A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[oldtimer]

How long do you go before you determine a player cannot turn things around?

 

We stuck with Renfroe and Arroyo for about as long as Dalbec and Cordero.

 

Why are you so certain a player's last few weeks or months play is the best predictor of what is to come?

 

The evidence does not support that theory.

 

Look, I'm all for giving Dalbec a demotion to work things out, but it's not a no brainer, and the guy we should call up- Chavis- has about the same chance as Dalbec and others of doing okay going forward.

 

I have said that as well. There is no one I know of in the organization other than Casas who could possibly do better and Casas has Olympic commitments and won't be available. Chavis is no bargain and chases pitches out of the zone. I have wanted Dalbec to swing earlier in the count instead of putting himself in the hole and also suggested platooning him for the time being. I would be very pleased if Dalbec can be coached out of the slump he has been in. Cut down on the strikeouts and be more aggressive at the plate.

[Larry Cook]

Dalbec with a tater today. Rest of the line up is sleep walking.

[moonslav59]

I have said that as well. There is no one I know of in the organization other than Casas who could possibly do better and Casas has Olympic commitments and won't be available. Chavis is no bargain and chases pitches out of the zone. I have wanted Dalbec to swing earlier in the count instead of putting himself in the hole and also suggested platooning him for the time being. I would be very pleased if Dalbec can be coached out of the slump he has been in. Cut down on the strikeouts and be more aggressive at the plate.

 

The question wasn't about having someone to replace Dalbec or not. It was about how long a look someone should get.

 

I am not against demoting Dalbec, even for someone unpromising as Chavis, but my point was not about Casas or Chavis.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec with a tater today. Rest of the line up is sleep walking.

 

Arroyo woke up the echoes.

[Nick]

Arroyo woke up the echoes.

 

0-5 night bailed out by ss throwing error...ugh

 

Maybe we now have our second baseman.....I think I rather see him get the 5 at bats.

[moonslav59]

I'd like to see this:

 

 

1. Arroyo 2B

2. Verdugo LF

3. JD DH

4. Bogey SS

5. Devers 3B

6. Renfroe RF

7. Vaz C

8. Dalbec 1B

9. Hernandez CF

 

[Nick]

I'd like to see this:

 

 

1. Arroyo 2B

2. Verdugo LF

3. JD DH

4. Bogey SS

5. Devers 3B

6. Renfroe RF

7. Vaz C

8. Dalbec 1B

9. Hernandez CF

 

 

I like it.... We're now limiting Santana's at bats. Marwin really does a nice job defensively. He's needed. He can play everywhere, but we don't need a duplicate.

[Nick]

It was good to see Whitlock go 8/9th innings. I mentioned that in an article he was working on his slider. He's beginning to use it. I just enjoy watching him pitch.

[moonslav59]

I like it.... We're now limiting Santana's at bats. Marwin really does a nice job defensively. He's needed. He can play everywhere, but we don't need a duplicate.

 

Santana provided a little and short spark after we demoted Cordero, but I think his days are numbered, here.

 

Chavis or Wilson could get the call, unless they think Duran is ready.

 

I see zero % chance casas gets a call before September, and even then, they may wait. You can't have 40 men in the dugout anymore.

[moonslav59]

It was good to see Whitlock go 8/9th innings. I mentioned that in an article he was working on his slider. He's beginning to use it. I just enjoy watching him pitch.

 

I like how he fought back after a few games where he struggled. For someone with so little experience in the spotlight, that is a very good sign.

 

With several starters showing signs of serious struggles, maybe we should get back to the plan of stretching him out.

 

I'm not sure we can count on Houck or Seabold, and while Espinal has looked very sharp, I'm not sure bringing him up in the middle of a playoff run would do him or us a great service.

 

Sale, Brasier and Chavis seem like our best shots. Add Duran, when he's ready. Add a decent player or two before the deadline, and that's all we can hope for.

[Larry Cook]

I like how he fought back after a few games where he struggled. For someone with so little experience in the spotlight, that is a very good sign.

 

With several starters showing signs of serious struggles, maybe we should get back to the plan of stretching him out.

 

I'm not sure we can count on Houck or Seabold, and while Espinal has looked very sharp, I'm not sure bringing him up in the middle of a playoff run would do him or us a great service.

 

Sale, Brasier and Chavis seem like our best shots. Add Duran, when he's ready. Add a decent player or two before the deadline, and that's all we can hope for.

 

I watched espinal pitch. Nothing deceptive about him, but When the command is good, he can get people out.

 

In Boston, he only works if he is in the bullpen and probably has a max of 2 innings,

[Larry Cook]

Santana provided a little and short spark after we demoted Cordero, but I think his days are numbered, here.

 

Chavis or Wilson could get the call, unless they think Duran is ready.

 

I see zero % chance casas gets a call before September, and even then, they may wait. You can't have 40 men in the dugout anymore.

 

I watched Duran yesterday and I know this is contrary to everybody else, but I do not think he is ready now. He’s late on most pitches and gets over powered at times. He seems to guess a lot. Not sure if he is identifying the spin on the ball. Maybe with more seasoning he can be a September call up?

[moonslav59]

I watched espinal pitch. Nothing deceptive about him, but When the command is good, he can get people out.

 

In Boston, he only works if he is in the bullpen and probably has a max of 2 innings,

 

The only other real options are Gossett or Weber or a pen game led off by Andriese or Whitlock.

[moonslav59]

I watched Duran yesterday and I know this is contrary to everybody else, but I do not think he is ready now. He’s late on most pitches and gets over powered at times. He seems to guess a lot. Not sure if he is identifying the spin on the ball. Maybe with more seasoning he can be a September call up?

 

I'm not sure any of us know a "ready player" when we see it. I'd be very happy if they called him up tonight-mostly because I trust Bloom & Co. to only call him up when he is truly ready, and not as a panic move.

 

Let's leave it to Sox brass is my motto.

[moonslav59]

Speaking of Duran, he went 0-5, tonight.

 

Wilson went 1-4 (2B) with a BB

 

Chavis homered, went 2 for 4 and had 3 rbi.

 

Lopez came in for Arauz and went 2-3.

 

Gonsalves went 5 strong (4H, 1BB, 0 ER)

 

Ort got the save- no hits or BBs, again.

 

In AA, Ronaldo Hernandez had 3 hits, including his 4th HR. Castellanos went deep and was 2-5.Rosario ad 2 hits an na BB

[moonslav59]

Don't look now, but Arroyo is fast approaching the .800 OPS mark.

 

He already 60 points ahead of Renfroe and only 30 behind Verdugo!

 

 

BTW, Dalbec moved 55 points ahead of Marwin's current OPS after his dinger, tonight and Marwin's 0 for 3.

 

What's up with all the hits allowed by our starters, recently?

 

Tonight 11 hits in 3.1

 

Erod 6 in 4.2, last night.

 

Perez 6 in 2.0 on Wed, night.

 

Eovaldi 11 in 5.2 Tue night.

 

Pivetta 7 in 4.2 vs Miami.

 

Richards 8 in 5.0 in his start before tonight.

Edited June 12, 2021 by moonslav59

[Nick]

Don't look now, but Arroyo is fast approaching the .800 OPS mark.

 

He already 60 points ahead of Renfroe and only 30 behind Verdugo!

 

 

BTW, Dalbec moved 55 points ahead of Marwin's current OPS after his dinger, tonight and Marwin's 0 for 3.

 

What's up with all the hits allowed by our starters, recently?

 

Tonight 11 hits in 3.1

 

Erod 6 in 4.2, last night.

 

Perez 6 in 2.0 on Wed, night.

 

Pivetta 7 in 4.2 vs Miami.

 

Richards 8 in 5.0 in his start before tonight.

 

Our rotation is made up of better than average pitchers but I don't see a shut down guy on a consistent basis. They are what they are.

 

Maybe the best example is Eovaldi. Announcers go on and on about his 'heater' but he does not generate swing and miss with it, or it seems. Our guys are hittable.

 

This is why you and I agree on signing a #1 and slotting Chris Sale as our #2 guy.

[Nick]

We won last night with pen guys Sawamura, Workman (struggled), J Taylor and Whitlock. Darwinzon, Ottavino and Barnes should be available tonight.

 

Ranking based on my eyes only

 

1 Barnes

2 Taylor

3 Ottavino

4 Sawamura (glad his hip issue wasn't serious)

5 Darwinzon

6 Whitlock

[Bellhorn04]

We won last night with pen guys Sawamura, Workman (struggled), J Taylor and Whitlock. Darwinzon, Ottavino and Barnes should be available tonight.

 

Ranking based on my eyes only

 

1 Barnes

2 Taylor

3 Ottavino

4 Sawamura (glad his hip issue wasn't serious)

5 Darwinzon

6 Whitlock

 

Why would you not rank Whitlock higher?

[Nick]

I'd like to see this: Moon

 

1. Arroyo 2B 1 yr/$581.5K A1-A3 (22-24) age 26

2. Verdugo LF 1 yr/$649.5K A1-A3 (22-24) age 25

3. JD DH 5 yr/$110M (18-22) age 33

4. Bogey SS 6 y/$120M (20-25)+26 opt (opt out after 22) age 28

5. Devers 3B 1 yr/$4.575M (21) A2-A3 (22-23) age 24

6. Renfroe RF 1yr/$3.1M (21) A3 22 age 29

7. Vaz C 3yr/13.55M (19-21) 22 opt age 30

8. Dalbec 1B $575K, A1-A3, (22-24) age 26

9. Hernandez CF 2yr/$14M (21-22) age 29

 

Biggest bargain, Verdugo (25). Arroyo has chance to make the 'core group' going forward. As Cora said, he was 1st round draft pick because someone saw talent in him.

 

Dalbec (26), will be under team control for 5 mores years (22-26)

 

Arroyo (26) and Verdugo (25) with 3 more years of team control. Devers (24) with two more years of team control via arbitrations. Xander (28) under team control for another 5 years if he does not opt out (chances are Sox extend with better contract).

 

Kike (29) and Renfroe (29) will return for 2022 season.

 

Vaz (30) and JD (33) will return for 2022 season. Some say JD has an opt out after 21.

 

Some improvements can be had but this is pretty good hitting team.

Edited June 12, 2021 by Nick

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

signing a #1 and slotting Chris Sale as our #2 guy.

 

There really aren't any #1 free agents coming up next winter -- Bloom won't be overpaying for an older guy like Scherzer, Verlander, Kershaw or Greinke.

 

Gausman may be the best choice, and thus in high demand. Syndergard is an uncertain option, coming off TJ like Sale and Verlander.

 

If the Sox do suddenly plan to spend big (like many here expect), is it more likely on position players to replace others traded for a younger, primetime controllable pitcher?

[Nick]

Why would you not rank Whitlock higher?

 

He's my favorite and I don't want to show bias. Not sure why, but I love watching him pitch.

[Nick]

There really aren't any #1 free agents coming up next winter -- Bloom won't be overpaying for an older guy like Scherzer, Verlander, Kershaw or Greinke.

 

Gausman may be the best choice, and thus in high demand. Syndergard is an uncertain option, coming off TJ like Sale and Verlander.

 

If the Sox do suddenly plan to spend big (like many here expect), is it more likely on position players to replace others traded for a younger, primetime controllable pitcher?

 

Yep, I'm talking crazy when it comes to getting a #1, not very realistic and probably not what the Sox brass is thinking. Syndergard is very intriguing.

 

I'd be happy if Whitlock becomes a starter. I think he has something intangible to go with his stuff.

Edited June 12, 2021 by Nick

[Bellhorn04]

I suspect that they do see Whitlock in the 2022 rotation.

[Bellhorn04]

He's my favorite and I don't want to show bias. Not sure why, but I love watching him pitch.

 

It's doubly pleasurable seeing him pitching well for us and not for the Yankees.

[notin]

There really aren't any #1 free agents coming up next winter -- Bloom won't be overpaying for an older guy like Scherzer, Verlander, Kershaw or Greinke.

 

Gausman may be the best choice, and thus in high demand. Syndergard is an uncertain option, coming off TJ like Sale and Verlander.

 

If the Sox do suddenly plan to spend big (like many here expect), is it more likely on position players to replace others traded for a younger, primetime controllable pitcher?

 

 

While potentially not a Sox target, I’d bet 29yo Noah Syndergaard does just fine in free agency…

[oldtimer]

Inaugural Draft Combine set for June 21-28 in Cary, NC. Cary has nice facilities and there will be over 100 of the top prospects present to participate in the evaluations. We have the 4th overall pick and I expect we will use it this year rather than trade it away. The actual draft is in July but this should give our staff a good chance to evaluate talent.

[Maxbialystock]

Games won as of June 12

 

Tampa Bay Rays...40

Boston Red Sox....39

ChiSox................39

San Francisco......39

LA Dodgers.........38

Oakland Athletics.38

San Diego Padres.37

Chicago Cubs......36

Houston Astros....36

Milwaukee Brewers36

Edited June 12, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[Nick]

Bloom stole Arroyo for nothing, and Red Sox are better for it

 

http://https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/chaim-bloom-stole-christian-arroyo-nothing-and-red-sox-are-reaping-reward

 

Very good read on Arroyo.....

 

(I hear Bloom's password is Master-Thief)

Edited June 12, 2021 by Nick

[Nick]

Staying Patient with Bobby Dalbec

http://https://www.pitcherlist.com/staying-patient-with-bobby-dalbec/

 

Here's a great read on Dalbec hitting analytics. Compares it to why Trout is so successful. Must read.

Edited June 12, 2021 by Nick