Eminor3rd

Very surprised they didn't choose the lefty.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Mar 31, 2016 -> 05:19 PM) God that phrase is so stupid and way overused on this site. How is trying to find a reasonably priced DH "hero worshiping"? If he hits like he did in 2014 he's still worth $6-8M/year on the open market easily, if not more. 1 bad year doesn't make the guy done forever. He does have an .848 OPS this spring and steamer has him projected at .281/.332/.441....it's no doubt a gamble, but if we could get him at below market value and implement a weight clause I don't see how it's such a crazy idea. I think we have to consider the fact that Boston has benched him in favor of an okay-hitting first baseman who may not even be able to field the position as evidence that Sandoval hasn't shown a lot of "bounceback promise," and there's no reason to believe a weight clause will work here when it hasn't worked anywhere else he's been.

I thought it seemed strange they'd cut him -- their staff is VERY shaky. Makes me wonder if something is wrong with him.

Honestly I don't think I want him at any price. He would just clog up DH for five years.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Mar 31, 2016 -> 06:56 AM) Loney has been a very consistently good average and OBP hitter vs. RHP, in his career. The last 3 years, in the A.L., in over 1000 at bats, he has averaged .300 with an OBP of .350 vs. RHP. Those numbers are right in line with his career stats. It is also worth noting that he does not strikes out very often, and He's a good defensive first baseman. Here are the AT BATS, AVERAGE and ON BASE PERCENTAGE STATS, for the last 3 years: 2013 395 .299 .352 2014 428 .304 .355 2015 277 .296 .341 He will turn 32 in May. The problem is that there is no place for him to play. If an injury happened to Abreu, or one of the outfielders, he would be a decent replacement at 1ST, or DH. However, barring that scenario, he would be on the bench, as an occasional late inning defensive replacement to spell Abreu. The team does not have an obvious need for a left handed pinch hitter, as no one is that bad against RHP. If we got Loney, it would be to play the exact same role LaRoche would have played -- splitting time at 1B/DH vs RHP. He be expected to get ~450 plate appearances. I don't think they'll get him because I think they want to save their money for something better, most likely down the line.

I don't know why it's hard to believe that Rollins is simply better than Saladino at this point. "But Eminor3rd, Rollins had a s*** season last year. Have you seen his 2015 numbers?" Yes, I have. Have you seen Saladino's 2015 numbers? They're substantially worse. I think Saladino has a little upside, and I think it's clear that Rollins is on the decline, but it's not uncommon at all for these types of veterans to bounce back to a significant extent after their career worst seasons -- and even Rollins' career-worst season was 19 points of wRC+ higher than the "exciting" Saladino rookie campaign that has everyone so sold on him. Rollins' strong Spring just adds confidence in a bounceback, and a Rollins bounceback clearly has more upside than a Saladino "breakout." Rollins is one year removed from a 4-win season. And if Rollins IS cooked, Saladino is still an option. There's just no reason to be anything but pleased that Rollins earned the job.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 30, 2016 -> 12:16 PM) What do you mean by this? Only actual starter not getting the day off. Just joking

What did Frazier do wrong?

http://gfycat.com/WideeyedFatElectriceel

BOOM

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Mar 29, 2016 -> 12:50 PM) I don't get the fascination with Rollins. I mean, he deserves to make the team, but I still think Saladino is the better player. That aside, it looks as though Rollins will be our #2 hitter? I'd much rather have Melky or even Austin Jackson there than a guy who hit worse than Saladino and Flowers last year. How do you figure that Rollins hit worse than Saladino/Flowers last year?

Not sure what there was to argue about there, definitely a balk.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Mar 24, 2016 -> 10:34 PM) Lineup (vs. RHP): 1. Adam Eaton (RF) (L) 2. Jimmy Rollins (SS) (S) 3. Jose Abreu (1B) ® 4. Todd Frazier (3B) ® 5. Melky Cabrera (LF) (S) 6. Brett Lawrie (2B) ® 7. Dioner Navarro © (S) 8. Avisail Garcia (DH) ® 9. Austin Jackson (CF) ® Bench: 1. Alex Avila © (L) 2. Tyler Saladino (2B/SS/3B) ® 3. Travis Ishikawa (1B/LF/RF) (L) 4. J.B. Shuck (OF) (L) Starting Rotation: 1. Chris Sale (L) 2. Jose Quintana (L) 3. Carlos Rodon (L) 4. Matt Latos ® 5. John Danks (L) Bullpen: 1. Jacob Turner ® (LRP) 2. Zach Duke (L) (MRP/SU) 3. Matt Albers ® (MRP/SU) 4. Jake Petricka ® (MRP/SU) 5. Nate Jones ® (MRP/SU) 6. Zach Putnam ® (MRP/SU) 7. David Robertson ® (CL) Very unlikely that Navarro will start over Avila against RHP

Let us hope to the pagan gods of baseball that it doesn't come down to Chris Volstad.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/konerko-gre...ned-multitudes/ Gotta click, it can't really be summarized.

Nope

I clicked everything because checkboxes.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 18, 2016 -> 12:22 PM) It's like going to the dentist. It hurts now, but in a week or so, the Sox will be fine and will theoretically have $13 million to play with. I don't know. I can see this being the "excuse" for a disappointing season.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 18, 2016 -> 12:24 PM) The point being those who rip KW constantly are now ripping Chris Sale because he is ripping KW. It's right on point. Come on man, you know that's way off. It's not about KW, it's about whether or not you should publicly denounce your own boss. It's about dissension within a team.

I just wish this never happened. I'd much rather have a $13m boat anchor on the bench. If this team doesn't succeed this year, the media/folklore will be blaming this stupid incident for decades.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 02:54 PM) f*** no. Boston better be paying for almost all of it if it's even remotely true. To be fair, he hit substantially better than LaRoche last year, and is a much better bet to bounce back. But yeah, I'd want most of the contract paid for. Even then, it puts a risky piece in the lineup for many years.

LaRoche is our Gil Meche. $13m of self-respect. Tough to turn away from, but I respect that decision.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 14, 2016 -> 04:47 PM) The tough part of spring training is that these guys aren't always pitching to win. They often are out there working on something specific. If they have Latos working on something, (especially if they are trying to clean up a part of his motion), he could be throwing well, and still be getting hit because of it. This is critically important. Spring Training stats don't mean much for hitters; they mean absolutely nothing for pitchers. They literally go out there sometimes with directives like "only throw fastballs" or "located a changeup down every two strike count." It's like they're going for Steam achievements or something.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 14, 2016 -> 01:37 PM) No you shouldn't unless you have a decreased range of motion that inhbits movement. Over the past decade or so research shows that stretching normal muscle not only causes more muscle injuries but actually decreases power and endurance performance. Instead of stretching, dynamic warmups and cool downs are much more effective. So like jumping jacks?

Whoever they keep as utility guy will be able to spell at all three infield spots. That looks like Saladino but could certainly be Sanchez.