A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[FredLynn]

Wright is supposedly healthy and ready to pitch in the World Series. I'd be surprised if he's not added back to the roster.

 

I'd keep Swihart on the roster. As someone pointed out, whether he actually gets the playing time or not is not the important factor. The important factor is that it allows Cora to be able to pinch hit for his catchers with no hesitation.

 

I read somewhere that Wright is going to need offseason surgery. Although he pitched extremely well for us down the stretch I would not take the chance of having him on the roster instead of Swihart or anyone else. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". This team should enter the WS with the same roster as the one that defeated the former champs.

[dgalehouse]

If Wright can play , he will probably replace Workman or possibly Hembree in the pen. Cora has been reluctant to use them in key situations. Pretty sure that Swihart will remain on the roster. Barring injury, no other changes are likely.

[cp176]

The only way we can gauge that would be to talk to the players and (IMO) they'd be reluctant to throw Pedey under the bus so we'll never know. The fans I talk with are still pretty upset about it. They've neither forgiven nor forgotten but they're willing to put it behind them for the sake of the game.

 

Pedroia gets no free pass from me. Regardless of how tough people think he is or how hard he plays, i don't think that you would see one player on this team dong what he did. That's about it. hey - he was very good for sure and I get why some say don't ever count him out but we did just fine without him and if I had to bet that is likely how we will operate going forward - without him and that is ok with me.

[moonslav59]

Pedroia gets no free pass from me. Regardless of how tough people think he is or how hard he plays, i don't think that you would see one player on this team dong what he did. That's about it. hey - he was very good for sure and I get why some say don't ever count him out but we did just fine without him and if I had to bet that is likely how we will operate going forward - without him and that is ok with me.

 

I think you are right.

 

I'm sure we're not counting on anything from Pedey going forward.

[Larry Cook]

I think you are right.

 

I'm sure we're not counting on anything from Pedey going forward.

 

I guarantee he is on the field next spring trying to give it a go. Will his knee hold up?

[moonslav59]

I guarantee he is on the field next spring trying to give it a go. Will his knee hold up?

 

He'll try, if only to save face for all the money he may make doing nothing.

 

My point is, Sox management should plan the roster as if he is not even an option.

 

With Nunez, Holt, Hernandez, Lin, Quiroz and maybe others all on the roster, we'll probably stand pat at 2B this winter, so the job is there for Pedey, if he can win it (doubtful).

[Bellhorn04]

I read somewhere that Wright is going to need offseason surgery. Although he pitched extremely well for us down the stretch I would not take the chance of having him on the roster instead of Swihart or anyone else. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". This team should enter the WS with the same roster as the one that defeated the former champs.

 

If Wright can play , he will probably replace Workman or possibly Hembree in the pen. Cora has been reluctant to use them in key situations. Pretty sure that Swihart will remain on the roster. Barring injury, no other changes are likely.

 

This is it. Wright would be replacing Workman or Hembree, not Swihart.

[Kimmi]

I read somewhere that Wright is going to need offseason surgery. Although he pitched extremely well for us down the stretch I would not take the chance of having him on the roster instead of Swihart or anyone else. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". This team should enter the WS with the same roster as the one that defeated the former champs.

 

I can't see Wright replacing Swihart. I am 100% in favor of keeping Swihart on the roster, whether he actually plays in a a game or not. As I posted earlier, the luxury of being able to pinch hit for our catchers is a big benefit. Plus, with the need to pinch hit for our pitchers, we need the position player over the extra pitcher.

 

I can see Wright replacing Hembree, who was only added after Wright got injured to begin with.

 

All that said, I am also a fan of the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' philosophy. Whatever the case, I trust Cora to make the right decision.

[Bellhorn04]

Whatever the case, I trust Cora to make the right decision.

 

Yes. I think for maybe the first time ever, Red Sox fans collectively must admit they have a manager who is smarter baseball-wise than all of them.

[cp176]

Yes. I think for maybe the first time ever, Red Sox fans collectively must admit they have a manager who is smarter baseball-wise than all of them.

 

Based on many of the comments that I read here, if you took a vote it might come out 51-49. People tolerate Cora because we are winning, but really you think the brilliant minds that we see here everyday would ever just say that Cora is a better baseball guy than they might be. Come on Bellhorn, you know better.

[notin]

I’d say it. I’ll put it on a tee shirt.

 

But then, dopey me, I actually thought Farrell and Francona were also better baseball minds than me. But only because they were former major leaguers capable of getting MLB manager jobs.

 

Silly, right?

[cp176]

I’d say it. I’ll put it on a tee shirt.

 

But then, dopey me, I actually thought Farrell and Francona were also better baseball minds than me. But only because they were former major leaguers capable of getting MLB manager jobs.

 

Silly, right?

 

Come on notin - you would have to swear to this and have it notarized before I'd believe it. lol

[moonslav59]

I'll sign on to the proclamation.

 

I'll add that even though I know Tito and JF knew more than I did, I still felt we could improve.

 

Yes, they are/were all better than I, but Cora is better than all of them.

 

He's the best we've ever had.

[FredLynn]

Yes. I think for maybe the first time ever, Red Sox fans collectively must admit they have a manager who is smarter baseball-wise than all of them.

 

I think every single poster here realizes that Cora (and every other manager in the game) has more baseball knowledge than any one of us. However, that does not mean that they do not make mistakes and those mistakes are fodder for criticism, despite their knowledge.

[moonslav59]

I think every single poster here realizes that Cora (and every other manager in the game) has more baseball knowledge than any one of us. However, that does not mean that they do not make mistakes and those mistakes are fodder for criticism, despite their knowledge.

 

...and it does not mean all managers are equally better than the best of us. Some are much better than others.

 

Anyone know how to create a thread with a poll?

[notin]

Come on notin - you would have to swear to this and have it notarized before I'd believe it. lol

 

I'm flattered you need authorized documentation for proof Farrell is smarter than me about baseball. But he is.

 

In fact, he's smarter than most fans give him credit for. Most know it. Few admit it. I'm one of the few...

[notin]

I'll sign on to the proclamation.

 

I'll add that even though I know Tito and JF knew more than I did, I still felt we could improve.

Yes, they are/were all better than I, but Cora is better than all of them.

 

He's the best we've ever had.

 

Well all managers are not created equal. They're just better at managing baseball teams that most fans admit.

 

Personally, maybe its just me. But Francona is still ahead of Cora. However, that there is an argument there is an immense compliment to Cora...

[moonslav59]

Well all managers are not created equal. They're just better at managing baseball teams that most fans admit.

 

Personally, maybe its just me. But Francona is still ahead of Cora. However, that there is an argument there is an immense compliment to Cora...

 

Tito was fantastic.

 

At the end of his time here, he lost some control, for reasons that are totally understandable. Even then, he was a way better manager than I could even dream of being.

[notin]

Tito was fantastic.

 

At the end of his time here, he lost some control, for reasons that are totally understandable. Even then, he was a way better manager than I could even dream of being.

 

Tito was the Sox manager for 8 years and won 2 rings and had to deal with Manny Ramirez.

 

Cora has yet to conclude his first season.

 

It's not fair to take how it ended for Francona as the sole reason to rank one season of Cora ahead of him. The wheels will come off for Cora one day, too...

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

I think it's great news that Wright will be available. Just because we haven't needed him before does not mean he won't be needed to win 4 more games. As for Cora/Tito one has proven it for a long time, Cora is finishing his first year. A year where he seemed to pull all the right strings. We'll leave it at that.

[moonslav59]

Tito was the Sox manager for 8 years and won 2 rings and had to deal with Manny Ramirez.

 

Cora has yet to conclude his first season.

 

It's not fair to take how it ended for Francona as the sole reason to rank one season of Cora ahead of him. The wheels will come off for Cora one day, too...

 

I'm sure Cora wishes he had a Manny right now to deal with.

 

Without Manny, Tito likely has no rings.

 

I get the longevity argument, and I can understand why some will not see Cora as the best until he has more years under his belt, but to me, Cora is doing things no other Sox manager has dared do. His use of analytics balanced with his feel for what is right seems to be better than even Tito at his best.

 

I know, I know, Cora needs to win a ring before any definitive judgement can be made in his favor, and like all managers, there will likely be lean times (see "the cliff"), but pound for pound I like Cora better, despite the limited sample size.

 

 

 

[cp176]

I'm flattered you need authorized documentation for proof Farrell is smarter than me about baseball. But he is.

 

In fact, he's smarter than most fans give him credit for. Most know it. Few admit it. I'm one of the few...

 

Hey notin nice attempt to pat yourself on the back but you'd be surprised to know I bet how many people including some of us here think that Farrell is a good bright baseball guy. You certainly aren't alone. I actually would be interested to know what you do know about the actual game of baseball and the way it is played on the field. I'm kind of a reverse condescender I guess. I'll give you some credit but safe to say not as much as some folks here do. I'm not trying to start anything here so don't think that I am. I was actually trying to make a little joke but probably I missed the mark. Sometimes I think that people really can't possibly take themselves as seriously as they do. Personally I don't take myself very seriously ever unless I am competing whether it is playing or coaching.

[cp176]

I'm sure Cora wishes he had a Manny right now to deal with.

 

Without Manny, Tito likely has no rings.

 

I get the longevity argument, and I can understand why some will not see Cora as the best until he has more years under his belt, but to me, Cora is doing things no other Sox manager has dared do. His use of analytics balanced with his feel for what is right seems to be better than even Tito at his best.

 

I know, I know, Cora needs to win a ring before any definitive judgement can be made in his favor, and like all managers, there will likely be lean times (see "the cliff"), but pound for pound I like Cora better, despite the limited sample size.

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure how personal feelings about Manny have turned in to a discussion about who the better manager is or was. I would also like to think that Cora has at least to coach a few more years before we get in to that discussion. Regardless of my feeling that Manny was a buffoon I'll readily admit that he was a hitting machine and delivered when we needed delivering. I don't think that Cora would wish in a million years that he had Manny Ramirez to deal with right now. Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't smell even a remote whiff of a court jester on this team.

[Nick]

Well Cora has done one thing that will help the Sox in 2019. Cutting loose Hanley.

 

We saved $22M for 2019. That amount just happens to be the expected pay raises for 11, count them, 11 arbitration eligible players.

 

Say what you want but that was prudent thing to do.

 

He's managing his personnel well.

 

I don't think we re-sign Kimbrel. I'm guessing we'll trade for another cost controlled closer. Book it.

[notin]

Well Cora has done one thing that will help the Sox in 2019. Cutting loose Hanley.

 

Regardless of whose idea it was, the final decision and actual cutting of Hanley is the responsibility of Dombrowski, not Cora. And there is only a savings if oft-injured Hanley’s option vests, which was unlikely and, let’s face it, probably a decision made long before the season started...

[Kimmi]

I think every single poster here realizes that Cora (and every other manager in the game) has more baseball knowledge than any one of us. However, that does not mean that they do not make mistakes and those mistakes are fodder for criticism, despite their knowledge.

 

But I think that a lot of what posters deem to be mistakes, really aren't mistakes at all. Just because a decision does not have the desired outcome, that doesn't mean it was a mistake.

 

Now I'm not saying that they never make mistakes. I'm also not saying that managers aren't open to questioning. I do think much of the criticism is unwarranted though.

[Kimmi]

Well all managers are not created equal. They're just better at managing baseball teams that most fans admit.

 

Personally, maybe its just me. But Francona is still ahead of Cora. However, that there is an argument there is an immense compliment to Cora...

 

I would still put Francona ahead of Cora as well. Cora is arguably having the best single season as a manager, but Francona's overall resume' far outweighs Cora's at this point.

[Bellhorn04]

Regardless of whose idea it was, the final decision and actual cutting of Hanley is the responsibility of Dombrowski, not Cora. And there is only a savings if oft-injured Hanley’s option vests, which was unlikely and, let’s face it, probably a decision made long before the season started...

 

The vesting of Hanley’s option was not 'unlikely' at all. He was cruising toward it nicely until that deep slump in May did him in.

[harmony]

The vesting of Hanley’s option was not 'unlikely' at all. He was cruising toward it nicely until that deep slump in May did him in.

That "deep slump" in May was limited to 19 games that saw Hanley Ramirez post a .163/.200/.300/.500 line.

 

As a point of reference, ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr. posted a .158/.238/.228/.466 line in his first 19 games in May.

[moonslav59]

Anybody know how to set up a poll for a new thread? I see the poll box to check on the starting anew thread page, but I don't see how it works.