Path to the playoffs for every AL East team (ESPN Insider Subscriber Needed)

[glory]

Yeah, it should be Morales replacing Edwin and Pearce replacing Smoak. Replacing Bautista and Saunders is TBD. Gibbons seems to hate Smoak as much as the rest of us, so I'm confident that if they are dumb enough to start with a platoon of Smoak/Pearce, it won't last long.

 

The fact that Pompey is projected to be worth more than Saunders next season makes me think that they can replace MS fairly easily. It's Bautista that will need to be replaced, not his 2016 performance, but his projected performance (2-3 WAR).

[TheHurl]

I'm amazed at how bad of a base runner Pedroia's become. Is the "Travis" listed Sam Travis? Is that who we're talking about?

 

It is Sam. Pedroia's knees were pretty bad last year and baserunning in Fenway is really tough...especially when you have a RHH behind you.

[intentional wok]

It's funny how people forget Pearce's wRC+ was the same as EE's last year.

 

I'm reserving judgement on Pearce's two good half-seasons' worth of PAs and on the management's willingness to use him regularly. He and Morales combined might not even end up as productive in 2017 as Edwin on his own. I don't think it's unreasonable to be tentative over a guy who's never even had 500+ PAs in a year, coming off injury, and only three months younger than Edwin but without the track record of excellence. Pearce has a weird glow around him in these parts. He's a nice piece with the upside to become a very productive player, but that's it at this point.

 

As for Pearce being an upgrade on Saunders -- probably a pretty significant one. Morales will likely be a substantial downgrade from EE. A healthy Bautista could likely make up the drop off from EE to Morales and probably even more.

[Brownie19]

It is Sam. Pedroia's knees were pretty bad last year and baserunning in Fenway is really tough...especially when you have a RHH behind you.

 

Pedroia seems like a decent candidate to rapidly decline like so many 2nd basemen do in their early to mid 30's. He's been a warrior - beat up so much throughout his career...He's a great player, but you have to start wondering how much longer can he do it...

[Brownie19]

I'm reserving judgement on Pearce's two good half-seasons' worth of PAs and on the management's willingness to use him regularly. He and Morales combined might not even end up as productive in 2017 as Edwin on his own. I don't think it's unreasonable to be tentative over a guy who's never even had 500+ PAs in a year, is coming off injury, is only three months younger than Edwin but without the track record of excellence. Pearce has a weird glow around him in these parts. He's a nice piece with the upside to become a very productive player, but that's it at this point.

 

Oh I don't disagree one bit, but lets not forget Pearce was more valuable in only 383 PA's in 2014 than EE was in any single season of his career. Last year his wRC+ essentially matched EE's, while his BsR and DEF were all better than EE's. It's a MASSIVE 'if', but if you can get 600 PA's out of him, there's a real chance he's as valuable as EE is in 2017. There is a pile of risk involved in relying on that to happen this year, but if the $ we saved on EE is used to fill other holes and add depth to this team, there will be a point where I think it's worth it.

[intentional wok]

Oh I don't disagree one bit, but lets not forget Pearce was more valuable in only 383 PA's in 2014 than EE was in any single season of his career. Last year his wRC+ essentially matched EE's, while his BsR and DEF were all better than EE's. It's a MASSIVE 'if', but if you can get 600 PA's out of him, there's a real chance he's as valuable as EE is in 2017. There is a pile of risk involved in relying on that to happen this year, but if the $ we saved on EE is used to fill other holes and add depth to this team, there will be a point where I think it's worth it.

 

That's fine. That's what I'm hoping happens too, but people aren't "forgetting" Pearce's statistical comparison to EE in a 50% sample size. They're very reasonably skeptical about what you're calling the massive 'if'. Pearce has played one full season in the last three. It's a damn good season when compiled, but that's it. EE had four straight 150wRC years and then put up 135 last year (the drop probably due to the terrible start). If we're willing to see that statistical drop as evidence of decline I don't see any reason why anyone should be looking so generously at Pearce's spotty playing time and injury history.

[canadiansportsjunkie]

I think most fans don't have an issue with the moves so far but just a bit nervous about the potential moves coming. The front office still have time to shape a good team but everyone is on their toes just wondering right now

[burlingtonbandit]

Players report to ST in like a month and a half. Offseason has flown by.

[Brownie19]

I think most fans don't have an issue with the moves so far but just a bit nervous about the potential moves coming. The front office still have time to shape a good team but everyone is on their toes just wondering right now

 

I think you grossly underestimate how many average fans there are. Those who read/post on here who have some advanced knowledge of baseball are a very small % of the fan base. I think most fans DO have a serious issue with the moves so far. I suspect upwards of 70% of fans have no idea who Steve Pearce is - and if they do, they think he suxxxx.

[Brownie19]

That's fine. That's what I'm hoping happens too, but people aren't "forgetting" Pearce's statistical comparison to EE in a 50% sample size. They're very reasonably skeptical about what you're calling the massive 'if'. Pearce has played one full season in the last three. It's a damn good season when compiled, but that's it. EE had four straight 150wRC years and then put up 135 last year (the drop probably due to the terrible start). If we're willing to see that statistical drop as evidence of decline I don't see any reason why anyone should be looking so generously at Pearce's spotty playing time and injury history.

 

If you're going to exclude his rough start (wRC+ of 84 in Mar/Apr), then you should also remove his "peak" month in June (wRC+ of 208). We've known his contact rates have been dropping for years now. Far point that a decline in Pearce's bat should also be considered.

[puphood]

Lmao.

 

Encephalitis (en-sef-uh-LIE-tis) is inflammation of the brain. Viral infections are the most common cause of the condition.

 

Encephalitis can cause flu-like symptoms, such as a fever or severe headache. It can also cause confused thinking, seizures, or problems with senses or movement. However, many cases of encephalitis result in only mild flu-like symptoms or even no symptoms.

 

 

Severe cases of encephalitis, while relatively rare, can be life-threatening. Because the course of any single case of encephalitis can be unpredictable, it's important to get a timely diagnosis and treatment.

Most of these posters are of the Bacterial kind of Encephalitis and if taken to seriously will cause total mental shutdown.