A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[mvp 78]

@SoxNotes

Most walk-off RBI, Red Sox since the start of 2021:

 

Alex Verdugo – 4

Franchy Cordero – 1

Rafael Devers – 1

Adam Duvall – 1

J.D. Martinez – 1

Tommy Pham – 1

Rob Refsnyder – 1

Hunter Renfroe – 1

Travis Shaw – 1

[moonslav59]

The fact that they are promoting Valdez who has struggled, but not Hamilton really says A LOT.

 

And EV is not known for defense either, so yes... A LOT!

[Nick]

Yes, he's still under team control until after the 2025 season.

 

My guess is, 2024 is his last season, but this guy is a tough cookie, which is not something usually said about a guy who has been on the IL so much and so often, recently.

 

The upside is his arm has rested for three years. His left arm is younger than his age.

Edited April 19, 2023 by Nick

[Maxbialystock]

Yes, he's still under team control until after the 2025 season.

 

My guess is, 2024 is his last season, but this guy is a tough cookie, which is not something usually said about a guy who has been on the IL so much and so often, recently.

 

Interesting. I'm slammed Sale plenty over the last 2-3 years, but I also raved about him after he came to Boston. I thought he was the most professional pitcher I'd ever seen. He had great stuff and great command, but he also fielded his position very well and almost never shook off his catcher. It's also apparent he stays in shape. So I agree he is tough.

 

For most of his career I think he's been a three pitch guy: fastball, slider, and changeup. No curve and no splitter. But this year I think he's introduced a cut fastball (sinker).

 

The MLB app has upgrade their Gameday graphics. You can now go back to a previous game and look at where every pitch was thrown and what it was.

 

I looked at several innings from last night's game and he seemed to use his fastball, slider, and changeup in about equal amounts--with an occasional sinker, which is about as fast, 94 mph, as his fast ball. But the best part was that he was painting the corners most of the time.

 

Then I took a quick peak at his previous start at Tampa, where the Rays bashed him. They hit better than the Twins and seem really good at know when to swing and not, but the other difference he was just outside the strike zone way more than last night.

[Hugh2]

The upside is his arm has rested for three years of no wear and tear.

 

It would certainly be something if Sale was Sale again for several years. Would make his option a no brainer, but I think he has to give you two good years here and not one.

 

It would be awfully ironic but who doesn't love a good redemption story in Boston.

[Nick]

Same, especially with the OBP the 3rd highest in the team. Think how much better his OBP would be if he was just at the Mendoza line, he’d be a .400 guy.

 

Plate discipline is a great predictor of future success. If he can identify strokes and balls it means he has the mental acuity, reaction time, and Intelligence to identify MLB pitching.

 

I think Yoshida will be fine. Probably .750 ops by the end of the year if not +

 

You win the post today by the use of the words "MENTAL ACUITY".

[Hugh2]

Sale looked pretty Nasty two starts ago too, but his command was off, he got it back last night. Velocity is back too, it's very exciting to think what a healthy Sale can do. It completely changes the dynamic of this team if you can put a healthy, dominant Chris Sale on the top of that rotation.

[Hugh2]

You win the post today by the use of the words "MENTAL ACUITY".

 

No points were deducted by saying Stroke instead of Strike?

 

I mean, I hope Yoshida and the rest of us can identify the symptoms of a stroke. It could save a life.

[Nick]

No points were deducted by saying Stroke instead of Strike?

 

I mean, I hope Yoshida and the rest of us can identify the symptoms of a stroke. It could save a life.

 

I was too busy thinking of ways to use those words to impress my players that I coach.

 

"We'd be a better team if everyone had the mental acuity of Susie Q."

[Nick]

How about that Duran kid? He looks more confident offensively. (his defense will always be work in progress....I thought he was going to drop the final out.

[Nick]

Mookie Betts, shortstop? Dodgers may play former Red Sox star in new spot (reports)

 

Sox beat writers are sure obsessed with Mookie.

[Bellhorn04]

Mookie Betts, shortstop? Dodgers may play former Red Sox star in new spot (reports)

 

Sox beat writers are sure obsessed with Mookie.

 

That is interesting, though.

[Nick]

That is interesting, though.

 

It is and I bet he'll do it better than Kike.

 

All kidding a side, I know that Mookie is a good guy. He owns a bowling shoes for God's sake.

[notin]

That is interesting, though.

 

If Cora did that, folks would freak out..

[notin]

Lots of teams gambling with inexperienced shortstops while Didi Gregorius and Andrelton Simmons wait patiently by the phone…

[Maxbialystock]

That is interesting, though.

 

He played 2d base in the minors before the Sox moved him to the OF to get him to Boston sooner. Goodness knows he has the arm to play SS.

 

On the other hand, he does have six freaking gold gloves playing right field.

[Maxbialystock]

If Cora did that, folks would freak out..

 

The Sox want SS's who can hit. When they accidentally get one who is mostly a great defensive SS, they dump him ASAP. You can look it up.

[Maxbialystock]

How about that Duran kid? He looks more confident offensively. (his defense will always be work in progress....I thought he was going to drop the final out.

 

I pretty much wrote him off, but he got another chance and is making the most of it. These Sox definitely have openings and opportunities for someone who can actually hit the freaking ball.

 

With two out and two on, Trout just struck out on a checked swing and a very outside pitch. Game tied 2-2.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I pretty much wrote him off, but he got another chance and is making the most of it. These Sox definitely have openings and opportunities for someone who can actually hit the freaking ball.

 

 

We'll get plenty of chances to see guys like Duran develop as the Sox shuffle one-step forward, two-steps back this season. It may be the only thing worth watching by mid-summer -- and already on April 20 we had a bottom three of Casas-Duran-Valdez.

 

Fans are understandably really down on Casas right now, but would it surprise if (like Duran) it took another season, until next April of 2024, before he makes adjustments and breaks out?

[Hugh2]

An earlier Sox prospects podcast they talked about Duran. They talked about despite his struggles they see a potential MLB future for him. He made some adjustments, looked good in camp, and the Sox were going to let him have a little sustained success in AAA so they could keep other guys on the roster.

 

Well, now he’s making his case. SSS, and the defense is still iffy. But he’s looking better.

[Bellhorn04]

It's definitely a year in which to have a look at guys.

[moonslav59]

What a yo-yo season, so far, for the Sox.

 

We need stability and continuity in a bad way.

[notin]

What a yo-yo season, so far, for the Sox.

 

We need stability and continuity in a bad way.

 

Part of it is many fans didn’t like the struggles agaisnt the early, easy teams. Baltimore (11-7) and Pittsburgh (12-7) might be better than anticipated, and at the very least are playing that way early on. Tampa (15-3) certainly started off better than anticipated. Heck, so did Minnesota (11-7).

 

But hey, Detroit!

[Bellhorn04]

The problem is that objective pre-season projections had us at about a .500 team at best...

[mvp 78]

The problem is that objective pre-season projections had us at about a .500 team at best...

 

And they are 9-10 right now? So close to those projections.

[Hugh2]

This team might not be that good, but they're playing mediocre with some of their best players (reportedly) out. Duvall, Story, and Mondesi for however games we get him healthy this year conceivably should make this team much better. Even if they have bad or down years, it's very reasonable to assume that all of Kike, Casas, Arroyo, and Yoshida are not going to be as horrible as they've been so far.

 

With that in mind, I think the team has potential. They're not good like Toronto, and Tampa Bay but if they stay healthy they will compete for a WC this year.

[moonslav59]

This team might not be that good, but they're playing mediocre with some of their best players (reportedly) out. Duvall, Story, and Mondesi for however games we get him healthy this year conceivably should make this team much better. Even if they have bad or down years, it's very reasonable to assume that all of Kike, Casas, Arroyo, and Yoshida are not going to be as horrible as they've been so far.

 

With that in mind, I think the team has potential. They're not good like Toronto, and Tampa Bay but if they stay healthy they will compete for a WC this year.

 

The problem is, when we get Story, Duvall, Mondesi, Martin, Joely and others back, someone else will be on the IL.

 

Our offense has overperformed, in terms of runs scored. I'm not sure we can keep this up, with this lineup.

 

We need to get 5 SP'ers to find their groover, all at the same time- or at least 4 of them.

[mvp 78]

@tylermilliken_

Jarren Duran’s first 3 games since being brought back up:

 

4-for-11

3 2B

2 RBI

1/1 SB

4/1 K/BB

[Bellhorn04]

This team might not be that good, but they're playing mediocre with some of their best players (reportedly) out. Duvall, Story, and Mondesi for however games we get him healthy this year conceivably should make this team much better. Even if they have bad or down years, it's very reasonable to assume that all of Kike, Casas, Arroyo, and Yoshida are not going to be as horrible as they've been so far.

 

With that in mind, I think the team has potential. They're not good like Toronto, and Tampa Bay but if they stay healthy they will compete for a WC this year.

 

No, they won't.

[Hugh2]

No, they won't.

 

Yes, they will.