A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[mvp 78]

We don’t know how Sale would have pitched on opening day, but the point was that Cora’s over thinking things didn’t make sense to me, and it did work out.

 

He has had 2 bad starts. I'm not sure how he would have magically pitched better on Opening Day.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm lucky enough to be paying double this year for MLB.tv, so I get to complain twice as much.

 

Why paying double-one for home and one for work?

[Old Red]

He has had 2 bad starts. I'm not sure how he would have magically pitched better on Opening Day.

 

I’m not saying he would, but Cora thinking he would be taking the pressure off a 34 yr old Sale, who’s been in the league for years was over thinking things.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not willing to be this is going to be a good team, but I will be willing to be in a few months from now if they're not good.....it won't be because of the offense. You can book that.

 

Not sure how you can feel so confident about that.

 

I'm not worried about Devers, but I can't say there's anyone else on the roster I don't have doubts about.

[Bellhorn04]

One early surprise is that Wong is getting more starts than McGuire.

[Old Red]

Not sure how you can feel so confident about that.

 

I'm not worried about Devers, but I can't say there's anyone else on the roster I don't have doubts about.

The only thing I worry about Raffy is pulling something when he takes one of his big swings, and I think Dugy will be somewhat productive, but the rest of the bunch is a lot of ifs.

[Old Red]

One early surprise is that Wong is getting more starts than McGuire.

 

I think lots of lefty pitching has been the reason.

[Bellhorn04]

We all have high hopes for Yoshida and Casas, but as of now they're unproven.

 

And Turner has been a solid major league hitter, but aging out is the concern.

 

Kike? Who knows. Arroyo? Who knows.

 

So many question marks.

[Bellhorn04]

I think lots of lefty pitching has been the reason.

 

Yeah, good point. Maybe that's exactly what Cora is doing to start out with. Which is what moon suggested he might do.

[oldtimer]

Casas has looked more suspect than prospect so far, and I have always said Whitlock should be in the pen. Time will tell on Bello.

 

Give the kid a break. We are only through the 11th of April and Casas hasn't even played in all the games so far. Now, facing the Rays pitching, no one is looking that good at the plate. We have a lot of question marks this year so we need patience. Casas is one, but also Yoshida and he are new. Dalbec has a very spotty past and he is with the team. Refsnyder is a retread, who can at least field his position and Hernandez is not off to a good start. Turner is a proven pro but is aging and may not be able to play a significant number of games without breaking down. Lots of questions on the offense and with defense.

 

There is hope with Mondesi, Story and Duvall in the wings, but starting pitching needs to improve. We still look to be behind the Rays, Yankees and Jays so it may be a bumpy ride.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe they need to let Tapia get more AB's.

[notin]

We don’t know how Sale would have pitched on opening day, but the point was that Cora’s over thinking things didn’t make sense to me, and it did work out.

 

The Sale thing couldn’t be more overblown.

 

Besides cashing the largest paycheck on the team, what exactly has Sale done in the past 3 years that has earned a stranglehold on the role of Opening Day Starter? I think you might be spending a bit too much effort about a minor change in the role of a starting pitcher who has as many wins since 2018 as Michael Wacha had last year…

[mvp 78]

Why paying double-one for home and one for work?

 

One for me, one for grandfather-in-law.

[Old Red]

The Sale thing couldn’t be more overblown.

 

Besides cashing the largest paycheck on the team, what exactly has Sale done in the past 3 years that has earned a stranglehold on the role of Opening Day Starter? I think you might be spending a bit too much effort about a minor change in the role of a starting pitcher who has as many wins since 2018 as Michael Wacha had last year…

It wasn’t about if Sale had earned to be the opening day starter, or not, but the reason behind it. I for one did not think Sale deserved to be opening day starter, and if you wanted to go by who has been there, and showed up everyday that would have been Privetta.

[mvp 78]

One early surprise is that Wong is getting more starts than McGuire.

 

Are they doing a L/R platoon with them? Is McGuire just going to stick with Sale and Kluber?

 

McGuire: 187 wRC+

Wong: -17 wRC+

 

What's the CERA differential?

[mvp 78]

Maybe they need to let Tapia get more AB's.

 

Just to get his numbers to regress quicker?

[Old Red]

Just to get his numbers to regress quicker?

 

You mean like Kike?

[Bellhorn04]

Just to get his numbers to regress quicker?

 

I can relate to that spirit right now.

[mvp 78]

You mean like Kike?

 

Kiké's numbers will see positive regression with more playing time.

[Old Red]

Kiké's numbers will see positive regression with more playing time.

 

That’s the problem that he’s getting playing time at all, and batting leadoff, and getting more AB.

[mvp 78]

That’s the problem that he’s getting playing time at all, and batting leadoff, and getting more AB.

 

No, they should really bench everyone that isn't performing by 4/12. That makes sense.

[notin]

It wasn’t about if Sale had earned to be the opening day starter, or not, but the reason behind it. I for one did not think Sale deserved to be opening day starter, and if you wanted to go by who has been there, and showed up everyday that would have been Privetta.

 

I don’t care as about the logic behind it. The Sox needed an opening day starter but in the end all of the rotation spots will get 32-33 starts. The order matters very little, especially since the 5 pitchers in the opening day rotation are all unlikely to never miss a start…

[notin]

Kiké's numbers will see positive regression with more playing time.

 

But he’s really never been a good fit for a leadoff hitter…

[Old Red]

No, they should really bench everyone that isn't performing by 4/12. That makes sense.

 

I didn’t know Kike was everyone, and Kike sucked pretty much with the bat last year too. I said at the time he was resigned that the Red Sox could have done better with $10M. The hero worship that Kike gets on here just astounds me.

[mvp 78]

I didn’t know Kike was everyone, and Kike sucked pretty much with the bat last year too. I said at the time he was resigned that the Red Sox could have done better with $10M. The hero worship that Kike gets on here just astounds me.

 

LOL. You play the players that are on the roster.

 

Cora's best bet is to continue with Kiké and see if he can pull out of this slump.

[mvp 78]

But he’s really never been a good fit for a leadoff hitter…

 

He has a 755 OPS as a leadoff hitter. He has a 778 OPS hitting 2nd. He's been worse everywhere else in the order.

 

2021: 342/457/799 hitting leadoff

 

If he's hitting that right now, nobody is complaining.

[Old Red]

He has a 755 OPS as a leadoff hitter. He has a 778 OPS hitting 2nd. He's been worse everywhere else in the order.

 

2021: 342/457/799 hitting leadoff

 

If he's hitting that right now, nobody is complaining.

 

That’s the point the eye test will tell you he’s not hitting pretty much anything, and hasn’t since 2021.

[dgalehouse]

Just to make the cheese a little more binding, Xander Bogaerts is batting .333 , with four home runs and an OPS of over 1.000.

[Old Red]

LOL. You play the players that are on the roster.

 

Cora's best bet is to continue with Kiké and see if he can pull out of this slump.

I agree with Yoshida, and Casas playing, because they are going to be around for a few years, and are not a stopgap like Kike, and i wouldn’t call playing Kike as a best bet, and if it yours you’re probably a loser.

[Old Red]

Just to make the cheese a little more binding, Xander Bogaerts is batting .333 , with four home runs and an OPS of over 1.000.

 

In the short term losing Bogey was, and is a losing proposition.