A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[oldtimer]

I don't see Marwin being DFA'd for Munoz.

 

We'd send down Arauz.

 

When Arroyo is activated, then I'd do it, but I doubt Cora signs off on that.

 

Doesn't look like there will be any moves before the game tonight.

[notin]

Doesn't look like there will be any moves before the game tonight.

 

 

Most of those moves hinge on someone being activated…

[notin]

I don't see Marwin being DFA'd for Munoz.

 

We'd send down Arauz.

 

When Arroyo is activated, then I'd do it, but I doubt Cora signs off on that.

 

I do agree DFAing Gonzalez is unlikely when there are players who can be demoted and there is no reason to keep Danny Santana on the 40 man roster…

[jad]

You’re not legally required to watch all 18. Just don’t step on the toes of us who do want it…

 

Oh for the days of Josh Beckett taking 45 seconds to a minute and a half between pitches! Think how the pitch clock infringed upon the rights of those who just lived for watching him wander about the mound, rubbing up the ball on a 2-1 count.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Oh for the days of Josh Beckett taking 45 seconds to a minute and a half between pitches! Think how the pitch clock infringed upon the rights of those who just lived for watching him wander about the mound, rubbing up the ball on a 2-1 count.

 

The pace of the game makes it unwatchable for me. That is why I record every game and use the FF button liberally. Sure I miss some dialogue and that has made me less informed than most. But I get home late from work (I drive for Lyft at night in retirement) and I'm not staying up till 3 to watch a 9 inning game.

 

I haven't posted since the last loss as that was a ball breaker. Bats finally woke up but the pen blew it, just so frustrating.

[moonslav59]

If Arroyo ever returns, does Duran go to the bench or platoon?

 

I like having Kike in CF.

[iortiz]

I just read that Arroyo will have rehab sessions next week as well as Santana. They should be available in 2 weeks.

 

Also seems like Shwarber is doing well too and should be available in a week or two.

[oldtimer]

If Arroyo ever returns, does Duran go to the bench or platoon?

 

I like having Kike in CF.

 

Duran has hit well in the last 4 games in which he started. Why sit him? JDM went 0 for 4 tonight. Barnes lacked effectiveness again and we made a key error in the 9th. Not winning many games that way.

[moonslav59]

Duran has hit well in the last 4 games in which he started. Why sit him? JDM went 0 for 4 tonight. Barnes lacked effectiveness again and we made a key error in the 9th. Not winning many games that way.

 

So, who sits? Are you saying JD?

 

Do we play Arroyo at 1B, again?

 

Do we put our best defensive CF'er (kike) or 2Bman (kike) at 1B?

 

Do you have Renroe and Verdugo platoon, so Duran can play FT?

 

What's your suggestion?

[iortiz]

I play Kike at 1B if he can play there without get injured.

 

Duran hasn’t been a problem at CF.

 

I would prioritize the offense and play the hottest hitters right now. Arroyo has to play 2B.

 

The big question should be, what are we going to do when Shwarber plays? Who are you going to sit? Duran? Arroyo? Renfroe? Kike?

[illinoisredsox]

I play Kike at 1B if he can play there without get injured.

 

Duran hasn’t been a problem at CF.

 

I would prioritize the offense and play the hottest hitters right now. Arroyo has to play 2B.

 

The big question should be, what are we going to do when Shwarber plays? Who are you going to sit? Duran? Arroyo? Renfroe? Kike?

 

Hottest hitters? Who would those be? At the most, a guy has a good game and then reverts. Kike had a great July, but he wasn't going to keep that pace up. The rest have been in and out for several weeks now.

 

And with a bench of 4 players, its not like there are a ton of options.

[oldtimer]

A lot had to go right for the Sox to build up a lead in the AL East. The Yankees played poorly, The Jays pitching was weak while our pitching and offense did well. JDM rebounded from a bad 2020, Rafie was a monster, Bogie was playing at a high level. Renfroe played himself into an every day guy. Kike started slow but really heated up. Verdugo and Arroyo but contributed well. Our pitching moves to get Swamamura, Pivetta and Whitlock were strokes of genius. Ottavino was a good acquisition. One weak spot showed itself at 1st base and catching was below league average.

 

Bloom and Cora had tried to catch lightning in a bottle with Gonzalez, Santana and Cordero but they have played like other people's cast offs. Chavis didn't improve while Dalbec was figured out by league pitching staffs. The use of grip enhancers was adopted and suddenly Richards became a subpar starter while Perez looked worse than even his 5th starter ranking. Clearly there was a need to reinforce the team if it was to continue to lead the league. That brought us up to the AS break and the trade deadline.

 

We were fortunate not to suffer a lot of injuries during the first half and we seemed reluctant to try to improve through our minor league prospects. Houck and Duran were held back although it looked like they might help. For whatever reason, whether the CBT or concern that the price in prospects to reinforce the team through trades seem to pervade Sox management thinking. Bloom said he intended being active in the trade market, but the results were to pick up one solid player with an injury which may keep him out for at least a month. He also was not a good fit for our clear need at first base. Cora had already tried a desperation move with Arroyo at first which lost a solid contributor to the team for maybe 6 weeks. Bloom did pick up two relief pitchers who haven't shown much value. Meanwhile all of our competitors made substantial improvements.

 

That led to Cora saying they were planning on some shakeups to the team. None were seen last night as we had a bench of Gonzalez, Dalbec and Arauz. Arroyo is still a couple of weeks away, Schwaber at least a week and Verdugo still on paternity leave. Our big hitters have cooled off and our weak spots remain. Our closer seems to have lost confidence. It is time for a shakeup. Can it be worse than what we are seeing? Munoz, Sale, Houck and Seabold might help us and should be up ASAP. Instead, management has been indecisive and ineffective while the season is going down in flames. are they waiting for us to completely go out of contention?

[Noles_1335]

Like I said last week… insert that pitch fork! The lack of starting pitching talent and ability to go deep into games has destroyed the pen! Furthermore, anyone noticed the lack of strikes thrown by our BP guys! The Rays maybe threw 6 pitches that were called a ball last night, our guys maybe 55-60% were strikes! Management not making any changes at the deadline was a terrible mistake and we’re paying for it now. The Yanks will catch us soon and don’t be surprised when the Jays do the same! I won’t even get started on Barnes and his inability to hold a lead anymore!

[Bellhorn04]

We should have won the last 2 games, needless to say, with 7-2 and 4-1 leads. And we blew them with our best relievers on the mound. There's not much management can do about that.

[User Name]

Barnes is slumping hard. Dude needs a mental break.

[mvp 78]

We should have won the last 2 games, needless to say, with 7-2 and 4-1 leads. And we blew them with our best relievers on the mound. There's not much management can do about that.

 

Aside from making moves at the deadline?

 

Calling up some arms from AAA?

[mvp 78]

Barnes is slumping hard. Dude needs a mental break.

 

No, no, no. Once he signed the extension, his mind went on an extended break.

[User Name]

I also think this team could and should have done more at the deadline.

[moonslav59]

I play Kike at 1B if he can play there without get injured.

 

Duran hasn’t been a problem at CF.

 

I would prioritize the offense and play the hottest hitters right now. Arroyo has to play 2B.

 

The big question should be, what are we going to do when Shwarber plays? Who are you going to sit? Duran? Arroyo? Renfroe? Kike?

 

The defense, which already sucks, gets even worse, this way.

 

I would maybe do this a few days, but I would not play Duran v LHPs with hopes he starts hitting righties, soon.

 

When Schwarber starts playing, I would not limit Kike's playing time, at all. He'd play mostly CF and some 2B, when Arroyo sits and Duran plays CF vs some righties.

 

I might lightly platoon Renfroe and Verdugo to get Duran and Arroyo more playing time, assuming they both hit well enough.

[moonslav59]

No, no, no. Once he signed the extension, his mind went on an extended break.

 

Big ASSumption.

[moonslav59]

I also think this team could and should have done more at the deadline.

 

Cron might not have cost much.

[notin]

Aside from making moves at the deadline?

 

Calling up some arms from AAA?

 

But even then, in the three games in which Barnes collapsed, those were all games for a closer/high leverage reliever. So unless the Red Sox acquired Kimbrel, they likely would have all been sports for Barnes anyway.

 

We’ve now come full circle here. The one thing a lot of us wanted at the deadline was starting pitching. Ironically over the last few games that’s the one area probably doing the best. The lineup can’t seem to score after the fifth inning. And the bullpen has been an utter disaster the last few games..

[Bellhorn04]

Aside from making moves at the deadline?

 

Calling up some arms from AAA?

 

Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that our best relievers just didn't get it done the last 2 games.

 

Sometimes guys just don't perform.

 

That's a completely separate issue from the lack of deadline moves, which disappointed me as well.

[mvp 78]

Cron might not have cost much.

 

I think the Rockies will give him a QO and hope for a comp pick. If the Sox weren't going to offer better value than that, the Rockies were going to keep him. Same with Gray.

[mvp 78]

But even then, in the three games in which Barnes collapsed, those were all games for a closer/high leverage reliever. So unless the Red Sox acquired Kimbrel, they likely would have all been sports for Barnes anyway.

 

We’ve now come full circle here. The one thing a lot of us wanted at the deadline was starting pitching. Ironically over the last few games that’s the one area probably doing the best. The lineup can’t seem to score after the fifth inning. And the bullpen has been an utter disaster the last few games..

 

Why not go with Ottavino instead of Barnes? Valdez is barely pitching and he's come up big from time to time.

[Bellhorn04]

Why not go with Ottavino instead of Barnes? Valdez is barely pitching and he's come up big from time to time.

 

Just go with the guy who won't give up any runs!

[mvp 78]

Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that our best relievers just didn't get it done the last 2 games.

 

Sometimes guys just don't perform.

 

That's a completely separate issue from the lack of deadline moves, which disappointed me as well.

 

I don't see it as separate. I think Barnes and Ottavino have been overused. They have guys sitting in the pen that are serviceable like Valdez who rarely pitch. I'm not completely surprised that the pen has been worn out. I think they should have churned and burned more guys from AAA and see if any of them stick. The useage of the pen at times has been interesting.

 

Brennan pitched well when given the opportunity. Schreiber has MLB experience and has pitched ok in AAA. Ort?

 

Tie game in the 9th, why not go to Perez instead of Barnes? If they had a lead, I could see why they'd go with Barnes.

[mvp 78]

Just go with the guy who won't give up any runs!

 

Barnes was coming off two straight walk off losses, no? Maybe give him a breather?

[Bellhorn04]

Tie game in the 9th, why not go to Perez instead of Barnes? If they had a lead, I could see why they'd go with Barnes.

 

And you know what the reaction would be if Perez gave up runs.

[mvp 78]

Big ASSumption.

 

7.88 ERA since he signed the extension.

 

21.00 ERA since Bloom punted the trade deadline.

 

Maybe it's the trade deadline's fault then?