A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[moonslav59]

No, they won't.

 

Wanna bet?

 

[Hugh2]

If the Sox listened to me from my armchair we'd have Senga over Kluber, Nimmo over Yoshida, Kike over Duvall (because he'd be in CF) and Swanson over whatever our SS is. Probably wouldn't have signed Martin and we'd be right below the luxury tax. Probably with a few more wins as well.

 

But, things can change quick. It is a SSS. Also the early returns on Senga look good, but you have to think those walks are going to catch up to him eventually.

[mvp 78]

If the Sox listened to me from my armchair we'd have Senga over Kluber, Nimmo over Yoshida, Kike over Duvall (because he'd be in CF) and Swanson over whatever our SS is. Probably wouldn't have signed Martin and we'd be right below the luxury tax. Probably with a few more wins as well.

 

But, things can change quick. It is a SSS. Also the early returns on Senga look good, but you have to think those walks are going to catch up to him eventually.

 

Right now I'm more concerned about 1st inning meatballs than walks. I'd take Senga over the majority of the rotation.

[Bellhorn04]

Wanna bet?

 

 

We could certainly do a sig bet.

[notin]

If the Sox listened to me from my armchair we'd have Senga over Kluber, Nimmo over Yoshida, Kike over Duvall (because he'd be in CF) and Swanson over whatever our SS is. Probably wouldn't have signed Martin and we'd be right below the luxury tax. Probably with a few more wins as well.

 

But, things can change quick. It is a SSS. Also the early returns on Senga look good, but you have to think those walks are going to catch up to him eventually.

 

If the Sox listened to me:

 

C- McGuire, Wong

1b - Casas, Dalbe

2b - Never recommended much. Maybe Valdez/Arroyo platoon?

3b - Devers

SS - DeJong (acquired for Barnes. St Louis definitely makes that move)

LF - Verdugo

CF - Kike

RF - Gallo

DH - Brandon Belt

 

SP - Sale, Kluber (I was fully on board), Whitlock, Paxton, Pivetta, Bello, Ward (but not Song)

RP - Houck, Schreiber, Winckowski, Taylor (I don’t pull the trigger if Mondesi is hurt), Kelly, Brasier, Fulmer, Crawford. I also liked Chafin, but probably settle for Reyes Moronta (big whoops)

 

BN: Arroyo and an OF. (Tapia? I don’t hate him.)

 

 

So… probably not much better. Except defensively…

[redsoxrules]

Yes, they will.

 

How? They have the worst defense in the league along with one of the worst pitching staff.

 

Their offense has also over achieved when It comes to scoring runs. Like their run production shouldn't be this good with the hitters they have. They have been very fortune to capitalize in a lot of situation. I feel they are worse even then their 9-10 record indicates

[moonslav59]

How? They have the worst defense in the league along with one of the worst pitching staff.

 

Their offense has also over achieved when It comes to scoring runs. Like their run production shouldn't be this good with the hitters they have. They have been very fortune to capitalize in a lot of situation. I feel they are worse even then their 9-10 record indicates

 

Their D will improve when Story and or Mondesi return.

 

Their rotation will improve.

 

It's not out of the question this could/should occur.

[iortiz]

Their D will improve when Story and or Mondesi return.

 

Their rotation will improve.

 

It's not out of the question this could/should occur.

 

by the time if so... we could be sellers.

[moonslav59]

by the time if so... we could be sellers.

 

No doubt, we could be heading for a lousy season.

 

I'm not giving up hope, just yet. I think our rotation is better than it has looked, so far, and I'm not even counting on greatness from Sale.

 

Our D would be greatly improved with Mondesi at SS and Kike in CF, and even more so with Story at 2B. The up-the-middle D could go from near worst to top 10 in a flash.

 

If we end up sellers, I'll be bummed, but it could certainly happen.

[Hugh2]

How? They have the worst defense in the league along with one of the worst pitching staff.

 

Their offense has also over achieved when It comes to scoring runs. Like their run production shouldn't be this good with the hitters they have. They have been very fortune to capitalize in a lot of situation. I feel they are worse even then their 9-10 record indicates

 

Easy, they will win a few more games above .500 and be a few games out from a wildcard. If more goes right than wrong maybe more.

 

That's how.

 

I'm not betting on it, but I'm rooting for it, and when you live in a world that isn't binary, and everything isn't black and white you can imagine a scenario where they win 90 games, and yes one where they stink and win 70.

 

I would like to formally apologize for not being as doom and gloomy as everyone else.

[Hugh2]

If you took out the Rays series the Sox would be on pace for 101.25 wins this year.

[moonslav59]

We are 1.5 games behind a WC slot and have a better run differential (+3) than the two teams between us and that slot:

CLE (-3) 10-9

TOR (-12) 11-8

 

We are still ahead of HOU, SEA, LAD and SDP.

[Larry Cook]

If you took out the Rays series the Sox would be on pace for 101.25 wins this year.

 

Wait until Toronto beats us like dogs!!!! Then we on pace for 72 wins.

[moonslav59]

Wait until Toronto beats us like dogs!!!! Then we on pace for 72 wins.

 

Not Gahn Dah.

[Nick]

Houk deserve to start. He has more than two pitches.

[moonslav59]

Houk deserve to start. He has more than two pitches.

 

Even with one, he's better than Kluber.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Even with one, he's better than Kluber.

 

There aren't many pitchers who lose their fastball and can stick around painting offspeed stuff to big league mashers.

 

One guy who totally changed because of shoulder and elbow injuries (and no surgeries), but enjoyed a long MLB career was lefty Frank Tanana. The rarity of his success -- especially in relation to eras -- is summed up in this description: "He threw 90 in the 70s, and 70 in the 90s."

[notin]

Wait until Toronto beats us like dogs!!!! Then we on pace for 72 wins.

 

The Sox only play Toronto 12 times this year. Last year, they were 3-16 against them (and 75-68 against everyone else).

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox only play Toronto 12 times this year. Last year, they were 3-16 against them (and 75-68 against everyone else).

 

6-13 vs Yanks

7-12 vs Rays

[notin]

6-13 vs Yanks

7-12 vs Rays

 

Part of the 75-68…

[mvp 78]

Rays were on a hot stretch. Sox hadn't figured it out.

 

There's time for the Sox to get their identity and to become a more competent team.

[Bellhorn04]

Part of the 75-68…

 

No s**t!

[mvp 78]

@mlbtraderumors

Jose Iglesias Opts Out Of Deal With Marlins

[mvp 78]

@tylermilliken_

Alex Cora on Jarren Duran after yesterday’s game:

 

“You can see the intent with the swing… you see it from batting practice, too — it’s not the show he was putting the last few years hitting the ball in the air pull side, now he’s driving the ball to left field, left center.”

 

7 of the 11 balls he’s put in play so far have an exit velo over 100.

 

Ok... When am I allowed to get excited for Jarren Freakin' Duran? He's not ready for the real word yet.

 

He revamped his swing in 2020. Had a breakout in AAA in 2021, but was exposed at the MLB level after showing a little spark. In 2022, he basically flatlined and really didn't provide anything. That was the true bottom of the barrel for his trajectory of him in the org. Can 2023 finally be his year?

[notin]

No s**t!

 

Not sure why you brought it up…

[Bellhorn04]

Not sure why you brought it up…

 

Because those records, while not as bad as vs. the Jays, were still pretty darn bad...

[notin]

Because those records, while not as bad as vs. the Jays, were still pretty darn bad...

 

Yes and when you’re 75-68, you are going to have some bad records against some teams…

[notin]

@mlbtraderumors

Jose Iglesias Opts Out Of Deal With Marlins

 

Get ‘em, Chaim!!

[moonslav59]

Get ‘em, Chaim!!

 

Even with his diminished defense, he has to be better than Chang, right?

[mvp 78]

Even with his diminished defense, he has to be better than Chang, right?

 

He's probably better than Arroyo at this point.