A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[Kimmi]

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

 

The 'push for Scherzer' was probably nothing more than Bloom asking about him to get a feel for what it would cost the Sox. It would have been negligent of Bloom not to have done so. As expected, the cost was too high and Bloom moved on.

[moonslav59]

JD Martinez has an OPS+ of 142 with the Boston Red Sox, and that team should do everything possible to replace his production with the career OPS+ of 117 of Kyle Schwarber (whose bat might get too much praise considering he has 0 PA for the Sox to date).

 

After all, Schwarber is younger and still manages to get hurt more often than Martinez. And might be more expensive, too. It’s the Tri-Fecta!!

 

Do you think JD will have an OPS+ of 140 over the length of his next contract?

 

(I hope we keep JD, but replacing this JD with the next JD is not a sideways move either.)

[Kimmi]

All this talk of Schwarber surprises me because right now he seems like a bad fit: he can't play even though the Sox badly need his bat right now; he's an outfielder on a team that needs a first baseman who can hit; he's not a starting pitcher, which is far and away the Sox biggest need right now.

 

Indeed, the one thing he seems best suited for is representational. He represents an intent to kind of, sort of, maybe improve the 2021 Sox.

 

Outside of Schwarber being a LHB with power, he really doesn't seem like a good fit. I agree with those who think the Sox will have him playing 1B when he's ready to return. If he can play that position well, then he will end up being a good fit.

 

It still surprises me that JD never took any reps at 1B.

[Kimmi]

Do you think JD is opting out this offseason?

 

I don't think there's any way he's opting out.

[mvp 78]

I don't think there's any way he's opting out.

 

I agree with you.

[mvp 78]

Outside of Schwarber being a LHB with power, he really doesn't seem like a good fit. I agree with those who think the Sox will have him playing 1B when he's ready to return. If he can play that position well, then he will end up being a good fit.

 

It still surprises me that JD never took any reps at 1B.

 

Yes, unless he can magically pick up 1b, it's an odd move IMO.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, unless he can magically pick up 1b, it's an odd move IMO.

 

But they got him relatively cheaply, I think.

[mvp 78]

But they got him relatively cheaply, I think.

 

Aldo Ramirez was a fairly decent SP prospect (top 10 on SoxProspects).

 

Schwarber's contract took up the remaining portion of the lux tax cap. They weren't able to do much after taking him. Why not get a guy like Schoop (who can play 1b) and a reliever with actual value?

[Bellhorn04]

Aldo Ramirez was a fairly decent SP prospect (top 10 on SoxProspects).

 

Schwarber's contract took up the remaining portion of the lux tax cap. They weren't able to do much after taking him. Why not get a guy like Schoop (who can play 1b) and a reliever with actual value?

 

These are the kind of questions we wish someone would ask Bloom.

[harmony]

Aldo Ramirez was a fairly decent SP prospect (top 10 on SoxProspects).

 

Schwarber's contract took up the remaining portion of the lux tax cap. They weren't able to do much after taking him. Why not get a guy like Schoop (who can play 1b) and a reliever with actual value?

Perhaps the Red Sox did not want to trade an asset more valuable than Aldo Ramirez.

[mvp 78]

Perhaps the Red Sox did not want to trade an asset more valuable than Aldo Ramirez.

 

I think you could get Schoop and a valuable reliever for lesser prospects than Aldo Ramirez.

[Kimmi]

Yes, unless he can magically pick up 1b, it's an odd move IMO.

 

It's not one that I would have predicted. Rizzo made a lot more sense, but I'm sure the FO explored that move thoroughly.

[Kimmi]

I think you could get Schoop and a valuable reliever for lesser prospects than Aldo Ramirez.

 

Not so sure about that. I think that might be wishful thinking.

[moonslav59]

Not so sure about that. I think that might be wishful thinking.

 

Also, it’s not like Aldo was a chump, and we have 6 Aldos.

 

We still need to build up farm quality and depth.

[mvp 78]

Also, it’s not like Aldo was a chump, and we have 6 Aldos.

 

We still need to build up farm quality and depth.

 

The fact that Schwarber isn't ready to go yet is not ideal as well.

[moonslav59]

The fact that Schwarber isn't ready to go yet is not ideal as well.

 

We are likely to get the big push all around the same time (Aug 10-25):

 

Sale

Schwarber

Sawamura

Arroyo

Marwin

DHern

 

Plus, Houck before Aug 10.

[mvp 78]

We are likely to get the big push all around the same time (Aug 10-25):

 

Sale

Schwarber

Sawamura

Arroyo

Marwin

DHern

 

Plus, Houck before Aug 10.

 

Treading water for 2 weeks is not ideal.

[moonslav59]

Treading water for 2 weeks is not ideal.

 

Certainly, no.

 

However, we did get where are now without most is these guys.

[mvp 78]

Certainly, no.

 

However, we did get where are now without most is these guys.

 

With them for sure, but not with their current production level.

 

Also, there have been some key subtractions to the hitting depth.

[moonslav59]

With them for sure, but not with their current production level.

 

Also, there have been some key subtractions to the hitting depth.

 

Some subtractions were additions.

[Sox75]

93 wins! That's my call, & I'm sticking to it.

 

 

Just because it's aweful fun to look back and mock a Yankee

[Sox75]

They’ll finish in the 70s. If they weren’t in a division with three legit playoff contenders, I’d say 80, but even with the worst team in baseball in the division, they’ll have 57 games vs NYY, TB, and TOR. The pen is bad. The rotation isn’t much better. As time matches on, they’ll get worse and worse, especially if they sell off pieces.

 

Loving the fact that Jacks was SO WRONG.

 

Then again, he was not the only Red Sox basher in the Spring Season.

 

Good luck to the Yankees, but it would be great to face them in the Post-Season!

 

Good luck to both teams. Or something magnanimous like that, that won't bite us in the ass!

[Larry Cook]

I had the Sox finishing the year at 88 wins and they could be there by the end of the night!

 

If Barnes does not throw this game away.

[Sox75]

I had the Sox finishing the year at 88 wins and they could be there by the end of the night!

 

If Barnes does not throw this game away.

 

Right now, you win my man!

 

Fun stuff. Fun looking back on some really wrong prognostication after watching some VERY GOOD SIGNS in ST.

 

I do find it funny that Jacks was SO OUTSPOKEN at the beginning of the season, then went mum..

Still waiting to see if the Yanks can rally, and then come out swinging if the Yanks do. Otherwise... very quiet.

 

I get it. Human nature. I'd do the same.

 

But then again... this is our house.

[Larry Cook]

Right now, you win my man!

 

Fun stuff. Fun looking back on some really wrong prognostication after watching some VERY GOOD SIGNS in ST.

 

I do find it funny that Jacks was SO OUTSPOKEN at the beginning of the season, then went mum..

Still waiting to see if the Yanks can rally, and then come out swinging if the Yanks do. Otherwise... very quiet.

 

I get it. Human nature. I'd do the same.

 

But then again... this is our house.

 

Amen brother!

[moonslav59]

Sox depth or lack thereof is why you’re not sniffing the POs. You needed vintage ERod. You’re not even getting any ERod to start

 

Hmmm....

 

We are sniffing without a vintage ERod.

[Bellhorn04]

They’ll finish in the 70s. If they weren’t in a division with three legit playoff contenders, I’d say 80, but even with the worst team in baseball in the division, they’ll have 57 games vs NYY, TB, and TOR. The pen is bad. The rotation isn’t much better. As time matches on, they’ll get worse and worse, especially if they sell off pieces.

 

Lots of great calls Jax.

[d-money]

2 out of 3. Need it. At home. This team has really fought hard to get to this point with all the adversity. I’m amazed they still have this opportunity in front of them.

[moonslav59]

2 out of 3. Need it. At home. This team has really fought hard to get to this point with all the adversity. I’m amazed they still have this opportunity in front of them.

 

Back in march, I thought we'd be close to competing for a playoff slot, this year. Once the season started, and all those come-from-behind wins started piling up, I got the sense this team had the "grit" needed to tough it out and win a WC slot, at the worst.

 

We had a few bumps along the way. I think I might have been one of the most consistently optimistic posters over the season, but even I had some serious doubts, at times.

 

Knowing that Sale, Houck, Brasier and some deadline additions were coming added to my hopefulness. Schwarber has been a big plus, and after the initial struggles by Davis and Robles, they have become key components of our pen. Iggy and Shaw have given us some shockingly great performances and moments.

 

Look at our Sept pen IP leaders and how different it is from April through July:

 

11.2 Richards

9.1 Whitlock

7.2 Ottavino

7.1 Robles

6.0 Brasier

5.1 DHern

5.1 Feliz

5.0 Taylor

3.2 Davis

3.0 Peacock, Valdez, Schreiber, Perez

 

Nobody saw that coming!

 

April pen IP leaders:

14.0 Barnes

13.1 Whitlock

12.2 Andriese

11.1 Sawamura

10.1 Valdez

9.1 Ottavino & Taylor

9.0 DHern

7.2 Brice

 

In May, Andriese led the pen in IP!

In June, Sawamura was second to Whitlock.

In July, Rios led the pen and Workman was 3rd with 10.1 IP!

In August, Robles was 2nd and Davis 3rd.

 

I bring up the pen, because they have been such a big key to our place in the standings. They went through a very rough patch, but have righted the ship.

 

The season is not over. We have yet to clinch.

 

One game at a time, boys!

[Larry Cook]

Big game tonight against cole. Let’s hope he is throwing some beachballs tonight.