Might Be Another Long Year for Sox fans

[G0UCONN]

5 years 110 million. Opt out after 2 years.

Gave him basically Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez contracts.

 

[Excalibur]

Those are terms you live with.

I really thought these reports meant DD was now bidding against himself like the orioles with crash davis.

I expected far worse

That's F#$*$ng phenomenal given what Hosmer got. Sox won this one . . .

 

[The X Man]

50 Million for the first two years.

 

[60'sfan]

Gave him basically Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez contracts.

Well, DD gambled and won. When J.D. and Boros stretched it out to spring training, Dumbrowski didn't panic. Really not a bad deal. Now if they can find some way to dump Hanley, they might have something going for them. My interest level is rising.

 

[the Q]

Well, DD gambled and won. When J.D. and Boros stretched it out to spring training, Dumbrowski didn't panic. Really not a bad deal. Now if they can find some way to dump Hanley, they might have something going for them. My interest level is rising.

Just give Moreland enough abs to keep hanleys option from vesting

 

[G0UCONN]

That's F#$*$ng phenomenal given what Hosmer got. Sox won this one . . .

True.

Of course still in hole given Price and Sandoval disasters.

 

[Danzz]

Not NY but a very good lineup. On paper it is very deep.

Betts RF
Pedroia/Nunez 2B
Martinez Dan Hurley
Ramirez/Moreland 1B
Benitendi LF
Devers/Nunez 3B
Boegartes/Nunez SS
Vazquez C
Bradley CF

That is an outstanding lineup but as you said not NY. Plus some of these players will rebound and have better years.

 

[Excalibur]

True.

Of course still in hole given Price and Sandoval disasters.

Let's cross our fingers and hope that Price has a monster season and opts out.

Sandoval might have been the worst contract in MLB history.

 

[60'sfan]

Let's cross our fingers and hope that Price has a monster season and opts out.

Sandoval might have been the worst contract in MLB history.

I still think Arod's was the worse. Especially after the Yankees announced that they would not even negotiate with him if he opted out (which he did). And then with no one competing with them they gave him a monstrous contract. Sandoval's, although horrible, pales by comparison.

 

[The Viking]

Cora has said benintendi is batting second.
I’m thinking

Betts
Benintendi
J.D.
Hanley
Bogaerts
Devers
Nunez
Bradley
Vazquez

Or perhaps he bats Nunez 9th to wrap speed around the top and bottom with Nunez Betts and benintendi

Excellent lineup - good combination of power and speed.
And thank god the new coaches are going to be preaching swinging. At good pitches early in the count unlike last year. I believe they led the league in looking at first pitch strikes.

 

[Husky25]

At first blush, I thought this would be great. Then shades of Kevin Millar, circa 2005 creeped into my head..as in cranking the ball 500 feet foul. I don't doubt Ramirez can hit 30 HRs in a season, if healthy. I doubt he would get on base enough otherwise to steal 30 bases. Also, with J.D. Martinez in the fold, he likely won't play enough.

 

[G0UCONN]

At first blush, I thought this would be great. Then shades of Kevin Millar, circa 2005 creeped into my head..as in cranking the ball 500 feet foul. I don't doubt Ramirez can hit 30 HRs in a season, if healthy. I doubt he would get on base enough otherwise to steal 30 bases. Also, with J.D. Martinez in the fold, he likely won't play enough.

My guess is Hanley is our everyday 1Bman to start season with Moreland a late inning def replacement, etc. I see 500 ABs for Hanley one way or another.

 

[G0UCONN]

I still think Arod's was the worse. Especially after the Yankees announced that they would not even negotiate with him if he opted out (which he did). And then with no one competing with them they gave him a monstrous contract. Sandoval's, although horrible, pales by comparison.

As bad as the ARod contract was, at least he was basically still good (though not what he was)

Sandoval couldn't play....

 

[Husky25]

My guess is Hanley is our everyday 1Bman to start season with Moreland a late inning def replacement, etc. I see 500 ABs for Hanley one way or another.

"Moreland may well lose some at-bats with Martinez in the fold. Ramirez might too. Unless Ramirez mashes, the Sox will have reason to limit his playing time. At 497 plate appearances, a vesting option kicks in for 2019."

As the quote says, "Unless Ramirez mashes..." and I would have added, "early and often." Moreland is a lefty. As the season goes on, he'll probably get more opportunity.

 

[60'sfan]

As bad as the ARod contract was, at least he was basically still good (though not what he was)

Sandoval couldn't play....

While I won't argue that Sandoval couldn't play when he got to Boston, one certainly could argue that he was pretty solid up to then. His batting average for the two years prior to the Red Sox acquiring him was .279 with an average of 16 home runs and 76 RBI's. And he hit .344 in the post season including being MVP of the 2012 World Series. Further he hit .426 in three World Series. Arod was a .259 hitter in the post-season.

The Panda was 28 when he signed with the Sox. Arod was 32 when he signed his monster contract.

 

[G0UCONN]

"Moreland may well lose some at-bats with Martinez in the fold. Ramirez might too. Unless Ramirez mashes, the Sox will have reason to limit his playing time. At 497 plate appearances, a vesting option kicks in for 2019."

As the quote says, "Unless Ramirez mashes..." and I would have added, "early and often." Moreland is a lefty. As the season goes on, he'll probably get more opportunity.

Yeah and they will definitely keep him below 497 plate appearances. I may be off in my assessment unless as you say he comes out of the gates mashing....

 

[Palatine]

I would bat JD behind Handley as line up support. Handley doesn't support JD as well batting behind him. With JD behind him, Handley would see much better pitches. It doesn't work the other way around.

 

[Danzz]

While I won't argue that Sandoval couldn't play when he got to Boston, one certainly could argue that he was pretty solid up to then. His batting average for the two years prior to the Red Sox acquiring him was .279 with an average of 16 home runs and 76 RBI's. And he hit .344 in the post season including being MVP of the 2012 World Series. Further he hit .426 in three World Series. Arod was a .259 hitter in the post-season.

The Panda was 28 when he signed with the Sox. Arod was 32 when he signed his monster contract.

The Yankees have a World Series Championship because of ARod.

 

[60'sfan]

The Yankees have a World Series Championship because of ARod.

One could argue that the Yankees have a World Series Championship despite Arod. Arod's performance began to decline after the Yankees signed him to a ridiculous contract after he opted to be a free agent following a monstrous season in 2007. In their only World Series win during the Arod days he hit .250 with one home run and 8 strike outs. Hideki Matsui, Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon were the hitting stars of that series.

 

[the Q]

"Moreland may well lose some at-bats with Martinez in the fold. Ramirez might too. Unless Ramirez mashes, the Sox will have reason to limit his playing time. At 497 plate appearances, a vesting option kicks in for 2019."

As the quote says, "Unless Ramirez mashes..." and I would have added, "early and often." Moreland is a lefty. As the season goes on, he'll probably get more opportunity.

I expect you'll see more of Moreland than you think early on.

They need to keep him going for the inevitable Hanley injury. Give him a a day or two against righties each week. Then he comes in after the 5th or 6th for defense.

Hanley problem is solved.

 

[Husky25]

I expect you'll see more of Moreland than you think early on.

They need to keep him going for the inevitable Hanley injury. Give him a a day or two against righties each week. Then he comes in after the 5th or 6th for defense.

Hanley problem is solved.

Martinez will (should) play one game a week tops in the outfield. Moreland coming off the bench should primarily be a Hanley sub, but only when he is playing 1st. Hanley is also not a bad late and close hitter, so when he is Dan Hurley'ing he is not exactly a liability. I suppose he could be a defensive replacement for Martinez at 1st as well, so long as Martinez has already batter in the 7th. The Sox aren't paying Martinez $47.5 Million for the two year before the out clause to sit him late and close.

 

[Dogdeacon]

As bad as the ARod contract was, at least he was basically still good (though not what he was)

Sandoval couldn't play....

Isn't Bobby Bonilla the worst contract ever? Bonilla might have played more initially than Sandoval, but the Pandapocalypse won't be getting paid 20 years after he stinks.

 

[G0UCONN]

Isn't Bobby Bonilla the worst contract ever? Bonilla might have played more initially than Sandoval, but the Pandapocalypse won't be getting paid 20 years after he stinks.

Eh...was really just how thry structured it. He got 1 million a year for like 25 years. And he was a player.

Of course middle relievers today get 25 mill over 2 years....

 

[Waquoit]

Why do we wanna get rid of Hanley again?

 

[Husky25]

Wild 8th. Best record in MLB. Will be interesting to see what happens when the opponent isn't full of quad-A players.

OTOH, Gotta win the games you're supposed to win. A .889 win% is doing just that.

 

[Danzz]

Wild 8th. Best record in MLB. Will be interesting to see what happens when the opponent isn't full of quad-A players.

OTOH, Gotta win the games you're supposed to win. A .889 win% is doing just that.

They played ML teams with ML players and you have to win those games. They did and that is all you can ask.
I really like Bogarts new approach to hitting. Some of it may have been his hand injury last season and some of it may have been his mindset to go the other way. This season he is turning on the ball and pulling with power. Betts will have a better year, Hanley looks engaged and Martinez gives them the RH power hitter they were lacking last season. The Sox will score runs this season without having to get as many hits to do it.

 

[Husky25]

I never said they were not Major League teams, but their established Major League players are few, far between, and not enough to be a factor. I'm also not saying The Rays or Marlins will challange the '62 Mets, necessarily, but the next series will be more telling than the last 3 were.

 

[Danzz]

I never said they were not Major League teams, but their established Major League players are few, far between, and not enough to be a factor. I'm also not saying The Rays or Marlins will challange the '62 Mets, necessarily, but the next series will be more telling than the last 3 were.

True but I'm encouraged by the Red Sox lineup.
Caught the last inning of the Yankee game. Stanton is a great hitter but it brought a smile to my face when Yankee fans booed him after he struck out for the last out of the game. He is probably looking forward to a road trip.

 

[Waquoit]

Wild 8th. Best record in MLB. Will be interesting to see what happens when the opponent isn't full of quad-A players.

Well?

 

[Husky25]

"Well"? What?

Do not misunderstand me as if I'v not enjoyed the last two week, but I've been a Red Sox fan far too long to not at least guard my unbridled optimism a little bit.