Comments on: Random thoughts on playoff baseball http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/ In-your-face baseball commentary Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57043 Sarah Green Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:29:07 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57043 Well, the other factor to consider here as far as AL East dominance goes is money. And while Tampa has more and better young talent, Boston has a lot more money. So that's the other reason Sox fans aren't panicking. I know the free agent market isn't what it once was, but you can still pick up a CC Sabathia or a Mark Teixeira every now and then. I think the feeling in Sox-land is, "If this is what the Sox accomplished this year, with so many injuries and random suckage, what couldn't they do in future years when healthier or better?" Which, of course, the Red Sox will have to get since all those young Rays will just be hitting their primes. Excited about a more competitive AL East? Yes. Worried? No. Well, the other factor to consider here as far as AL East dominance goes is money. And while Tampa has more and better young talent, Boston has a lot more money. So that’s the other reason Sox fans aren’t panicking. I know the free agent market isn’t what it once was, but you can still pick up a CC Sabathia or a Mark Teixeira every now and then. I think the feeling in Sox-land is, “If this is what the Sox accomplished this year, with so many injuries and random suckage, what couldn’t they do in future years when healthier or better?” Which, of course, the Red Sox will have to get since all those young Rays will just be hitting their primes.

Excited about a more competitive AL East? Yes. Worried? No.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57041 Paul Moro Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:54:09 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57041 I have a gut feeling that Coley's argument against the Sox young'ns will apply to Tampa's next year. As far as current stock values are concerned, there's no real question that Tampa's prospects have higher numbers. And I wouldn't be surprised at all if Tampa repeated as AL East champs for the next few years. But comparisons are really difficult at a time like this. Boston's prospects' values seem lower than it should be, while Tampa's are higher than they should be (aside from Longoria. That dude is incredible). The truth is somewhere in between, me thinks. I have a gut feeling that Coley’s argument against the Sox young’ns will apply to Tampa’s next year.

As far as current stock values are concerned, there’s no real question that Tampa’s prospects have higher numbers. And I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Tampa repeated as AL East champs for the next few years. But comparisons are really difficult at a time like this. Boston’s prospects’ values seem lower than it should be, while Tampa’s are higher than they should be (aside from Longoria. That dude is incredible). The truth is somewhere in between, me thinks.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57040 Coley Ward Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:45:57 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57040 Boston has some good young talent. But the shine is off the apple a bit, I think, especially regarding Buccholz and Ellsbury. Also, I really feel Lowrie's future is at second base. I haven't been impressed with his range in this series. I'm not saying all three of those guys won't be capable major leaguers, but only a few months ago I thought they all projected as future all-stars, and now I don't feel that way. Not that it matters what I think. My guts, as John Cusack's character in High Fidelity says, have shit for brains. Boston has some good young talent. But the shine is off the apple a bit, I think, especially regarding Buccholz and Ellsbury. Also, I really feel Lowrie’s future is at second base. I haven’t been impressed with his range in this series.

I’m not saying all three of those guys won’t be capable major leaguers, but only a few months ago I thought they all projected as future all-stars, and now I don’t feel that way. Not that it matters what I think. My guts, as John Cusack’s character in High Fidelity says, have shit for brains.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57039 Sarah Green Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:25:48 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57039 It just seemed like there was maybe some confusion there, like I couldn't reiterate my strong belief in Tampa's farm system quite enough. You had posited that Boston fans weren't excited about our young players because of the way the Rays have succeeded this year. All I'm saying is, we're still very excited. Do you think we should not be excited? It just seemed like there was maybe some confusion there, like I couldn’t reiterate my strong belief in Tampa’s farm system quite enough. You had posited that Boston fans weren’t excited about our young players because of the way the Rays have succeeded this year. All I’m saying is, we’re still very excited. Do you think we should not be excited?

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57038 Coley Ward Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:06:00 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57038 Good, because it's pretty indisputable. Good, because it’s pretty indisputable.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57037 Sarah Green Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:54:51 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57037 I'm not disputing that the Rays have a deep farm system, Coley--not at all. I’m not disputing that the Rays have a deep farm system, Coley–not at all.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57036 Coley Ward Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:17:44 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57036 Here's a more detailed look at just how deep the Rays' system is. <a href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/rays-arent-done-adding-talent/" rel="nofollow">Check it out</a>. Here’s a more detailed look at just how deep the Rays’ system is. Check it out.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57019 Sarah Green Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:20:14 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57019 I know what you said---it's right up there for anyone to read! I know what you said—it’s right up there for anyone to read!

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57014 Nick Kapur Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:50:29 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57014 It's ridiculous to say that the run was "far" more dependent on starting pitching. Both pitching and offense are necessary, and all I am saying is that run would not have happened without Manny and Papi. It’s ridiculous to say that the run was “far” more dependent on starting pitching. Both pitching and offense are necessary, and all I am saying is that run would not have happened without Manny and Papi.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/10/15/random-thoughts-on-playoff-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-57006 Sarah Green Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:31:25 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=3229#comment-57006 Nick, I'm sorry, but as big of an impact as Manny and Papi had on the team (and it was always the Manny-Papi combo more than either man alone), the "run" to which you are referring was far, far more dependent on starting pitching. If Beckett is healthy during this series, we aren't even having this conversation. And Pedro and Schilling may be gone, but they're not forgotten. Nick, I’m sorry, but as big of an impact as Manny and Papi had on the team (and it was always the Manny-Papi combo more than either man alone), the “run” to which you are referring was far, far more dependent on starting pitching. If Beckett is healthy during this series, we aren’t even having this conversation. And Pedro and Schilling may be gone, but they’re not forgotten.

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