2025 Major League Baseball Thread

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

I'm a Sox fan and all I have to say is Bye Bye Francona...you were too buddy buddy with the players and it finally bit you in the ass!

Unfortunately that's the way it's looking.

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

Not happening.

The team has a 2-year option, otherwise his contract expires sometime this offseason.

Originally Posted by Hatter

An unappreciative fan by the looks of it.

He's been good, but his diminishing health and the disappointing results these last few years(including plummeting television ratings, locally) will likely bring his tenure to an end.

It may be just because the wound is fresh, but a change would be welcome, IMO.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Unfortunately that's the way it's looking.



The team has a 2-year option, otherwise his contract expires sometime this offseason.



He's been good, but his diminishing health and the disappointing results these last few years(including plummeting television ratings, locally) will likely bring his tenure to an end.

It may be just because the wound is fresh, but a change would be welcome, IMO.

Can we all agree he's the greatest Boston Red Sox manager of alltime?

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Hatter

Can we all agree he's the greatest Boston Red Sox manager of all time?

No question.

[kpkelley]

I forsee a whole host of changes coming:

1. John Lackey should expect multiple separations this offseason.(15.25M)
2. Sox won't resign Papelbon. Has failed in his highest pressure situations in both 2011 and 2009.(12m)
3. JD Drew is finally gone.(14M)
4. Sox won't resign Ortiz.(12.5M)
5. Tim Wakefield finally retires.(Been a long time coming, but I will miss him)(1.5M)
6. What will the Sox do with Dice-K and his final year.(10M)
7. Sox decline Scutaro's $6M option. Scutaro declines his $3M option. Lowrie and Iglesias battle for starting SS.(5M)

That leaves a few spots open. Total money out the door would be north of 70M, but they'll have to eat some of Lackey's money to get rid of him and some contracts are set to ecalate including Gonzalez and Crawford. If the Sox maintain roughly the same budget, they'd have around 20-25M to spend, if they can't find anyone to take Lackey and/or Dice-K that number would be closer to $10-15M.

DH/OF - Sox could call up a prospect or two to fill these spots, including Lavarnway and/or Lars Anderson. Kalish may finally be ready to challenge for a starting position. I think the Sox will add at least one experienced Right-handed batter in the offseason. Josh Willingham, Michael Cuddyer, or Aramis Ramirez could be options.

4th and 5th Starters - Sox may look at resigning Bedard, but I for one hope they give Aceves an opportunity to start. Both are free agents. Lots of reports say the Sox will go after CJ Wilson, but I don't think they want to spend that much money. I could see them going for Edwin Jackson.

Closer - Sox need to decide if Bard is ready to close. His performance down the stretch certainly wasn't favorable. Sox may bring in players with closing experience to challenge Bard for the position. Jonathan Broxton is coming off an injury and might have to settle for a one-year deal. Heath Bell and Francisco Rodriguez are also both expected to be available.

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

2. Sox won't resign Papelbon. Has failed in his highest pressure situations in both 2011 and 2009.(12m)

Agreed. One great year but failed under most high pressure situations after that.

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

I forsee a whole host of changes coming:

1. John Lackey should expect multiple separations this offseason.(15.25M)
2. Sox won't resign Papelbon. Has failed in his highest pressure situations in both 2011 and 2009.(12m)
3. JD Drew is finally gone.(14M)
4. Sox won't resign Ortiz.(12.5M)
5. Tim Wakefield finally retires.(Been a long time coming, but I will miss him)(1.5M)
6. What will the Sox do with Dice-K and his final year.(10M)
7. Sox decline Scutaro's $6M option. Scutaro declines his $3M option. Lowrie and Iglesias battle for starting SS.(5M)

That leaves a few spots open. Total money out the door would be north of 70M, but they'll have to eat some of Lackey's money to get rid of him and some contracts are set to ecalate including Gonzalez and Crawford. If the Sox maintain roughly the same budget, they'd have around 20-25M to spend, if they can't find anyone to take Lackey and/or Dice-K that number would be closer to $10-15M.

DH/OF - Sox could call up a prospect or two to fill these spots, including Lavarnway and/or Lars Anderson. Kalish may finally be ready to challenge for a starting position. I think the Sox will add at least one experienced Right-handed batter in the offseason. Josh Willingham, Michael Cuddyer, or Aramis Ramirez could be options.

4th and 5th Starters - Sox may look at resigning Bedard, but I for one hope they give Aceves an opportunity to start. Both are free agents. Lots of reports say the Sox will go after CJ Wilson, but I don't think they want to spend that much money. I could see them going for Edwin Jackson.

Closer - Sox need to decide if Bard is ready to close. His performance down the stretch certainly wasn't favorable. Sox may bring in players with closing experience to challenge Bard for the position. Jonathan Broxton is coming off an injury and might have to settle for a one-year deal. Heath Bell and Francisco Rodriguez are also both expected to be available.

sounds like a rebuilding year and that won't fly in Boston.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

sounds like a rebuilding year and that won't fly in Boston.

Neither will keeping things the same. Theo has a lot of work ahead of him. Of course, that's if he stays. I imagine that Cubs job isn't looking so bad anymore.

[Lacit170]

WOW... just WOW......craziest 3 minutes of baseball ive ever seen.... cant wait for Friday now...

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Neither will keeping things the same. Theo has a lot of work ahead of him. Of course, that's if he stays. I imagine that Cubs job isn't looking so bad anymore.

Well with the Cubs job, there is more work, but it wouldn't be as high pressured as it is in Boston (the Boston media is the worst and the most brutal). So much for that "super team".

[The Theory]

Welp, as a Phillies fan I, of course, am rooting Phillies on the NL side of things. If the Phillies get to the WS (hopefully, though anything can happen in a 5-or-7 game series), I want them to meet the Yankees. Partly because the Yankees beat the Phils in the 2009 WS, and partly because I want the Phillies to have a chance to beat the best the AL has to offer. Although the only team I really DON'T want to see them face is Tampa Bay. Been there, done that already.

[Louisville Slugger]

Doug Fister and Javy Vazquez each won five games in September. The entire Red Sox rotation won four (with a 7.08 ERA).


rofl

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by The Theory

Welp, as a Phillies fan I, of course, am rooting Phillies on the NL side of things. If the Phillies get to the WS (hopefully, though anything can happen in a 5-or-7 game series), I want them to meet the Yankees. Partly because the Yankees beat the Phils in the 2009 WS, and partly because I want the Phillies to have a chance to beat the best the AL has to offer. Although the only team I really DON'T want to see them face is Tampa Bay. Been there, done that already.

Bring it!

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Interesting question on the Dan Patrick Show this morning, would you rather have been a Red Sox/Braves fan this season or a team like the Orioles?

Red Sox/Braves, no question. I'll take an 89 win season over a 70'ish win season anyday. There's no consolation prize like a valuable draft pick in MLB for having a terrible season like there is in the NFL or NBA. Of course the Orioles are a better team than their record. In a normal division they might be a .500 team. They're just screwed in the AL East.

[ChadFL]

My best guess for the playoffs.


LDS:
Texas over Tampa Bay in 5 (2010 redux)
New York over Detroit in 4

Philadelphia over St. Louis in 3
Milwaukee over Arizona in 5

LCS:
Texas over New York in 6 (2010 redux #2)
Philadelphia over Milwaukee in 5

World Series:
Philadelphia over Texas in 5 (battle of the last 2 WS losers)

I hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling Philly is going to have another run like they did in 2008 where they cruise to a championship, losing no more than 1 game in any round.

[cajmoyper]

Originally Posted by The Theory

Welp, as a Phillies fan I, of course, am rooting Phillies on the NL side of things. If the Phillies get to the WS (hopefully, though anything can happen in a 5-or-7 game series), I want them to meet the Yankees. Partly because the Yankees beat the Phils in the 2009 WS, and partly because I want the Phillies to have a chance to beat the best the AL has to offer. Although the only team I really DON'T want to see them face is Tampa Bay. Been there, done that already.

Oh, that's obviously the Yankees huh? So if anybody else wins, that team who will be crowned the AL champs won't be the best?

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

Oh, that's obviously the Yankees huh? So if anybody else wins, that team who will be crowned the AL champs won't be the best?

Ya, call me crazy but I don't think a rotation of Sabathia/Nova/Garcia is exactly the best the AL has to offer. They had the best record in the AL, which I'll give them a ton of credit for. I'm just not convinced that rotation is good enough to make it the the World Series.

And even if they do make it does anyone seriously think the Phillies aren't a much better team than what they had when they lost to NY in 2009, while NY is worse? The NL has home field in the WS too, which it did not in 2009.

[Glassroots]

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

Bring it!

You should be very concerned about your starting pitching. Sabathia, Burnett, Nova, Garcia, and Colon is not a Championship rotation by any means.

Head to head against the Phillies you guys will get crushed.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Glassroots

You should be very concerned about your starting pitching. Sabathia, Burnett, Nova, Garcia, and Colon is not a Championship rotation by any means.

Head to head against the Phillies you guys will get crushed.

I really don't have a horse in the race since I don't care for either team, but I do think you're right. The Yankees have a better offense, but the gap between Phily and NY's starters is a mile wide. The only matchup I could see the Yankees holding their own pitching-wise against Phily would be Sabathia's starts. After that you get matchups like Garcia vs. Hamels or Colon vs. Oswalt. Garcia and Colon have had impressive seasons, but it's hard to see them holding their own against a team like the Phillies.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by Hatter

An unappreciative fan by the looks of it.

I'm appreciative but the max life of a manager on one team is about 8 years in mlb. Eventually the philosophy in the clubhouse get's stale and you need some new energy in there. When things are going great it's fine, but when it's bad a managers faults get magnified. Here are things that always annoyed me about Francona.

*His Sox teams are terrible at getting runners in scoring position with less than 2 out to score. He's terrible at having his team manufacture runs. The philosophy is let's try hitting HR's.

*He is too friendly with his players. You have to have distance between a manager and his players. Stop calling your players by cute nicknames such as "Pap's" "Papi" "Schill" and hold your players accountable. Be a hard ass once in a while.

Terry Francona is a players manager and that get's old after a while. Players get way too comfortable to the point where they under achieve and make mental errors. This is all because there is no accountability coming from the manager.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Red Sox/Braves, no question. I'll take an 89 win season over a 70'ish win season anyday. There's no consolation prize like a valuable draft pick in MLB for having a terrible season like there is in the NFL or NBA. Of course the Orioles are a better team than their record. In a normal division they might be a .500 team. They're just screwed in the AL East.

Not sure if youre poker man.... but would you rather play in a tournament for 4 days straight only to be on the bubble (last person to finish without making money) or would you rather go out on the first hand?

id rather be a crap team with zero expectations than a team with possible WS Championship expectations not even make the playoffs....

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I really don't have a horse in the race since I don't care for either team, but I do think you're right. The Yankees have a better offense, but the gap between Phily and NY's starters is a mile wide. The only matchup I could see the Yankees holding their own pitching-wise against Phily would be Sabathia's starts. After that you get matchups like Garcia vs. Hamels or Colon vs. Oswalt. Garcia and Colon have had impressive seasons, but it's hard to see them holding their own against a team like the Phillies.

what team doesnt the phillys have a mile wide gap on? theyre pitchers are going to outpitch every other team in the league... so i feel at least comfortable knowing we have a strong offense...

every team has a BIG uphill battle against the phillys unfortunately