Quote from: rocknrollforyoursoul on Yesterday at 11:31:45 PM

Quote from: Phantom255x on Yesterday at 06:34:50 PM

This offseason has been such a dud, and now it's just crickets too. A handful of trades, sure, but zero FA signings along with the Rockies and frankly I don't think they've improved much from last year. All the while, other teams around them definitely have even in the division.

This feels like it'll end with us just bringing back Bregman and doing nothing else but acting all celebratory that they signed Bregman even though he was on the team last year too and they could have done a lot more in addition.

I like the trades for Gray and Contreras (Gray more so), but I don't see them as huge additions. Bringing back Bregman, or replacing him with, say, Bichette or Donovan, would make that slot pretty much the same as last year, but I've been hoping for Bregman (or equivalent) plus another big bat (Contreras is solid but doesn't qualify as a big bat, IMO). I also see Gray as replacing Giolito, but I was hoping for similar with the rotation?Giolito (or equivalent) plus another good starter.

My guess, though, is that they'll grab Bregman or equivalent and call it good, and spin it by saying that the addition of Contreras plus a full season of Anthony will be a significant upgrade to the offense, and that a full season of Early and Tolle will be a significant upgrade to the rotation. Maybe those things will prove true, but odds are that not everything will work out as they're hoping. Injuries are inevitable, though hopefully they're not too bad. I don't want another season in which the lineup regularly features 2-3 of Hamilton/Sogard/Eaton and the rotation requires triple-A stopgaps for large chunks of time. (FYI, I don't have high hopes for Harrison, Hicks, or Sandoval).

I think the pitching will be improved over last season, even if nothing more is done.  Here are last seasons starting pitchers (# starts) with this year's projected starter:

2025                    2026
Crochet    (32)      Crochet
Bello        (28)      Bello
Giolito      (26)      Gray
Buehler    (22)      Oviedo
Dobbins   (11)      Crawford
Fitts         (10)     Sandoval
Houke       (9)      Harrison
8 others   (<5)     Houke, Early, Tolle

BOS ranked 6th in the AL last season for starting pitching ERA and 5th in most innings by starters.  Crawford, Sandoval, and Houke have injury/recovery questions but overall, I feel this season will be more durable than last (but you never know).

The pitching should be "good enough".  It's a legit rotation.  It's definitely not a special rotation.

Quote from: Phantom255x on Yesterday at 06:34:50 PM

This offseason has been such a dud, and now it's just crickets too. A handful of trades, sure, but zero FA signings along with the Rockies and frankly I don't think they've improved much from last year. All the while, other teams around them definitely have even in the division.

This feels like it'll end with us just bringing back Bregman and doing nothing else but acting all celebratory that they signed Bregman even though he was on the team last year too and they could have done a lot more in addition.

I like the trades for Gray and Contreras (Gray more so), but I don't see them as huge additions. Bringing back Bregman, or replacing him with, say, Bichette or Donovan, would make that slot pretty much the same as last year, but I've been hoping for Bregman (or equivalent) plus another big bat (Contreras is solid but doesn't qualify as a big bat, IMO). I also see Gray as replacing Giolito, but I was hoping for similar with the rotation?Giolito (or equivalent) plus another good starter.

My guess, though, is that they'll grab Bregman or equivalent and call it good, and spin it by saying that the addition of Contreras plus a full season of Anthony will be a significant upgrade to the offense, and that a full season of Early and Tolle will be a significant upgrade to the rotation. Maybe those things will prove true, but odds are that not everything will work out as they're hoping. Injuries are inevitable, though hopefully they're not too bad. I don't want another season in which the lineup regularly features 2-3 of Hamilton/Sogard/Eaton and the rotation requires triple-A stopgaps for large chunks of time. (FYI, I don't have high hopes for Harrison, Hicks, or Sandoval).

I think the pitching will be improved over last season, even if nothing more is done.  Here are last seasons starting pitchers (# starts) with this year's projected starter:

2025                    2026
Crochet    (32)      Crochet
Bello        (28)      Bello
Giolito      (26)      Gray
Buehler    (22)      Oviedo
Dobbins   (11)      Crawford
Fitts         (10)     Sandoval
Houke       (9)      Harrison
8 others   (<5)     Houke, Early, Tolle

BOS ranked 6th in the AL last season for starting pitching ERA and 5th in most innings by starters.  Crawford, Sandoval, and Houke have injury/recovery questions but overall, I feel this season will be more durable than last (but you never know).

Rams lose to the Falcons and Stafford throws 3 INTs, including a pick-6. That?s gotta swing the MVP momentum to Maye, right?

New odds:
    -450    Drake Maye
     325    Matthew Stafford
15,000    Caleb Williams
15,000    Trevor Lawrence
15,000    Josh Allen
30,000    Justin Herbert
30,000    Bo Nix
40,000    Sam Darnold
50,000    Jalen Hurts
50,000    Christian McCaffrey

ATL beating LAR has thrown a potential wrench into the NFC south.  Even if Tampa beats Carolina, they don't win because if the Falcons beat the Saints and Tampa beats Carolina, they all wind up at 8-9 and Carolina gets the spot due to the tie breakers. 

It's going to be an interesting week for the NFC South teams!

Hope the link works:  https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6928097/2025/12/29/buccaneers-panthers-nfc-south-complicated-falcons/

Rams lose to the Falcons and Stafford throws 3 INTs, including a pick-6. That?s gotta swing the MVP momentum to Maye, right?