MLB 2019 Season: Shipping Up To Boston

T1000

T1000

Legend
I’m starting this thread about 6 weeks early since the hot stove is scorching.

Notable moves so far

Boston keeps World Series heroes eovaldi and pearce
Yankees add Paxton via trade
gNats add Corbin on a ridiculous 6 year deal
Phillies give mccutchen 3/50
Mets acquire Diaz and Cano via trade
Braves sign Donaldson
Phillies acquire segura via trade

Rumors

Mets looking to trade for realmuto either straight up or via 3 team trade with the evil empire
Mets Red Sox and Yankees all interested in ottavino and Robertson. Mets also linked to miller
Machado seems to be a lock for philly
No real rumors for Harper that strongly link him anywhere
 
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hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Keeping pearce aint a bad move as long as you have someone to platoon him with who can hit against right handed pitching.

I kinda like all the moves everyone made. Nationals overspent on Corbin, but you kinda have to and it gives them a starting rotation to fear (if healthy).

Cutch makes things interesting in philly. They have a pretty deep outfield so expect them to trade some of those guys for a catcher (Realmuto) or other help. If they land Harper they can trade 3 of 4. Harper in RF Cutch in LF. Adding Machado and moving Segura to 2d really would philly a heck of a lineup and would fix a ton of the holes they had.

At least the Mets are trying. The mMariners really did a solid by signing Cano getting a ton of peak years outta him and moving away towards the end of it.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
Familia back to the Mets and joe Kelly to the dodgers. That should take the Mets out of the ottavino and Robertson sweepstakes so now it’s down to the Yankees and Red Sox. Kimbrel is looking for 6/100 Chapman is the highest paid closer at 5/86. He has the resume to get the contract but the Sox aren’t willing to spend that much and the braves and Phillies are really the only two teams I could see spending that much on a closer

The marlins have said that they would like to trade realmuto by the end of winter meetings which is this afternoon and so far the Mets have been the closest. They’re still not close for either a straight up or three team trade according to all the ny writers. Marlins have already said the Phillies don’t have enough so I guess they’re out
 
RaulRamirez

RaulRamirez

Legend
As a Phils fan, I wouldn't call either Machado or Harper a lock to come her; I wouldn't be surprised if they got one or the other, or were shut out. I do think "we'll" make another big pickup somewhere, though.
Although Machado is more valuable defensively than Harper (especially if he returned to third base), I think I'd prefer Harper. I can live with Franco and Segura on the left side of the infield - better than many.

The Phillies' outfield really isn't all that crowded. Cutch will help (and could play all 3 OF positions) but he's not the player he was 3-5 years ago. Hoskins goes back to 1B, where he should've been last year - not Carlos Santana, who they got rid of. After that, the Phils have Herrera (talented, but even more maddening) and guys who are quite replaceable.
 
clout

clout

Hall of Fame
If the Yanks sign either Machado or Harper then the Boston-New York rivalry will officially hit new heights starting next year given both of those players' past antics. With that said, I think the AL will come down to the same three teams contending for the pennant (Boston, New York, and Houston), while the NL will come down to the Dodgers, Braves and Cubs. I know this offseason is just starting but unless a huge blockbuster trade occurs, I think these will be the top 6 teams contending for the World Series next fall.

As a Blue Jays fan, I fully expect 2019 to be yet another miserable year mired in mediocrity; pretty similar to the last quarter century of Jays baseball :cautious:.

Being a Toronto sports fan is honestly like getting cheated on in a relationship over and over again by the same person because you think they'll change for the better each time when really they don't
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
clout said:
If the Yanks sign either Machado or Harper then the Boston-New York rivalry will officially hit new heights starting next year given both of those players' past antics. With that said, I think the AL will come down to the same three teams contending for the pennant (Boston, New York, and Houston), while the NL will come down to the Dodgers, Braves and Cubs. I know this offseason is just starting but unless a huge blockbuster trade occurs, I think these will be the top 6 teams contending for the World Series next fall.

As a Blue Jays fan, I fully expect 2019 to be yet another miserable year mired in mediocrity; pretty similar to the last quarter century of Jays baseball :cautious:.

Being a Toronto sports fan is honestly like getting cheated on in a relationship over and over again by the same person because you think they'll change for the better each time when really they don't
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Insanity, huh? As a NYJ fan, I feel your pain.

Don’t leave the Brewers out of the NL mix. That was no fluke season they had.
 
clout

clout

Hall of Fame
stringertom said:
Insanity, huh? As a NYJ fan, I feel your pain.

Don’t leave the Brewers out of the NL mix. That was no fluke season they had.
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True. I think the Phillies, Cardinals (with the addition of Goldy), Brewers and Rockies will be the top candidates to clinch a WC spot and you never know what can happen once you clinch a playoff spot. We've already seen a good portion of WC teams in the past make really deep postseason runs, so it really depends who gets hot at the right time

And yeah being a Toronto sports fan can actually drive ppl into insanity. It's a good thing I only cheer for the Raptors and Jays, as I never cared much for the laughing stock that is the Maple Leafs (the Pens have always been my fav hockey team dating back to the 90's). I know many people who are Leafs fans and they honestly fit that cheating analogy above more than anyone (besides Cubs fans prior to 2016) given that their team has had zero accomplishments since TV turned colour.
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
stringertom said:
Insanity, huh? As a NYJ fan, I feel your pain.

Don’t leave the Brewers out of the NL mix. That was no fluke season they had.
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Was thinking the same though about the Brewers, and the Cardinals with Goldschmidt should be competitive as well. They never seem to be down for too long. I think think the NL West is gonna be all Dodgers. but the central and east are up for grabs with some potentially good teams.
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Royals sign billy Hamilton and terrance gore. Already have Merrifield and monedsi who were 1 and 2 second half in steals. Also have owens who is another steal threat. If those 5 guys can find ways to get on base itll be fun to watcht he track meet.
they still probably will lose 100 games but at least they will do it differently than everyone else.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
Mets sign Ramos 2/19 with a third year team option. Grandal wants 4/64 and costs a draft pick and the marlins wanted syndergaard do neither of those happened. Sign Andrew miller, liriano, and markakis and I’d pick the Mets as the nl east favorites.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Puig, Kemp and Wood traded by LAD for Homer Bailey and prospects, freeing up $17million in luxury tax money and two corner OF spots. Hello, Bryce Harper!
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
Mets get Keon broxton, jd Davis, arquimedes caminero, Luis Avila, and Jed lowrie. Maybe I’m going full homer here but on paper this is the best team in the nl east. They have the best rotation and bullpen in the division and if Harper doesn’t go to Washington or philly you could make an argument they have the best lineup as well.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
We’re like 3 weeks until pitchers and catchers report. Machado Harper pollock and Kimbrel are among the big names that haven’t signed

HOF announced yesterday. Mariano Rivera becomes the first unanimous selection. Halliday, Edgar Martinez, and mussina joined him. Schilling was first one out with just under 61%. Clemens and bonds both got 59 and change with three years remaining. I don’t think DHs should be eligible (my NL bias) but Martinez’s numbers are damn good. Still don’t see why mussina got in tbh great pitcher but not HOF imo. Maybe I need to go look at his numbers again. Happy for Rivera he seems like a genuinely good guy and not fake. The video of him getting the call on the posts website was pretty cool.
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Once Harold Baines got elected by vet committee or whatever they call them know Edgar should have a show in. Although when compared to Harold Baines a lot of guys should get in especially fred McGriff who is now off the ballot because the 10 year thing.

I would say you need to double check Mussina.

His prime clashed with Pedro, Big Unit, Clemens, and Halliday, and early Johan Santana (2Cys). All 5 HOF talent. He never had a ridiculous season like Zito, Cliff Lee, or Bartolo . But one of the 5 best pitchers in the AL for over a decade. Career 270 wins and 3.6 ERA entirely in the AL east during the roid days. Almost matched Glavine's numbers despite not getting to face pitchers and 50 less starts. Kinda got shafted in playoffs having multiple games where he pitched a shutout only to lose in extras. The yanks won the WS season before he got their and won it the season he left. Won 20 games his last season and could have easily hung around won 30 more games over the 2 or 3 season to hit the magic 300 number.
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
T1000 said:
We’re like 3 weeks until pitchers and catchers report. Machado Harper pollock and Kimbrel are among the big names that haven’t signed

HOF announced yesterday. Mariano Rivera becomes the first unanimous selection. Halliday, Edgar Martinez, and mussina joined him. Schilling was first one out with just under 61%. Clemens and bonds both got 59 and change with three years remaining. I don’t think DHs should be eligible (my NL bias) but Martinez’s numbers are damn good. Still don’t see why mussina got in tbh great pitcher but not HOF imo. Maybe I need to go look at his numbers again. Happy for Rivera he seems like a genuinely good guy and not fake. The video of him getting the call on the posts website was pretty cool.
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I like the story of Rivera sitting down with Halladay during an All star break early in Roy's career and when Roy asked for help with his cutter Mo actually helped him tweak his grip. Just wanting to help anyone and facing the best is the mark of a true competitor.
 
r2473

r2473

G.O.A.T.
I hope Bonds and Clemens get in on their last ballot. And they both tell the committee to go **** themselves.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
Double checked mussina. 17th in fip war among pitchers and posted very very very good stats almost every year. Basically the mlb equivalent of Kobe very long consistent very good career with no real peak as the undisputed best player. No problem with him getting in.

Bonds, Clemens, McGwire and Palmeiro are HOF without the PEDs. Sosa isn’t. Wouldn’t include him. But since the enabler got voted in I think the PED issue should be thrown out the window.
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
T1000 said:
Double checked mussina. 17th in fip war among pitchers and posted very very very good stats almost every year. Basically the mlb equivalent of Kobe very long consistent very good career with no real peak as the undisputed best player. No problem with him getting in.

Bonds, Clemens, McGwire and Palmeiro are HOF without the PEDs. Sosa isn’t. Wouldn’t include him. But since the enabler got voted in I think the PED issue should be thrown out the window.
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Moose is comprehensively better than Pettitte who without PED stuff is right on the fringe imo. I agree he was deserving but was surprised he got in since he was perpetually underrated.

J
 
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hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
J011yroger said:
Moose is comprehensively better than Pettitte who without PED stuff is right on the fringe imo. I agree he was deserving but was surprised he got in since he was perpetually underrated.

J
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The O's fans around me swear he needs to be an Oriole when he goes in. But I'm not sure he gets the publicity and credit if he never played in New York. His career is almost plit perfectly between both. Wouldn't surprise me if Mussina recommended he pull a Maddox and go in neutral. The Hall ultimately decides, but I don't think they would go against that logic
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
hollywood9826 said:
The O's fans around me swear he needs to be an Oriole when he goes in. But I'm not sure he gets the publicity and credit if he never played in New York. His career is almost plit perfectly between both. Wouldn't surprise me if Mussina recommended he pull a Maddox and go in neutral. The Hall ultimately decides, but I don't think they would go against that logic
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If he played his whole career in NY he would have been a lot closer to 300 wins...

J
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
J011yroger said:
If he played his whole career in NY he would have been a lot closer to 300 wins...

J
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If your insinuation is that because the Orioles sucked so bad they cost him a lot games that's not entirely true. Ill give you that overall the Yankees were better. But Moose always had a great winning percentage aside from a couple years where he went like 13-10 and 11-15 aside from those years he was always over 63% winning percentage.

2000 was the only year he really got jobbed outta wins because the rest of the team sucked. 97 or 98 was the last time the O's were deep and actually good all around. Then Davey Johnson wanted to bench Ripken asked for an extension and got fired. They had good offense for a couple years after still but Mussina not much pitching so they always finished with like 75ish wins. By 2000 they didn't have much offense and gave up even more runs. Moose went 11-15 despite 3.79 (3rd or 4th best) ERA and leading the AL in innings pitched. After that season he went to the Yanks.

Maybe he gets 7 or 8 more wins which I guess when you only need 30 is a lot closer but its not a bunch of extra wins. Just makes the whole 300 win threshold look kinda dumb, that was never a great mark of exclusion to begin with. And they way the game is played wont be reached ever again barring.

But Bartolo is at 247 career and he should probably be able to throw that fastball well into his 60's :)
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Bad Luck Moose got jobbed the most on all those near misses at no-hitters and the one that stings the most was the 26-out perfect outing until Everett hit that blooper at Fenway. Poor guy!
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
hollywood9826 said:
If your insinuation is that because the Orioles sucked so bad they cost him a lot games that's not entirely true. Ill give you that overall the Yankees were better. But Moose always had a great winning percentage aside from a couple years where he went like 13-10 and 11-15 aside from those years he was always over 63% winning percentage.

2000 was the only year he really got jobbed outta wins because the rest of the team sucked. 97 or 98 was the last time the O's were deep and actually good all around. Then Davey Johnson wanted to bench Ripken asked for an extension and got fired. They had good offense for a couple years after still but Mussina not much pitching so they always finished with like 75ish wins. By 2000 they didn't have much offense and gave up even more runs. Moose went 11-15 despite 3.79 (3rd or 4th best) ERA and leading the AL in innings pitched. After that season he went to the Yanks.

Maybe he gets 7 or 8 more wins which I guess when you only need 30 is a lot closer but its not a bunch of extra wins. Just makes the whole 300 win threshold look kinda dumb, that was never a great mark of exclusion to begin with. And they way the game is played wont be reached ever again barring.

But Bartolo is at 247 career and he should probably be able to throw that fastball well into his 60's :)
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I feel like he was victimized by shaky bullpens his whole career, even with the yanks but I might be just overemphasizing a few. I just remember so many times he would throw 7 innings of 2 run ball only to have the pen blow it. He didn't get great run support but I remember him being sabotaged by the bullpen more.

That mid-late 90s Yankee pen was pretty darned good but by the time Moose arrived there were some dubious relief corps (Felix Heredia for example.)

J
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
J011yroger said:
I feel like he was victimized by shaky bullpens his whole career, even with the yanks but I might be just overemphasizing a few. I just remember so many times he would throw 7 innings of 2 run ball only to have the pen blow it. He didn't get great run support but I remember him being sabotaged by the bullpen more.

That mid-late 90s Yankee pen was pretty darned good but by the time Moose arrived there were some dubious relief corps (Felix Heredia for example.)

J
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I remember the name Felix Heredia. I do remember the yankees being kinda weak in the relief department for a couple years. Proctor and Sturtze are coulpe other dudes that I remember a little. Although I think Tom Gordon did OK for them for a little stretch. I guess they thought if they Randy Johnson, Mussina and Kevin Brown relievers weren't so important.

I just remember the 97 ALCS he pitched 15 inning in 2 starts gave a one run and struck out 25 batters. Both extra innings losses. The 97 Indians were really good which makes him shutting them down even more impressive. I think A.Belle had went to the White sox by them but they still had Manny and Thome and slew of other really good hitters.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
Didn’t Halliday say he wanted to go in as a jay? Not sure why his family decided on a neutral plaque. He only spent like 4 years with the Phillies. I know he had a playoff no hitter, WS ring and perfect game with philly but everyone remembers him as a jay just like everyone thinks of piazza as a met even though he had his two mvp caliber seasons with the dodgers
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Roy might have said that he wanted to go in as a Jay.

His wife had a different idea, and I doubt the hall of fame was going to dent her wishes under the circumstances.

"It's not the Phillies Hall of Fame; it's not the Blue Jays Hall of Fame," Halladay's widow, Brandy, said Wednesday. "Roy is going in as a major league baseball player. And that's what he is. And I hope that he represents something to all of baseball, not just the Phillies fans or the Blue Jays fans, but to baseball as a whole. And that's how I think he should be represented."
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
stringertom said:
Halladay will always be a Jay in my memory...would have been a nice addition to their tradition with Alomar as their primary studs in the Hall.
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Even Robbie was only a Jay for like 4 or 5 years, but that was his longest stint with any team. Dude just never stayed in one place very long.
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
stringertom said:
The two chips tipped the scale for his choice of teams at enshrinement.
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No doubt and he should have that hat on in HoF. Looking back hit like 320 in 2011 got traded to the mets and was basically done no slight decline hit 260 got trader to ChiSox never got it back or had a hint of getting it back.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
hollywood9826 said:
No doubt and he should have that hat on in HoF. Looking back hit like 320 in 2011 got traded to the mets and was basically done no slight decline hit 260 got trader to ChiSox never got it back or had a hint of getting it back.
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Yup hit .336 and played gold glove second base. Next year on the Mets .266 and one of the worst defensive infielders in the league. We ruined Carlos baergas and Jason bays careers too.
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
T1000 said:
Yup hit .336 and played gold glove second base. Next year on the Mets .266 and one of the worst defensive infielders in the league. We ruined Carlos baergas and Jason bays careers too.
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At least Baerga had a mini resurgence one year with the DBacks. but it is odd how so some people seem to go to the mets and lose the power stroke. maybe that makes Piazza even more impressive in retrospect.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
hollywood9826 said:
At least Baerga had a mini resurgence one year with the DBacks. but it is odd how so some people seem to go to the mets and lose the power stroke. maybe that makes Piazza even more impressive in retrospect.
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Kingman defied that trend twice. The last three years of his career as an Athletic after his second stint with NYM were 30+ and reduced Ks. Only the last season was bad average wise.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
Pitchers and catchers start reporting next Thursday 2/14. Harper Machado kimbrel and keuchel all remain unsigned. Any guesses where they end up?

Harper - one year deal with the padres
Machado - long term deal phillies
Keuchel - phillies
Kimbrel - idk Boston
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
stringertom said:
10 years for $300million to play in the shadow of srshs? Ombielieble!!!
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Wow I thought it was 8/250 didn’t realize they went 10 years. There’s an opt out after 5 but I can’t see him taking that. To me Machado is the type of guy to chase money/not care about winning and then stop trying when he gets the money. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a terrible year by his standards this year due to the unfriendly ballpark and his apparent had work ethic
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
In sadder news, Dodger great SP Don Newcombe has passed away at age 92. He was a legend of the groundbreaking Brooklyn Dodger integration postwar era, following Jackie Robinson from the Negro League and onto the mound at Ebbets Field in 1949, a ROY season for him. He was the first black to win 20 games, a Cy Young/MVP winner in the same season and the first (only Verlander since then) to be awarded the ROY, CYA and MVP in his career.
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Good to see Machado get a big deal. Padres are closer than a lot of people think to being good.

Phillies are appanrly waiting until right before the Machado press conference to announce the Harper signing. Kinda petty but pretty funny just the same.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
The Bryce is right in Philly 13/330. i still think the Mets are the most complete out of the four and should be the favorite to win the division but I’m also just a little biased
 
hollywood9826

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
T1000 said:
The Bryce is right in Philly 13/330. i still think the Mets are the most complete out of the four and should be the favorite to win the division but I’m also just a little biased
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Not bad. Manny gets the nod on a per year basis. Arenado gets a huge extension from the Rockies right after then Harper comes in the biggest total value. Not bad a high school drop out. What was his dad thinking letting his some quit high school and gets his GED to go to college a year earlier.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
T1000 said:
The Bryce is right in Philly 13/330. i still think the Mets are the most complete out of the four and should be the favorite to win the division but I’m also just a little biased
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NL East is NL Beast now with four teams ready to beat each other up. Harper gets the sexy 13/$330million but adding Segura and Realmuto is just as important. ATL will not disappoint after breaking through last year. Washington is still solid even without Harper. NYM, as you state, are very strong on the mound and have decent pop in the bats. It may be one of these seasons that depends on who beats up the Marlins the worst edging the other three.
 
T1000

T1000

Legend
Here’s how I see it

Lineup rotation bullpen fielding (1-4 1=best)

Atlanta
2 3 4 2
New York
3 1 1 3
Philly
1 4 3 4
Washington
4 2 2 1

The lineups are pretty close between all 4 teams if healthy. Mets and nats have much better rotations than Atlanta and philly. Mets bullpen is a lot better than philly and Washington and both are much better than Atlanta. Washington and Atlanta have much better fielding than New York and philly.

Ramos (.300 hitter) Alonso (.300 hitter and 40 hr power) cano (.300 hitter) McNeil (.300 hitter) conforto (.280 hitter with loads of potential and finally healthy) nimmo (on base machine) is a solid lineup. Lowrie if healthy as my 7th best hitter, sign me up. Rosario as my worst hitter after he tore up every single level in the minors and now he’ll be in a decent lineup for the first time in the majors? Sign me up.

Add that to the best rotation + bullpen combo in baseball plus decent defense with awesome subs (lagares broxton hechevarria) and I like this team. That’s without cespedes back too if he does come back that makes them even better

I love that philly is stuck with Harper forever. He had one good year and sucked in the two series that mattered. He’s been an ok player since. Plus he’s always hurt. Robles might end up being an upgrade over him
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Thread bumpity...DLB and crew are discussing the Trout contract extension supposedly inked today. He will stay in Anaheim for 10 years longer and $430million.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
In a nod to the HOF career of Ichiro, MLB interrupted spring training to send Seattle and Oakland to Japan for the veteran’s sayonara and the Mariners grabbed both games in the 2-game series. Ichiro went 0-5 combined in the two games so he didn’t add to his all-time record hits total between Japanese/MLB play. Rookie Mariners SP Yusei Kikuchi went into the fifth in his MLB debut in the second game and left with a 3-2 lead.
 
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