Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not sure why this has become a flashpoint discussion, and my stubbornness is surely part of the reason for that, but I'm a bit surprised that posters who seemed most critical of Yoshida seem to have the biggest problem with my opinion that he has not earned a slot in the line-up just yet, or that ref has not "earned" a change in his role.

How is he supposed to "earn" it? Like I said, he had a 110 OPS+ last year in his first season. That makes him a little closer to an established MLB hitter than the other guys we're talking about. Plus he's had injury issues this year.

It's pretty hard to earn anything when you're not in the lineup.

I think Cora is a master at juggling all the lineup conundrums and giving everyone a fair shot.

If Yoshida doesn't start to produce, at some point he will get squeezed out. But that time isn't here yet.

[Bellhorn04]

As for the "flashpoint" thing, moon, that's basically one of the consequences of averaging 10,000 posts a year.

[mvp 78]

As for the "flashpoint" thing, moon, that's basically one of the consequences of averaging 10,000 posts a year.

Dude is lapping each and everyone of us every year.

[moonslav59]

How is he supposed to "earn" it?

He can start here and there, PH some or wait until someone doing well declines some (more.)

I've never said he should not play or never start.To me, it's also about benching players that are doing well more than Yoshi. (It wasn't long ago, I was trying to talk you off the ledge on Yoshi, so it's not like I'm a longtime Yoshi critic.)

[moonslav59]

As for the "flashpoint" thing, moon, that's basically one of the consequences of averaging 10,000 posts a year.

No doubt, my OCD kicks in, often on this site. Not making excuses, but I don't have many people around me who like to talk Sox with, so I come here and weigh in on just about anything and everything.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Bellhorn04]

He can start here and there, PH some or wait until someone doing well declines some (more.)

I've never said he should not play or never start.To me, it's also about benching players that are doing well more than Yoshi. (It wasn't long ago, I was trying to talk you off the ledge on Yoshi, so it's not like I'm a longtime Yoshi critic.)

You've never had to talk me off any ledges about Yoshida. It was a terrible signing, I haven't changed my position on that one iota. As I've said, he's a sunk cost.

Cora doesn't bench anyone, that's the point. He manages to get everyone AB's. If a guy does badly for an extended period like Cooper, he's gone.

You can't make out the lineup card every game based on who's been hot over the last few games, that would be nonsensical.

With the number of AB's Yoshida has, 2 good games and his OPS would jump 50 points or more.

[mvp 78]

You've never had to talk me off any ledges about Yoshida. It was a terrible signing, I haven't changed my position on that one iota. As I've said, he's a sunk cost.

Cora doesn't bench anyone, that's the point. He manages to get everyone AB's. If a guy does badly for an extended period like Cooper, he's gone.

You can't make out the lineup card every game based on who's been hot over the last few games, that would be nonsensical.

With the number of AB's Yoshida has, 2 good games and his OPS would jump 50 points or more.

CIN is the best MLB park for LHB to hit dingers. Maybe he can get going here?

[moonslav59]

You've never had to talk me off any ledges about Yoshida. It was a terrible signing, I haven't changed my position on that one iota. As I've said, he's a sunk cost.

Cora doesn't bench anyone, that's the point. He manages to get everyone AB's. If a guy does badly for an extended period like Cooper, he's gone.

You can't make out the lineup card every game based on who's been hot over the last few games, that would be nonsensical.

With the number of AB's Yoshida has, 2 good games and his OPS would jump 50 points or more.

My opinion is not based on Yoshida’s SSS in 2024. It’s based on others doing better and some on how Yoshida ended 2023. I think the league figured him out and he has yet to make the right adjustment.

I don’t think he should be the FT DH or even 75%. I think Cora will start him 60-75% or more.

[mvp 78]

Sox take two pitchers in the first 3 rounds of the draft?!?!?! That hadn't been done since 2016 when they drafted Groome.

[Maxbialystock]

I think moonslav has made a decent case for playing Yoshida less. Mostly that's because other hitters are better and could fit easily into the DH slot.

Nevertheless, there are several reasons to play him: 1) sunk costs; 2) he hit fine in Japan; 3) adjusting to both MLB and Boston, where everything written and spoken is opaque to him and where there are no other Japanese players on the team has to have been daunting; 4) elbow bothered him; 5) Cora has decided to play him; 6) His June 27-July 14 OPS is comfortably over .800, so maybe he is figuring things out.

[mvp 78]

Sunk cost isn't a reason to play someone.

[mvp 78]

Didn’t draft one dang SS. Only IFer was D’Angelo Ortiz!

[Hugh2]

I’ve been wrong more times than I’ve been right. But I did speculate the Sox could easily go position player in the first round and predominantly pitcher afterwards.

6 position players. 14 pitchers drafted.

[moonslav59]

Didn’t draft one dang SS. Only IFer was D’Angelo Ortiz!

Brez is breaking the mold.

[5GoldGloves:OF,75]

Brez is breaking the mold.

Imagine a chief baseball officer, drafting for organizational needs!

... this may frustrate fans of the strategy of stockpiling high school shortstops, and trading them later for pitching (but those guys are already frustrated, since the last Sox middle infield prospect flipped for an arm may be Dubon for Thornburg, back when Dombro was clear-cutting the farmland).

I like Breslow better, and it's not even the dreadline yet.