A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Dipre]

In an interview a few weeks ago, Cora hinted -- but wouldn't admit -- that Devers may have a nagging injury slowing him down to explain why he doesn't bust it down the line on groundballs.

 

This could also explain why a guy like Verdugo gets "benched" for not hustling, while Raffy gets "rested" once a week. Any double standards for professionals would otherwise destroy team morale.

 

This is a good take, I must admit.

[Dipre]

It was probably time for him to take a "scheduled day off" and they waited for a LHP to be the starter? IDK.

 

As for the babying comment, I ain't going back a few pages to read all about that. You guys can hash that out on your own. The ignore feature works both ways from my experience.

 

Note: I said the comment was stupid, not the poster.

[moonslav59]

Obviously the offense has to rebound if the Red Sox are to make any kind of wild card run. Verdugo, Yoshida and Turner will continue to contribute. Two keys: if Duvall regains strength and stability in his injured appendage to swing a hot bat again, it provides line-up protection for Devers, and allows Raffy to heat up with the weather; another source, like Duran or Casas, will also have to break out.

 

Not impossible, and we'll know in the next month if Boston will be buyers or sellers. For the latter to make any difference in the rebuild, Bloom has to be prepared to trade his major assets. The Sox aren't going to land any future rotation or line-up mainstays for Rob Refsnyder. Fans should expect to say goodbye to guys like Jansen and Verdugo; it may hurt for a second, but then it'll be over...

 

Turner is notorious for being a 2nd half hitter, and last year was maybe his best 2nd half, ever. I know "last year" barely repeats itself, but he is showing signs of heating up.

 

Yes, if Duvall can hit like 2 years ago, and the rest can regain just some of their early season magic...

[mvp 78]

Note: I said the comment was stupid, not the poster.

 

You've been around long enough to know how people take things on here.

 

It's been worse around here, but we try to keep the temperature down as much as possible if we can. It's a weird bizzaro community, but it could always be worse.

 

I have insisted since the end of last season that no progress can be made until Manager Alex the Cheater Cora and usless BO Director Jaime Bloom are fired and it must be done before we get swept by both TB and the Angels this weekend.. Nothing positive can come from our team's hope for the future until these two bums are cashiered.

 

OR

 

Because the filthy rotten cheater once again thought he was the smartest MAN IN THE ROOM AND THOUGHT HECOULDSURPRISE THE ROCKIES WITH A PITCHER THEY HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. ONCE AGAIN IT BLEW UP IN HIS FACE. NOW IF KENLEY WASN'T AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF ILLNESS OR INJURY I COULD SEE CORA'S HAND WAS LIMITED BUT IF NOT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THE MAN HAS CLEARLY LOST IT. Th guy has the Mark of Cain on him and the team will not revive again until his sad and sorry ass is jettisoned once and for all and with Bloom following him out of his latest s*** show.

[moonslav59]

I'm old school enough not to like it either.

 

But the way I see it, if you're going to have scheduled rest days, you kind of have to stick to the schedule, or else there's not much point having it. Because you're always going to find reasons to mess with the schedule.

 

I'm not sure why it has to be so rigid, if you feel the need to do it.

I don't get the two days off thing, either. I don't keep track of other teams' strategies, but Cora might be alone on that part.

 

A couple of times, he ended up giving big split guys a day off vs the better handed pitcher. I can't see why a switch to another nearby day would not work better.

 

BTW, did it help our team in August and September of '22 being so well rested?

 

(One could argue it did in '21, but the two key, second half hot hitters were Dalbec and Kike.)

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not sure why it has to be so rigid, if you feel the need to do it.

I don't get the two days off thing, either. I don't keep track of other teams' strategies, but Cora might be alone on that part.

 

He's definitely not. You should hear Yankee fans bitch about rest days. I follow a Yankee forum just for amusement.

[moonslav59]

Turner is notorious for being a 2nd half hitter, and last year was maybe his best 2nd half, ever. I know "last year" barely repeats itself, but he is showing signs of heating up.

 

Yes, if Duvall can hit like 2 years ago, and the rest can regain just some of their early season magic...

 

Top OPS after July 1st 2022: (230+ PAs)

1.228 Judge

.967 Alvarez

.962 Altuve

.958 Freeman

.958 Realmuto

.936 J Turner (5th in wRC+)

 

May 26th 2022-Oct 5

14th Turner at .867.

 

June 15, 2022 to Today: (500+ PAs)

10th Betts .875

18th Turner .844

35th Devers .806

44. Dugo .797

49. Renfroe .790

50. Bogey .787

71. JD .760

88. Beni .734

[moonslav59]

He's definitely not. You should hear Yankee fans bitch about rest days. I follow a Yankee forum just for amusement.

 

Boone gives days off right before a team day off and vs wrong-handed SP'ers, too? (At the same time?)

[Dipre]

You've been around long enough to know how people take things on here.

 

It's been worse around here, but we try to keep the temperature down as much as possible if we can. It's a weird bizzaro community, but it could always be worse.

 

I have insisted since the end of last season that no progress can be made until Manager Alex the Cheater Cora and usless BO Director Jaime Bloom are fired and it must be done before we get swept by both TB and the Angels this weekend.. Nothing positive can come from our team's hope for the future until these two bums are cashiered.

 

OR

 

Because the filthy rotten cheater once again thought he was the smartest MAN IN THE ROOM AND THOUGHT HECOULDSURPRISE THE ROCKIES WITH A PITCHER THEY HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. ONCE AGAIN IT BLEW UP IN HIS FACE. NOW IF KENLEY WASN'T AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF ILLNESS OR INJURY I COULD SEE CORA'S HAND WAS LIMITED BUT IF NOT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THE MAN HAS CLEARLY LOST IT. Th guy has the Mark of Cain on him and the team will not revive again until his sad and sorry ass is jettisoned once and for all and with Bloom following him out of his latest s*** show.

 

My bad, you're right. I'm too old for this.

[mvp 78]

My bad, you're right. I'm too old for this.

 

We're all too old for this s***.

[Bellhorn04]

Boone gives days off right before a team day off and vs wrong-handed SP'ers, too? (At the same time?)

 

The first one absolutely, the second I'm not sure.

[moonslav59]

The first one absolutely, the second I'm not sure.

 

I'd bet Cora is the only manager that routinely gives players a day off on both criteria:

 

Before or after a team day off AND vs the wrong-handed SP'er.

 

It is really a bonehead choice to make. I think I remember it happening twice, this year with respectable batters, but it probably happened more.

[mvp 78]

Wrong-handed SPer? Gomber is a LHP. He sat Duran/Yoshida/Devers who are all LHB. WTH?

[moonslav59]

Wrong-handed SPer? Gomber is a LHP. He sat Duran/Yoshida/Devers who are all LHB. WTH?

 

I wasn't talking about this last Devers rest day, although it was before a day off.

 

He sat 2 players before a day off and vs a wrong-handed pitcher, at least twice, this year.

 

Don't ask me to prove it, please.

[Bellhorn04]

I'd bet Cora is the only manager that routinely gives players a day off on both criteria:

 

Before or after a team day off AND vs the wrong-handed SP'er.

 

It is really a bonehead choice to make. I think I remember it happening twice, this year with respectable batters, but it probably happened more.

 

I'm sure other managers do the same thing.

 

How far in advance are the rest days scheduled, and how far in advance do you know who the opposing pitcher is going to be?

 

I can't believe you're calling the greatest manager in Red Sox history a bonehead.

[notin]

I'm sure other managers do the same thing.

 

How far in advance are the rest days scheduled, and how far in advance do you know who the opposing pitcher is going to be?

 

I can't believe you're calling the greatest manager in Red Sox history a bonehead.

 

 

Maybe he thinks he’s the greatest boneheaded manager in Sox history?

[moonslav59]

I'm sure other managers do the same thing.

 

How far in advance are the rest days scheduled, and how far in advance do you know who the opposing pitcher is going to be?

 

I can't believe you're calling the greatest manager in Red Sox history a bonehead.

 

Bonehead choice- maybe 2-3 times, this year, out of thousands made. Not a bonehead manager.

 

I'd feel better, if Cora determined he wants to give ____ a day off, next week and then choose the pitcher who is toughest for ____ to hit.

 

I think I remember, in at least one case, the day after the day off saw a correct-handed pitcher going for the opps.

[Bellhorn04]

Bonehead choice- maybe 2-3 times, this year, out of thousands made. Not a bonehead manager.

 

I'd feel better, if Cora determined he wants to give ____ a day off, next week and then choose the pitcher who is toughest for ____ to hit.

 

I think I remember, in at least one case, the day after the day off saw a correct-handed pitcher going for the opps.

 

Maybe the timetable for scheduled rest days is set up at the start of the season.

 

We're all just guessing.

[moonslav59]

Maybe the timetable for scheduled rest days is set up at the start of the season.

 

We're all just guessing.

 

I'm not concerned about how it is set up or trying to guess at how it they are determined: I'm concerned that it seems immovable by even 1 game.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not concerned about how it is set up or trying to guess at how it they are determined: I'm concerned that it seems immovable by even 1 game.

 

You mean to always align it with same-sided starting pitchers?

[mvp 78]

Maybe the timetable for scheduled rest days is set up at the start of the season.

 

We're all just guessing.

 

I tried looking at older Cora quotes. Seems like he just plays it by ear and has in mind when a guy needs to sit. He wanted Raffy to get a rest at some point in the Rockies series and just waited until the Gomber LHP start. It was just happenstance that it was before a day off. If Raffy is really beat up or whatever, I don't see what the big deal is.

[mvp 78]

He played Raffy in Game 2 and Raffy hit 2 HR's. He sat Raffy in Game 3 and the Sox won. Seems like Cora did fine with the Raffy situation IMO.

[Dipre]

I tried looking at older Cora quotes. Seems like he just plays it by ear and has in mind when a guy needs to sit. He wanted Raffy to get a rest at some point in the Rockies series and just waited until the Gomber LHP start. It was just happenstance that it was before a day off. If Raffy is really beat up or whatever, I don't see what the big deal is.

 

Bro, they're babying him, stop being a primadonna protecting polyanna /sbf

[mvp 78]

Bro, they're babying him, stop being a primadonna protecting polyanna /sbf

 

Don't make me go to the other board and find more SBF quotes today...

[Dipre]

Don't make me go to the other board and find more SBF quotes today...

 

What board? Enlighten me.

[moonslav59]

You mean to always align it with same-sided starting pitchers?

 

Is it that hard of rbatters with significant L-R splits? It might mean a 1-2 game adjustment in most cases.[

 

A lefty, who struggles vs lefties has plenty of days to choose from.

 

A righty, not so much.

 

Our team has faced 49 RH's SP'ers to 20 LH'd SP'ers.

 

I like to see that Refsnyder started all 20 of those games (and only 5 v RHPs) GREAT!

 

I get that we might not know about minor injuries or other factors that go into deciding on a needed day off, but here are some numbers:

 

Devers did not start in 2 games out of 49 vs a RH'er. He did not start in 3 of 20 v LH'ers. More v LH'ers is good but 3 to 2? BTW, Devers does not have wide splits, career.

 

Verduog does. Why did he start in 19 of 20 games vs LH'ers but only 44 of 49 v RH'ers? If it was not injury-related, it's bad choice.

 

Kike hits LH'er much better:

He started 19 of 20 v LH'ers- Good, but maybe could have been 20 and one less vs RH'ers.

He started 41 of 49 v RH'ers (Maybe 40 would have been better, some might say 0.)

 

He did it with Dalbec, last year- a huge L-R split guy.

He played Ref vs RHPs, a lot, last year.

 

 

 

[/b]

[Bellhorn04]

Is it that hard of rbatters with significant L-R splits? It might mean a 1-2 game adjustment in most cases.[

 

A lefty, who struggles vs lefties has plenty of days to choose from.

 

A righty, not so much.

 

Our team has faced 49 RH's SP'ers to 20 LH'd SP'ers.

 

I like to see that Refsnyder started all 20 of those games (and only 5 v RHPs) GREAT!

 

I get that we might not know about minor injuries or other factors that go into deciding on a needed day off, but here are some numbers:

 

Devers did not start in 2 games out of 49 vs a RH'er. He did not start in 3 of 20 v LH'ers. More v LH'ers is good but 3 to 2? BTW, Devers does not have wide splits, career.

 

Verduog does. Why did he start in 19 of 20 games vs LH'ers but only 44 of 49 v RH'ers? If it was not injury-related, it's bad choice.

 

Kike hits LH'er much better:

He started 19 of 20 v LH'ers- Good, but maybe could have been 20 and one less vs RH'ers.

He started 41 of 49 v RH'ers (Maybe 40 would have been better, some might say 0.)

 

He did it with Dalbec, last year- a huge L-R split guy.

He played Ref vs RHPs, a lot, last year.

 

 

 

[/b]

 

mvp explained Raffy sitting last night above.

 

The truth is we have no idea exactly how he determines who to sit when.

 

As has been said many times, he knows these guys and what's going on with them a lot better than we do.

[notin]

Only player I'd hate to trade would be Martin. He could close for us if Jansen is traded.

 

I would think we"d get something in return for Paxton. He could be a valuable commodity for a contender, Texas?

 

I have doubts the Sox move Jansen or Martin.

 

I could see them moving Verdugo, as his value likely only gets lower if they wait and he has the full season of control beyond this year. Plus he was publicly in Cora’s doghouse earlier. Also it could clear up a logjam by putting Duran/Refsnyder in CF, Duvall slides over to RF, clearing up the playing time logjam.

 

So deal Verdugo got his seller mode and get a RP (Aroldis Chapman stops their never ending quest for a LHRP) for his buyer mode.

[moonslav59]

I have doubts the Sox move Jansen or Martin.

 

I could see them moving Verdugo, as his value likely only gets lower if they wait and he has the full season of control beyond this year. Plus he was publicly in Cora’s doghouse earlier. Also it could clear up a logjam by putting Duran/Refsnyder in CF, Duvall slides over to RF, clearing up the playing time logjam.

 

So deal Verdugo got his seller mode and get a RP (Aroldis Chapman stops their never ending quest for a LHRP) for his buyer mode.

 

Depends, if they are looking at trying to win in 2024.

 

Here is a bit of a logjam that can easily be fixed, but seems a bit needless. I assume Turner will take his $13.5M option on 2024 and Casas will be viewed as a FT player (1B/DH) in 2024. If we want to improve OF defense, and keep Dugo, playing Yoshida at DH makes the most sense, but then we logjam 1B. Maybe, we trade Turner.

 

I wonder, if any GM values Kike as a CF'er, assuming he's not still at .650 on August 1st.

 

 

 

[notin]

Depends, if they are looking at trying to win in 2024.

 

Here is a bit of a logjam that can easily be fixed, but seems a bit needless. I assume Turner will take his $13.5M option on 2024 and Casas will be viewed as a FT player (1B/DH) in 2024. If we want to improve OF defense, and keep Dugo, playing Yoshida at DH makes the most sense, but then we logjam 1B. Maybe, we trade Turner.

 

I wonder, if any GM values Kike as a CF'er, assuming he's not still at .650 on August 1st.

 

 

 

 

Bloom does seem to want that farm pipeline moving. And honestly, he probably needs it moving soon if he em wants to keep his job.

 

BTV gives Verdugo a surplus value of $22.2mill. Turner a surplus value of $0.7mill. And Hernandez a surplus value of (-$2.1)mill.

 

If he needs that pipeline, Verdugo is a logical choice…