The Quarter Pole; What's the problem?

[Jasonbay44]

I've heard people saying the reason Sox signed Drew was due to Xander's defense at SS.. The move had to have been made due to the fact we have the worst 3B in the MLB. WMB, Herrera, Holt, etc all are f***ing garbage.

[User Name]

I see the hindsight machine is working full throttle around here, as usual.

[Spitball]

I see the hindsight machine is working full throttle around here, as usual.

 

You are correct. I guess 2013 and the future of the franchise means nothing if the team does not win it all again this year.

[User Name]

Although the losing pisses me off, they essentially did exactly what i wanted them to do (although late with the Drew signing). I am more than willing to let this team sink-or-swim in preparation for a sustained run of success.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Although the losing pisses me off, they essentially did exactly what i wanted them to do (although late with the Drew signing). I am more than willing to let this team sink-or-swim in preparation for a sustained run of success.

 

Are you in the Marrero - Bogaerts camp for the left side of the infield?

[SoxFanForsyth]

What is the big deal in moving X to 3rd now? It's not like he has shown great promise at short this season. Maybe some people believe that he is a natural SS but I certainly do not. His range ( at least to the left ) is inadequate. His footwork is marginal and while he has good arm strength, he has yet to learn how to make accurate throws from the hole. I'm not convinced that he is not better off at 3rd now and long term. If he has to be in the lineup everyday it might as well be with Drew playing SS. This way the Sox have a much better middle defense and X can be covered by Drew's range to his right.

 

 

Boo effing who if Bogey's feelings are hurt by this move. The idea is to field the best team possible and TRY to win games. Not to message a rookie's ego.

 

And, I don't buy into the "idea" of building a good young team for the future. Yes, I want as many of the Sox prospect to prosper and be productive for many years in a Boston uniform. But this desire is tempered by my desire to see the Sox win NOW.

 

To think that all these young players are going to add up to a championship team in the future is just foolish conjecture. The Sox, with a few tweaks, can make a run at the post season NOW. And in Boston, this is what is required. Unless you have not lived here very long.

 

Peavy may be gone, Lackey may be gone, and Lester may be gone in 2015. What good will it do to have a promising rookie brigade then if we haven't the horses to compete for a title? I say go for it now, not wait for the "future".

 

We have very different views on Bogaerts future position, apparently. I also do not think that Stephen Drew is going to turn this team into a WS contender. There are far, far too many holes right now.

 

For this to be a WS contender, we need an OF who can absorb the missing offense in CF, we need a SP to replace Doubront, even if he's healthy, we need Buchholz to figure out what the crap is going on or another SP to replace him. I can see the Sox going with Workman to replace Doubront and not seeing a big step down, but Buchholz was being counted on as giving this team top-of-the-rotation starts. That will need to be an external find.

 

And if none of the above happens, this team is more than likely going to miss the playoffs, with or without Drew. And that's fine because 2014 is not supposed to be a WS year. 2014 is supposed to be a development year that churns out a 5 year period where this team has a really good chance to play deep into October with young, cheap talent complimented by veterans whose contracts, while they may be big, are not suffocating because the base of the team is built on young, cheap talent.

[SCM33]

The Redsox biggest problem at this point is the fact that they won a World Series with a team that had no business winning a World Series after the disaster of 2012. I think they created unrealistic expectations for themselves going in to this year. They were really fun to watch last year, but they really overachieved. The results so far this year, are what we should of expected last year after Bobby V's 2012 year of 69 wins. When I watch this team play, I am not upset, this is kind of how I expect this group of players to play. Minus Clay Buccholz, who has really been disappointing?

 

LF: Gomes has returned to career average. He is the loudest s***** backup in all of professional sports. Kevin Millar used to irk me. At least Millar could play a little bit. Nobody gives a s*** about you if you don't produce. Nobody can tolerate a blowhard that doesn't get the job done. STFU or get lost. Maybe thats why your shtick got so old with every other team you have played on.

LF: Carp has returned to his journeyman pinch hitter career. He is an automatic 4-3 PO, or 4-6-3 DP. Last years production created unrealistic expectations for this year.

LF: Sizemore, regardless of what the media is saying, will not be the comeback player of the year. He sucks, and looks like toast. He has almost been as bad as JBJ, which is not exactly a player you want to be compared to offensively. Defensively, he appeared to have lost a step in CF....and has since been relegated to sharing time with superstars like Carp and Gomes (if you dont believe me about Gomes, just ask him).

 

CF: Bradley has looked like a gold glove player with a AA bat from day 1. Bradley and Sizemore were a terrible Ellsbury replacement plan. He has been absolutely terrible at the plate and can't even get a bunt down when asked to. Keep in mind that he never exactly lit the world on fire in the minors. In a couple years, we wont even remember his name....sorry, but its true. He will hang around the MLB for his glove as a 4th or 5th OF.

 

RF: Victorino played above his career average last year. His career was trending down before last year. Its funny how law of averages finds a way to even things out. Hes a great OF, but we have too many guys in the lineup who cannot make an impact. Victorino is a nice piece in a lineup. He should not have been expected to replicate what he did last year. He is also a year older, and a little more injury prone, which has been an adjective to describe him the last couple of years.

 

3B: Middlebrooks has sucked the majority of his career. This is who he is, this is what I said he was last year. He is a VERY poor mans Shea Hillenbrand. He should have been dealt in the offseason when he at least had a little trade value. He is pretty much worthless at this point. He will be 26 by years end, he is still a below average 3B. He still can't get on base and he is injury prone. Once in a while he hits a solo HR, big deal.

 

SS: Bogaerts is not a MLB SS. I said it all offseason. He should be at 3B or LF and eventually at 1B when Napoli leaves. Same defensive career path as Pujols. He is not a SS. You can see that Bogaerts will be a special offensive player at some point in his career. Take some pressure off him defensively and put him at 3B or LF since all of our LF's suck. Drew should have been re-signed. John Farrell was a Drew guy, and he provided stability, defense and strong at bats which lengthened the lineup.

 

2B: Pedroia has been a little off his career norms. You could argue that he was off last year as well. His injury last year has clearly sapped some of his power. He has set some very high expectations for himself, but we have to be fair to him. The way he plays the game, at 30 going on 31 and his power numbers declining in three straight years, you have to suspect that his "grittiness" is catching up with him. He still has a lot of ball left in him, he may no longer be able to produce "laser shows". He is not a cornerstone offensive piece. The fact that they need someone else to hit leadoff so they can hit Pedroia 3rd does not say much for our lineup with the type of production he gives out of the 3. He is a great #2. He is still an elite player as a #2 hitter. As a #3, he is in the bottom half of the league.

 

1B: Mike Napoli's power numbers are down at this point, but he does a good job of fitting their offensive philosophy. He plays a very good 1B. The only thing that is consistent about him offensively, is that he will be inconsistent. In the end his numbers will be solid, but he will have huge peak and valleys.

 

C: Pierzynski has not lit the world on fire, but so what. He is a catcher. Salty could not hit, throw, catch, field, call a game......just because he was less s***** than everyone else didn't make him good. The bigger disappointment has been David Ross. I was hoping he would have been given more of an opportunity to work with the pitching staff.

 

DH: Ortiz has been his consistent self. He will be at .300/30/100.

 

The pitching staff really has not been that bad. The biggest problem is the order in which they pitch. Lester is your #1. The problem is Clay. If he can't be a #2 or a #3, you really don't have a shot at winning. In a perfect world Doubront is your #5. When he is pitching as a #3 or #4, you are in trouble.

 

When things are right, you have:

Lester

Clay

Lackey

Peavy

Doubront

 

Everyone is pitching out of order, which has created unfavorable starting pitcher matchups....which has piled up a bunch of losses in a short amount of time. Everything changes if Clay steps up and pitches like a #2. The thing most concerning about Clay, is the lack of velocity and movement on his pitches. Even at the end of last year, he was getting by on reputation alone. At this point he looks like he has a dead arm. I am not talking about the type you get mid season either. By dead arm, I mean that his arm is suffering from no injury, but is simply not able to produce the same results it once did, the type of thing that was predicted of the frail body of Pedro Martinez.

 

In the end, the biggest concerns about this team were all things that could have been addressed in the offseason. Everyone knew Ellsbury was gone, and they made absolutely no effort to address the hole it created. I don't give a s*** that he left, but Bradley/Sizemore is a disgraceful replacement plan. Stephen Drew wanted to stay in Boston. John Farrell wanted him to stay in Boston. The Redsox got zero draft pick compensation and saved a grand total of 4 million dollars. Was it really worth being 5 games under .500 to this point? There were concerns about Clay's arm/durability last year and going in to the playoffs. They made absolutely no effort in finding an insurance plan, and don't spit out Chris Capuano. He was an afterthought that has worked out as a reliever.

 

This team has the ability to turn it around. The Drew signing, and the acquisition of a REAL LF along with a replacement level CF at the deadline would dramatically improve the offense, but in the end.....if Clay continues to pitch like s*** and the starting pitching staff continues to matchup out of place....we have no chance. Luckily for us, the AL East is an absolute joke this year.

Edited May 23, 2014 by SCM33

[GomesBeard]

Here is Pete Abraham's 10-point plan to fix the Sox. Sounds good to me, covers a lot of items we've been talking about... http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/05/23/step-plan-for-fixing-red-sox/aPRyRRNPr2dbztbvNzFzZL/story.html

[mvp 78]

Here is Pete Abraham's 10-point plan to fix the Sox. Sounds good to me, covers a lot of items we've been talking about... http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/05/23/step-plan-for-fixing-red-sox/aPRyRRNPr2dbztbvNzFzZL/story.html

 

I'm all in with this plan.

[Spitball]

I'd keep Sizemore and keep Nava at triple-A.

[Station 13]

I'd keep Sizemore and keep Nava at triple-A.

 

Nava was probably our best bat last season after Ortiz.

[Spitball]

Nava was probably our best bat last season after Ortiz.

 

That might be true, but if you cut Sizemore, you are assuming the 31-year-old Nava will capture last year's sudden magic. If you keep Sizemore, you have both as options.

[Spudboy]

Sizemore was a good story but he has not worked out. I say move on.

 

This team has enough dead weight now as it is. At least Sizemore will not represent a large monetary loss.

 

Maybe Nava will never hit .302 again. Maybe he will hit only .240 or so. At least he plays a decent left field at Fenway and looks at a bunch of pitches. I say bring him back up and make some moves that involve outside talent.

[iortiz]

While I do agree with most of SCM33's assessment, I still have hopes in this team, specially in our young players. Hopefully this team turns around soon.

[seabeachfred]

While I do agree with most of SCM33's assessment, I still have hopes in this team, specially in our young players. Hopefully this team turns around soon.

 

I've had a tussle or two with SCM33 but he was pretty well spot on with his assessment. One place I had a divergence, and this is a minority opinion, is that I still think Middlebrooks can emerge as a solid 25-30 homer man. I hate giving up on someone with that kind of power especially since we don't have too much of it on our team or on the farm. As far as Bogaerts is concerned, I'd like to send him to left field where we need a power guy to open up third base next season for Garin Cecchini. Bogey could give us power, Garin good average and extra base ability. As far as SS goes, does Betts have the arm and range for it. There is a hitter there and one with speed. I'd look into that. Marrero projects as a solid fielder but a very so-so hitter and we need hitting now and in the future in the worst way. Just look at tonight.

[reYoukilis]

XB in LF to make room for Cecchini? Interesting.

[a700hitter]

Last year we never had a 4 game losing streak. This season we are at 8 and counting. Bad teams lose 8 in a row. Teams that win their divisions don't have those kind of losing streaks.

[Northern Star]

Has a team ever gone last, WS champs and last in a 3 season stretch?

[User Name]

Personally, the main problem i can identify is that i don't have nearly enough booze on hand to put up with the torture the Red Sox are subjecting me to right now.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

At least you have booze

[Northern Star]

Personally, the main problem i can identify is that i don't have nearly enough booze on hand to put up with the torture the Red Sox are subjecting me to right now.

 

I gave up booze years ago. It might be time to go back.

[Behindenemylines]

It was the pitching that kept the Sox in it before the losing streak started. Now besides not hitting, they have stopped pitching. The bullpen that was very good early has been over used and now is starting to get pounded. The current state of the Sox is looking pretty bleak. I guess it starts with the starting pitching. They need to give the Sox length so the bullpen is not over taxed. This will return the Sox to the team we saw in the beginning of the season. The hitting, or I should say the lack of hitting, is a major concern. You have older players hurt or under performing, and younger players that are struggling.

[sk7326]

It was the pitching that kept the Sox in it before the losing streak started. Now besides not hitting, they have stopped pitching. The bullpen that was very good early has been over used and now is starting to get pounded. The current state of the Sox is looking pretty bleak. I guess it starts with the starting pitching. They need to give the Sox length so the bullpen is not over taxed. This will return the Sox to the team we saw in the beginning of the season. The hitting, or I should say the lack of hitting, is a major concern. You have older players hurt or under performing, and younger players that are struggling.

 

A bleak state that is 7 games back in a very very tight division. There is a lot that can turn around here. But personally:

 

1. Thank Sizemore for playing, but he has no business in a big league lineup. Promote Nava. We know he can hit righties and give some platoon choices for Farrell.

2. Make a sell or hold decision on Bradley. He has been outstanding defensively, and deficient offensively. I'd still hold, but if you think Mookie Betts has been too good to ignore and Bradley has not made some progress by June (and Betts shows he won't embarass himself in CF), I get it.

3. Promote Vasquez. He can not get on base as well as Pierzynski, and he has elite defensive skills.

[gojohn99]

Nava is up again, I think. But yes I think it's time to end the Grady Sizemore experiment.

 

--just checked - Nava pinch hit yesterday. I think Nava got called up when Victorino went on the DL again.

Edited May 27, 2014 by gojohn99

[SoxFanForsyth]

Bring me Dexter Fowler.

[Navafan29]

Here's the problem: too many toasters!

[Palodios]

Bring me Dexter Fowler.

 

That'd be great, wouldn't it? He'd probably cost too much though -- giving up a Bradley, WMB, or RDLR might be on the low end.

[Palodios]

Also, might be worth kicking the tires on Rios or Choo. Rios is on the last year of his contract, with a somewhat pricey option -- he fields RF with good range, produces RBIs and the Rangers suck right now.

 

The Choo ankle injury is a concern, but he has been producing. The Rangers are spending a lot for him despite a season that seems doomed to failure. There will be very few significant outfielders hitting the FA market, so no big bats in that area any time soon.

[Thunder]

The problem: everything. I have the most confidence in the pitching staff, minus Clay. Assuming Webster gets called up for the start on Saturday, we could have just found the solution.

[a700hitter]

Was our record this bad after 50 games in 2012?