A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Maxbialystock]

Yes, the trade deadline falls within the last series listed. It is August 1st

 

August 1st is during the @ Seattle series, but you list a bunch of series after that series.

[Dipre]

More cheese for you, but what it truly is more than anything else is that some just don’t like how I voice my opinions, and the opinions themselves. I appreciate the kind words, and LMAO that you think you don’t do the same thing. Amazing that I voice the same opinions in person, and on talk shows, and other forums, and some disagree with me, and some don’t, but never the same reactions as on here, so I’ll let that speak for itself, because that does mean something.

 

Just call 'em as I see 'em. Not personal and I enjoy the clashing of opinions, as long as you argue what I actually say.

[moonslav59]

What's your pleasure Moon? I'm trying to cut out the beer. I've lost 30 lbs and beer is one thing I've cut down on. It's made me cranky though.

 

I drink no sugar lemonade.

 

Sorry for getting testy with you. I really do like Duran and want him to play everyday. I just like other Sox players, too for specific roles.

[moonslav59]

August 1st is during the @ Seattle series, but you list a bunch of series after that series.

 

I listed SEA as the last Sox series before the deadline.

 

The other series listed are for TOR, NYY and HOU.

[cp176]

There seems to be some confusion over the difference of a bad trade vs. the decision to trade someone.

 

Mookie Betts was my favorite player, I knew he was going to be a star when he was in Salem. We can say the decision to trade him was the worse decision in a very very long time. But that should stand alone on the return, think of it as a sunk cost. Reality is you were trading what ended up being a 1/3 of a season of Betts. Players without team control, no matter how good they are, are only going to bring back so much.

 

Yes trading Betts was stupid, and it f***ing sucked, but the return was fine.

 

If Betts had 2-3 years of control left I would have expected a MUCH higher return. This is how these things work.

 

Wait - quick question - When betts was in Salem playing as a second baseman you were sure that he was going to be a star?

[cp176]

Duran has 239 PA's against righties and only 39 against lefties this year.

 

Which might mean his excellent numbers have a lot to do with not seeing many lefties.

 

We don'tr actually know if he can hit lefties well yet.

 

I agree he should get the chance, but maybe you need to look a little closer at the facts.

 

Or it could also mean that the stubbornness with respect with what something on paper says that he should not face lefties? he is a hitter - let him go.

[moonslav59]

Or it could also mean that the stubbornness with respect with what something on paper says that he should not face lefties? he is a hitter - let him go.

 

How about what Duvall and Refsnyder can do and letting them "go?"

[moonslav59]

Sox OPS Leaders at the AS Break

.886 Duran

.874 Yoshida

.850 Duvall

.824 Turner

.817 Verdugo

.813 Devers

 

.738 Refsnyder

.728 Casas

.703 Wong

.702 Reyes

.692 Arroyo

 

.684 EValdez

.665 McGuire

.602 Kike

 

.499 Chang

.472 D Hamilton

 

[Nick]

I drink no sugar lemonade.

 

Sorry for getting testy with you. I really do like Duran and want him to play everyday. I just like other Sox players, too for specific roles.

 

No worries..... I value your posts.

[moonslav59]

I know some posters hate this talk, but I find it interesting:

 

We'd be in 1st place in the ALC by 2.5 games.

We'd be 4 GB Texas in the ALW (3rd place.)

We'd be 2 GB Cincy in the NLC (3rd place.)

We'd be 4.5 GB AZ in NLW (4th place.)

[Hugh2]

Wait - quick question - When betts was in Salem playing as a second baseman you were sure that he was going to be a star?

 

If you want to argue semantics and get specific no, I do not have a crystal ball, but I follow the minor leaguers more than the big leaguers so I’d say he was on my radar sooner than the typical fan who is mainly interested in the big league club.

 

There was always a vibe with how special Mookie might be, BA even had their own “Mookie Meter”

[cp176]

How about what Duvall and Refsnyder can do and letting them "go?"

 

I think that there is quite a difference in comparing what they seem to be capable of doing.

[cp176]

If you want to argue semantics and get specific no, I do not have a crystal ball, but I follow the minor leaguers more than the big leaguers so I’d say he was on my radar sooner than the typical fan who is mainly interested in the big league club.

 

There was always a vibe with how special Mookie might be, BA even had their own “Mookie Meter”

 

Semantics really? I'm glad that you knew Mookie was going to be a star when he played in Salem. Hey, I knew that JBJ, Moncada, and Benitendi were going to be stars when they were playing in Portland. You sure do know more than I do. Good job.

[Bellhorn04]

Duvall's 2 RBI were the difference in yesterday's game. Refsnyder didn't do much but his stats against lefty pitchers are amazing. Duran got in the game and got a hit. It was all good.

 

Cora knows what he's doing.

[Hugh2]

Semantics really? I'm glad that you knew Mookie was going to be a star when he played in Salem. Hey, I knew that JBJ, Moncada, and Benitendi were going to be stars when they were playing in Portland. You sure do know more than I do. Good job.

 

I'm literally TELLING you it's a figure of speech. I'm an optimist, fully aware that prospects bust but always had confidence in Mookie. Not sure why that gets you all hot and bothered.

 

I can say the same thing about Miguel Bleis now, fully aware he might not reach the bigs, but I believe he will be a star one day. Sorry if believing in people bothers you.

[cp176]

I'm literally TELLING you it's a figure of speech. I'm an optimist, fully aware that prospects bust but always had confidence in Mookie. Not sure why that gets you all hot and bothered.

 

I can say the same thing about Miguel Bleis now, fully aware he might not reach the bigs, but I believe he will be a star one day. Sorry if believing in people bothers you.

 

What is it that is bothering you about this? Trust me, nothing you could ever say would get me hot and bothered. I really do get a kick out of your posts as I do a few others who post here. I've often times felt and said the same things that you have said but they weren't figures of speech they were my actual feelings. In my case, I have been proven wrong more than I have been proven right.

[cp176]

I'm literally TELLING you it's a figure of speech. I'm an optimist, fully aware that prospects bust but always had confidence in Mookie. Not sure why that gets you all hot and bothered.

 

I can say the same thing about Miguel Bleis now, fully aware he might not reach the bigs, but I believe he will be a star one day. Sorry if believing in people bothers you.

 

Wait - I just read your whole post. You are telling me that believing in people bothers me. You don't know me right? Anyone who makes a comment like that is just simply terribly insecure or just looking for an argument which you won't get from me.

[Hugh2]

Wait - I just read your whole post. You are telling me that believing in people bothers me. You don't know me right? Anyone who makes a comment like that is just simply terribly insecure or just looking for an argument which you won't get from me.

 

WTF? dude I said I always believed in Mookie, and you came at me like I was implying I had some magical powers to predict the future and know EXACTLY what a player can be in a mocking way. That's what you did, it came off as being very dickish and I was only trying to tell you that that was NOT what I was saying at all.

 

You literally said "wait, when Betts was in Salem as a 2nd baseman you knew he was going to be a star?" and then you said "Semantics really? I'm glad that you knew Mookie was going to be a star when he played in Salem. Hey, I knew that JBJ, Moncada, and Benitendi were going to be stars when they were playing in Portland. You sure do know more than I do. Good job."

 

Your words...not mine.

[Hugh2]

I was obviously being a sarcastic dick when I said it bothered you, in response to the quotes above that you said, because it came off as very dickish. It's called tit for tat, don't draw someone out and the say "oh you're so insecure" when they call you out on your bs. That's just a bunch of pointless ad hominem that has nothing to do with anything.

 

Sorry it wasn't the "ah haaa" moment you thought it was.

[moonslav59]

I think that there is quite a difference in comparing what they seem to be capable of doing.

 

Ref has been a top 10 hitter vs LHPs since 2022.

 

Duvall has shown he is capable of leading the league in rbi.

 

All three have capabilities, but Duran has yet to show his vs LHPs.

[Dipre]

Duran should play pretty much every day, that is very much a fact, but Cora is in an impossible situation. If he doesn't play him, people will whine, and if he does and he's an auto-out against lefties, people will also whine.

[mvp 78]

Duran should play pretty much every day, that is very much a fact, but Cora is in an impossible situation. If he doesn't play him, people will whine, and if he does and he's an auto-out against lefties, people will also whine.

 

He's been better so far this season vs LHP. There's a definite split, but you can hold your nose with a 700 OPS. If it trends lower, then you platoon.

[Dipre]

He's been better so far this season vs LHP. There's a definite split, but you can hold your nose with a 700 OPS. If it trends lower, then you platoon.

 

I'd play him pretty much every day. He's been taking a lot more advantage of his speed, which will allow him to get on base sometimes even if he's overmatched.

[cp176]

I was obviously being a sarcastic dick when I said it bothered you, in response to the quotes above that you said, because it came off as very dickish. It's called tit for tat, don't draw someone out and the say "oh you're so insecure" when they call you out on your bs. That's just a bunch of pointless ad hominem that has nothing to do with anything.

 

Sorry it wasn't the "ah haaa" moment you thought it was.

 

Wow - You just ran right over the top of me I guess. Great job. Obviously this meaningless pissing contest has just been all me. Sorry.

[mvp 78]

I'd play him pretty much every day. He's been taking a lot more advantage of his speed, which will allow him to get on base sometimes even if he's overmatched.

 

So not an impossible situation for Cora then?

[moonslav59]

Duran should play pretty much every day, that is very much a fact, but Cora is in an impossible situation. If he doesn't play him, people will whine, and if he does and he's an auto-out against lefties, people will also whine.

 

Duran's defense and speed on the bases ups his value, even against LHPs. He should play, everyday, at least until he proves he can't hit lefties well enough.

 

The problem is that Duvall is a pretty good fielder and had a longer track record of hitting LHPs very well. I'm not one to think a recent one month sample size after recovering from a wrist injury should weigh as heavily as some seem to think it should.

 

Kike is a very good defensive CF'er and has a career .804 OPS vs LHPs, but his lack of hitting since the end of 2021 carries more weight than Duvall's one month slump. I'm fine with Duran > Kike.

 

The real choice, to me, is not Duran v Duvall v LHPs, it's Duran v Casas v LHPs. (Turner to 1B, Yoshida to DH and Duvall in LF- not CF) The last time I suggested platooning Casas as a way to get other playing more, my head was nearly ripped off. There is good reason to keep Casas FT, too.

 

1. He needs playing time to further develop, especially on D.

2. He has hit LHPs (.735) slightly better than RHPs (.725), this year. Career is .695 v L.

 

Casas may be a slightly better hitter than Duran v LHPs, but it's pretty close, and Duran is a way better defender. Plus, platooning Casas improves our 1B D (Turner>Casas), LF D (Duvall> Yoshida) and CF D (Duran>Duvall.)

 

Another idea might be to spread the days off vs LHPs between Duran, Casas and Dugo. Also, make sure when Devers gets his scheduled day off, it's vs a lefty (Turner at 3B, Yoshi at DH and Duvall, Duran and Dugo in the OF.)

 

Like I said before, trading Duvall might end up solving the logjam with the short split side.

 

 

[Hugh2]

When Story comes back then really either Duvall or Kike has to come off the roster

[Bellhorn04]

Like I said before, trading Duvall might end up solving the logjam with the short split side.

 

If we're still in it, I don't see trading Duvall to clear a logjam.

[Bellhorn04]

When Story comes back then really either Duvall or Kike has to come off the roster

 

As it stands, it's Kike who's most likely to be a goner.

[Dipre]

So not an impossible situation for Cora then?

 

People will whine either way, is what I meant. He should just play him.