A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Old Red]

That sounds silly.

 

It’s not his agent’s fault he accepted the deal, and not his agent’s fault whatever team he wanted to play for wasn’t interested…

 

May sound silly to you, but the word was Story turned down two offers on the advice of his agent with one being Texas, and a similar offer at that. When Texas, and Seattle the other turning to other players it was getting later, and into ST, and Boston’s offer came around, and Story grabbed it, and then fired his agent shortly after. He ended up signing late, so like I said a mutual need for both sides.

[notin]

May sound silly to you, but the word was Story turned down two offers on the advice of his agent with one being Texas, and a similar offer at that. When Texas, and Seattle the other turning to other players it was getting later, and into ST, and Boston’s offer came around, and Story grabbed it, and then fired his agent shortly after. He ended up signing late, so like I said a mutual need for both sides.

 

And clearly that version makes it Trevor’s fault…

[Old Red]

And clearly that version makes it Trevor’s fault…

 

Who was talking anything about making it Trevor’s fault. Who? Now that is silly. As usual you are a day late, and a dollar short. This was all discussed right after Story signed with the Red Sox.

[notin]

Who was talking anything about making it Trevor’s fault. Who? Now that is silly.

 

Trevor fired his agent for his own questionable decisions…

[Old Red]

Trevor fired his agent for his own questionable decisions…

 

And after all of that Story did not really want to come to Boston in the first place. Unless things change next year with Story Land being closed a lot more than being open then Bloom has left the Red Sox with that contract as a parting gift like DD did with Sale.

[moonslav59]

I agree with you that Story was signed to calm the fans.

 

I think the second reason was to hedge against the pending Bogey bolt.

[Bellhorn04]

May sound silly to you, but the word was Story turned down two offers on the advice of his agent with one being Texas, and a similar offer at that. When Texas, and Seattle the other turning to other players it was getting later, and into ST, and Boston’s offer came around, and Story grabbed it, and then fired his agent shortly after. He ended up signing late, so like I said a mutual need for both sides.

 

This kind of stuff probably happens a lot. As I recall there was something similar with Freeman after he signed with the Dodgers.

[Bellhorn04]

I think the second reason was to hedge against the pending Bogey bolt.

 

Which is what a lot of fans figured, and it didn't make them calm at all.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think the second reason was to hedge against the pending Bogey bolt.

 

Then there's the theory they signed Story so they didn't have to pay Bogaerts. Remember, it was company policy to add players at $2 million dollar salaries, so they could dump similars who were due market rates of $3 million.

[moonslav59]

And after all of that Story did not really want to come to Boston in the first place. Unless things change next year with Story Land being closed a lot more than being open then Bloom has left the Red Sox with that contract as a parting gift like DD did with Sale.

 

Like you said, two years ago...

[Old Red]

Like you said, two years ago...

 

No, I liked the signing when it happened, as long if it didn’t prevent the Sox from resigning Bogey.

[Nick]

With the 2023 Red Sox season winding down, co-hosts Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam dished out several Red Sox awards on the most recent episode of the Fenway Rundown podcast. Cotillo and McAdam agreed that Justin Turner — not Rafael Devers — should be considered the team’s MVP despite Devers having better statistics in most categories.

 

1 Rafael Devers BOS 3.2

2 Jarren Duran BOS 2.4

3 Alex Verdugo BOS 2.2

4 Kutter Crawford BOS 2.1

5 Chris Sale BOS 2.1

6 Adam Duvall BOS 2.0

7 Brayan Bello BOS 1.7

8 Triston Casas BOS 1.7

9 Nick Pivetta BOS 1.5

10 Chris Martin BOS 1.5

11 Justin Turner BOS 1.3

 

Because Justin is a nice guy? Typical Boston talking heads.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

With the 2023 Red Sox season winding down, co-hosts Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam dished out several Red Sox awards on the most recent episode of the Fenway Rundown podcast. Cotillo and McAdam agreed that Justin Turner — not Rafael Devers — should be considered the team’s MVP despite Devers having better statistics in most categories.

 

1 Rafael Devers BOS 3.2

2 Jarren Duran BOS 2.4

3 Alex Verdugo BOS 2.2

4 Kutter Crawford BOS 2.1

5 Chris Sale BOS 2.1

6 Adam Duvall BOS 2.0

7 Brayan Bello BOS 1.7

8 Triston Casas BOS 1.7

9 Nick Pivetta BOS 1.5

10 Chris Martin BOS 1.5

11 Justin Turner BOS 1.3

 

Because Justin is a nice guy? Typical Boston talking heads.

 

I'd give it to Martin. He was the best player at any specific position all season.

[Old Red]

With the 2023 Red Sox season winding down, co-hosts Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam dished out several Red Sox awards on the most recent episode of the Fenway Rundown podcast. Cotillo and McAdam agreed that Justin Turner — not Rafael Devers — should be considered the team’s MVP despite Devers having better statistics in most categories.

 

1 Rafael Devers BOS 3.2

2 Jarren Duran BOS 2.4

3 Alex Verdugo BOS 2.2

4 Kutter Crawford BOS 2.1

5 Chris Sale BOS 2.1

6 Adam Duvall BOS 2.0

7 Brayan Bello BOS 1.7

8 Triston Casas BOS 1.7

9 Nick Pivetta BOS 1.5

10 Chris Martin BOS 1.5

11 Justin Turner BOS 1.3

 

Because Justin is a nice guy? Typical Boston talking heads.

 

That would be an easy one to me not Raffy, but JT. JT had a lot of big, and timely hits, and I can’t recall Raffy having to many. I do recall lots of Raffy’s errors though.

[Old Red]

I'd give it to Martin. He was the best player at any specific position all season.

 

Martin was the most consistent that’s for sure.

[notin]

Then there's the theory they signed Story so they didn't have to pay Bogaerts. Remember, it was company policy to add players at $2 million dollar salaries, so they could dump similars who were due market rates of $3 million.

 

 

The Sox also has the disadvantage that Bogaerts’ opt out was the year after all the equal and better options hit the market, like Seager, Correa, Semien, Lindor (who extended early). They made a pre-emotive strike with Story, who was still unsigned. And they also did mine know Correa was going to be available every 2-3 weeks.

[Bellhorn04]

I'd give it to Martin. He was the best player at any specific position all season.

 

I think I would too.

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox also has the disadvantage that Bogaerts’ opt out was the year after all the equal and better options hit the market, like Seager, Correa, Semien, Lindor (who extended early). They made a pre-emotive strike with Story, who was still unsigned. And they also did mine know Correa was going to be available every 2-3 weeks.

 

They could have tried a pre-emptive strike with Bogaerts instead.

[dgalehouse]

It looks to me that Story has trouble with velocity. If that is actually the case, it is a problem because there is more velocity in the game today than there ever has been.

[Old Red]

It looks to me that Story has trouble with velocity. If that is actually the case, it is a problem because there is more velocity in the game today than there ever has been.

 

That, and breaking balls away.

[moonslav59]

That would be an easy one to me not Raffy, but JT. JT had a lot of big, and timely hits, and I can’t recall Raffy having to many. I do recall lots of Raffy’s errors though.

 

You mean you read about them.

 

One "problem" Devers had in key situations was they walked him way more than JT (more than double the amount)

 

PAs in High Leverage:

120 Devers (21 BBs)

112 Turner (9BBs)

 

JT did outhit him (.333 to .266), but when you factor in the walks, which would bring their PAs about even: nonwalk PAs:

103 Turner

99 Devers

The RBIs were about the same per nonwalk PA:

31 Turner

30 Devers

 

High Leverage OBP:

.408 Devers

.384 JT

 

SLG

.532 Devers

.510 JT

 

OPS

.940 Devers

.894 JT

 

JT did do better with RISP and Late & Close, but MVP?

 

I'd give it to Martin. You can't do much better than he did.

 

 

 

[dgalehouse]

Devers is the MVP of this year's Red Sox. Easily the best, most valuable and most important player on the team. That is not to say he had a really good year. He will not get many votes for A.L. MVP.

[Bellhorn04]

Devers is the MVP of this year's Red Sox. Easily the best, most valuable and most important player on the team. That is not to say he had a really good year. He will not get many votes for A.L. MVP.

 

I thought a bullpen champion like yourself might vote for Martin.

[Nick]

That would be an easy one to me not Raffy, but JT. JT had a lot of big, and timely hits, and I can’t recall Raffy having to many. I do recall lots of Raffy’s errors though.

 

What do you base it on? Eye test? 3.2 vs 1.2?

[Old Red]

You mean you read about them.

 

One "problem" Devers had in key situations was they walked him way more than JT (more than double the amount)

 

PAs in High Leverage:

120 Devers (21 BBs)

112 Turner (9BBs)

 

JT did outhit him (.333 to .266), but when you factor in the walks, which would bring their PAs about even: nonwalk PAs:

103 Turner

99 Devers

The RBIs were about the same per nonwalk PA:

31 Turner

30 Devers

 

High Leverage OBP:

.408 Devers

.384 JT

 

SLG

.532 Devers

.510 JT

 

OPS

.940 Devers

.894 JT

 

JT did do better with RISP and Late & Close, but MVP?

 

I'd give it to Martin. You can't do much better than he did.

 

 

 

 

No I saw enough games to know what went on, but really on a losing, last place team there are no MVP. You would have still ended up that way without any of them.

[dgalehouse]

I thought a bullpen champion like yourself might vote for Martin.

 

Not taking anything away from Martin , I think Devers was the MVP .

[notin]

Devers is the MVP of this year's Red Sox. Easily the best, most valuable and most important player on the team. That is not to say he had a really good year. He will not get many votes for A.L. MVP.

 

Also the most expensive…

[notin]

What do you base it on? Eye test? 3.2 vs 1.2?

 

Highlights…

[notin]

They could have tried a pre-emptive strike with Bogaerts instead.

 

Scott Boras isn’t a big fan of pre-emotive strikes.

 

If that was the case, why not just give him a real contract with no opt out back in 2019?

[Old Red]

Highlights…

 

Highlights? Mostly lowlights with this team.