2024 Red Sox Defense

[moonslav59]

You can check FanGraphs too.

I can and did, but he played 0 games, last season, and only 34 in 2022, so he is a 2 years older than that, now. He's started less than 175 200 games at SS in the past 4 years, combined. Whatever fangraphs says about that sample size may be near meaningless.

I'll pass. There should be someone better on D, just as cheap and maybe with more upside on O.

[notin]

I certainly thought our defense had improved this year--and said so, mostly because the pitching has been spectacularly good, the best in MLB after just 10 games.

But guess what? 9 of the 22 runs scored against the Sox were unearned. That to me bespeaks lousy defense--and the fact that Story played excellent defense at SS could not prevent the bungles by the likes of Rafaela, Abreu, Reyes, Casas, Devers, and Valdez.

Of those errors, to me the most forgivable one was by Devers, who had to deal with one of those in between high-hoppers, which he tried to grab while going backwards.

Rafaela's error was on a dead easy fly he decided to go casual on. Same goes for Abreu on an easy grounder single he let get through his legs. Same for Casas--of course Casas--on another easy grounder. Same for Valdez on a throw to 2b, which he dropped.

Also, let's not forget that, while I think we can all agree Trevor Story is superb on defense, at 2b or SS, he can't stay healthy. I hasten to add he's getting paid $22M/year primarily for hitting, which he has yet to do.

Speaking of hitting, I don't see a whole lot of them in next year's hypothetical all-defensive team. I think I see 3: Devers, Casas, and Duran--and the latter two are probables, not certainties.

I disagree, and think you’re misinterpreting that stat.

The 9 unearned runs aren’t what defines the defense; it’s also that the Sox have only given up 24 runs total. We like to attribute that solely to pitching, but defense absolutely is a factor. The Sox crazy low run total can’t be all pitching; not with all these guys back from last year.

Defense isn’t measured just by the plays you don’t make. The ones you do makes are factors as well…

[notin]

I can and did, but he played 0 games, last season, and only 34 in 2022, so he is a 2 years older than that, now. He's started less than 175 200 games at SS in the past 4 years, combined. Whatever fangraphs says about that sample size may be near meaningless.

I'll pass. There should be someone better on D, just as cheap and maybe with more upside on O.

The Angels just DFA’d Liván Soto. He might not be a bad idea…

[mvp 78]

The drop off in CF to Duran is not as bad as the drop off at SS to Hamilton/others.

Also I think it's a mischaraterization to say "not great" he's defense has been characterized many times as plus at SS. He grew up playing SS, and continued playing it 1-2 times week while he's been in the minors in the Sox system.

Sox may very well roll the dice with Hamilton at SS, but Rafaela is their best option there right now and IMO it's not even close.

^^^

[mvp 78]

Ok, I will also go listen to their last podcast in which they advocate Rafaela at SS as their best option.

http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/04...ary-story.html

I would prefer Rafaela in CF, but right now, the team might be best with him at SS.

EDIT. I don't advocate the move permanent, and I still think he should start 1-2 games a week in CF and have Pablo/Hamilton play SS.

I'd prefer Rafaela stick in CF too, but they don't have another decent SS to plug in defensively.

[mvp 78]

The Angels just DFA’d Liván Soto. He might not be a bad idea…

-4 OAA at SS.

[Old Red]

I'd prefer Rafaela stick in CF too, but they don't have another decent SS to plug in defensively.

And the BIG question would be with Story’s history of getting hurt why not?

[Bellhorn04]

I have confidence that Breslow can figure this out better than Bloom did.

[Old Red]

I have confidence that Breslow can figure this out better than Bloom did.

The fact that there isn’t one now is not a good sign.

[Bellhorn04]

The fact that there isn’t one now is not a good sign.

It's hard to plan around your #1 guy at such a key position going down.

They have to find out how long Story will be out and act accordingly.

[mvp 78]

I have confidence that Breslow can figure this out better than Bloom did.

100%.

He traded for Slaten decisively.

He wanted a 2b and got Grissom.

They needed more starting pitcher prospects so he dealt Schreiber for Sandlin who is now one of the more hyped BA prospects.

He wanted to get rid of Verdugo's contract so he dealt him to the Yanks for Fitts, Weissert and Judice.

To replace Verdugo, he dealt Santos and Robertson for Tyler O'Neilll.

That would have been too much work for Bloom for one offseason.

[mvp 78]

It's hard to plan around your #1 guy at such a key position going down.

They have to find out how long Story will be out and act accordingly.

He's still on the 10 day IL. No further updates?

[Bellhorn04]

He's still on the 10 day IL. No further updates?

More tests I think.

[5GoldGloves:OF,75]

I have confidence that Breslow can figure this out better than Bloom did.

Molecular biophysics vs. the Illiad.

Which one would most humans use to replace "rocket science" when blurting metaphors on difficult subjects they know nothing about?

(Chaim says, "Don't sleep on Homer; 5Gs couldn't even finish The Canterbury Tales in college, because every other page was footnote translations")

[mvp 78]

Molecular biophysics vs. the Illiad.

Which one would most humans use to replace "rocket science" when blurting metaphors on difficult subjects they know nothing about?

(Chaim says, "Don't sleep on Homer; 5Gs couldn't even finish The Canterbury Tales in college, because every other page was footnote translations")

Too much Whistle Pig for Bloom.