Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[notin]

C'mon, John. You KNOW Franco's going to be available at a HUGE discount.

 

Why?

 

If he’s found innocent and able to return to MLB, he’s not a free agent. Why would Tampa trade him?

 

Of course being found innocent won’t change people’s mind that he’s guilty…

[notin]

Right, but the guys you're mentioning are expensive ones.

 

True for Bellinger and Matt Chapman. Not true how much Matt’s brother Aroldis is going for these days…

[notin]

Bailey says there is talent in the projected starting rotation that the Red Sox have now, and he’s excited about it, so I guess the Red Sox don’t need Monty, or anyone else.

 

 

But we all know better than Bailey!

[Bellhorn04]

Why?

 

If he’s found innocent and able to return to MLB, he’s not a free agent. Why would Tampa trade him?

 

Of course being found innocent won’t change people’s mind that he’s guilty…

 

I prefer to think jad's post was not of serious intent.

[Bellhorn04]

But we all know better than Bailey!

 

Part of Bailey's job description is to be immensely optimist at this stage, I would submit.

[notin]

I think we sign Paxton and Duvall.

 

Paxton is a waste. I’ve seen that show before. He’s definitely talented, but he’s also 35 and stifled big time with i in njuries from 30-34. He’d probably give the Sox 30-40 good innings, and that would be his season total. Hard pass.

 

The Sox at a minimum need pitching depth. If we concede Houck is in the rotation, then maybe backfill his bullpen slot (A. Chapman? W Peralta?) and add some hidable starter depth (Lauer? Trumbull? Junis? Davies?)

Edited January 21, 2024 by notin

[moonslav59]

Part of Bailey's job description is to be immensely optimist at this stage, I would submit.

 

How much longer do they expect fans to fall for this fake optimism?

[notin]

Part of Bailey's job description is to be immensely optimist at this stage, I would submit.

 

True, but we also shouldn’t immediately dismiss the notion he is being honest and we have a better assessment of the Sox staff.

 

Especially a viewpoint that shouldn’t be dismissed by those disappointed with the last staff’s handling of Brasier and the failure to teach him a cutter…

[notin]

How much longer do they expect fans to fall for this fake optimism?

 

I’m still in…

[moonslav59]

I’m still in…

 

You think they actually believe their statements, or are you just optimistic we can cobble together a worthy pitching staff?

[notin]

You think they actually believe their statements, or are you just optimistic we can cobble together a worthy pitching staff?

 

I think this staff is better than many give it credit for. Granted, that’s not a high bar. But this team won 156 games over the last two years with virtually no contribution from their ace (108 IP over two seasons).

 

I do think they need more depth, especially if they plan to bump Houck into the rotation. The biggest gripe I’ve had is they keep using the bullpen for starter depth. I’d love to see both Houck and Whitlock go to the bullpen and stay there, but it looks like Houck is a starter and Whitlock is depth. Cooper Criswell and Max Castillo don’t dazzle me as actual depth. I don’t see either finishing the season in the organization. There are plenty of arms that can and will take MiLB deals. Grab some…

[moonslav59]

I think this staff is better than many give it credit for. Granted, that’s not a high bar. But this team won 156 games over the last two years with virtually no contribution from their ace (108 IP over two seasons).

 

I do think they need more depth, especially if they plan to bump Houck into the rotation. The biggest gripe I’ve had is they keep using the bullpen for starter depth. I’d love to see both Houck and Whitlock go to the bullpen and stay there, but it looks like Houck is a starter and Whitlock is depth. Cooper Criswell and Max Castillo don’t dazzle me as actual depth. I don’t see either finishing the season in the organization. There are plenty of arms that can and will take MiLB deals. Grab some…

 

You did not answer the Q.

[notin]

You did not answer the Q.

 

Yes I did. I chose both, as they are not mutually exclusive. Also the question was extremely laden with bias that I sifted through.

 

I think the Sox have a “worthy” pitching staff, which means they did cobble one together and I believe their statements. I even gave my rationale as to why I think it is a worthy pitching staff.

 

Depending on your interpretation of worthy, I suppose…

[notin]

Apparently my dreams of Houck and Whitlock shortening games are getting less likely by the day.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/garrett-whitlock-more-granite-impressively-143350301.html

 

Still need starter depth and some serious backfill in that bullpen…

[Old Red]

I think this staff is better than many give it credit for. Granted, that’s not a high bar. But this team won 156 games over the last two years with virtually no contribution from their ace (108 IP over two seasons).

 

I do think they need more depth, especially if they plan to bump Houck into the rotation. The biggest gripe I’ve had is they keep using the bullpen for starter depth. I’d love to see both Houck and Whitlock go to the bullpen and stay there, but it looks like Houck is a starter and Whitlock is depth. Cooper Criswell and Max Castillo don’t dazzle me as actual depth. I don’t see either finishing the season in the organization. There are plenty of arms that can and will take MiLB deals. Grab some…

 

The only difference now from when last season ended is swapping Sale for Gio. Does Bello continue to improve? Do you get the bad Pivetta who got taken out of the rotation, or do you get the better Pivetta? Gio good, or bad? Lots of ifs as it stands now that could go either way.

[notin]

The only difference now from when last season ended is swapping Sale for Gio. Does Bello continue to improve? Do you get the bad Pivetta who got taken out of the rotation, or do you get the better Pivetta? Gio good, or bad? Lots of ifs as it stands now that could go either way.

 

If only the Sox had definitive answers about the future like all 29 other teams have. Things have to break right for any team to win it all; there are no sure things that fans want.

Edited January 21, 2024 by notin

[Old Red]

If only the Sox had definitive answers about the future like all 29 other teams have. Things have to break right for any team to win it all; there are no sure things that fans want.

 

 

After all, I suppose one could also argue the only thing the 68 win Rangers did was add 5 games worth of Jake deGrom and oft-injured Andrew Heaney and yet they won 22 more games and a World Series…

I don’t think Red Sox fans care that much about what’s going on with the 29 other teams, at this point, and time. Other teams fans may be saying sham, sham, sham, but I don’t know who, or care. I’m not even coming c”ode to say things have to break right to win it all, but lots of things have to break right just to be a team with a winning record, and to get out of last place in the Div. Big, big difference. I don’t think there is any comparison either in what the Rangers have done the past few years to what the Red Sox have done. The Red Sox are cutting payroll, and the Rangers aren’t. I don’t think many Red Sox fans right now are clinging to the starting rotation as is as being anything that good.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If only the Sox had definitive answers about the future like all 29 other teams have. Things have to break right for any team to win it all; there are no sure things that fans want.

 

True, but for the current roster of the '24 Red Sox, things may have to break right for this team to win AT ALL.

[Tedballgame]

I think we sign Paxton and Duvall.

 

I've seen that movie

[Tedballgame]

Unfortunately, it appears that the Red Sox are headed toward a year of mediocrity. Not enough starting pitching or defense to seriously contend for anything.

[Elktonnick]

Unfortunately, it appears that the Red Sox are headed toward a year of mediocrity. Not enough starting pitching or defense to seriously contend for anything.

 

Heck the way they are going they are going to have to get a lot better to be merely mediocre

[moonslav59]

Heck the way they are going they are going to have to get a lot better to be merely mediocre

 

We’ve been at about .500 over the last 3 years, combined.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Unfortunately, it appears that the Red Sox are headed toward a year of mediocrity. Not enough starting pitching or defense to seriously contend for anything.

 

Tom the owner said with better defense, they would've won 8 or 9 more last year and made the playoffs. And look how much the D has improved since then...

[notin]

Tom the owner said with better defense, they would've won 8 or 9 more last year and made the playoffs. And look how much the D has improved since then...

 

 

Pedro had them at 12-15 games better with improved defense last season. Seems like a stretch to me.

 

I can’t say the D has improved for 2024 since I don’t know the starting lineup. I’m just fired anyone in the front office said the word “defense”…

[notin]

We’ve been at about .500 over the last 3 years, combined.

 

10 games over. Interpret that as you like…

[notin]

I've seen that movie

 

Have Bill Paxton and Robert Duvall ever made a movie together?

[moonslav59]

10 games over. Interpret that as you like…

 

I'd say about as close to "mediocrity" as you can be.

 

When you consider strength of schedule, one could easily argue we have been better than mediocre, overall.

[Old Red]

I'd say about as close to "mediocrity" as you can be.

 

When you consider strength of schedule, one could easily argue we have been better than mediocre, overall.

 

Oh, that damm strength of schedule again. You said the schedule was going to be easier last year with less Div games. How did that work out. If it makes you feel better blaming strength of schedule then go for it, but t doesn’t get you any closer to a winning record, or anything else.

[moonslav59]

Pedro had them at 12-15 games better with improved defense last season. Seems like a stretch to me.

 

I can’t say the D has improved for 2024 since I don’t know the starting lineup. I’m just fired anyone in the front office said the word “defense”…

 

I think we safely say Grissom will be our 2Bman on opening day. I can't see him being worse than the worst in MLB, as we were in '23 at 2B.

 

We know Story is our SS, and on paper, he's better than Kike & Co. by a long shot. It's all about health.

 

Our corner IF cannot really be any worse than 2023, either. I know you hate counting on anyone to "improve," but Casas did looks better at 1B, as the season played out. Devers is all over the place, but 2023 was one of his worst seasons. Maybe expect the same at 3B, a slight improvement at 1B, a significant improvement at 2B and a vast improvement at SS, a position that carries added weight.

 

The OG alignment is very much up in the air, and an addition might be pending. I do think, no matter what we do, Yoshida will likely see less time in LF, and that looks like a plus, by itself. Dugo was good on D in RF, last year, so whoever plays RF will have to do well to improve that slot. If Duran plays more CF than he did in 2023, it's hard to imagine a big improvement there, but it's not like Duvall was great in CF, last season. In theory, we might see this (granted- very speculative):

LF: Duran/O'Neill/Abreu> 2023 Yoshida 713, Ref 347, Duran 173, Tapia 86

CF: Rafaela/Duran> 2023 Duran 557, Duvall 478, Rafaela 117, Kike 87, Abreu 85, Ref 68

RF: O'Neill/Abreu = 2023 Dugo 1179, Duvall 180, Tapia 52

 

Catching: call it even, although catchers usually reach defensive prime after age 28.

 

[Larry Cook]

I think we safely say Grissom will be our 2Bman on opening day. I can't see him being worse than the worst in MLB, as we were in '23 at 2B.

 

We know Story is our SS, and on paper, he's better than Kike & Co. by a long shot. It's all about health.

 

Our corner IF cannot really be any worse than 2023, either. I know you hate counting on anyone to "improve," but Casas did looks better at 1B, as the season played out. Devers is all over the place, but 2023 was one of his worst seasons. Maybe expect the same at 3B, a slight improvement at 1B, a significant improvement at 2B and a vast improvement at SS, a position that carries added weight.

 

The OG alignment is very much up in the air, and an addition might be pending. I do think, no matter what we do, Yoshida will likely see less time in LF, and that looks like a plus, by itself. Dugo was good on D in RF, last year, so whoever plays RF will have to do well to improve that slot. If Duran plays more CF than he did in 2023, it's hard to imagine a big improvement there, but it's not like Duvall was great in CF, last season. In theory, we might see this (granted- very speculative):

LF: Duran/O'Neill/Abreu> 2023 Yoshida 713, Ref 347, Duran 173, Tapia 86

CF: Rafaela/Duran> 2023 Duran 557, Duvall 478, Rafaela 117, Kike 87, Abreu 85, Ref 68

RF: O'Neill/Abreu = 2023 Dugo 1179, Duvall 180, Tapia 52

 

Catching: call it even, although catchers usually reach defensive prime after age 28.

 

 

Our 24 team would be decent if we had solid #1 and #2 starters.