Sox Therapy: Musical Interlude

With apologies to The Nails;

Mookie was a superstar
He came through in the bitter end

Dustin was a unique type
He got out what he put in

Chris was the brand new guy
Hitters were afraid of a guy like that.

Hanley’s new position was sitting down
Just like the Papi sat

Pablo was a guy with no aim
And his own gravitational pull

Steven was a knuckle-freak
Pinch running was a misery

Sandy had this special way
Of turning metal into gold

Christian couldn’t hit
But stopped the steal and ...

Gonfalon Cubs: 2017 Chicago Cubs Prediction Thread

It’s time to put it on the record: What do you forecast for the 2017 Cubs? At least provide a win total for the 2017 season, but also feel free to add other predictions: Rank in division, success in postseason, highest WAR, the day Ian Happ will be called up from AAA. Anything you like! Some of you already started this in the previous thread, so feel free to transfer it here.

I’ll start:

96 wins, and first in NL Central. I say they make it to the WS, but won’t go so far as predicting another ...

Sox Therapy: Sox Therapy Predictions?

With just over 144 hours until first pitch I have a few items rattling through my head.  Presented with some comment are some over/unders on the coming season (over/unders generated from the warped and often wrong mind of Jose);

Hanley Ramirez Homers - 25.5 - UNDER - We have seen Hanley play with a bad shoulder and it did not go well.

Sandy Leon Most Starts as Catcher - UNDER - I am not sure who winds up with the most but I don’t think it’s Leon.  If Vazquez hits even a little bit I think he ...

Gonfalon Cubs: Cleaning up on loose ends

Assorted thoughts/comments as Spring Training winds down.

- Cubs have said their rotation will start the year as Lester, Arrieta, Lackey, Anderson, Hendricks.  I saw a few places try to say Hendricks is the “5th starter”, but it sounds like the order was set mostly on matchups for the first time through, and not having Lester/Anderson pitch in consecutive games

“Everybody’s always concerned about pecking order regarding who you perceive to be best or least best,” Maddon said. “It’s just more ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 2002 Ballot

For 2002 each voter should rank the top 15 players from all leagues combined.

Balloting is scheduled to close at 4pm EDT on 5 April 2017.

Anyone can vote, even if you do not normally participate in Hall of Merit discussions. If you have never participated in an MMP election, just post a preliminary ballot in the discussion thread by 4 April 2017.

For detailed rules see one of our previous ballots.

Sox Therapy: The Roster - Third Time’s A Charm

13 days peeps, 13 days until actual competitive baseballing by the Boston Red Sox.  The roster is a work in progress and I think it’s worth an update;

Position Players:
1B - Mitch Moreland
2B - Dustin Pedroia
3B - Pablo Sandoval
SS - Xander Bogaerts
LF - Andrew Benintendi
CF - Jackie Bradley Jr.
RF - Mookie Betts
C - Sandy Leon
DH - Hanley Ramirez
IF - Brock Holt
IF - Marco Hernandez
OF - Chris Young
C - Christian Vazquez

So far so good on the positional front.  Everyone has stayed healthy ...

Gonfalon Cubs: Belated Spring Training Thoughts

I don’t know if anyone is interested, or will even read this one.  I took my annual trek to the greater Phoenix area early last week, this year accompanied by my newly baseball obsessed 5 year old son.  We saw three games, and I jotted down a few thoughts for each game.

Cubs 9, Rangers 9

There is so much general baseball knowledge that I just take for granted, and can’t remember ever learning.  Especially about Spring Training.  The 2 big ones that I found myself having the hardest time ...

Sox Therapy: Springing Into Action

Hey everyone!  Some pretty rough weather yesterday, a bit windy and cloudy it was rough. I had to break out the sweatshirt last night. Oh did I mention I’m at Spring Training? No? You thought I was talking about the foot of snow and bitter cold you were dealing with? Hey, it was rough here too.  For some reason no one seems interested in extending me any sympathy.

Anyway I’ve made my way to a couple of games so far and I’ll be going to a couple more.  I thought I’d share some observations ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 2001 Results

Congratulations to Barry Bonds for being unanimously elected the 2001 Most Meritorious Player.

Player Name	pts	ballots	1sts
Barry Bonds	165	11	11
Sammy Sosa	152	11	0
Jason Giambi	134	11	0
Alex Rodriguez	121	11	0
Randy Johnson	118	11	0
Luis Gonzalez	100	11	0
Bret Boone	87	10	0
Roberto Alomar	72	11	0
Curt Schilling	72	9	0
Ichiro Suzuki	39	6	0
Larry Walker	34	6	0
Rich Aurilia	32	8	0
Shawn Green	31	7	0
Todd Helton	23	5	0
Lance Berkman	18	5	0
Mike Mussina	17	5	0
Albert Pujols	16	5	0
Jim ...

Sox Therapy: Early Spring Overreactions

The AL East champion Red Sox are back at it and of course spring training is a time to hear a story and wildly extrapolate nonsense from it.  And when you need nonsense, you need your man Jose to step in and fill the breach.  Thus the breach shall be filled.

Sam Travis - Great Hitter or Greatest Hitter - The righty has picked up where he left off before getting injured last season and has already slugged a couple of homers.  Admittedly one of them (against Northeastern) doesn’t count in ...