Protecting the Shields -- The Nick Cafardo Thread

[LeoCarrillo]

I truly feel terrible for Speier, who in his 108 Stitches roundup has to include Cafardo. And then politely somehow say he's wrong. Like a sixth grade teacher whose student just told him Mercury is the biggest planet. Okay, well, now that's true if we're only talking about planets that are also the closest to the sun. But if we're talking about all the planets ...

 

[geoflin]

Yes, the Red Sox need Cole Hamels. Just about as much as they needed Josh Hamilton. And he'd be cheaper!

 

[Hyde Park Factor]

"An evaluator from a successful American League East team"

We can obviously take this straight to the bank.

 

[Granite Sox]

I really believe Nick thinks Rob Manfred is looking for his ideas on how to improve the game.
 

 
Think about it, baseball is played every day...

 
Eureka!
 

 
In 2005, 10 players played in all 162, and many of them are retired now.

 
WHAT?!  WHERE DID THEY GO?!  WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?!

 

[bluefenderstrat]

He's such a dolt. Those 10 guys had abnormally long careers! Every one of them, including Matsui and Ichiro, played 10 or more seasons in MLB. If you care, the 10 players are A-Rod, Ibanez, Tejada, Ichiro, Carlos Lee, Juan Pierre, Teixeira, Matsui, and Jason Bay. Pujols was at 161. The only guy in the top 20 in GP in 2005 who didn't have a 10 year career was Hank Blalock. I know Bay was one of Nick's binkies (like Damon & Hillenbrand), so maybe that's what triggered this dreck.

 

[Granite Sox]

All roads lead to Jason Bay or J.P. Ricciardi...

 

[Van Everyman]

Front porch, shotgun on lap;

The game evolving into six-man rotations is not what many of us want to see, since many of us remember four-man rotations. But that’s how it’s evolving.

 

[TheoShmeo]

How is it possible that any writer could use so many words in a column and fail to increase our knowledge base at all?
 
In fairness, his point on Jemile Weeks wasn't entirely known to me before today.
 
But it wasn't exactly earth shattering either. 
 
So many of his points read like a High School effort.  The Blake Swihart musing about no batting gloves.  Not exactly news, Nicky.  Maybe for some readers.  But still.
 
This one stood out for me as the least newsy and the most inane:
 

3. It’s always tricky sledding for teams who are trying to replace injured players for this reason: When the player comes back, what do you do with the player who replaced him? The Giants inquired on Allen Craig over the winter, but would he make sense for them now? The Giants have been scouting the Red Sox for weeks and are looking for a righthanded outfielder until they get Hunter Pence back. We’ll see if they ask again.
 

Did someone in the Boston Globes Sunday baseball notes column really write that last sentence?  What exactly does it add?
 
I know, why should I be surprised by this?  Answer: No reason, and I should not.  But it's still maddening.

 

[Van Everyman]

This part is also epically obtuse:

Baseball should convene a panel of players who spent all or most of their careers healthy just to see if there are patterns that allowed them to stay upright. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, for instance, caught 1,938 games and was on the DL once, at age 41, with a pinched nerve. Tom Glavine made 682 starts and only got hurt in his final season in Atlanta at age 42, when he had an oblique strain. Bronson Arroyo had Tommy John surgery last season after making 369 consecutive starts. Javier Vazquez, Randy Winn, and Derek Lowe spent more than 10 years in the majors without a DL stint.

Hey, Nick, while you're at it, maybe ask Rafael Palmiero what his secret was for only going on the DL once in his career as well.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Front porch, shotgun on lap;
 

 
The game evolving into six-man rotations is not what many of us want to see, since many of us remember four-man rotations. But that’s how it’s evolving.

 

 
Does he provide any evidence that this "evolution" is really happening?  Teams toying with the idea?  Teams that have actually implemented it for more than once or twice through the rotation?

 

[Harry Hooper]

Note to Cafardo, do a google search on baseball and greenies. You'll find a lot of reading material about how the legends of the game got through the 162.

 

[timlinin8th]

I really believe Nick thinks Rob Manfred is looking for his ideas on how to improve the game.
 
 
Eureka!
 
 
WHAT?!  WHERE DID THEY GO?!  WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?!

In a game where the average career length is 5.6 years, many players from ten years ago are retired now?! STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!

 

[Harry Hooper]

In a game where the average career length is 5.6 years, many players from ten years ago are retired now?! STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!

 
It is too hard for a guy with a lifetime contract to imagine what happens to folks' careers in other walks of life.

 

[dcmissle]

I smiled a couple of days ago when Ben was quoted to the effect that no big deals are in the offing ... This must irritate him no end.

 

[soxhop411]

@nickcafardo: Ask Nick: Should Dustin Pedroia feel the heat? http://t.co/M32n9JncA0 via @BostonGlobe

 

[Corsi]

What ever happened to Joe Morgan?
Chris, Topsfield
NC: He’s living in Walpole and doing well. He had his Morgan Magic run. One of my favorite managers to cover. His “hunches” were usually right on the money. Really knew baseball and didn’t need stats to lead him by the hand.
 

 
 
HE DIDN'T NEED STATS!!!!

 

[ifmanis5]

We need to make him a Real Men Don't Need Stats baseball cap. Or at least Photoshop one on him.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Who last managed in 1990.
And was passed over for managing positions prior to 88 many, many, many times. 
And was supposed to be a seat warmer for Whitey Herzog. 
 
Don't think I'm besmirching Joe Morgan, because up until Francona, he was probably the best Sox manager I have ever seen but it's not like he was some sort of iconoclast--bucking a stats-based system. Aside from LaRusa, Weaver and a few others, no manager really used stats. Plus he had the opportunity to manage Boston during a terribly fallow American League East where men like Cito Gaston, Tom Treblehorn, Doc Edwards, Dallas Green, Bucky Dent and John McNamara were leaders of men.
 
Not exactly a MENSA group.  

 

[ifmanis5]

Yeah, but a guy like Stump Merrill was a man's man, so he's good in Nick's book.

 

[joe dokes]

 
 
HE DIDN'T NEED STATS!!!!

 
He didn't need stats that hadn't been developed yet. (Lewis and Clark didn't need a car.) I'm sure if you asked, Walpole Joe would tell you that there were some stats he *did* use.  Yet Nick and his Merry Band of High-Waisted Hagiographers make it sound as though Morgan was using a divining rod and Ouija board.  I know he intends it as a compliment, but I think its sort of insulting.  To me, "playing a hunch" is a move devoid of any logical thought. I doubt that's what Morgan was doing.

 

[judyb]

We need to make him a Real Men Don't Need Stats baseball cap. Or at least Photoshop one on him.

Nice idea, but it's not worth having to look at a picture of him.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 
 
HE DIDN'T NEED STATS!!!!

 
What was his high mark in wins, 90? Holding up Joe Morgan as some sort of exemplary winner is the mark of a doofus.

 

[JimBoSox9]

  I know he intends it as a compliment, but I think its sort of insulting.  To me, "playing a hunch" is a move devoid of any logical thought. I doubt that's what Morgan was doing.

 
"Good at playing hunches" is the idiot's description of someone great at quickly doing logic and math in their head.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

 
What was his high mark in wins, 90? Holding up Joe Morgan as some sort of exemplary winner is the mark of a doofus.

 
Lower than that.
 
Though looking at the 1990 roster, that's kind of amazing they won that many. If it weren't for fluke seasons out of Kieker and Tom Bolton (and to an extent, Harris, who made as many starts in 1990 as he had the previous 8 seasons total), Bagwell's probably not traded. The back end of that rotation (on paper) was garbage, and they're probably a sub-.500 team if there was anything more than an up-and-coming Toronto in the division. Lou Gorman apparently believed they were one reliever away from getting past that Athletics team.
 
I would imagine that Cafardo also believes Gorman was a great GM, but that's neither here nor there. And apropos of nothing, Gorman is an anagram of Morgan.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

He abused the hell out of Harris' arm that year, I remember that. By September/October, Harris had nothing left.

 

[ifmanis5]

He abused the hell out of Harris' arm that year, I remember that. By September/October, Harris had nothing left.

Actually, both arms.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 

[ifmanis5]

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

 
To me, "playing a hunch" is a move devoid of any logical thought. I doubt that's what Morgan was doing.

I'm not sure if you remember 1988, but Morgan was familiar with playing hunches. I think (and I'm pretty sure it was him) he started a lefty hitter who sucked against lefty pitchers because he forgot that the day's starting pitcher threw with his left hand. Once he figured it out, he left his guy in the lineup and he had three hits (or something like that).

He did stuff like that all the time. And he won, so it was endearing. But if SoSH was around, we would have gone nuts.

Cafardo and his buddies love shit like that because it's easy to understand.

 

[kieckeredinthehead]

 
Lower than that.
 
Though looking at the 1990 roster, that's kind of amazing they won that many. If it weren't for fluke seasons out of Kieker and Tom Bolton (and to an extent, Harris, who made as many starts in 1990 as he had the previous 8 seasons total), Bagwell's probably not traded.

Kiecker

 

[richgedman'sghost]

Who last managed in 1990.
And was passed over for managing positions prior to 88 many, many, many times. 
And was supposed to be a seat warmer for Whitey Herzog. 
 
Don't think I'm besmirching Joe Morgan, because up until Francona, he was probably the best Sox manager I have ever seen but it's not like he was some sort of iconoclast--bucking a stats-based system. Aside from LaRusa, Weaver and a few others, no manager really used stats. Plus he had the opportunity to manage Boston during a terribly fallow American League East where men like Cito Gaston, Tom Treblehorn, Doc Edwards, Dallas Green, Bucky Dent and John McNamara were leaders of men.
 
Not exactly a MENSA group.  

I don't want want to take away from your basic point, but one of those is not like the others..Cito Gaston did win back to back World Series. Of course you could still use the same logic and say that Gaston was the best manager in a poor lot and I'm not sure if I'd totally disagree with you. It's just that I feel that Cito Gaston gets overlooked when the managers of the late 1980s and 90s get discussed. 

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Was Gaston good, or were his teams incredibly stacked? Look at top of that 92/93 lineup:
 
White
Henderson (93)
Alomar
Molitor (93)
Carter
Olerud
Winfield (92)
 
Three Hall of Famers and three Hall of Very Gooders. His pitching staffs both years were above average, solid starters and a tough bullpen (Duane Ward was particularly nasty in 93). I'm not saying that history isn't littered with managers who have done worse with more (LaRusa and the late 80s A's) but this was plug in and push play. 

 

[mt8thsw9th]

I don't recall his managerial prowess, but I think you're overselling those teams as some juggernaut. They had some good hitters in their lineup, but they had pretty middling starting rotations outside of their 1-2 (particularly in 1993).  Devon White was not a good hitter in 1992, and Henderson was awful. Their bench was atrocious in 1993, and their 1992 bullpen was two people deep. 
 
1992: 106 OPS+, 104 ERA+, 91-71 expected record (96-66) - (Brewers expected record 96-66)
1993: 110 OPS+, 103 ERA+, 91-71 expected record (95-67)
 
Francona/Little teams with better expected records, and their OPS+ and ERA+: 2011 (116, 103), 2009 (106, 107), 2008 (107, 116), 2007 (107, 123), 2004 (110,116), 2003 (118, 104), 2002 (106, 122)
 
Here's someone with a better idea of his ability as a manager, though.
 
http://www.ghostrunneronfirst.com/2009/12/excerpt-evaluating-baseballs-managers.html
 
And the actual passage from the book:
 
https://books.google.com/books?id=I_K8gplq24gC&pg=PA212&lpg=PA212&dq=evaluating+managers+cito+gaston&source=bl&ots=yVJe37s-FJ&sig=6G-gQQEnj7AF0Y_9UjJu_lxAwQI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dJsRVe-uEM32gwSLsYPICw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=evaluating%20managers%20cito%20gaston&f=false
 
I think Gaston did a good job with those 1992 and 1993 teams, but like anyone with a couple of big hits, they eventually fizzle out and release their "Cut the Crap".

 

[ifmanis5]

White was never a great hitter, he was just about the best defensive centerfielder I ever saw. Those Toronto teams were indeed stacked and they won the WS back-to-back. How much more do they have to do for you?

 

[mt8thsw9th]

White was never a great hitter, he was just about the best defensive centerfielder I ever saw. Those Toronto teams were indeed stacked and they won the WS back-to-back. How much more do they have to do for you?

 
I don't know, pass more tests than the subjective when it comes to being "stacked"? Their offense was very good in 1993, but I would hardly call a lineup with nearly 2000 plate appearances allocated to players with OPS+ of 44 (128), 58 (189), 61 (198), 75 (520), 86 (596), 203 (83) as "stacked".  
 
They were a good team, but I generally think of the 1995 Indians, 1998 Yankees, or 2001 Mariners when I think of "stacked" teams. Grady Little might have even led those teams to the playoffs; what the Blue Jays did in 1992-1993 was very impressive, but I'd never put them in a top 25 list of the most talented teams of the past half century, which is why I don't think you can out-of-hand dismiss Gaston as a "just push play" manager.

 

[Corsi]

Why does Cafardo write these shit columns in which he just asks his readers a million rhetorical questions?  
 
From today's column: Is outfield logjam a ‘good problem’ for Red Sox — or just a problem?
 

• On Opening Day, will Shane Victorino be in right field or on the disabled list?
• A platoon in right?
• Do you really want to trade the guy and have him look good elsewhere, or do you hold on to him and try to get him at-bats at DH, first base, and in the outfield?
• Realistically, though, how can you expect to do that unless someone gets hurt (Mike Napoli has been sidelined with right ankle soreness), especially with Craig being righthanded?
• As for Castillo, a $72.5 million player has to play, doesn’t he?
• Should Castillo, who is 27 and should be entering his prime years, be coming off the bench?
• What does this show?
• But can they be managed and understand their roles?
• If the Red Sox can’t move Craig, or if Victorino or Castillo balks at the DL, will it be disruptive?

 

[RedOctober3829]

 
Why does Cafardo write these shit columns in which he just asks his readers a million rhetorical questions?  
 
From today's column: Is outfield logjam a ‘good problem’ for Red Sox — or just a problem?
 

• On Opening Day, will Shane Victorino be in right field or on the disabled list?
• A platoon in right?
• Do you really want to trade the guy and have him look good elsewhere, or do you hold on to him and try to get him at-bats at DH, first base, and in the outfield?
• Realistically, though, how can you expect to do that unless someone gets hurt (Mike Napoli has been sidelined with right ankle soreness), especially with Craig being righthanded?
• As for Castillo, a $72.5 million player has to play, doesn’t he?
• Should Castillo, who is 27 and should be entering his prime years, be coming off the bench?
• What does this show?
• But can they be managed and understand their roles?
• If the Red Sox can’t move Craig, or if Victorino or Castillo balks at the DL, will it be disruptive?

 

That's a dumb column especially for Nick.  All he should do  A person with common sense would compare this situation to the OF situation last year at this time and say "Wow, they have a ton of quality options and it is much better than having to rely on an unproven Jackie Bradley Jr. or a broken down Grady Sizemore."  

 

[joe dokes]

No characters?

How about Papi, Pedey, Panda, Koji, and Joseph Kelley Jr. for starters just on this team. Pedro as wandering ambassador.

Even kids like X, Mookie, and someone new like Moncada have a certain type of charisma that is incredibly appealing to young kids.

He's just completely nonsensical with everything today.

Jaysus what an idiot.

Not enough "human interest stories;
 

 
 
http://deadspin.com/jose-abreu-is-baseballs-most-interesting-boring-star-1693402100

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Nice article on Deadspin, that horse and buggy story is great. Cafardo is too lazy to even consider that Abreu might have a very fascinating story. There's probably loads more interesting stories out there but since they aren't dropped in Nick's lap he won't find out about them. Oh well, maybe Boras or JP RIcciardi will tell him about an interesting player someday.
 
And as noted above, when players do things that are at all "colorful" Cafardo and the rest of the old white guy complainer writers attack them for it. They don't respect the game! They don't play the game the right way! Blah blah blah! 
 
It's aggravating that so many people who get paid to write about baseball spend so much of their time complaining about baseball. 

 

[Van Everyman]

It's Cole Hamels' world. We're just living in it.

 

[jimbobim]

It's Cole Hamels' world. We're just living in it.

 
Agreed today was one of his laziest articles ever. I mean I'm pretty sure if the following paragraph got posted here the poster might get banned for drivel..
 
1. Boston Red Sox — They need to deal for Cole Hamels. The starting five won’t likely be enough for this team to separate itself from the pack. Explore deals for Allen Craig or Mike Napoli. Craig may be a better long-term fit and cheaper.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Seems like Reuben Amaro or someone from the Phillies front office must have called Cafardo this week. This team needs to trade for Cole Hamels! That team needs to trade for Ryan Howard, who is hitting like he used to! Those teams need to trade for Papelbon! 
 
Of course Cafardo is happy to run with it, because he clearly wants teams to trade big name players, so that he will have something easy to write about. "Famous player traded! This player was good, but not so much lately. Will he get back to being good with the change of scenery? Will he add veteran leadership and energy? He makes a lot of money. It's a gamble. Will it work out? Or will it not work out?" Done! Time to go to lunch. 

 

[Granite Sox]

I think it's more that one of Cafardo's "asshole buddies" must be a Phillies scout.  Cafardo talks repeatedly and ad nauseam (what isn't ad nauseam? Ha!  Classic Carfardo rhetorical device!) about the Phillies scouting the Sox.  I feel confident that Nick sat in the stands with his pal, and through banal conversation came up with 2/3 of this column.
 
This column is just the detritus from three hours with this guy (note the other reference to an "NL scout").
 
We've got the obligatory "talked with Sabean" leftover comment about Giants interest in Sox players (Craig, Vic).
 
We've got the obligatory "talked with Dan Duquette/Buck Showalter is the bestest" back-scratching item about an O's player who would look good on a division rival.
 
We've got the obligatory "Yankees look better than the Sox [if healthy]" comment.
 
And lastly the obligatory "Hurry Up! Some other team is closer to landing Hamels" comment... because the Rangers have a catcher!
 
All this after the primary discussion topic of the column... PITCHERS DON'T NEED TO STUDY FILM OR READ ANALYTICS REPORTS... THEY JUST NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER!  Whatever happened to those days?...

 

[E5 Yaz]

All this after the primary discussion topic of the column... PITCHERS DON'T NEED TO STUDY FILM OR READ ANALYTICS REPORTS... THEY JUST NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER!  Whatever happened to those days?...

 
The analytics part aside, I would hope that pitchers would talk amongst themselves about what works and what doesn't. 
 
Meanwhile, I think we may have seen the appearance of a new recurring character ... "wise veteran scout."

 

[nattysez]

The charitable reading is that he's just stating facts, but...

 
Nick Cafardo‏@nickcafardo
Just saw Yoan Moncada strike out vs TB Vs A ball pitcher.
 

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Yesterday I saw a writer recycle his Sunday Baseball Notes for the 400th week in a row.

 

[BS_SoxFan]

 

The charitable reading is that he's just stating facts, but...

 

 
Was just coming to post this here.  They should obviously include him in the package for Hamels. 

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Yesterday I saw a writer recycle his Sunday Baseball Notes for the 400th week in a row.

 

 

[joe dokes]

Did Matt Barnes's food poisoning come from eating fugu at Long John Silver's? Or does "kick the bucket" have some *other* meaning? Do his parents know? Does the Sox medical staff appear a tad optimistic?
 

■ Matt Barnes kicked the bucket after a couple of down days with food poisoning, and the Red Sox were hopeful he could throw off a mound. Barnes has a shot of making the team
 

 
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/03/31/red-sox-deciding-when-get-david-ortiz-first-base/NXElYxTVEDZXAE7r4qTF3H/story.html

 

[jkshute]

Did Matt Barnes's food poisoning come from eating fugu at Long John Silver's? Or does "kick the bucket" have some *other* meaning? Do his parents know? Does the Sox medical staff appear a tad optimistic?
 
 
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/03/31/red-sox-deciding-when-get-david-ortiz-first-base/NXElYxTVEDZXAE7r4qTF3H/story.html

Maybe Barnes is returning to the mound to prepare for a new TV show, "The Pitching Dead."...Note to Ben: This opens up a whole new talent recruiting strategy--can we get The Babe back?....Also, Eddie Yost would be a natural for "The Walking Dead."...I'm probably going overboard--it's just Nick doing his bit for "The Writing Dead."