How will the Red Sox do?

[mvp 78]

Did you watch the first 10 games? Duvall did not play like a good centerfielder. And letting good finds like Schwarber and Renfroe leave is part of the problem in the Bloom Era.

 

As for Bloom's guys who look good but get hurt, or who haven't been good because they're hurt when acquired -- does anyone think this is all bad luck and coincidence? Or maybe a pattern?

 

I didn't say he was a good CFer. His injury wasn't caused by him playing out of position though.

[Bellhorn04]

His arm was a known issue...

 

And Bloom said what the heck, let's take a chance, it's only $140 mill. He even wanted Story to go back to SS this year. Always just a bit ahead of the curve, is Chaim.

[Bellhorn04]

Who needs a consistent and durable guy like Bogaerts, after all? Guys like that are boring.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Our one righty home run hitter gets hurt, and we have Refsnyder batting third, a day after Bobby Dalbec starts at shortstop.

 

It's the second week of the season! Too bad our poor CBO who's been in charge of building the Red Sox for four freaking years wasn't allowed to fill a full Major League roster.

[Bellhorn04]

Our one righty home run hitter gets hurt, and we have Refsnyder batting third, a day after Bobby Dalbec starts at shortstop.

 

It's the second week of the season! Too bad our poor CBO who's been in charge of building the Red Sox for four freaking years wasn't allowed to fill a full Major League roster.

 

His hands are still tied! Have to give him until 2027 or so. Maybe by them these other AL East teams won't be so good.

[Bellhorn04]

Our one righty home run hitter gets hurt, and we have Refsnyder batting third, a day after Bobby Dalbec starts at shortstop.

 

The importance of the 3 spot is overrated anyway, so it's all good.

[moonslav59]

The importance of the 3 spot is overrated anyway, so it's all good.

 

I think the third spot is rated as 5th or 6th in importance, now.

[Bellhorn04]

I think the third spot is rated as 5th or 6th in importance, now.

 

Red Sox brain trust is ahead of the curve as usual, moon.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The importance of the 3 spot is overrated anyway, so it's all good.

 

I know, managers at every level of baseball for over a century have all been wrong batting their best hitters in the heart of the order. Bloom probably typed a thesis on a website about this, and got hired for all his experience... with a word processor.

[notin]

Mondesi is also still 45 days away. They need a fix long before then. If Hamilton isn't really an option, he should have never been put on the 40 man.

 

Hamilton never should have been added.

 

Dalbec has limited expect SS but actually hasn’t been all that bad. Yes, he made an error. Know what other shortstops will make errors this year? All of them!

 

I don’t Tomase’s complaint that Dalbec, at 6’4” 280, can’t play SS due to his size. Did he ever hear of Cal Ripken? (Cue Old Red replying “Dalbec is no Ripken and thus missing the point.). I don’t know if Dalbec is a good solution at SS or not, but if he isn’t, the culprit is likely not his frame.

 

It seems as though many have already thrown in the towel on 2023. If so, what’s the issue with Dalbec at SS?

[Bellhorn04]

It seems as though many have already thrown in the towel on 2023. If so, what’s the issue with Dalbec at SS?

 

This is a circular thing - one of the reasons so many have thrown the towel in is that it seems ridiculous to see Dalbec at SS in the 12th game of the season.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

It seems as though many have already thrown in the towel on 2023. If so, what’s the issue with Dalbec at SS?

 

I've never had anything against Dalbec, but you have to admit that to longtime fans of position player stability, it looks more like management is throwing in the towel with the guys they're shoehorning all around the diamond.

 

In the second week of the season...

[Hugh2]

This is a circular thing - one of the reasons so many have thrown the towel in is that it seems ridiculous to see Dalbec at SS in the 12th game of the season.

 

Especially seeing how Bloom let go every back up SS on the 40 man this off-season too.

 

At least those guys can field the position. Maybe Bobby can prove he can be an emergency back up middle infielder but that’s it. If he’s playing every day for 2-4 weeks then this team is either garbage or he really starts raking.

 

I suppose it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to ever happen if both came to pass.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Especially seeing how Bloom let go every back up SS on the 40 man this off-season too.

 

At least those guys can field the position. Maybe Bobby can prove he can be an emergency back up middle infielder but that’s it. If he’s playing every day for 2-4 weeks then this team is either garbage or he really starts raking.

 

I suppose it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to ever happen if both came to pass.

 

Especially if he's raking the garbage.

[jad]

I know, managers at every level of baseball for over a century have all been wrong batting their best hitters in the heart of the order. Bloom probably typed a thesis on a website about this, and got hired for all his experience... with a word processor.

 

I think Refsnyder batting third is more the result of ChatGPT.

.

[notin]

This is a circular thing - one of the reasons so many have thrown the towel in is that it seems ridiculous to see Dalbec at SS in the 12th game of the season.

 

So is that simply not tolerating a learning curve?

 

 

I’ve seen numerous posts about how Casas’ offense is clearly suspect. Casas has a higher OPS after 130 PA than Wander Franco did. Or Mike Trout did. Or… I could go on. I’m not saying he’ll be as good as them, but most rookies require patience.

 

Now the ask is about Hamilton. How many errors before he gets given up on? Or how well does he have to hin first 100 PA before he’s just another failed prospect?

 

Not to mention - Dalbec played SS for ONE GAME. Not so sure he was anointed full time starter just yet…

[moonslav59]

Red Sox brain trust is ahead of the curve as usual, moon.

 

Sarcasm?

 

Also, we avoid putting high OBP guys up first.

 

(They also batted Devers 3rd way too much, in the past. Third most every season since 2018.)

 

Our 3 slot batters over recent years:

 

2022:

312 Bogey (2nd on team in OPS+)

290 JD (3rd)

 

2021:

454 JD (3rd)

202 Bogey (2nd)

 

2019-2020: JD and Bogey

 

2018: JD & HRam

[mvp 78]

His hands are still tied! Have to give him until 2027 or so. Maybe by them these other AL East teams won't be so good.

 

You see, there's a budget he has to manage to, PLUS we don't want to have worry about another cliff!

[mvp 78]

This is a circular thing - one of the reasons so many have thrown the towel in is that it seems ridiculous to see Dalbec at SS in the 12th game of the season.

 

It's why I was flabbergasted when I saw it in Spring Training. It made little sense then. RF? LF? Ok. SS? No.

 

Bloom just had no clue on how to fill the gaping holes up the middle.

 

Starting rotation? What's that?

[mvp 78]

Sarcasm?

 

Also, we avoid putting high OBP guys up first.

 

(They also batted Devers 3rd way too much, in the past. Third most every season since 2018.)

 

Our 3 slot batters over recent years:

 

2022:

312 Bogey (2nd on team in OPS+)

290 JD (3rd)

 

2021:

454 JD (3rd)

202 Bogey (2nd)

 

2019-2020: JD and Bogey

 

2018: JD & HRam

 

If the worst thing they did was leave Devers hitting 3rd, I think everything would be fine. That's basically shopping for a new house and complaining about the color of the bathroom walls.

[Bellhorn04]

Orioles are starting to play well, so yeah, we might as well get comfy in the basement, I think.

[moonslav59]

Orioles are starting to play well, so yeah, we might as well get comfy in the basement, I think.

 

Nope!

[Bellhorn04]

Nope!

 

Good thing you're not a betting man.

[moonslav59]

Good thing you're not a betting man.

 

Yup, but I will suggest you bet the house on a non 5th place finish.

[Maxbialystock]

Sox are now 11-10 after taking 2 of 3 vs the Twins, who lead the AL Central, and last night beating the Brewers, who lead the NL Central with a 14-6 record.

 

When you look at the Sox lineup these days, there is cause for concern. Like Dalbec at SS. But they are scoring runs and not screwing up the defense too often. Dugo is hitting, but so is Duran of all people. Yoshida might be getting ready to. Devers is still Devers.

 

In fact, the Sox are now tied for 2d in MLB in runs scored with 116 (helped by having played 21 games). How about them apples?

 

And, true to moonslav's prediction, not only is the rotation starting to come around (excluding Kluber plus jury still out on Bello), but the bullpen already looks pretty decent.

[moonslav59]

Sox are now 11-10 after taking 2 of 3 vs the Twins, who lead the AL Central, and last night beating the Brewers, who lead the NL Central with a 14-6 record.

 

When you look at the Sox lineup these days, there is cause for concern. Like Dalbec at SS. But they are scoring runs and not screwing up the defense too often. Dugo is hitting, but so is Duran of all people. Yoshida might be getting ready to. Devers is still Devers.

 

In fact, the Sox are now tied for 2d in MLB in runs scored with 116 (helped by having played 21 games). How about them apples?

 

And, true to moonslav's prediction, not only is the rotation starting to come around (excluding Kluber plus jury still out on Bello), but the bullpen already looks pretty decent.

 

So all the talk about us not being able to beat good teams or good pitchers is on hold for a while.

 

3-0 v DET (DEt is 7-8 vs rest of league)

1-0 v MIL (14-5 v rest)

3-1 v LAA (9-7 v rest)

2-1 v MN (10-7 v rest)

2-1 v BAL (11-5 v rest)

 

0-3 v PIT (11-7 vs rest)

0-4 v TBR (13-3 vs rest of league)

 

[notin]

Sox are now 11-10 after taking 2 of 3 vs the Twins, who lead the AL Central, and last night beating the Brewers, who lead the NL Central with a 14-6 record.

 

When you look at the Sox lineup these days, there is cause for concern. Like Dalbec at SS. But they are scoring runs and not screwing up the defense too often. Dugo is hitting, but so is Duran of all people. Yoshida might be getting ready to. Devers is still Devers.

 

In fact, the Sox are now tied for 2d in MLB in runs scored with 116 (helped by having played 21 games). How about them apples?

 

And, true to moonslav's prediction, not only is the rotation starting to come around (excluding Kluber plus jury still out on Bello), but the bullpen already looks pretty decent.

 

That happened one time. Just one game.

 

Not sure why people even have an opinion on this yet..

[notin]

Orioles are starting to play well, so yeah, we might as well get comfy in the basement, I think.

 

Aren’t the Sox playing well too?

[Bellhorn04]

Aren’t the Sox playing well too?

 

Well enough to be one game over .500, yes. When I posted that it was one game under.

 

I do admit I've had a gloomy outlook this year, much more so than usual.

 

There's no cure for that like winning games.

[mvp 78]

Well enough to be one game over .500, yes. When I posted that it was one game under.

 

I do admit I've had a gloomy outlook this year, much more so than usual.

 

There's no cure for that like winning games.

 

You've definitely been more of a Grumpy Gus than usual.