I wouldn’t get too worked up over Rodney finishing second in that poll. Seems to me that in a poll of Royals fans, Soria just siphoned off too much of the smart/knowledgable vote from Nathan, such that what little was left of that voting bloc was not enough to overcome the spiteful/ignoramus voting bloc, which went for Rodney.

Nathan’s six-season stretch has got to be one of the best five or six ever for a reliever. It’s pretty unbelievable, right up there with anything Mo Rivera has ever done if not better.

1919-33 Boston Red Sox: 881-1409; .384

1921-35 Boston Braves: 951-1359; .411

I’m amazed that Fenway Park and Braves Field weren’t razed by mobs armed with pitchforks and torches, or that our grandfathers never warned us away for Boston baseball. Of course, although I don’t go back that far, I am old enough to remember Curt Gowdy advising (pleading with) radio listeners in the second inning that there were still good seats available if they were close to Fenway. It wasn’t always beer and skittles in the Hub.

KC (and Pirates) fans, you are not alone. Conscientious New Englanders feel your pain.

Seriously, Drayton keeps asking us to trust the process. Has he given any interviews or anything where he said what the process is, what his philosophy is? (And I know he’s famous for saying that he’s an advocate of OBP — but based on who he acquires, I don’t know if he’s lying to throw people off or … come on, I refuse to believe that he doesn’t know what it is.)

Step 1: Acquire mediocre/bad, overpaid, older players

Step 2: ????

Step 3: Hold parade (because Dayton knows where he is going to hold it already)