It's not just us suggesting that 2012 is being set up as another "bridge year" for the Carmine Hose. More and more observers are figuring it out. The recent additions of Carlos Silva and Aaron Cook as 'bargain-basement' starting pitching options seem to confirm the strategy. Basically, the idea is to stay as close to the luxury tax threshold as possible this year, while "husbanding" resources for 2013. This of course, is a different "bridge" concept than has been offered to us in the past. Before, we were asked to wait for the "kids" to mature on the farm so they could lead us to a new wave of championship glory. Now, it's the notion that we should go cheap on starters in 2012, because of the bumper crop of impact starters hitting the market in 2013 (Cole Hamels, Matt Cain, Zack Greinke, Anibel Sanchez). All things being equal, that might not be a bad strategy—but fans are not going to be too amenable to this idea if we miss the post-season for a third consecutive year.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Cook And Silva Fit The Sox 'Bridge' Mold
It's not just us suggesting that 2012 is being set up as another "bridge year" for the Carmine Hose. More and more observers are figuring it out. The recent additions of Carlos Silva and Aaron Cook as 'bargain-basement' starting pitching options seem to confirm the strategy. Basically, the idea is to stay as close to the luxury tax threshold as possible this year, while "husbanding" resources for 2013. This of course, is a different "bridge" concept than has been offered to us in the past. Before, we were asked to wait for the "kids" to mature on the farm so they could lead us to a new wave of championship glory. Now, it's the notion that we should go cheap on starters in 2012, because of the bumper crop of impact starters hitting the market in 2013 (Cole Hamels, Matt Cain, Zack Greinke, Anibel Sanchez). All things being equal, that might not be a bad strategy—but fans are not going to be too amenable to this idea if we miss the post-season for a third consecutive year.