MLB

[Norah]

I just hate .255 batting averages.

[BigRedLedbetter]

I just hate .255 batting averages.

Dat OPS though. Agreed it is weird to see an average that low. He did hit .301 in 2013. So I don't see why he can't hit .280 with like 30-35 homers this year in more of a hitters park.

[Norah]

I just hate .255 batting averages.

Dat OPS though. Agreed it is weird to see an average that low. He did hit .301 in 2013. So I don't see why he can't hit .280 with like 30-35 homers this year in more of a hitters park.

His OPS also dropped like 80 points from the year before. We'll see where it settles.

[BigRedLedbetter]

I don't think he was as good as 2013 or as (whatever word you want to use) for 2014. Somewhere in the middle. He will be 29 in a few weeks. It will be interesting to see how his career goes but I can see 2-3 really good years in Toronto.

[Norah]

Yeah, he's also a 29 year old with the service time of a 25 year old.

[numbers]

The Red Sox should have tried to get Donaldson and Shark from Oakland, it might have been doable without giving up Betts or Owens.

I don't think they had a piece like Lawrie to give up though unless they dealt Betts or Bogaerts.

Well Middlebrooks and a year of Napoli might have been enough to make up for Lawrie.

[@SkitchP]

Rumors swirling about Cespedes for Porcello.


I dont think I like that.

[Norah]

Yeah I heard that rumor last week. Cespedes is rumored to involved with in all sorts of trades right now.

[Lament]

The Lament Sox trying to get Shark.

I really didn't think they'd start making moves of this nature till next winter, but man was I wrong. I guess they think they're much closer than I do.

A Sale-Samardzija-Rodon-Quintana-Danks rotation would be more than formidable. Duke would be the only really reliable bullpen arm though.

[philpritchard]

The Red Sox should have tried to get Donaldson and Shark from Oakland, it might have been doable without giving up Betts or Owens.

I don't think they had a piece like Lawrie to give up though unless they dealt Betts or Bogaerts.

Well Middlebrooks and a year of Napoli might have been enough to make up for Lawrie.

I don't think that's remotely close to Lawrie's value.

[BigRedLedbetter]

The Lament Sox trying to get Shark.

A Sale-Samardzija-Rodon-Quintana-Danks rotation would be more than formidable. Duke would be the only really reliable bullpen arm though.

If/when Rodon is ready that could be a damn fine rotation.

[numbers]

The Red Sox should have tried to get Donaldson and Shark from Oakland, it might have been doable without giving up Betts or Owens.

I don't think they had a piece like Lawrie to give up though unless they dealt Betts or Bogaerts.

Well Middlebrooks and a year of Napoli might have been enough to make up for Lawrie.

I don't think that's remotely close to Lawrie's value.

I think your vastly overstating Lawrie's value.

[philpritchard]

Lawrie's a 24 year old who's averaged 3.4 WAR per 600 plate appearances. Middlebrooks is a 26 year old who's averaged 1.0 WAR per 600 plate appearances. I don't think one year of Napoli at $16 million to fill a position they don't need closes that gap.

[@SkitchP]

So the Top of the Blue Jays lineup is amazing.

The bottom is scary.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Mmmmm Napoli.

[philpritchard]

So the Top of the Blue Jays lineup is amazing.

The bottom is scary.

Absolutely. They're both scary in opposite ways. If they add Melky and/or a decent 2B, it would really balance things out.

[Coach]

I get why the Sox likely have to part with Cespedes, but it just doesn't feel right.

Also, Wade Boggs at Fenway...there was NOTHING like watching that guy hit. The eye-hand coordination, the discipline, use of the wall, etc. The occasional homer over right field.

[BigRedLedbetter]

I get why the Sox likely have to part with Cespedes, but it just doesn't feel right.

Also, Wade Boggs at Fenway...there was NOTHING like watching that guy hit. The eye-hand coordination, the discipline, use of the wall, etc. The occasional homer over right field.

I am 34 so I did not see Boggs in his prime much but I remember some. Pretty sure the only down year in Boston he was going through a divorce. Such a stud and very underrated hitter all time. So many great hitters from my youth Gwynn, Boggs, Brett, Puckett, Mattingly, etc. Good memories.

Boggs was born in Omaha and did a signing there when I was a kid. I missed it and wish I had gone.

Boggs also drank 64 Miller Lites on a Cross-country Flight. Which is legendary.

[Simple Torture]

My brother and father went to the game where Boggs got his 2000th hit; it was my brother's first game, but I was "too young" to go

[Norah]

So the Mariners just got a little better.