A Realistic View at 2022: Part III

[mvp 78]

As an old timer, I think it sucks that we suck at hitting positions, 3 outfield positions and 1B.

 

CF wasn't always a "hitting position." There was a long stretch where it was some smaller speedy guys.

[Old Red]

No, but Cora is running out the season and is going to still play vets as a sign of good faith. They need to put up numbers to earn their next contract. Not really fair to just sit them.

 

It’s also the right thing to do to put your so called best team on the field when you are playing teams still in playoffs contention.

[Bellhorn04]

It’s also the right thing to do to put your so called best team on the field when you are playing teams still in playoffs contention.

 

I think Cora and the Sox are doing a decent job being fair to everyone while also getting a look at some guys. It's one of the reasons I still think Cora is a good manager.

[moonslav59]

Does the fact that Dalbec has 4 HRs in his last 2 games in AAA mean he deserves another look-see?

[moonslav59]

How about Framber Valdez getting his 25th straight Quality Start (April 24 to now?)

[Bellhorn04]

Does the fact that Dalbec has 4 HRs in his last 2 games in AAA mean he deserves another look-see?

 

Really hard to say. We all know Bobby can hit bad pitches out of the park.

[mvp 78]

Does the fact that Dalbec has 4 HRs in his last 2 games in AAA mean he deserves another look-see?

 

This is his look-see. He needs to show success at AAA over a long stretch, not just a short hot streak.

[moonslav59]

Really hard to say. We all know Bobby can hit bad pitches out of the park.

 

2 weeks is not really enough to "find out more" about anyone, but if he went red hot over that time period, I think his trade stock might be higher, and maybe a platoon DH may be tried to start the 2024 season, so why not?

[moonslav59]

This is his look-see. He needs to show success at AAA over a long stretch, not just a short hot streak.

 

There is not long stretch left.

[mvp 78]

I think Cora and the Sox are doing a decent job being fair to everyone while also getting a look at some guys. It's one of the reasons I still think Cora is a good manager.

 

I think that's why Cora and Bloom work well together. Cora can rally the troops and Bloom can handle the player transactions. I know Bloom gets a lot of flack for not being a people person, but I'm not sure that's his job.

[mvp 78]

There is not long stretch left.

 

Yeah, well I wouldn't have him on the opening day roster either.

[notin]

I think that's why Cora and Bloom work well together. Cora can rally the troops and Bloom can handle the player transactions. I know Bloom gets a lot of flack for not being a people person, but I'm not sure that's his job.

 

Is that even true?

 

I think a lot of people hear “analytics” and leap to the conclusion that everything is therefore data-driven robotics with no consideration for other human beings whatsoever. If you watch interviews with Bloom, he certainly comes off as personable…

[notin]

Yeah, well I wouldn't have him on the opening day roster either.

 

Why not?

 

They had no $$$ to bring in anyone better than Travis Shaw and he certainly provided optimism at the end of last year.

 

But I think we know more about what Dalbec is. He appears to be a weak side platoon option at the plate…

[mvp 78]

Why not?

 

They had no $$$ to bring in anyone better than Travis Shaw and he certainly provided optimism at the end of last year.

 

But I think we know more about what Dalbec is. He appears to be a weak side platoon option at the plate…

 

I want him to get more time developing his defense at other positions in game. I think he has more use as a 1B/3B/LF/DH guy. Putting him at 2B and SS won't work once the shift goes away. Let him get some confidence back. Bring him back up once the weather gets nicer at the end of Spring.

[moonslav59]

Yeah, well I wouldn't have him on the opening day roster either.

 

I think we will go with a 1B/DH rotation/platoon type situation with Casas, Hosmer, Dalbec, Cordero, Arroyo and Enmanuel Valdez in the mix to win opening day slots. (Maybe Pham, if the option is accepted.)

 

Arroyo will be on the 26, if healthy as the utility back-up player who might DH, at times. Nobody else on this list really has a slot 100% locked up.

[mvp 78]

Is that even true?

 

I think a lot of people hear “analytics” and leap to the conclusion that everything is therefore data-driven robotics with no consideration for other human beings whatsoever. If you watch interviews with Bloom, he certainly comes off as personable…

 

Lately, Merloni is on one about Bloom losing the clubhouse because he let Vazquez and Plawecki go and that he is unable to be one of the guys. Whether that's really how people close to the organization see him, I can't see and maybe Lou can't say either.

[mvp 78]

I think we will go with a 1B/DH rotation/platoon type situation with Casas, Hosmer, Dalbec, Cordero, Arroyo and Enmanuel Valdez in the mix to win opening day slots. (Maybe Pham, if the option is accepted.)

 

Arroyo will be on the 26, if healthy as the utility back-up player who might DH, at times. Nobody else on this list really has a slot 100% locked up.

 

Valdez has played 6 games at 1B and none of those have been with WOO. He's 5'9". The Sox have basically thrown him at 2B and left him there. He's also a LHB. How is he going to platoon with Hosmer and Casas?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Is that even true?

 

I think a lot of people hear “analytics” and leap to the conclusion that everything is therefore data-driven robotics with no consideration for other human beings whatsoever. If you watch interviews with Bloom, he certainly comes off as personable…

 

There were quotes by Eovaldi and Hill about how much more Plawecki meant to the club and clubhouse than just stats. Their candor and vocal disappointment sounded like two guys who know they're also not coming back.

 

Fans could probably care less about Plawecki, whose bat and arm were obviously not returning in 2023. But more than one media member (Bradford, Youk) tried to point out yesterday how personality and chemistry actually mean something going forward, even if it's the last two weeks of a lost season. Instead of, say, keeping a guy around like Almonte, instead...

[moonslav59]

Valdez has played 6 games at 1B and none of those have been with WOO. He's 5'9". The Sox have basically thrown him at 2B and left him there. He's also a LHB. How is he going to platoon with Hosmer and Casas?

 

He'd be part of the DH rotation and not much at 1B, if at all, assuming he wins a 26 slot.

[moonslav59]

There were quotes by Eovaldi and Hill about how much more Plawecki meant to the club and clubhouse than just stats. Their candor and vocal disappointment sounded like two guys who know they're also not coming back.

 

Fans could probably care less about Plawecki, whose bat and arm were obviously not returning in 2023. But more than one media member (Bradford, Youk) tried to point out yesterday how personality and chemistry actually mean something going forward, even if it's the last two weeks of a lost season. Instead of, say, keeping a guy around like Almonte, instead...

 

If Plawecki will not be back in 2024. We need to play Wong and McGuire. I'd even think about calling up R Hern.

 

Baseball is not always kind. Plawecki had to go.

[notin]

Valdez has played 6 games at 1B and none of those have been with WOO. He's 5'9". The Sox have basically thrown him at 2B and left him there. He's also a LHB. How is he going to platoon with Hosmer and Casas?

 

Do they even have to add him to the 40 man roster? He’s not listed as Rule 5 eligible on Soxprospects. Not ever.

 

If the Sox don’t have to add him, he’s not in the picture…

[moonslav59]

Do they even have to add him to the 40 man roster? He’s not listed as Rule 5 eligible on Soxprospects. Not ever.

 

If the Sox don’t have to add him, he’s not in the picture…

 

He will be a minor league FA, next year, unless added to the 40.

 

https://www.talksox.com/forum/threads/20376-A-Realistic-View-at-2022-Part-III

[mvp 78]

Do they even have to add him to the 40 man roster? He’s not listed as Rule 5 eligible on Soxprospects. Not ever.

 

If the Sox don’t have to add him, he’s not in the picture…

 

From his player page:

 

Rule 5 Draft Eligible: December 2022

MLFA Eligible: November 2022

[moonslav59]

From his player page:

 

Rule 5 Draft Eligible: December 2022

MLFA Eligible: November 2022

 

Either way, he'll be on the 40. We did not trade Vaz to lose this guy.

[Old Red]

There were quotes by Eovaldi and Hill about how much more Plawecki meant to the club and clubhouse than just stats. Their candor and vocal disappointment sounded like two guys who know they're also not coming back.

 

Fans could probably care less about Plawecki, whose bat and arm were obviously not returning in 2023. But more than one media member (Bradford, Youk) tried to point out yesterday how personality and chemistry actually mean something going forward, even if it's the last two weeks of a lost season. Instead of, say, keeping a guy around like Almonte, instead...

I agree mostly, but I don’t blame Bloom mostly for this one. Yes they could have let him finish the season, but if the players had played better to make the team more competitive, and still be in real playoffs contention he probably would still be here. I know most on here don’t think so, but I think clubhouses chemistry does matter. Of course it doesn’t show up on any kind of stat sheet, but ask most players, and I think they would say it matters.

[mvp 78]

I agree mostly, but I don’t blame Bloom mostly for this one. Yes they could have let him finish the season, but if the players had played better to make the team more competitive, and still be in real playoffs contention he probably would still be here. I know most on here don’t think so, but I think clubhouses chemistry does matter. Of course it doesn’t show up on any kind of stat sheet, but ask most players, and I think they would say it matters.

 

If Bloom thought Plawecki was going to come back, he would have kept him around. I think his absolutely terrible performance on the field outweighed his towel waving off the field. At some point, you still have to be able to lace them up. Plawecki was just horrible by even old school stats and eye test this year. His bat was worse and the pitchers he typically caught for had worse years. There was no Plawecki CERA magic this season.

[notin]

Lately, Merloni is on one about Bloom losing the clubhouse because he let Vazquez and Plawecki go and that he is unable to be one of the guys. Whether that's really how people close to the organization see him, I can't see and maybe Lou can't say either.

 

Then totes right; it’s not part of his job.

 

He can’t be “one of the guys” if his job involves releasing other guys…

[moonslav59]

Interesting to see how Bloom gets bashed for having crappy players on the team, and when he cuts them, he gets bashed for that, too.

[mvp 78]

Interesting to see how Bloom gets bashed for having crappy players on the team, and when he cuts them, he gets bashed for that, too.

 

He needs to make sure that he doesn't trade for guys that are well liked in the future. That way they are easier to deal off whenever.

[Old Red]

He needs to make sure that he doesn't trade for guys that are well liked in the future. That way they are easier to deal off whenever.

 

JBJ was well liked, and there wasn’t a big uproar when he left except for why he was traded for in the first place.