The GM thread

[oldtimer]

The following players need to play every day: Marco Hernandez, Sam Travis

 

Brian Johnson needs to join the rotation.

 

Might as well see if there’s a future in any of them...

 

Not impressed wth Johnson. What did he give up last out. 8 hits in 3 inning.

[moonslav59]

Not impressed wth Johnson. What did he give up last out. 8 hits in 3 inning.

 

With all due respect, why is a pitcher's last outing so important to you?

[FredLynn]

Not impressed wth Johnson. What did he give up last out. 8 hits in 3 inning.

 

Johnson is likely going to be our #6 or 7 SP next year. There aren't too many of those guys who are any good at all.

[notin]

I'd also start stretching out Eovaldi and DHern.

 

 

Don’t stretch out Hernandez. He needs to master control and command. Stretching him out will just increase his walks...

[notin]

Johnson is likely going to be our #6 or 7 SP next year. There aren't too many of those guys who are any good at all.

 

Give him a legitimate shot. I think he can get 7 or 8 starts and maybe 40 to 60 IP...

[moonslav59]

Brian Johnson's last starts going back to 2018 (in reverse order: latest listed first)

 

IP ER

2019

3.0 3

5.0 0

3.0 1

 

2018

3.0 2

1.1 4

4.1 1

4.1 3

5.2 3

7.0 5

5.0 4

5.2 0

5.0 0

4.2 2

4.2 2

4.0 1

Granted, many starts were 3 or less innings, and only 6 went past 4.2 IP, but he only allowed more than 3 ERs in 3 of his last 15 starts. I'm not sure any Sox starter has done that besides maybe ERod.

 

Ryan Weber's last starts:

2019

1.1 2

4.0 7

6.0 1

AAA

6.0 0

4.0 0

7.0 1

5.0 2

5.0 2

6.0 1

3.0 4

1.1 6

3.2 4

6.1 3

6.0 3

5.0 2

4.0 2

 

Edited August 6, 2019 by moonslav59

[notin]

Also I know that it’s against DD’s religion to make waiver claims, but Zack Godley is a better pitcher than anyone on the Sox farm...

[moonslav59]

2019: 3.27 (3 gs- 11 ip)

 

2018: 4.15 (13 gs- 60.2 ip)

 

2018-2019: 4.04

[jad]

The Cashner trade proved we didn't have to trade a top prospect to get a decent pitcher.

 

DD chose to send a message to the team. It didn't work.

 

The Eovaldi & Pearce re-signings killed us due to their injuries.

 

DD's earlier big signings appear to be fading or mildly declining (Price, Sale, JD & Moreland).

 

I'm glad we won a ring, so I'm fine with what DD did, but I will not sugar coat the mess the "win now" strategy has put us in now and going forward.

 

 

The anti-JD criticisms remind me of those against Adrian Gonzalez (who hit his career-average w/ the REdSox, despite the claims that 'he didn't fit in'--gosh, I wonder what that meant?); or J.D.Drew, who also hit right on his average for the RS. JD's numbers are this year above his average, no?

[Bellhorn04]

The anti-JD criticisms remind me of those against Adrian Gonzalez (who hit his career-average w/ the REdSox, despite the claims that 'he didn't fit in'--gosh, I wonder what that meant?); or J.D.Drew, who also hit right on his average for the RS. JD's numbers are this year above his average, no?

 

JDM is having a fine season, and being punished a bit by expectations.

 

Hopefully his back isn't becoming a serious issue.

 

I can't really see him opting out after this year. It would be risking a lot of dough.

[jacksonianmarch]

He’s not opting out. His biggest questions since he started hitting have centered on his health. Now, with a recurring back problem and limitation to DH due to defensive liability and injury concerns, he isn’t gonna get a better deal than 3-$63 mil. You’re stuck with him for better or worse. Also, he has to understand that the Sox would QO him and he’ll be stuck waiting until June to sign

[Bellhorn04]

The following players need to play every day: Marco Hernandez, Sam Travis

 

Brian Johnson needs to join the rotation.

 

Might as well see if there’s a future in any of them...

 

Even though most of us have given up on the season, it's too early for the team to do so.

[oldtimer]

With all due respect, why is a pitcher's last outing so important to you?

 

It builds upon my long standing perception of him. Throw him out there again this year. It doesn't matter that much and see if he is viable. Personnaly, I don't think he is.

[oldtimer]

JDM is having a fine season, and being punished a bit by expectations.

 

Hopefully his back isn't becoming a serious issue.

 

I can't really see him opting out after this year. It would be risking a lot of dough.

 

I expect him t stay. His health is a question mark but he should be viable for us at DH for the next couple.

[Bellhorn04]

It builds upon my long standing perception of him. Throw him out there again this year. It doesn't matter that much and see if he is viable. Personnaly, I don't think he is.

 

As moon pointed out, Johnson pitched 5 scoreless innings in his previous start. Mind you that was back in June.

 

Johnson will definitely be back next year. He's not even arb-eligible until 2021.

[notin]

JDM is having a fine season, and being punished a bit by expectations.

 

Hopefully his back isn't becoming a serious issue.

 

I can't really see him opting out after this year. It would be risking a lot of dough.

 

JD Martinez was a victim of stats vs paycheck.

 

In his first 4 seasons (ages 31-34) in Boston, he hit .270/.377/.476 and was hated by many. At the same ages, Dwight Evans hit .266/.372/.477 and was loved by everyone. You’ll never find 2 major leaguers who put up closer slash lines and played the same position for the same team at the same ages, let alone were received so differently...

[notin]

As moon pointed out, Johnson pitched 5 scoreless innings in his previous start. Mind you that was back in June.

 

Johnson will definitely be back next year. He's not even arb-eligible until 2021.

 

I say see what he is. He might be able to take a spot in the rotation. Or he might be a reasonable trade chip.

 

Right now he’s teetering between mop up arm in the pen and minor league free agency. That might be his limit, and that’s ok if it is. But find out...

[moonslav59]

The anti-JD criticisms remind me of those against Adrian Gonzalez (who hit his career-average w/ the REdSox, despite the claims that 'he didn't fit in'--gosh, I wonder what that meant?); or J.D.Drew, who also hit right on his average for the RS. JD's numbers are this year above his average, no?

 

I liked the AGon trade and extension. Yes, he did hit for a career best BA one year, but he did not meet expectations and quickly declined after the trade. Are you saying we should have kept the faith with a guy that was part of the whole malaise team?

 

I was a JD Drew defender based mostly on his defense, but the guy did not seem to have "club house" attitude.

 

JD declined from last year. I never said the signing was a mistake. I'm glad he is still on the team, despite a huge decline in run production this year.

[Bellhorn04]

JD Martinez was a victim of stats vs paycheck.

 

In his first 4 seasons (ages 31-34) in Boston, he hit .270/.377/.476 and was hated by many. At the same ages, Dwight Evans hit .266/.372/.477 and was loved by everyone. You’ll never find 2 major leaguers who put up closer slash lines and played the same position for the same team at the same ages, let alone were received so differently...

 

I was talking about Martinez. You're talking about Drew.

 

I was a member of the 'J D Drew defense team' on the other site too...

[moonslav59]

It builds upon my long standing perception of him. Throw him out there again this year. It doesn't matter that much and see if he is viable. Personnaly, I don't think he is.

 

Based on just his last outing. Johnson did fine the start before and most of last year. That's a heck of a lot better than Weber, Shawaryn, Velazquezx and others have shown in spot starts.

 

He got hurt this year, too.

 

I'm not hopeful BJ will be a solid starter for us, but I have more faith in him as our 5th starter this year and next than anyone else, including D Hernandez.

[oldtimer]

Based on just his last outing. Johnson did fine the start before and most of last year. That's a heck of a lot better than Weber, Shawaryn, Velazquezx and others have shown in spot starts.

 

He got hurt this year, too.

 

I'm not hopeful BJ will be a solid starter for us, but I have more faith in him as our 5th starter this year and next than anyone else, including D Hernandez.

 

He's not the guy I want to see included in our 25 man for 2021 and onward.

[dgalehouse]

Hernandez has a live arm and strong potential if he can get it together . Johnson does not .

[notin]

Hernandez has a live arm and strong potential if he can get it together . Johnson does not .

 

But that doesn’t mean Hernandez will be better. Lots of flamethrowers flame out, either due to control problems or injury. Johnson isn’t anything spectacular and I have little to no faith in him, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a shot. What do the Sox have to lose at this point?

[notin]

He's not the guy I want to see included in our 25 man for 2021 and onward.

 

He’s given little reason to date.

 

But if he can finish strong he might change some minds and either be successful here or as trade bait...

[jad]

I was talking about Martinez. You're talking about Drew.

 

I was a member of the 'J D Drew defense team' on the other site too...

 

He meant Drew. (I made the association with the two JD's and AGon--all of whom performed EXACTLY as should have been expected, and were vilified despite that.) (My view based on RS history, although it's probably pointless to argue it, is that a lot of the anti-Agon talk was racist in origin. Not sure of this--did the RS have any Mexican-American players before him? I found only 3 or 4, who played briefly, none of whom I have heard of. Am I missing someone?)

[Bellhorn04]

He meant Drew. (I made the association with the two JD's and AGon--all of whom performed EXACTLY as should have been expected, and were vilified despite that.) (My view based on RS history, although it's probably pointless to argue it, is that a lot of the anti-Agon talk was racist in origin. Not sure of this--did the RS have any Mexican-American players before him? I found only 3 or 4, who played briefly, none of whom I have heard of. Am I missing someone?)

 

AGon made a few comments that turned public opinion against him. Plus fans were unhappy in general with that 2011 team. It was a disaster. Epstein gone, Francona gone, chicken and beer...

 

Personally I don't think it was a racially dominated thing with AGon. I think most fans were happy to see Josh Beckett go too, and he was a white man who was instrumental in the 2007 title.

[mvp 78]

Year 1: win division

Year 2: win division

Year 3: win 108 games and the WS

Year 4: have a down year and fire/trade everyone and reset the cap

 

Lololol. What a s***** idea.

[Maxbialystock]

I liked the AGon trade and extension. Yes, he did hit for a career best BA one year, but he did not meet expectations and quickly declined after the trade. Are you saying we should have kept the faith with a guy that was part of the whole malaise team?

 

I was a JD Drew defender based mostly on his defense, but the guy did not seem to have "club house" attitude.

 

JD declined from last year. I never said the signing was a mistake. I'm glad he is still on the team, despite a huge decline in run production this year.

 

AGon was great in 2011, which however ended disastrously. So sending him to LA in 2012 made sense. JD Drew never made sense to me because, while he seemed to be the proverbial five tool player, he spent too much time on the DL and never came close to his career year of 2004. Very good defender and on the WS winners in 2007.

 

JDM made a huge difference last year. Like Ortiz, he made the whole lineup better. Plus I kind of like that he is more than willing to play LF or RF when needed.

 

Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, on the other hand, were bad acquisitions.

Edited August 6, 2019 by Maxbialystock

[jacksonianmarch]

I’ll be shocked if Dave Dombrowski is back with the Red Sox next season. Boston’s president of baseball operations has increasingly isolated himself with pals Frank Wren and Tony La Russa and has few friends inside Fenway’s walls. Dombrowski is under contract for just one more season.

 

When you have the top payroll in baseball and don’t make the playoffs, somebody has to go. Alex Cora isn’t going anywhere. Dombrowski has been exactly what we thought he would be. He delivered a championship. But he gets the blame for the Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi contracts and for failing to address the bullpen need. He’s clearly not the guy to oversee a much-needed farm system rebuild.

 

This from Shaughnessy. The vultures are circling

[Bellhorn04]

This from Shaughnessy. The vultures are circling

 

Sounds like changes are coming.