|
|
Post by klawrencio79 on Feb 5, 2019 19:00:12 GMT
At least for the Athletics. The rest of the teams will see their battery mates ambling in over the course of the next 3 days, with my fabled, and sometimes hated, Metsies making their arrival on Valentine's Day.
Ahhhh, spring training, when the game is simple and light-hearted, spring is in the air, warmer weather is on its way, and when every team is hopeful of turning the upcoming season into something.
How do you feel about your team? The Mets are something of a .500 team, I guess. They aren't nearly as bad as their 5-21 June showing from last year, which tanked their entire season (they were 72-64 for the rest of the year), they have all-world ace Jacob deGrom leading what should be a good rotation, and added Edwin Diaz to anchor what should be a good bullpen. Their lineup isn't great, but Michael Conforto should be healthy after coming back too early last year and struggling through the first half. If Wilson Ramos can play in 120 games, they should have an OK lineup with Brandon Nimmo, Robbie Cano, Conforto, Wilson Ramos, Jeff McNeil and the ghost of Todd Frazier. A healthy Cespedes really, really helps but I'm not counting on that at all this year. If he does come back in 2019, they'll treat it like a trade deadline acquisition. I wouldn't bet on it.
The key here for me though is Syndergaard. If he's healthy, I have no reason to think he won't be a top-10 pitcher in the league, his stuff is that good. But he's missed massive amounts of time over the past 2 years, with 2017 being something of a freak injury exacerbated by an incompetent medical staff. But a rotation of deGrom, Syndergaard, Wheeler (who was downright brilliant in the 2nd half last year), headcase Steven Matz and shitsack Jason Vargas (who also rounded into decent shape in the 2nd half) should give the Mets the opportunity to win more often than not. If Syndergaard goes down again, it just thins the whole thing out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rey Kahuka on Feb 5, 2019 19:29:41 GMT
Red Sox fan so obviously I'm optimistic they'll be competitive. At the same time, it's ridiculously hard to repeat. Never mind repeating, I'm hoping fans don't lose their minds when the team doesn't get into a season-long groove in spring training and never look back, as they did last year. That kind of thing just can't happen twice in a row.
|
|
|
|
Post by klawrencio79 on Feb 5, 2019 19:34:23 GMT
Red Sox fan so obviously I'm optimistic they'll be competitive. At the same time, it's ridiculously hard to repeat. Never mind repeating, I'm hoping fans don't lose their minds when the team doesn't get into a season-long groove in spring training and never look back, as they did last year. That kind of thing just can't happen twice in a row. I wish Mookie Betts was on the Mets. |
|
|
|
Post by Rey Kahuka on Feb 5, 2019 19:36:53 GMT
Red Sox fan so obviously I'm optimistic they'll be competitive. At the same time, it's ridiculously hard to repeat. Never mind repeating, I'm hoping fans don't lose their minds when the team doesn't get into a season-long groove in spring training and never look back, as they did last year. That kind of thing just can't happen twice in a row. I wish Mookie Betts was on the Mets. He might be someday. I don't know that he wants to stay in Boston long term.  |
|
|
|
Post by TheGoodMan19 on Feb 5, 2019 19:44:36 GMT
At least for the Athletics. The rest of the days will see their battery mates ambling on over the course of the next 3 days, with my fabled, and sometimes hated, Metsies making their arrival on Valentine's Day. Ahhhh, spring training, when the game is simple and light-hearted, spring is in the air, warmer weather is on its way, and when every team is hopeful of turning the upcoming season into something. How do you feel about your team? The Mets are something of a .500 team, I guess. They aren't nearly as bad as their 5-21 June showing from last year, which tanked their entire season (they were 72-64 for the rest of the year), they have all-world ace Jacob deGrom leading what should be a good rotation, and added Edwin Diaz to anchor what should be a good bullpen. Their lineup isn't great, but Michael Conforto should be healthy after coming back too early last year and struggling through the first half. If Wilson Ramos can play in 120 games, they should have an OK lineup with Brandon Nimmo, Robbie Cano, Conforto, Wilson Ramos, Jeff McNeil and the ghost of Todd Frazier. A healthy Cespedes really, really helps but I'm not counting on that at all this year. If he does come back in 2019, they'll treat it like a trade deadline acquisition. I wouldn't bet on it. The key here for me though is Syndergaard. If he's healthy, I have no reason to think he won't be a top-10 pitcher in the league, his stuff is that good. But he's missed massive amounts of time over the past 2 years, with 2017 being something of a freak injury exacerbated by an incompetent medical staff. But a rotation of deGrom, Syndergaard, Wheeler (who was downright brilliant in the 2nd half last year), headcase Steven Matz and shitsack Jason Vargas (who also rounded into decent shape in the 2nd half) should give the Mets the opportunity to win more often than not. If Syndergaard goes down again, it just thins the whole thing out. Good ol' Casey and the 1962 Metsies. My favorite story. In one game Marvelous Marv Throneberry actually hit a triple. An honest to God triple. But the other team appealed to 1st, saying he never touched it. and the umpire called him "out". Casey went out to argue to no avail. When he was walking back, 3b coach Solly Hemus said "Umm, Casey, he never touched 2nd either". To which Stengel screamed "I know God damned well he touched third, the stupid son of a bitch is standing on it." The "Yo la tengo" is another good '62 Metsie tale. My Uncle was a huge Met fan from 1962, saying a team that bad needed support. |
|
|
|
Post by millar70 on Feb 5, 2019 19:45:23 GMT
How am I feeling about my team? I'm a Red Sox fan, silly. Live is a never-ending day at the beach, my man!
Of course, things won't go as smoothly as last year, and of course, many Red Sox fans will bitch and moan anytime the team stuggles a bit. What can ya say, lots of folks are blessed with memories longer than 24 hours ago, they just don't use them.
The Sox will be right in the thick of things when all is said and done, and if they're not? Whoopsie....you can't win the thing EVERY year, right?
|
|
|
|
Post by TheGoodMan19 on Feb 5, 2019 20:05:03 GMT
I wish Mookie Betts was on the Mets. He might be someday. I don't know that he wants to stay in Boston long term. Actually, I've heard that is is enamored with being the next Williams, the next Yaz, the next Rice, being the Red Sox icon who never put on another uniform (well, Ted managed the Senators). And I don't think the Red Sox Nations wants Mookie to be the next Wade Boggs, the next Carlton Fisk, the next Roger Clemens. Them aforementioned Red Sox better get some bullpen help tout suite. Common theme in all four WS win, a dominant closer. Keith Foulke in '04, Jonathan Papelbon in 2007, Koji in 2013, Kimbrel last year (well, dominant until the playoffs). It when they trot out ijits like Heathcliff Slocum or Danile Bard that the team takes a real step back. Not sure Matt Barnes can handle it. And will expectations be too high? What happens when the team doesn't have the AL East wrapped up by May 10th? But it this the last year? Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and Xander Boegarts go FA after '19. J.D. can opt out (probably will) and Mookie and JBJ hits arbitration. That will cost a buck or two. Interesting, suppose the Sox get off to a ghastly start? Betts and Ben in 10D gets hurt, Sale isn't effective, Devers and Eovaldi steps back and the are light years behind the Yanks. Do they trade some pieces and try to rebuild around Betts and Ben in 10D, trading Bogie, Porcello and others? |
|
|
|
Post by nutsberryfarm 🏜 on Feb 5, 2019 20:17:47 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Rey Kahuka on Feb 5, 2019 20:18:13 GMT
He might be someday. I don't know that he wants to stay in Boston long term. Actually, I've heard that is is enamored with being the next Williams, the next Yaz, the next Rice, being the Red Sox icon who never put on another uniform (well, Ted managed the Senators). And I don't think the Red Sox Nations wants Mookie to be the next Wade Boggs, the next Carlton Fisk, the next Roger Clemens. Them aforementioned Red Sox better get some bullpen help tout suite. Common theme in all four WS win, a dominant closer. Keith Foulke in '04, Jonathan Papelbon in 2007, Koji in 2013, Kimbrel last year (well, dominant until the playoffs). It when they trot out ijits like Heathcliff Slocum or Danile Bard that the team takes a real step back. Not sure Matt Barnes can handle it. And will expectations be too high? What happens when the team doesn't have the AL East wrapped up by May 10th? But it this the last year? Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and Xander Boegarts go FA after '19. J.D. can opt out (probably will) and Mookie and JBJ hits arbitration. That will cost a buck or two. Interesting, suppose the Sox get off to a ghastly start? Betts and Ben in 10D gets hurt, Sale isn't effective, Devers and Eovaldi steps back and the are light years behind the Yanks. Do they trade some pieces and try to rebuild around Betts and Ben in 10D, trading Bogie, Porcello and others? I hope you're right. I don't know why we haven't locked Betts in to a long term deal by now but I have to admit to being completely ignorant of how baseball contracts work. I guess don't spend the big bucks until you have to. Agreed on the closer, I definitely don't want another Bard situation. Expectations will definitely be too high. There's just no way they can do what they did last year, it'll be a dogfight at some point. This team isn't afraid to spend money in free agency, we know this. Will they spend it on the right guys is always a dicey proposition. For some reason they seem to be more willing to throw money at guys from other media markets than they are spending to keep what they have. Just an odd trend I've noticed over the years. I don't even want to think about the team imploding. Not keeping last year's pace is one thing, completely collapsing isn't something I'm willing to consider right now. |
|
|
|
Post by klawrencio79 on Feb 5, 2019 20:23:54 GMT
Actually, I've heard that is is enamored with being the next Williams, the next Yaz, the next Rice, being the Red Sox icon who never put on another uniform (well, Ted managed the Senators). And I don't think the Red Sox Nations wants Mookie to be the next Wade Boggs, the next Carlton Fisk, the next Roger Clemens. Them aforementioned Red Sox better get some bullpen help tout suite. Common theme in all four WS win, a dominant closer. Keith Foulke in '04, Jonathan Papelbon in 2007, Koji in 2013, Kimbrel last year (well, dominant until the playoffs). It when they trot out ijits like Heathcliff Slocum or Danile Bard that the team takes a real step back. Not sure Matt Barnes can handle it. And will expectations be too high? What happens when the team doesn't have the AL East wrapped up by May 10th? But it this the last year? Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and Xander Boegarts go FA after '19. J.D. can opt out (probably will) and Mookie and JBJ hits arbitration. That will cost a buck or two. Interesting, suppose the Sox get off to a ghastly start? Betts and Ben in 10D gets hurt, Sale isn't effective, Devers and Eovaldi steps back and the are light years behind the Yanks. Do they trade some pieces and try to rebuild around Betts and Ben in 10D, trading Bogie, Porcello and others? I hope you're right. I don't know why we haven't locked Betts in to a long term deal by now but I have to admit to being completely ignorant of how baseball contracts work. I guess don't spend the big bucks until you have to. Agreed on the closer, I definitely don't want another Bard situation. Expectations will definitely be too high. There's just no way they can do what they did last year, it'll be a dogfight at some point. This team isn't afraid to spend money in free agency, we know this. Will they spend it on the right guys is always a dicey proposition. For some reason they seem to be more willing to throw money at guys from other media markets than they are spending to keep what they have. Just an odd trend I've noticed over the years. I don't even want to think about the team imploding. Not keeping last year's pace is one thing, completely collapsing isn't something I'm willing to consider right now. It's a double edged sword. You don't want to overpay if you don't have to, but a guy like Betts you want to lock up now to buy out his first few free agent years and keep him locked down through his prime. So he's 26 now (turns 27 after the break) so if you were to lock him up for 6/7 years now, you could get him below what his market value would be in 2020 when he goes FA and basically keep him for the entire prime of his career. Then when he's 33, you let the Texas Rangers sign him to a 4-year, $150m contract. That said, as Goodman pointed out, you have other guys coming down the pike that you'll have to pay so you need to weigh that all together. |
|
|
|
Post by NJtoTX on Feb 5, 2019 20:57:28 GMT
Let me know when the pitchers and catchers have played 40 regular season games.
|
|
|
|
Post by TheGoodMan19 on Feb 5, 2019 21:02:18 GMT
Actually, I've heard that is is enamored with being the next Williams, the next Yaz, the next Rice, being the Red Sox icon who never put on another uniform (well, Ted managed the Senators). And I don't think the Red Sox Nations wants Mookie to be the next Wade Boggs, the next Carlton Fisk, the next Roger Clemens. Them aforementioned Red Sox better get some bullpen help tout suite. Common theme in all four WS win, a dominant closer. Keith Foulke in '04, Jonathan Papelbon in 2007, Koji in 2013, Kimbrel last year (well, dominant until the playoffs). It when they trot out ijits like Heathcliff Slocum or Danile Bard that the team takes a real step back. Not sure Matt Barnes can handle it. And will expectations be too high? What happens when the team doesn't have the AL East wrapped up by May 10th? But it this the last year? Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and Xander Boegarts go FA after '19. J.D. can opt out (probably will) and Mookie and JBJ hits arbitration. That will cost a buck or two. Interesting, suppose the Sox get off to a ghastly start? Betts and Ben in 10D gets hurt, Sale isn't effective, Devers and Eovaldi steps back and the are light years behind the Yanks. Do they trade some pieces and try to rebuild around Betts and Ben in 10D, trading Bogie, Porcello and others? I hope you're right. I don't know why we haven't locked Betts in to a long term deal by now but I have to admit to being completely ignorant of how baseball contracts work. I guess don't spend the big bucks until you have to. Agreed on the closer, I definitely don't want another Bard situation. Expectations will definitely be too high. There's just no way they can do what they did last year, it'll be a dogfight at some point. This team isn't afraid to spend money in free agency, we know this. Will they spend it on the right guys is always a dicey proposition. For some reason they seem to be more willing to throw money at guys from other media markets than they are spending to keep what they have. Just an odd trend I've noticed over the years. I don't even want to think about the team imploding. Not keeping last year's pace is one thing, completely collapsing isn't something I'm willing to consider right now. Problem is, the team is way over the Luxury tax. They sign Kimbrel to $15,000,000 per, it could work out to $30,000,000 in tax. And they are getting close to the ultra tax level, where they start to lose draft picks and that can't happen. If they are way over now, what will it be next year? They have two stupid contracts coming off the books in a couple years, Sandoval this year Rusney Castillo, the guy they pay $12,000,000 to stay in Pawtucket in 2020. Pedroia might be an albatross with another $30,000,000 owed for the next three years. But its not going to be enough to keep Sale, Porcello and Bogie. And the farm isn't much help.
|
|
|
|
Post by klawrencio79 on Feb 5, 2019 21:11:43 GMT
I hope you're right. I don't know why we haven't locked Betts in to a long term deal by now but I have to admit to being completely ignorant of how baseball contracts work. I guess don't spend the big bucks until you have to. Agreed on the closer, I definitely don't want another Bard situation. Expectations will definitely be too high. There's just no way they can do what they did last year, it'll be a dogfight at some point. This team isn't afraid to spend money in free agency, we know this. Will they spend it on the right guys is always a dicey proposition. For some reason they seem to be more willing to throw money at guys from other media markets than they are spending to keep what they have. Just an odd trend I've noticed over the years. I don't even want to think about the team imploding. Not keeping last year's pace is one thing, completely collapsing isn't something I'm willing to consider right now. Problem is, the team is way over the Luxury tax. They sign Kimbrel to $15,000,000 per, it could work out to $30,000,000 in tax. And they are getting close to the ultra tax level, where they start to lose draft picks and that can't happen. If they are way over now, what will it be next year? They have two stupid contracts coming off the books in a couple years, Sandoval this year Rusney Castillo, the guy they pay $12,000,000 to stay in Pawtucket in 2020. Pedroia might be an albatross with another $30,000,000 owed for the next three years. But its not going to be enough to keep Sale, Porcello and Bogie. And the farm isn't much help.
Looks like they also have Manny Ramirez on the books for just over $2m this year. |
|
|
|
Post by TheGoodMan19 on Feb 5, 2019 21:18:14 GMT
Problem is, the team is way over the Luxury tax. They sign Kimbrel to $15,000,000 per, it could work out to $30,000,000 in tax. And they are getting close to the ultra tax level, where they start to lose draft picks and that can't happen. If they are way over now, what will it be next year? They have two stupid contracts coming off the books in a couple years, Sandoval this year Rusney Castillo, the guy they pay $12,000,000 to stay in Pawtucket in 2020. Pedroia might be an albatross with another $30,000,000 owed for the next three years. But its not going to be enough to keep Sale, Porcello and Bogie. And the farm isn't much help.
Looks like they also have Manny Ramirez on the books for just over $2m this year. Yeah, another Bonilla-esque deferment. I'm not sure if that counts on the cap. |
|
|
|
Post by FrankSobotka1514 on Feb 5, 2019 21:19:15 GMT
Will Machado and/or Harper sign before then?
|
|
|
|
Post by Rey Kahuka on Feb 5, 2019 21:21:37 GMT
I hope you're right. I don't know why we haven't locked Betts in to a long term deal by now but I have to admit to being completely ignorant of how baseball contracts work. I guess don't spend the big bucks until you have to. Agreed on the closer, I definitely don't want another Bard situation. Expectations will definitely be too high. There's just no way they can do what they did last year, it'll be a dogfight at some point. This team isn't afraid to spend money in free agency, we know this. Will they spend it on the right guys is always a dicey proposition. For some reason they seem to be more willing to throw money at guys from other media markets than they are spending to keep what they have. Just an odd trend I've noticed over the years. I don't even want to think about the team imploding. Not keeping last year's pace is one thing, completely collapsing isn't something I'm willing to consider right now. Problem is, the team is way over the Luxury tax. They sign Kimbrel to $15,000,000 per, it could work out to $30,000,000 in tax. And they are getting close to the ultra tax level, where they start to lose draft picks and that can't happen. If they are way over now, what will it be next year? They have two stupid contracts coming off the books in a couple years, Sandoval this year Rusney Castillo, the guy they pay $12,000,000 to stay in Pawtucket in 2020. Pedroia might be an albatross with another $30,000,000 owed for the next three years. But its not going to be enough to keep Sale, Porcello and Bogie. And the farm isn't much help.
I forgot how much dead money we had tied up. Yikes. |
|
|
|
Post by TheGoodMan19 on Feb 5, 2019 21:31:05 GMT
Will Machado and/or Harper sign before then? J.D. Martinez didn't sign until the end of February last year so I guess it's not unusual. But it was kind of a given that he was going to Boston.
|
|
|
|
Post by hehatesshe on Feb 5, 2019 22:15:05 GMT
My White Sox:
Need to get Machado, need him to agree to play third. Otherwise we have 2 replacement level players related to him holding younger players back.
Bullpen should be very good. Starters still need to grow and develop. Michael Kopech missing the year suckssssssssss.
Anderson and Moncado need to take a big step forward.
Most exciting thing will be Eloy Jimenez coming up after the extra year of team control is established. But it will most likely be another year of me following the minor leagues a great deal more than the majors.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 22:16:48 GMT
Red Sox fan so obviously I'm optimistic they'll be competitive. At the same time, it's ridiculously hard to repeat. Never mind repeating, I'm hoping fans don't lose their minds when the team doesn't get into a season-long groove in spring training and never look back, as they did last year. That kind of thing just can't happen twice in a row. I wish Mookie Betts was on the Mets. I remember when the Phils were gauging deals for Hamels they apparently swatted down a deal for Betts and Swhihart.
Don't know how true that is - maybe you Ray, Millar, And Goodman since their Sox fans or Nuts can chime in - or Frank since he's a Phils fan or Nuts - or if it was the BoSox that pulled it after going back and forth. Could swear Hamels for Betts was on the table but Phils kept pushing for more. Sickened me it was all set up for Hamels to 'come home' this trade deadline - they didn't make the move and he lit it up for the Cubbies.
Was all over the news for quite sometimes - they went with the Texas deal instead for a handful of prospects who have all pretty much made the majors - none of which is setting the world on fire like Betts.
If memory serves - didn't Betts start off slow and wasn't setting the world on fire?
Nice to see the kid become a superstar.
|
|
|
|
Post by hoskotafe3 on Feb 5, 2019 23:20:16 GMT
White Sox.will win 70-75 games. There'll be good and there'll be bad.
|
|
