michelangelosmonkey
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Posts posted by michelangelosmonkey
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2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:
The problem with this logic is how much of that .800+ against RHPs comes against the high-end ones that you face in the playoffs? The reality is lineup balance does matter and it gets exposed against tougher competition.
I mean...elite pitchers are elite pitchers against everyone. Corbin Burnes this year had a .477 OPS vs righties and .561 versus lefties. Rodon's splits were virtually identical against lefty and righty. I think the question is would you rather have a righty top 25 bat hit against a righty or a lefty top 50 bat against a righty. Paul Goldschmidt equivalent vs Avisail Garcia (23 vs 49 OPS) equivalent but one has a handedness advantage. I'd prefer the great hitter vs the good hitter with handedness advantage. I'm not really sure who you can trade the 24 year old Vaughn earning $550,000 for that would have the same upside. If we are shooting the moon with this rebuild...yes cheap controllable core pieces shouldn't be traded. Brian Reynolds? He's two years older, $4 million more and about to hit Arb 2...meaning he's about to get a lot more expensive.
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1 hour ago, Colome's Hat said:
Neither. Let's stop this foolishness.
This is so right. I think we have all twisted ourselves in knots over this righty/lefty business. If we think, as I suspect all of us do, that both Eloy and Vaughn will be top 25 hitters...which this past year was an .870 OPS (Marcus Semien)...it is nearly impossible to reach that without hitting at least .800+ versus righties. Vaughn struggled against righties his rookie year...I showed in another thread that he and Mike Schmidt's rookie years were very similar...MS was terrible against righties his rookie year and then hit .880 against them the next 18 years. We are also twisted over this defense thing...Abreu is 35 this coming season. His end is in sight...Vaughn will be at first for ten years...we are going to forgo that because for one year he has to play right? As for the bad outfielders...really...you have hitters the caliber of Jose Ramirez in right and in left...and both are young enough to be competent defensively...you don't want that? Finally they are both cost controlled for five more years. For our window to be long we need affordable young players. Don't touch these guys!!!
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2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:
Tray has a very disturbing hatred for Vaughn and will use anything in his disposal to rip him accordingly. He much prefers his favorite young Cuban in Eloy Jimenez.
It's ok to be irrational over some players...I'm actually having fun researching hall of famers that were terrible in their rookie years. Mike Schmidt at the same age as Vaughn (23) had a slightly lower OPS and many more strikeouts. He was also a rh hitter that was TERRIBLE against rh pitchers (.600 OPS his rookie year) The next year he put up an OPS of over .900 and maintained that .900 OPS for the next 17 years (and career OPS of .890 against rh pitchers after that first season). Sometimes when you see greatness it's actually there and baseball requires patience. One of the arguments for having Vaughn as everyday RF this year is just to unlock his bat. Abreu's 35 this year...Vaughn is 24. Abreu is stubborn about playing 1B. Give him another year and then start the transition in 2023.
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Honestly...I know he's young and he's a rookie but Rickie Henderson put up an OPS under .700...was thrown out stealing 11 times, nearly a -2 dWAR. Can't hit, can't field, can't run...he was a wasted pick and we need to try and trade him while the rest of the league is still fooled by his "potential" and ignores the truth. --Tray in 1980.
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11 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:
My argument? I’ve made multiple posts highlighting my position. And I think a ~3.5 win projection for Conforto is fair, but I do think that would be challenging for Vaughn to meet next year as our RF. For example, Jorge Soler had to put a 136 wRC+ to overcome his shit defense and put a 3.6 win season. Maybe Vaughn won’t be quite that bad defensively, but realistically he’s got to be around 125 wRC+ or so to reach that level of production. That seems like a reach for next year and I would expect to closer to 2 wins as our RF.
There is a lot to like about Conforto and I think it is entirely reasonable to say that Vaughn will only be a 2 WAR guy in RF next year. But Vaughn costs nothing and Conforto is going to cost $20 million a year. Meanwhile Semien will put up a 5 WAR and Romy a 1.5 so you get an extra 3.5 WAR for an extra $23 million in salary. At this point the argument within Sox management is...we have $25 million extra to spend...what puts us over the top. I'm not going to war with you over Conforto...he's youngish and lefty and pretty good RF. I'd be OK with that...or with Semien or Robbie Ray...I just would prefer Semien with Vaughn in RF. It will be fascinating to see what the Sox do (and infuriating if they do nothing).
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17 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:
What is your expectations for Conferto next year exactly?
I'm not sure what your argument is...let's say his career average of 3.4 WAR. Can't VAughn do that? Semien's average WAR is 4.6. I'd pay a little more for that in a position where we don't have a player nearly as talented as Vaughn is in RF.
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2 minutes ago, ron883 said:
It's not all about WAR. In the playoffs when you're facing the best pitching and every pitcher gets stretched to the limit, I don't want our outfield giving up free outs because it is atrociously bad in the corners. That's an absolute killer. Good pitching will beat good hitting in the playoffs. You need your defense to perform in those low scoring pitcher duels. You need your defense to limit the number of pitches your bullpen throws in those games.
I'd be happy to make a wager that the Sox won't start the season with Vaughn/Sheets in RF. I think the front office sees the flaw in that plan.
But in effect you are giving up free outs in the field or free outs at the plate. Sanchez was a GG 2b and would never give up an out in the field but was an automatic out at the plate and he can't find a job. All players strengths AND weaknesses will be magnified in the playoffs...or maybe it's just random because SSS. I think you are overly simplifying a legitimate argument. It's not Bad defense=bad player or good defense = good player. If we say player 1 is a 5 offense and 5 defense, and player two is a 9 offense and a 2 defense...player two would be better. I'm sure someone out there has done the analytics on it but I think for a year Vaughn in RF would be interesting. As for the wager...well they already have Engel who I think will figure in a lot to RF. It's not important for us to bet...but yes, I think they will spend more money at 2B this offseason than RF.
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3 minutes ago, ron883 said:
You realize Semien will cost more than Conforto? Where the hell are we getting the money to sign a backup catcher, 2 good RPs and a starter like Rodon in your scenario?
What do you think Semien will cost? I saw 6/$138 somewhere. A top five payroll is $190...and Sox are at $156. So let's say a $30 mill bump from that. If we get Semien for $23 per, trade Kimbrell's $16 and offer Rodon 3/$56 you could sign a relief pitchers for $5. It could work.
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5 minutes ago, poppysox said:
Another NL slugger...what could go wrong? As long as we can afford a top-tier 2nd baseman...a good backup catcher...a good RP or two and perhaps a Rodon type SP...go ahead and get cough, cough, Conforto for $100 million or so.
I think this is the point. We will have a budget. I think we drop $100 million + on a single contract this off season. The question isn't "Is Conforto good...because he is...he would be fine addition to the team and I wouldn't b****. But given we only get one...do you want Conforto in RF and Romy at 2b or do you want Vaughn in RF and Semien at 2b. That is an easy choice for me. I also would not bet $1000 that Conforto will end up with a higher WAR in RF than Vaughn...but I'd happily bet $1,000 that Semien has a higher WAR than Romy. I wouldn't mind getting in that time machine and undoing the Madrigal trade and then we could have confidently put money into Conforto but we are stuck with reality.
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31 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:
It’s not just a few missed fly balls. It’s a lack of range that allows for more hits falling while also allowing base runners to grab extra bases more frequently. No one is saying that will make these guys negative value players, but it’s optimization and will cap the value these guys can provide.
Yes and my point is you can build around offense or defense. Engel has elite defense and speed...he was hurt this past year...if we want defense first and save money for Semiens...why not just him instead of $100 million to Conforto? Or you could just use Vaughn and deal with his defensive learning curve.
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1 minute ago, ron883 said:
All Eloy and Vaughn have to do is hit like prime Manny Ramirez and the Sox are good to go. Sounds easy enough.
You don't have to be a dick about it. I only use Manny as an example. I think it is entirely possible that in a full healthy year Jiminez and Vaughn can put up a combined .875 OPS. That's a LOT of offensive making up for a few missed fly balls.
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1 minute ago, kleedawg said:
Accept he is going to create more runs then he is going to cost almost always. If an OF can just catch every ball he gets to and is a good hitter it will way outweigh any perceived shortcomings. How many balls are actually even hit to an outfielder a game? Sometimes none to a specific position. And you limit this liability by replacing any suspect of with a defensive replacement after their last at bat or after 7th while winning. Also Eloy seems to have made a commitment to his Defensive and seems to be improving.
Also our home park is friendly to range challenged outfielders. Our K rich pitching staff limits flyballs. The trio of eloy/vaughn/sheets is not a permanent problem as 1b could open up in the near future and you could trade one AFTER their trade value is at a peak not selling low as we would now.
Yes and we do have actual replacement outfielders (all the Cubans) in the system...we just need a two year fix and having Eloy and Vaugh hitting 75 homers and letting a few fly balls drop is ok
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1 minute ago, Chicago White Sox said:
A run saved is equal to a run created, so defense always matter. If you throw a guy out of position and he sucks defensively, then it will negate a chunk of the offensive value he provides. And this stuff isn’t linear. An outfield can typically hide one bad defensive player, but surround Robert with weakness on both sides and suddenly you have a legit problem.
So the question is...do Eloy and Vaughn create more runs offensively than they subtract defensively. I think they will both be elite hitters and subpar defenders....Conforto has a negative dWar every year of his career. If defensive is so important why pay him $100 million? Are we certain going forward he will outhit Vaughn? OK he's lefty but elite right handed hitters HAVE to be good against right handed pitchers too or they can't put up .900 OPS. Manny Ramirez was one of the worst defenders of all time and yet managed to put up an average 5 WAR over a ten year period. You state conclusively that "an outfield can hide one bad defensive player..." but If you could replicate Manny Ramirez in RF and LF...don't you do it and let Robert just try to catch everything? Especially if by having those stone gloves in RF and LF you can add 40 homers at 2b?
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25 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:
They aren’t predictive, but rather simply point out just how bad they were in a very small sample. What is predictive is the fact that neither has the speed or athleticism to ever be an average RF. Sheets is a lumbering 6’5”, 230 pounds and Vaughn is straight up too slow. I think Andrew could possibly work in LF because he seems to get all the balls hit to him, but range will always be a problem and I don’t need advanced metrics to tell me otherwise.
I'm not sure how to properly value these things. Firstly I think Vaughn, Sheets and Jiminez are professional athletes under 25 and they can get better. And while I respect defense...you get to chose an outfield (in their prime):
1) Manny Ramirez, Greg Luzinski and Ken Griffey Jr or
2) Paul Blair, Max Kepler and Engel.
Don't you win more with one than two?
Bad defense doesn't matter if the offense is great, right? Derrick Jeter was a terrible defensive SS but went to a million all star games. Andrelton Simmons has had some of the greatest defensive years ever...would you trade Tim Anderson for him? Yes it was clownish watching Manny in Boston's outfield all those years while he was clubbing us over the head with his bat. I understand it would be nice to have someone good at both...but if we spend our big money on one player...isn't Semien's plus defensive and 40 homers at 2b way more valuable than a guy that will save some defensive runs in RF?
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58 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:
Robbie Ray most definitely won't be a Sox sign....less chance than Semien, even.
Also, still having a hard time imagining $175-200 million going to TA entering his age 31/32 season in 2025.
I'm pretty sure I agree with you on TA...but let's enjoy 2022,23, 24 with him and not worry about the second half of the window yet. They drafted his replacement this year.
I also don't think you can be "definite" about who they will sign. Still I don't love RR...he had a great 2021 but do you want to pay a 30 year old pitcher coming off his career year? He's pitched a 1,000 innings, mostly in the NL, with a career FIP above 4. Rodon is younger, with less wear on the tires, better career FIP all in the AL and when he pitched he was elite in 2021. In fact I think the only reason they don't resign Rodon is if their medical people say his arm is going to fall off. Hahn said an interesting thing about the team having 1500 innings to pitch and needing to find the best pitchers to fill it. I feel like there is a re-think going on in baseball about that 32 start, 200 inning pitcher so getting Rodon as an elite 150 inning a year guy is really valuable. I suspect they agreed with Rodon and Boras to let Rodon try to get the best payday possible without a compensation pick attached...but give the White Sox a chance to swoop in at the end. Honestly there is not a better match for the Sox out there than the April-July Rodon and his end of the year fatigue and past injury history is going to drag down his price. Would a 5/$90 contract be crazy as long as you had a bunch of injury settlements built in?
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1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:
1) The White Sox didn't break through early in their windows like three classic rebuild from Ground Zero teams we could all name...
2) 1994/2022 parallels...still sting/lurk.
3) TLR...overall lack of advanced analytical approach.
4) Kimbrel and Rodon leaving a bad taste with some if not many.
5) No changes on major league coaching staff after watching the last two months and Astros series.
6) Not (yet) being pushed by AL Central teams to motivate front office responses.
??? You list six sort of random points that have nothing to do with my comment which was basically...it's untrue that White Sox are cheap when in a competitive window, and, Semien on this team and they will score 9 runs a game. But regarding your points:
1) Dodgers took 8 years to break through...playoffs are random and the White Sox are still very early in their window...almost all their star players are 26 or younger.
2) Truth...1994 was my most bitter year as a fan...that team was the best of my life.
3) Hahn threw out numbers in his presser about defensive alignments...not sure I really understood but clearly they are looking at numbers but different numbers than we are. This year was an amazingly complicated year with Eloy, Robert, Madrigal and Yaz missing vast amounts of the year, Leury played the 4th most games of any player and Keuchel had an ERA of over 5..if you told me those 6 things would happen and we would win 93 games...a fair person would say that TLR did an amazing job.
4) Come on...the offseason is 15 minutes in. It wouldn't shock me to see them trade Kimbrel and sign Rodon for 3/40. Or keep Kimbrel for a killer bullpen...or sign Robbie Ray. Let's see how it plays out.
5) They stunk in the playoffs....in a sport where we measure by hundreds of games you can't draw conclusions on 5. See Dodgers.
6) Why would the front office not try to win the WS? That is a ridiculous take. Last off season they added the fireman of the year and a finalist for the CY Young. Not every move worked out but this team is loaded with talent. I remember five years ago thinking the Nationals would win the WS as they were stacked...and it took years but they finally won it....I thought the same about the Dodgers...and it took them nearly a decade of 90 win teams. I thought the same about the Braves at the end of 2020. You bring together a ton of talent and then you wait for it to explode. This team will explode at some point...we are all too impatient.
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I came here to read about the exciting concept of the White Sox adding Semien's 40 home run power and plus defense to a team that is already stacked...and of course it is nothing but the constant idiotic narrative of the White Sox being a cheap team...I know I have written it a hundred times...but the 00's, 90's and 80's when they had good teams they were a top five payroll...some one wrote in another thread about the 2005 team only being 15th in payroll...or some such nonsense...no one expected the 2005 team to be great...attendance wasn't great initially...but then they won, fans came out in droves and the next year they were 4th in payroll and again in 2007 and 5th in 2008. Yes they have also always been cheap when the team is bad...as a businessman this makes perfect sense to me. A top five payroll in 2021 would have been $190 million. The likely increase in attendance pays for that (Sox fans have proven over the years they will come out for a winner). So given their current commitments they can EASILY afford Semien. So adding him and letting Vaughn play right field...your worst hitter is probably lefty Sheets at DH who put up an .800+ OPS as a rookie. That team will score 9 runs a game.
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2 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:
I would love to sample whatever "optimistic juice" you're having...
Looks like the ship has already sailed on Rodon, unless all the talk about the QO has just been a smokescreen.
Caulfield I would be happy to send you some optimism juice. It's the offseason and the time for hope...and as I have written now multiple times...it seems very likely (barely a strike) that our attendance will boom and JR always spends when attendance is big. We have been very cautious with our money to this point (I don't think any really bad contracts right now) so it might be the year to swing for the fences. Also I didn't see where Rodon was lost...I thought QO is the route to go if they still want him. You could make the argument to get Robbie Ray instead...both lefties...both dominant when their stuff is good. I just think RR will get a bigger offer but if you have one BIG contract to offer...Semien or RR...I'm good with either....I just think you can get Rodon on a short term deal because of the risk.
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1 minute ago, caulfield12 said:
That's fine and good for the very final finishing piece to complete a WS contender, but it is not more of a need than RF, 2B, and another starter if we lose Rodon (have to watch Kopech's innings, too) and even a legit backup catcher like Roberto Perez...who could also give Grandal more time at DH and help slow down the opponent's running game. Those are four better ways to spend that $16 million.
I don't hate the idea of trading the crumbling K's for reallocation of salary...but I also don't hate the idea of using Vaughn in RF everyday, give Collins one more chance (I know, I know...I just can't help but be tantalized by lefty power hitting potential) sign Semien and Rodon and keep Kimbrell for a chance at a dominating bullpen. Semien would be...what $25 a year? Rodon $20...and you still have a few dollars left over from my $50 million budget expansion to sign Leury.
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2 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:
Kimbrel had FIP's under 1.93 his first five years in the big leagues.
Since then he's been good, but not that same dominant performer:
2.68
2.92
1.42
3.13
8.00
3.97
2.43
What is the one noticeable change during that stretch, walks and command. Since 2018, Kimbrel's pitches in thrown in the strike zone has plummeted - 44, 42.7, 47, 48 - his career average coming into 2018 was 52.7%. This has led to people making more contact in the zone against Kimbrel since 2018 in comparison to his career norms. This has also greatly impacted the strength and dominance of his fastball, which he has lost command with the most. Between 2010-2017, Kimbrel's fastball average roughly 10.35 runs above average per season, between 2018-2021 Kimbrel's fastball has averaged .75 runs above average per season.Kimbrel has shown a lot of signs of not being the arm he once was. I know you keep pointing to the two months of dominance, but let's not forget that Kimbrel could have been had for next to nothing last off-season as the Cubs would have loved to off load that contract. Has his value really changed all that much because of 30 innings despite the trends above? I have my doubts. Only time will tell. Kimbrel isn't as bad as he was with the Sox, but his time with the Sox epitomize what he's become. Just another volatile reliever who can have good and bad stretches. He can't be relied upon to be a dominating force (like a Hendriks) at the back end of a winning teams bullpen imo.
Edit: and you know I'm not just piggybacking off this because of his poor time with the Sox. I was shouting about his deteriorating skills the day we acquired him. I've been watching this trend unfold for the past 4 years. I didn't buy into him having figured it all out again. I was never a believer in the new Kimbrel. His underlying concerns were still prevalent.
I'm not sure it's fair to say that Kimbrel wasn't the same dominant pitcher. Kimbrel had 3.6 WAR in 2017 and was amazing....16 strike outs per nine/ WHIP of .68. He had a "down" year in 2018, and still had a 2.3 WAR, 2.7 ERA, struck out 14 batters per 9, 42 saves, 5 wins...and then saved six games in the playoffs.. He pitched a whopping 73 innings that year which probably led to his arm problems in 2019...he only pitched 20 inning that year...and then 15 innings in the COVID year. Then this year through July he was again amazing like he has been most of his career. Through 36 innings he was having one of the great relief years of all time...and yes he was terrible over 23 innings with the White Sox, but we give Rodon and others an excuse of being tired at the end of the year. Why don't we give the same pass to Kimbrel? He is getting older and I think it would be crazy to sign him to a three year extension at $16 million per year...but to bring him back for one more shot doesn't seem crazy...and yes the money...it's a lot to spend for relievers but as I wrote in a different thread, the White Sox baseline attendance historically seems around 20,000 a game...when they are really good (mid 90's, mid-00's) they draw over 30,000...and peaked at 36,000. If they draw 32,000 a game on average the next five years that should easily free up an extra $50 million in payroll over base payroll. JR has had top five payrolls in the 90s and 00s and I think he will again.
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1 hour ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:
Kimbrel had FIP's under 1.93 his first five years in the big leagues.
Since then he's been good, but not that same dominant performer:
2.68
2.92
1.42
3.13
8.00
3.97
2.43
What is the one noticeable change during that stretch, walks and command. Since 2018, Kimbrel's pitches in thrown in the strike zone has plummeted - 44, 42.7, 47, 48 - his career average coming into 2018 was 52.7%. This has led to people making more contact in the zone against Kimbrel since 2018 in comparison to his career norms. This has also greatly impacted the strength and dominance of his fastball, which he has lost command with the most. Between 2010-2017, Kimbrel's fastball average roughly 10.35 runs above average per season, between 2018-2021 Kimbrel's fastball has averaged .75 runs above average per season.Kimbrel has shown a lot of signs of not being the arm he once was. I know you keep pointing to the two months of dominance, but let's not forget that Kimbrel could have been had for next to nothing last off-season as the Cubs would have loved to off load that contract. Has his value really changed all that much because of 30 innings despite the trends above? I have my doubts. Only time will tell. Kimbrel isn't as bad as he was with the Sox, but his time with the Sox epitomize what he's become. Just another volatile reliever who can have good and bad stretches. He can't be relied upon to be a dominating force (like a Hendriks) at the back end of a winning teams bullpen imo.
Edit: and you know I'm not just piggybacking off this because of his poor time with the Sox. I was shouting about his deteriorating skills the day we acquired him. I've been watching this trend unfold for the past 4 years. I didn't buy into him having figured it all out again. I was never a believer in the new Kimbrel. His underlying concerns were still prevalent.
I'm not sure it's fair to say that Kimbrel wasn't the same dominant pitcher. Kimbrel had 3.6 WAR in 2017 and was amazing....16 strike outs per nine/ WHIP of .68. He had a "down" year in 2018, and still had a 2.3 WAR, 2.7 ERA, struck out 14 batters per 9, 42 saves, 5 wins...and then saved six games in the playoffs.. He pitched a whopping 73 innings that year which probably led to his arm problems in 2019...he only pitched 20 inning that year...and then 15 innings in the COVID year. Then this year through July he was again amazing like he has been most of his career. Through 36 innings he was having one of the great relief years of all time...and yes he was terrible over 23 innings with the White Sox, but we give Rodon and others an excuse of being tired at the end of the year. Why don't we give the same pass to Kimbrel? He is getting older and I think it would be crazy to sign him to a three year extension at $16 million per year...but to bring him back for one more shot doesn't seem crazy...and yes the money...it's a lot to spend for relievers but as I wrote in a different thread, the White Sox baseline attendance historically seems around 20,000 a game...when they are really good (mid 90's, mid-00's) they draw over 30,000...and peaked at 36,000. If they draw 32,000 a game on average the next five years that should easily free up an extra $50 million in payroll over base payroll. JR has had top five payrolls in the 90s and 00s and I think he will again.
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18 hours ago, caulfield12 said:
You’re really counting on another 500k fans with an increase in prices and potentially a strike or at least partially delayed start?
Seems like White Sox attendance baseline is about 20,000 fans a game. When they are really good...mid 90's, mid 00's...they averaged over 30,000 a game. Last year after they opened up to full attendance it was 27,000 a game...with still some COVID hesitancy. At the peak, 2006 they drew more than 36,000 a game. I think this is a very exciting team, Cubs are on the downside, people are ready for sports again...an average attendance over the next five years of 32,000 fans a game doesn't seem aggressive. That's 12,000 a game over 80 games means more than a million additional fans (from baseline which I'm sure is how JR sees it for budgeting purposes). A million extra fans with all ancillary spending would suggest $100 million extra revenue per year from base for the window. Take half of that for extra spending and yes...I would be REALLY pissed if they didn't hand out a couple of big contracts this off season. As for the haters on this site...we were a top five spending team in the 80's, 90's and 00's when we had a competitive team. JR spends when people come to the game...sadly our baseline isn't great when the teams not great (like Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs who draw no matter what) his "cheapness" is a myth. PLUS he's a baseball fan who is close to death and would like to see them win again and we all think they are close...I would be less surprised at an offseason signing of Semien and Rodon than an off season signing of nothing.
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2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:
Since when is a $13-14 million contract for Taylor not too much money for the White Sox…?
Since they're in their window? An extra 500,000 fans at $100 revenue per fan is $50 million extra to spend. $25 mill per on Robbie Ray and $10 mill for Taylor...and JR and the boys still have a nice bonus.
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20 hours ago, Balta1701 said:
Well First problem remains the righties. You draw a good RHP in the playoffs and you go out first round, again. Obviously a McCutchen doesn’t solve that, which I’ve noted like 4 times now.
But your second problem is your bench. If Romy is your 2b, then the only big league bench player in this org right now is Engel, who wasn’t exactly a picture of health last year. You shouldn’t have been surprised when several guys got hurt this year, you better darn well have a plan for what you’re going to do if and when that happens again. That plan is currently not in this organization, and scrap heap guys picked up midseason are only going to get you so far if someone actually pushes us in the division.
If we believe...which I do, that Vaughn becomes an elite hitter...the splits aren't so important. Yes Vaughn was bad against righties last year...but look at someone like Austin Riley...you don't get to .900 OPS for the season without also pounding righties.
If the second problem is the bench?? I don't think you fail because you lack Leury Garcia. If that's true...well resign him. You can also sign someone like Chris Taylor for not too much money. I just don't like the idea of blocking 25 year old Vaughn to replace him with an aging known quantity. Part of this organization's peak potential is with Vaughn really breaking out next year. Yes it's a bit of a dice roll...but man I sure like that dice roll better than last year some of the hot RF's...Jackie Bradley JR (-0.7 WAR last year), Joc Pederson (0.0 WAR) or Adam Eaton (-0.7 WAR).
Kendall Graveman agrees to deal w/Sox 3/$24
in Pale Hose Talk
Posted
Yes why can't we emulate the Phillies, Mets and Padres strategy...$300 million contract guys basically guarantee the playoffs.