A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[notin]

That doesn't mean they will automatically find what they are looking for.

 

Thank you, Buzzkill Bono…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Correction for my post above:

 

@BOSSportsGordo

 

Does not look like Alfaro will use his upward mobility clause now, but he does have opt outs on 6/1 and 7/1 if he’s not on the roster by then.

 

Now that Alfaro is going to right consistently, he should have 20 homers in Worcester by June... and plenty of suitors. I would say by then the Sox might want to promote him, but someone in the front office and posing as a poster will insist that "It's still early..."

[mvp 78]

Holy crap, even Denny's ham and eggers have complicated contracts now.

 

Allen, Tapia, Goodrum, Alfaro... It's how you get vets to come to camp these days.

[mvp 78]

Thank you, Buzzkill Bono…

 

I'd say I have a Sonny disposition. I just would never go skiing.

[notin]

I'd say I have a Sonny disposition. I just would never go skiing.

 

Wrong Bono. And how old are you that THAT’S your Go To Bono?

[mvp 78]

Now that Alfaro is going to right consistently, he should have 20 homers in Worcester by June... and plenty of suitors. I would say by then the Sox might want to promote him, but someone in the front office and posing as a poster will insist that "It's still early..."

 

Don't look at me, I think there could be room for Alfaro as a 1b/OF/C option now.

[mvp 78]

Wrong Bono. And how old are you that THAT’S your Go To Bono?

 

I just really, really hate the one you were actually referencing: the lion from Sing 2.

[notin]

Rumor is that the Sox are looking into EXTERNAL options for the final bullpen spot.

 

Frankly I’d much prefer the Sox got an external SP and put Houck back in the bullpen…

[notin]

I just really, really hate the one you were actually referencing: the lion from Sing 2.

 

So right now , based on your last two answers. I can’t tell if you’re a 60-something year old man who looks like a frog wearing pants. Or an angry pre-teen girl…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Don't look at me, I think there could be room for Alfaro as a 1b/OF/C option now.

 

I don't know why anyone would think the Sox would want to hang onto someone who looks like a legitimate power threat.

 

After all, this is a club whose #3-4 batters last year combined for less home runs than the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers... not to mention the leadoff man for the Phillies.

[Old Red]

Frankly I’d much prefer the Sox got an external SP and put Houck back in the bullpen…

 

Houck is just a stopgap in the rotation right now until Whit, and Bello gets back.

[notin]

Houck is just a stopgap in the rotation right now until Whit, and Bello gets back.

 

Hopefully true.

 

But you’re assuming they get back before Sale and Kluber get injured…

[notin]

I don't know why anyone would think the Sox would want to hang onto someone who looks like a legitimate power threat.

 

After all, this is a club whose #3-4 batters last year combined for less home runs than the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers... not to mention the leadoff man for the Phillies.

 

Alfaro is a legitimate power threat in the same way Dalbec is…

[mvp 78]

So right now , based on your last two answers. I can’t tell if you’re a 60-something year old man who looks like a frog wearing pants. Or an angry pre-teen girl…

 

No and no.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Hopefully true.

 

But you’re assuming they get back before Sale and Kluber get injured…

 

... with shin splints from playing foosball.

[mvp 78]

I don't know why anyone would think the Sox would want to hang onto someone who looks like a legitimate power threat.

 

After all, this is a club whose #3-4 batters last year combined for less home runs than the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers... not to mention the leadoff man for the Phillies.

 

They got rid of those losers.

[moonslav59]

Frankly I’d much prefer the Sox got an external SP and put Houck back in the bullpen…

 

Houck will move to the pen, when Paxton and Whitlock return. If one does not, Bello can fill a rotation slot.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Quote Originally Posted by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

I don't know why anyone would think the Sox would want to hang onto someone who looks like a legitimate power threat.

 

After all, this is a club whose #3-4 batters last year combined for less home runs than the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers... not to mention the leadoff man for the Phillies.

"They got rid of those losers."

 

And those winners...

[moonslav59]

Quote Originally Posted by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

I don't know why anyone would think the Sox would want to hang onto someone who looks like a legitimate power threat.

 

After all, this is a club whose #3-4 batters last year combined for less home runs than the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers... not to mention the leadoff man for the Phillies.

"They got rid of those losers."

 

And those winners...

 

It will be hard to replace Bogey and JD, for sure.

 

It's hard to know what they both might do going forward, as well.

 

It's also hard to gauge just what we need to replace. I'm not one to use HRs and RBIs as meaningful stats, but these two offer some very contrasting numbers since 2018:

 

Combined HRs and RBIs:

 

2018: 66 233

2019: 69 222

 

2021: 51 178

2022: 31 135

 

[Old Red]

Houck will move to the pen, when Paxton and Whitlock return. If one does not, Bello can fill a rotation slot.

 

If Whit, and Bello come back, and assuming Kluber, and Sale is still healthy, which is a big if I would think Paxton would be the odd man out.

[mvp 78]

If Whit, and Bello come back, and assuming Kluber, and Sale is still healthy, which is a big if I would think Paxton would be the odd man out.

 

It's going to be some sort of piggybacking situation most likely.

[Old Red]

It's going to be some sort of piggybacking situation most likely.

 

Probably true since the piggybacking worked so well last year.

[moonslav59]

If Whit, and Bello come back, and assuming Kluber, and Sale is still healthy, which is a big if I would think Paxton would be the odd man out.

 

It might depend on how Paxton looks, but I think Houck is best suited for the pen.

 

Here is my opinion on what the rotation depth chart should look like. (I think Houck is a better pitcher than Paxton and Pivetta, but is better utilized in the pen.)

Sale

Kluber

Whitlock

Bello

Pivetta

Paxton

Crawford/Houck

Winckowski/Mata

Murphy

[notin]

If Whit, and Bello come back, and assuming Kluber, and Sale is still healthy, which is a big if I would think Paxton would be the odd man out.

 

Someone will always be hurt…

[notin]

Probably true since the piggybacking worked so well last year.

 

It might have been better if:

 

1) Rich Hill didn’t have the shortest leash in the history of MLB.

 

2) they didn’t use their best reliever in the piggyback role.

[Old Red]

It might have been better if:

 

1) Rich Hill didn’t have the shortest leash in the history of MLB.

 

2) they didn’t use their best reliever in the piggyback role.

 

True, and true.

[mvp 78]

https://twitter.com/PeskyReport/status/1640406774342639616

 

A Verdugo RF defensive highlight for your viewing pleasure.

[moonslav59]

https://twitter.com/PeskyReport/status/1640406774342639616

 

A Verdugo RF defensive highlight for your viewing pleasure.

 

This might be the best one can find.

[notin]

This might be the best one can find.

 

I think some are a bit hard on Verdugo.

 

Yes he’sa far cry from Betts or Evans, but he probably has the best arm of any Sox outfielder, at least velocity-wise. Per StatCast, he did make the hardest throw of any Sox OF last season. (Average velocity of outfielders is worthless due to the numerous lobs and soft tosses.)

 

However, Verdugo certainly has an accuracy issue with his throwing…

[Bellhorn04]

Some concerning splits on Houck?

 

Pitching to Vazquez 99 IP 1.64 ERA

Pitching to Plawecki 47 IP 5.94 ERA

Pitching to McGuire & others in spring games 17.1 IP 8.31 ERA

 

Updated:

 

Pitching to Vazquez 99 IP 1.64 ERA

Pitching to Plawecki 47 IP 5.94 ERA

Pitching to McGuire & others in spring games 20.1 IP 9.74 ERA