A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[moonslav59]

The race for team OPS leader is becoming clearer, but there is still time for a lower ranked player to get hot and pass Devers:

 

.861 Devers

.836 Casas

.833 Turner

.828 Duran

.826 Yoshida

.814 Duvall

.803 Reyes

 

Duvall and Reyes have much less PAs, so one might not count them, if they end up tops, but less PAs makes a hot streak by one of them capable of rising more quickly.

 

On another note, how about our 2B production, of late?

 

OPS in last 15 days:

1.023 Devers

.986 Reyes (.931 last 30 days

.902 Casas

.823 Urias (.827 last 30 days)

,811 Duvall

.793 Verdugo

.781 Turner

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Could we have gotten a quality prospect for Martin at the trade deadline? I think so

 

Every team should be able to, if they trade away their best player... and for the '23 Red Sox, no one has been better at his specific job all season than Chris Martin.

[Old Red]

Could we have gotten a quality prospect for Martin at the trade deadline? I think so

 

On the other hand could the Red Sox have gotten a serviceable starter for a prospect when the rotation had 3 starters out with injuries?

[moonslav59]

On the other hand could the Red Sox have gotten a serviceable starter for a prospect when the rotation had 3 starters out with injuries?

 

It's a certainty they could have, but it's a dice roll to some extent.

 

By the end of the season, we will likely see half the SP'ers acquired will have done well and maybe half will have done meh to badly.

 

The more you give up, the better the odds, but so far...

 

Stroman: Has not pitched 1 inning since the deadline.

Rich Hill: 3GS 9.53 ERA

Jack Flaherty: 3 GS 7.07 ERA

Verlander: 1GS 3.00 ERA

Lorenzen: 3GS 3.53 ERA

Lance Lynn: 4GS 1.44 ERA

 

I know notin and others mentioned Lorenzen, but nobody said Lance Lynn's name.

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

It's a certainty they could have, but it's a dice roll to some extent.

 

By the end of the season, we will likely see half the SP'ers acquired will have done well and maybe half will have done meh to badly.

 

The more you give up, the better the odds, but so far...

 

Stroman: Has not pitched 1 inning since the deadline.

Rich Hill: 3GS 9.53 ERA

Jack Flaherty: 3 GS 7.07 ERA

Verlander: 1GS 3.00 ERA

Lorenzen: 3GS 3.53 ERA

Lance Lynn: 4GS 1.44 ERA

 

I know notin and others mentioned Lorenzen, but nobody said Lance Lynn's name.

 

 

 

Why would we include Stroman, though?

 

Also, there's Scherzer, Montgomery, Civale...not sure if there are others.

[notin]

It's a certainty they could have, but it's a dice roll to some extent.

 

By the end of the season, we will likely see half the SP'ers acquired will have done well and maybe half will have done meh to badly.

 

The more you give up, the better the odds, but so far...

 

Stroman: Has not pitched 1 inning since the deadline.

Rich Hill: 3GS 9.53 ERA

Jack Flaherty: 3 GS 7.07 ERA

Verlander: 1GS 3.00 ERA

Lorenzen: 3GS 3.53 ERA

Lance Lynn: 4GS 1.44 ERA

 

I know notin and others mentioned Lorenzen, but nobody said Lance Lynn's name.

 

 

 

 

I wasn’t on the Lorenzen Train. I was all about Paul Blackburn.

 

By the way, since the break, Blackburn has 3 GS with a 1.93 ERA…

[moonslav59]

Why would we include Stroman, though?

 

 

Because people talked about him a lot.

 

Yes, I forgot a few other. I was just going off the top of my head.

[moonslav59]

Texas and TBR lost, but they are likely out of reach.

 

Either HOU or SEA will lose, and we need Cincy to beat TOR, tonight.

 

Since we have 7 games against HOU, I'm kind of thinking I want them to beat SEA, but who knows?

[Nick]

Not much chatter here about what Kutter's been doing.

 

He has to be in the rotation plans for next year, along with Bello and now Houck. His unique delivery and multiple pitches make him a legitimate starting pitcher.

[moonslav59]

Not much chatter here about what Kutter's been doing.

 

He has to be in the rotation plans for next year, along with Bello and now Houck. His unique delivery and multiple pitches make him a legitimate starting pitcher.

 

He really has been impressive, basically all year. After his first start, he has a 3.13 ERA.

 

I think Pivetta will likely have a rotation slot, too, unless he implodes.

 

If we can get Urias or Y.Y. from Japan, I'd be thrilled, but getting 2 solid SP'er would make my day (or half decade.)

 

SP1. Urias

SP2. Bello

SP3. Y.Y.

SP4. Crawford

SP5. Houck

SP6/LR. Pivetta

SP7LR. Sale

SP8//LR Whitlock

LR/SR Murphy

Set Up Bernardino

Set Up Schreiber

Set Up Martin

Closer Jansen

 

 

[moonslav59]

TOR pulled out a close one, as the Reds has 2 & 3rd with 1 out in the 9th.

 

SEA is up 6-2 on HOU, which is making our 7 games with HOU in 2 weeks a possible flip in the standings opportunity, if we can romp.

[moonslav59]

SEA beating up on HOU is now making the Astros a better target to pass.. We play them 7 times in the next 2 weeks, so just maybe...

 

70-64 HOU WC2

68-55 SEA WC3

 

68-56 TOR -0.5

65-58 BOS -3.0 (-2.5 TOR and -4.5 HOU)

 

We play...

HOU 7 times

TOR 3 times

SEA 0 times

 

HOU still has 4 games vs SEA, including tomorrow.

 

TOR is done playing HOU & SEA.

 

 

[harmony]

Could we have gotten a quality prospect for Martin at the trade deadline? I think so

Near the trade deadline the Seattle Mariners received infielder Josh Rojas, outfielder Dominic Canzone and infield prospect Ryan Bliss for a year and two months of 33-year-old closer Paul Sewald, who had posted 1.0 fWAR in 45 games covering 43 innings this year up to the day of the trade.

 

So far this season 37-year-old reliever Chris Martin has posted 1.0 fWAR in 44 appearances covering 41 inning as the righthander approaches free agency in October.

[Bellhorn04]

Near the trade deadline the Seattle Mariners received infielder Josh Rojas, outfielder Dominic Canzone and infield prospect Ryan Bliss for a year and two months of 33-year-old closer Paul Sewald, who had posted 1.0 fWAR in 45 games covering 43 innings this year up to the day of the trade.

 

So far this season 37-year-old reliever Chris Martin has posted 1.0 fWAR in 44 appearances covering 41 inning as the righthander approaches free agency in October.

 

Martin signed a 2-year contract with the Red Sox.

[Nick]

8. The 2022-23 free-agent field has been … not so great

Look back at our list of the top free agents from what had seemed one of the deepest and most dynamic classes in recent memory, and there’s not a lot to make you feel warm and fuzzy right now.

 

Without getting into all the specifics here, injuries have hindered the impacts of Judge, as well as top starters deGrom, Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodón. Top shortstops Trea Turner, Correa and Xander Bogaerts have all had less-than-dynamic campaigns, José Abreu is having the worst season of his career, and the most notable aspect of Willson Contreras’ year was that brief period when he was moved off the catcher position.

 

Not every deal has been a dud, of course, and there’s a lot of time before the final evaluation of most of these contracts. But for now, it’s surprising how little impact has come from the upper echelon of last winter’s open market.

[Bellhorn04]

I wasn’t on the Lorenzen Train. I was all about Paul Blackburn.

 

By the way, since the break, Blackburn has 3 GS with a 1.93 ERA…

 

Of course he does.

 

He was a good call on your part...

[Nick]

It's incredible to think had we signed Eovaldi and not Kluber, we'd be closer to being in the playoffs.

 

I praised the Sox for signing Eovaldi when they did, coinciding with the final year of Porcello's contract. Sadly I was okay with letting Eovaldi go four years later thinking we had better options. Live and learn.

[Maxbialystock]

8. The 2022-23 free-agent field has been … not so great

Look back at our list of the top free agents from what had seemed one of the deepest and most dynamic classes in recent memory, and there’s not a lot to make you feel warm and fuzzy right now.

 

Without getting into all the specifics here, injuries have hindered the impacts of Judge, as well as top starters deGrom, Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodón. Top shortstops Trea Turner, Correa and Xander Bogaerts have all had less-than-dynamic campaigns, José Abreu is having the worst season of his career, and the most notable aspect of Willson Contreras’ year was that brief period when he was moved off the catcher position.

 

Not every deal has been a dud, of course, and there’s a lot of time before the final evaluation of most of these contracts. But for now, it’s surprising how little impact has come from the upper echelon of last winter’s open market.

 

Good comments/insights. Maybe Bloom wasn't quite as dumb as folks have claimed.

 

To me the key issue as 1 August came into view was that the Sox still had a lot of talent--Sale, Whitlock, Houck, and Story--on the IL and due to come off in August. So far Sale's two starts suggest we got "Good Sale" back. With Houck due back tomorrow or Tuesday, the Sox will have six starters (Bello, Sale, Paxton, Crawford, Pivetta, and Houck), and a slew of decent relievers (Jansen, Martin, Winckowski, Schreiber, Bernardino, Llovera (lately), Murphy, and Whitlock).

 

moonslav listed 7 Sox hitters (Devers, Yoshisa, Duran, Casas, Turner, Duvall, Reyes) with OPS's over .800--and left out one, Urias. Plus Story's 8 seasons/lifetime OPS is .846, so chances are he will bloom soon.

 

I wanted another starter just like everyone else, probably including Bloom and Cora. But that's why I like your post because I think we need to trust Bloom's judgment that getting the right starter was going to be too costly in prospects.

 

Story ain't hitting, but both Reyes and Urias are. I

[Maxbialystock]

8. The 2022-23 free-agent field has been … not so great

Look back at our list of the top free agents from what had seemed one of the deepest and most dynamic classes in recent memory, and there’s not a lot to make you feel warm and fuzzy right now.

 

Without getting into all the specifics here, injuries have hindered the impacts of Judge, as well as top starters deGrom, Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodón. Top shortstops Trea Turner, Correa and Xander Bogaerts have all had less-than-dynamic campaigns, José Abreu is having the worst season of his career, and the most notable aspect of Willson Contreras’ year was that brief period when he was moved off the catcher position.

 

Not every deal has been a dud, of course, and there’s a lot of time before the final evaluation of most of these contracts. But for now, it’s surprising how little impact has come from the upper echelon of last winter’s open market.

 

Good comments/insights. Maybe Bloom wasn't quite as dumb as folks have claimed.

 

To me the key issue as 1 August came into view was that the Sox still had a lot of talent--Sale, Whitlock, Houck, and Story--on the IL and due to come off in August. So far Sale's two starts suggest we got "Good Sale" back. With Houck due back tomorrow or Tuesday, the Sox will have six starters (Bello, Sale, Paxton, Crawford, Pivetta, and Houck), and a slew of decent relievers (Jansen, Martin, Winckowski, Schreiber, Bernardino, Llovera (lately), Murphy, and Whitlock).

 

moonslav listed 7 Sox hitters (Devers, Yoshisa, Duran, Casas, Turner, Duvall, Reyes) with OPS's over .800--and left out one, Urias. Plus Story's 8 seasons/lifetime OPS is .846, so chances are he will bloom soon.

 

I wanted another starter just like everyone else, probably including Bloom and Cora. But that's why I like your post because I think we need to trust Bloom's judgment that getting the right starter was going to be too costly in prospects.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's incredible to think had we signed Eovaldi and not Kluber, we'd be closer to being in the playoffs.

 

I praised the Sox for signing Eovaldi when they did, coinciding with the final year of Porcello's contract. Sadly I was okay with letting Eovaldi go four years later thinking we had better options. Live and learn.

 

Not for me. From the time he joined the club in late July 2018 through last season, Eovaldi led the Red Sox in all innings pitched -- regular and postseason combined.

 

If you don't want to call him the team ace during that time, he was at least the team workhorse... injuries and all.

[Nick]

I had to change out batteries on my key board. I cut and pasted the article from MLB.com. I didn't want to mislead anyone. Not my comment.

[Nick]

Not for me. From the time he joined the club in late July 2018 through last season, Eovaldi led the Red Sox in all innings pitched -- regular and postseason combined.

 

If you don't want to call him the team ace during that time, he was at least the team workhorse... injuries and all.

 

My only point was it seemed as though the Sox did not pursue him hard enough for whatever reason. Many people on this board thought he was injury prone.

[Bellhorn04]

Just in case anyone missed this, Urias's grand slams came on consecutive pitches. And he says they were the only grand slams he's ever hit, including Little League.

 

Crazy game.

[moonslav59]

Not for me. From the time he joined the club in late July 2018 through last season, Eovaldi led the Red Sox in all innings pitched -- regular and postseason combined.

 

If you don't want to call him the team ace during that time, he was at least the team workhorse... injuries and all.

 

We had a revolving door of 1 year signings. Calling Nate a "workhorse," within any context is a joke (or sarcasm.)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

My only point was it seemed as though the Sox did not pursue him hard enough for whatever reason. Many people on this board thought he was injury prone.

 

Posters definitely disparaged Eovaldi for injuries. But the fact he threw the most innings for the Red Sox during his time in Boston just proves that all pitchers are injuries waiting to happen... and that he also had to be good enough to be used more than anyone else when healthy.

[Bellhorn04]

My only point was it seemed as though the Sox did not pursue him hard enough for whatever reason. Many people on this board thought he was injury prone.

 

He is injury prone, there's no way around it. He's also one of the best in the game when he's in top form.

[moonslav59]

My only point was it seemed as though the Sox did not pursue him hard enough for whatever reason. Many people on this board thought he was injury prone.

 

He's on the IL, now.

 

His last start was July 18th.

[Bellhorn04]

Nate is an injury prone workhorse LOL

[moonslav59]

Posters definitely disparaged Eovaldi for injuries. But the fact he threw the most innings for the Red Sox during his time in Boston just proves that all pitchers are injuries waiting to happen... and that he also had to be good enough to be used more than anyone else when healthy.

 

It wasn't about being better, although he was. It's about the Sox not signing any SP'er to more than 1 year from 2019-2023. His only comp was Sale.

 

We was a workhorse in 2021 with 32 GS- The only year he had more than 23 GS since 2016 with the Yanks (24 GS.)

 

2019: 12 out of 32 starts (38%)

2020: 9 out of 15 (60%)

2021: 32/32 (99%+)

2022: 22/32 (69%)

 

Total: 75/111 or 68%

 

I'm not trying to bash Nate. I'm glad we had him, and the extension was fine, but 68% is not a workhorse, even if it's the best on the Sox over that period of time.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We had a revolving door of 1 year signings. Calling Nate a "workhorse," within any context is a joke (or sarcasm.)

 

The revolving door of 1 year signings was and is the joke. But the reaction of most Red Sox fans to Chaim Bloom's pitching plans the past four years hasn't been laughter.

 

And please don't waste time listing his misses and hits; we all know that the rotation -- that toils on the mound in the center of the diamond, a location of import referred to since the beginning of time as 70% of the game -- has been the biggest weakness of the Bloom Era.