2022 Bullpen Thread

[mvp 78]

Why did we trade Beni again?

 

We dealt an overpaid negative fWAR guy to reset the cap that was already reset the year before.

[notin]

Hit him with a blow dart.

 

That’s your solution for everything…

[notin]

Yes. Winckowski was one of them. Hopefully it works out. Beni has been playing well since the last month or two of 2021.

 

Also cleared a place for Renfroe to play…

[mvp 78]

That’s your solution for everything…

 

Only because my wife won't let me use that solution with the kids.

[Bellhorn04]

Also cleared a place for Renfroe to play…

 

And then we trade Renfroe for Bradley.

 

A net result of many confused fans and a pile of prospects...

[Bellhorn04]

Only because my wife won't let me use that solution with the kids.

 

What about lawn darts?

[moonslav59]

Yes. Winckowski was one of them. Hopefully it works out. Beni has been playing well since the last month or two of 2021.

 

Along with .914 hitting Franchy, too (not a prospect.)

 

The other prospects in that trade were mostly high ceiling-low floor single A guys. As of now, none have moved into the soxprospects.com top 60.

 

Freddy Valdez: https://soxprospects.com/players/valdez-freddy.htm

Grant Gambrell: https://soxprospects.com/players/gambrell-grant.htm

Luis de la Rosa: https://soxprospects.com/players/delarosa-luis.htm

 

Edited April 28, 2022 by moonslav59

[vegasbob]

Frail isn’t vaxed either.

 

That's ok because he isn't pitching either. Maybe if he comes back , he should consider meeting the needs of the team.

[mvp 78]

What about lawn darts?

 

I don't deal in illegal goods.

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe

Sox will bring Houck and Crawford back tomorrow. Houck will piggyback Hill.

[notin]

I don't deal in illegal goods.

 

But that’s where the money is…

[mvp 78]

But that’s where the money is…

 

Lawn dart futures crashed back in 1989 and haven't recovered.

[Kimmi]

It would be will above average if the Sox were able to keep Houck and Whitlock in it.

 

The pitching has had a few blips, which I think we all expected. But seriously, pitching has not been the main problem thus far.

[moonslav59]

Updated. The starters are catching up.

 

The pitching has had a few blips, which I think we all expected. But seriously, pitching has not been the main problem thus far.

 

Exactly, and of the pitchers expected to have meaningful roles on the team, only a few are doing very poorly, as of now:

 

8.27 Pivetta (1.959 WHIP)

4.85 Hill (1.615)

5.40 Barnes (1.350)

.600 Diekman (2.000)

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The pitching has had a few blips, which I think we all expected. But seriously, pitching has not been the main problem thus far.

 

Agreed, but we've watched long enough to know that if starters falter, the bullpen will wear down without enough able bodies out there. Hopefully, by then the hitters will be back, and we can fret about bench players blowing games playing out of position.

 

And if a regular needs a rest, Bloom better have a glove-first substitute like Yolmer Sanchez on the roster. What's the worst thing that can happen by carrying a guy like that: he'll hit below .200 -- like half our current club? Folks can gripe about losing Bogie's bat yesterday, but the only run of the game scored because his replacement made an error trying to backhand a grounder he should've got in front of...

[moonslav59]

Updated. The starters are catching up.

 

Agreed, but we've watched long enough to know that if starters falter, the bullpen will wear down without enough able bodies out there. Hopefully, by then the hitters will be back, and we can fret about bench players blowing games playing out of position.

 

And if a regular needs a rest, Bloom better have a glove-first substitute like Yolmer Sanchez on the roster. What's the worst thing that can happen by carrying a guy like that: he'll hit below .200 -- like half our current club? Folks can gripe about losing Bogie's bat yesterday, but the only run of the game scored because his replacement made an error trying to backhand a grounder he should've got in front of...

 

There was another option:

 

SS Story

 

2B Arroyo

[Kimmi]

Exactly, and of the pitchers expected to have meaningful roles on the team, only a few are doing very poorly, as of now:

 

8.27 Pivetta (1.959 WHIP)

4.85 Hill (1.615)

5.40 Barnes (1.350)

.600 Diekman (2.000)

 

 

Rich Hill looked very good last night. His ERA is now 3.71 with an xERA of 3.69. However, his FIP and xFIP are 4.57 and 5.19, respectively.

 

I was surprised Cora pulled him as quickly as he did, but there might be something to the Hill/Houck or Hill/Whitlock piggyback.

[Kimmi]

Agreed, but we've watched long enough to know that if starters falter, the bullpen will wear down without enough able bodies out there. Hopefully, by then the hitters will be back, and we can fret about bench players blowing games playing out of position.

 

And if a regular needs a rest, Bloom better have a glove-first substitute like Yolmer Sanchez on the roster. What's the worst thing that can happen by carrying a guy like that: he'll hit below .200 -- like half our current club? Folks can gripe about losing Bogie's bat yesterday, but the only run of the game scored because his replacement made an error trying to backhand a grounder he should've got in front of...

 

The good news with the offense is that they have been hitting the ball hard and running into some tough luck. They are still chasing pitches, but they should start producing runs like we know they are capable of doing.

 

I'm with you on defense. IMO, it is far too often underrated.

[Kimmi]

There was another option:

 

SS Story

 

2B Arroyo

 

I am wondering if Cora's seeming unwillingness to play Story at SS has more to do with allowing Story to focus solely on playing 2B or with not wanting to create any kind of shortstop "controversy".

[notin]

I am wondering if Cora's seeming unwillingness to play Story at SS has more to do with allowing Story to focus solely on playing 2B or with not wanting to create any kind of shortstop "controversy".

 

It seems to be about keeping Story at 2b for now. He did say earlier Story would not be a backup SS unless it was for a prolonged period…

[Kimmi]

It seems to be about keeping Story at 2b for now. He did say earlier Story would not be a backup SS unless it was for a prolonged period…

 

Yes, that's the reasoning we've heard, and it makes sense. But it would also make sense to put Story at SS when Bogaert does not play.

[notin]

Yes, that's the reasoning we've heard, and it makes sense. But it would also make sense to put Story at SS when Bogaert does not play.

 

A lot of that depends on Story.

 

Maybe he doesn’t like bouncing around like, say, Kike appears to…

[Kimmi]

A lot of that depends on Story.

 

Maybe he doesn’t like bouncing around like, say, Kike appears to…

 

Fair point.

[Old Red]

There was another option:

 

SS Story

 

2B Arroyo

 

Story is the 2B this year as much to your disagreement. Remember I trust Cora, and he knows what he is doing, and your famous statement of I don’t agree with what Cora is doing, but I don’t think he is wrong.

[moonslav59]

I am wondering if Cora's seeming unwillingness to play Story at SS has more to do with allowing Story to focus solely on playing 2B or with not wanting to create any kind of shortstop "controversy".

 

Maybe, but I doubt one game would stir the pot.

 

Arroyo is clearly better at 2B than SS, and Story is better at SS than Arroyo.

 

I'm not bashing Cora for the choice, but just stated it "was an option."

[Old Red]

Maybe, but I doubt one game would stir the pot.

 

Arroyo is clearly better at 2B than SS, and Story is better at SS than Arroyo.

 

I'm not bashing Cora for the choice, but just stated it "was an option."

 

Your not bashing Cora for doing it, but you do think he’s wrong for doing it. What a vote of confidence. You’ve been against story having to play 2B since he was signed, so you do think Cora is wrong, but don’t dare to say it. Breaking news. Cora doesn’t go on here, and even if he did he wouldn’t care what you think.

Edited April 30, 2022 by Old Red

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The good news with the offense is that they have been hitting the ball hard and running into some tough luck. They are still chasing pitches, but they should start producing runs like we know they are capable of doing.

 

I'm with you on defense. IMO, it is far too often underrated.

 

Not only will the blasts find some gaps, but the liners off pitchers' legs will bounce into no-man's land, and one-stitch bleeders will stay fair, and clutch pop-ups will fall in...

 

... the key to a turnaround may be how many of these benefit Red Sox hitters, instead of opponents.

[Old Red]

Whitlock should be the closer. Whitlock should be the closer. Whitlock should be the closer. Come on man!

[redsoxrules]

I am wondering if Cora's seeming unwillingness to play Story at SS has more to do with allowing Story to focus solely on playing 2B or with not wanting to create any kind of shortstop "controversy".

 

You really think playing Story at SS is going to fix the problem? If Story can't hit because he's playing second base then he needs to forfeit his contract and gtfo of Boston.

[Old Red]

You really think playing Story at SS is going to fix the problem? If Story can't hit because he's playing second base then he needs to forfeit his contract and gtfo of Boston.

 

The only SS controversy between Bogey, and Story seems to be on here.