A Realistic View at 2022: Part I

[moonslav59]

Devers could go to LF.

 

I do worry about Story's numbers away from Coors.

 

Me, too but not his D.

 

I'm thinking Baez may be the best fit and should be cheaper than Correa and Story.

 

Is Semien a FA?

[notin]

Me, too but not his D.

 

I'm thinking Baez may be the best fit and should be cheaper than Correa and Story.

 

Is Semien a FA?

 

Yes. Semien is also FA.

 

Reportedly Bloom was interested last year but Semien backed away because he learned Bloom was also talking to Kike. Apparently they share the same loud-mouthed agent…

[oldtimer]

I think it's 100% he opts out.

 

The question is, do we re-sign him?

 

If we think we won't, we might want to be proactive and sign someone, this year- a year with 3 excellent choices (but costly).

 

To me the most difficult issue to deal with is where to put Rafie. We know we need him on the team as he is a terrific hitter and may even get better if his plate discipline is improved. The problem is where to put him on defense.

 

1. Leave him at 3rd base and accept 25 errors a year

2. Move him to 2nd as a left hander who doesn't have the agility needed

3. Move him to first base and force Dalbec to move and also block Casas

4. Use him as DH and don't take Schwaber or JDM

5. I'm not serious about this, but LF.

 

I would hate to have to make this choice, but right now 3rd looks like the best place as none of the options are attractive. That allows Dalbec to stay at 1st where he is getting a bit better on defense and is hitting much better. Also Casas can come up and platoon with him when ready. Schwaber can be signed as a DH first. LF second player. That leaves dealing with SS and 2nd base open for action. Arroyo still has upside if he can remain healthy. Bogie is a very professional player and hitter whose range is less than optimum for the position.

 

As far as the outfield is concerned we have Verdugo who could play right or left and Kike who can play any outfield position and second. Renfroe is good but not irreplaceable and a top notch CF or right fielder could be targeted. It will be interesting to see what Bloom will do since pitching is also a need and probably the more important place to spend.

 

We also need to plan for how to integrate our prospects going forward. There are Casas, Duran, Yorke and Mayer all making cases for their addition to the club in the fairly near future. For those who disparage Duran, I believe you are wrong and the kid will be a solid contributor to the club, perhaps in a secondary role at first.

[moonslav59]

To me the most difficult issue to deal with is where to put Rafie. We know we need him on the team as he is a terrific hitter and may even get better if his plate discipline is improved. The problem is where to put him on defense.

 

1. Leave him at 3rd base and accept 25 errors a year

2. Move him to 2nd as a left hander who doesn't have the agility needed

3. Move him to first base and force Dalbec to move and also block Casas

4. Use him as DH and don't take Schwaber or JDM

5. I'm not serious about this, but LF.

 

I would hate to have to make this choice, but right now 3rd looks like the best place as none of the options are attractive. That allows Dalbec to stay at 1st where he is getting a bit better on defense and is hitting much better. Also Casas can come up and platoon with him when ready. Schwaber can be signed as a DH first. LF second player. That leaves dealing with SS and 2nd base open for action. Arroyo still has upside if he can remain healthy. Bogie is a very professional player and hitter whose range is less than optimum for the position.

 

As far as the outfield is concerned we have Verdugo who could play right or left and Kike who can play any outfield position and second. Renfroe is good but not irreplaceable and a top notch CF or right fielder could be targeted. It will be interesting to see what Bloom will do since pitching is also a need and probably the more important place to spend.

 

We also need to plan for how to integrate our prospects going forward. There are Casas, Duran, Yorke and Mayer all making cases for their addition to the club in the fairly near future. For those who disparage Duran, I believe you are wrong and the kid will be a solid contributor to the club, perhaps in a secondary role at first.

 

Of all the positions where defense is a major concern, I see Devers and Dalbec as the best chances for improving at their positions.

 

Devers has done very well, defensively for very long periods of times, but then seems to slump on defense, many times while also struggling at the plate. I'm not sure if he is distracted- lack of focus or just cannot control his arm- ever.

 

Since Devers and Dalbec have longer team control than Bogey and Vaz, I think the focus for this winter should be SS and Catcher and maybe RF. With Kike having just one year left, and Duran not being a defensive whiz, OF may be a higher priority than 1B and 3B, to me. (Plus, Casas offers a third option before too long.)

 

I think the best thing to do is stick with Devers at 3B and Dalbec at 1B for another year. We'll know more about Casas. We need to get Devers to buy into working hard on improving his focus, footwork and throwing. Dalbec, too, but he seems to be improving over the last 4-6 weeks, on D.

 

I'm not a Bogey hater, despite my obsession for great SS D, but I think we need to think about a change, there.

[mvp 78]

Me, too but not his D.

 

I'm thinking Baez may be the best fit and should be cheaper than Correa and Story.

 

Is Semien a FA?

 

Maybe they just grab a short term guy like Simmons?

[mvp 78]

Of all the positions where defense is a major concern, I see Devers and Dalbec as the best chances for improving at their positions.

 

Devers has done very well, defensively for very long periods of times, but then seems to slump on defense, many times while also struggling at the plate. I'm not sure if he is distracted- lack of focus or just cannot control his arm- ever.

 

Since Devers and Dalbec have longer team control than Bogey and Vaz, I think the focus for this winter should be SS and Catcher and maybe RF. With Kike having just one year left, and Duran not being a defensive whiz, OF may be a higher priority than 1B and 3B, to me. (Plus, Casas offers a third option before too long.)

 

I think the best thing to do is stick with Devers at 3B and Dalbec at 1B for another year. We'll know more about Casas. We need to get Devers to buy into working hard on improving his focus, footwork and throwing. Dalbec, too, but he seems to be improving over the last 4-6 weeks, on D.

 

I'm not a Bogey hater, despite my obsession for great SS D, but I think we need to think about a change, there.

 

There are lots of underwhelming C's to choose from this winter. The OF options don't move the needle for me.

[moonslav59]

Maybe they just grab a short term guy like Simmons?

 

I've always loved Simmons, for his defense of course, but the metrics show his defense has slipped a lot. (As has Iggy's.)

 

There might be some young defensive SS some team will trade for cheap.

 

Otherwise, my needle is moving towards Baez or Semien.

[moonslav59]

There are lots of underwhelming C's to choose from this winter. The OF options don't move the needle for me.

 

It's all about D for the catcher, to me.

 

I don't know enough about catcher D on other teams, so maybe Bloom does.

[notin]

It's all about D for the catcher, to me.

 

I don't know enough about catcher D on other teams, so maybe Bloom does.

 

If you like DRS, free-agents-to-be Manny Pina (34 years old) and Tucker Barnhart (31) rank among the top 4 catchers since 2019 (min 800 innings).

 

Pina is credited with 1 more defensive run saved in significantly fewer innings…

[Hugh2]

The SS free-agent class is huge this year. You replace Bogey now, let him play 2b/3b in 2022 and if he works out an extension with the Sox to stay there long term...awesome.

[moonslav59]

If you like DRS, free-agents-to-be Manny Pina (34 years old) and Tucker Barnhart (31) rank among the top 4 catchers since 2019 (min 800 innings).

 

Pina is credited with 1 more defensive run saved in significantly fewer innings…

 

To be honest, I don't know what to trust for catcher defensive value rankings or metrics.

 

To me, how a catcher handles a staff is most important.

 

If robo umps are added, framing pitches value becomes meaningless.

 

Blocking bad pitches and CS% have value, but how much?

 

Get me a guy our pitchers love to throw to.

 

Now that Vaz's offense is not a big plus anymore, there should be more options.

 

One question is, do we give Vaz his $7M option and trade him? Are the enough GMs out there that want him at that price?

[notin]

The SS free-agent class is huge this year. You replace Bogey now, let him play 2b/3b in 2022 and if he works out an extension with the Sox to stay there long term...awesome.

 

Or sign Baez to play 2nd in 2022 and if Bogaerts stays, you have a middle infield. If Bogie opts out, then it’s Baez at SS and Jeter Downs at 2b in 2023…

[moonslav59]

The SS free-agent class is huge this year. You replace Bogey now, let him play 2b/3b in 2022 and if he works out an extension with the Sox to stay there long term...awesome.

 

I'm guessing, if we move Bogey off SS, he bolts after 2022.

 

Who knows? Maybe he falls in love with 2B.

 

It would be nice to have Kike in CF, Bogey at 2B and Arroyo as the infield utility guy.

 

1. Kike CF

2. Devers 3B

3. Bogey 2B

4. JD or Schwarber DH (only one on the team)

5. Renfroe RF

6. Baez SS

7. Dalbec 1B

8. Verdugo LF

9. ______ C

[moonslav59]

Or sign Baez to play 2nd in 2022 and if Bogaerts stays, you have a middle infield. If Bogie opts out, then it’s Baez at SS and Jeter Downs at 2b in 2023…

 

To me, Baez is a way better defender than Bogey, so why move Baez to 2B?

[notin]

To be honest, I don't know what to trust for catcher defensive value rankings or metrics.

 

To me, how a catcher handles a staff is most important.

 

If robo umps are added, framing pitches value becomes meaningless.

 

Blocking bad pitches and CS% have value, but how much?

 

Get me a guy our pitchers love to throw to.

 

Now that Vaz's offense is not a big plus anymore, there should be more options.

 

One question is, do we give Vaz his $7M option and trade him? Are the enough GMs out there that want him at that price?

 

All true but I work with what I have.

 

Of course if MLB adopts automated strike zones, a decent amount of catcher defense disappears.

 

If Vazquez is out, which I do not think is likely, I would opt for Barnhart, whom I’ve always liked as a catcher…

[notin]

To me, Baez is a way better defender than Bogey, so why move Baez to 2B?

 

Baez is light years ahead of Bogie. But Baez is also willing to play 2b without whining..

[mvp 78]

All true but I work with what I have.

 

Of course if MLB adopts automated strike zones, a decent amount of catcher defense disappears.

 

If Vazquez is out, which I do not think is likely, I would opt for Barnhart, whom I’ve always liked as a catcher…

 

Schwarber back to C.

[notin]

Schwarber back to C.

 

And Dalbec back to the mound…

[Bellhorn04]

Baez is light years ahead of Bogie. But Baez is also willing to play 2b without whining..

 

Yeah, he only whines about those nasty fans who boo...

[moonslav59]

Schwarber back to C.

 

With robo umps, it might not be a bad idea.

[notin]

With robo umps, it might not be a bad idea.

 

Schwarber tore up his knee in an outfield collision 5 years ago and has spent 8 innings behind the plate since…

[notin]

Yeah, he only whines about those nasty fans who boo...

 

So don’t boo him…

[moonslav59]

Schwarber tore up his knee in an outfield collision 5 years ago and has spent 8 innings behind the plate since…

 

So, give the guy a chair.

[mvp 78]

So don’t boo him…

 

Baez is the "Don't Boo. GOAT."

[mvp 78]

So, give the guy a chair.

 

I was thinking bean bag.

[mvp 78]

I was thinking bean bag.

 

Nope, one of those ergonomic kneeling chairs from the 1980's.

[notin]

So, give the guy a chair.

 

He collided with a chair in the outfield. That’s how it all went downhill for him!!

[moonslav59]

A small stool might work.

[notin]

A small stool might work.

 

No. Opens the door for too many “stool sample” jokes. I’m looking at you, mvp78…

[mvp 78]

No. Opens the door for too many “stool sample” jokes. I’m looking at you, mvp78…

 

I had one in the hopper, but thought twice before hitting "post quick reply." I'm not ashamed though. Just ashamed at how small that stool can sometimes be.