Looking ahead to 2017

[TylerD]

I'm always for upgrading the rotation but only from the 1 or 2 slot.

 

It's one reason I was against the Pom trade. I like Pom, don't get me wrong, but I had hoped we'd put together a mega package and get a real ace. Now that we have Pom, we may think we're okay at SP'ing and upgrade elsewhere only.

 

I'm not sure I'm for trading for Quintana or Sale if the price is way too high, but ideally, I'd like to see us trade for Quintana and Robertson, pick up another solid RP'er and maybe a 1 year fix at 3B (maybe get the CWS to add Frazier to the blockbuster).

 

Even then, we may not be top favorites, but I like this rotation:

 

Quintana

Porcello

Price

ERod

Pomeranz/Wright/Buch

 

 

Ya I'll second that. Getting Quintana or Sale would be hard to say no to. I guess it just becomes one of those things.... best available option for the position you pick up.

 

If we can find a good pitcher for the rotation go after him. If we can find a good relief pitcher or two in that case I'm all for it and same with getting g another good hitter like Edwin. With the contract we gave Price I'm just scared to see anymore huge singingselection now.

[Northern Star]

what's the asking price on sale gonna be?

[TylerD]

what's the asking price on sale gonna be?

 

Good question. Sale I would put at an elite level acer so he won't be cheap and same with Quintana. After the huge contract signing with Price I'm just scared to sign anymore pitchers long term.

[S5Dewey]

what's the asking price on sale gonna be?

 

Rumor has it that during the season the price for the Sox was JBJ +++, and DD said no thanks. What it would take without JBJ included is anyone's guess.

[moonslav59]

what's the asking price on sale gonna be?

 

If they are willing to look "long" they may want Moncada or Devers plus Kopech or Groome and then maybe Basabe and Dubon.

 

I guess they wanted JBJ, so maybe they are looking for ML and more "ML ready" players like JBJ + Moncada or JBJ + Kopech and Basabe.

 

Is this blockbuster too unrealistic?

 

Trade: JBJ, Swihart, Devers, Shaw, Owens and Johnson

 

For: Quintana, Robertson & Frazier

 

Sign: Encarnacion & Beltran

 

Here's the roster (AAA/AA or high prospect):

 

SP: Quintana, Porcello, Price, ERod, Wright, Pomeranz

(Kopech/Groome/Haley)

RP: Kimbrel, Robertson, Buchholz, Smith, Ross, Kelly

(Barnes/Hembree/Scott/Abad/Elias/Workman/Ramirez)

 

1) Benintendi CF

2) Pedroia 2B

3) Betts RF

4) Encarnacion DH

5) Ramirez 1B

6) Beltran LF

7) Bogaerts SS

8) Frazier 3B

9) Leon C

 

Reserves:

C Vazquez (Holaday/Romanski/Butler)

1B (Travis/Longhi/Ockimey)

2B (Moncada)

3B Rutledge (Chavis/Dalbec)

SS Hernandez (Marrero/Dubon/Chatham)

LF Holt (Brentz)

CF (Basabe)

RF (Castillo)

DH (Witte)

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Interesting ideas, Moonslav. I would prefer Reddick over Beltran. Living in N.Y., I saw a lot of Yankees games this year and Beltran is really terrible in the outfield at this point in his career. True, you have him playing LF in Fenway, but he would still need to play LF on the road. He will really weaken the Red Sox's outfield defense.

 

But the idea of sending Bradley Jr. to the White Sox in a deal for Quintana or to the Mets for someone like deGrom are possibilities the Red Sox should explore.

 

The other thing: I think the Red Sox are going to try to get some value out of Sandoval next year. They can't trade him. I think he starts at 3b for the Red Sox and will given half a season to prove himself. If he continues to suck, they promote Moncada around the all star break.

[User Name]

What's the rush to trade JBJ? He's a 5 WAR player making league minimum.

[Dojji]

Call me crazy but with the rotation already reasonably strong, I wouldn't trade JBJ for Sale straight up. It's one thing to trade major assets for an area of need but strictly speaking we don't need Sale to have a good rotation next year. True, uou can't have too much pitching but you also can't have too many cost controlled power hitting athletic centerfielders who get the job done at a high level on both ends of the ball. That kind of player can be as hard to acquire as an ace at times. Guys like JBJ don't come around very often. Edited October 8, 2016 by Dojji

[oldtimer]

If they are willing to look "long" they may want Moncada or Devers plus Kopech or Groome and then maybe Basabe and Dubon.

 

I guess they wanted JBJ, so maybe they are looking for ML and more "ML ready" players like JBJ + Moncada or JBJ + Kopech and Basabe.

 

Is this blockbuster too unrealistic?

 

Trade: JBJ, Swihart, Devers, Shaw, Owens and Johnson

 

For: Quintana, Robertson & Frazier

 

Sign: Encarnacion & Beltran

 

Here's the roster (AAA/AA or high prospect):

 

SP: Quintana, Porcello, Price, ERod, Wright, Pomeranz

(Kopech/Groome/Haley)

RP: Kimbrel, Robertson, Buchholz, Smith, Ross, Kelly

(Barnes/Hembree/Scott/Abad/Elias/Workman/Ramirez)

 

1) Benintendi CF

2) Pedroia 2B

3) Betts RF

4) Encarnacion DH

5) Ramirez 1B

6) Beltran LF

7) Bogaerts SS

8) Frazier 3B

9) Leon C

 

Reserves:

C Vazquez (Holaday/Romanski/Butler)

1B (Travis/Longhi/Ockimey)

2B (Moncada)

3B Rutledge (Chavis/Dalbec)

SS Hernandez (Marrero/Dubon/Chatham)

LF Holt (Brentz)

CF (Basabe)

RF (Castillo)

DH (Witte)

 

The first thing I would do is look hard at the manager and coaching staff. What we have seen at the end of this season is a collapse of the team and I hope it doesn't end Sunday for Ortiz, but we have played poorly. Starting pitching, closer, hitting and even field play are all suspect. It is worth asking why this should occur and who should be held accountable?

 

Clearly, JBJ, Bogaerts, Leon and Shaw have fallen into a funk at the plate. Perhaps Shaw and Leon are returning to their ability levels, but JBJ and Bogaerts appear to be better so need to be worked with for next year and hopefully return to what I perceive is a higher ability level at the plate.

 

A note of caution is that be very careful about bringing in ace pitchers on big, long term contracts. We have Price now who is more of a 3rd starter than an ace. Kimbrel is another story. Great stuff but wild. Also, be wary of bringing in older field players and hitters on big, long term contracts.

 

With that said, I would be willing to trade away Swihart, Shaw, Johnson and Owens and roster players like HIll, Hannigan,Rutledge and Marrero. In the relief area I would trade Elias, Abad, Workman and Ramirez. I would be very reluctant to trade JBJ as he still has a high upside potential. The deal would need to be very enticing to let got of him. I would keep Devers for the time being as he may fill a need at 3rd, depending on how Moncada works out.

 

Quintana would be my SP target. We do already have a serviceable rotation so someone would wind up being pushed out. Don't know who that would be.

 

Have looked at Robertson and I assume he is one of your targets for setup man in the 7th or 8th. Smith is returning for surgery so maybe Barnes or Hembree would fill in but Scott is a lefty or Pomeranz would fit as a long reliever.

 

As far as lineup at the start of the season is concerned, I am assuming we don't trade JBJ away and we keep Young.

 

Lineup:

1. Pedey 2nd

2. Beni lf

3. Betts rf

4. Beltran DH

5. Rameriz 1st

6. Bogaerts SS

7. JBJ cf

8. Frazier 3rd (on your advice)

9. Leon c

 

Remaining 25 man roster:

10. Young of

11. Henrnadez 2nd, SS

12. Holt of, if

13. Vazquez c

 

Other reserves:

 

Moncada 2nd, 3rd

Travis 1st

Dubon SS

Devers 3rd

Holaday c

 

On the longer term, the hope is that Moncada can make the jump during the year and be a solid contributor after the all star break. If we do lose JBJ, then I wouldn't plan on playing Beltran in LF. Holt would be a better choice.

 

Getting any free agent will be a competitive situation and DD is the guy who we want to make favorable trades and acquisitions for us.

[moonslav59]

What's the rush to trade JBJ? He's a 5 WAR player making league minimum.

 

No rush. I'd prefer to keep JBJ, but you have to give to get, and Quintana is a gem at a low cost.

[moonslav59]

Guys like JBJ don't come around very often.

 

True, but guys like Sale or Quintana don't fall off trees either.

[moonslav59]

The first thing I would do is look hard at the manager and coaching staff. What we have seen at the end of this season is a collapse of the team and I hope it doesn't end Sunday for Ortiz, but we have played poorly. Starting pitching, closer, hitting and even field play are all suspect. It is worth asking why this should occur and who should be held accountable?

 

Sometimes teams just slump at the same time and at the wrong time. Maybe we are reading into this "collapse" more than what is really there. We all knew this team had holes. My contention was that we had less holes than other AL teams and more team depth to deal with the holes we had than most AL teams (Wright, Shaw, Leon, Beni, Young, Holt, Hernandez, Vazquez, Moncada...).

 

We had a very good season, but ran into a buzz saw in Cleveland. Let's hope we can turn it around, but if we don't, I'm not sure we will need to do some kind of major overhaul to be set to go farther next year. I know the loss of Papi is terrifying. Losing Uehara, Ziegler and Tazawa from an already inconsistent pen is pretty frightening as well, but this team has over $30M to spend and other assets to deal to plug the few holes we have. We also have Carson Smith returning and hopes of Wright & Pomeranz having full, healthy seasons.

 

Clearly, JBJ, Bogaerts, Leon and Shaw have fallen into a funk at the plate. Perhaps Shaw and Leon are returning to their ability levels, but JBJ and Bogaerts appear to be better so need to be worked with for next year and hopefully return to what I perceive is a higher ability level at the plate.

 

Perhaps, they need to work on their stamina. They both look tired.

 

A note of caution is that be very careful about bringing in ace pitchers on big, long term contracts. We have Price now who is more of a 3rd starter than an ace. Kimbrel is another story. Great stuff but wild. Also, be wary of bringing in older field players and hitters on big, long term contracts.

 

Sale & Quintana have very low cost contracts.

 

With that said, I would be willing to trade away Swihart, Shaw, Johnson and Owens and roster players like HIll, Hannigan,Rutledge and Marrero.

 

All of them together won't bring back much, except for Swihart. Hill is FA, and Hanigan's option will likely not be offerd.

 

In the relief area I would trade Elias, Abad, Workman and Ramirez. I would be very reluctant to trade JBJ as he still has a high upside potential. The deal would need to be very enticing to let got of him. I would keep Devers for the time being as he may fill a need at 3rd, depending on how Moncada works out.

 

I think there's a significant chance we deal either Moncada or Devers this winter.

 

Quintana would be my SP target. We do already have a serviceable rotation so someone would wind up being pushed out. Don't know who that would be.

 

Maybe ERod would be part of the deal to get Quintana (and hopefully Robertson too)

 

Have looked at Robertson and I assume he is one of your targets for setup man in the 7th or 8th. Smith is returning for surgery so maybe Barnes or Hembree would fill in but Scott is a lefty or Pomeranz would fit as a long reliever.

 

Don't forget Buch and Kelly as pen candidates.

 

As far as lineup at the start of the season is concerned, I am assuming we don't trade JBJ away and we keep Young.

 

Much more realistic than my blockbuster trade and mega signings.

I can see us signing Beltran for DH and OF depth. EE will sign elsewhere.

 

Lineup:

1. Pedey 2nd

2. Beni lf

3. Betts rf

4. Beltran DH

5. Rameriz 1st

6. Bogaerts SS

7. JBJ cf

8. Frazier 3rd (on your advice)

9. Leon c

 

Remaining 25 man roster:

10. Young of

11. Henrnadez 2nd, SS

12. Holt of, if

13. Vazquez c

 

Other reserves:

 

Moncada 2nd, 3rd

Travis 1st

Dubon SS

Devers 3rd

Holaday c

 

On the longer term, the hope is that Moncada can make the jump during the year and be a solid contributor after the all star break. If we do lose JBJ, then I wouldn't plan on playing Beltran in LF. Holt would be a better choice.

 

Getting any free agent will be a competitive situation and DD is the guy who we want to make favorable trades and acquisitions for us.

 

The jury is still out on DD for me.

[jacksonianmarch]

Bradley is streaky. When he's hot, he carries your team. When he's cold, he disappears. He might be 26, but he is still really young in baseball terms as a slow developing former college first rounder. Regardless, DD doesn't like to deal established big league talent. Even with Papi gone, you have an up the middle crew (sans C) that could be dominant for awhile, even with Pedroia getting up there. I think he makes a splash this offseason, but without dealing any major big league talent. I think you'll see a FA to fill the DH spot and you'll see a trade to get a starter. There is no way to keep this team together once all guys hit FA. And the problem is, DD and Cherington didn't get deals done with these guys before they became stars. So you have to take advantage of the window you have. Think about it.

 

Jackie Bradley is a FA after 2019

Mookie Betts is a FA after 2020

Xander is an FA after 2019

Benintendi is an FA after 2022

 

Who knows what Andrew becomes, but the top 3 guys on this list are all-star caliber players. Bradley and Xander start costing real money next yr, although likely in the $5-6 mil range. By 2019, all three are going to be costing close to $20 mil in arb and a contract as FA's, assuming continued production, will likely take them into the $80 mil per annum range to keep all three. With Pedroia and Price still on the books for 2021, you could be looking at Beni in mid arb with Price, Pedroia, Betts, and Bogaerts costing upwards of $120 million. It would be unlikely the whole crew is kept together at that price without seriously affecting the rest of the team. Hence, I see DD going for it. I see all players not currently in the starting lineup or current staff as being on the block. I think now is the window to win. You spend money on Encarnacion to replace Ortiz. You deal the whole farm for a guy like Sale. You sign one of the big name relievers to pair with Kimbrel on the back end. The sox have immense talent, but they did overachieve a bit this season. You keep the curve swinging upward and add major talent and you have a juggernaut for the next 3 seasons or so

[moonslav59]

Bradley is streaky. When he's hot, he carries your team. When he's cold, he disappears. He might be 26, but he is still really young in baseball terms as a slow developing former college first rounder. Regardless, DD doesn't like to deal established big league talent. Even with Papi gone, you have an up the middle crew (sans C) that could be dominant for awhile, even with Pedroia getting up there. I think he makes a splash this offseason, but without dealing any major big league talent. I think you'll see a FA to fill the DH spot and you'll see a trade to get a starter. There is no way to keep this team together once all guys hit FA. And the problem is, DD and Cherington didn't get deals done with these guys before they became stars. So you have to take advantage of the window you have. Think about it.

 

Jackie Bradley is a FA after 2019

Mookie Betts is a FA after 2020

Xander is an FA after 2019

Benintendi is an FA after 2022

 

Who knows what Andrew becomes, but the top 3 guys on this list are all-star caliber players. Bradley and Xander start costing real money next yr, although likely in the $5-6 mil range. By 2019, all three are going to be costing close to $20 mil in arb and a contract as FA's, assuming continued production, will likely take them into the $80 mil per annum range to keep all three. With Pedroia and Price still on the books for 2021, you could be looking at Beni in mid arb with Price, Pedroia, Betts, and Bogaerts costing upwards of $120 million. It would be unlikely the whole crew is kept together at that price without seriously affecting the rest of the team. Hence, I see DD going for it. I see all players not currently in the starting lineup or current staff as being on the block. I think now is the window to win. You spend money on Encarnacion to replace Ortiz. You deal the whole farm for a guy like Sale. You sign one of the big name relievers to pair with Kimbrel on the back end. The sox have immense talent, but they did overachieve a bit this season. You keep the curve swinging upward and add major talent and you have a juggernaut for the next 3 seasons or so

 

I think this might be the plan, but I doubt Chapman or Jansen come here without assurances they will close. If we give them that, the second later, Kimbrel demands a trade.

[jacksonianmarch]

Kimbrel doesn't have a leg to stand on. He had by far his worst season and finished the season as a guy who might lose the closers spot.

[Nick]

Bradley is streaky. When he's hot, he carries your team. When he's cold, he disappears. He might be 26, but he is still really young in baseball terms as a slow developing former college first rounder. Regardless, DD doesn't like to deal established big league talent. Even with Papi gone, you have an up the middle crew (sans C) that could be dominant for awhile, even with Pedroia getting up there. I think he makes a splash this offseason, but without dealing any major big league talent. I think you'll see a FA to fill the DH spot and you'll see a trade to get a starter. There is no way to keep this team together once all guys hit FA. And the problem is, DD and Cherington didn't get deals done with these guys before they became stars. So you have to take advantage of the window you have. Think about it.

 

Jackie Bradley is a FA after 2019

Mookie Betts is a FA after 2020

Xander is an FA after 2019

Benintendi is an FA after 2022

 

Who knows what Andrew becomes, but the top 3 guys on this list are all-star caliber players. Bradley and Xander start costing real money next yr, although likely in the $5-6 mil range. By 2019, all three are going to be costing close to $20 mil in arb and a contract as FA's, assuming continued production, will likely take them into the $80 mil per annum range to keep all three. With Pedroia and Price still on the books for 2021, you could be looking at Beni in mid arb with Price, Pedroia, Betts, and Bogaerts costing upwards of $120 million. It would be unlikely the whole crew is kept together at that price without seriously affecting the rest of the team. Hence, I see DD going for it. I see all players not currently in the starting lineup or current staff as being on the block. I think now is the window to win. You spend money on Encarnacion to replace Ortiz. You deal the whole farm for a guy like Sale. You sign one of the big name relievers to pair with Kimbrel on the back end. The sox have immense talent, but they did overachieve a bit this season. You keep the curve swinging upward and add major talent and you have a juggernaut for the next 3 seasons or so

 

Well, I like this plan and I think that's what DD is thinking....

[S5Dewey]

I think this might be the plan, but I doubt Chapman or Jansen come here without assurances they will close. If we give them that, the second later, Kimbrel demands a trade.

 

If what you say is true that may be the biggest difference between Kimbrel and Koji. Koji took the setup role for the good of the team. I can live without someone whose ego is so big that he says, "I'll tell you where and when I'm going to play, and if you don't like it I'll pick up my toys and go home!"

 

IMO the only loss the team would suffer if he demanded a trade would be monetary because nobody else is going to pay him $13M. Hence we'd have to eat a part of his salary. To me that's better than watching him go out there and throw 3-4 balls to nearly every batter and be ineffective.

[moonslav59]

Kimbrel doesn't have a leg to stand on. He had by far his worst season and finished the season as a guy who might lose the closers spot.

 

Agreed, but these guys have egos bigger than their contracts.

[moonslav59]

If what you say is true that may be the biggest difference between Kimbrel and Koji. Koji took the setup role for the good of the team. I can live without someone whose ego is so big that he says, "I'll tell you where and when I'm going to play, and if you don't like it I'll pick up my toys and go home!"

 

IMO the only loss the team would suffer if he demanded a trade would be monetary because nobody else is going to pay him $13M. Hence we'd have to eat a part of his salary. To me that's better than watching him go out there and throw 3-4 balls to nearly every batter and be ineffective.

 

Kimbrel's contract was the main reason I hated the trade. We gave up 3 nice prospects for a RP'er! Then, the RP'er we got was being paid close to FA market money.

 

I know we needed a closer, but the deal was just plain wrong. (I know- I've beaten the dead horse often.)

[jacksonianmarch]

The guy you traded for was the best closer in baseball. The guy you got was a damn good closer who is only a pretty good reliever. He's nails in save situations but ass in non save. That's not what you spent prospect capital and payroll cash for

[moonslav59]

The guy you traded for was the best closer in baseball. The guy you got was a damn good closer who is only a pretty good reliever. He's nails in save situations but ass in non save. That's not what you spent prospect capital and payroll cash for

 

My point was that even if he was a top 3 closer in the game, he was being paid FA money, so why give up 2 good prospects?

 

We could have waited a year and got Jansen or Chapman and saved the kids for a another trade.

 

Until now, I have never used Kimbrel's disappointing 2016 performance as an argument against the trade, but his performance has certainly brought more posters over to my side.

[bosoxmal]

I think all 12 of the Rays f

ans would kill their GM and never be a fan of the team again if they traded their best player in franchise history to Boston.

 

You are absolutely right. I am forced to listen to the Rays broadcasts every time they play the Red Sox. (I am in Ft. Myers). For several years he has been the "God". Even when Crawford, etc were there, he was still the most revered. If someone gave me 5-1 odss that Pablo would play 3rd base next, OR 10-1 that Longoria would over there, and I would take the 5-1.

 

 

I also believe our starting outfield will be Swihart-Benintendi and Betts, and the No. 1 catcher will be Vazqyez.

[bosoxmal]

Bradley can no longer be considered as an All-Star. He needs a lot of sittings with someone qualified to help him. When he came to bat the last two fames, he lookedd like he was trying ti catch a train. The pitcher (thanks probably, to his one manager) was on him from the start. Every pitcher, not just the starers. The odds on his having any real hitting streak again are not very good.

[Northern Star]

Call me crazy but with the rotation already reasonably strong, I wouldn't trade JBJ for Sale straight up. It's one thing to trade major assets for an area of need but strictly speaking we don't need Sale to have a good rotation next year. True, uou can't have too much pitching but you also can't have too many cost controlled power hitting athletic centerfielders who get the job done at a high level on both ends of the ball. That kind of player can be as hard to acquire as an ace at times. Guys like JBJ don't come around very often.

 

The rotation is not "reasonably strong."

[moonslav59]

The rotation is not "reasonably strong."

 

Well, they did have the best second half numbers in the AL.

[Nick]

My point was that even if he was a top 3 closer in the game, he was being paid FA money, so why give up 2 good prospects?

 

We could have waited a year and got Jansen or Chapman and saved the kids for a another trade.

 

Until now, I have never used Kimbrel's disappointing 2016 performance as an argument against the trade, but his performance has certainly brought more posters over to my side.

 

We could have waited another year? Really? Waste productive years from Ortiz, Pedey, Hanley, Betts, etc? You never give names. What was the alternative? I recall before the pitching staff got going in September we were blowing leads left and right.

 

Everyone here have absolutely no idea what was available at what price. We gang up DD for not developing bullpen in Detroit and when he does something decisive to correct the deficiency for the Sox, we still complain. Moon you have beaten a herd of dead horses. Let it go.

[S5Dewey]

We could have waited another year? Really? Waste productive years from Ortiz, Pedey, Hanley, Betts, etc? You never give names. What was the alternative? I recall before the pitching staff got going in September we were blowing leads left and right.

 

Everyone here have absolutely no idea what was available at what price. We gang up DD for not developing bullpen in Detroit and when he does something decisive to correct the deficiency for the Sox, we still complain. Moon you have beaten a herd of dead horses. Let it go.

 

There's something to be said for this. I still believe that the left side of the infield would have been better in 2016 were it Iggy & Bogaerts rather than a revolving door & Bogaerts, and there would have been more money to spend on pitching. I also still believe that the contribution Jake Peavy made wasn't enough to tip the scales in favor of the Sox in 2013. But what's done is done and we have to go forward with what we've got.

 

As for Kimbrel, I wasn't opposed to the trade at the time. I was kinda 'meh' about it. We got someone who was ostensibly the best closer in baseball signed to a multi-year contract in exchange for a top-flight prospect. It just didn't work out. Sometimes I feel like I've made a lifetime of saying, "Well, it seemed like a hell of an idea... at the time! :(" Again, what's done is done and we have to move forward with what we've got.

[moonslav59]

We could have waited another year? Really? Waste productive years from Ortiz, Pedey, Hanley, Betts, etc? You never give names. What was the alternative? I recall before the pitching staff got going in September we were blowing leads left and right.

 

Everyone here have absolutely no idea what was available at what price. We gang up DD for not developing bullpen in Detroit and when he does something decisive to correct the deficiency for the Sox, we still complain. Moon you have beaten a herd of dead horses. Let it go.

 

You are clinging to your position as much as I.

 

I guess we both want the last word.

 

I wasn't for doing nothing with the closer role for Papi's last year. We do know "the price" some closers got in free agency and what it took to trade for others. Some of those options failed- some did well. Ours did not do all that well, not even considering we gave up the most in prospects AND paid the most contractually.

 

We could have waited a year to get a great closer, yes, but used the resources spent on Kimbrel to upgrade the pen and rotation by expanding the players given for an even better haul.

 

No, we don't know what starters might have been pried from their teams, but I think we could gave done better than Kimbrel and Pomeranz had we added Swihart, Owens and Johnson to Espi, Margot, Guerra and Allen. Tell me why you think we'd have gotten less, and I'm not even talking in hindsight after both Kimbrel & Pom struggled.

 

[Dojji]

Bradley can no longer be considered as an All-Star. He needs a lot of sittings with someone qualified to help him. When he came to bat the last two fames, he lookedd like he was trying ti catch a train. The pitcher (thanks probably, to his one manager) was on him from the start. Every pitcher, not just the starers. The odds on his having any real hitting streak again are not very good.

 

2 games at the end of the year and a CF who defended at a gold glove level and hit 20+ is suddenly "not an all star."

 

Dear dog in heaven I hate the overdramatic flailing that happens on this forum when the team is struggling in the postseason.

[moonslav59]

There's something to be said for this. I still believe that the left side of the infield would have been better in 2016 were it Iggy & Bogaerts rather than a revolving door & Bogaerts, and there would have been more money to spend on pitching. I also still believe that the contribution Jake Peavy made wasn't enough to tip the scales in favor of the Sox in 2013. But what's done is done and we have to go forward with what we've got.

 

As for Kimbrel, I wasn't opposed to the trade at the time. I was kinda 'meh' about it. We got someone who was ostensibly the best closer in baseball signed to a multi-year contract in exchange for a top-flight prospect. It just didn't work out. Sometimes I feel like I've made a lifetime of saying, "Well, it seemed like a hell of an idea... at the time! :(" Again, what's done is done and we have to move forward with what we've got.

 

There's an article on MLBTR about the idea of moving Bogey to 3B after a down year defensively at SS... at least maybe once Dubon is ready.

 

It was what I thought should happen when we had Iggy, but it wasn't just about Iggy's projected stellar defense at SS, which I am a big fan of, but more about what scouts were saying about Bogey's lack of ability to become a plus defender at SS, and that he seemed to project to be better suited at 3B.

 

I'm not saying I want him moved now. I thought I saw improvement defensively last year, so I'm not sure what happened this year, but it wasn't very pretty.