Sox Therapy: Who’s In Charge?

I’m putting the cart before the horse a bit here but based on the suspensions and subsequent firings of Jonathan Lunhow and AJ Hinch in Houston it is looking likely that the Boston Red Sox are going to need someone to manage the team for a large chunk of 2020 and potentially beyond.  I’m just going to throw out a few points and I figure this is as good a place to speculate while we wait for the inevitable hammer to fall on Cora (as it should based on available evidence);

- I think firing ...

Hall of Merit: 2021 Hall of Merit Ballot Discussion

2021 (December 2020)—elect 3

Top 10 Returning Players
Kenny Lofton, Johan Santana, Sammy Sosa, Jeff Kent, Lance Berkman, Bobby Abreu, Buddy Bell, Wally Schang, Bobby Bonds, Sal Bando

Newly eligible players

Tim Hudson
Mark Buehrle
Torii Hunter
Dan Haren
Barry Zito
Aramis Ramirez
Shane Victorino
Alex Rios
Grady Sizemore
A.J. Burnett

Hall of Merit: Torii Hunter

Eligible 2021

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1923 Discussion

The Yankees defeated the Giants 4 games to 2 in the World Series. This is their first World Series Championship in the first season for Yankee Stadium.

The Kansas City Monarchs were the top team in the Negro National League. Hilldale led the Eastern Colored League.

Vote for 10.

Player			SH WS		BBR WAR
Babe Ruth		54.2		14.1
Tris Speaker		35.6		9.0
Harry Heilmann		35.1		9.3
Joe Sewell		29.3		7.5
Ken Williams		27.8		7.6
Rogers Hornsby		24.5		6.7
Frankie Frisch		31.8		7.1
Eddie ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1922 Results

Congratulations to Rogers Hornsby on his first Most Meritorious Player award!

Player Name	pts	ballots	1sts
Rogers Hornsby	102	7	6
George Sisler	88	7	1
Osc Charleston	85	7	0
Bullet Rogan	81	7	0
Ken Williams	78	7	0
Red Faber	73	7	0
Tyrus Cobb	44	5	0
Babe Ruth	40	5	0
Tris Speaker	33	4	0
Joe Williams	25	3	0
Dobie Moore	25	3	0
Urban Shocker	23	3	0
Wilbur Cooper	10	1	0
Dave Bancroft	9	1	0
Ray Grimes	7	1	0
Alejandro Oms	6	1	0
Bob Shawkey	6	1	0

Sox Therapy: How Serious Are They?

‘John Henry said that in 2020, the Red Sox “need to be under the [luxury-tax threshold of $208 million] and that was something we’ve known for more than a year now.” Werner later clarified that it was a strong preference rather than an absolute.” (Boston Globe - Alex Speier)

Some follow up headlines;

Sox Ownership says payroll slashing is coming (NBC Sports)
Red Sox want to start cutting payroll (Yahoo)
Red Sox will cut payroll (NY Post)
Red Sox want to slash payroll for 2020 season ...

Gonfalon Cubs: Being cheap is not a plan

I think, after the way this offseason has gone and reading this and this that I think I’m ready to state that I believe the Cubs main - and maybe only - goal this offseason is to get under the luxury tax.  They will, and are already trying to, spin it as a reset or restocking so they don’t fall off a cliff after 2021 and all the FAs.  They are using this past season’s failure as an excuse to not seriously invest any more into this version of the team, and an excuse for why they’ll end up ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1922 Ballot

For 1922 each voter should rank the top 10 players from all leagues combined.

Balloting is scheduled to close at 4pm EDT on 8 January 2020.

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 7 January 2020.

For detailed rules see one of our previous ballots.

Hall of Merit: Mock Hall of Fame Ballot 2020 Results

BBTF would induct Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Manny Ramirez into the Hall of Fame.

votes 393
voters 42

Player Name	Votes	Percent
Derek Jeter	41	98%
Larry Walker	41	98%
Scott Rolen	39	93%
Curt Schilling	39	93%
Barry Bonds	38	90%
Roger Clemens	38	90%
Manny Ramírez	32	76%
Gary Sheffield	30	71%
Todd Helton	21	50%
Sammy Sosa	18	43%
Andruw Jones	16	38%
Jeff Kent	16	38%
Andy Pettitte	11	26%
Bobby Abreu	8	19%
Billy Wagner	3	7%
Jason ...

Sox Therapy: 2020 Vision

With the Bruins loss on Saturday night the Sox are no longer the last Boston team to lose a home game in regulation. With that shame no longer attached and the Winter Meetings underway it is time to look ahead to 2020 with a first look at the Opening Day roster as it currently exists;

1B - Michael Chavis
2B - Marco Hernandez
3B - Rafael Devers
SS - Xander Bogaerts
LF - Andrew Benintendi
CF - Jackie Bradley Jr.
RF - Mookie Betts
C - Christian Vazquez
DH - JD Martinez
IF - Tzu-Wei Lin
IF - Sam ...