A Realistic View at 2016

[cp176]

I'd trade Holt before Hernandez.

[Emp9]

I like Rich Hill and wish they had signed him but i sure as hell would not give up much of a young prospect for him. One thing that I am learning from this is that all of the experts sometimes get it wrong. I like the kids and I don't think I would mess with this team at all right now.

 

It's a hindsight 20/20, coulda', woulda', shoulda'. Bannister worked very closely w/ Hill and his turn around has been a testament to both involved. Perhaps Brian Bannister can work with Buchholz?

[User Name]

Brian Bannister probably threw his hands up in frustration with Buchholz multiple times already. Buch's problem is between the ears.

[Emp9]

Well, If those were the teams willing to make a trade I'd pursuit Teheran, Pomeranz or Hill.

 

I've been looking at Pomeranz as well lately. I'd like to dig a little deeper on him (other than using him as a flyer in my fantasy league).

[Dojji]

Brian Bannister probably threw his hands up in frustration with Buchholz multiple times already. Buch's problem is between the ears.

 

Well a combination of between the ears and the fact that he's always been a walking stick figure and that has impacted his durability. Really skinny starting pitchers seem to have just as many durability issues as really fat ones, at least that's been my observation with them.

 

I've always wondered why they didn't just try Buchholz out of the pen. Guy has durability issues... so maybe put less innings on his arm? They've been even more stubborn with buchholz than the Royals were with Luke Hochevar, and for far less reason.

[mvp 78]

Brian Bannister probably threw his hands up in frustration with Buchholz multiple times already. Buch's problem is between the ears.

 

Needs more bullfrog.

[User Name]

Well a combination of between the ears and the fact that he's always been a walking stick figure and that has impacted his durability. Really skinny starting pitchers seem to have just as many durability issues as really fat ones, at least that's been my observation with them.

 

I've always wondered why they didn't just try Buchholz out of the pen. Guy has durability issues... so maybe put less innings on his arm? They've been even more stubborn with buchholz than the Royals were with Luke Hochevar, and for far less reason.

 

Randy Johnsonn, Roy Oswalt on both ends of the wiry spectrum. Chris O' Leary said it best: "Durability issues almost never come from pitcher build, but rather from pitcher mechanics".

[Spudboy]

Brian Bannister probably threw his hands up in frustration with Buchholz multiple times already. Buch's problem is between the ears.

 

Yup. Buch needs to follow the yellow brick road and see the Wizard about getting a brain and possibly a heart.

[Emp9]

Yup. Buch needs to follow the yellow brick road and see the Wizard about getting a brain and possibly a heart.

 

Thanx Toto.

[Critter]

I would expect us to upgrade pitching and a couple of weeks ago I thought we needed a left fielder. He's been looking good on D out there and after last night's two triples, maybe we can scratch that off. The Youth Parade is becoming a

thundering herd. Hey RS are going to play Giants soon and I may see them before I leave for East Coast. That should be fun.

[Emp9]

I would expect us to upgrade pitching and a couple of weeks ago I thought we needed a left fielder. He's been looking good on D out there and after last night's two triples, maybe we can scratch that off. The Youth Parade is becoming a

thundering herd. Hey RS are going to play Giants soon and I may see them before I leave for East Coast. That should be fun.

 

I think the Sox are simply trying to give Swihart as many MLB ABs as possible and keep proving himself offense-wise. Being in AAA doesn't help him do that. We already know he can catch, he did well last season. I highly doubt 6 cold, rainy, windy games in April proved to be some deciding factor on their view of Swi as a catcher. Is he as good Vaz on defense and pitch framing? Absolutely not. Not sure anyone is. It aslo helps that the Sox offense was top 3 in the league going back 2nd half of last season and looked decent this season from the get-go. Sox can afford to forgo some offense at the catcher position. Not every team can or would prefer to. The Sox FO have clearly said they don't like changing a players position without them having somewhat mastered their original position (concerning prospects). They've publicly stated that, so one has to atleast consider taking that statement at face value. For the time being, I'm fine with Swihart as our LF.

[southpaw777]

hey Lefty. we are obviously not talking about any of our young MLB talent. maybe a hernandez and light? time to let marrero go?

 

See, thats more like what i was thinking. Lower end prospects like that.

[southpaw777]

I think the Sox are simply trying to give Swihart as many MLB ABs as possible and keep proving himself offense-wise. Being in AAA doesn't help him do that. We already know he can catch, he did well last season. I highly doubt 6 cold, rainy, windy games in April proved to be some deciding factor on their view of Swi as a catcher. Is he as good Vaz on defense and pitch framing? Absolutely not. Not sure anyone is. It aslo helps that the Sox offense was top 3 in the league going back 2nd half of last season and looked decent this season from the get-go. Sox can afford to forgo some offense at the catcher position. Not every team can or would prefer to. The Sox FO have clearly said they don't like changing a players position without them having somewhat mastered their original position (concerning prospects). They've publicly stated that, so one has to atleast consider taking that statement at face value. For the time being, I'm fine with Swihart as our LF.

 

Seems Swihart is here out of necessity again. Only this time in LF. Hes still got plenty of value to other teams. If he hits here as a Lfer, which he is, then his value will rise. The Mets lost D'aranud for the year...they also have a ton of good young pitching not named Harvey.

[cp176]

Lower end prospects? Hernandez and Light - really. Both of these two guys are too young to give up for a rent a player. there would be quite a list of guys that are older and not really in a position to help the big club who could be moved before either of them. I also think that a trade is apt to come but it will be for a real player - maybe a pitcher and maybe not- and it will be costly in terms of good young prospects.

[mvp 78]

Lower end prospects? Hernandez and Light - really. Both of these two guys are too young to give up for a rent a player. there would be quite a list of guys that are older and not really in a position to help the big club who could be moved before either of them. I also think that a trade is apt to come but it will be for a real player - maybe a pitcher and maybe not- and it will be costly in terms of good young prospects.

 

I wouldn't worry about losing minor league bullpen guys.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I deleted the post because it was not necessary. I locked the thread, my final post was not intended to invite yet another response. I am also deleting the last couple comments, MVP and Dojji, to keep the discussion from the locked thread from spilling over into here and dragging this one off-topic as well. It's not a judgement against you guys.

[cp176]

I wouldn't worry about losing minor league bullpen guys.

 

It isn't really something I would worry about but I would hope that they would be very careful before they give up any type of young power arm if it isn't for something that is really worthwhile in return. I'm not saying Light will be anything special but 101 on the gun doesn't come along everyday. As for Hernandez, I'm ok with being his booster. Rutledge, Marrero, etc. etc. etc. long before him.

[Hugh2]

Sox seem to trade away a power arm hitting triple digits but not much else going on for them almost every year. Although they are usually further away with more uncertainty than light. They almost never amount to anything....but then again Frankie Montas looks like he could play in the big leagues.

[cp176]

Sox seem to trade away a power arm hitting triple digits but not much else going on for them almost every year. Although they are usually further away with more uncertainty than light. They almost never amount to anything....but then again Frankie Montas looks like he could play in the big leagues.

 

Isn't that the way with prospects. Sometimes it just isn't the ones that collectively have the stats saying they are going to make it who actually make it. Mookie Betts, Travis Shaw and the beat goes on. I'm beating on a tired drum I know but unless they go big in a trade, I hope they keep the kids.

[moonslav59]

I'm all for keeping as much of our youth as possible, but the fact is we have bottlenecks at several positions and too many expensive vets that are near impossible to jettison. Eventually someone will go. To maximize return, it will (or should) be someone with a high stock value.

 

I caught a lot of grief for suggesting we offer Swihart due to the fact that we had Vazquez, and Swihart's highest value is as a catcher, and catcher's are in very high demand in MLB.

 

I see Moncada and Benintendi making the chance Devers ever wins a FT slot as being very hard to happen, even if we somehow are able to get rid of Sandoval and Shaw fizzles out by the time he's ML ready. That's also assuming Travis and Hernandez never do well enough to win a key role on the team. If Moncada wins an OF slot, then where does Benintendi play? More likely, Moncada will have to play in the IF.

 

To me, our best package might start with Swihart and Devers, even though Devers' stock might have slipped this season a little bit. To me, those two headliners net us way more than a rental- even a great one. If we add other nice pieces like Owens, Johnson and/or Kopech, the return should be even better.

[moonslav59]

If our SP'ing continues to struggle, what about the idea of moving Barnes back to that role?

 

I know he's doing great out of the pen, but still...

[Slasher9]

If our SP'ing continues to struggle, what about the idea of moving Barnes back to that role?

 

I know he's doing great out of the pen, but still...

Could be worth a shot.

We would have to send him down for a couple starts to stretch him out I would think. Unless we stretch him up here and have clay as the pitch count replacement....

[Slasher9]

Although....Daniel bard immediately comes to mind.....

[Dojji]

Although....Daniel bard immediately comes to mind.....

 

Daniel bard was falling apart before they ever tried him in the rotation -- did you see his numbers in August and September of 2011? There's a reason the team couoldn't hold a lead that September if their life depended on it, and Bard was a big part of that.

 

my personal opinion is that they tried Bard in the rotation because they suspected he was already cooked and they had nothing to lose.

 

Although Bard does spring to mind -- as a reason why you trade power relivers if you think the stock is high enough to fetch a return. These guys come and go like mayflies. Never, ever, ever fall in love with a relief prospect. Nearly all the great closers that really endured the test of time were starters in the minors

Edited May 28, 2016 by Dojji

[TheBabeStrikesBack]

I think the Sox are simply trying to give Swihart as many MLB ABs as possible and keep proving himself offense-wise. Being in AAA doesn't help him do that. We already know he can catch, he did well last season. I highly doubt 6 cold, rainy, windy games in April proved to be some deciding factor on their view of Swi as a catcher. Is he as good Vaz on defense and pitch framing? Absolutely not. Not sure anyone is. It aslo helps that the Sox offense was top 3 in the league going back 2nd half of last season and looked decent this season from the get-go. Sox can afford to forgo some offense at the catcher position. Not every team can or would prefer to. The Sox FO have clearly said they don't like changing a players position without them having somewhat mastered their original position (concerning prospects). They've publicly stated that, so one has to atleast consider taking that statement at face value. For the time being, I'm fine with Swihart as our LF.

 

I read last week that Cervelli on the Pirates was ranked the top pitch framer in baseball.

[Dojji]

Cervelli's a pretty good catcher. Not sure what you post has to do with the post you're responding to.

[TheBabeStrikesBack]

Cervelli's a pretty good catcher. Not sure what you post has to do with the post you're responding to.

 

He stated that he wasn't sure if anyone in the game was as good of a pitch framer as Vaz.

 

Pretty sure my response has everything to do with that statement, no?

[Dojji]

Ahh. Missed that in his wall o'text.

[Emp9]

He stated that he wasn't sure if anyone in the game was as good of a pitch framer as Vaz.

 

Pretty sure my response has everything to do with that statement, no?

 

Good to know. Thnx.

[moonslav59]

While Barnes has some nice numbers this year, his WHIP has remained over 1.40- driven mostly by his scary BB/9 rate.

One could argue that he's been lucky as a RP'er, so I don't think trying to stretch him out if a big danger.

Barnes had 77 starts in the minors compared to just 13 RP'er outings.

He had 22 starts in 2014 and his best WHIP rate in advanced professional ball (1.292).

He had 7 starts in 2015 (AAA and MLB).

I'm not saying now is the time, but maybe at some point...