A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[moonslav59]

Not just that but we are going to want premium bats elsewhere. 2B? DH?

 

That's just not an outfield that should be planned for at this point in time.

 

I’m not sure adding just one big RHd bat will be enough, but pitching is such a big need and expensive, I can’t see how we can do it all without going way over the tax line and or making major trades.

[Bellhorn04]

Chapman is bad, and notin should feel bad.

 

How is Chapman bad? He had a 3.5 fWAR this year, and that was the lowest for a full season in his career.

[Old Red]

How is Chapman bad? He had a 3.5 fWAR this year, and that was the lowest for a full season in his career.

 

It’s not that he’s bad, and he’s an excellent 3B, which would give the L side of the infield some excellent D., but he’s not that good a hitter, and he wouldn’t come all that cheap. Money should go to starting pitching above everything else.

[moonslav59]

A lot depends on what the budget is, but pitching has to be the number one and number two on the list. I’d argue 3, but we do also need a big RH bat. That won’t be cheap. It does seem like Duvall would be much cheaper than Chapman, so that is where the budget matters. A lesser priority is a LH RP.

 

A big trade could solve the budget issue to a large degree, but holding onto prospects seems to be a major position this team has held for 4+ years. Are we ready to switch gears on that front? If not, we will have to spend a lot to meet all the key priorities, perhaps even going over the second tax line.

[mvp 78]

It’s not that he’s bad, and he’s an excellent 3B, which would give the L side of the infield some excellent D., but he’s not that good a hitter, and he wouldn’t come all that cheap. Money should go to starting pitching above everything else.

 

A 750 OPS guy. If we're looking to spend heavily on a RHB, that's not really helping. Story and Chapman would be nice defensively, but offensively you'd want a little more bang for your buck.

[moonslav59]

A 750 OPS guy. If we're looking to spend heavily on a RHB, that's not really helping. Story and Chapman would be nice defensively, but offensively you'd want a little more bang for your buck.

 

Yes, with the idea bring Chapman, Devers and Casas would split all the corner IF and DH slots, Chapman would essentially be taking JTs slot on offense.

 

Yoshida would only DH when one of those 3 got a day off or were hurt. That puts a further squeeze on the OF, but a trade could free up some room for the kids. Forcing Duran out of LF is not too appealing, to me.

[Old Red]

A 750 OPS guy. If we're looking to spend heavily on a RHB, that's not really helping. Story and Chapman would be nice defensively, but offensively you'd want a little more bang for your buck.

 

Chapman, and Story would have 300-400 K’s between them.

[moonslav59]

Chapman, and Story would have 300-400 K’s between them.

 

If they both hit over .800, I wouldn’t care, but that is doubtful.

 

We agree on spending on pitching as a better choice than Chapman, assuming we can’t “have it all.”

[mvp 78]

Chapman, and Story would have 300-400 K’s between them.

 

A lot of money to spend on the IF when the strength of the farm is IF. Also, this org is moving away from K's.

 

Who knows, maybe a new CBO moves this ship in a completely new direction and wants a 3B that K's a lot and brings in Snell to load up the bases with BB's?

[moonslav59]

A lot of money to spend on the IF when the strength of the farm is IF. Also, this org is moving away from K's.

 

Who knows, maybe a new CBO moves this ship in a completely new direction and wants a 3B that K's a lot and brings in Snell to load up the bases with BB's?

 

There are not a lot of RHB impact player on the FA or trade market.

 

We likely will settle on Duvall, but there may be high demand for him.

[dgalehouse]

The Sox may have missed the playoffs again, but there are a dozen or so former Sox who are participating. So, you can pull for them, or maybe root against them if that is your thing. Watching Eovaldi pitch against the Rays today.

[mvp 78]

There are not a lot of RHB impact player on the FA or trade market.

 

We likely will settle on Duvall, but there may be high demand for him.

 

Honestly, how would WE know who is on the trade market? It's not listed anywhere like the FA listing.

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox may have missed the playoffs again, but there are a dozen or so former Sox who are participating. So, you can pull for them, or maybe root against them if that is your thing. Watching Eovaldi pitch against the Rays today.

 

I like Eovaldi a lot. Definitely like to see him beat the Rays. Rangers now up 4-0.

[mvp 78]

The Sox may have missed the playoffs again, but there are a dozen or so former Sox who are participating. So, you can pull for them, or maybe root against them if that is your thing. Watching Eovaldi pitch against the Rays today.

 

Gross!

[moonslav59]

The Sox may have missed the playoffs again, but there are a dozen or so former Sox who are participating. So, you can pull for them, or maybe root against them if that is your thing. Watching Eovaldi pitch against the Rays today.

 

The guy we tried to get, Eflin, just let up a 4 spot.

[mvp 78]

I like Eovaldi a lot. Definitely like to see him beat the Rays. Rangers now up 4-0.

 

Twins/Marlins WS or nothing.

[Bellhorn04]

If the Rays lose this, they will have lost 9 of their last 10 postseason games.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Ef Eflin, he can go to the Devil (wearing a throwback jersey). I hope all the AL East teams get eliminated in their first rounds; I don't root for rivals.

 

And the last thing the Red Sox batting order needs is more Ks. Chapman now has 40 strikeouts MORE than Devers this year -- who may have swung at every single pitch to him in the last six months.

 

Bellhorn wants more bang for his buck than a left side of Story and Chapman? How about just more contact for the bucks...

 

Times have changed, but it's still a fact that both Story and Chapman have each had seasons with more whiffs than any of the 753 big league batters who played during what is commonly known as the worst offensive season in Major League history: 1968 -- "The Year of the Pitcher."

[Bellhorn04]

Bellhorn wants more bang for his buck than a left side of Story and Chapman? How about just more contact for the bucks...

 

Times have changed, but it's still a fact that both Story and Chapman have each had seasons with more whiffs than any of the 753 big league batters who played during what is commonly known as the worst offensive season in Major League history: 1968 -- "The Year of the Pitcher."

 

Remind me who had the higher OPS this year - Duvall, also a swhisher, or Yoshida, Mr. Contact?

[notin]

Twins/Marlins WS or nothing.

 

Brewers/Rangers. Let’s have a first time champ…

[oldtimer]

Both the Rays and Jays are out. The ALE is not looking like a powerhouse, yet we were last in that division

[Duran Is The Man]

Brewers/Rangers. Let’s have a first time champ…

 

Rangers are the closest MLB team to me and i've been there dozens of times. guess i'll root for them.

 

and screw the Rays. glad they're out. the only team i hate worse than the Skankees.

[notin]

Both the Rays and Jays are out. The ALE is not looking like a powerhouse, yet we were last in that division

 

The division is weaker because they lost 4 games?

[moonslav59]

The division is weaker because they lost 4 games?

 

It must be that the AL Central is so great.

[sk7326]

Both the Rays and Jays are out. The ALE is not looking like a powerhouse, yet we were last in that division

 

The baseball playoffs make no sense - and that's why it's awesome.

[notin]

It must be that the AL Central is so great.

 

Those teams all lost so many games because they all beat up on each other.

 

(It’s funny because it can’t happen.)

[harmony]

The division is weaker because they lost 4 games?

FWIW the Rays and Blue Jays are 0-8 in the postseason over the past two years.

[notin]

FWIW the Rays and Blue Jays are 0-8 in the postseason over the past two years.

 

Not worth anything…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The baseball playoffs make no sense - and that's why it's awesome.

 

Here's what does make sense: runs scored by the four eliminated losers in the eight wild card games -- Tuesday 0, 1, 3, 1... Wednesday 1, 0, 2, 1

 

Some posters believe that the Sox are only two pitchers away from contending... to qualify for the postseason, maybe... and then "anything can happen".

 

But those scores would argue that complete pitching staffs of solid starters and stingy relievers aren't quite as unpredictable (granted, they've yet to face the four best clubs -- record-wise).

[mvp 78]

Here's what does make sense: runs scored by the four eliminated losers in the eight wild card games -- Tuesday 0, 1, 3, 1... Wednesday 1, 0, 2, 1

 

Some posters believe that the Sox are only two pitchers away from contending... to qualify for the postseason, maybe... and then "anything can happen".

 

But those scores would argue that complete pitching staffs of solid starters and stingy relievers aren't quite as unpredictable (granted, they've yet to face the four best clubs -- record-wise).

 

Eliminated teams

TB gave up 11 runs in 2 games #2 pitching staff in fWAR

MIA gave up 11 runs in 2 games #8 in fWAR

TOR gave up 5 runs in 2 games #5 in fWAR

MIL gave up 11 runs in 2 games #12 in fWAR