Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[notin]

I think the rest thing is more of a scheduled season-long thing than a day-to-day thing. Some of it would be day-to-day.

 

But unlike any of us, Cora has played through a full 162 game season and probably seen what it does to some players. Also do we even know if players are asking for the occasional rest day? Cora might just be giving them what they want (or need).

[harmony]

I do think it’s kind of weird that we have people insisting they know more about how these players feel day to day than Cora does…

Like most industries MLB and its teams have become increasingly dependent on analytics to make those type of decisions.

[mvp 78]

But unlike any of us, Cora has played through a full 162 game season and probably seen what it does to some players. Also do we even know if players are asking for the occasional rest day? Cora might just be giving them what they want (or need).

 

It’s just a kids game!!!!!!

[Bellhorn04]

Like most industries MLB and its teams have become increasingly dependent on analytics to make those type of decisions.

 

True, but the Braves and Rangers at least seem to have decided the scheduled rest thing may not be necessary for some players.

[Bellhorn04]

It’s just a kids game!!!!!!

 

Also, DHing is resting anyway!

[mvp 78]

Also, DHing is resting anyway!

 

This!

[moonslav59]

But those guys played those positions before Bloom. The whole idea was Bloom players playing out of position…

 

No.

 

Turner was on the original list, and he played 2B with LAD quite a bit.

[notin]

No.

 

Turner was on the original list, and he played 2B with LAD quite a bit.

 

True, but I will consider arguments that he had aged out of that position before coming to Boston. He did put in his most time there since 2014. But if you like, he is a questionable inclusion that I don’t blame on Bloom…

[notin]

True, but the Braves and Rangers at least seem to have decided the scheduled rest thing may not be necessary for some players.

 

It might not be as analytical as some people believe. Seems more like something a manager (and/or player) prefers…

[moonslav59]

First base in 2022 was a huge mess that it took far too long to sort out, and even then didn’t work.

 

You have pointed out, many times, how it is not easy to make trades in May and June.

 

We started the 2022 season with Bobby Dee at 1B. While he had a horrific 2021 playoffs, his career OPS, at the time, was .819 (545 PAs is rather significant.) He had also just ended the 2021 season with a 103 game and 345 PA stretch at an .867 OPS (23 HRs & 67 RBI which projects to 43 HRs and 126 RBI over 650 PAs)

 

It's hard for me to think it was a blunder plan to start 2021, and once the season started, it was not hard to think maybe Dalbec was just off to another slow start and would "heat up" at any minute. When it became clear he was not going to, Casas got hurt.

 

In 2021, Dalbec started heating up on May 13th. I think giving him until about June 1st, before giving up. Casas was hurt on May 17th. Was someone available to trade for?

 

Cordero sucked, and Hosmer did nothing to help. Granted, Bloom got the 3rd and 4th string 1B plan wrong. I don't see that as a major blunder, planwise.

 

The 2023 SS plan was a disaster.

[moonslav59]

True, but I will consider arguments that he had aged out of that position before coming to Boston. He did put in his most time there since 2014. But if you like, he is a questionable inclusion that I don’t blame on Bloom…

 

I wasn't trying to justify or excuse the use of players out of position. I was actually trying to add to the list and the idea that he went overboard. I still "blame Bloom" for creating rosters that forced these odd positional shifts.

[mvp 78]

True, but I will consider arguments that he had aged out of that position before coming to Boston. He did put in his most time there since 2014. But if you like, he is a questionable inclusion that I don’t blame on Bloom…

 

Turner should not have played there at his age. The lack of options for 2b was due to Bloom’s transactions.

[mvp 78]

You have pointed out, many times, how it is not easy to make trades in May and June.

 

We started the 2022 season with Bobby Dee at 1B. While he had a horrific 2021 playoffs, his career OPS, at the time, was .819 (545 PAs is rather significant.) He had also just ended the 2021 season with a 103 game and 345 PA stretch at an .867 OPS (23 HRs & 67 RBI which projects to 43 HRs and 126 RBI over 650 PAs)

 

It's hard for me to think it was a blunder plan to start 2021, and once the season started, it was not hard to think maybe Dalbec was just off to another slow start and would "heat up" at any minute. When it became clear he was not going to, Casas got hurt.

 

In 2021, Dalbec started heating up on May 13th. I think giving him until about June 1st, before giving up. Casas was hurt on May 17th. Was someone available to trade for?

 

Cordero sucked, and Hosmer did nothing to help. Granted, Bloom got the 3rd and 4th string 1B plan wrong. I don't see that as a major blunder, planwise.

 

The 2023 SS plan was a disaster.

 

Lots of people questioned 1b going into ‘22 except for Bloom.

[sk7326]

Lots of people questioned 1b going into ‘22 except for Bloom.

 

Yeah - I mean Dalbec really took off at the end of 2021 after he got a high level platoon partner - and I don't think the plan to see if he could hit righties was necessarily terrible, but the evidence was against it. He might still be able to stick in the league as the smaller half of a platoon, but that's about it.

[notin]

Lots of people questioned 1b going into ‘22 except for Bloom.

 

They started out with Travis Shaw, which, ok, not elite but potentially serviceable, and possibly a good bridge to Casas. But they released him after like 12 plate appearances. Huh?

 

Release him to hand the job to Casas? Ok, risky but understandable. Same even for Dalbec at the time. But Franchy Cordero? I’d understand it more if the guy ever played 1b or at least had a bat you needed to play, but he was neither of those things…

[moonslav59]

Lots of people questioned 1b going into ‘22 except for Bloom.

 

Yes, I remember several posters wondering about Dalbec, but Casas was considered ML ready or very near ML readi. His untimely injury in late May killed the depth plan.

 

Personally, I don't see the 1B plan going into the season as a blunder. I thought several other positions were higher need areas.

 

I wasn't thrilled about 1B, but with a guy like Casas in the wings, it looked pretty "safe."

[moonslav59]

Yeah - I mean Dalbec really took off at the end of 2021 after he got a high level platoon partner - and I don't think the plan to see if he could hit righties was necessarily terrible, but the evidence was against it. He might still be able to stick in the league as the smaller half of a platoon, but that's about it.

 

We got Shaw on AUG 15, 2021. Dalbec "took off" on May 13. He was doing pretty good before the Shaw addition:

.809 May 13 to Aug 14. (but 1.375 the 2 weeks before the trade.)

But, he did "take off," afterwards:

.970 Aug 15 to end of season.

 

Shaw sucked in ST'ing '21 and looked totally lost to start the ML season.

 

They tried Cordero before Casas. Then, Casas got hurt.

 

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Still can't believe Bloom gave Bearclaw to Cora, and he tried him on the mound!

[cp176]

I remember Dick Groat, but don’t remember him playing for the Red Sox. Jerry Adair I remember contributing to the 67 team.

 

Sorry about that. Jerry Adair it was. In 1960 of course I was a good Pirates fan and Groat was special. Have to say though that I do like to try to remember these names without fact checking.

[Hugh2]

Yeah - I mean Dalbec really took off at the end of 2021 after he got a high level platoon partner - and I don't think the plan to see if he could hit righties was necessarily terrible, but the evidence was against it. He might still be able to stick in the league as the smaller half of a platoon, but that's about it.

 

Weak side of a 1B platoon isn’t exactly a need for many teams. Dalbec, without drastic change, is going to be a AAAA guy. If he wants to stick around in pro ball he’s going to have to live with the fact that he’s that guy who plays in AAA and wait for a guy(s) to get hurt before he gets a chance

[moonslav59]

Weak side of a 1B platoon isn’t exactly a need for many teams. Dalbec, without drastic change, is going to be a AAAA guy. If he wants to stick around in pro ball he’s going to have to live with the fact that he’s that guy who plays in AAA and wait for a guy(s) to get hurt before he gets a chance

 

It does not help that he sucks on D.

 

While his splist vs RHPs is not great, it's not so low that it makes him a lost cause. He would not need to improve by much more than 75 points to be okay on offense. (He is at .855 vs LHPs.)

 

He is .678 career vs RHP, but he averaged about 30 Hrs per 650 v RHPs with a respectable 82 RBIs.

 

I don't see him getting another chance with the Sox, and filling up a 40 man roster slot may not make any sense, going forward.

[notin]

Still can't believe Bloom gave Bearclaw to Cora, and he tried him on the mound!

 

Trying Barraclaugh was one thing. But the road to DFA should have been a lot shorter…

[Bellhorn04]

Trying Barraclaugh was one thing. But the road to DFA should have been a lot shorter…

 

Please elaborate on that point.

[notin]

Please elaborate on that point.

 

They kept him around too long. DFA should have happened right after that depressing outing against Houston. It should have happened before he was removed from the game…

Edited November 4, 2023 by notin

[mvp 78]

Yes, I remember several posters wondering about Dalbec, but Casas was considered ML ready or very near ML readi. His untimely injury in late May killed the depth plan.

 

Personally, I don't see the 1B plan going into the season as a blunder. I thought several other positions were higher need areas.

 

I wasn't thrilled about 1B, but with a guy like Casas in the wings, it looked pretty "safe."

 

You thought it wasn’t a need, but it ended up being a need. We were proven correct.

[mvp 78]

Weak side of a 1B platoon isn’t exactly a need for many teams. Dalbec, without drastic change, is going to be a AAAA guy. If he wants to stick around in pro ball he’s going to have to live with the fact that he’s that guy who plays in AAA and wait for a guy(s) to get hurt before he gets a chance

 

And for utility just have him try corner OF, not MIF.

[moonslav59]

You thought it wasn’t a need, but it ended up being a need. We were proven correct.

 

Hurray for you!

 

I have no problem saying you were right.

 

That does not change the fact that I felt Dalbec, Casas and Shaw was not a bad plan to start 2022 at 1B, especially when you consider we had high needs at many positions and only so much money to spend on them all.

 

We could have robbed Peter to pay Paul, and you'd be complaining about the other position, now.

[mvp 78]

Hurray for you!

 

I have no problem saying you were right.

 

That does not change the fact that I felt Dalbec, Casas and Shaw was not a bad plan to start 2022 at 1B, especially when you consider we had high needs at many positions and only so much money to spend on them all.

 

We could have robbed Peter to pay Paul, and you'd be complaining about the other position, now.

Peter to pay Paul? They went over the CBT! They could have afforded a LHB 1B.

[moonslav59]

Peter to pay Paul? They went over the CBT! They could have afforded a LHB 1B.

 

You assume going over meant Bloom had millions more to spend. I don't.

 

Not many felt 1B was our highest or second highest need area on opening day.

[sk7326]

We got Shaw on AUG 15, 2021. Dalbec "took off" on May 13. He was doing pretty good before the Shaw addition:

.809 May 13 to Aug 14. (but 1.375 the 2 weeks before the trade.)

But, he did "take off," afterwards:

.970 Aug 15 to end of season.

 

Shaw sucked in ST'ing '21 and looked totally lost to start the ML season.

 

They tried Cordero before Casas. Then, Casas got hurt.

 

 

 

Dalbec did not have an OBP above .300 in any month before August. Basically his uptick coincided with not having to face righties anymore. And of course, being this miserable against right-handed pitchers means you can't be a big league starter.