The All-Underappreciated Fantasy Team

Many people who play fantasy baseball put an emphasis on having better stars than all the other teams. At face value, that makes total sense. Having Bryce Harper, Anthony Rizzo, and Chris Sale after the first three rounds is much better than, say, Andrew McCutchen, Dee Gordon, and Joey Votto (so far this year, that is. I fully expect all three of the latter to bounce-back after their tough starts). Winning a league, though, comes down to so much more than who you took in the first three rounds. Digging through the free agent pool, streaming starts when you need to, managing injuries, etc. are all crucial to winning a fantasy title.

Since those aforementioned "stars" receive all the glory in fantasy, I am going to shed some light on the players that can be just as important when trying to win your league title but are severely underappreciated. This is my "All-Underappreciated Fantasy Team". Featured on this team will only be players who are currently owned in less than 50% of ESPN standard leagues (I do recommend adding Ryan Madson, Fernando Rodney, or even the injured Brad Boxberger  if you need saves, as they are owned in less than 50% of leagues, but I will not be putting any closers on here):

C - Miguel Montero, Chicago Cubs
With Kyle Schwarber out for the season, Miguel Montero figures to catch most nights for the Cubs. The veteran wields some power (15 homers in just under 350 at bats last season) and hits in that loaded and explosive Cubs lineup. Montero's power numbers will most likely compare with Matt Wieters' by the end of the season. Wieters was drafted as a top 200 player on average. In most leagues, Montero went undrafted.

1B - Chris Carter, Milwaukee Brewers
Carter hit 66 home runs between 2013 and 2014. Sure, he struck out a ton, but that doesn't matter in most fantasy formats. In only 129 games last year, he swatted 24 homers. In Milwaukee now (he spent the previous three seasons in Houston), Carter projects to play in a lot more games this season. He has played in all but one of the Brewers games so far, and he is off to a hot start at the plate. His average could destroy your team (.199 last year), but if you need power, he is a great option. I never remember seeing first base so thin with talent before, making Carter more attractive.

2B - Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles
Schoop is off to a slow start but he has a lot of pop in his bat, especially for a second baseman. Last season, Schoop finished tied for 10th in home runs from the position. Considering he had 100 to 200 less at bats than just about everyone in front of him on that list (except Stephen Drew), it is safe to assume his power total will increase this year. Additionally, being featured in that potent Baltimore lineup does not hurt his value one bit. Schoop could easily finish top five in 2B HRs, which makes him very valuable.

3B - Travis Shaw, Boston Red Sox
This one was easy, and by tomorrow Shaw will probably be owned in more than 50% of ESPN standard leagues because of his stellar showing at the plate today. He hits behind David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez, which should give him plenty of RBI opportunities. Modeling his swing after the great lefty first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Shaw swings a powerful bat and is off to a stellar start. It also helps that he has first base eligibility in addition to his third base.

SS - Jonathan Villar, Milwaukee Brewers
My second Brewer on the list made it by a hair over Jose Iglesias (DET) and Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM). Villar makes it because of his speed potential. Last season, in only 116 at bats, Villar swiped 7 bags. Each of the previous two seasons he stole over fifteen. Now at 24 years old, Villar has an everyday job in Milwaukee and if he can improve his OBP with a more disciplined approach, his steal totals may take off.

OF (3) - Joey Rickard, Baltimore Orioles; Michael Saunders, Toronto Blue Jays; Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins
Rickard and Saunders were lucky enough to land atop two of (if not THE two best) the best lineups in baseball. Rickard, who currently boasts a .327 average, has Manny Machado, Adam Jones, and Chris Davis hitting behind him. Saunders has Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion hitting behind him. If you are thin in the outfield and looking at the free agent pool, don't look any further than these two. If they can hold on to those lead off spots, the runs should pour in. Saunders even has some pop and could hit 12-15 homers with a decent average. Rickard is a little less known, but his spot in the lineup is secure so long as he continues to hit. He has shown no signs of slowing down.

Ozuna is looking to re-find himself after a stellar 2014 season turned into a horrible 2015 where he saw a demotion back to the minors. His current average is under .200, which is certainly alarming, but he is only 25 years old and has the power to return to being a 20 home run hitter. He got off to a nice start today after belting a home run off of Max Scherzer.

SP (5) - Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays; Jerad Eickhoff, Philadelphia Phillies; Drew Pomeranz, San Diego Padres; Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox; Adam Conley, Miami Marlins

(Just missed: Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians; Rich Hill, Oakland Athletics)

Moore is an easy choice and like Travis Shaw, Moore should be owned in over 50% very soon. Early indications are that he has returned to his pre-injury self. At only 26 years old, it is unsurprising to see a player with so much talent bounce back. Let's hope he stays healthy.

Eickhoff is a personal favorite, as he helped me win my most important fantasy league last season. In his eleven starts as a major leaguer, Eickhoff has a 2.44 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 70 innings. It is a small sample size, but those numbers are outstanding. There will be bumps and he will be tested, but he has met every challenge he has faced so far in his young career.

I have been waiting for Drew Pomeranz to break out for a very long time now. He was brutal in Colorado, showed flashes of excellence in Oakland but was hit with injuries and juggled back and forth between starter and reliever. Now in San Diego, Pomeranz has a firm grasp on a spot in the rotation. He has a minuscule ERA (2.04) and has struck out 25 in 17.2 IP. Once a highly touted prospect, it is conceivable that he may finally tap into that potential in the massive Petco Park.

Rodriguez will be leaned on in Boston, where the starting pitching has been a question mark for some time now. With David Price to anchor the staff, currently the top defense in the American League, a bullpen that (on paper) looks outstanding, and most importantly - Christian Vasquez finally back catching - maybe Rodriguez will have a monster season upon his return from the disabled list.

Conley had an outstanding Spring Training after going 4-1 with a 3.76 ERA through 11 starts his first year in the majors. He strikes a lot out (12.5 K/9 so far in 2016) and his spot in the rotation is secure. He is off to a bit of a rough start, but that is largely due to facing the Washington Nationals twice and the New York Mets once as his only three starts. Once he starts facing the other teams in the division - Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves - his ratios will lower.

Early Observations

The Boston Red Sox have played twelve full games this season. So far, they've shown some definite improvements over last year, but that doesn't mean they're perfect or even meeting their full potential. There are some real concerns with this team too. Here are a few observations I have taken from the Red Sox in the early going:

1 - John Farrell has... struggled
Red Sox fans are begging for some consistency with the lineup. Farrell insists on continuously giving his players excessive days off. David Ortiz taking a day off here and there is understandable. Between his age and the Achilles issues he's had in the past, it is for the best to keep the heart of the lineup healthy. But Dustin Pedroia randomly got a day off against last year's division champion, Brock Holt, the declared "everyday leftfielder", has sat three games in a row now, and of course there was the David Price benching despite him being on regular rest. It is important to note that while this may seem minor, this is a trend that has continued from Farrell's first few years as manager. Additionally, his blunders of letting Chris Young hit against a righty in the 9th inning of a close game Sunday, as well as opting to take Junichi Tazawa out after getting a single out against Toronto on Monday, have been crucial mistakes.

2 - Is something wrong with Jackie Bradley Jr.'s arm?
JBJ had two throws to the plate early this season and both throws were way off. If this was Jacoby Ellsbury, I would understand it. But JBJ is known for his rocket arm and hopefully there is no concern there.

3 - Travis Shaw is a beast
Farrell - STOP PINCH HITTING FOR SHAW. Shaw is hitting .342 and had two monster hits in the last two 9th innings. On Sunday he launched a two run homer off of Toronto closer Roberto Osuna, bringing the Sox within two runs of a tie game. Farrell went on to blow that game. On Monday, Shaw launched a 9th inning RBI double to bring the Red Sox within two runs again. The man is cold as ice and deserves his at bats. If you are going to dub him the starting third baseman, then let him BE the starting third baseman.


4 - Brock Holt is a career .289 hitter against lefties... why doesn't he get to face them?

A big deal was made of Brock Holt being labeled the starting left fielder. He started off hot, hitting two home runs in the first few games. There are rumors about his foot injury keeping him out of the lineup, but if he is healthy, he should be an everyday player. Not a platoon player. Maybe against lefties Holt can alternate between taking Shaw, Ortiz, or JBJ's spot - just to get that extra righty (Chris Young) in the lineup, but Holt can hit lefties and he should be in there.


5 - Hanley Ramirez is fine at first base
Actually, I will go further and say he is great at first base. There was one pop up that cost the Red Sox big time where Hanley probably should have called off Blake Swihart and caught the ball. With that said, Swihart still should have caught it. Other than that, Hanley has been great. He looks like he is having fun and he is hitting. FINGERS. CROSSED.

 
6 - Why did I see so much of Noe Ramirez?
He is putrid. Thank goodness he was sent down.

7 - Mookie Betts has looked awful
 He had a great year last year, a monster Spring Training, and an excellent first game of the season. After that, he has been pretty horrible. It is just a slump, but it is costing the Red Sox runs. Against Tampa Bay tonight he came up with the bases loaded and no one out. He grounded into a fielders choice that easily could have been turned into a double play but instead the ball was thrown home for the force out and no runs scored. It was a huge out, and a microcosm of this slump Mookie is in. I am not worried about him, but perhaps a drop in the lineup might get him going. The Red Sox need runners on for Hanley Ramirez and David Ortiz.

8 - The power still hasn't appeared for Xander Bogaerts
Many projected an increase in power from Bogaerts this year. Granted, he has a solid three run homer already in the early going but he continues to hit balls on a line up the middle. Unless he changes up his swing mid-season, I don't think Bogaerts is going to hit much more than ten home runs.


9 - Runners left on base
One of the most frustrating things about the Red Sox since they traded Adrian Gonzalez (except for 2013, although it happened plenty that year as well), has been the never-ending squandered opportunities. The Sox finished in the bottom half of the league in amount of runners left on base last year and they are on pace to do it again this year. Please start getting those guys in. Of course, a team with a strong offense is more likely to have guys on base which ultimately means they're more likely to LEAVE guys on base. But watching this team, I can't help but always feel like they blow opportunity after opportunity, no matter the final run total.


10 - Stop pitching Kimbrel in non-save situations
I do not know what it is. I don't have an explanation. But the fact is - closers SUCK in non-save situations. They always do. Two non-save situations have ballooned Kimbrel's ERA and caused the Red Sox to lose two games. In save situations, though, he is four for four. This isn't a "Craig Kimbrel" thing, it is a "closer" thing. Just don't pitch them in non-save situations, MLB managers!

Four Moves for the Red Sox

Despite a pretty tough schedule so far in which more than half of their games have been against the Toronto Blue Jays (last year's American League East champs) and in the rest of their games they have faced pitchers like Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, the Red Sox sit at 6-6 in the American League East. Quite a few of those losses have also come in tight games that the Red Sox could have easily won. Even though the start to the season has gone reasonably well, especially against tough opponents, the Red Sox should not wait to improve their roster. They played a similarly-decent April last year and we all know how that ended.

Granted, the return of Christian Vasquez as well as the returns of Carson Smith and Eduardo Rodriguez are (and should) be huge boosts to the team. My guess is Joe Kelly is the odd man out upon the return of Rodriguez, as Price, Porcello, and Buchholz have spots locked up and Wright has looked solid and goes deep into games, preserving the pen (very unlike Kelly). While that is all great news, there is still work to be done. Dave Dombrowski cannot afford to sit on his hands if the Red Sox are still only floating around .500 in May.

With so much depth in the minor leagues, the Red Sox should at least explore some options similar to the ones listed:

1 - The Home Run Deal
Red Sox send: Rafael Devers, Anderson Espinoza, Blake Swihart, Joe Kelly, and Allen Craig (paying most of his salary)
Oakland A's send: Sonny Gray, Jed Lowrie

Why it makes sense for Oakland: 
Billy Beane, Oakland GM, has literally said deciding to extend Sonny Gray is a lose-lose situation for Oakland. He either is great but takes up too much salary, or does not perform up to the contract and takes up too salary. Oakland isn't young and their veteran talent is not good. They're 6-7 right now, but their lack of young talent will keep them from contending. Devers, according to some like Keith Law, is the Red Sox top prospect and has great power from third base. Swihart has always had a strong bat and is also highly valued in the Red Sox system. Espinoza offers a young, potential-filled replacement for Gray (eventually, he is very young) as the top arm in the Red Sox farm system. Joe Kelly and Allen Craig could greatly benefit from a change of scenary - especially Craig who would probably become Oakland's starting 1B (they are platooning Alonso and Canha).

Why it makes sense for Boston:
Devers-Espinoza-Swihart is definitely a monster package, but in Ortiz's final year, it may be worth to splurge a little bit for some high-end MLB talent. Gray is no question an ace and starting pitching is Boston's biggest need. While the farm system would certainly look bare, Yoan Moncada and Andrew Benintendi would still be in the system. The switch-hitting Lowrie would be an upgrade over Josh Rutledge and Marco Hernandez as a utility infielder. Boston fans probably cringe at sending off those prospects and non-Boston fans probably scoff and think that isn't enough - but given the situations of both teams, this deal would make sense. Could the Red Sox regret it at some point? Maybe, but they might win a World Series out of it.

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2 - The Quick Fix Deal
Red Sox send: Koji Uehara, Chris Young
Washington Nationals send: Gio Gonzalez

Why it makes sense for Washington:
 Jayson Werth hasn't been able to hit his way out of a paperbag since returning to the lineup and while Michael Taylor had a great Spring Training, it hasn't yet translated to the regular season (.146 BA). Chris Young has been putrid as well, but that is largely due to him only facing RHP so far (aside from JA Happ, who he scored a double off of). The return of Ben Revere and the contract of Jayson Werth may cause Washington to balk at Chris Young in this hypothetical offer, but if they're worried Werth can't contribute then maybe CY isn't a bad option. Gio has a $12mil option at the end of this year, but Washington may elect to move him while he has some value to free up a spot for top prospect (and arguably the top pitching prospect in all of baseball) Lucas Giolito. Gonzalez has been great so far, but against two of the worst teams in baseball. Giolito could be an upgrade in the rotation and adding Uehara would greatly bolster a pen that is incredibly slim outside of Papelbon and Kelley (the former of which is off to a slow start himself). Uehara is a FA at the end of the season, so Washington improves their bullpen without committing to a long-term contract and frees up a spot for an elite prospect SP.

Perhaps Washington would be more interested in Josh Rutledge? Hardly an appetizing player, but a change up from Danny Espinosa might be in order, as he hasn't been able to hit in the early going either.

Why it makes sense for Boston:
Once again, the Red Sox need starting pitching. While Gio is no Sonny Gray, he isn't a slouch either. This deal is really dependent on Carson Smith getting healthy and being effective, because Koji has been incredibly important in many of the Red Sox's early wins. While it would not be my first option to trade Chris Young at such a low value, giving Rusney Castillo another shot or giving Andrew Benintendi a call could be a nice boost to the lineup. A healthy Smith with Junichi Tazawa and Craig Kimbrel should still be a shut down 7-8-9.

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 3 - The Trash-for-Slightly-Less-Trash Deal
Red Sox send: Pablo Sandoval, Rusney Castillo, Joe Kelly, and Allen Craig
San Diego Padres send: Matt Kemp, Andrew Cashner

Why it makes sense for the Padres:
If Pablo Sandoval's shoulder is really not a made up injury and actually a huge problem, then this is a pointless exercise (well... it was kind of already pointless anyway so lets continue). The Red Sox would certainly have to eat a TON of money in this deal, even with bringing in the massive Kemp contract, but Dombrowski has never winced in the face of spending crazy cash. The Padres liked Sandoval before he became a huge bum on the end of Boston's bench, maybe they can rekindle that intrigue if Boston eats a lot of salary? It would be a low-risk situation for SD anyway, even with giving up two players, IF the Red Sox ate a decent amount of those contracts. The other three guys, as mentioned before for Craig and Kelly, really need a change of scenery. There may be some solid baseball left in Craig and Kelly may be able to master his 98 mph fastball, but I don't think either case will occur in Boston. Kemp's departure would open an opportunity for Rusney in a much less-stressful atmosphere. It seems Boston has given up on him anyway.

Why it makes sense for Boston: 
The Red Sox payroll would be horrifying - but it already is, it isn't my money, and they charge like $400 for a 12oz beer, they can afford to keep spending. A healthy Kemp would be inserted right into the heart of a loaded lineup and spare us of the Holt-Young platoon (probably meaning the end of Chris Young). The Sox could use some pop from the right side of the plate and Kemp is off to a hot start. Now granted, Cashner looks awful but would he really be any worse than Joe Kelly? He has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, let's see if our manager, who is hailed as some pitching god, can figure him out.

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4 - The Never, Ever, Ever, EVER-Going-To-Happen-Fantasy-Wish-I-Was-Joking-Deal
Red Sox send: Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Blake Swihart
Pittsburgh Pirates send: Andrew McCutchen, Gerrit Cole, Jordy Mercer

Why it (really doesn't) make sense for Pittsburgh:
While the Pirates have been competitive the last few years, they seemed to have hit a wall while the Cubs have gotten astronomically better. They're in a position where they need to improve but are very close to World Series contention, even more so than the Red Sox. Mookie isn't quite Andrew McCutchen (yet) but he is damn good and that outfield would still be a force to be reckoned with. Bogaerts is an insane upgrade at shortstop over Mercer. Cervelli has been very solid but Swihart should be able to lock down the job with his bat. Eduardo is ABSOLUTELY NOT Gerrit Cole, but perhaps a call up of top prospect Tyler Glasnow would help mitigate the damage of losing Cole. It comes down to would Pittsburgh rather have Cole and Jeff Locke or Rodriguez and Glasnow. MLB-level talent-wise? Yes, Pittsburgh takes a step-back. But in 2-3 years? That might make their franchise.

Why it makes sense for Boston: 
For the final time, the Red Sox need starting pitching. Gerrit Cole would be an incredible addition. McCutchen would be worshipped in Boston just as Mookie is. Mercer can ride the bench while Boston calls up Yoan Moncada and transitions him to shortstop! Maybe this fantasy is out of control now.

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Now that was fun but....
Why Deal 1 wouldn't happen - aside from that being a RIDICULOUS amount of talent being given up by the Red Sox, Oakland may just opt to keep Gray and ride it out. They're in second right now despite the sub-.500 record and even with Espinoza's potential, he is still a long way away from an MLB mound. Red Sox pitching prospects seem to never pan out anyway. Additionally, if Gray becomes available, the Red Sox will not be the only team bidding for his services, making a deal even less likely.

Why Deal 2 wouldn't happen - Washington is far more likely to simply keep Gio and put Roark back in the pen when the time comes to call up Giolito. They do need bullpen help, but there are cheaper options than giving up a solid SP like Gonzalez. Additionally, Chris Young or Josh Rutledge are not enough to convince a team to give up a good SP for a reliever who is 41 years old. Even if it is Koji Uehara. Finally, Washington is off to a great start. Why would they want to mix things up?

Why Deal 3 wouldn't happen - There is just too much dead money in this deal to make anything work. A 1-for-1 between two teams who have a guy that needs a change of scenery is doable. But a 4 for 2 with hundreds of millions involved? This would just never happen. Additionally, the four players the Red Sox would be trading have shown NO signs of life. They have all been miserable. It would make no sense to take on their contracts while simultaneously parting with Kemp.

Why Deal 4 wouldn't happen - it just wouldn't. And my question revolving around a combo of Cole and Locke or Rodriguez and Glasnow was misleading, because the Pirates could simply move Locke to the pen and call up Glasnow anyway.

Time To Get Excited

Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

Dave Dombrowski, sent from Jesus (or Allah, Zeus, whoever), has put the Sox back on the map. The Red Sox needed bullpen help. What does Dave do? He trades some prospects for the best closer in the league of the last five seasons. The Red Sox needed rotation help? He signs the best free agent pitcher on the market. Hell, he even followed my advice and signed Chris Young (possibly making Bradley Jr. expendable to create an OF platoon of Holt-Young). I'm all for our new sheriff.

Part of me feels bad for Ben Cherington. The moves made under his tenure, for the most part, were terrible. That certainly wasn't all his fault, though.

Have you ever seen Cut Throat Kitchen? Essentially it is a (great) show where there are four contestants who periodically get eliminated based on the quality of the food they cook. The catch is, there are different evil stipulations contestants can bid on to torture their opponents. For example, a contestant (if they win the auction using their own potential winnings) can make one of their opponents cook only using utensils made out of tinfoil. Cherington might have been a perfectly fine cook, but Red Sox ownership gave him tinfoil utensils. He took over a team with a bunch of losers who were overpaid, was forced to hire a terrible manager, finished in last place, then turned all that around and won a World Series. After that? Another last place, followed by two of the worst signings the team has made in a long time, and one more last place for good measure. Sorry Ben, but your dish was not good enough to make it to the next round.

It may have been a stretch to fit Cut Throat Kitchen into this blog post, but you know what isn't a stretch? Saying the Red Sox have a chance to return to the postseason for the first time since that magical 2013 season. We can thank Dombrowski and his killer haircut for that - not Cherington. Sox fans... get excited. Sure, there are still holes in the rotation and the bullpen is shaky at best before Kimbrel, but if you were one of the few who were still watching in August and September then you know the potential this team has.


Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts are budding stars. David Price is far and away the best pitcher in the division. David Ortiz may be retiring, but he would still bat 3rd or 4th on most teams in the league. Now imagine if Hanley Ramirez, who I am fairly certain has been dubbed the official scapegoat of the 2015 disaster, hits like he did in April? I know, more stretching. But hey, he has to be better at first than he was at left-field, right? And if the man has any pride at all, he will try to redeem himself for last year's blunder, where some believe he was the worst player in all of baseball. Even if Hanley continues to fail, this team has more than enough talent offensively to be a wrecking crew like they were in the second-half of last season.

What could be the downfall of the 2016 Red Sox? Have your pick. Injuries are the easy choice, but a regression from Bradley Jr.'s long-overdue breakout would be disheartening. The rotation after Price is a mystery and Kimbrel isn't American League tested. Even Price himself may have pitched his best baseball already, though he is the least of my concerns. Bogaerts' power has yet to show up, and Pablo Sandoval is so bad it hurts. John Farrell, who was not with the team due to some obviously unfortunate circumstances, was absent for the "good" portion of the season. Can he bring back that success? Who knows. Clearly there are a lot of things to still be concerned about.

Even still, if you are not excited for this season... I just don't understand you. Dombrowski has done the best he can to make this team relevant again. Are you upset about $217 million? It isn't your money. Get over it. The negative nancys of Boston need to get a grip. The bottom line is they are a big market club that can afford to take on a contract like Price's not only because they have the money but also because the guy has earned it. He doesn't rely on his fastball as much any more which shows he may age well, he's been in the AL his whole career, and THIS TEAM FINISHED IN LAST PLACE THREE OF THE LAST FOUR SEASONS!


If you didn't like this plan, tell me your plan. What would you have done to improve the team? Go in with the same rotation from last year? Trade a Mookie Betts or Xander Bogaerts for a Sonny Gray or Chris Sale (because that is what it would cost!)? Sign Zack Greinke instead for close to the same money? Zach Greinke, who is two years older than Price and not AL East proven? If your argument is: "well they should have just signed Lester," then I hope you understand that Lester is not as good as Price (if you don't understand that... then I'm just sorry for you). I also hope you understand Dave Dombrowski was not President of Baseball Operations when Lester signed with Chicago. He is cleaning up someone else's mess. Plus, you can't be both upset about the money Price got AND upset that the Red Sox didn't sign Lester. That is hypocritical. Lester wasn't necessarily going to make $217 million but he was going to get a monster paycheck. The type of paycheck that could hamstring a team, especially when it is given to a pitcher over 30 (exactly like Price's). So, you either don't like the money given to Price and don't think they should have signed Lester or you are OK with the money and instead wish they signed Lester. Make up your mind.

It is time to get excited, not time to be the typical negative Boston sports fan who thinks the sky is falling no matter what happens. Enjoy Brady's MVP-pace season and realize your baseball team now has one of the three best starting pitchers in the American League. If that doesn't make you at least smile after seeing this team in 2014 and 2015, then you really just shouldn't be a fan.

Vick, Schilling, RG3, Shaw, and Orsillo

What do these five names have in common?

...

OK, you're right - nothing. Rather than writing a post for each one of them, I am going to try my best to keep my thoughts very concise. Each gentleman listed in the title will receive his own paragraph and we'll wrap this post up. 

First on the docket - Michael Vick. There was a petition in Pittsburgh to get rid of their newly acquired quarterback. This has a lot of people outside of Pitt upset because they view it as hypocritical. Why do Pittsburgh fans want to get rid of Vick when Ben Roethlisberger raped two women and they say nothing about him!? This argument is very ignorant of the circumstances surrounding these two players. Roethlisberger was accused of rape twice. Let me be clear - I detest people who dismiss accusations of rape just because they assume a woman is looking to make money off of a professional athlete. In case you somehow have not noticed, professional athletes are often flawed people like the rest of us and in some cases, felons. So no, I am most certainly not saying Roethlisberger was innocent in either case. However, I challenge you to do some reading. The cases against him were very weak and for what it is worth he was never found guilty. Meanwhile, Michael Vick was found guilty of conducting vicious dog fights on his property. Just because he "served his time" and "said he's sorry" does not mean the rest of the world needs to embrace him now. It just means he went to prison and apologized for getting caught. All of this legal trouble aside for both quarterbacks, Big Ben has led the Steelers to two Super Bowl victories and has been with them for his entire Hall of Fame career. Michael Vick is washed up. He has not even had a DECENT season since 2010. A QB whose game is dependent on his legs, Vick is 35 years old which might as well be 76 years old for a guy with his health issues. Steelers fans do not want a now-bad player with a disgusting past riding their bench. It isn't anything more than that. If Baltimore Ravens fans can turn a murderer into a god, then it is no surprise Pittsburgh will turn an accused rapist into one. The difference between those two cases and Vick's? Lewis and Roethlisberger were incredibly successful where they were. Vick has turned into a washed up journey man.

The epitome of hypocrisy, ESPN is bringing down the hammer on Curt Schilling for tweeting out this photo:

 

 Schilling is a moron, we know this already. I have no problem with him expressing his views and being passionate about them, but he has to understand that he is a sports celebrity and will be judged harshly for everything he does. Suggesting that most Muslims will become extremist, if that is what he is suggesting here, is obviously insensitive and completely asinine. My problem though isn't that Curt Schilling acted like Curt Schilling. It is the ridiculousness of ESPN. They haven't fired him, but they have taken him off calling any games the rest of his MLB season. On their website, ESPN claims, "Schilling was removed from broadcasts on Aug. 25 after he sent a tweet equating Muslim extremists with Nazis in Germany." Is ESPN worried about offending the Muslim extremists out there...  or the former Nazis? I'm actually fine with offending either. I could see how this would offend non-extremist Muslims, if the implication is that the number of Muslims who become extremist will go up, but ESPN makes no mention or apology toward those people. I guess they are just looking out for the feelings of Muslim extremists. In doing so, they lambasted their employee publicly and seem to be taking no responsibility for someone they claim is one of the "[faces] of the brand."

Whether you love or hate Robert Griffin III, you can't help but agree that he has gotten a bad shake in Washington. He hasn't acted like the brightest bulb over the last several years. Thank social media for that. But you know what? He is a better quarterback than Kirk Cousins. Granted, he's had major health issues with concussions and his knees but he is still better than Cousins. He was quoted as saying he thinks he's the best quarterback in the league and yes he blamed his "social media intern" for liking some post that went against the Redskins but other than that it has been a relatively quiet year-plus for the former second-overall pick. I don't understand how you can invest so much in him, practically trade an entire team-worth of draft picks, and then give him the bench just because you don't like his attitude. Washington will suck this year and RG3 will be starting for them before it is over, assuming he doesn't get traded, but the real problem is Gruden. He needs to go. I'm not saying RG3 will ever be as good as many hailed him to be when he was first drafted (remember the morons that said he should have gone before Luck? Haha!), but he is the best the Redskins have and Gruden can't seem to put his personal problems with him aside for the better of the team.

                           

Travis Shaw seemed to become a middle-of-the-order bat overnight. Unfortunately, that looks like it is slowly coming to an end. With the abomination that is Hanley Ramirez, Shaw looks like he is out of a starting job next season as Ramirez agreed to try and play first base. It is a shame, but Shaw has steadily been trailing off for awhile now. He only has 9 hits in his last 49 at bats and it appears he may be regressing back towards the numbers he put up in the minors. Hopefully that isn't the case, but even if it is, Shaw has shown he can cut in the majors. With the amount of health problems the Red Sox seem to have on a yearly basis, Shaw would be a great player to have on the bench, ready to take over in a moment's notice. This situation reminds of of what St. Louis went through when Allen Craig was one of their most feared hitters but Matt Adams was tearing it up whenever he got the chance. Craig faced injury problems and eventually got dealt, opening the door for Adams to shine. I could envision the same shake-out happening in Boston for Shaw.

There is nothing left to be said about the Don Orsillo situation that hasn't already been said. I am a huge Don Orsillo fan. I remember talking with my dad earlier this summer and agreeing that us Bostonians are so lucky because most other team's local broadcasters suck, but we have Don. It is a shame, but you know who must be really upset? Dustin Pedroia. Over the last year, Pedroia has lost many of his closest friends on the team and within the organization: Mike Napoli, Ben Cherington, Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Don Orsillo to name a few. That doesn't include John Farrell, who is most likely finished as the team's manager once Dave Dombrowski feels it is time for the news. With Yoan Moncada looking like the next big thing for the Red Sox at second base, one can't help but wonder if Dustin Pedroia's days with the club are coming to an end sooner rather than later. 

 

Hit and Run: Dave Dombrowski

To my readers,

the title of this piece is going to be a common one for Pete Talking Sports. Well, at least the first three words. While "hit and run" is a slowly dying tactic used by baseball managers, for my purpose it will be used to "hit" on one major topic and then "run" with it and see where it goes. There are a lot of things I want to talk about regarding the Red Sox outside of Dave Dombrowski. But first, let's talk about the new President of Baseball Operations now that we all understand the title of this piece.

I have to admit, no other executive in baseball has been more hyped over the last several seasons than Dave Dombrowski. For a general manager who's team was in contention just about every season for their tenure but continuously fell short because of the bullpen, he sure got a lot of love. It seems every season there are quality bullpen arms looking for homes whether in free agency or at the trade deadline and yet Dombrowski, with all the resources he had in Detroit, couldn't put together a quality one. Granted, who thought Joe Nathan would stop being Joe Nathan once he got to Detroit? Who really thought there would be such a harsh drop off in ability from Jose Valverde following his incredible All Star years of 2010 and 2011? Did anyone know that Joel Zumaya's Guitar Hero addiction would cost him his career? And hey, Joaquin Benoit had been consistently outstanding up until that David Ortiz grand slam in the 2013 ALCS. Despite it being his job, you can't really blame Dombrowski for all of that.

Joel Zumaya
https://reececantelon.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/zumaya_guitar.jpg

If you are determined to blame Dombrowski for something because you are the typical Boston negative Nancy, blame him for how he has left Detroit (yes, I realize he was "fired" and did not leave on his own). Baseball America ranks the Tigers dead last in their 2015 organizational talent rankings after evaluating their minor league system. It should be noted that this was done on March 31, 2015, so it is not accounting for the acquisition of Daniel Norris. With that said, despite currently being on the disabled list, Norris is with the big league club. So while the organization's farm system may not look much better, Dombrowski did add a high-ceiling, young starting pitcher to the fold before his departure.

Even with the acquisition of Norris, Dombrowski is moving on to greener pastures as the Tigers are about to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010 due to their inept bullpen and injuries that have riddled stars such as Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, and Victor Martinez. Without a strong farm system, the Tigers will find it difficult to solve the issues they have had this season. Free agency won't be much of an option going forward. Between five players - Cabrera, Verlander, Martinez, Ian Kinsler, and Anibal Sanchez - $76 million is tied up next year. The youngest of that lot is Sanchez, who is 31 years old and looks terrible this season. Even if Cabrera and Martinez can produce at a high level this season and beyond (and Cabrera obviously will), most of the players that made the Tigers so great over the last several seasons are gone (Price, Scherzer, Benoit, etc.) or getting substantially worse (Sanchez, Verlander). Dombrowski has left the Tigers in a tough situation - tied up with bad contracts and with a poor farm system.

There is a strong belief around baseball that Dombrowski depleted the farm system in trades and gave out enormous contracts only because owner Mike Ilitch wanted him to. Ilitch, 86, only cares about a title at this point - not the farm system or how the team will look 5-10 years down the road. For those of us looking for excuses for Dombrowski, there it is.

Miguel Cabrera

Enough about Dave's past, though. What is he going to do with the Red Sox? That is the burning question that has both excited and scared many fans. It is widely believed that the Red Sox have one of, if not the, best farm systems in baseball. With desperate needs in both the rotation and bullpen, it is rational to believe Dombrowski may be looking to dump some of that organizational depth for some major league help, as he did in Detroit. The fear of it being Mookie Betts or Xander Bogaerts being shown the door, though, is highly unlikely. The Sox new Pres. of Baseball Ops will not be moving either of them. At his welcoming press conference, Dombrowski cited how important it is to have talent up the middle (C, MI, CF). With Blake Swihart, Betts, and Bogaerts (as well as Dustin Pedroia and eventually Yoan Moncada), Dombrowski has exactly what he is looking for up the middle. I find it more likely that if a trade is made involving young Red Sox players, it will be names like Brian Johnson, Rafael Devers, and Manuel Margot. After all, those are prospects. Bogaerts, Betts, Swihart, and Eduardo Rodriguez are no longer considered "prospects" anyway. Even if Dombrowski does ship away a name or two that most of us don't want to see go, can we really complain? This year will mark the third time in four seasons that the Red Sox have finished in dead last in the division. Dombrowski worked miracles for both the Marlins and the Tigers. I think he deserves a shot to prove himself before we starting knocking his moves.

Those moves may not be trades, either. Most likely a trade or two will have to be made for the bullpen as there are not many big bullpen names available in free agency this off-season. However, there is a significant number of high-end starting pitchers that will be available. David Price, Johnny Cueto, and Jordan Zimmermann highlight the upcoming class of free agent starting pitchers. Dombrowski made a move to acquire Price in the past, could he do it again? It would certainly signify a change in Red Sox philosophy if they sign a free agent starting pitcher over the age of 30 to a monster contract, but isn't that why Dave was brought in - to change things up? I wouldn't complain, and a free agent signing would keep those top prospects in house for the time being. A rotation of Price-Buchholz-Porcello-Miley-Rodriguez doesn't look great right now, but it is a step in the right direction. Henry Owens is most likely better than at least two of those pitchers, so I'm sure more moves would come. Either way, bring in an ace, Dave!

Other than the youngsters and the pitching, what is Dave going to do with our "problem" of having too much depth? Travis Shaw has looked fantastic. He will need to keep producing at a high level for him to have a shot as the 2016 Opening Day first baseman but if he does, then what is the deal with the outfield? Jackie Bradley Jr. is finally reaching his potential and is one of the hottest hitters (and fielders) in baseball at the moment. Mookie Betts isn't going any where and Rusney Castillo also looks like he is reaching his potential and he is a major investment that needs to play. If you asked me two months ago, even if JBJ and Runsey had been playing the way they are now, I would tell you that Dombrowski absolutely has to have Hanley Ramirez in there no matter what. However, Hanley has been an abomination since the All Star Break. He has been downright awful. That "foot" injury he had lasted what? Two entire weeks even though x-rays came back negative? Then he gets another day off against Corey Kluber and now, oh look, another day off tonight. This is getting ridiculous. He earns the most money on the team and yet, in the second half so far, he has only played 25 games with an average under .200 and ZERO home runs. I may change my tune before the end of the season, but as of right now, I would love to see Hanley gone. It would cure so much. If he begins to hit again, actually plays most of the games going forward, and agrees to try and play first base (because he is the worst outfielder in baseball), then I may change my mind. Otherwise, get out of here.

Hanley Ramirez

As for manager, Dombrowski may not make a decision there for a good long while. Despite it "being a business," I would be shocked to hear of a Farrell firing before he is 100% in the clear of his cancer. With that said, and as cold as this is, it really is a business. Farrell is loved by the players and helped bring a World Series. He has been great for the Red Sox post-Bobby Valentine. However, based on the last several seasons, it would be tough to imagine a new baseball operations executive hanging on to the same manager. It just rarely happens.

John Farrell

Top 50 (MLB) Keeper Rankings

As most fantasy leagues' trade deadline approaches, many owners are simply trying to position themselves for a chance at next year's title. If you are in a keeper league, that means determining which group of players on your current roster will put you in the best spot to succeed next year. You can use the trade deadline to help set yourself up for a peachy 2016. Listed here is my top 50 ranking for KEEPER leagues. This is an important distinction, for if your league is simply a "re-draft" league, in which no players are kept on a year-to-year basis, the ranking would be much different.

Fifty isn't very deep, but keep in mind very few leagues actually keep more than 50 players (except for dynasty leagues where your entire roster is kept year-to-year). My deepest keeper leagues are 16 teams, for example, and we keep three each. Meaning, only the top 48 players are kept. Anyway, to the ranking!

(It should be noted these rankings are based on standard 5x5 scoring)

1. M. Trout, LAA
2. B. Harper, WAS
3. P. Goldschmidt, ARI
4. G. Stanton, MIA
5. C. Correa, HOU
6. M. Machado, BAL
7. C. Kershaw, LAD
8. J. Donaldson, TOR
9. M. Cabrera, DET
10. A. Rizzo, CHC
11. A. McCutchen, PIT
12. J. Abreu, CWS
13. N. Arenado, COL
14. M. Bumgarner, SF
15. J. Altuve, HOU
16. C. Sale, CWS
17. K. Bryant, CHC
18. M. Harvey, NYM
19. J. Fernandez, MIA
20. G. Cole, PIT
21. A. Rendon, WAS
22. J. Kipnis, CLE
23. J. deGrom, NYM
24. F. Hernandez, SEA
25. S. Gray, OAK
26. T. Tulowitzki, TOR
27. JD Martinez, DET
28. C. Archer, TB
29. C. Gomez, HOU
30. G. Springer, HOU
31. A. Jones, BAL
32. F. Freeman, ATL
33. S. Strasburg, WAS
34. X. Bogaerts, BOS
35. B. Dozier, MIN
36. S. Marte, PIT
37. M. Betts, BOS
38. Z. Greinke, LAD
39. D. Gordon, MIA
40. J. Pederson, LAD
41. M. Brantley, CLE
42. C. Kluber, CLE
43. P. Fielder, TEX
44. J. Upton, SD
45. D. Price, TOR
46. E. Hosmer, KC
47. B. Posey, SF
48. Y. Puig, LAD
49. D. Keuchel, HOU
50. M. Wacha, StL

Notably missing (reason listed is not always the only reason the player didn't make the list, just most significant):

 For age: Nelson Cruz (SEA), Jose Bautista (TOR), Adrian Gonzalez (LAD), Albert Pujols (LAA), Joey Votto (CIN), Mark Teixeira (NYY)

For diminishing skills: Robinson Cano (SEA), Edwin Encarnacion (TOR), Hanley Ramirez (BOS), Evan Longoria (TB)

For health: Jacoby Ellsbury (NYY), Carlos Gonzalez (COL), Masahiro Tanaka (NYY)

For random reasons: Billy Hamilton (CIN) - one trick pony; Todd Frazier (CIN) - career 1st half stats vs. 2nd half stats + will be over 30

Players with best chances of making the list next year:

Hitters: Corey Seager (LAD), Francisco Lindor (CLE), Jason Heyward (StL), Byron Buxton (MIN)

Pitchers: Noah Syndergaard (NYM), Garrett Richards (LAA), Shelby Miller (ATL), Carlos Martinez (StL)

The Ridiculousness of Deflategate

Amidst growing racial tension due to never-ending discrimination in the country, terrorism in the Middle East, a mega-step in the right direction for gay rights, and an up-coming presidential election (among literally thousands of other more important things happening), we find ourselves talking about a few PSI in some footballs. By "we," I don't simply mean sports broadcasters and football fans. I mean, the national news and even people who don't know what "1st and goal" means.

Yes, PSI. No one tell me you knew what "PSI" was before "Deflategate" happened. If someone asked me what PSI stood for.... Please Sit Inwards? I don't know... honestly. I looked up "What does PSI stand for?" on Google and it turns out "psi" is the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet. So that's great. What it really stands for, since I bet you still don't know, is pounds per square inch. Now, those are all words I know so I guess it isn't that difficult. Maybe I'm just an idiot.

Whether you know what PSI is or not, I bet you would agree with me that discussing that for months is pretty pathetic, right? We can't honestly say that some pounds per square inch in a football would be the reason someone would win four Super Bowls, two league MVP awards, and have arguably the best career a QB has ever had. You would have to be a huge moron to think that would even have the slightest impact on that. You would have to be some angry, biased, and bitter writer for ESPN named Ian O'Connor or something. If it would give someone that kind of career, someone should start deflating Joe Flacco's footballs because ever since he signed that contract... yikes! Or maybe we should deflate Peyton Manning's so that he can throw a spiral further than 10 yards.

That was unfair to those quarterbacks. Manning had the best regular season of all time throwing those ducks and as much as Joe Flacco sucks, it wasn't him bitching about the Patriots, it was his whiny head coach. Maybe I should instead target Tony Romo as the butt of my jokes. He took some digs at the Patriots for deflategate which is funny because what the hell has that guy ever won?

Hey, I'm not saying Tom Brady is innocent here. How the hell would I know? If anyone actually knew other than the hunted witch himself, there wouldn't be this ridiculous controversy. We may never know.

I also think Patriots fans need to take a step back and understand the hate here. If this same controversy surrounded one of the Mannings, the majority of Patriots fans would be up in arms. We are no different. Sports fans are sports fans. The harsh reality is that the majority of us are imbeciles. That's enough name-calling, I really am not a bully.

All I want people to do is to look at this for what it is. The majority of the league is probably taking something they shouldn't. No HGH testing, remember? You think these characters are all clean whistles? That saint Jerry Rice that everyone wants to claim is the best NFL player of all time used stickum on his gloves. Maybe I'm just biased, but I find those way worse than some PSI in a football. And mind you, the HGH could be proven with testing and some NFL players have already been dealt with for various other PEDs. Rice using stickum is a fact. Tom Brady deflating some footballs? Not proven.

We are free to draw the conclusions we want. But man... I hope you never reach the top of your field just to have millions try and tear you down over something you may or may not have done and that had minimal impact on what you were doing. Wouldn't that suck? "Oh please. He's worth in the hundreds of millions and has a gorgeous model wife!" So that means we should tear him down to make ourselves feel better? Stop being so pathetic.

The truth is, unless you're a Giants fan, your team has probably been stomped all over the place by Brady. Come football season, he haunts your dreams. He has probably even kicked your ass in fantasy football. He has made your life, whether a sad or happy life, miserable at times. So now is your chance! Take him down! GET HIM!

I admire the tenaciousness, but stop wasting your time on this. Boo him when he throws an interception, pray the suspension gets upheld in court, paint an image of Rob Gronkowski wearing your team's jersey. Do whatever it is you need to do to make yourself feel better. But please, stop being pathetic. If this in anyway taints your image of Tom Brady the player, not the person, then you just don't get it do you? Troll away on the message boards and call him a cheater all you want. The fact is, Brady has earned four Super Bowl rings through hard-work, immense talent, and clutch play. Your team's QB has not.

I'm Out on the Red Sox... but There's Always Next Year

Normally I am never "out" on the Red Sox. Despite the title, I will still watch the games and pay attention like no other, criticizing and praising when necessary. However, any delusion I had about this team making the playoffs is gone. The wish that an ace would emerge? Not granted. The hope that Bogaerts' power would show up this year? Smashed. The desire for Ortiz to age in the other direction? Time is undefeated. The burning need for John Farrell to be fired? Well, that one could still happen. Things have just not gone their way.

You know what though? Things don't always go an MLB team's way. As a matter of fact, they rarely ever do. Good teams figure out a way to play through their problems. They win some scrappy games. A player off the bench steps up or an unsuspecting starter gives a solid outing. You expect that kind of effort from veteran players and guys who have made deep post-season runs. The St. Louis Cardinals lost their ace Adam Wainwright in the first month of the season. Currently, they have the best record in baseball. Finish strong! Go out on a high note! Sprint through the finish line! Play til the buzzer! It ain't over til the fat lady sings!

Chalk those up as five expressions the 2015 Boston Red Sox have never heard... unless maybe Mike Napoli was singing in the shower after the series loss to the Yankees last week - truly signalizing the end. The Red Sox have been embarrassing. Since the All Star Break, Hanley Ramirez is 1-for-17. Dustin Pedroia? 0-for-18. Pablo Sandoval? 4-for-18. Our ALL STAR Brock Holt? 1-for-8. How many RBI between these four studs? You guessed it! Zero.

It isn't just those suckers, though. The whole team other than Xander Bogaerts has come out of the All Star Break as flat as the Eucharist at Sunday Mass. Entering the series against the Yankees, the Sox had won 14 of their previous 21 games. They were scorching! They were 5.5 games behind the Yankees in the division. While that still looked like a lot, it seemed as though we'd have exciting July and August baseball in Boston. Some of us thought, "Hey, it's OK that Holt is our only All Star. Everyone else will get a break and we'll be ready to keep going afterwards!" Then they drop 2 of 3 to the Yankees... and then... well... 5 more in a row after the break. Now they're 10.0 games back of the Yankees and equally as much under .500. Great work, spineless...

No worries, though. The manager will get fired and the GM will swing some deals to improve the club for next season. Oh wait, owner John Henry already gave a vote of confidence in the manager and essentially stated the GM, Ben Cherington (for those who can't keep up), is his own puppet. This is depressing!

“John has provided the kind of leadership that we need through a really tough period,” Henry said. “I just don’t think you can blame the manager for this. I watch these games. They’ve been painful games to watch. To me, it's not the manager's fault the way that we've been playing. I just don’t see that.”

I know that was June 2 so... can I assume he now blames the manager at least a little? 

The Sox have got worse and clearly this crew of spoiled imbeciles won't play for their poor-decision-making manager anyway. A change is imminent. Still, there is reason to be concerned about who they would potentially replace Farrell with. After all, Cherington was a product of Theo Epstein and John Farrell was a product of Terry Francona. Does this front office trust their ability to make a decent out-of-house managerial hiring, especially after the dreadful Bobby Valetine debacle? This question is worth asking. They cannot honestly go with someone in-house, especially after they already tried using the pitching coach, Juan Nieves, as a scapegoat for this terrible season by firing him. The whole regime needs to be revamped.

I would also question why Ben Cherington is so safe. He took over the GM position after the 2011 season. Since then, the Red Sox finished in last place, then won a World Series, then finished in last place, and now it looks like they will finish in last place again. He traded away a franchise corner-stone in Jon Lester and couldn't sign him back afterwards as planned. He traded away a key starter who would be the best on the team at the moment for two players who can't even cut it at Pawtucket. I won't rail on Cherington for the Ramirez and Sandoval signings, because I still can't admit to myself that those are bad, but this pitching staff? Give me a break. The bad moves are mounting.

“The general manager is going to be the general manager of this club for a very long time,” Henry said. “I have nothing but respect for him and the job that he does. I think we've been on the same wavelength, so you have to blame ownership as much as you can blame the general manager."

I think it is time we have an actual "baseball guy" as the GM of the Red Sox. Hey, I'm not saying they should hire me (yet). I'm not even saying they need to fire Cherington. The point to be made here is that ownership needs to back off and someone that understands a rotation of Buchholz-Porcello-Miley-Kelly-Masterson, no matter how economically viable, isn't one that can last even three weeks needs to be in charge.

Seven rage-filled paragraphs in and we haven't even got to the roster changes that need to happen. #problems

I would love if Ortiz's declining bat retired and he galloped off into the Dominican Republic's sunset with three large rings on his fingers and that grin on his face that has brought all of Boston so much joy over the last 10+ years. Unfortunately, that will never happen. We've got to accept that Ortiz's declining bat will be here for at least the next two years. We can live with that if Hanley Ramirez moves to first base. Yes, see you ****ing later Mike Napoli. Thank you for 2013, now please go. It is fair to expect even better seasons from Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Blake Swihart next year so the lineup is otherwise pretty set (and shout out to Shane Victorino, who is a personal favorite but most certainly a goner):

1. M. Betts,CF
2. D. Pedroia, 2B
3. X. Bogaerts, SS
4. D. Ortiz, DH
5. H. Ramirez, 1B
6. P. Sandoval, 3B
7. B. Swihart, C
8. R. Castillo, RF
9. 

The theoretical 9 spot is left-field, left blank by Hanley. Daniel Nava is only hitting .250 in Triple A this season (very small sample size, but he was hitting .159 with the Sox this year through 63 at bats as well) and will be 33 at the start of next season. He will be arbitration eligible, but I think he is most certainly out of the equation for left-field. Left-handed hitting Alejandro De Aza has become a fan-favorite (for those still watching), but both Jackie Bradley Jr. (who is hitting .315 at Pawtucket with 9 HR) and Brock Holt are also lefties. Since De Aza is a free agent and both Bradley Jr. and Holt will be looking for playing time, I think De Aza is out as well. The Red Sox could opt to trade Bradley Jr. to improve their pitching, in which case they would need to sign a right-handed (preferably powerful) bat to platoon left-field with Holt. For this role, I would love the Yankees' Chris Young. Young is a righty, will be a free agent, and has 11 HR so far this season.

Whichever of those players lands left-field, Rusney Castillo has to be starting in right. Castillo is not some young rookie, he is going to be 29 half-way through next season. He's' hitting a respectable .281 in Pawtucket and has shown off his speed with 10 stolen bases. Find out what you have in him, Red Sox, or stop wasting your money.

And finally... the pitching...

This is a disaster. There are three rookies I would prefer to see in the rotation unless one (or some) is traded - Eduardo Rodriguez, Henry Owens, and Brian Johnson. No matter how much worse Rodriguez's and Johnson's ERAs get at the major league level this year, they can be no worse than Joe Kelly or Justin Masterson.

Ideally, either Rick Porcello or Wade Miley will be dealt. Porcello is no where near as bad as he has pitched this season. Which is good, since his contract probably makes him immovable. Wade Miley has been a real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this year. He hasn't been completely putrid like many of his teammates but his contract isn't as bad as Porcello's, which makes him movable, and room in the rotation needs to be made for better talent. For this reason, I'd like to see him gone.

Then, of course, there is the glassman himself Clay Buchholz. For all of his negatives, Clay's contract is pretty reasonable. He should stay. (yes, I just threw up a little)

This would mean the rotation I'd be rolling out would be: Buchholz-Porcello-Rodriguez-Johnson-Owens, given the current makeup of the team. The problem is that there is still no ace, despite what those dumbass shirts say.

So let me get this straight, we have a young Gold Glove-caliber, hot-hitting outfielder in Jackie Bradley Jr. We have a decent major league starter on a reasonable contract in Miley. And lastly we have three highly-touted pitching prospects when we only have room for two. Hmmm... maybe find a trade partner? Maybe talk to Philadelphia about some guy named Cole Hamels?

Hamels-Buchholz-Porcello-Rodriguez-Owens? I can deal with that. If that is unreasonable, then they need to find a way to get an ace in this rotation. They just do. This cannot happen again in 2016. It can't. Even that rotation is too reliant upon very young talent but which do you feel better with? That one or the band of jokes we rolled out at the beginning of this season?

The bullpen can be dealt with. Koji Uehara is under contract for next year but as lovable as he has been, I'd like to see him dealt at the deadline. Koji could bring in some decent assets. He's very old in baseball years and I'd prefer to find a long-term solution at the closer position as soon as possible before this turns into the post-Papelbon-pre-Uehara dilemma we dealt with before. I'm looking at you, Andrew Bailey.

Junichi Tazawa will be back and I would like to see the Red Sox give Craig Breslow another chance. I understand he had a dreadful 2014 but his career numbers are great and he was a hugely underrated part of the 2013 World Series run. As for a closer, Neftali Feliz and Tyler Clippard will both be free agents and I'd love to see one if not both in a Red Sox uniform in 2016. Darren O'Day and Antonio Bastardo are two great options for late-innings as well. O'Day hasn't had an ERA over 2.40 since 2011 so his price-range might be above what the Red Sox would want to pay for a non-closer but Bastardo would be much cheaper. His numbers don't look super only because he's simply struggled in Pittsburgh. They're much flashier away from Pitt and lefties hit under .200 against him this season.

...anyone is better than Robbie Ross Jr.

The bottom line is that the Red Sox have completely sucked for two seasons now and drastic changes need to happen. Not simply to the pitching staff but to management. Betts and Bogaerts should thrive on a successful team here for years, please don't mess this up John Henry & Crew.

Three Trades That Should Happen

We are closing in on that time of the summer where teams determine if they are buyers or sellers. Whether you are a fan of a team like the Royals or Nationals, who are locks for the playoffs, or a fan of a team such as the Brewers who have been out of the race for some time now - your team might get in on some action come late July. Here are three deals that I would love to see happen at this year's deadline:

Red Sox receive: Cole Hamels SP
Phillies receive: Blake Swihart C, Matt Barnes SP/RP, Deven Marrero MI

Normally a team several games beneath .500 does not trade away three of their top 10 prospects for a pitcher on the wrong side of 30. The Red Sox are an unique case, though. They have a reasonable chance to take the division if things continue to go their way. Cole Hamels could provide actual stability to a rotation that has been a heart-attack on an almost nightly-basis. With Clay Buchholz shelved for an unknown amount of time and the rest of the staff made up of underachievers and rookies, Hamels would supply World Series experience and a true ace to the staff.

Most fans would balk at the thought of trading away Blake Swihart, but as I mentioned in my pre-season post, I am a huge believer in Christian Vazquez. There is no room for both players and both are MLB-ready. Swihart definitely has more value after Vazquez went down for Tommy John surgery, and he would probably be a must in this deal for the Phillies to jump at it. Ryan Hannigan and Sandy Leon have proved to be a solid defensive duo for this season and Vazquez may be the better catcher to pair with a staff that anticipates having young arms on it in 2016.

There will be a bidding-war for Hamels, and this package might not be enough to land him. Should the Red Sox get the opportunity to secure Hamels, though, they must pounce. Even if it means including a name like Bradley Jr. or Owens in place of Marrero or Barnes.

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Mets receive: Troy Tulowitzki SS
Rockies receive: Noah Syndergaard SP

The Mets offense has been putrid this season, very similar to recent seasons. They have some of the best pitching in baseball but haven't been able to get enough offensive production to warrant playoff consideration.  Syndergaard is coming off his best career start and he has immense value all while still on his rookie contract. Why should the Mets deal him then? Well next season, if you take away Syndergaard, the Mets rotation would look like this: Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz, and Jon Niese. That is still one of the best staffs in all of baseball. Meanwhile, the shortstop position for the Mets has been a problem for years now and projects to be going forward.

An option for the Mets to take if they wanted to keep Syndergaard would be to sign some offensive free agents. The problem is, though, if they whiff on Justin Upton in free agency then their next best options are Chris Davis, Ian Desmond, and Yoenis Cespedes. None of those would provide the impact Tulowitzki could.

Tulo is under contract until 2020, securing the Mets a middle-of-the-order bat for years to come. For the Rockies this deal is a no-brainer. They have more than enough offense and have already said they are open to moving Tulo. Combining Syndergaard with Rockies' prospect Jon Gray could give them a pair of pitchers far superior to any talent they have had on their staff in a long time. If the Mets don't like the injury history or price tag on Tulo, the same deal but for Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers would be of great benefit to both squads.

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Blue Jays receive: Tyler Clippard RP, Scott Kazmir SP
Athletics receive: Aaron Sanchez SP, Kevin Pillar OF

Kevin Pillar may be an integral piece of the current Blue Jays, but their closer is an unproven rookie and their pitching has given up the 6th most home runs of all staffs in baseball. Clippard and Kazmir could work miracles for the Blue Jays. Bautista, Encarnacion, and Reyes are not getting any younger and the window of opportunity for the Jays to win with that core is closing. Bringing in these two arms could propel them into the post-season and beyond. GM Alex Anthopoulos is believed to be on the hot seat, which would make him very inclined to make a deal that helps the team now instead of later. As a center-field replacement, Dalton Pompey looks like he has figured out his issues in AA, smoking 45 hits in 30 games. It is a risky move to hand over the CF job to a young player that has struggled mightily at the major league level but at this rate, Toronto must make some pitching changes.

Oakland lands a great young player in Pillar. He is an excellent fielder with a huge arm and has come on strong with the bat this season. They could use any offensive help at this point. The A's have the worst record in the American League. While they have overachieved offensively, they have played 7 different players at left-field this season. Pillar would provide stability at the position with excellent defense and a solid bat. Sanchez would be a bit of a project for Oakland but the A's organization is notorious for producing quality arms. He was actually decently productive this season before landing on the disabled list, posting a 3.55 ERA through 11 starts. The problem has been his control. He gave up 37 walks in 66 innings, giving him a horrendous WHIP of 1.40. If those control problems could be fixed, Sanchez would produce greatly in Oakland.

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2015 Red Sox Preview

Allow me to start off by saying this will be biased. I will do my best to remain as objective as possible but at the end of the day my fandom for this team stretches far beyond the comprehensibility of the human mind. Yes, I think Pablo Sandoval will be fine even though he is fat whereas I think CC Sabathia will suck because he is fat. There are a million factors that go into that random example but most importantly I feel that way because I believe the Yankees suck. So if you clicked this expecting something unbiased, you have been warned - I would go back in time to fight a Megalodon if it meant my victory over the beast would cement a Red Sox World Series title in 2015. There is no need to lie, I am biased, and so are you.

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Catcher
Ryan Hannigan was a decent backup option. He has a low ceiling but should be serviceable in his starts. Blake Swihart has the baseball world very excited but, unless he is traded or there is an injury to the starter, he probably won't see much MLB time this season. Personally, I'm excited to see how Christian Vazquez does in his first full-season in the bigs.

“He’s a great kid, and he’s a great catcher,” said Molina, the Cardinals catcher. “We didn’t work out this winter, but we have in the past. We text each other all the time. He asks a lot of questions. He wants to be the best.

“He’s from Puerto Rico like me, and I like to help anyone I can from where I’m from. But Christian is special. The way he handles himself behind the plate. He’s made a lot of progress. I’m not surprised he’s in position to be their starter.”

Yes, that is Yadier Molina, a star Vazquez has been compared to by several around the game (including current teammate and former teammate of Molina's - Joe Kelly, and one of the best catchers [if not the best] of all time - Ivan Rodriguez). In the words of David Ortiz, Vazquez "completely shuts down the running game."

Before all of the people who cry "typical big market fan" start accusing myself or others of saying Vazquez is in fact the next Molina or will even come close to producing like him this season, please keep in mind absolutely no one is assuming that. At the same time, it is intriguing when someone who is so stout defensively behind the dish can also manage to hit .240 when the rest of the team's offense is terribly unproductive. Assuming the Red Sox offense has a major boost in production this season, it might not be too bold to predict a boost in Vazquez's averages. Even if his offense doesn't dramatically improve, his defense isn't going anywhere. And neither will any opposing runners on first, so long as he is behind the plate.

The Infield
Before we dive into the starters and what to expect from them this season, let's talk about the over-looked depth of the Red Sox infield. While it remains to be seen who will make the roster and who won't, it is tough to deny the depth of the Sox's infield in it's current state. Allen Craig is an intriguing piece. Should anything (God forbid) happen to David Ortiz or Mike Napoli, Craig (former All Star) is the next man in. He was a giant disappointment last season for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Red Sox but he has acknowledged that last year is behind him and he is ready to be a middle-of-the-lineup contributor again. Brock Holt certainly has a shorter ceiling than Craig, but his versatility to play almost any infield position as well as his knack for getting on base in key situations could propel him into an important role for the '15 Sox, even if it is in a lesser-role than he had last season. Lastly, Garin Cecchini is an often-overlooked player on the team. It is close to impossible for him to lock down a starting job in the current Sox's infield, but his production at Pawtucket this year will dictate his future. He is a career .298 hitter in the minors, and that includes a stretch at the make-or-break Double A level in which he hit .296 in about 300 plate appearances. If (or, perhaps more appropriately, when) the injury bug strikes the Red Sox, Cecchini will certainly get a look if there is an infield opening.

The Red Sox starting infield is essentially locked in. Mike Napoli at first, Dustin Pedroia at second, Xander Bogaerts (already two home runs this spring) at short stop, and newcomer Pablo Sandoval at third. The return to health from Napoli and Pedroia as well as the full Major League season under the belt of Bogaerts should improve the overall production of the Sox's infield. The key difference is obviously the big man at third. Should he give the Red Sox the type of season he is truly capable of producing, it could be the difference-maker between an elite-offensive infield and an "OK" offensive-infield. With the addition of ground ball pitchers to the rotation (Porcello, Masterson, etc.), a lot will be put onto the shoulders of this infield defensively. The right side is certainly up to the task, I just hope the left side is (Bogaerts, Sandoval).

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The Outfield
What Shane Victorino did for this team in 2013 will be remembered forever by every Red Sox fan fortunate enough to have witnessed it. The big hits, the almost-.300 average, the steals, everything was memorable and truly awesome. With that said, I almost puked a little when manager John Farrell proclaimed that if Victorino is healthy, he is the starter - all before Spring Training really even started. Come on John! At least make him earn it. After back surgery and a long career of injuries, diving into walls, and deep playoff runs, isn't it a little reasonable to assume both Mookie Betts and Rusney Castillo could out-produce him? Maybe John just wants to show some confidence in the veteran who helped give his manager his first winning season, maybe he assumes Victorino will be dealt and wants to show other teams the amount of confidence the manager has in proclaiming him as his starter, who knows? Whatever the reason is for his comments, they more than likely sparked a bit of frustration from Rusney Castillo and Mookie Betts. Two players who showed supreme skills last season and project to be long-time contributors to this Red Sox club.

I love Shane Victorino. I am comfortable saying that. However, it would be tough to watch a veteran struggle with back problems through what could be his last season in baseball all while either Mookie Betts or Rusney Castillo tears up the minors in frustration - all because the manager couldn't turn on his veteran and run the team with his mind instead of his heart. Now I am accusing someone of something they haven't done yet, but this is something to monitor closely.

Hanley Ramirez has left-field to himself. He should be fine for the 81 home games.  If Manny Ramirez could, at times, look like a Gold Glover playing with the Monster behind him, than so can this much-more-athletic Ramirez. His bat will produce, and his defense shouldn't be so bad that it prevents the team from winning.

I have not even mentioned Jackie Bradley Jr. I have no interest in waiting for his bat while this team rosters players in their primes and its most important offensive piece is 39 years old. If Bradley Jr. starts producing at Triple A, he should be dealt immediately. The team has plenty of outfield depth (even though I think Craig's outfield days are done) and if JBJ can bring the team a strong return than pull the trigger. Give his career a chance, and move on from him. Daniel Nava, meanwhile, has a better chance at getting traded than locking down a starting spot. Though I wouldn't mind seeing him as a depth piece off the bench.

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The Rotation

*throws up on keyboard*

Alright, alright, I'll admit: it isn't that bad. I had numerous overreactions on social media and in conversation with others but I have admittedly come around, a little bit. Rick Porcello is a stud. He may not be an ace, but the Red Sox won that deal as far as I'm concerned. Yoenis Cespedes was heading into malcontent territory and the team had plenty of outfield depth as it was. Porcello is at home in New England and should help lead this staff. Clay Buchholz excites me as much as a bucket of mud does. I am immune to his occasional hot-stretch and subsequent tricking myself into thinking he is even close to an ace. For half of a season, he absolutely was an ace. That's it. He has otherwise been a heaping pile of disappointment for the team. If he produces at a high level in April, I will be happy but not tricked. He is what he is. 

Newcomers Wade Miley and Justin Masterson provide the team with "innings-eaters" (the most over-used and asinine term in baseball - and that is saying something). I'm not sure how badly the Red Sox want their innings "eaten" by 4.34 and 5.88 ERAs (Miley's and Masterson's ERAs from 2014). If that was their goal, they will certainly exceed it. How much they exceed it by, though, is the real question, as I am not exactly excited by either of them. Should the team add an ace by the trade deadline (which they need to do if they want to win a World Series), I will be much happier with Masterson in a long-relief role and less pressure on Miley as a forth/fifth starter instead of a third. Miley may have a future with the team, but I do have my concerns for a player who posted mediocre numbers in a division with some big parks, bottom-half offenses, and of course the stupid "pitchers must bat" rule transitioning into a division with the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and designated hitters. If either of the two pitchers are to surprise Red Sox fans this season (in a good way), it is Miley.

Joe Kelly, contrary to popular belief (sarcasm), will not win the 2015 American League Cy Young Award (that will, of course, go to Clay Buchholz). Despite below-average stats, Kelly wasn't all that bad for the Red Sox in 2014. With that said, he is nothing to write home about either. An ace needs to be added if this team wants to be playing into late October. 

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The Bullpen 

Koji Uehara was himself in the first-half of last season, but there has to be at least a little concern for a pitcher who is turning 40 before the season starts and had an ERA over 4.00 in the second-half. The Sox cannot afford to have Koji fall apart this season. Even if he does return to his elite-closing form, the bullpen could have some potential issues. Junichi Tazawa saw his ERA jump in the second-half as well, and Craig Breslow had a horrible season. This could spell trouble for the Red Sox toward the end of games, especially given the question marks in their rotation.

There is some room for optimism, though. Edward Mujica was nails in the second-half last season, even in Uehara's absence (6 saves, 1.78 ERA in second-half of 2014). More will be asked of the talented Brandon Workman, despite the righty taking a step-back in his career last season. The addition of Alexi Ogando was a low-risk, high-reward signing that could help the Sox down the stretch with a strong, experienced arm.

I would love to see the Red Sox add an ace, in case you couldn't tell. Not only because they need someone to anchor this staff and face guys like Felix Hernandez, David Price, Garrett Richards, etc. in a possible Wild Card situation, but also because that would most-likely mean Masterson would go to the pen. I am much more comfortable with him in a long-relief or even specialist role (righties bat .220 against him) than as a starter. It would give more depth to an old bullpen.

In Conclusion

The Red Sox are shaping up to have a strong 2015 season (and beyond). The team has a solid mix of producing-veterans and young players to build a future around. While I am hesitant to predict a World Series birth, no one thought they would win it in 2013 either. The playoffs are certainly attainable, and if the offense stays healthy and Ben Cherington adds a Jordan Zimmermann, Cole Hamels, or some pitcher of that nature than the sky is the limit with this team.