JUSTgottaBELIEVE

For sure. And this isn’t some kind of wild take. That’s why these next 12 months are absolutely massive for this organization’s outlook over the next 5-10 years.

So I guess we all agree Getz signed a free agent superstar starting pitcher at a bargain price? Cool

Easier now than in 1995 with the expanded wild card format so probably more like 5 years now I would guess. So Sox make playoffs in ~2028? Seems reasonable. I think the team will be competitive by 2026/2027 but wouldn’t be surprised if it took a bit longer.

So Erick Fedde is a superstar?? Sweet

I didn’t say they will but it’s not unprecedented for a team to go from 119 losses to playoffs/World Series in 3 years

Magglio was a 1.2 fWAR player in 2006. Pudge was 2.9. They didn’t get superstar production from those guys in 2006.

Can they at least get a real closer in here next season? A guy like Tanner Scott perhaps.

Exactly my point. The owner’s deep pockets weren’t the reason the 2006 Tigers made the World Series. That team was largely built on a young core from years of sucking and drafting high.

Was it used wisely in 2021 when they won 93 games? I’m not sure what to tell you other than the Sox have no significant payroll commitments outside of Beni after this season so we’ll see what Getz does with it when he’s not limited to a bunch of sub $5M signings.

2006 Tigers weren’t even a top 10 payroll team (but Jerry’s Sox were top 5).

Well, the new owner can’t be any worse right? (According to soxtalk I don’t see how he could be)

Who’s to say Thorpe isn’t already that guy? Who’s to say whoever they acquire in the Robert and Crochet trades won’t be those guys? A lot can change in 3 years when you have almost no long term payroll commitments and an owner who may not be here much longer. I know it’s hard to see any signs of hope while experiencing the worst but this too shall pass.

We don’t know that either. Jerry is 88 and has experienced health issues. Decent chance he’s not even the owner of this team in 3 years.

Why? 2003 Tigers made the World Series in 2006.

Low 60s in wins vs low 40s in wins. Who cares? Suck is suck. What is the debate here?

I think you’re underselling his potential. I think his potential is Mark Buehrle. Was Buehrle ever an “ace”? Depends who you ask but dude racked up 52 fWAR over his career, which is better than most modern day aces will accomplish.

I’m not saying he’s destined for a borderline HOF career, I’m just saying his style of pitching is very similar (including his seemingly elite defense for a pitcher).

Based on what Thorpe displayed last night, a right handed Mark Buehrle seems an appropriate analogy. Doesn’t even matter what Iriarte, Zavala, and Wilson do if Thorpe becomes Buehrle 2.0. Would be a massive win in the Cease trade.

Buerhlesque!

Dejong on pace for 30 bombs is interesting. Combined with plus defense that was a very nice signing (that most complained about).

Give me a pitcher like this 10/10 times over a “pitcher” like Kopech. It’s fun to throw 100+ but if you have no idea where it’s going and have no secondary pitches who gives a s%*#.

Don’t need to throw 98 if you can hit spots like that, good lord

Holy s%*# that was impressive

Well, exactly. And that’s precisely the point. Stiever was a top 5 prospect for the Sox but outside of one good half season in Winston-Salem his minor league numbers were very pedestrian. Juan Carela, who is barely inside the T30, has put up better minor league numbers and seems to have better pure stuff than Stiever ever had.

Crochet is basically our Rodon from then. I see what you’re saying about the other guys but we’ll have another 4-5 names to follow after next month’s draft in the same vein as Fulmer, Hansen, etc.