9/4/23 Red Sox in St. Pete's Tropicana Field to compete with Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10

[Maxbialystock]

Getting ahead of myself, but sweeping the Rays, imho, would be the highlight of the season, so far.

 

Sure would.

[Larry Cook]

Cassas may never be a gold glove defender, but he could develop into a tremendous bat for us! His swing is really sweet

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If you mean hitting and pitching, I agree that's always game to game, but I honestly thought the Rays hitting and pitching were simply better--and today I was dead wrong.

 

The Rays are still probably better on the basepaths--despite Devers SB--but the Sox defense was fine today.

 

What you say is true regarding today's game, but for the whole season the Rays have been better in all four things, which is reflected in their W/L record compared to the SOX.

[Dipre]

Trade Casas! DFA Yoshida!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Cassas may never be a gold glove defender, but he could develop into a tremendous bat for us! His swing is really sweet

 

I believe Casas has the work habit to make himself into, at least, an average defensive 1st baseman, which combined with his offense would be quite acceptable.

[Oscars]

Casas has been a 2nd half beast.

 

 

OK, smartass, what do you have to say about the Sox winning 7-3--in the Trop, yet? I'd say there's at least 4 things you got wrong.

 

Cassas may never be a gold glove defender, but he could develop into a tremendous bat for us! His swing is really sweet

 

Yoshida heating up again, hitting .381 in his last 7 games

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Yoshida heating up again, hitting .381 in his last 7 games

 

Considering that this is his 1st year in MLB, plus living in a new country, I'd say he's done quite well. I expect him to be even better next season.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sure would.

 

The sweep would be much more achievable obviously if Devers could get out of his slump.

Edited September 4, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[moonslav59]

Trade Casas! DFA Yoshida!

 

Their stock will never be higher!

 

[notin]

I believe Casas has the work habit to make himself into, at least, an average defensive 1st baseman, which combined with his offense would be quite acceptable.

 

I do hope he can do that. And do it quickly.

 

I know he was a 3b in high school, but scoring to B-R.com, he’s only played at 3b eight times in his entire minor league career, and not st all since A ball. Which makes me wonder where exactly was this work ethic to improve defensively before?

[notin]

Cassas may never be a gold glove defender, but he could develop into a tremendous bat for us! His swing is really sweet

 

.906 OPS since April 17!

[moonslav59]

I do hope he can do that. And do it quickly.

 

I know he was a 3b in high school, but scoring to B-R.com, he’s only played at 3b eight times in his entire minor league career, and not st all since A ball. Which makes me wonder where exactly was this work ethic to improve defensively before?

 

What scares me, some is that we heard Dalbec should be a good defensive 1Bman, too, and he seemed to get worse, over time.

 

There is no reason to assume Casas can't get better, and I think he can and will, but he was pretty bad, this year.

 

I think moving Yoshida to DH makes more sense and costs less than signing Chapman.

 

If Casas and Devers continue sucking at the corners, we can think of moving them the next season.

 

[moonslav59]

.906 OPS since April 17!

 

.914 since April 20th.

 

.937 since May 3rd.

 

1.002 since June 3rd.

[notin]

What scares me, some is that we heard Dalbec should be a good defensive 1Bman, too, and he seemed to get worse, over time.

 

There is no reason to assume Casas can't get better, and I think he can and will, but he was pretty bad, this year.

 

I think moving Yoshida to DH makes more sense and costs less than signing Chapman.

 

If Casas and Devers continue sucking at the corners, we can think of moving them the next season.

 

 

Dalbec was just bad defensively. He couldn’t catch a cold if he was naked in Norway. (Alternate punchline: I heard he caught COVID, but he booted it.)

 

Yoshida to DH is more likely, since they have the outfielders already even if they don’t bring back Duvall. Duran (Refsnyder)-Rafaela-Verdugo is a step up.

 

But fixing those corner infield spots could, should and even would have a bigger impact.

 

I have heard the “Sox won’t re-arrange” arguments, but they’re really not valid. When the Sox signed Kike the first time, how many people thought it was to play CF? I’m not even sure it was, even though it certainly looked like it would make sense (which it certainly did)…

Edited September 5, 2023 by notin

[moonslav59]

Dalbec was just bad defensively. He couldn’t catch a cold if he was naked in Norway. (Alternate punchline: I heard he caught COVID, but he booted it.)

 

Yoshida to DH is more likely, since they have the outfielders already even if they don’t bring back Duvall. Duran (Refsnyder)-Rafaela-Verdugo is a step up.

 

But fixing those corner infield spots could, should and even would have a bigger impact.

 

I have heard the “Sox won’t re-arrange” arguments, but they’re really not valid. When the Sox signed Kike the first time, how many people thought it was to play CF? I’m not even sure it was, even though it certainly looked like it would make sense (which it certainly did)…

 

I called Kike to CF before opening day.

 

I agree, the impact of signing Chapman and moving Devers to 1B and Casas would have greater impact than Yoshida to DH, but on a fixed budget, the impact would be countered by that much less spent oin pitching- a position we actually need to fix.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec was just bad defensively. /QUOTE]

 

Didn't Sox Prospects give him the Defensive Player of the Year Award, one year?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Somehow, the favorite punching bag for Red Sox fans in 2023 has become Masataka Yoshida. Punchlines have varied, from his defense in left field, body-type, running technique, and lack of Schwarber-like home run power.

 

Main complaint -- as usual for anyone who doesn't earn multi-million dollars per year in any job (much less, playing a kid's game) -- is that Yoshida, signed for an AAV of $18 million per season, is grossly overpaid.

 

Last point first: per Sportrac, there are at least 60 MLB players with a higher AAV than Yoshida (more than half make at least $30M). That's an average of two per team, but we know small markets don't pay, so it's probably closer to four per team. On the Red Sox alone, that includes Sale, Story and Devers. Ex-Sox who also make more include Bogaerts, Betts and Schwarber.

 

A strong September for Yoshida puts him on pace for about 18 HRs, 80 RBI, .300 BA. Q: how many big leaguers averaged all three of those stats in 2022? A: FOUR: Judge, Alvarez, Goldschmidt, Freeman. Regarding speed, Yoshida is second on the club in stolen bases, 8-for-8 in attempts. Another short Sox player, Pedroia, was 7-for-8 his rookie year. But Dustin was a dirtdog... and a great glove at second base -- a defensive position a lot more important than left field.

 

As MVP has alluded to, LF defense is hardly the key to a lockdown D on the diamond. As Max has constantly posted, D isn't even much of a factor, as long as a guy can hit. Moving Yoshida to DH won't solve the Red Sox' putrid defensive issues... the most it will do is allow another bat (most likely a replacement for too costly Turner or Duvall) into the line-up.

 

Among AL outfielders, Yoshida also has the second-best K-rate to Steven Kwan. He can start in my batting order.

[moonslav59]

Somehow, the favorite punching bag for Red Sox fans in 2023 has become Masataka Yoshida. Punchlines have varied, from his defense in left field, body-type, running technique, and lack of Schwarber-like home run power.

 

Main complaint -- as usual for anyone who doesn't earn multi-million dollars per year in any job (much less, playing a kid's game) -- is that Yoshida, signed for an AAV of $18 million per season, is grossly overpaid.

 

Last point first: per Sportrac, there are at least 60 MLB players with a higher AAV than Yoshida (more than half make at least $30M). That's an average of two per team, but we know small markets don't pay, so it's probably closer to four per team. On the Red Sox alone, that includes Sale, Story and Devers. Ex-Sox who also make more include Bogaerts, Betts and Schwarber.

 

A strong September for Yoshida puts him on pace for about 18 HRs, 80 RBI, .300 BA. Q: how many big leaguers averaged all three of those stats in 2022? A: FOUR: Judge, Alvarez, Goldschmidt, Freeman. Regarding speed, Yoshida is second on the club in stolen bases, 8-for-8 in attempts. Another short Sox player, Pedroia, was 7-for-8 his rookie year. But Dustin was a dirtdog... and a great glove at second base -- a defensive position a lot more important than left field.

 

As MVP has alluded to, LF defense is hardly the key to a lockdown D on the diamond. As Max has constantly posted, D isn't even much of a factor, as long as a guy can hit. Moving Yoshida to DH won't solve the Red Sox' putrid defensive issues... the most it will do is allow another bat (most likely a replacement for too costly Turner or Duvall) into the line-up.

 

Among AL outfielders, Yoshida also has the second-best K-rate to Steven Kwan. He can start in my batting order.

 

Thanks for this.

 

I await Bells retort.

[Bellhorn04]

Somehow, the favorite punching bag for Red Sox fans in 2023 has become Masataka Yoshida. Punchlines have varied, from his defense in left field, body-type, running technique, and lack of Schwarber-like home run power.

 

Main complaint -- as usual for anyone who doesn't earn multi-million dollars per year in any job (much less, playing a kid's game) -- is that Yoshida, signed for an AAV of $18 million per season, is grossly overpaid.

 

My complaint is with Bloom for allocating $100 million plus to Yoshida, and $10 million to the rotation.

 

Plus I do put a lot of stock in WAR, and Yoshida's WAR has been crushed by his defense and baserunning. He should absolutely be a DH.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

My complaint is with Bloom for allocating $100 million plus to Yoshida, and $10 million to the rotation.

 

Plus I do put a lot of stock in WAR, and Yoshida's WAR has been crushed by his defense and baserunning. He should absolutely be a DH.

 

I'm not disagreeing with any of this; Toronto gave Chris Bassitt three years and $63M, and he leads the Jays in wins and innings pitched.

 

Imagine if the Sox had signed a guy with a 3.81 ERA who threw 165 IP in 2023... they might even be four games better than Toronto (and the Jays would be four games worse).

 

But OMG -- Bassitt will make $21M at age 35 and 36... is the market rate for his production such a risk, compared to wasting another $40M on four separate one-year contracts on guys in their late-Klubers?

[Bellhorn04]

Regarding speed, Yoshida is second on the club in stolen bases, 8-for-8 in attempts. Another short Sox player, Pedroia, was 7-for-8 his rookie year.

 

The 8 for 8 in SB's is very good. But he also leads the team in GIDP's by a lot, with 19. Second place is 11.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The 8 for 8 in SB's is very good. But he also leads the team in GIDP's by a lot, with 19. Second place is 11.

 

I just don't see a guy who has been top five in the league in batting average all year as a major problem. It's really a Bloom issue, for not spending more to fill more vital holes.

 

I actually anticipate Yoshida improving in some areas in his second year in the states, maybe even becoming an All-Star by his third year... before regressing back into a fan target as an "albatross" at the back end of his contract.

 

Maybe it's perception; when Masa strikes out, he just doesn't look as athletic as Trevor Story, when he whiffs. But while Yoshida has shown he can make consistent contact, Story has always been a K machine.

[mvp 78]

The 8 for 8 in SB's is very good. But he also leads the team in GIDP's by a lot, with 19. Second place is 11.

 

It's partly because of his HIGH GB rate.

[mvp 78]

I just don't see a guy who has been top five in the league in batting average all year as a major problem. It's really a Bloom issue, for not spending more to fill more vital holes.

 

I actually anticipate Yoshida improving in some areas in his second year in the states, maybe even becoming an All-Star by his third year... before regressing back into a fan target as an "albatross" at the back end of his contract.

 

Maybe it's perception; when Masa strikes out, he just doesn't look as athletic as Trevor Story, when he whiffs. But while Yoshida has shown he can make consistent contact, Story has always been a K machine.

 

It's Bloom's fault for filling the roster with DH's. Why get more than one?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's Bloom's fault for filling the roster with DH's. Why get more than one?

 

You know how much the Bloom Error values versatility. DHs can sit on the left side of the bench, the right side, on a stationary bike in the clubhouse, and in-between at bats can gofer coffee, sausage and peppers, chili dogs, and Monstah fries... but not chicken and beer (not because it's against the rules, but the typical DH salary cannot afford the price of ballpark beers).

[moonslav59]

My complaint is with Bloom for allocating $100 million plus to Yoshida, and $10 million to the rotation.

 

AAV

 

$18M Yoshida- someone the Sox have wanted for years and years.

 

$14M: Kluber & Paxton (Bloom signings)

 

This better change, this winter, or else!

[Dipre]

Yoshida's salary did not preclude the Red Sox from signing pitching. That is on Bloom, and Bloom alone.

[moonslav59]

Yoshida's salary did not preclude the Red Sox from signing pitching. That is on Bloom, and Bloom alone.

 

We still had room under the tax line and did not need to pay Brasier $2M or Mondesi $3M.

 

Or, had he signed almost anyone else, except Kluber....

[Dipre]

We still had room under the tax line and did not need to pay Brasier $2M or Mondesi $3M.

 

Or, had he signed almost anyone else, except Kluber....

 

Our Lord and Savior Bloom made a Bloomder.

[moonslav59]

Our Lord and Savior Bloom made a Bloomder.

 

He's made many.

 

He's also made many good signings, good steals and good draft and IFA selections.