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Around the League...non Padres
#811 · October 31, 2020, 6:34 am
What does everyone think the Red Sox will do this offseason?
They have such an obvious need of Starting Pitching but also seem like they are done over paying and getting into Payroll restriction.
At first thought i could see them paying a guy like Bauer whatever it takes....but if they wouldn't re-sign Betts,a top 3 player in baseball,how would they justify paying what Bauer would get?
Unless he sticks to his philosophy of only signing one year deals...and if that's the case,are the Red Sox close enough that they would risk that?
I guess Bauers situation will all depend on whether he sticks to this or now that money is gonna be thrown at him will he sign a multi year deal....which is what I believe will happen.
He's been all talk up till now when he had no control over the length he could sign for.
#812 · October 31, 2020, 6:55 am
Red Sox had the 2nd worst record in the AL last season and were way way behind TB, NYY, and TOR in the AL East. If we are back to 2019 rules with only 2 wild card teams, then long odds Boston can even climb up to that status. Not Boston's normal approach but don't really see the upside of them going big on any FA. Maybe some "eyewash" signings for the fans. We think Sale and Rodriguez will be back but at former peak performance? Boston looks to have a lot more holes that one signing can fix.
#813 · October 31, 2020, 9:54 am
Bauer will have a lot of good teams that want him. Why go to Boston, especially on a short term deal?
#814 · October 31, 2020, 12:13 pm
He wouldn’t......that’s what I was saying.
But if he signs a long term deal they could be involved.
They aren’t nearly Ad bad s their record having really only lost Betts and replaced him with Verdugo.
But they need pitching....and alot of it.
#815 · November 1, 2020, 4:45 pm
BTW.....the Red Sox led the A.L. in batting average and were 5th in runs scored.
Sounds to me like all they need is pitching.
#816 · November 1, 2020, 6:45 pm
It's all about the money. Estimated team salary (40 man) is probably around 145 Million. In normal years, lots of room to add to salary base to be under the cap but what can they afford this year? How sure are they on the health and performance of Rodriguez, Sale and even Eovaldi coming back from illness and injury? Houck had a good year but small sample size. Need almost an entire bullpen and may go the quantity over quality route again if they want to secure one of the better FA pitchers. All they need is pitching may be a bit of an understatement to be competitive in the AL East. If they are no going to climb very far out of the basement, will they be willing to trade hitting assets or make those expensive outlays to gain quality pitching? It will be interesting to watch because we need them to battle those Yankees! By the way, the team ranked low in fielding percentage so improving in the field may also help the pitching.
#817 · November 1, 2020, 8:20 pm
While I know the big $ teams dont rely as heavily on ticket sales for revenue, I am sure all of them are still feeling the crunch. Red Sox are already at 148 mil for next year. You are right that their offense is really good, BUT Boston has to think long and hard about if its worth it.
Yankees are really good. Pitching is their weakness, but even then theyre a playoff team
Rays are a WS team and extremely young
Speaking of extremely young, the Blue Jays are made up almost entirely of young top 100 prospects
All 3 made the playoffs and show no signs of it being a 1 year mirage.
Do you really go all out to try and win? But I guess if you have the money to burn you can? Sale and Bauer can be as good a 1,2 punch as there is. But Bauer also seems like someone who is going to chase a ring. It wouldnt surprise me if he signs a 1/15 deal (as $ will be lowered for everyone) to sign with a Atl/LA/SD/NY/etc... Bauer knows very well him pitching lights out in the WS could get him a Kevin Brown type deal after.
#818 · November 1, 2020, 9:08 pm
Bauer is such a “one off” character .... hard to guess his next move. The idea of going one year and aiming for a better FA market after next season fits his image.
I would keep an eye out of Atlanta, past couple of seasons went “big” on one year deals with Donaldson then Ozuna ... reportedly looking to add a plus SP. That should fit Bauer big one year with a playoff team. He has been with CINN, CLEV, and AZ not the big market places ... so ATL may be in his comfort zone (more than a NY or BOST).
On the other hand, from SoCal ... LAA need a featured #1 SP ... Moreno has money and will spend .... HOUSTON and OAK could be “weaker” going into 2021.
Somehow I think Bauer will make really good money in 2021 either short term deal or long term deal at age 29.
#819 · November 12, 2020, 8:44 am
Has anyone ever seen this?
Former Padres broadcaster Matt Vasgersian of MLB Network and ESPN championed the idea of former manager Buck Showalter to limit defensive shifts by requiring all infielders to have a foot on the infield before the pitch is thrown and keeping two infielders on each side of second base.
I'm of two minds about the shift:1) Hitters!!!! hit the ball where they ain't!!!! You're a big leaguer for goodness sake!, and 2) knowing pull hitters will pull, it really limits the action you see in a ballgame because teams overload the field.
Baseball does need to do something to shake things up. Having EVERY hitter swinging for the fences EVERY pitch is REALLY dull. Having 9 or 10 pitchers for 1 team EVERY game is HORRIBLE.
As much as I like the DH idea, it just seems to take some of the strategy out of the game( double moves, bunts, moving runners over, etc.) so am quite happy to see it pushed back a year or two....or longer. Pitchers are baseball players too. They should know how to handle a bat.
#820 · November 12, 2020, 9:50 am
Limiting the shift ideas have been argued by Showalter (and others) for some time. In the past was not in favor of any limitations ... basically putting the onus on the hitters to beat the defense.
I HAVE CHANGED! There has been enough evidence that hitters can't change (won't change) and pitchers are good enough to keep hitting spots to add to the probability of hitting into the shift. Add that the power hitters get paid for power ... slapping a single (even if they could) "hurts" their future payday. All the analytics guys have little use for singles, bunts, etc.
Given that reality .... and wanting to see runners on base ... base running .... action, the logical step in limiting the use of shifts. (note NBA changed defensive rules with zone defenses, NFL changed rules on defensive players on each side of the center during field goals, how to line up for kick-offs, etc. .... so rules need to be modified to fit the realities of today and entertainment for the masses ... not just the purists). Side note: a good chance that without the shifting ... more pitchers will have to really pitch to beat the hitter rather than just rear back and pump 100 MPH FB to a spot. Maybe that has a ripple effect of lower Ks more contact ... more action.
I am pro DH ... hate watching a wasted spot in the order with most pitchers swinging like little leaguers. Same theme of wanting or offense in the game and adding offense in the pitcher's slot actually should improve the offense of the players ahead / behind them in the line-up. Then back to my other theme, more pressure on pitchers to pitch rather than just throw hard. I think the complexity of "strategy" is over-rated and in almost all cases lost on the average fans ... and it is all about entertaining the average fans (who provide the bulk of MLB revenues).
The few of us who are more hardcore fans probably will be hardcore fans no matter the rules ... will find other "issues" to debate ... and still will be fans.