YankeesRedSox.com

The mets, angels, indians, tigers, cards, and possibly the rays could use a closer. i think he will take a closing job b4 a setup job.

Tom, you are probably right. It comes down to what is most important to him, the all-time saves record, which he currently holds and is likely to hold for a long time, or winning.

If I try to put myself in his shoes, I'd like to think I'd take the winning thing. Then again, who's to say he can't sign as the closer for a playoff bound team...like Tampa Bay or more closely to his home, the Angels, like you said.

I like the Rays, great story, but if you were a betting man would you assume they make the playoffs next year?

how many (if any) Rays played over their previous expected ceiling?

As good as they were, they were a clutch hit or two away from losing their trip to the World Series to a snake bitten team without their ace.

My father lives near Tampa, I hope they do well again to give him something to watch.

I think the Sox come back stronger, somehow.

I think the Yankees have to improve (not a terrible year record wise but seemed terrible didn't it?)

As for the Angels, that might be the fit for Hoff, as it is close to San Diego and they need a closer.

If he wanted to win, I think I agree with Andy that he would give up the closer role and show up with the Sox or a team with a great shot to get to the series.

I cant imagine Hoffman would move to a setup role on the red sox in lieu of closing roles on various teams with every bit as much chance as giving him a shot at a title.

lets quote you "I cant imagine Hoffman would move to a setup role on the red sox in lieu of closing roles on various teams with every bit as much chance as giving him a shot at a title."

Ian, surely you jest...there isn't a team, including the Phillies who just won, that has a better chance at winning than the RedSox next year.

I haven't seen any odds yet posted but I would guess that the Sox are somewhere in the #1-#3 range as far as favorites to win it all in 2009.

Sooooooo, you most teams have less of a chance by definition.

Sox - have a closer
Phillies- have a closer

Yankees- have a closer
Rays - could use him
Angels - could use him

Mets - guess they could use him
WhiteSox - I think they are set
Cubs - might be able to use him

Dodgers - could use him
Twins - nope

I grouped the teams how I would handicap them if I were doing the odds.

Sox/Phillies probably best odds at winning

Yankees, Angels and Rays in next grouping

so on...

so to quote you again, "every bit a much chance as giving him a shot at a title" means very few teams IMO.

But not everybody really wants to win, maybe padding his save record is more important to him, I don't know enough about him but if it were me, I'd find the team with the BEST chance of winning, not one with A chance of winning.

Current Odds to Win 2009 World Series>>>>>

Boston Red Sox 13/2
Chicago Cubs 15/2
Los Angeles Angels 8/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 8/1
New York Yankees 9/1
Tampa Bay Rays 10/1
Philadelphia Phillies 12/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 12/1
Minnesota Twins 16/1
New York Mets 16/1
St. Louis Cardinals 18/1
Florida Marlins 20/1
Cleveland Indians 25/1
Milwaukee Brewers 28/1
Chicago White Sox 30/1
Detroit Tigers 30/1
Toronto Blue Jays 35/1
Colorado Rockies 38/1
Houston Astros 40/1
Oakland Athletics 40/1
Atlanta Braves 60/1
San Francisco Giants 60/1
Texas Rangers 75/1
Seattle Mariners 80/1
Baltimore Orioles 80/1
Cincinnati Reds 80/1
San Diego Padres 100/1
Washington Nationals 125/1
Kansas City Royals 125/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 150/1

I post these for informational purposes only.

thank you for posting that and for making my point

if it weren't the cubs but another team with that much talent I would have them even with the Sox...

Bl-

You're welcome, but I would like to make two points

1- I can't remember the last time the preseason favorite actually won the World Series

2- Predictions are tough, I seem to remember someone swearing that a certain firstbaseman would never leave Atlanta ;-)

Peter - there is a sports talk host here in Atlanta that says a quote that I find perfect for what you are busting me about,

"the great thing about sports is that none of it is scripted, you never really know how things will turn out"

All signs, including interviews with Texiera suggested he would want to stay in Atlanta. I believe it actually was the Braves that blinked first and realized they were not going to offer him even in the ballpark of what he wanted. Given similar money, Tex would have stayed I believe.

True - preseason favorites are doomed most of the time, as U of Georgia football players...

But in baseball with wildcards in play, being in the top 4 or 5 in a preseason odds chart does give me faith that barring terrible injuries to key players, those teams are likely headed to the playoffs.

With that said, if I am Hoffman, I go with a team that is a favorite to make the playoffs before a fringe team. Then I rank the teams most likely to go FAR in the playoffs. Then I worry about closer vs setup.

He isn't in his prime, gotta get the ring or give best shot to do so.

Oh yes, because the odds dictate who will win the world series. Lets skip the season.

Come on, any team with enough pitching, hitting and defense that gets a little luck with the injury bug and develops a few young players along the way is capable of winning it all. There are several teams that fit that description that require a closer. I dont see the reality or value of giving any of them any edge on November 13th.

Whoops, didn't see the last two comments there :)