If the season gets to September 1, the Red Sox luxury tax resets

[high cheese]

I'm enjoying the season, too. I've watched or listened to at least some of about half the games.

I never expect the Sox to win, so there's zero anxiety about it. It's just baseball, which I missed so much before they came back, that I was watching Fubon Guardians' games — and they were terrible, too! I realized how much I love putting the game on and, like, doing the dishes or scrubbing the grout in my bathtub.

The team is a very weird mix of good and terrible, but it's surprisingly watchable.

It's fun to root for Chavis to make contact, for Dalbec to hit 390 foot popups, or for Phillips Valdez to throw a dozen changeups in a row, as he did last night. Verdugo has been a positive delight to watch. Robinson Leyer just made his debut, and he seems really fun: straight high-90s heat that he throws out of the zone, and then a tight slider/cutter thing in the mid 80s that he tries to spot the corners with. Darwinzon Hernandez just went back on the IL, but I find him absolutely electrifying to watch. Even Arauz is interesting.

Devers slumped hard for the first few weeks, but now is in the midst of a two-week span with a 1.000ish OPS. Bradley slumped hard for the first few weeks, but is now in the midst of a two-week span with an .840ish OPS.

Reminds of watching the scab games during the 94/95 strike. Maybe we’ll get a Brian Daubach out of all this brutality.

 

[Average Reds]

Reminds of watching the scab games during the 94/95 strike. Maybe we’ll get a Brian Daubach out of all this brutality.

There were no actual scab games during the strike. Daubach was a “scab” in the sense that he was invited to camp with replacement players. However, after the replacement players were sent packing (by then-Federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor) the Sox signed him.

 

[high cheese]

Actually there were - see spring training.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

I was thinking about this on the drive today - re:scabs and 94/95. Obviously they wouldn't be shunned but where do the guys fall on the "I played in the MLBs" scale? When they're like 60 years old are they proud and tell their kids/grandkids "I was a MLBer!"? Or do they get a tag, like we call them "masks"? COVIDs?

There's gonna be a lot of guys that otherwise never make an appearance in an ML park. Good on em, but that's gotta suck if it's the only taste you get, even a traditional cup of coffee has got to be more satisfying.

 

[joe dokes]

I was thinking about this on the drive today - re:scabs and 94/95. Obviously they wouldn't be shunned but where do the guys fall on the "I played in the MLBs" scale? When they're like 60 years old are they proud and tell their kids/grandkids "I was a MLBer!"? Or do they get a tag, like we call them "masks"? COVIDs?

There's gonna be a lot of guys that otherwise never make an appearance in an ML park. Good on em, but that's gotta suck if it's the only taste you get, even a traditional cup of coffee has got to be more satisfying.

Kevin Millar might have to explain to his grandchildren why he has a WS ring but isn't in any video games.

 

[lexrageorge]

Actually there were - see spring training.

Given that spring training statistics don't count, and that players don't get paid for spring training games, they don't really count as "scab games". They were exhibitions with non-union players, a very small group of whom ended up getting signed by major league teams once the strike ended.

 

[high cheese]

I was referring to quality of some of the play I have seen around MLB and the look of the Red Sox in particular (not whether they counted or not).

 

[Sin Duda]

In honor of Red Sox 38th round pick in 1997 and 1998, I nominate the sprint-to-the-bottom for the #1 pick the Dennis Tankersley Sweepstakes! As of tonight, we are tied for second (last) with Pittsburgh and KC, a half game behind (in front of) the abysmal Texas Rangers, who have lost 8 of 10 and now "lead" the majors with a -72 run differential.

 

[nvalvo]

Have we gotten any clarity as to 2021 draft order?

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Have we gotten any clarity as to 2021 draft order?

No and it likely won't be sorted out until after the season is over; the MLB and MLBPA need to have a sit down to agree on it.