I think I am going to hold off on getting a Napoli jersey for a least a few more weeks.
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Tag: baseball
Jonah Keri writing at *Grantland:*
> The announcement that no players from this year’s Hall of Fame ballot netted the 75 percent vote needed to gain enshrinement has triggered outrage in baseball circles, and will surely bring more of the same for the Hall and the people of Cooperstown. With the Pre-Integration Committee inducting three people into the Hall who’ve been dead for decades, upstate New York can look forward to something it hasn’t seen in half a century: a Hall of Fame induction with no living inductees to honor. That’s scary news for an institution that lost more than $2 million in 2011 and has posted losses in eight of the past 10 years.
This piece is excellent. Mr. Keri breaks down the the problems with the process and gives some solid recommendations for how to reform it. Really well done.
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How good can the 2013 Red Sox be?
Hunter Golden writing at *Firebrand:*
> So that’s my rose-colored high-end call. 90-92 wins given reasonable, more conservative estimates. The low-end is probably around the 80-win mark. Either way, this team is going to be far more of a contender than most are willing to concede.
I am not sure completely agree with his method of analysis, but I hoping he turns out to be right.
Marc Normandin writing at *Over the Monster:*
> For now, though, what we know is that Drew is the current shortstop, the depth at the position has been improved because of it, and Iglesias will get more time to develop a bat that needs the help. For money that Boston has, and at just one year, that’s an all-around win-win for the Red Sox.
Sounds good to me.
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Jonah Keri on the Wil Myers Trade
> This is a terrible trade for the Royals, deeply flawed in both its theory and execution, and while it might make the Royals marginally more likely to make the playoffs in 2013, it does irreparable damage to their chances of building a perennial winner.
If you cannot tell yet, Jonah is *not* a fan of this trade.
> In 2007, the Rays finished in last place with a worse record than that of the 2012 Royals; in 2008, the Rays played in the World Series. And the Rays did have a lot of young players in ’08.
I hate the Rays.
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Season Review: Will Middlebrooks
> In the Red Sox’ darkest hour, Will Middlebrooks gave us fans something to cheer for.
Ben Buchanan’s write-up recounts the emerge of Middlebrooks as a Red Sox star. It also lists some of the concerns related to Middlebrooks for the 2013 season, but I choose to look only at the positives.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: At least until a few months into the season.
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Rob Neyer on the Wil Myers Trade
> But Wil Myers is the latest winner of Baseball America’s latest Minor League Player of the Year. Here are the last 10 non-pitchers who won that award: Mike Trout, Jason Heyward, Matt Wieters, Jay Bruce, Alex Gordon, Delmon Young, Joe Mauer, Rocco Baldelli, Eric Chavez, Paul Konerko. Oh, and the previous five awards? Andruw Jones twice, Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez, and Tim Salmon.
> That’s 15 awards, and just one non-star (Delmon Young) in the whole bunch. Based on this measure alone, it seems there’s an excellent chance the Royals just traded away a future star … and there’s roughly a 50/50 chance they just traded a future superstar. Oh, and one more thing about that list … I don’t believe a single one of those guys was traded before getting a single at-bat with the team that initially signed and developed him.
I hate the Rays.
> Dayton Moore has done it again, and while the Royals fans are, as per usual, the primary victims of his ineptitude, today the Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, and of course us Red Sox fans are feeling the sting too.
I already hated the Rays. I now hate the Royals. This whole trade just makes me angry.
> However this plays out, the Yankees will still be on the hook for A-Rod’s salary, and all of it will be counted against the luxury tax.
That is my favorite part.
> Don’t look now, but the Red Sox are making their way back. With the signings of David Ross, Jonny Gomes and Mike Napoli, and while staying away from deals longer than three years, Boston has made an aggressive, smart start toward addressing two fixes: a more dynamic offense and a more responsible clubhouse.
This is probably the most positive take I have heard on the Napoli signing. I hope it turns out to be the most correct.
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Derek “Eater”
Got to love the NY Post.
Only one Red Sox player[^f5611] made the list[^f5650]. As the article says, it shows the current state of the Sox franchise.
[^f5650]: [Part 1](http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8627606/rating-players-contracts-major-league-baseball-part-1) is the title link, and [Part 2 is available here.](http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8627624/rating-players-contracts-major-league-baseball-part-2)
[^f5611]: Dustin Pedroia at 29.
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Season Review: Che-Hsuan Lin
I am linking to this purely so I can say that it is an absolute joy to watch Lin play the outfield. I saw him in a few AAA games and in a game at Fenway. He got great jumps and covered an unbelievable amount of ground. The only guy I saw last season that I can compare him to is Mike Trout. Of course, Mike Trout is a *slightly* better hitter.
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Red Sox Spring Training Schedule Announced
I am not sure if I will be able to make it down this year, but I still am holding out hope for at least one game or two.
I find the idea of Craig Counsell, and his “interesting” batting stance, intriguing.
Strong reasoning from Jeremy Lundblad.
> Major League Baseball has a drug problem again and is engaged in discussions with the players’ association regarding what to do about it. The very specific problem is the use of fast-acting synthetic testosterone, the primary performance-enhancing drug of choice among emboldened players who believe they can avoid detection with dosages that are carefully timed and controlled.
Is this a new development? This is the first time I hearing of this.
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Big Papi is Staying in Boston
I would not have enjoyed seeming him in another uniform.
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The Arguments for John Farrell
Some potential reasons why the Red Sox selected John Farrell. I like the idea that Mike Aviles is being sent to Toronto to start telling other players how awesome it is to play in Boston.