The Depth Argument

[jacksonianmarch]

I’m just kidding around. Relax slasher. For a fan of a team that won the East last year, you’re really projecting a concerned persona.

[Emp9]

The Yankees don't scare me.

 

Regression on some level is certainly possible. We don't need to look too far to see that it happens.

[Slasher9]

I’m just kidding around. .

 

#metoo

[Spudboy]

right. he is not a troll. all you OG talksox members keep telling yourselves that.......

 

He's a homer and sometimes he trolls.

 

Sounds like most everyone here except he's a Yankee fan.

 

You don't have to like him.

 

He is part of this board and will remain so.

[Bellhorn04]

He's a homer and sometimes he trolls.

 

Sounds like most everyone here except he's a Yankee fan.

 

You don't have to like him.

 

He is part of this board and will remain so.

 

That's all that has to be said...one would think, anyway...

[Spudboy]

That's all that has to be said...one would think, anyway...

 

Pretty much. I just don't want to see the anti-Jacko sentiment blossom into constant attacks on the guy. He doe not deserve the attacks and it is unseemly and unnecessary.

 

I give him s*** too sometimes. But I almost always do it in fun and he knows it.

 

Whatever. People just need to chill and not take all this baseball stuff so seriously.

[mvp 78]

Pretty much. I just don't want to see the anti-Jacko sentiment blossom into constant attacks on the guy. He doe not deserve the attacks and it is unseemly and unnecessary.

 

I give him s*** too sometimes. But I almost always do it in fun and he knows it.

 

Whatever. People just need to chill and not take all this baseball stuff so seriously.

 

You think this is all efffffin' jokes around here?

[Spudboy]

You think this is all efffffin' jokes around here?

 

You mean f***ing?

 

No I do not. But some people seem to live and die with the Sox and take all that is discussed here too seriously.

[S5Dewey]

you mean f***ing?

 

No i do not. But some people seem to live and die with the sox and take all that is discussed here too seriously.

 

^^^this^^^ omg ^^^this^^^!!

[mvp 78]

You mean f***ing?

 

No I do not. But some people seem to live and die with the Sox and take all that is discussed here too seriously.

 

Ball is life.

[Slasher9]

He's a homer and sometimes he trolls.

 

so you agree with me. cool.

[Kimmi]

It's not about being scared. It's about wins and losses and run differential.

 

Sure, the Yankees look tough. But I think you're selling our Red Sox a little short. Don't count us out before the season has even started.

[Kimmi]

Regression on some level is certainly possible. We don't need to look too far to see that it happens.

 

That's what I'm counting on.

[moonslav59]

Let's see how all the Yankee kids handle being the favorites.

 

The Sox saw reductions from just about everyone last year. Maybe the same happens to NYY next season.

[SCM33]

On to the lineup

 

At C- you have depth here, the quality is a bit suspect. Vazquez had a good year offensively, but that came with a BABIP of .348. Can he repeat that? Who knows. Leon is a replacement level guy who at least holds his own defensively

 

At 1B- Right now, it is Sam Travis. And I know you guys seem to have a soft spot in your hearts for this kid, but he isn't very good. He turns 25 in 2018 and in 4 seasons in the minors and majors, he has a total of 28HR. Now 7HR a season isn't bad if you are a 2b or a speed demon, but he is neither. His lack of power out of the 1b spot makes him a nice story, but not a useful big league player. Hanley could slot here as well, but he is coming off bilateral shoulder surgeries. Who knows how he returns. Devers could also slide over if the sox acquire a top notch 3b. I anticipate the starting 1b for the Red Sox for 2018 is not currently on the roster

 

At 2B- Pedroia would be the starter, but he had microfracture surgery, a last ditch effort to halt or reverse an arthritic condition developing in his knee. I'd say he is staring at an all-star break return and if he comes back earlier, good for him. He was also trending downward as the season wore on, so you don't know if you will get replacement level Pedroia or All Star level. Either way, 2b depth will be incredibly key out of the gate. Behind Pedroia eventually could be Michael Chavis, but the idea of him starting 2018 off position in Boston is more a fantasy than anything else. He is really a CIF and you'll lose a lot defensively with him at 2b. Also, he didn't exactly light the world on fire in AA and is probably ticketed there again in 2018 until he earns the promotion to AAA. He could be an option later in the season, but not here. Brock Holt is an option as well, but I think he has settled down into what he is, a replacement level guy who plays hard, gets hurt, and can play a lot of position. That is useful, but if he is suiting up at 2b on a regular basis, that will not be good news for you guys. Lin and Martinez are in the equation as well, but none appear to be plus replacement level players

 

At SS- Do you know that Xander Bogaerts led the team in hitting at .273? Xander is an enigma. He has the power to hit 25HR, but he can't consistently show it. He has the ability to hit .300, but he cannot do it regularly. One wonders if he will ever put it together and have a .300 25HR 100RBI type season everyone was pegging him for when he came up. The talent is there. Until then, sox fans need to give him a break. He has 12.5 WAR over the past 3 seasons. While he might not be reaching the sky high expectations placed on him, he has been damn good and damn durable. 144+ games for 4 seasons in a row. You could certainly do worse

 

At 3B- Devers is the new kid on the block. His defense is suspect, but that bat is beautiful. Long term, he is a 1b, but if they can just make him average defensively for now, he will be a monster. Unless you find yourself signing Frazier or Moustakas, you pencil in Devers name and sit back and watch this kid hit

 

In LF- Andrew Benintendi wins the ROY most seasons with the year he had. 20/20 season, average OF defense, and by the end of the year, he was the offensive leader of that team. I don't move him to CF since I don't think he is a CFer long term, but he is a really good player who I think will be a .300 hitter with 25HR power and 25 steal potential. Pencil him in and let him fly

 

In CF- JBJ, the oft maligned and never truly appreciated CFer is a defensive wizard. He is typically healthy, albeit often platooned. His defense never wavers, his offense is incredibly streaky. For now, you play him in the OF and just live with it.

 

In RF- Mookie Betts proved he wasn't ready to be the man in the lineup, but he is still a great player. His defense grades out better than Bradley's eerily enough. He also has put up 18.1 WAR in his 3 seasons in the bigs. That is awesome. He has also played 145 games or more in all 3 seasons. Anyone considering moving him is an idiot.

 

At DH- Right now it is Hanley. He is coming off shoulder surgery on both shoulder and he is on the wrong side of 30. You don't know how he will respond. He has a good chance of being either the 1b or the DH and in the end, might end up in a platoon role. Either way, right now there is no way he isn't in the lineup

 

Reserves: In the OF, you have Bryce Brentz. He has power, but is very hit or miss and hasn't proven anything in the bigs. Maybe he is ready? Maybe he takes on a bigger role as DH? Maybe he becomes the platoon partner JBJ needs? In the IF, Holt, Lin and to a lesser extent, Martinez are there. Neither are very strong options. You have 3 catchers if you count Swihart, but none really own the job. Either way, the starting lineup lacks big power and the backups don't help. After DD figures out the starters, he really needs to also sign some non roster invitees who could catch lightning in a bottle and claim a 25 man slot

 

 

This post is disgusting, and screw you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hate it, and I hate you......because its true. What a disaster.

[Bellhorn04]

Sure, the Yankees look tough. But I think you're selling our Red Sox a little short. Don't count us out before the season has even started.

 

If I do have a fear factor with the Yanks now it's their front office. Hal and Cashman seem to really have it together. And I can't believe how good their farm system got.

[mvp 78]

When someone writes: "In RF- Mookie Betts proved he wasn't ready to be the man in the lineup, but he is still a great player. His defense grades out better than Bradley's eerily enough. He also has put up 18.1 WAR in his 3 seasons in the bigs. That is awesome. He has also played 145 games or more in all 3 seasons. Anyone considering moving him is an idiot."

 

You can dismiss the rest of the post. Dude is a perennial MVP.

[Kimmi]

If I do have a fear factor with the Yanks now it's their front office. Hal and Cashman seem to really have it together. And I can't believe how good their farm system got.

 

Cashman has been on fire the past 2-3 seasons, I'll give you that.

 

But I have to wonder, if the roles were reversed, (not unlike last year when we acquired Sale), would everyone be handing us the title in December? Saying that the Yankees are the favorite is one thing. Already conceding that we'll be playing for the wild card is another.

[Bellhorn04]

Cashman has been on fire the past 2-3 seasons, I'll give you that.

 

But I have to wonder, if the roles were reversed, (not unlike last year when we acquired Sale), would everyone be handing us the title in December? Saying that the Yankees are the favorite is one thing. Already conceding that we'll be playing for the wild card is another.

 

The Yankees being big favorites might not be such a bad thing for us. When I said that about playing for the wild card it was when it looked like the Yankees were about to trade for Cole and it just felt like they were methodically assembling a sort of uber-team.

 

The other thing is I wouldn't feel horrible if we got the wild card spot. You can win it all from that spot. Missing the playoffs altogether would be a huge drag, that's for sure. I'll take any kind of shot at it.

[notin]

Pretty much. I just don't want to see the anti-Jacko sentiment blossom into constant attacks on the guy. He doe not deserve the attacks and it is unseemly and unnecessary.

 

I give him s*** too sometimes. But I almost always do it in fun and he knows it.

 

Whatever. People just need to chill and not take all this baseball stuff so seriously.

 

I do plan on continued needling of his man-crush on Aaron Judge, possibly to the point of immaturity. Is that acceptable?

[notin]

Cashman has been on fire the past 2-3 seasons, I'll give you that.

 

But I have to wonder, if the roles were reversed, (not unlike last year when we acquired Sale), would everyone be handing us the title in December? Saying that the Yankees are the favorite is one thing. Already conceding that we'll be playing for the wild card is another.

 

The roles were reversed last December.

 

But teams have a tendency to look better when no one is injured...

[Spudboy]

I do plan on continued needling of his man-crush on Aaron Judge, possibly to the point of immaturity. Is that acceptable?

 

It's not up to me to decide how you behave.

 

Do as you see fit.

 

As far as Judge is concerned I think we would all feel pretty good about him if he wore Red Sox.

 

It's just a game.

[Kimmi]

The Yankees being big favorites might not be such a bad thing for us. When I said that about playing for the wild card it was when it looked like the Yankees were about to trade for Cole and it just felt like they were methodically assembling a sort of uber-team.

 

The other thing is I wouldn't feel horrible if we got the wild card spot. You can win it all from that spot. Missing the playoffs altogether would be a huge drag, that's for sure. I'll take any kind of shot at it.

 

I agree that the Yankees being big favorites is not necessarily a bad thing. IMO, the Yankees are not finished with the offseason. They'll add a top of the rotation pitcher. They will still have to play the games.

 

I also agree that you make the playoffs anyway you can. If we win the wild card, I'd be happy.

[notin]

I agree that the Yankees being big favorites is not necessarily a bad thing. IMO, the Yankees are not finished with the offseason. They'll add a top of the rotation pitcher. They will still have to play the games.

 

I also agree that you make the playoffs anyway you can. If we win the wild card, I'd be happy.

 

They might not add a top of the rotation pitcher. They are running into the biggest problem with having lots of good prospects - teams (especially small market teams like Pittsburgh who cannot afford to make mistakes) only want the guys at the top,

 

Clint Frazier is maybe worth slightly more that Chavis in a trade. Maybe. The Pirates are rightly holding out for the guy they want (Torres), and any team offering a pitcher equal to or better than Cole will probably do the same, unless that pitcher has one year of control left.

[harmony]

Clint Frazier is maybe worth slightly more that Chavis in a trade. Maybe. The Pirates are rightly holding out for the guy they want (Torres), and any team offering a pitcher equal to or better than Cole will probably do the same, unless that pitcher has one year of control left.

Based largely on minor league numbers, Steamer projects slash lines for prospects even with a projection of only one plate appearance. Here are the 2018 for Clint Frazier and Michael Chavis (who is less than one year younger than Frazier):

 

CF .247/.312/.434/.746, wRC+ 96

MC .247/.295/.439/.734, wRC+ 88

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=15983&position=OF

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa828673&position=3B

[moonslav59]

So, Chavis, Johnson and Beeks for Cole?

[sk7326]

I agree that the Yankees being big favorites is not necessarily a bad thing. IMO, the Yankees are not finished with the offseason. They'll add a top of the rotation pitcher. They will still have to play the games.

 

I also agree that you make the playoffs anyway you can. If we win the wild card, I'd be happy.

 

The Yanks clearly made the Stanton splash and that deserves a ton of respect. However, they did downgrade at manager (potentially), and the Red Sox could (should??!!) be better simply by having so much quality youth. Yanks fans should be excited - but if the Sox add Martinez, there is no reason not to be excited in Boston.

[a700hitter]

The Yanks clearly made the Stanton splash and that deserves a ton of respect. However, they did downgrade at manager (potentially), and the Red Sox could (should??!!) be better simply by having so much quality youth. Yanks fans should be excited - but if the Sox add Martinez, there is no reason not to be excited in Boston.

Downgrade at manager? LOL!

[notin]

The Yanks clearly made the Stanton splash and that deserves a ton of respect. However, they did downgrade at manager (potentially), and the Red Sox could (should??!!) be better simply by having so much quality youth. Yanks fans should be excited - but if the Sox add Martinez, there is no reason not to be excited in Boston.

 

So why is unknown Aaron Boone a potential liability in NY but unknown Alex Cora such a strength for Boston?

[a700hitter]

So why is unknown Aaron Boone a potential liability in NY but unknown Alex Cora such a strength for Boston?

So True. Both teams have upgraded the field manager.