A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[OH FOY]

Brentz is gone, to the Pirates. Don't know if this was Posted.

[cp176]

I would think that now it looks as though we have plenty of firepower at the plate, there has to be some concern for our infield defense. We all hope for the best with respect to Devers but I would think that Marrero's stock just jumped a bit.

[Larry Cook]

Brentz is gone, to the Pirates. Don't know if this was Posted.

 

Good move by the pirates.

[cp176]

I would think that now it looks as though we have plenty of firepower at the plate, there has to be some concern for our infield defense. We all hope for the best with respect to Devers but I would think that Marrero's stock just jumped a bit.

 

I forgot about Hernandez. I think that he gets a good luck once again as well.

[cp176]

Good move by the pirates.

 

 

i agree

[moonslav59]

Brentz is gone, to the Pirates. Don't know if this was Posted.

 

For cash considerations.

 

The JDM & Nunez signings have further squeezed our bench candidates, especially those out of options.

 

Everyday player locks:

DL: Pedey

Vaz

Moreland

HRam (unless traded)

JDM

Nunez

Bogey

Devers

Beni

JBJ

Betts

 

Likely:

Leon (unless we go with Swihart)

 

Bubble (likely 2 from this list):

Swihart (out of options)

Holt

Hernandez (DL?)

Marrero (out of options)

Lin, Quiroz, Travis, Butler, Chavis (AAA)

 

Pitchers:

DL: ERod, Thornburg?

 

SP: Sale, Price, Pom, Porcello, Wright, Johnson (out of options)

RP: Kimbrel, Smith, Kelly, Barnes, Scott, Hembree (out of options)

 

SP (AAA): Velazquez, Beeks, Elias, Haley, Shepherd

RP (AAA): Workman, Maddox, Buttrey, Martin, Jerez

 

 

[moonslav59]

A look at one possible way to swap out the 2017 PAs with 2018 PAs.

 

+ 550-650 JD Martinez (over .879 since 2014 and 1.066 in 2017)

Swap with...

-276 Young (.709) LF/DH

-100 to 200 from HRam (.750)

-100 to 200 from Moreland (.769)

-38 R Davis (.595) OF

-9 S Selsky (.333) OF

 

+300-400 Devers (.819 in 2017)

Swap with....

75- 188 Marrero (.593)

118 Rutledge (558)

108 Sandoval (.622)

When you look at the numbers from Marrero, Rutledge & Pablo, we could see a bigger gain here than by JDM over HRam & Young.

 

+350-450 Nunez (.892 with the Sox in 2017)

100-150 Pedey (.760)

50-113 Marrero (.593)

50 HRam (.750)

50 Moreland (.769)

66 Lin (.709)

[bosoxmal]

All realistic viws are now passe! New lineups comiing fast and furious. Vazques 8th and Bradley 9th about the only "sure" things.

[moonslav59]

All realistic viws are now passe! New lineups comiing fast and furious. Vazques 8th and Bradley 9th about the only "sure" things.

 

Until JBJ gets hot.

[Nick]

I think it's time for me to sit back, relax and let the season unfold.

 

Basically we brought everyone back and added JD Martinez.

 

We'll have Devers and Nunez, our top hitters, for full year.

Price looks to start more than 11 games.

Xander's hand injury should be healed.

Hanley's shoulder should be better.

C Smith should be 100% and ready to go.

Moreland should be 100% from his foot injury.

Maybe Wright will regain his early 2016 magic.

Maybe Thornburg will help in 2nd half.

 

 

New coach, hopefully he's not in love with Holt like whats his face.

 

ps i got rid of my 'cliff' avatar. Here's JD on his 19th birthday with his sister.

Edited February 21, 2018 by Nick

[oldtimer]

Cody Brannon is 19 and has only played rookie ball. He's more than one year away, assuming he ever makes it at all...

 

Cole Brannen is the fifth best no pitching prospect in the minors and is the best outfield up the middle prospect. He has the fielding to be good and with a season of improved hitting he is likely to jump into the top 3 fielding prospects. I am looking for this kid to be in the Rwed Sox fairly near future.

[oldtimer]

Brentz is gone, to the Pirates. Don't know if this was Posted.

 

Didn't see it , thanks.

[moonslav59]

I think it's time for me to sit back, relax and let the season unfold.

 

Basically we brought everyone back and added JD Martinez.

 

We'll have Devers and Nunez, our top hitters, for full year.

Price looks to start more than 11 games.

Xander's hand injury should be healed.

Hanley's shoulder should be better.

C Smith should be 100% and ready to go.

Moreland should be 100% from his foot injury.

Maybe Wright will regain his early 2016 magic.

Maybe Thornburg will help in 2nd half.

 

 

New coach, hopefully he's not in love with Holt like whats his face.

 

ps i got rid of my 'cliff' avatar. Here's JD on his 19th birthday with his sister.

 

Any word on Thornburg?

 

soxprospects.com has ERod and Pedey starting the season on the DL but not Thornburg.

[Nick]

I thought I read somewhere he was just doing some long throws. Has not been on the mound. (I could have been just dreaming!)

[mvp 78]

For cash considerations.

 

The JDM & Nunez signings have further squeezed our bench candidates, especially those out of options.

 

Everyday player locks:

DL: Pedey

Vaz

Moreland

HRam (unless traded)

JDM

Nunez

Bogey

Devers

Beni

JBJ

Betts

 

Likely:

Leon (unless we go with Swihart)

 

Bubble (likely 2 from this list):

Swihart (out of options)

Holt

Hernandez (DL?)

Marrero (out of options)

Lin, Quiroz, Travis, Butler, Chavis (AAA)

 

Pitchers:

DL: ERod, Thornburg?

 

SP: Sale, Price, Pom, Porcello, Wright, Johnson (out of options)

RP: Kimbrel, Smith, Kelly, Barnes, Scott, Hembree (out of options)

 

SP (AAA): Velazquez, Beeks, Elias, Haley, Shepherd

RP (AAA): Workman, Maddox, Buttrey, Martin, Jerez

 

 

 

Swihart is going to get a long look in ST. If he starts to falter, he gets shipped out. If he shows promise, they either move Leon or DFA Marrero.

[mvp 78]

I thought I read somewhere he was just doing some long throws. Has not been on the mound. (I could have been just dreaming!)

 

You are correct. He's been throwing, but not off the mound yet. He starts the season on the DL.

[mvp 78]

Cole Brannen is the fifth best no pitching prospect in the minors and is the best outfield up the middle prospect. He has the fielding to be good and with a season of improved hitting he is likely to jump into the top 3 fielding prospects. I am looking for this kid to be in the Rwed Sox fairly near future.

 

He only hit 231/383/246 in rookie ball. He's really far away at this point.

[moonslav59]

Swihart is going to get a long look in ST. If he starts to falter, he gets shipped out. If he shows promise, they either move Leon or DFA Marrero.

 

Agreed. We may even keep a struggling Swihart over a hot Marrero. We know Deven will never hit. We have gloves as good as DM's (Lin).

[moonslav59]

You are correct. He's been throwing, but not off the mound yet. He starts the season on the DL.

 

My guess on opening day DLs:

 

Pedey (maybe 60 day)

ERod (maybe 60 say)

Thornburg

Hernandez

Swihart or Marrero (phantom)

 

[mvp 78]

Agreed. We may even keep a struggling Swihart over a hot Marrero. We know Deven will never hit. We have gloves as good as DM's (Lin).

 

Marrero can't even hit AAA pitching. He popped a few out last year, but is really bad at the plate. He's not a guy to hold onto.

 

I like Lin better than Marrero for sure.

[mvp 78]

My guess on opening day DLs:

 

Pedey (maybe 60 day)

ERod (maybe 60 say)

Thornburg

Hernandez

Swihart or Marrero (phantom)

 

 

It'd be nice if Hernandez was ready, but I think you're right that he may not be ready to go in April especially now that they have Nunez. No reason to rush Hernandez back.

[Nick]

There's no reason to rush Chavis but it would be interesting to see if he gets a September call up this year. He needs to keep working out at 1B.

 

He has to crack the lineup by 2020.

[mvp 78]

There's no reason to rush Chavis but it would be interesting to see if he gets a September call up this year. He needs to keep working out at 1B.

 

He has to crack the lineup by 2020.

 

If Hanley's option doesn't vest, he'll be up in BOS in 2019.

[mvp 78]

@Sean_McAdam

 

Red Sox expecting that RHP Ben Taylor, DFA'd to make room for Nunez, will be lost on waiver claim and are monitoring relief market for depth

[cp176]

Couple other things that I like about Cora's approach - there is one area in which the game has definitely changed, relief pitching. In the past, it was to a team's advantage to make that starter throw as many pitches as you possibly could, get him out of the game. Not so much anymore with starters having good days being yanked after 6. Teams need to adjust and that means if someone throws a ball directly down home run highway, perhaps you ought to pound it. Take fewer - hit more!

 

The other change coming is the emphasis on trying to launch the ball as opposed to beating it into the ground. I still think that this approach has to with the type of player that you are. This is not some new and intriguing philosophy. A long time ago Ted had it right. What goes around, quite often comes back around.

[notin]

Cole Brannen is the fifth best no pitching prospect in the minors and is the best outfield up the middle prospect. He has the fielding to be good and with a season of improved hitting he is likely to jump into the top 3 fielding prospects. I am looking for this kid to be in the Rwed Sox fairly near future.

 

Who ranked Brannen that high? I can't find a single source that has ranked him at all, let alone as the fifth best non-pitching prospect.

 

That really doesn't mean anything about his future, but it does mean two things.

 

1. He is extremely unlikely to make the majors next year.

2. In no way should the Sox move Bradley anytime soon to clear a path for him.

Edited February 21, 2018 by notin

[notin]

There's no reason to rush Chavis but it would be interesting to see if he gets a September call up this year. He needs to keep working out at 1B.

 

He has to crack the lineup by 2020.

 

He Might be the Sox best trade bait, considering his rank, skills, proximity to the majors, and that 1b is the only position on the Sox he can play that isn't locked up by a young, talented, homegrown player with multiple years of control. ..

Edited February 21, 2018 by notin

[notin]

Marrero can't even hit AAA pitching. He popped a few out last year, but is really bad at the plate. He's not a guy to hold onto.

 

I like Lin better than Marrero for sure.

 

I'm surprised they held on to Marrero and let Taylor go, given their infield depth, admitted need for relief depth, and that Taylor still had options left

[oldtimer]

Who ranked Brannen that high? I can't find a single source that has ranked him at all, let alone as the fifth best non-pitching prospect.

 

That really doesn't mean anything about his future, but it does mean two things.

 

1. He is extremely unlikely to name the makes within two years, let alone next year.

2. In no way should the Sox move Bradley anytime soon to clear a path for him.

 

Just look at the Sox official site under the top prospects and you find he is 9th overall and is 5th if you remove the pitching prospects. He is highly rated for speed and fielding but needs work on hitting. He was about 6' tall and about 170 last season. I expect him to add some muscle and gain power this year, kind of similar to what Beni has done. He is a guy to keep our eye on, particularly if JBJ flames out or is traded.

[sk7326]

Cole Brannen is the fifth best no pitching prospect in the minors and is the best outfield up the middle prospect. He has the fielding to be good and with a season of improved hitting he is likely to jump into the top 3 fielding prospects. I am looking for this kid to be in the Rwed Sox fairly near future.

 

Let's watch him play in full season ball first. It is hard to project anyone, especially anybody who has not gotten to Greenville yet.

 

From the ESPN profile

Cole Brannen, their second-round pick, finished eighth in the Gulf Coast League this summer with 30 walks; he had a hand injury in the spring that hampered his power and probably helped the Red Sox get him at pick 63. He's a 70 runner who can handle center field, and the hope is that he'll show more power once his hand is fully recovered after an offseason of rest.