he gone.

This excites me. The Rockies were a team I really narrowed in on as a great trade partner. a) they suck at building a baseball team, handling talent, contracts, and assessing talent. Means we should theoretically be able to get the better end of a deal b) they are cash strapped and stuck in no-mans land. They really messed up badly. Story, Arenado, Blackmon, etc etc. etc. plus all their young talent ... man they should've been able to either cash in on that young talent and build a team for a 2-4 year run that would be ending around now, instead they did nothing, mismanaged and are in limbo. c) they have some interesting targets if we're willing to get creative. Sucks because I wish the Sox used the black hole of RF over the past 2-3 years to try out some alternatives. Aka, woulda been nice to try McCann in RF or Moncada in RF, Anderson in RF etc. Not saying any of those are ideal at all. But we sucked anyways, might as well have tried it out while losing. But woulda been nice to explore bringing in Arenado, Story, Rodgers, etc. in some capacity. As it is I don't think we can really bring in any of those guys. Realistically we can explore a Dahl who is basically just Mazara -- maybe better? maybe worse? probably about the same. You have Blackmon with a bloated contract, but could make some sense if it nets you a Marquez without having to give up a Kopech ... aka Cease + Burger for Blackmon and Marquez. d) other guys - Dahl, Blackmon, Hampson **** like him a lot, Hilliard, Jon Gray. Obviously Arenado if there's a spot you can find for him, etc. etc. Sox should totally pull the trigger if they can get and give up the right package. I'm all for a deal, but wouldn't give Kopech or Vaughn or Madrigal in a deal --- which is to say ... I wouldn't pay as much as the Rox probably want for him. He's a good pitcher, but not worth that price. i'd rather go get a Joe Musgrove at a much lesser price than pay that tag on a Marquez.

i echo the last comment. if giolito stumbles without coop and mccann then he's not a top tier starter in this league. top tier guys can play well with whatever is aroudn them

$14mm or whatever his number is for a probable reigning MVP? It's a moot message board debate so I don't care enough to argue my point much - but under your point of view then every single trade this offseason should just be "free trades" aka. Just getting rid of salary. In that case the Sox should go shopping - don't have to trade any prospects & can take any player we want by just taking their salaries on.

I also agree that $8mm seems rich for Ray ... I wouldn't want to pay him that, but to each their own.

This ... I'd be very interested in a Kluber, Rich Hill and to a point - Wainwright, Quintana.

If we were truly cut-throat and wanted to be Rays like - you trade Abreu coming off a top season. Someone takes on his salary + you get some nice pieces back. Slot Vaughn in at 1B and Eloy in at DH. You then upgrade LF defense via trade or FA (or Abreu trade) and now you have a younger, cheaper, better defense team and solve the Eloy defense issue for the future. won't happen for a lot of reasons - but would be a good move for long term success. Not saying I am for or against it either - just saying take all emotions out of it and it makes sense.

Super unfortunate. Sorry to hear. One of my good friends owns a gym too and know it's tough times. For me I was trying my best to keep my membership, just became too cumbersome to drive 30 minutes each way to the gym. Nail in the coffin was the membership price being raised ... sucks cause i truly get such a better experience in a gym.

The trump part of the religion part? haha. sorry it was on a platter. people convince themselves on almost any topic to make themselves feel better/more comfortable, etc. etc.

Another thing I am looking into -- not so much a workout, though there a ton of medical and mental benefits from it ... I am thinking about getting a sauna. I used my gym sauna religiously - sometimes I'd just go to the gym to stretch and sit in the sauna. It's obviously been shut down since March and i miss it sorely. without a gym membership I am thinking about takin the money saved and just putting it towards one in my backyard. I've been hesitant to pull the trigger thus far, but may just call it a "christmas present" and do it before winter sets in too much. Honestly i need this pandemic to be over ... haha. my house is going to slowly turn into a whole health club at this point. I'm terrible at sitting still & work used to take me out on flights mostly every week where i could barely keep my head above water ... late nights, etc. now I have too much time and coming up with projects to keep my mind sane

Not necessarily anything that says they'll spend like they did in teh past, but at the same time, it didn't exactly correspond with any window... the team was getting old and overpriced, so it was time to break it down. I personally see them building it back up quicker than anticipated.

This. maybe not the special request part - i think hinch sees detroit, their pitching talent, and illitch willingness to spend and sees it as a nice fit. The tigers like us, are in a perfect spot to start spending this year on discount. You can grab yourself springer for RF, molina and wainwright at C and SP to mentor Mize, Manning, Skubal. Add in a Morton. Figure out a few bullpen guys to add. Sign a Bryant for 3b ... Schoop back at 2b, Cron at 1B, Tork at DH by May ... all of a sudden thats a playoff team. I think people will be surprised how quickly the Tigers come together.

it's going to have to be a conceited effort for me. My gym (FFC) just raised their membership to $100/mo and with no longer living or working DT I had to cancel. By the way, for all of you in the city - DO support FFC - best gym in my opinion ... just was too cumbersome for me to drive to Elmhurst to workout 3-4 times a week. Like you said, walking is going to be a big one for me. I'm getting etiher a Whoop or the new Amazon strap to keep me motivated steps/health wise. I'm also big on Alo Yoga classes on YouTube lately. My goal is starting November 1 to do 60 of 90 days of yoga through February 1. I've been upping my yoga from once a week or so to 2 or 3 times a week and have noticed a complete difference in my mindset, relaxation, aches, pains, etc. Also the Alo yoga girls are amazing to look at -- keeps the motivation high. So that's my main goal - plus not really being a yoga guy in the past, it's fun like when you start lifting or running for the first time - i can see the benefits and progress a bunch in the beginning. Touching my toes was impossible just a month ago, now I can. So think yoga should keep me motivated as I can progress with my moves, flexibility, etc and hopefully be able to do different binds, handstands, poses that i couldnt do by February. Other than that - just trying to make due on my bike + free weights in the basement. Planning to upgrade the home gym to make it more aesthetically pleasing which hopefully also motivates me to get after it 5-6 times a week.

This is the truth - in general things will skew towards blue. I think that's just normal progression & to be expected as we grow as a society. To me the issues are never red or blue, but rather inefficiencies. I'd lean more blue in many things, and more red a lot of others. But really we're purple. The overlap of the two is a lot more than the perception of folks. As more people move to the Sun Belt, something i think will continue to happen as WFH is expanded, then i thnk you'll start seeing more and more states down there flipped.

When a manager outshines the players then it's a bad hire. Also when a manager has question marks around race (very easy to find confirmations), integrity (DUI + plus saying "do you know who i am" during the arrest) + tied to steroids? But then turns around and acts holier than he is? That's where i have a problem. Especially when they are touting a youth movement "change the game" etc. I don't need a players manager, but this is a poor hire. Sorry. There's a real chance he's actually dead before the Sox World Series window is closed ... that's not a forward-thinking move. It's living in the past again.

Yep, I'd assume a lot of February and even March signings. Complete stab in the dark since Covid is an ever changing topic - but I think we'll see negotiation periods between players and owners in all sports that result in mini-lockouts as they define Covid pay, protocols, etc etc. in the future. My current guess is that you'll see a shortened Spring Training, with minimal or zero fans. I think you'll see a shortened season between 100-120 games and with 25-50% capacity on a state by state basis, expanded playoffs and DH again as we did this year. My initial guess is that ST will start when the season normally would - and then they move forward with that 100 game season. So maybe 25 or so ST games/warmups, 100 games, and then those longer playoffs resulting in closer to 160 games all in.

Saw that Brad Hand was waived. I'm telling you, this is going to be a wild offseason of "stunning" cuts. Man do I hope that Jerry is in a spending mood - cause there will be talent out there for the taking if he opens his checkbook. And I hope he opens it on 2-3 year deals that pay over "market price" for next year, but are considered "below market price" in regular years so that we lock in a super roster for 2-4 years when everything is back to normal. This is the pedal to the metal time, not the sit on your pennies (billions) time.

Even better then. Also, i take last year's stats - both good and bad, with a grain of salt. Its not like he doesn't have a body of work. He should be able to get play 100-120 games of above average RF ball. He's a Nick Markakis type player. Nothing to write home about - but fills a hole, and fills it admirably at a reasonable price.

Because it follows the JR playbook. Old relationships from the past, where he's close with the guy/player & that player or person receives a longer leash or benefit of the doubt they don't receive elsewhere in the marketplace. Hawk Harrelson - GM Robin Ventura - Manager Robin Ventura - manager for way longer than he deserved Kenny Williams - Still has a job Coop - had a job for way longer than necessary Konerko - Extension Jim Thome - nice guy - but all of a sudden has a top job Hahn - really no results - still has no chance of losing his job LaRussa - considered for this job (likely his) Flip to the Bulls .... or let's not. Boylen? are you kidding me. GarPax? He's loyal to an absolute fault. It impedes his business decisions & the track record shows that almost every time it's to the detriment of the teams & fans.

Maybe I missed it, how have we not brought up Eaton? He was bought out by the Nats ... seems like a really easy 1-3 year contract at a reasonable price, fills a need, and we're familiar with him. Now, I do believe he has the persona of being a locker room asshole, and I personally didn't like him, but between the lines he fills everything we need. Shorter term, reasonably priced, fills a need, etc. I think he could be an awesome 2 hole hitter .... or .... possibly a 7/8 hole hitter. 2 years, $14mm, option for a 3rd year at another $7mm with a $1mm buyout. Seems like a win-win for all parties. Don't tie up payroll, get a serviceable RF.

Yes, likely doesn't mean much at all. I'd also like to say what is the point of going out and signing people this early? This offseason is going to be a WEIRD one. Probably the weirdest of them all. Look at a guy like Adam Eaton who just had his option declined. I have a feeling there will be a ton of guys like that across the league, so rushing out to sign a "meh" guy doesn't mean much, it also doesn't make sense to try and start setting market prices. I bet $1.25mm nets you a better player in February than it does in October ... that's all. Again it's all meaningless anyways because it's very plausible he doesn't make the roster and starts at AAA or we cut bait on March 11th in the middle of Spring Training (if there's even a Spring Training)

Speaking from my perspective? That its the same ol' same ol'. I finally had a glimmer of hope we weren't messing around after firing Ricky. I should know better than to have any hope in this franchise.

The reason I believe it more than ever ... Dan Roan isn't the type of guy to get down in the mud and put out rumors... just not his cup of tea. To report as he did makes me think it's very, very true. Hopefully it's an advisor .. hopefully! haah.

I hate that he's even considered "our" guy. Hate him being tied to the team. I think i've blocked like 4 guys on twitter in my life - he's one of them. One of the worst out there.. he's a cartoon. That goes for all of hte Chicago Barstool guys. Big Cat was a nice representation of the midwest, chicago, etc. The rest of these clowns are try-hards who to me, are "acting" more than being themselves and to me, it doesn't come off as funny in the slightest. Wish they'd have better representation of Chicago.

I wonder how Texas will end up this time around. I think it still probably is red, but there has been a massive influx of people to the Dallas-FW and Austin areas (among others) over the past 4 years. Generally I'd say those are blue votes. I can see that being closer than anticipated.

My only two takes: I think the manager's role is wildly overrated. The same lineup is generally rolled out 5 of 7 games with a few slight changes on the other two. The same rotation gets rolled out 5 games in a row outside of injuries. Really it's bullpen management, team relations, & nowadays balancing analytics v. old school views. That's it really. (I guess you can say how long you leave a pitcher in too -- aka Dusty Baker v. less innings loads) B) literally every Tony LaRussa tweet is getting ratioed. I mean, when the hire is so questioned that every single post has more comments than likes? That's wild. Not saying that us armchair GM's know anyhting, but I think it's at least a huge red flag. I'll give him a chance - but i dont think the right move in this situation is hiring a controversial guy ... it's just not. But here we are. Hope he doesn't fuck it up - though again - a manager -- unless you're pulling stunts like ricky did in game 3 --- doesn't have too much barring IMO on the outcome of the roster.