A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

Beating the good teams, losing to the bad teams. Mark of a bad team.

 

You don't seem to like the word "mediocre".

[Dipre]

You don't seem to like the word "mediocre".

 

Not that I don't like it.

[oldtimer]

Dropped 2 against OAK, SF, SEA, NYM since ASB

Their pitching looks taxed. Even a below average offense is going to take advantage of it.

 

The team was playing well until around the time of the trade deadline. The pitching held up fairly well until the 13 run pounding. The offense on the other hand has declined with 3 or fewer runs more the norm recently. What factors have caused that?

 

1. Facing better pitching

2. Frustration in the clubhouse over the lack of significant mores to improve the club

3. Verdugo and Cora's dust up

4. Issues with the lineup based on SS options and play

5. Loss of Hernandez or Arroyo

6. Wear and tear of so many games and so much travel recently

 

Whatever the cause, it is getting late to expect a turnaround for 2023. Should management bring up players expected to play a role in 2024 and give them experience?

[Nick]

The team was playing well until around the time of the trade deadline. The pitching held up fairly well until the 13 run pounding. The offense on the other hand has declined with 3 or fewer runs more the norm recently. What factors have caused that?

 

1. Facing better pitching

2. Frustration in the clubhouse over the lack of significant mores to improve the club

3. Verdugo and Cora's dust up

4. Issues with the lineup based on SS options and play

5. Loss of Hernandez or Arroyo

6. Wear and tear of so many games and so much travel recently

 

Whatever the cause, it is getting late to expect a turnaround for 2023. Should management bring up players expected to play a role in 2024 and give them experience?[/size][/b]

 

Rafaela is superb defender. I'm not advocating whole slew of AAA guys to come to Boston. But I like to see Rafaela sooner rather than later.

[moonslav59]

Rafaela is superb defender. I'm not advocating whole slew of AAA guys to come to Boston. But I like to see Rafaela sooner rather than later.

 

I'd love to see him, tomorrow, but I trust the Sox to know when the time is right.

 

Tuesday: Story

Friday: Sale

???: Whitlock

???: Houck

[Jasonbay44]

I'd love to see him, tomorrow, but I trust the Sox to know when the time is right.

 

Tuesday: Story

Friday: Sale

???: Whitlock

???: Houck

 

Sounds like Sunday for Whitlock.

[moonslav59]

No Bleier

No Arroyo

No Kike

No Brasier

 

No Alfaro, Tapia, Faria, Sherriff, Dermody, Littell

 

[Nick]

No Bleier

No Arroyo

No Kike

No Brasier

 

No Alfaro, Tapia, Faria, Sherriff, Dermody, Littell

 

Not sure why it took so long to get Reyes back.

 

I got the sense they were working on a Kike trade.

 

He is more valuable than Chang. I read somewhere Chang is not good at 2B.

[mvp 78]

The team was playing well until around the time of the trade deadline. The pitching held up fairly well until the 13 run pounding. The offense on the other hand has declined with 3 or fewer runs more the norm recently. What factors have caused that?

 

1. Facing better pitching

2. Frustration in the clubhouse over the lack of significant mores to improve the club

3. Verdugo and Cora's dust up

4. Issues with the lineup based on SS options and play

5. Loss of Hernandez or Arroyo

6. Wear and tear of so many games and so much travel recently

 

Whatever the cause, it is getting late to expect a turnaround for 2023. Should management bring up players expected to play a role in 2024 and give them experience?[/size][/b]

 

They lost 3 in a row to end July BEFORE the trade deadline. I don’t buy that the clubhouse stuff/frustration at all.

[mvp 78]

Not sure why it took so long to get Reyes back.

 

I got the sense they were working on a Kike trade.

 

He is more valuable than Chang. I read somewhere Chang is not good at 2B.

 

One is a 0.0 fWAR guy, the other is a 0.1 fWAR guy. On a good team, neither is anything more than an injury fill-in for a week.

[moonslav59]

They lost 3 in a row to end July BEFORE the trade deadline. I don’t buy that the clubhouse stuff/frustration at all.

 

You'd think all some might have wanted was just not to sell off.

 

They knew Story, Sale, Whitlock and Hocuk were returning, and if they just played .500 from the point you mentioned, this site would not be all lit up.

[moonslav59]

Wild Card Race

 

68-46 TBR

64-49 HOU

64-50 TOR

 

60-52 SEA -3.0

58-54 BOS -5.0

58-55 NYY -5.5

56-57 LAA -7.5

 

We are no longer in last place, which seems to be really important to some.

 

(I will say, finishing ahead of the Yanks is important.)

 

IMO, we need to go 7-2 in the next 9- but maybe 6-3 can get us on a roll.

 

[moonslav59]

Who gets DFA'd to make room for Story on the 40?

 

Will it me a middle infielder?

Reyes or Chang? (Both have no options remaining.)

or

Demote Urias (1 option left) and DFA someone like Graza or Jacques?

 

When Sale comes up (Friday?) who gets DFA'd?

Garza?

Jacques?

Llovera?

 

When Whitlock returns, one from the above list (or Lamet) should be demoted. No need for a DFA.

 

Who knows when Houck returns?

 

 

[Jasonbay44]

Who gets DFA'd to make room for Story on the 40?

 

Will it me a middle infielder?

Reyes or Chang? (Both have no options remaining.)

or

Demote Urias (1 option left) and DFA someone like Graza or Jacques?

 

When Sale comes up (Friday?) who gets DFA'd?

Garza?

Jacques?

Llovera?

 

When Whitlock returns, one from the above list (or Lamet) should be demoted. No need for a DFA.

 

Who knows when Houck returns?

 

 

Chang is likely getting DFA… and honestly they could DFA all those pitchers, no one is going to miss them

[Old Red]

Looked like a nice win last night, but the bats have to get going. It’s looked like slumber with the lumber for to many games now.

[oldtimer]

Not sure why it took so long to get Reyes back.

 

I got the sense they were working on a Kike trade.

 

He is more valuable than Chang. I read somewhere Chang is not good at 2B.

 

With Turner, Story and Reyes where will Chang get PT? Same with the OF with Duran, Yoshida, Verdugo and Duvall, where would Rafaela get PT? Sounds like some additional DFA's may be coming.

[mvp 78]

With Turner, Story and Reyes where will Chang get PT? Same with the OF with Duran, Yoshida, Verdugo and Duvall, where would Rafaela get PT? Sounds like some additional DFA's may be coming.

 

Chang's only value is fielding SS. If Story can play SS fulltime, Chang doesn't have a spot here.

[mvp 78]

Chang is likely getting DFA… and honestly they could DFA all those pitchers, no one is going to miss them

 

Only issue is that the guys behind them are even worse or are younger and you don't want to add them to the 40 man this year.

[Old Red]

Chang's only value is fielding SS. If Story can play SS fulltime, Chang doesn't have a spot here.

 

It’s a big question if Story can play SS full time.

[Nick]

With Turner, Story and Reyes where will Chang get PT? Same with the OF with Duran, Yoshida, Verdugo and Duvall, where would Rafaela get PT? Sounds like some additional DFA's may be coming.

 

Rafaela can also play short. We conplain about D. Duvall goes 0-4 with 4 K' s last night. He looked stupid in RF. He does NOTHING for me.

[mvp 78]

It’s a big question if Story can play SS full time.

 

He played every non-double header game except for one while with WOO and that was him ramping up. That's pretty much fulltime especially on an Alex Cora roster.

[mvp 78]

Rafaela can also play short. We conplain about D. Duvall goes 0-4 with 4 K' s last night. He looked stupid in RF. He does NOTHING for me.

 

He plays above average SS. He plays elite GG CF. Sox should keep him in CF.

[Old Red]

He played every non-double header game except for one while with WOO and that was him ramping up. That's pretty much fulltime especially on an Alex Cora roster.

 

I didn’t know Woo was the big leagues, but at least he stayed healthy. He hasn’t played SS in two years, and I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten how, but I’m just not expecting that much from him when he comes back just like I felt with Duvall.

[moonslav59]

With Turner, Story and Reyes where will Chang get PT? Same with the OF with Duran, Yoshida, Verdugo and Duvall, where would Rafaela get PT? Sounds like some additional DFA's may be coming.

 

I'd keep Reyes, too, but the plan is to start with Story playing SS, every other day, for a while, and Chang is the superior defensive SS, right now.

 

I'd still DFA Chang.

 

Second choice: put off the choice by demoting Urias until Sept call-ups.

[notin]

I'd keep Reyes, too, but the plan is to start with Story playing SS, every other day, for a while, and Chang is the superior defensive SS, right now.

 

I'd still DFA Chang.

 

Second choice: put off the choice by demoting Urias until Sept call-ups.

 

Demote one of only two MI with an OPS over .700? (Boston data only)

[moonslav59]

Demote one of only two MI with an OPS over .700? (Boston data only)

 

I would just DFA Chang. He is the type of player that may pass through waivers or can easily be replaced, but if they want to keep him around, at least until Story can play everyday, maybe they demote Urias.

[Hugh2]

Rafaela can also play short. We conplain about D. Duvall goes 0-4 with 4 K' s last night. He looked stupid in RF. He does NOTHING for me.

 

Yes but that would be a waste. Rafaela has plus D in centerfield, but average defense at shortstop; which is still a very valuable thing. Still, when your defense goes from elite to average, your overall value can crater if you can not hit and Ceddanne has big question marks at the plate.

 

I mean, imagine playing JBJ at SS and getting good but not great defense but with no bat. Ceddanne shouldn't be rushed, and if he is, it should be to play CF here.

[notin]

I would just DFA Chang. He is the type of player that may pass through waivers or can easily be replaced, but if they want to keep him around, at least until Story can play everyday, maybe they demote Urias.

 

I don’t think his .550 OPS is going to generate a lot of claims. I was surprised how far Ramon Laureano fell…

[moonslav59]

Yes but that would be a waste. Rafaela has plus D in centerfield, but average defense at shortstop; which is still a very valuable thing. Still, when your defense goes from elite to average, your overall value can crater if you can not hit and Ceddanne has big question marks at the plate.

 

I mean, imagine playing JBJ at SS and getting good but not great defense but with no bat. Ceddanne shouldn't be rushed, and if he is, it should be to play CF here.

 

Who says Rafaela is just average at SS?

 

Has he played there enough to really know?

 

(I do agree on keeping him in CF, especially since Duran in LF and Yoshida at DH makes a lot of sense.

[notin]

Who says Rafaela is just average at SS?

 

Has he played there enough to really know?

 

(I do agree on keeping him in CF, especially since Duran in LF and Yoshida at DH makes a lot of sense.

 

I’m ok with Duran in CF and Rafaela in RF.

 

RF at Fenway does require CF range. And Duran has improved by leaps and bounds in CF this year. Granted, he looked like Ray Charles out there last year, so there was plenty of room for improvement…