How will the Red Sox do?

[moonslav59]

Not since we had the cellar sound-proofed…

 

I'm assuming jacko does not have keys to your cellar.

[mvp 78]

You’re not in good company…

 

Should Hugh be allowed in the club though? He's basically a guy outside the polling place holding a sign who then forgets to actually vote.

[Hugh2]

Should Hugh be allowed in the club though? He's basically a guy outside the polling place holding a sign who then forgets to actually vote.

 

This is technically accurate.

[notin]

Should Hugh be allowed in the club though? He's basically a guy outside the polling place holding a sign who then forgets to actually vote.

 

I’m for welcoming everyone we can. You know Kimmi would be in this club, too…

[moonslav59]

Speaking of Kimmi, anyone know what's up?

 

Should we file a missing persons report?

[moonslav59]

MLB has us 15th on the Power Rankings (up 4).

 

We have a better record and just swept the Jays, who they have 9th (down 4).

 

The Cubs, Yanks, Angels and Mets are also ahead of us.

 

[mvp 78]

MLB has us 15th on the Power Rankings (up 4).

 

We have a better record and just swept the Jays, who they have 9th (down 4).

 

The Cubs, Yanks, Angels and Mets are also ahead of us.

 

 

Top 10 record in MLB.

 

Power Rankings are lame. NY bias.

[mvp 78]

Speaking of Kimmi, anyone know what's up?

 

Should we file a missing persons report?

 

She is sane. She escaped the asylum. Good for her.

[moonslav59]

She is sane. She escaped the asylum. Good for her.

 

Was the she the one who "flew over the cuckoo's nest?"

[vegasbob]

I still think the roster construction by Bloom & Co. was not good enough to call it a WC caliber team. That initial roster was a .500 team on paper . The current group is playing very well and the bullpen has been a strength, especially with Woeful Barnes out of here.

 

The comments by a few players indicate that last year's team did not have much cohesion , maybe watching Xander being dissed by FO/JH. This year's group sounds more solid in the clubhouse and is playing like it, never out of the game.

 

Dodged a few injuries, got some plusses like Duran and still awaiting returns of some key pieces , but let's enjoy the success now and see how far it can go. Could be a surprising season, ....or not. Nothing like a 6 game W streak to smooth over a up/down start to 2023.

[moonslav59]

I still think the roster construction by Bloom & Co. was not good enough to call it a WC caliber team. That initial roster was a .500 team on paper . The current group is playing very well and the bullpen has been a strength, especially with Woeful Barnes out of here.

 

The comments by a few players indicate that last year's team did not have much cohesion , maybe watching Xander being dissed by FO/JH. This year's group sounds more solid in the clubhouse and is playing like it, never out of the game.

 

Dodged a few injuries, got some plusses like Duran and still awaiting returns of some key pieces , but let's enjoy the success now and see how far it can go. Could be a surprising season, ....or not. Nothing like a 6 game W streak to smooth over a up/down start to 2023.

 

So, who built up the pen (finally?)

 

Yes, the current group is playing well, despite 2 of our best hitters (Story & Duvall) and 2 of our best defenders (Story & Mondesi) being on the IL. It's all voodoo magic.

[vegasbob]

So, who built up the pen (finally?)

 

Yes, the current group is playing well, despite 2 of our best hitters (Story & Duvall) and 2 of our best defenders (Story & Mondesi) being on the IL. It's all voodoo magic.

 

Bloom does appear to have fixed the pen. The key was DFA'ing Barnes, lol. Duvall coming back in mid June and Story by July should be the equivalent of 2 trade deadline deals. Sale is showing good signs which was essential help. Yoshida now living up to the scouting reports, Duran becoming a player and Wong a presence is making this group suddenly look formidable even in the AL East.

[moonslav59]

Bloom does appear to have fixed the pen. The key was DFA'ing Barnes, lol. Duvall coming back in mid June and Story by July should be the equivalent of 2 trade deadline deals. Sale is showing good signs which was essential help. Yoshida now living up to the scouting reports, Duran becoming a player and Wong a presence is making this group suddenly look formidable even in the AL East.

 

We traded Barnes for Bleier. (Not DFA.)

 

Wong has been great, recently, but McGuire has also done a fine job. It looks like they will settle into a binky system where Wong goes 3/5 and McGuire 2/5. That could flip over the course of the season.

 

1B has been one of our worst positions, so far, and it's been a long time since we had a significant plus first baseman. At least the defense is solid from Casas. I think Casas will improve, and I hope it happens, soon, but having Turner as his back-up and many fine players to slide into DH makes this roster construction way better than last year's, in this area.

 

2B/SS is going to be all about returning players. Losing Story and Mondesi and then Chang is something few GMs plan for. They may happen to have better middle IF depth on the farm that are ML ready, but it's hard to plan for 3 guys out at the same time. Arroyo is starting to look better, but Kike at SS is a real concern. Looks like we will play the waiting game here, as some will blame Bloom for not signing someone like Andrus or even adding Iggy a week ago. Fair criticism, if you ask me.

 

3B: It looks like Devers is not getting fat after the signing or putting his feet up and losing his "edge." Devers forevers came true!

 

The OF has to be one of the most amazing turn-around/overhauls in Sox or MLB history. We went from near worst to maybe the best with just two additions- one of which has been on the IL for half the start of 2023. The Dugo-Duran turnarounds or upticks, whatever you want to call them, are stunning. Yoshida is looking like an MVP, the last couple weeks. I'm talking AL MVP- not Sox MVP. With Kike and Tapia in the wings and Duval due back, all I can say is WOW!

 

Turner has been very good and is known for heating up over the second half of the season. Stay tuned.

 

The pen has been a savior, and if we can get something from Joely or a SP'er moving to the pen, it could even get better.

 

The rotation, as we all know, is going to be the key to where we end up by season's end. I still have some optimism we will find the right mix. It would be nice if it did not have to include Houck and or Whitlock, which would make our pen a top 5 pen in MLB, IMO, but I'm not sure that is possible. Perhaps a deadline deal can get us to the promiseland.

[notin]

I still think the roster construction by Bloom & Co. was not good enough to call it a WC caliber team. That initial roster was a .500 team on paper . The current group is playing very well and the bullpen has been a strength, especially with Woeful Barnes out of here.

 

The comments by a few players indicate that last year's team did not have much cohesion , maybe watching Xander being dissed by FO/JH. This year's group sounds more solid in the clubhouse and is playing like it, never out of the game.

 

Dodged a few injuries, got some plusses like Duran and still awaiting returns of some key pieces , but let's enjoy the success now and see how far it can go. Could be a surprising season, ....or not. Nothing like a 6 game W streak to smooth over a up/down start to 2023.

 

I think fans can get to w worked up about roster construction to the point of ignoring that these are still MLB-caliber players who are better at baseball than any of us are at anything…

[vegasbob]

Moon, not to bicker a fine distinction about my man, Barnes, but he was DFA'ed first, then a trade was worked out for Bleier , which has turned out ok. I don't curse and roll around on the floor when Bleier comes into the game, as I did with Matt Barnes.

[Maxbialystock]

We traded Barnes for Bleier. (Not DFA.)

 

Wong has been great, recently, but McGuire has also done a fine job. It looks like they will settle into a binky system where Wong goes 3/5 and McGuire 2/5. That could flip over the course of the season.

 

1B has been one of our worst positions, so far, and it's been a long time since we had a significant plus first baseman. At least the defense is solid from Casas. I think Casas will improve, and I hope it happens, soon, but having Turner as his back-up and many fine players to slide into DH makes this roster construction way better than last year's, in this area.

 

2B/SS is going to be all about returning players. Losing Story and Mondesi and then Chang is something few GMs plan for. They may happen to have better middle IF depth on the farm that are ML ready, but it's hard to plan for 3 guys out at the same time. Arroyo is starting to look better, but Kike at SS is a real concern. Looks like we will play the waiting game here, as some will blame Bloom for not signing someone like Andrus or even adding Iggy a week ago. Fair criticism, if you ask me.

 

3B: It looks like Devers is not getting fat after the signing or putting his feet up and losing his "edge." Devers forevers came true!

 

The OF has to be one of the most amazing turn-around/overhauls in Sox or MLB history. We went from near worst to maybe the best with just two additions- one of which has been on the IL for half the start of 2023. The Dugo-Duran turnarounds or upticks, whatever you want to call them, are stunning. Yoshida is looking like an MVP, the last couple weeks. I'm talking AL MVP- not Sox MVP. With Kike and Tapia in the wings and Duval due back, all I can say is WOW!

 

Turner has been very good and is known for heating up over the second half of the season. Stay tuned.

 

The pen has been a savior, and if we can get something from Joely or a SP'er moving to the pen, it could even get better.

 

The rotation, as we all know, is going to be the key to where we end up by season's end. I still have some optimism we will find the right mix. It would be nice if it did not have to include Houck and or Whitlock, which would make our pen a top 5 pen in MLB, IMO, but I'm not sure that is possible. Perhaps a deadline deal can get us to the promiseland.

 

You always do a great job with these overviews. Agree the outfield has been stunningly good--hitting, anyway. Agree injuries have affected the middle infield, that Devers looks good, and that Casas just might come around. Also that the bullpen looks good. Catching is better than expected--especially Wong, who has the highest catcher DWAR in MLB to go with his .804 OPS. Funny how you keep saying McGuire is just as good or better. Why is that? Did you know Wong hits righties better than McGuire?

 

As for the rotation, I think I'm more hopeful than you. Sale (for the umpteenth time) has 3 of the Sox 6 quality starts, so we probably have an ace. And behind him are 7 more starters--Houck, Pivetta, Bello, Kluber, Crawford, Whitlock, and Paxton--all of whom have shown some ability. Right now the first four are in the rotation and the last three are on the IL, but the total of 8 (including Sale) tells me Cora/Bloom have some options because I think all three of the IL'ers are due back this month.

[moonslav59]

Moon, not to bicker a fine distinction about my man, Barnes, but he was DFA'ed first, then a trade was worked out for Bleier , which has turned out ok. I don't curse and roll around on the floor when Bleier comes into the game, as I did with Matt Barnes.

 

Good point on the DFA then trade aspect of dumping Barnes.

 

I like Barnes, but he imploded very quickly and thoroughly.

 

I'm not thrilled seeing Bleier come in, but I do feel better than when Brasiort comes in.

[moonslav59]

You always do a great job with these overviews. Agree the outfield has been stunningly good--hitting, anyway. Agree injuries have affected the middle infield, that Devers looks good, and that Casas just might come around. Also that the bullpen looks good. Catching is better than expected--especially Wong, who has the highest catcher DWAR in MLB to go with his .804 OPS. Funny how you keep saying McGuire is just as good or better. Why is that? Did you know Wong hits righties better than McGuire?

 

As for the rotation, I think I'm more hopeful than you. Sale (for the umpteenth time) has 3 of the Sox 6 quality starts, so we probably have an ace. And behind him are 7 more starters--Houck, Pivetta, Bello, Kluber, Crawford, Whitlock, and Paxton--all of whom have shown some ability. Right now the first four are in the rotation and the last three are on the IL, but the total of 8 (including Sale) tells me Cora/Bloom have some options because I think all three of the IL'ers are due back this month.

 

You do seem more hopeful about the rotation than I do, right now, but I have been more hopeful and optimistic about improvement than just about everyone else.

 

On McGuire and Wong, I don't go by small sample sizes, and Wong's is tiny.

 

I like Wong. He was supposed to have issues with defense, but he has looked fine, so far- even better than McGuire is a few areas, including pop times and controlling the running game.

 

It looks like McGuire will start 2 of our starters or 2 of every 5 games, so it's not like Bloom & Cora have given up on him.

 

Why do I seem to like McGuire more than some on this site?

 

1, What's not to like about his .843 OPS since joining the Sox, and that sample size is over double the size of Wong's 2023 OPS of .804.

OPS w SOX

.843 McGuie in 164 PAs

.732 Wong in 148 PAs over 2+ Years

 

2. McGuire was known for his defense. It hasn't looked great, this year, but it should even out. (He may also be playing hurt, now.)

 

3. L/R splits don't really matter once the binky tandems are set up, but both have reverse splits, this year. Wong is better vs RHPs, while McGuire is better vs LHPs.

Career

Wong: .854 v R (94 PAs)/.535 v L (54 PAs)

McGuire: .729 v R (585)/ .534 v L (145)

 

It's always nice to have 2 strong catchers.

 

I was one of the few posters who felt the catcher position was not one of our highest winter need areas. I felt like McGuire and Wong could match or exceed what Vaz & Plawecki gave us, with better D and maybe close to the same O. So far, the O has been better, but it is early.

 

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

You do seem more hopeful about the rotation than I do, right now, but I have been more hopeful and optimistic about improvement than just about everyone else.

 

On McGuire and Wong, I don't go by small sample sizes, and Wong's is tiny.

 

I like Wong. He was supposed to have issues with defense, but he has looked fine, so far- even better than McGuire is a few areas, including pop times and controlling the running game.

 

It looks like McGuire will start 2 of our starters or 2 of every 5 games, so it's not like Bloom & Cora have given up on him.

 

Why do I seem to like McGuire more than some on this site?

 

1, What's not to like about his .843 OPS since joining the Sox, and that sample size is over double the size of Wong's 2023 OPS of .804.

OPS w SOX

.843 McGuie in 164 PAs

.732 Wong in 148 PAs over 2+ Years

 

2. McGuire was known for his defense. It hasn't looked great, this year, but it should even out. (He may also be playing hurt, now.)

 

3. L/R splits don't really matter once the binky tandems are set up, but both have reverse splits, this year. Wong is better vs RHPs, while McGuire is better vs LHPs.

Career

Wong: .854 v R (94 PAs)/.535 v L (54 PAs)

McGuire: .729 v R (585)/ .534 v L (145)

 

It's always nice to have 2 strong catchers.

 

I was one of the few posters who felt the catcher position was not one of our highest winter need areas. I felt like McGuire and Wong could match or exceed what Vaz & Plawecki gave us, with better D and maybe close to the same O. So far, the O has been better, but it is early.

 

 

 

 

Fine on McGuire. I absolutely don’t need to be “right” on who is better. Both are ours. Yes, you were the optimist on the rotation and I’m just happy to be agreeing.

[moonslav59]

Fine on McGuire. I absolutely don’t need to be “right” on who is better. Both are ours. Yes, you were the optimist on the rotation and I’m just happy to be agreeing.

 

My heart says our rotation has a 67% chance to get to mediocrity, which may be all we need.

 

My brain says 33% to maybe 50%.

[mvp 78]

Good point on the DFA then trade aspect of dumping Barnes.

 

I like Barnes, but he imploded very quickly and thoroughly.

 

I'm not thrilled seeing Bleier come in, but I do feel better than when Brasiort comes in.

 

Barnes '23: 15 INN, 9.6 K%, 4.2 BB%, 3.60 ERA, 4.41 xFIP, 4 seamer velo down 2 mph

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Barnes '23: 15 INN, 9.6 K%, 4.2 BB%, 3.60 ERA, 4.41 xFIP, 4 seamer velo down 2 mph

 

NESN would call those sweeping sinkers slurving somewhere...

[moonslav59]

We are on pace for 85.3 wins, so a couple wins out of the gate could project to 86 wins.

 

[Maxbialystock]

We are on pace for 85.3 wins, so a couple wins out of the gate could project to 86 wins.

 

 

One more time: you and very few others correctly predicted the Sox would have a winning record this year. Well done.

 

First half should have been a disaster, and even now Cora is going with three starters until any of Whitlock, Houck, and Sale return. So the last 17 days of July are going to be daunting--as you have already said. I'm in.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

One more time: you and very few others correctly predicted the Sox would have a winning record this year. Well done.

 

First half should have been a disaster, and even now Cora is going with three starters until any of Whitlock, Houck, and Sale return. So the last 17 days of July are going to be daunting--as you have already said. I'm in.

 

Hey, I had them for 70 wins -- I'm already two-thirds of the way there!

[notin]

Hey, I had them for 70 wins -- I'm already two-thirds of the way there!

 

I went over 85.

 

I’m hopeful but it’s not going to be easy…

[moonslav59]

One more time: you and very few others correctly predicted the Sox would have a winning record this year. Well done.

 

First half should have been a disaster, and even now Cora is going with three starters until any of Whitlock, Houck, and Sale return. So the last 17 days of July are going to be daunting--as you have already said. I'm in.

 

I've been wrong, often enough.

 

I think many saw the players we lost from the losing 2022 team and thought there was no way we got better. I feel they thought of them as their 2018 selves and not their 2022 selves.

 

It's easy to like our own players, even if we thought the 2022 team sucked. We knew them well. They were good players. Some still are.

 

Nobody knew Turner like we knew JD. Nobody knew Yoshida like we knew Bogey. Nobody knew Bello like we knew Nate. Nobody knew Duran would go through a metamorphosis from Butterfly Man to Superman. Many blamed most of our losses, last year on the pen, then lessened the value of improving it over the winter.

 

We still have some big weaknesses that could ruin our next 2 months. Our defense is scary. Our offense has tended to disappear for too long. Our opening day rotation is almost totally gone: Sale on the 60 day IL, Kluber demoted and on the IL, Pivetta demoted and Houck and Whitlock on the IL, too. We have hopes that Whitlock, Houck and maybe Sale can return to join the two saviors: Bello & Paxton. I'm afraid it might come down to 3-4 of these guys returning to not only comeback, but to do well, which means maybe Houck & Whitlock will have to do better than before they got hurt.

 

Story

Sale

Whitlock

Houck

Schreiber

(or one longshot like Mondesi, Beier or McGuire)

[mvp 78]

For the Sox to get 80 wins or less: 20-27 or worse the rest of the way.

 

For the Sox to get 86 wins or more: 26-21 or better the rest of the way.

 

Seems like 81-85 wins is most likely at this point?

[moonslav59]

For the Sox to get 80 wins or less: 20-27 or worse the rest of the way.

 

For the Sox to get 86 wins or more: 26-21 or better the rest of the way.

 

Seems like 81-85 wins is most likely at this point?

 

The least picked category, but also the one in the middle.

[moonslav59]

We are on pace for 86 wins.

 

5 out of 15 picked 81-90 wins.

 

10 picked 71-80.