A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[moonslav59]

The other choice to be made is when Brasier is ready. Taylor sent down?.

[notin]

The other choice to be made is when Brasier is ready. Taylor sent down?.

 

With guys on the 40 man roster, the moves are easier.

 

Part of the problem with sending Taylor “down” is only recently has there been any place to send him down to. But yeah, he probably needs a demotion...

[moonslav59]

I’ve spoken at length about the fine job Bloom has done building up the farm and the 40 man roster, particularly the bottom 10-15 slots. Eventually, we will see further building, as many players signed for just one year or one year with an option. Even EHern only signed for two years.

 

We have a few players, like Santana and Downs that may be added to the 40 man roster before this winter.

 

One area Bloom seems to have done very well at is building a rotation good enough to keep thing interesting and carry us until Sale returns and/or we start the inning clock on Houck. I’m hopeful the rotation can keep us in the race, but this team still has some major weak spots.

[mvp 78]

Even though I’ve been critical of Valdez, I don’t think he’s a candidate to the same extent as Brice or Taylor. Colten Brewer might be DFA’d before Valdez...

 

You're right. Valdez has been a bit better than I thought, but he has been a no show for the past week and a half. Overall, Taylor and Brice have been the worst two options by far. I'd probably dump Brice first because Taylor seems unlucky based on FIP. However, the Sox are hesitant to hurt their depth so they'd be more likely to option Taylor. Maybe optioning Taylor is better as it would give him time to figure out what is going wrong in AAA. With Brice, just use him as a mop up guy and keep him around in case there is an injury or two.

[moonslav59]

With guys on the 40 man roster, the moves are easier.

 

Part of the problem with sending Taylor “down” is only recently has there been any place to send him down to. But yeah, he probably needs a demotion...

 

Yes, not having live games for demoted players is likely the major reason we have not demoted anyone.

[moonslav59]

You're right. Valdez has been a bit better than I thought, but he has been a no show for the past week and a half. Overall, Taylor and Brice have been the worst two options by far. I'd probably dump Brice first because Taylor seems unlucky based on FIP. However, the Sox are hesitant to hurt their depth so they'd be more likely to option Taylor. Maybe optioning Taylor is better as it would give him time to figure out what is going wrong in AAA. With Brice, just use him as a mop up guy and keep him around in case there is an injury or two.

 

The only reason to keep Brice over Taylor is the lack of options.

[mvp 78]

The only reason to keep Brice over Taylor is the lack of options.

 

Basically. I don't think I'd lose any sleep if I Brice was claimed in waivers though.

 

I'd rather Brasier/Houck/Bazardo/Brewer. I'm not sure Brice is even an upgrade over Kevin McCarthy or Marcus Walden.

[moonslav59]

Basically. I don't think I'd lose any sleep if I Brice was claimed in waivers though.

 

I'd rather Brasier/Houck/Bazardo/Brewer. I'm not sure Brice is even an upgrade over Kevin McCarthy or Marcus Walden.

 

I think I’d sleep very soundly, as I always do, if someone claimed Brice. I only mentioned the options because it seems Sox brass likes Brice enough to think they want to keep him and Taylor as options and depth.

[dgalehouse]

The next seven games are against the worst that MLB has to offer. That should help to lift the spirits a bit.

[moonslav59]

The next seven games are against the worst that MLB has to offer. That should help to lift the spirits a bit.

 

Agreed, or give us a harsher wake call than this last series.

[moonslav59]

All our starters are under 4.70 with our worst ones on the mend.

 

4.70 Perez (3 ERs in last 9.1 IP)

4.40 Richards (2 ERs in last 12 IP)

4.18 ERod

3.63 Eivaldi

2.81 Pivetta

[mvp 78]

Brasier sent to 60 day DL.

 

@MattRyCollins

Red Sox claim Brandon Brennan off waivers from the Mariners

[moonslav59]

What’s wrong with Braiser?

[Kimmi]

Excellent point on having "no clue" that is often understandably overlooked by fans... ballclubs intentionally withhold certain info that may be used against them by opponents (especially injuries).

 

But I think because teams don't make all info available to the public, that we CAN question decisions... on the surface. Of course, they could care less what fans think (as long as we keep spending our entertainment dollars on them).

 

Questioning the manager is one of the rites of passage of being a regular Talksox poster.

[Kimmi]

Cordero has been given a longer leash than Benintendi got last year, and has managed to be less productive. Two big reasons might be 1) no minor league to demote him down to for April, and 2) a lack of alternatives on the 40 man roster. The only other outfielders are Marcus Wilson and Jeisson Rosario, and neither is likely to get called up.

 

The team's W-L record and 1st place standing is another reason why Cordero has been given a longer leash. There isn't the sense of urgency that there was to start last year.

 

Regardless of the reasons, decisions should not be made based on 2 or 3 week samples. If teams did that regularly, they'd lose out on some great players.

[Kimmi]

The next seven games are against the worst that MLB has to offer. That should help to lift the spirits a bit.

 

Let's hope.

[oldtimer]

The team's W-L record and 1st place standing is another reason why Cordero has been given a longer leash. There isn't the sense of that there was to start last year.

 

Regardless of the reasons, decisions should not made based on 2 or 3 week samples. If teams did that regularly, they'd lose out on some great players.

 

Let's not wait to do something to rectify problems until we have a losing record! We have gotten off to an unexpectedly good start. Let's continue to improve. Sending Codero down sounds best for him and the team at this point. At the same time, go down to 13 pitchers and bring up another bat. I know you favor 14 pitchers but we have a problem that needs to be addressed by adding offensive flexibility.

[moonslav59]

Now that AAA games have begun, we should start seeing some movement. We may wait until some players we want to call up to get a few lives games under their belts before being thrown into a live MLB game.

 

I've been on the 13 pitcher bandwagon since day one, and nothing has changed, but I'm not sure Sox brass thinks the same way.

 

I think this is what happens:

 

As soon as Santana is ready and has some games played at AAA, he'll be called up as Cordero is demoted to AAA to try and work things out.

 

Despite Josh Taylor doing oka in his last 2 outings, I think he's the odd man out. Brice is out of options, and others are doing too well to be demoted. Who takes Taylor's place? I'd say Houck, but Maybe Bazardo gets a second look. They may want to keep Houck's innings for later in the season while also gaining another year of control from him.

 

It could be times up for Brice. Maybe Taylor & Brice are both demoted or DFA'd.

 

Best case scenario, could this be the 26 man roster,later this summer?

 

 

Sale, ERod, Eovaldi, Richards, Pivetta

Barnes, Ottavino, Brasier, Andriese, Sawamura, DHern, Whitlock, Perez, Houck

Vazquez, Plawecki

Dalbec

Arroyo

Marwin

Devers

Bogaerts

Verdugo

Hernandez

Renfroe

Santana

Martinez

 

Brice- DFA'd

Cordero, Valdez & Taylor- Demoted

 

Most likely additions beyond the 26 plus 4 listed above:

 

CF: Duran

RP: Bazardo

SP: Seabold

1B/2B: Chavis

UT: Munoz/Arauz/Downs

 

If we went with 13 pitchers, the most likely move would be Duran for maybe Brasier.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Now that AAA games have begun, we should start seeing some movement. We may wait until some players we want to call up to get a few lives games under their belts before being thrown into a live MLB game.

 

I've been on the 13 pitcher bandwagon since day one, and nothing has changed, but I'm not sure Sox brass thinks the same way.

 

I think this is what happens:

 

As soon as Santana is ready and has some games played at AAA, he'll be called up as Cordero is demoted to AAA to try and work things out.

 

Despite Josh Taylor doing oka in his last 2 outings, I think he's the odd man out. Brice is out of options, and others are doing too well to be demoted. Who takes Taylor's place? I'd say Houck, but Maybe Bazardo gets a second look. They may want to keep Houck's innings for later in the season while also gaining another year of control from him.

 

It could be times up for Brice. Maybe Taylor & Brice are both demoted or DFA'd.

 

Best case scenario, could this be the 26 man roster,later this summer?

 

 

Sale, ERod, Eovaldi, Richards, Pivetta

Barnes, Ottavino, Brasier, Andriese, Sawamura, DHern, Whitlock, Perez, Houck

Vazquez, Plawecki

Dalbec

Arroyo

Marwin

Devers

Bogaerts

Verdugo

Hernandez

Renfroe

Santana

Martinez

 

Brice- DFA'd

Cordero, Valdez & Taylor- Demoted

 

Most likely additions beyond the 26 plus 4 listed above:

 

CF: Duran

RP: Bazardo

SP: Seabold

1B/2B: Chavis

UT: Munoz/Arauz/Downs

 

If we went with 13 pitchers, the most likely move would be Duran for maybe Brasier.

Moon why not try Duran in LF ? Also do we look to jettison one of Renfroe or Franchy at the deadline and try to upgrade ?Platoon Duran and Santana in LF release them both ? Still excited about this team .

Edited May 4, 2021 by Swiharts Ghost

[notin]

Moon why not try Duran in LF ? Also do we look to jettison one of Renfroe or Franchy at the deadline and try to upgrade ?Platoon Duran and Santana in LF release them both ? Still excited about this team .

 

Duran has played about 150 games in the outfield in his life and all of it over 2 years ago. I think they’d like him to play OF a little this year prior to reaching the majors...

[mvp 78]

Duran has played about 150 games in the outfield in his life and all of it over 2 years ago. I think they’d like him to play OF a little this year prior to reaching the majors...

 

TIL, practice and winter league doesn’t count.

[moonslav59]

Moon why not try Duran in LF ? Also do we look to jettison one of Renfroe or Franchy at the deadline and try to upgrade ?Platoon Duran and Santana in LF release them both ? Still excited about this team .

 

I have Duran listed as a possible addition.

 

He has the best chance on that list to earn a slot on the team, this summer.

 

Franchy has options and team control. He'll stay at AAA until he proves he should get another look or is traded or DFA'd.

 

Renfroe will not be traded. One of our weaknesses is OF depth, and he has a history of killing lefties. Might a Duran-Renfroe platoon develop? Maybe, but Duran will play CF, once he shows he's ready and the need is still there.

 

Maybe Santana does great, and Kike, too. With Verdugo FT, Renfroe vs LHPs and Marwin on the bench, there is no hurry on Duran.

[Bellhorn04]

Questioning the manager is one of the rites of passage of being a regular Talksox poster.

 

Not bragging about it, but I hardly ever question the manager. I don't think I've questioned Cora once.

[mvp 78]

Not bragging about it, but I hardly ever question the manager. I don't think I've questioned Cora once.

 

It just means you're an irregular Talksox poster.

[notin]

Not bragging about it, but I hardly ever question the manager. I don't think I've questioned Cora once.

 

I definitely have, but I also usually acknowledge that his knowledge of any situation is obviously far deeper than any superficial questions I have...

[notin]

TIL, practice and winter league doesn’t count.

 

Exactly. The Arizona Fall League, for example, has a season maybe 25-30 games long. Yet it gets made such a big deal of..

[Bellhorn04]

I definitely have, but I also usually acknowledge that his knowledge of any situation is obviously far deeper than any superficial questions I have...

 

I will say this, it would be nice if the Sox beat writers occasionally asked some of the obvious questions, like what's up with Valdez etc.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Exactly. The Arizona Fall League, for example, has a season maybe 25-30 games long. Yet it gets made such a big deal of..

 

You try stepping over the snails that come out at night; they're bigger than the scorpions!

[notin]

I will say this, it would be nice if the Sox beat writers occasionally asked some of the obvious questions, like what's up with Valdez etc.

 

Maybe they do, but Cora answers with an unprintable profanity-laced tirade....

[mvp 78]

I will say this, it would be nice if the Sox beat writers occasionally asked some of the obvious questions, like what's up with Valdez etc.

 

It's been noticed by them tho.

 

@PeteAbe

Josh Taylor for the seventh.

 

Captain Phillips Valdez hasn't pitched in a week.