A Realistic View at 2022: Part III

[Bellhorn04]

July is here, maybe the most interesting month of the season for Red Sox fans. Some quizzical queries:

 

1). Will they hang in there vs. tough AL East comp? Most SOX fans think so.

 

2) Will Bloom swing a deal for bullpen help before the deadline -- because Boston needs reinforcements now to survive the month? Probably not, maybe with the answer to the following...

 

3). Will Whitlock move back to the pen, with the impending return of Sale to the rotation? It would make sense, IF the brass would only stop handling Sale like Swarovski crystal -- and btw, they don't face Baltimore again until September; plus, the O's are better than last year.

 

4) Will #3 strain Cora's status with upper management, which certainly has had a say in making Whitlock a starter? Or...

 

5) Will there be a roster-shaking trade that jettisons free-agents-to-be and/or players that choose to be unavailable vs. Toronto?

 

I'm starting to lean to the speculation that Whitlock will go back to the pen for the rest of the year. It might not be the ideal thing for the long term, but it looks like it is for 2022.

 

It would give Cora 3 legit RH late inning guys.

 

A lot depends on Sale, and Eovaldi's health status.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

July is here, maybe the most interesting month of the season for Red Sox fans. Some quizzical queries:

 

1). Will they hang in there vs. tough AL East comp? Most SOX fans think so.

 

2) Will Bloom swing a deal for bullpen help before the deadline -- because Boston needs reinforcements now to survive the month? Probably not, maybe with the answer to the following...

 

3). Will Whitlock move back to the pen, with the impending return of Sale to the rotation? It would make sense, IF the brass would only stop handling Sale like Swarovski crystal -- and btw, they don't face Baltimore again until September; plus, the O's are better than last year.

 

4) Will #3 strain Cora's status with upper management, which certainly has had a say in making Whitlock a starter? Or...

 

5) Will there be a roster-shaking trade that jettisons free-agents-to-be and/or players that choose to be unavailable vs. Toronto?

 

I think if the answer to #1 turns out to be a Yes, then #2-5 will also be Yes (because #5 may factor into #2).

 

But if the answer to #1 turns out to be No, then #2-4 will also be No. But then #5 will be a big fat YES.

[moonslav59]

Whitlock is only going to be in the low 50’s in IP at the 81 game mark of the season. If he starts 16 games and gives us 6 every game- not likely- he’ll end the regular season with about 150 innings. That seems about right, but then the post season. Maybe they keep him starting but try to limit him to 5 IP per starts and move Hill to the pen.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Whitlock is only going to be in the low 50’s in IP at the 81 game mark of the season. If he starts 16 games and gives us 6 every game- not likely- he’ll end the regular season with about 150 innings. That seems about right, but then the post season. Maybe they keep him starting but try to limit him to 5 IP per starts and move Hill to the pen.

 

I could see that scenario for an also-ran or rebuilding club. But for a contender, the stuff of Whitlock just seems more dynamic for multi-inning relief shutdowns in a pennant race than the salad-tossing Hill. But that doesn't mean Hill couldn't be a deadly lefty vs. lefty match-up in a tough spot.

[Bellhorn04]

I could see that scenario for an also-ran or rebuilding club. But for a contender, the stuff of Whitlock just seems more dynamic for multi-inning relief shutdowns in a pennant race than the salad-tossing Hill. But that doesn't mean Hill couldn't be a deadly lefty vs. lefty match-up in a tough spot.

 

One thing I think has become obvious is that we need another effective RH reliever more than another effective LH reliever. Especially vs. the Yankees and Jays.

[moonslav59]

I could see that scenario for an also-ran or rebuilding club. But for a contender, the stuff of Whitlock just seems more dynamic for multi-inning relief shutdowns in a pennant race than the salad-tossing Hill. But that doesn't mean Hill couldn't be a deadly lefty vs. lefty match-up in a tough spot.

 

I’m fine with Whitlock going back to the pen once Sale returns. I was just addressing concerns about Whitlock’s season IP totals as a reason to move him out of the rotation.

 

As for Hill, I think he’d be a fine long man, and I recall at his signing, some talk about his ability to be a flex guy between the pen and rotation, so I think he’d be fine with the idea.

 

Either way, we’ll get a nice boost to the pen.

 

I also wonder if Wink will be moved to the pen or back to AAA.

[moonslav59]

One thing I think has become obvious is that we need another effective RH reliever more than another effective LH reliever. Especially vs. the Yankees and Jays.

 

Maybe Frank German will get a look before the trade deadline

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe Frank German will get a look before the trade deadline

 

He probably should.

[notin]

July is here, maybe the most interesting month of the season for Red Sox fans. Some quizzical queries:

 

1). Will they hang in there vs. tough AL East comp? Most SOX fans think so.

 

2) Will Bloom swing a deal for bullpen help before the deadline -- because Boston needs reinforcements now to survive the month? Probably not, maybe with the answer to the following...

 

3). Will Whitlock move back to the pen, with the impending return of Sale to the rotation? It would make sense, IF the brass would only stop handling Sale like Swarovski crystal -- and btw, they don't face Baltimore again until September; plus, the O's are better than last year.

 

4) Will #3 strain Cora's status with upper management, which certainly has had a say in making Whitlock a starter? Or...

 

5) Will there be a roster-shaking trade that jettisons free-agents-to-be and/or players that choose to be unavailable vs. Toronto?

 

 

We’re clearly selling.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/braves-acquire-silvino-bracho-from-red-sox.html

[Bellhorn04]

We’re clearly selling.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/braves-acquire-silvino-bracho-from-red-sox.html

 

Silvino, we hardly knew ye!

[notin]

I'm starting to lean to the speculation that Whitlock will go back to the pen for the rest of the year. It might not be the ideal thing for the long term, but it looks like it is for 2022.

 

It would give Cora 3 legit RH late inning guys.

 

A lot depends on Sale, and Eovaldi's health status.

 

 

I wouldn’t say “all year” with Whitlock. The Sox have multiple starters very capable of creating rotation vacancies with their own fragility. Including Whitlock.

 

But as much as we want bullpen help, there will be none coming from outside the organization for the next 4 weeks. With Sale due back, they should gain one arm with the trickle-down effect. Ditto Eovaldi. And Taylor is apparently mending nicely.

 

Certainly none of this guarantees a better bullpen, but I do guarantee they will all get something of a chance…

[notin]

Silvino, we hardly knew ye!

 

You miss him already. Admit it. It’s ok…

[Bellhorn04]

You miss him already. Admit it. It’s ok…

 

I do think he has a pretty cool name.

[moonslav59]

We’re clearly selling.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/braves-acquire-silvino-bracho-from-red-sox.html

 

Do the cash considerations subtract from the lux tax budget? (Not that it would matter)

[Bellhorn04]

Do the cash considerations subtract from the lux tax budget? (Not that it would matter)

 

That's minutiae that even I cannot get motivated to delve into.

 

My question is, what is the actual difference between cash and cash considerations...

[Larry Cook]

Silvino, we hardly knew ye!

 

Cash on the barrel head!

 

Hang’em Chaim needs to do that with Robles and brazier as well. I would prefer seeing Seabold and Crawford to Robles and brazier.

[Bellhorn04]

Cash on the barrel head!

 

Hang’em Chaim needs to do that with Robles and brazier as well. I would prefer seeing Seabold and Crawford to Robles and brazier.

 

I think Robles will go but Brasier will stay.

[moonslav59]

I think Robles will go but Brasier will stay.

 

Robles seems like the obvious choice, but demoting Danish keeps all options on the table.

[Maxbialystock]

Whitlock is only going to be in the low 50’s in IP at the 81 game mark of the season. If he starts 16 games and gives us 6 every game- not likely- he’ll end the regular season with about 150 innings. That seems about right, but then the post season. Maybe they keep him starting but try to limit him to 5 IP per starts and move Hill to the pen.

 

Whitlock to the bullpen, preferably as early as July 4, gives Cora a devastating 1-2-3 punch (Houck, Schreiber, and Whitlock) for the late innings in close games so that 5 other guys can cover the rest. Bam! Bullpen transformed.

 

Eovaldi and Sale are due back this month--hopefully as soon as the 8-11 July Yankees series--which removes the compelling need for Whitlock to start.

[moonslav59]

Whitlock to the bullpen, preferably as early as July 4, gives Cora a devastating 1-2-3 punch (Houck, Schreiber, and Whitlock) for the late innings in close games so that 5 other guys can cover the rest. Bam! Bullpen transformed.

 

Eovaldi and Sale are due back this month--hopefully as soon as the 8-11 July Yankees series--which removes the compelling need for Whitlock to start.

 

If Hill is out, it’s Whit orWink starting.

[Maxbialystock]

If Hill is out, it’s Whit orWink starting.

 

Thought the exact same thing after last night's game. In the write-up by Ian Browne, Hill blamed himself completely for the 5th because he flat told Cora he was fine when he wasn't.

 

Cora said Robles was excellent in his first 8 games, but now his breaking stuff is too flat even though his velocity is still good. He also said that guys--meaning relievers--must contribute. Robles is the 4th highest paid reliever on the Sox @ $2.5M.

 

If you read me on the game thread I named a bunch of culprits for the loss: Hill for staying in, Danish for walking in the 3d run, Robles for being awful and getting charged with 3 runs, Diekman for the wild pitch which brought the 6th and winning run for the Cubs, and the lineup for scoring 1 run in the final 7 innings. I also pointed out that the 3 runs in the 2d for the Sox depended on a walk and an HBP by the Cubs starter. I left out that the Sox pitchers had 10 BB's in the game, including 4 by Hill and 3 by Robles.

 

So of course I blame the players far more than Cora's decisions. That said, at the end of the season (or earlier), managers are graded on wins vs. expectations.

[moonslav59]

Thought the exact same thing after last night's game. In the write-up by Ian Browne, Hill blamed himself completely for the 5th because he flat told Cora he was fine when he wasn't.

 

Cora said Robles was excellent in his first 8 games, but now his breaking stuff is too flat even though his velocity is still good. He also said that guys--meaning relievers--must contribute. Robles is the 4th highest paid reliever on the Sox @ $2.5M.

 

If you read me on the game thread I named a bunch of culprits for the loss: Hill for staying in, Danish for walking in the 3d run, Robles for being awful and getting charged with 3 runs, Diekman for the wild pitch which brought the 6th and winning run for the Cubs, and the lineup for scoring 1 run in the final 7 innings. I also pointed out that the 3 runs in the 2d for the Sox depended on a walk and an HBP by the Cubs starter. I left out that the Sox pitchers had 10 BB's in the game, including 4 by Hill and 3 by Robles.

 

So of course I blame the players far more than Cora's decisions. That said, at the end of the season (or earlier), managers are graded on wins vs. expectations.

 

Yesterday's game is an example where maybe using Houck early cold have produced a win, but we only know that through hindsight. Robles was facing the bottom of the order. Nobody thought: let's bring in Houck, now.

 

I try not to change my opinions based on one game, or even 5-10 games, but I've wanted Robles gone for weeks.

 

Cora must feel there is a chance he can regain whatever he had earlier in the season and for parts of last season. I never thought he was all that good to begin with- same with Diekman, but what do I know?

[Bellhorn04]

Yesterday's game is an example where maybe using Houck early cold have produced a win, but we only know that through hindsight. Robles was facing the bottom of the order. Nobody thought: let's bring in Houck, now.

 

I try not to change my opinions based on one game, or even 5-10 games, but I've wanted Robles gone for weeks.

 

Cora must feel there is a chance he can regain whatever he had earlier in the season and for parts of last season. I never thought he was all that good to begin with- same with Diekman, but what do I know?

 

Robles isn't good, and he's been terrible lately. But he's cheap and he was adequate last year, so I can see why Bloom brought him back.

 

He's a fungible asset whose service time has expired.

[moonslav59]

Robles isn't good, and he's been terrible lately. But he's cheap and he was adequate last year, so I can see why Bloom brought him back.

 

He's a fungible asset whose service time has expired.

 

Exactly, and the hot hand theory applies to the cold hand theory, too.

 

This is just not Robles year, although it's entirely possible we DFA him, and he does well at his next stop.

[notin]

Robles isn't good, and he's been terrible lately. But he's cheap and he was adequate last year, so I can see why Bloom brought him back.

 

He's a fungible asset whose service time has expired.

 

Since May1, Robles has 1 save, 3 holds and 5 blown saves. That’s as unreliable as it gets for an alleged MLB reliever. And yesterday’s blown save came in one of the easiest opportunities any reliever will ever see…

[moonslav59]

Since May1, Robles has 1 save, 3 holds and 5 blown saves. That’s as unreliable as it gets for an alleged MLB reliever. And yesterday’s blown save came in one of the easiest opportunities any reliever will ever see…

 

1.130 OPS Against in the last 4 weeks (38 PAs Against)- worst on the team (25+ PA samples).

[JDavis76]

Since May1, Robles has 1 save, 3 holds and 5 blown saves. That’s as unreliable as it gets for an alleged MLB reliever. And yesterday’s blown save came in one of the easiest opportunities any reliever will ever see…

 

As a Yankee fan, I'm glad cora has faith in him and keeps trotting him out there.

[Bellhorn04]

As a Yankee fan, I'm glad cora has faith in him and keeps trotting him out there.

 

I don't think you'll be enjoying that much longer.

[Bellhorn04]

The latest on Vaxgate seems to be that Duran has confirmed he's getting jabbed. Nothing about Sale or Houck.

[moonslav59]

The latest on Vaxgate seems to be that Duran has confirmed he's getting jabbed. Nothing about Sale or Houck.

 

Taking one for the team!

 

YES!