Which Red Sox Players Will Miss Substantial Time This Year?

[mvp 78]

Bloom has built this team around a lot of older or recently injured players. Which ones do you think are likely to miss multiple weeks due to injury? Select all that apply!

 

This is a poll, please give me a few minutes to put the options up.

[iortiz]

...and Story is not even there —he might not play this year.

 

It's crazy how this team has been built. Dumpster diving all the way. Wow!

[moonslav59]

One really bad thing about last year was that many of the injuries happened at the same time at like positions:

 

Story and Arroyo went down at the same time, which forced Downs, Sanchez, Arauz and others to play 2B. (Kike might have been an option at 2B, but he was out, too.)

 

I think 4 of our SP'ers were all out at the same time, and 2-3 were out, together for long periods. Of course, we knew Sale and Paxton were starting the year on the IL, but we lost Wacha, Nate, Hill and Whitlock/Houck for much of the same time periods.

 

The weakest area of the team, the pen, might have been the healthiest, although Houck, Whitlock and Barnes missed time. (Taylor missed the whole year.)

 

[Bellhorn04]

Feels to me like bad mojo trying to predict injuries.

[moonslav59]

Feels to me like bad mojo trying to predict injuries.

 

Would it be better to list who plays 90% of available games?

 

That list might be shorter:

 

Devers

Pivetta

Dugo

???

 

[Bellhorn04]

Would it be better to list who plays 90% of available games?

 

That list might be shorter:

 

Devers

Pivetta

Dugo

???

 

 

Same thing for me. I'm just superstitious.

[mvp 78]

Feels to me like bad mojo trying to predict injuries.

 

If there's a light down the end of the train tracks, it's probably a train, not mojo with a headlamp.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's not like injuries are the only health issues these days causing players to miss significant time.

 

I still can't believe the Red Sox hung in there for over a week down the stretch in '21 while half the roster was quarantined with Covid.

 

We can rag all we want about Cora and Bloom, but they really did their jobs steering the club to the playoffs and getting by with Iglesias, Arauz, Jack Lopez and Taylor Motter.

[notin]

If there's a light down the end of the train tracks, it's probably a train, not mojo with a headlamp.

 

 

You have clearly never watched a roadrunner cartoon…

[mvp 78]

It's not like injuries are the only health issues these days causing players to miss significant time.

 

I still can't believe the Red Sox hung in there for over a week down the stretch in '21 while half the roster was quarantined with Covid.

 

We can rag all we want about Cora and Bloom, but they really did their jobs steering the club to the playoffs and getting by with Iglesias, Arauz, Jack Lopez and Taylor Motter.

 

Motter did have a 1262 OPS with the Sox.

[moonslav59]

One interesting thing about the 2023 roster is who should play if healthy.

 

I have to think Mondesi would get the nod over Arroyo (with Kike at 2B) and Tapia and maybe even Duvall (with Kike in CF).

 

Kike is a given starter. Duvall and Mondesi are maybe tied for second. That would mean: SS Mondesi, 2B Kike, CF Duvall.

 

It's going to be interesting to see if Kike is moved all around the middle of the field, or we try to just keep him at one spot.

 

Assuming 2,000 PAs at SS, 2B and CF, this year, could we see this (going out on a limb and implying almost total good health):

 

550 Kike (300 SS, 250 2B, 0 CF)

450 Duvall (CF + 50-100 in LF/RF)

400 Mondesi (SS)

400 Arroyo (2B)

200 Tapia (CF)

 

 

[vegasbob]

Of the names on the voting list the 3 that really need to get in a full season (550+ PAs; 28+ starts) are Sale, Whitlock and Kike . Sale and Whitlock could contribute many innings QS's and W's. Kike needs to use his position flexibility to cover the inevitable other injuries and Cora days off.

[moonslav59]

Of the names on the voting list the 3 that really need to get in a full season (550+ PAs; 28+ starts) are Sale, Whitlock and Kike . Sale and Whitlock could contribute many innings QS's and W's. Kike needs to use his position flexibility to cover the inevitable other injuries and Cora days off.

 

Those are the big 3, for sure.

 

Houck's recovery is key, too, and what role will he be given?

[Bellhorn04]

Those are the big 3, for sure.

 

Houck's recovery is key, too, and what role will he be given?

 

If Paxton is ready to go I assume Houck would be a setup guy/relief ace.

[moonslav59]

If Paxton is ready to go I assume Houck would be a setup guy/relief ace.

 

Even if Paxton starts the season on the IL, I see our best 5 SP'ers as...

 

Sale

Kluber

Whitlock

Bello

Pivetta

 

With Jansen and Martin as the likely 1-2 punch in the 8th and 9th, I see Schreiber and Houck as the 7th and 8th inning guys, maybe 2 innings at times, and Barnes as the #5 RP'er for the 6th and 7th innings.

[notin]

If Paxton is ready to go I assume Houck would be a setup guy/relief ace.

 

Why not a Schreiber, who excelled in that role last year?

[moonslav59]

Why not a Schreiber, who excelled in that role last year?

 

Teams have multiple set-up men- usually 2-3 8th and 9th innings guys after the closer.

[notin]

Teams have multiple set-up men- usually 2-3 8th and 9th innings guys after the closer.

 

Barnes finished strong and I had hopes for him, but the people who know him seemingly like Ort and Brasier better. Oh well. Hope they’re right…

[mvp 78]

If Paxton is ready to go I assume Houck would be a setup guy/relief ace.

 

If Paxton is ready, is he in the pen or the rotation?

[Old Red]

If Paxton is ready, is he in the pen or the rotation?

 

I think Paxton starts off in the starting rotation. How long he stays there is another question.

[Old Red]

Why not a Schreiber, who excelled in that role last year?

 

If he pitches like last year yes, but he’s been around for awhile, and last year may have just been a career year, and he’ll go back to being a journeyman like he was before.

[mvp 78]

I think Paxton starts off in the starting rotation. How long he stays there is another question.

 

If he starts in the rotation, he's only moved off if he hits the IL.

[Bellhorn04]

If Paxton is ready, is he in the pen or the rotation?

 

I dunno. If everyone is healthy we have 6 starters including Paxton. Maybe he's in the pen.

[moonslav59]

I dunno. If everyone is healthy we have 6 starters including Paxton. Maybe he's in the pen.

 

I can't see Bello, Kluber or Pivetta moving to the pen. I hope they don't jerk Whitlock around, again, so I'd keep him at SP'er. Who knows if Bloom/Cora agree?

 

If Sale and Paxton are healthy, Paxton goes to the pen.

[Bellhorn04]

I can't see Bello, Kluber or Pivetta moving to the pen. I hope they don't jerk Whitlock around, again, so I'd keep him at SP'er. Who knows if Bloom/Cora agree?

 

If Sale and Paxton are healthy, Paxton goes to the pen.

 

And we could use a lefty there.

[mvp 78]

I dunno. If everyone is healthy we have 6 starters including Paxton. Maybe he's in the pen.

 

I think I'd consider putting him there too. Could be a strong late inning LHP guy.

[notin]

I dunno. If everyone is healthy we have 6 starters including Paxton. Maybe he's in the pen.

 

If everyone is healthy, I assume Bello goes to WOO and waits for that status to change.

 

The bullpen is likely Jansen, Martin, Houck, Schreiber, Brasier, Mills, Joely Rodriguez and another from Crawford, Kelly or Winckowski…

[notin]

I think I'd consider putting him there too. Could be a strong late inning LHP guy.

 

Just assume sign Chafin and not bounce anyone around. Then DFA Ort once and for all…

[moonslav59]

If everyone is healthy, I assume Bello goes to WOO and waits for that status to change.

 

The bullpen is likely Jansen, Martin, Houck, Schreiber, Brasier, Mills, Joely Rodriguez and another from Crawford, Kelly or Winckowski…

 

I think Bello rates to be too much better than Pivetta and Paxton to start in AAA.

 

As much as I hate jerking Whitlock around, I'd rather have Bello start and Whitlock in the pen, than Bello in AAA and Crawford or Wink in the pen.

 

Let's try to win in April!

[moonslav59]

Just assume sign Chafin and not bounce anyone around. Then DFA Ort once and for all…

 

DFA'ing Ort would make the Barnes DFA more acceptable, to me.