 WAR over 7 seasons. The assumption is the team that signs him is going to be paying for the player who most recently posted that 4.1. Perhaps he's turned a corner, but a 1-2 win/yr 1B is not a guy who should be getting a 5 yr/$100M+ contract. He's only a little better than the cheaper 1B options on the market (Duda, Moreland, Morrison, etc.).
I’d read this. It covers most of the concerns: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-2018-free-agent-landmines/Refresh my memory please. Why are most down on Hosmer? I'll admit I'm not in love with the idea if he's the "big piece" this year but a LHH, GG first baseman with decent power sounds like someone the Sox should be looking at. The idea that the cost would somehow hamstring the Sox next year or in corresponding years is kind of silly.
They have Tanaka back and I believe the plan is to also resign CC once Cashman knows exactly how much money he has left to do so. Cole or any SP they traded for would I believe bump Montgomery, who would either be in the deal or be the 6th guy and start the year in AAA if needed, so something like Severino/Tanaka/trade target/Gray/Sabathia, with at least two of Montgomery/Adams/Sheffield in AAA waiting for their chance.Adding Cole is a lateral move from (or even backwards) if it's from the Sabatthia of '16 or Tanaka of '16.
Yes. Way up. Everyone was underestimating this market. Not a shot in hell JD gets under 25 million a year. Might push 30. Stay out of this market and go the trade route. Carlos Santana just got 20 million a year and is a much worse player than JD and has a QO attached.Wow. Way higher than I thought.
That's going to push up Martinez' AAV.
At least Santana only got 3 years. That may keep Martinez at 6. I had him around 28 per.Yes. Way up. Everyone was underestimating this market. Not a shot in hell JD gets under 25 million a year. Might push 30. Stay out of this market and go the trade route. Carlos Santana just got 20 million a year and is a much worse player than JD and has a QO attached.