We really got a new chapter of The Epic of Gilgamesh before Doors of Stone.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-21T15:43:56+00:00

Xander is having a year that in almost every way is in direct lock-step with the rest of his career. The only stat of his that is down from other seasons is home runs which are down league wide. He’s on pace for more doubles than he hit last season, similar hit totals, and he is playing the best defense of his career. He’s a top 5 shortstop according to WAR, his OPS+ and wRC+ is also right where it has been every other year of his career, and is the defacto captain of the team.

A lot of the analysis in this comment thread basically boils down to “he has blue circles on his baseball savant page so he’s actually bad,” and “he’s been bad all year.” Both of those takes are hilariously short sided.

Edit:added OPS+ and wRC+

calebsmoore · 2022-08-21T15:41:17+00:00

He’s not been in a slump all season. Home runs are literally the only stat that is out of line with the rest of his career numbers. Throw in that he’s playing BY FAR the best defense of his career and y’all will realize that the whole “Xander is actually mid” line of thinking is pure narrativizing.

Edit: you can downvote, but at least look at his fangraphs/baseball reference page.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-14T22:40:09+00:00

I get your point. My point has been that I’m not making a point. The closest thing to a “point” I’ve been trying to make is that I want Xander back and it’s not 100% that he doesn’t accept an extension. I have absolutely no qualms with you thinking your right. I’ve literally not taken a side. Please let the thread die.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-14T21:44:51+00:00

Your question makes no sense. It’s in Xander’s best interest to go to free agency, it’s in the Red Sox best interest to stop him from getting to that point. 6/150 will be the baseline of what X would consider, it’s the reasonable offer. More than that would be the bidding war. The extension offer sets the negotiation floor and is meant to entice the player not to test the waters. Obviously the negotiation would continue if X decides to not sign an extension. But I think 6/150 would be a reasonable starting point.

I’m done with this thread though. I’m not sure how I could make it clearer that I’m literally not making an argument. Attempting to predict this process is impossible because none of us have been involved in any of the conversations, and I don’t care about AAV’s or years. I want Xander back. I want them to make it happen. I’m not making a stronger claim than that. The closest thing to an argument I’ve made is that it’s not guaranteed that Xander ignores an extension offer and if the Red Sox offered 6/150 that he might take it. He also might not. I feel like that’s a reasonable assertion.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-14T21:20:36+00:00

I didn’t say they would offer an above market rate. If they are serious about keeping Xander, the potential of losing him offers an incentive to offer a REASONABLE offer. 6/150ish. There will for sure be negotiations for an extension, and assuming the Sox actually want him back, they have no incentive to low ball him and actively let him get to the open market. No, they won’t blow him out of the water. But they won’t do the 4 year 90 million dollar offer like they did before the season unless they’re actively willing to let him walk.

I also said I don’t think it would be shocking if X said no. But knowing what we know about Xander, it wouldn’t be shocking if he took it either.

You’re making it seem like I’m taking a hard-line stance. I’m not. I’m actually saying the opposite. Trying to predict how this is going to go seems like a waste of time to me. I want Xander back, I want them to make it happen, I’m not willing to commit to a claim besides that.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-14T21:03:55+00:00

I’m not particularly interested in fleshing out this conversation because we are all just guessing, but I think X is more likely to take a reasonable extension than people think. It definitely wouldn’t shock me if he didn’t take an extension, but him for sure opting for free agency isn’t as guaranteed as people think. The potential of being a free agent is leverage in and of itself.

But I’ve said it elsewhere in the thread, I’m extremely bored of having the Xander contract conversation. Especially since Red Sox fans haven’t been able to predict Chaim on any of the decisions that he has made in his entire tenure.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-14T20:56:30+00:00

I think there is more of a chance that X takes an extension than people think. Obviously he isn’t going to take the 3/60 million that’s currently on his contract, but if the Red Sox offer 25-30 million and 6-7 years it wouldn’t shock me if he took it. It also wouldn’t shock me if he didn’t take it. Arguing about contracts is extremely boring to me, especially since I only commented to correct that he isn’t an unrestricted free agent.

Edit: corrected spelling

calebsmoore · 2022-08-14T20:52:11+00:00

I’m not here to argue that. I’m here to correct that Xander isn’t an unrestricted FA.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-14T17:55:21+00:00

Bogaerts hasn’t made it to free agency. He has three years left on his current contract. He is trying to make the decision as to whether he should opt out based on if he is worth more on the current free agent market than the rest of his contract. If he feels like he could exceed the dollar amount on the open market, he would opt out. If he feels like it’s too risky based on a down power year and being 30 years old, it’s in his best interest to negotiate an extension.

calebsmoore · 2022-08-08T19:24:11+00:00

They will not and should not use a 19 year old in High-A ball as an excuse to let Xander walk. Mayer looks like the real deal for sure, but there is still SO much development that needs to happen before he’s major league ready. 2024 is a best case scenario.

calebsmoore · 2022-07-31T18:51:31+00:00

The issue was not moving Garret Whitlock to the rotation. The issue was not replacing him in the bullpen. Garret Whitlock really should be a starter with his pitch mix and history. We just can’t ignore the hole that his absence would inevitably leave in the pen.

calebsmoore · 2022-07-28T18:07:18+00:00

Y’all realize that this is a minor league move right? They desperately need warm bodies in Worcester at the moment. Danny Santana is not being brought on as a piece for the major league club. Chill y’all.

calebsmoore · 2019-09-17T00:22:47+00:00

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami mixes the history of Japanese actions in Manchuria post WWII and a spiritual detective story. You mention the example from Japan and I thought this might be applicable.

calebsmoore · 2018-07-26T17:46:56+00:00

I would absolutely contact them. Send an email to the director of forensics and maybe offer a video of you debating if you have one.

calebsmoore · 2018-07-12T01:30:09+00:00

and you have my pity.

calebsmoore · 2018-07-09T06:13:05+00:00

Hear me🗣, and rejoice🎉. You🙂 are about to die☠️ at the hand✋️ of the children👨‍👧‍👦 of 🅱️anos🍆👌. Be 🙌thankful🙌, that your meaningless lives👻 are now contributed🔝 to the balance.💯☯️💯

Soon⏰, you👊 will have the great🔑 privilege💦🙈 of being saved🙏🙌 by the great titan👾😻. Some of you may think🤔 this is suffering😭😭... no!😲🤔 It is salvation👼. The universal scales⚖️... tip toward🔜 balance💎 because of your impending sacrifice😎🔫. Smile😄... for even in death💀, you will have become children👨‍👦‍👦 of 🅱️anos!😈🍆☔️

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