A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[moonslav59]

Which hammy did Schwarber pull? His "stretch" one or the other?

[a700hitter]

Which hammy did Schwarber pull? His "stretch" one or the other?

Both legs are involved in the stretch. It’s not like a non-pitching arm.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

One trade deadline strategy: roll the dice and hope Kyle S. can play 1b. This strategy involves the additional negative of acquiring a player who is hurt and not ready to contribute.

 

Another trade deadline strategy: acquire an actual 1b, while also acquiring Kyle S., who is eminently useful in other roles (he can play LF as you move Verdugo around to CF and RF. He can also get some limited work in at DH to rest a slumping JD).

 

The Red Sox went with the former strategy when the latter made much more sense.

Edited August 2, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[mvp 78]

Sox had a need at 1b. It's an easy need to fill. They didn't pull the trigger on any deals. I don't get it. If they falter down the stretch, Bloom will have lots of questions to answer.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We will have to see what they do, but putting a guy at 1B with no experience can cost your IF a lot of errors. And you can also pull a hammy getting out of bed, but the stretch at 1B is something that has often caused Hamstrings to pop. It is a maneuver that cannot be avoided if you are playing that position.

 

This is sure to raise an uproar, but there is no better option at 1B than the one true first baseman who will be ready for the stretch run and is currently starring in Japan.

 

Triston Casas is 21, but also batting clean-up and crushing the ball for the US Olympic team. Compare him to Duran all you want, but announcers are raving about Casas' two-strike approach "choking up and getting wide" -- something none of our big league whiffers even attempt while flailing over and over and over. As the biggest guy on the diamond he can handle the pressure, bounce throws in the dirt, and wild, high ones, too.

 

Posters have speculated about the possibility of bringing up prospects when injuries arise. Well, guys are hurt, and guys are hurting us. What do the Sox have to lose... except service time????

[moonslav59]

Both legs are involved in the stretch. It’s not like a non-pitching arm.

 

Both hammies are not stretched.

[moonslav59]

One trade deadline strategy: roll the dice and hope Kyle S. can play 1b. This strategy involves the additional negative of acquiring a player who is hurt and not ready to contribute.

 

Another trade deadline strategy: acquire an actual 1b, while also acquiring Kyle S., who is eminently useful in other roles (he can play LF as you move Verdugo around to CF and RF. He can also get some limited work in at DH to rest a slumping JD).

 

The Red Sox went with the former strategy when the latter made much more sense.

 

I guess they did not want to bench Verdugo, Kike or Arroyo.

[mvp 78]

Both hammies are not stretched.

 

If you aren't stretching both hammies, you aren't trying hard enough.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

This is sure to raise an uproar, but there is no better option at 1B than the one true first baseman who will be ready for the stretch run and is currently starring in Japan.

 

Triston Casas is 21, but also batting clean-up and crushing the ball for the US Olympic team. Compare him to Duran all you want, but announcers are raving about Casas' two-strike approach "choking up and getting wide" -- something none of our big league whiffers even attempt while flailing over and over and over. As the biggest guy on the diamond he can handle the pressure, bounce throws in the dirt, and wild, high ones, too.

 

Posters have speculated about the possibility of bringing up prospects when injuries arise. Well, guys are hurt, and guys are hurting us. What do the Sox have to lose... except service time????

 

I don't see Casas as an option right now--you don't want to rush a player simply because your GM was too dumb to acquire a 1b at the trade deadline.

[mvp 78]

This is sure to raise an uproar, but there is no better option at 1B than the one true first baseman who will be ready for the stretch run and is currently starring in Japan.

 

Triston Casas is 21, but also batting clean-up and crushing the ball for the US Olympic team. Compare him to Duran all you want, but announcers are raving about Casas' two-strike approach "choking up and getting wide" -- something none of our big league whiffers even attempt while flailing over and over and over. As the biggest guy on the diamond he can handle the pressure, bounce throws in the dirt, and wild, high ones, too.

 

Posters have speculated about the possibility of bringing up prospects when injuries arise. Well, guys are hurt, and guys are hurting us. What do the Sox have to lose... except service time????

 

Casas isn't quite ready. His numbers in AA don't warrant calling him up. He's not forcing their hand.

 

The Olympic competition isn't much better than high A or AA.

[mvp 78]

I don't see Casas as an option right now--you don't want to rush a player simply because your GM was too dumb to acquire a 1b at the trade deadline.

 

I don't think he's dumb. I think he was told not to go over the cap. That limited the deals he could do.

[moonslav59]

I don't see Casas as an option right now--you don't want to rush a player simply because your GM was too dumb to acquire a 1b at the trade deadline.

 

LOL.

 

We are talking about 2023. There's a long time between this past deadline and 2023 to acquire a 1Bman, if Schwarber doesn't work out there and has to be moved to DH or LF.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think he's dumb. I think he was told not to go over the cap. That limited the deals he could do.

 

And means the 'push for Scherzer' rumor must have been fiction.

[mvp 78]

LOL.

 

We are talking about 2023. There's a long time between this past deadline and 2023 to acquire a 1Bman, if Schwarber doesn't work out there and has to be moved to DH or LF.

 

Schwarber won't be here in 2022.

[moonslav59]

Casas isn't quite ready. His numbers in AA don't warrant calling him up. He's not forcing their hand.

 

The Olympic competition isn't much better than high A or AA.

 

We shouldn't even count on 2023 for Casas. I think he'll be ready, but it is far from certain.

[mvp 78]

And means the 'push for Scherzer' rumor must have been fiction.

 

I agree.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Casas isn't quite ready. His numbers in AA don't warrant calling him up. He's not forcing their hand.

 

The Olympic competition isn't much better than high A or AA.

 

It's hard to argue that Dalbec, Duran, Cordero or the late (swinging) Chavis are, either, and yet they're all big leaguers. I'd bet -- and at least hope -- Casas is the reason Bloom didn't add a real first baseman. If he's not a September call-up, Casas will be playing first for in Boston sometime next season.

[moonslav59]

Schwarber won't be here in 2022.

 

So, we can't get a 1Bman this winter? They are a dime a dozen.

 

BTW, what is the Schwarber option specifically like?

[mvp 78]

So, we can't get a 1Bman this winter? They are a dime a dozen.

 

BTW, what is the Schwarber option specifically like?

 

If they are a dime a dozen, why didn't they grab one last week?

 

He has a mutual option, meaning both player and team have to pick up the option.

[mvp 78]

It's hard to argue that Dalbec, Duran, Cordero or the late (swinging) Chavis are, either, and yet they're all big leaguers. I'd bet -- and at least hope -- Casas is the reason Bloom didn't add a real first baseman. If he's not a September call-up, Casas will be playing first for in Boston sometime next season.

 

I would bet that we see Casas next year, not this one.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I don't see Casas as an option right now--you don't want to rush a player simply because your GM was too dumb to acquire a 1b at the trade deadline.

 

Casas is already more polished as an all-around player than Dalbec, Duran and certainly Cordero, so they were all rushed, too.

[Bellhorn04]

They're not a dime a dozen. Just ask Hosmer.

[mvp 78]

They're not a dime a dozen. Just ask Hosmer.

 

To Hosmer, a dime a dozen means 10 or 12 years.

[mvp 78]

Casas is already more polished as an all-around player than Dalbec, Duran and certainly Cordero, so they were all rushed, too.

 

Yes, he's better today, but if Bloom is focused on the long term, he'll keep Casas down until he's forcing their hand.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Schwarber won't be here in 2022.

 

Why won't he be here? The Red Sox need him. I realize he will decline his option and will be a free agent, but I'm hoping the Red Sox sign him to a long term deal.

[mvp 78]

Why won't he be here? The Red Sox need him. I realize he will decline his option and will be a free agent, but I'm hoping the Red Sox sign him to a long term deal.

 

Maybe they do that? It's hard to say because they haven't opened their wallet yet. I think they have enough OF guys right now (Kiké, Verdugo, Renfroe, Duran). I think they need to spend on pitching.

[harmony]

So, we can't get a 1Bman this winter? They are a dime a dozen.

 

BTW, what is the Schwarber option specifically like?

Kyle Schwarber can probably exercise the $11.5 million option for 2022. The Red Sox can then decline and pay a $3 million buyout.

 

If Schwarber declines his end of the mutual option, the Red Sox presumably would owe nothing.

 

Or not.

 

https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/al-east/boston-red-sox/

[Fan_since_Boggs]

But they have JD hopefully opting out. Kyle S. could be the Red Sox's DH as early as next season and into future seasons. I think they need his bat going forward.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

It strikes me as pretty obvious that Kyle S. is going to decline his option. Why play for 11 million when he can get a contract in excess of 100 million on the free agent market?

[harmony]

But they have JD hopefully opting out. Kyle S. could be the Red Sox's DH as early as next season and into future seasons. I think they need his bat going forward.

The Red Sox need Kyle Schwarber's bat from June of this year but not his bat from April this year:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=schwaky01&year=2021&t=b

 

Schwarber's performance in this season's anticipated short stint with the Red Sox could impact the streaky player's value going forward.