A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[Maxbialystock]

New topic.

 

Right now it sure looks as though Cora has three excellent long relievers: Whitlock, Richards, and Valdez.

 

Thoughts? Am I right? If so, how should Cora use them?

[moonslav59]

New topic.

 

Right now it sure looks as though Cora has three excellent long relievers: Whitlock, Richards, and Valdez.

 

Thoughts? Am I right? If so, how should Cora use them?

 

2-3 innings every third day with no others used, unless needed.

 

Actually, I still trust Ottavino more than Valdez.

[Maxbialystock]

You do realize that if the team had this little patience, we never would have seen that great August by Dalbec?

 

Baloney. Dalbec's turnaround was blind stupid luck.

[moonslav59]

Baloney. Dalbec's turnaround was blind stupid luck.

 

So was not benching JD for 3 games.

[Bellhorn04]

New topic.

 

Right now it sure looks as though Cora has three excellent long relievers: Whitlock, Richards, and Valdez.

 

Thoughts? Am I right? If so, how should Cora use them?

 

Cora will figure it out as good as you can. Personally I think he's an absolute maestro with how he uses his bullpen.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The big question is if Richards continues to shine in the BP for the rest of the season, should the SOX give him 10 million for 2022?

[Bellhorn04]

The big question is if Richards continues to shine in the BP for the rest of the season, should the SOX give him 10 million for 2022?

 

That is a very good question.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

That is a very good question.

 

Josh Hader of the Brewers is making a little over 6.5 million. To me he's the gold standard for versatile relievers.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Typical irony in the Covid age that the Sox' fastest outfielder can't go into late innings as a defensive replacement. But it shows how much Bloom really thought about his club's chances last winter when he wouldn't sign a cheap, glove-first centerfielder to protect leads... despite the talksox miracle of virtually every poster agreeing to pay one.

 

Jake Marisnick cost $1 million. Michael Taylor, who leads the big leagues in outfield dWAR, cost $1.75 mil. There were others.

[mvp 78]

Why mess with my messing with the stork?

 

Be better.

[mvp 78]

He's ideal for Yankee stadium, where a strong arm is still important but range can be hidden.

 

Don't speak that into existence.

[mvp 78]

2-3 innings every third day with no others used, unless needed.

 

Actually, I still trust Ottavino more than Valdez.

 

IDK. Ottavino scares the s*** out of me whenever he's on the mound.

[mvp 78]

Josh Hader of the Brewers is making a little over 6.5 million. To me he's the gold standard for versatile relievers.

 

Hard to compare a guy who is still in their arbitration years.

[mvp 78]

Typical irony in the Covid age that the Sox' fastest outfielder can't go into late innings as a defensive replacement. But it shows how much Bloom really thought about his club's chances last winter when he wouldn't sign a cheap, glove-first centerfielder to protect leads... despite the talksox miracle of virtually every poster agreeing to pay one.

 

Jake Marisnick cost $1 million. Michael Taylor, who leads the big leagues in outfield dWAR, cost $1.75 mil. There were others.

 

It was a question many of us asked this offseason. The OF plan on day 1 was not a good one.

[Maxbialystock]

So was not benching JD for 3 games.

 

Luck is the residue of an infinite capacity for mastering details.

[Maxbialystock]

Typical irony in the Covid age that the Sox' fastest outfielder can't go into late innings as a defensive replacement. But it shows how much Bloom really thought about his club's chances last winter when he wouldn't sign a cheap, glove-first centerfielder to protect leads... despite the talksox miracle of virtually every poster agreeing to pay one.

 

Jake Marisnick cost $1 million. Michael Taylor, who leads the big leagues in outfield dWAR, cost $1.75 mil. There were others.

 

Are you arguing that Kike Hernandez needs to be replaced in the late innings because he stinks defensively?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If he gets to it, he can catch it. The problem is that he breaks very late on these fly balls so his range is limited. There was a ball hit the other night to LF/CF that I thought he'd at least have a chance on and he was about 20 ft away when it landed. It was one of those "JBJ woulda had it" moments.

 

Or Kike would have had it moments. It would be to the SOX advantage that Kike play the remainder of the season in CF.

[Maxbialystock]

IDK. Ottavino scares the s*** out of me whenever he's on the mound.

 

Well, we all have our hobgoblins--or hobby horses as the case my be.

 

Me, I think Ottavino is just what the doctor ordered to keep this badly injured bullpen functional. He's tied for the 4th best pitching WAR on the team, has 11 saves (in 15 opportunities) and 19 holds--and his ERA for August was 1.80. Bloom's acquiring him was genius.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Or Kike would have had it moments. It would be to the SOX advantage that Kike play the remainder of the season in CF.

 

 

However, if Cora wants Dugo, Schwarber, JD and Renfroe in the line-up, I doubt this is possible, unless Schwarber becomes the full-time 1st baseman.

At this point it appears Dugo will be in CF more than Kike.

Edited September 3, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Bellhorn04]

Well, we all have our hobgoblins--or hobby horses as the case my be.

 

Me, I think Ottavino is just what the doctor ordered to keep this badly injured bullpen functional. He's tied for the 4th best pitching WAR on the team, has 11 saves (in 15 opportunities) and 19 holds--and his ERA for August was 1.80. Bloom's acquiring him was genius.

 

Ottavino is turning around the narrative of Yankee fans that he fades late in the season and doesn't like the big moments.

[moonslav59]

I think Ottavino has been a plus. He may barely be worth his contract.

 

I've always liked Kike in the OF, but I also wanted Marisnik as our 4th OF'er.

 

I would not pay Richards $10M to be in our pen, next year, unless he keeps this up (or nearly as good) to the end of 2021.

[Maxbialystock]

It was a question many of us asked this offseason. The OF plan on day 1 was not a good one.

 

The Sox outfield is far from perfect, but I'm fine with Verdugo (2.7 WAR) in LF, Kike (4.4 WAR) in CF, and Renfroe (1.4 WAR) in RF. Verdugo's OPS is .784, Rike's is .811, and Renfroe's is .813.

 

The argument that Bloom needed to acquire a great defensive CF for the late innings is absurd.

[moonslav59]

Ottavino is turning around the narrative of Yankee fans that he fades late in the season and doesn't like the big moments.

 

The narrative was false to begin with and was based on 1 or 2 years where he had one or two awful late season games that totally skewed his numbers.

[Bellhorn04]

I would not pay Richards $10M to be in our pen, next year, unless he keeps this up (or nearly as good) to the end of 2021.

 

Nicely hedged!

[Maxbialystock]

I think Ottavino has been a plus. He may barely be worth his contract.

 

I've always liked Kike in the OF, but I also wanted Marisnik as our 4th OF'er.

 

I would not pay Richards $10M to be in our pen, next year, unless he keeps this up (or nearly as good) to the end of 2021.

 

Always with the dollar signs, but I agree, especially on Richards. It is remotely possible that the disaster of no longer being able to rely on his doctored-up knuckle curve has actually made him a better pitcher. He has been freaking unreal in the bullpen and last night to me was the piece de resistance.

 

If he does keep this up for the rest of the season, Bloom and Cora are going to have a heckuva discussion. $10M is a lot, plus I don't like the long hair.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The Sox outfield is far from perfect, but I'm fine with Verdugo (2.7 WAR) in LF, Kike (4.4 WAR) in CF, and Renfroe (1.4 WAR) in RF. Verdugo's OPS is .784, Rike's is .811, and Renfroe's is .813.

 

The argument that Bloom needed to acquire a great defensive CF for the late innings is absurd.

 

That would be the ideal outfield for sure, but to make that possible Schwarber would have to play 1st base, if you want both he and JD's bat in the line-up. And then you'd have Dalbec riding the pines. Like I posted a few days ago, it's difficult having two DH's on one team.

[Bellhorn04]

Always with the dollar signs, but I agree, especially on Richards. It is remotely possible that the disaster of no longer being able to rely on his doctored-up knuckle curve has actually made him a better pitcher. He has been freaking unreal in the bullpen and last night to me was the piece de resistance.

 

If he does keep this up for the rest of the season, Bloom and Cora are going to have a heckuva discussion. $10M is a lot, plus I don't like the long hair.

 

Long hair is what sets us apart from the Yankees.

 

Speaking of which, if you click on Joey Gallo's B-R page, it shows him with beard and mustache in a Yankees cap. It's comical.

[Maxbialystock]

However, if Cora wants Dugo, Schwarber, JD and Renfroe in the line-up, I doubt this is possible, unless Schwarber becomes the full-time 1st baseman.

At this point it appears Dugo will be in CF more than Kike.

 

A nice dilemma to be in. I frankly think Dalbec is going to stay at 1b, so Cora will have to figure out how to use Verdugo, Kike, Renfroe, and Schwarber/JDM in the outfield (plus Schwarber/JDM at DH). That's also 3 righty bats and 2 lefty bats, so maybe the opposing starter pitcher will determine who starts.

 

Worst case, Cora has a pretty good pinch hitter and/or late inning replacement. Plus COVID might take away another of his options as it has already.

[mvp 78]

Or Kike would have had it moments. It would be to the SOX advantage that Kike play the remainder of the season in CF.

 

Agreed.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The SOX offense is better when Kike is at 2nd base, but the defense is worse in the OF. That's the tradeoff.