Corey Kluber signs with Red Sox

[Old Red]

Unfair to compare Ellsbury 2007 to what we have seen from Duran in 2021 and 2022. Duran is just lost out there.

 

Like I said last year that Duran should have stayed down in the instructional league until he learns how to track a fly ball, and yes wait for it, and doesn’t look like he’s trying to catch butterflies without a net.

[mvp 78]

Like I said last year that Duran should have stayed down in the instructional league until he learns how to track a fly ball, and yes wait for it, and doesn’t look like he’s trying to catch butterflies without a net.

 

It's been 5 years. He's not going to get better at it.

[Old Red]

It's been 5 years. He's not going to get better at it.

 

I agree, and if the Red Sox have sunken that low, and that cheap that Kike has to come in, and play SS, and Arroyo plays 2B, and Duran plays, or tries to play CF then what did they sign Raffy for outside of PR?

[moonslav59]

Ok, but we've had comparisons to Ellsbury and Jose Bautista when talking about Jarren f***ing Duran. I will delete my account if he has a 9.5 fWAR season or hits 50 bombs in a year in MLB. Both those guys ended with 30+ fWAR.

 

Really sticking your neck out, here.

[moonslav59]

It's been 5 years. He's not going to get better at it.

 

On this point, I will say, it took 6 years for Jake to turn around his D.

 

Again, I have just about no hope an Duran's D and not much more on his O, but some players do improve after 5 years.

 

I'm only saying he's not in my top 2 for DFA'ing. That's more of sign on positions the bottom feeders play and how many options they have than skill or hope levels.

[moonslav59]

I agree, and if the Red Sox have sunken that low, and that cheap that Kike has to come in, and play SS, and Arroyo plays 2B, and Duran plays, or tries to play CF then what did they sign Raffy for outside of PR?

 

Perhaps, to try real hard to not finish in last place? Apparently, that matters to a lot of fans.

[moonslav59]

Why wouldn't we just start Refsnyder FT, despite the poor splits over Duran?

 

He's better on defense and offense, even vs RHPs.

[notin]

Why wouldn't we just start Refsnyder FT, despite the poor splits over Duran?

 

He's better on defense and offense, even vs RHPs.

 

Or … get a SS and leave Kike in CF. Trade Duran, either for a SS (Mondesi?) or a non-40 man player and go get DeJong…

[moonslav59]

Or … get a SS and leave Kike in CF. Trade Duran, either for a SS (Mondesi?) or a non-40 man player and go get DeJong…

 

To me, Kike is too good in CF to jump through hoops moving people around. There are enough SSs on the trade market that won't cost much in return, or we could just sign Iggy or better yet, Andrus.

 

I'd prefer we add one year fixes at SS and 2B, keep Kike in CF, Arroyo & refsnyder on the bench and Duran and maybe even Dalbec in AAA.

[notin]

To me, Kike is too good in CF to jump through hoops moving people around. There are enough SSs on the trade market that won't cost much in return, or we could just sign Iggy or better yet, Andrus.

 

I'd prefer we add one year fixes at SS and 2B, keep Kike in CF, Arroyo & refsnyder on the bench and Duran and maybe even Dalbec in AAA.

 

I certainly don’t like:

 

2b: Arroyo and/or Valdez

SS: Hernandez

CF: Duran

 

If they leave Kike in CF, I’d prefer

 

2b: Profar. D might be lacking but his OBP is needed at top this lineup.

SS: Andrus? Iglesias? Mondesi? (KC prefers Witt at SS), DeJong? (St. Louis prefers anyone else at SS) Mateo? Amed Rosario? Wendle? Any other available shortstops?

 

I’d even say I prefer Dalbec at SS if it keeps Duran from starting in CF, but then some unnamed poster will somehow interpret that to mean I think Dalbec should be the SS. Not naming names…

[Bellhorn04]

I certainly don’t like:

 

2b: Arroyo and/or Valdez

SS: Hernandez

CF: Duran

 

If they leave Kike in CF, I’d prefer

 

2b: Profar. D might be lacking but his OBP is needed at top this lineup.

SS: Andrus? Iglesias? Mondesi? (KC prefers Witt at SS), DeJong? (St. Louis prefers anyone else at SS) Mateo? Amed Rosario? Wendle? Any other available shortstops?

 

I’d even say I prefer Dalbec at SS if it keeps Duran from starting in CF, but then some unnamed poster will somehow interpret that to mean I think Dalbec should be the SS. Not naming names…

 

The fact that you even typed "Dalbec at SS" says a lot about the state of this roster...

[moonslav59]

I certainly don’t like:

 

2b: Arroyo and/or Valdez

SS: Hernandez

CF: Duran

 

If they leave Kike in CF, I’d prefer

 

2b: Profar. D might be lacking but his OBP is needed at top this lineup.

SS: Andrus? Iglesias? Mondesi? (KC prefers Witt at SS), DeJong? (St. Louis prefers anyone else at SS) Mateo? Amed Rosario? Wendle? Any other available shortstops?

 

I’d even say I prefer Dalbec at SS if it keeps Duran from starting in CF, but then some unnamed poster will somehow interpret that to mean I think Dalbec should be the SS. Not naming names…

 

This would keep Duran on the bench, too:

 

SS: Kike

2B: Arroyo

CF: Refsnyder

[moonslav59]

The fact that you even typed "Dalbec at SS" says a lot about the state of this roster...

 

We know we will be adding 1-2 middle infielders by opening day.

[notin]

Ok, but we've had comparisons to Ellsbury and Jose Bautista when talking about Jarren f***ing Duran. I will delete my account if he has a 9.5 fWAR season or hits 50 bombs in a year in MLB. Both those guys ended with 30+ fWAR.

 

And if after the 2009 season, someone had told you 28yo Jose Bautista - with his career .730 OPS and 59 career home runs in nearly 600 games and over 2,000 plate appearances - was going to nearly double his career home run total with 54 HRs in a single season, what would your reaction have been?

 

At Duran’s age, it’s too soon to simply give up. Chances are very good he never improves, but then a lot of teams said the same thing about Bautista…

[moonslav59]

And if after the 2009 season, someone had told you 28yo Jose Bautista - with his career .730 OPS and 59 career home runs in nearly 600 games and over 2,000 plate appearances - was going to nearly double his career home run total with 54 HRs in a single season, what would your reaction have been?

 

At Duran’s age, it’s too soon to simply give up. Chances are very good he never improves, but then a lot of teams said the same thing about Bautista…

 

Indeed. I have very little hope for Duran, but he has options left and has some good offensive numbers in the minors that make it okay for me to think he can be allowed one more season to show some improvement or be let go.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

And if after the 2009 season, someone had told you 28yo Jose Bautista - with his career .730 OPS and 59 career home runs in nearly 600 games and over 2,000 plate appearances - was going to nearly double his career home run total with 54 HRs in a single season, what would your reaction have been?

 

 

"I'll have what he's having..."

[mvp 78]

I certainly don’t like:

 

2b: Arroyo and/or Valdez

SS: Hernandez

CF: Duran

 

If they leave Kike in CF, I’d prefer

 

2b: Profar. D might be lacking but his OBP is needed at top this lineup.

SS: Andrus? Iglesias? Mondesi? (KC prefers Witt at SS), DeJong? (St. Louis prefers anyone else at SS) Mateo? Amed Rosario? Wendle? Any other available shortstops?

 

I’d even say I prefer Dalbec at SS if it keeps Duran from starting in CF, but then some unnamed poster will somehow interpret that to mean I think Dalbec should be the SS. Not naming names…

 

Moving Kiké off of CF would be one of the biggest mistakes made this offseason towards the defensive profile of the 2023 Sox.

[moonslav59]

Moving Kiké off of CF would be one of the biggest mistakes made this offseason towards the defensive profile of the 2023 Sox.

 

No doubt at all.

 

With so many SSs on the trade block and Iggy & Andrus out there as free agents, there will be no excuses.

[a700hitter]

I certainly don’t like:

 

2b: Arroyo and/or Valdez

SS: Hernandez

CF: Duran

 

If they leave Kike in CF, I’d prefer

 

2b: Profar. D might be lacking but his OBP is needed at top this lineup.

SS: Andrus? Iglesias? Mondesi? (KC prefers Witt at SS), DeJong? (St. Louis prefers anyone else at SS) Mateo? Amed Rosario? Wendle? Any other available shortstops?

 

I’d even say I prefer Dalbec at SS if it keeps Duran from starting in CF, but then some unnamed poster will somehow interpret that to mean I think Dalbec should be the SS. Not naming names…

Profar has the Steve Sax yips at 2B

[notin]

Moving Kiké off of CF would be one of the biggest mistakes made this offseason towards the defensive profile of the 2023 Sox.

 

Agreed. Unless they replaced him with an equally capable defensive CF. And certainly not Duran…

[notin]

Profar has the Steve Sax yips at 2B

 

Did he? Not good.

 

His 147 innings in CF don’t give me confidence in putting him there, either. Shame. He and Yoshida atop the order would definitely increase my confidence in this offense…

[notin]

"I'll have what he's having..."

 

I’d totally avoid whatever that person was having…

[dgalehouse]

This would keep Duran on the bench, too:

 

SS: Kike

2B: Arroyo

CF: Refsnyder

 

With McGuire behind the plate , this lineup would take the term " strong up the middle " to a whole new level. A new level of despair.

[moonslav59]

With McGuire behind the plate , this lineup would take the term " strong up the middle " to a whole new level. A new level of despair.

 

On D, I think McGuire is fine.

[mvp 78]

On D, I think McGuire is fine.

 

You like McGuire's D?!?!?!? I can't believe you just said that?!?!?!? Gufaw gufaw gufaw...

 

His defense is good though.

[moonslav59]

You like McGuire's D?!?!?!? I can't believe you just said that?!?!?!? Gufaw gufaw gufaw...

 

His defense is good though.

 

Is this one of those "economical posts."

[mvp 78]

Is this one of those "economical posts."

 

It was to make fun of all the other posts that can’t stop making that one joke.

[a700hitter]

the fact that you even typed "dalbec at ss" says a lot about the state of this roster...

volumes

[S5Dewey]

The fact that you even typed "Dalbec at SS" says a lot about the state of this roster...

 

If you liked that you'll like this even more!

 

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/01/bobby-dalbec-red-sox-pitcher-alex-cora-called-12-strikeout-performance-in-2016-college-world-series-but-boston-has-never-asked-infielder-about-becoming-two-way-player.html

[notin]

If you liked that you'll like this even more!

 

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/01/bobby-dalbec-red-sox-pitcher-alex-cora-called-12-strikeout-performance-in-2016-college-world-series-but-boston-has-never-asked-infielder-about-becoming-two-way-player.html

 

 

That article is over 2 years old and gained zero traction in that time…