A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[Dipre]

Agreed. Duran is best drilling balls in the gap and flying around the bases -- the type of guy in his prime a line-up needs batting in front of a guy like Casas, in his prime. I don't know if they'll ever bat 1-2, but if the Sox' best hitters in the next half decade are Yoshida, Verdugo and Devers (when he rebounds), with Mayer the best prospect, that's all lefty swingers.

 

The new GM will have to add a couple premium righty bats... among his many priorities.

 

You're forgetting about Yorke, who's a righty bat, and the guy I would bet the most money on being an impact bat in less than a season after promoted. He will struggle, adjust, and then take off if things break right.

[mvp 78]

You're forgetting about Yorke, who's a righty bat, and the guy I would bet the most money on being an impact bat in less than a season after promoted. He will struggle, adjust, and then take off if things break right.

 

Depends on how well his new swing adjusts to the higher levels of pitching. It's got a very unique timing device that could get thrown off kilter at higher levels.

[moonslav59]

He's just going to slide into the Tapia role as the 4th OFer.

 

Refsnyder is#5?

[Dipre]

Depends on how well his new swing adjusts to the higher levels of pitching. It's got a very unique timing device that could get thrown off kilter at higher levels.

 

You'd be surprised how many guys have specific timing devices for initiating their swings other than leg kicks and toe taps.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Depends on how well his new swing adjusts to the higher levels of pitching. It's got a very unique timing device that could get thrown off kilter at higher levels.

 

I don't like it. Story was a K king with it last year, and Yorke and Rafaela will need to adjust their stances if they want to stay in the bigs when they get there vs. nighty 100-mph velo.

[Dipre]

I don't like it. Story was a K king with it last year, and Yorke and Rafaela will need to adjust their stances if they want to stay in the bigs when they get there vs. nighty 100-mph velo.

 

What?

[mvp 78]

You'd be surprised how many guys have specific timing devices for initiating their swings other than leg kicks and toe taps.

 

I'm not surprised, but for a "pure hitter" like Yorke, I'm surprised he's had to resort to switching up his swing already. My other concern with Yorke is the persistent health concerns.

[Dipre]

I'm not surprised, but for a "pure hitter" like Yorke, I'm surprised he's had to resort to switching up his swing already. My other concern with Yorke is the persistent health concerns.

 

Number 2 answers your number one. He has said himself he was too tight around the shoulders, a swing with a tight upper body leads to all types of injuries.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

What?

 

Trevor Story, the guy who draped his bat down behind his back and was often too late bringing it up to the hitting zone last year; he led the NL with 191 Ks in 2017, when he had a 34.4% whiff rate. He fanned 122 times in only 94 Red Sox games before an injury ended his season, but still finished second in team Ks to Martinez' 145. JD's K-rate was 24.3%, Trevor's was 30.8%.

[Dipre]

Trevor Story, the guy who draped his bat down behind his back and was often too late bringing it up to the hitting zone last year; he led the NL with 191 Ks in 2017, when he had a 34.4% whiff rate. He fanned 122 times in only 94 Red Sox games before an injury ended his season, but still finished second in team Ks to Martinez' 145. JD's K-rate was 24.3%, Trevor's was 30.8%.

 

That's not what I meant. I meant that Yorke wasn't emulating Story. I have no idea where you got that.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That's not what I meant. I meant that Yorke wasn't emulating Story. I have no idea where you got that.

 

I saw Yorke from the stands at a game I reported on a month ago. He had the exact same stance as Story last year, and struggled with it. Maybe you missed my post.

[mvp 78]

I saw Yorke from the stands at a game I reported on a month ago. He had the exact same stance as Story last year, and struggled with it. Maybe you missed my post.

 

Yorke is bottom 10 in the system for in zone contact rate with the new swing...

 

Just something to monitor probably, but it is concerning.

[Dipre]

Yorke is bottom 10 in the system for in zone contact rate with the new swing...

 

Just something to monitor probably, but it is concerning.

 

As a HIT tool guy, that's concerning.

[mvp 78]

As a HIT tool guy, that's concerning.

 

Yeah... I'm still rooting for him. We'll see what happens. I think he's a smart enough ballplayer to figure it out. I just wish his defense was a tick better as it would make his floor a little higher.

[Larry Cook]

Yeah... I'm still rooting for him. We'll see what happens. I think he's a smart enough ballplayer to figure it out. I just wish his defense was a tick better as it would make his floor a little higher.

 

His defensive ceiling is average at best.

[Dipre]

His defensive ceiling is average at best.

 

He has soft hands, he could develop as an above average 2B, best case scenario.

[moonslav59]

Yorke went 2-4, tonight with an HR and BB.

Rafaela 2-3w BB

Meidroth 3-4 w 2B

Mayer 1-4 w HR

Kavadas and Hickey went 0-9 w 6 Ks.

[Larry Cook]

Yorke went 2-4, tonight with an HR and BB.

Rafaela 2-3w BB

Meidroth 3-4 w 2B

Mayer 1-4 w HR

Kavadas and Hickey went 0-9 w 6 Ks.

 

I really like yorke’s swing.

 

Maybe we can sell high on Rafeala? The guy swings at pitches in the dirt, pitched over his head and pitches behind his back!

[Randy Red Sox]

He was a FIRST ROUND pick right? I guess it is too much to hope he might become the Sox 2B sometime in the future??

Yeah... I'm still rooting for him. We'll see what happens. I think he's a smart enough ballplayer to figure it out. I just wish his defense was a tick better as it would make his floor a little higher.

[moonslav59]

I really like yorke’s swing.

 

Maybe we can sell high on Rafeala? The guy swings at pitches in the dirt, pitched over his head and pitches behind his back!

 

Other GMs know this, but maybe one thinks they can “fix” him better than we can.

[Nick]

Why not merge Part I and Part II chronologically? This is confusing.

[mvp 78]

Why not merge Part I and Part II chronologically? This is confusing.

 

Just wait until part III!

[moonslav59]

Why not merge Part I and Part II chronologically? This is confusing.

 

Somebody brought part I to the top

[Hugh2]

I really like yorke’s swing.

 

Maybe we can sell high on Rafeala? The guy swings at pitches in the dirt, pitched over his head and pitches behind his back!

 

Not that I'm against selling high on Rafaela, but why do we think we are "selling high" on him? any deficiencies you or I can see in him you better believe a MLB team scouting him has seen. The risk of him not hitting because he swings at everything is built into their value models as well.

[Nick]

You sell high on Verdugo before he goes into slump or is due for hefty raise.

 

That's Tampa way.

[Hugh2]

You sell high on Verdugo before he goes into slump or is due for hefty raise.

 

If the Sox are in "sell mode" it wouldn't be the worse move. Bloom seems to love this sell-and-buy strategy at the deadline. Wouldn't mind seeing them cash in on someone like Verdugo and bringing in a big RHB. I'd love a CF/RF RH who can hit, or a RH SS with maybe 1.5 years of control left. Perfect bridge to Mayer.

 

You could probably make moves like that and still be set up for an October run if everything breaks right. That kind of seems to be Blooms M.O. too......straddle the deadline.

[Old Red]

If the Sox are in "sell mode" it wouldn't be the worse move. Bloom seems to love this sell-and-buy strategy at the deadline. Wouldn't mind seeing them cash in on someone like Verdugo and bringing in a big RHB. I'd love a CF/RF RH who can hit, or a RH SS with maybe 1.5 years of control left. Perfect bridge to Mayer.

 

You could probably make moves like that and still be set up for an October run if everything breaks right. That kind of seems to be Blooms M.O. too......straddle the deadline.

In other words look for that third option in the fork in the road. That worked so well last year, and stayed over the tax line doing it.

[moonslav59]

If the Sox are in "sell mode" it wouldn't be the worse move. Bloom seems to love this sell-and-buy strategy at the deadline. Wouldn't mind seeing them cash in on someone like Verdugo and bringing in a big RHB. I'd love a CF/RF RH who can hit, or a RH SS with maybe 1.5 years of control left. Perfect bridge to Mayer.

 

You could probably make moves like that and still be set up for an October run if everything breaks right. That kind of seems to be Blooms M.O. too......straddle the deadline.

 

He only did the buy-sell thingy, last summer.

 

In 2020, he traded 2 pen arms for Pivetta and Seabold, but I’m not sure that counts as a “buy.”

 

There is no cap issue, unless we become serious buyers, so it won’t be about trying to stay under or not.

 

We have a few one year guys, but more have another year or more of control than the last 2-3 years, but they could be sold off, too.

 

There is a ways to go before we get to the buy/sell or both choice, and a few key pieces coming off the IL before or near the deadline, so who knows where we will be in 7 weeks.

 

Just a couple weeks ago, we were looking at a playoff slot. Surely, we could be back like that again.

[Hugh2]

In other words look for that third option in the fork in the road. That worked so well last year, and stayed over the tax line doing it.

 

Last year was a disaster, this year could be too, but getting under the tax line should be zero issue because….well they’re already under.

 

Sox actually have a lot of room. Hypothetically they could take on salary to either lesson a prospect package for a player or buy some prospects.

[moonslav59]

Last year was a disaster, this year could be too, but getting under the tax line should be zero issue because….well they’re already under.

 

Sox actually have a lot of room. Hypothetically they could take on salary to either lesson a prospect package for a player or buy some prospects.

 

Yes, or pay all of a salary of tge player(s) we trade away to improve the return package.