A Realistic View at 2024: Part I

[moonslav59]

I agree 100%, but one on here keeps touting Raffy as a backup 1B.

 

More than one thinks he should play 1B more than just as a back-up.

[notin]

More than one thinks he should play 1B more than just as a back-up.

 

Sign me up for that. He’s not a good 3b. And the notion that he will become one by taking 10 extra minutes of grounders per day is laughable.

 

Why not, instead of signing an ace, make Crawford the ace and have him just work harder to get better? 10 extra minutes per day and learn a cutter? That should do it. (This might be sarcasm…

[Old Red]

He’s entitled to his theories. Not like Cora reads these boards to get ideas…

 

I agree, and Cora has already said Raffy is the 3B next year, and like MVP said it wouldn’t make sense to put Raffy at 1B, which would probably hurt his D at 3B even more, and I agreed. Everyone is free to think otherwise making sense, or not.

[Old Red]

Sign me up for that. He’s not a good 3b. And the notion that he will become one by taking 10 extra minutes of grounders per day is laughable.

 

Why not, instead of signing an ace, make Crawford the ace and have him just work harder to get better? 10 extra minutes per day and learn a cutter? That should do it. (This might be sarcasm…

 

We all know Raffy is not a good 3B, and may never be one, but all the talk of him moving to 1B is mute as long as Casas is there.

[moonslav59]

Casa is no wonder on D, also.

 

Talk of what we’d like to see happen is not the same as thinking it wii or might happen.

 

It makes sense to keep the corner IFers as is, with Yoshi at DH, but it also makes sense to improve two positions on D without losing any offense or paying a penny more, assuming Urias plays 3B.

Edited November 13, 2023 by moonslav59

[Old Red]

It would be great if the Red Sox had all these players that was good all around players, but they don’t. Raffy is not a good 3B. Casas is not a good 1B, and Yoshida is not a good OF just to name 3 players. If they don’t get better you either live with it, or made some trades, which I don’t see happening with Raffy, or Casas anytime soon.

[notin]

We all know Raffy is not a good 3B, and may never be one, but all the talk of him moving to 1B is mute as long as Casas is there.

 

Casas’ defense shouldn’t mute any discussions. He’s awful as well…

[Old Red]

Casas’ defense shouldn’t mute any discussions. He’s awful as well…

 

The team has to many players who is more suited to be DH, but Casas at 1B does mute any talk of Raffy moving there at the present time.

[mvp 78]

Casas’ defense shouldn’t mute any discussions. He’s awful as well…

 

It was much better in the 2nd half and Cora agrees with my assessment.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Casas’ defense shouldn’t mute any discussions. He’s awful as well…

 

We're just sucky right now. And I look pretty crappy sometime. You better you bet.

 

Need new guys. Voices of the next. Future nostalgia: which No-Flaw McGraw Red Sox superstar in the late-20s was affectionately known as Five-Tool Miggy or Fireplace Bleis (for his warm smile and incendiary skills)?

 

You heard it here last: an overlooked prospect will take the baseball world by storm at such a rate in '24, that the new CBO will be compelled to trade other prospects at the deadline for talent that will catapult Boston back into the postseason.

[moonslav59]

It was much better in the 2nd half and Cora agrees with my assessment.

 

I agree, and I think Casas deserves more time to figure out his level on D.

 

With Yoshida tailor made for DH, it makes more sense, to me, to use Yoshida at DH for 2024.

 

I would give Devers some reps at 1B, in the meantime. I doubt it messes up his D anymore than it already is, but your point has merit.

 

IMO

 

Career: 66 Fielding Errors and 63 Throwing Errors. (Both are not good, but if he cut down on bad throws, his range & quickness would make him passable at 3B.

[moonslav59]

Tuesday is Rule 5 protection Day.

 

Friday is non tender day.

 

Dec 5: Draft Lottery

 

Dec 6: Rule 5 Draft.

[moonslav59]

You heard it here last: an overlooked prospect will take the baseball world by storm at such a rate in '24, that the new CBO will be compelled to trade other prospects at the deadline for talent that will catapult Boston back into the postseason.

 

Who might the be?

 

Mayer, Anthony and Teel are not "overlooked" and likely will not play for BOS in the first half of 2024, if at all in '24.

 

That leaves:

4. Rafaela- could be DA MAN

6. Yorke- not likely

7 & 8. Perales & Wikelman wont join the team in early '24.

12. Abreu- might be DA MAN

13. Drohan- would need a mighty turn around

15. Walter- not likely

21. EValdez- has offensive skills

23. DHam- may not make the 40.

27. Mata- out of options and might surprise from the pen.

29. Guerrero- not likely

35. Scott- not likely

38. Gambrell- a long shot chance.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Who might the be?

 

Mayer, Anthony and Teel are not "overlooked" and likely will not play for BOS in the first half of 2024, if at all in '24.

 

That leaves:

4. Rafaela- could be DA MAN

6. Yorke- not likely

7 & 8. Perales & Wikelman wont join the team in early '24.

12. Abreu- might be DA MAN

13. Drohan- would need a mighty turn around

15. Walter- not likely

21. EValdez- has offensive skills

23. DHam- may not make the 40.

27. Mata- out of options and might surprise from the pen.

29. Guerrero- not likely

35. Scott- not likely

38. Gambrell- a long shot chance.

 

 

Re-read my hints! The forgotten 5-tool Red Sox prospect! And I didn't say he'd play in the majors next year, but will explode nationally in the minors -- and have posters and placards a-clamoring...

[oldtimer]

I agree, and I think Casas deserves more time to figure out his level on D.

 

With Yoshida tailor made for DH, it makes more sense, to me, to use Yoshida at DH for 2024.

 

I would give Devers some reps at 1B, in the meantime. I doubt it messes up his D anymore than it already is, but your point has merit.

 

IMO

 

Career: 66 Fielding Errors and 63 Throwing Errors. (Both are not good, but if he cut down on bad throws, his range & quickness would make him passable at 3B.

 

It's my view that we have to keep both Devers and Casas bats in the lineup as full time players. Casas may well improve at 1st but he doesn't fit anywhere else while Devers can play 3rd, despite his tendency to throw wildly. I differ with you on Yoshide and would like him to be gone and instead find an older right handed power hitter for that role. I don't see where getting Devers reps at 1st does anymore than complicate his handling of 3rd base.

[moonslav59]

It's my view that we have to keep both Devers and Casas bats in the lineup as full time players. Casas may well improve at 1st but he doesn't fit anywhere else while Devers can play 3rd, despite his tendency to throw wildly. I differ with you on Yoshide and would like him to be gone and instead find an older right handed power hitter for that role. I don't see where getting Devers reps at 1st does anymore than complicate his handling of 3rd base.

 

Nobody is saying Devers or Casas should be part timers. Casas could "fit" at DH or half-time DH and half-time 1Bman.

 

As we know, Cora loves to rest players 8-12 games a year. It might be nice, if we rest Casas and Devers as a DH some of those days, so we keep their bats in the line-up, more often.

 

When Casas is resting, either on the bench or at DH, I'd like to see Devers play 1B, after he gets some reps in ST'ing. Nobody is missing PAs with this idea.

 

The idea of trading Yoshida seems remote, to me. For the same reasons you want him gone, other GMs don't want him and his salary. We'd likely have to pay some of his salary or take back a big contract in return.

 

I'm just going by what we have. If we trade Yoshida, then it makes more sense to DH Casas and Devers more often. The idea of playing Casas and Devers at 1B and DH, only, makes some sense, assuming we add a 3Bman or trust Urias to be the FT 3Bman. Our D would improve at 3B and 1B, and no PAs would be lost from Casas or Devers.

 

If we trade Dugo, and don't add an OF'er, we might see this:

LF- Yoshida (Duran/Ref)

CF- Duran (Rafaela/Abreu)

RF- Rafaela/Abreu

 

This would also free up the DH position.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

If we trade Dugo, and don't add an OF'er, we might see this:

LF- Yoshida (Duran/Ref)

CF- Duran (Rafaela/Abreu)

RF- Rafaela/Abreu

 

This would also free up the DH position.

 

Verdugo is most likely to be in another uni.

 

Yoshida may be the hardest to move because of his contract, but will also be a guy fans are glad was kept around as he continues to adjust and improve.

 

Duran will again have bursts of stardom like last season, because speed doesn't slump... but not as a fulltime centerfielder (he's just as much a part-time DH candidate as Masa).

 

LF/DH: Yoshida/Duran

CF: Rafaela

RF: new acquisition/righty bat

5th OF: Refsnyder

[notin]

Verdugo is most likely to be in another uni.

 

Yoshida may be the hardest to move because of his contract, but will also be a guy fans are glad was kept around as he continues to adjust and improve.

 

Duran will again have bursts of stardom like last season, because speed doesn't slump... but not as a fulltime centerfielder (he's just as much a part-time DH candidate as Masa).

 

LF/DH: Yoshida/Duran

CF: Rafaela

RF: new acquisition/righty bat

5th OF: Refsnyder

 

Defense is clearly not a concern, which means Duran in CF is probably still on the table…

[mvp 78]

Verdugo is most likely to be in another uni.

 

Yoshida may be the hardest to move because of his contract, but will also be a guy fans are glad was kept around as he continues to adjust and improve.

 

Duran will again have bursts of stardom like last season, because speed doesn't slump... but not as a fulltime centerfielder (he's just as much a part-time DH candidate as Masa).

 

LF/DH: Yoshida/Duran

CF: Rafaela

RF: new acquisition/righty bat

5th OF: Refsnyder

 

Yeah, they aren't trading Masa this season. I think he's due for a rebound and if it's true that other scouts/execs think he's overpaid, there won't be many takers.

[oldtimer]

Verdugo is most likely to be in another uni.

 

Yoshida may be the hardest to move because of his contract, but will also be a guy fans are glad was kept around as he continues to adjust and improve.

 

Duran will again have bursts of stardom like last season, because speed doesn't slump... but not as a fulltime centerfielder (he's just as much a part-time DH candidate as Masa).

 

LF/DH: Yoshida/Duran

CF: Rafaela

RF: new acquisition/righty bat

5th OF: Refsnyder

 

I hoping that Sox management will aggressively make moves that will be unlike anything Bloom was willing to consider. There are no real star level performers in our outfield. They are average players with some attractiveness and other issues, or they are too new to really count on. I would like to see changes that make us more dangerous. If Dugo has to go then so be it. Same with Yoshida and even Duran and Ref.

[jad]

mute ≠ moot

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Defense is clearly not a concern…

 

If it's not, that's only because the roster is too full of batters they need to keep who look good on t-shirts and baseball cards.

 

But let's not ever think our latest Yale grad and former groundball reliever won't continually seek to transition his club to something less than the killer clowns on D who killed the TV summer for thousands of Sox fans holding remotes, while at the same time keeping opponents in more stitches than on an official MLB Rawlings...

 

... then again, if we go full throttle on pitching and defense, fans will be treated to a lot of two-hour 1-0 games decided by bunting ghost runners around the diamond.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

mute ≠ moot

 

Mook ~ Moukilis

 

(not on the diamond, but both are now TV personalities)

[mvp 78]

mute ≠ moot

 

We need another TalkSox kingsmoot considering how the post totals are these days...

[moonslav59]

Verdugo is most likely to be in another uni.

 

Yoshida may be the hardest to move because of his contract, but will also be a guy fans are glad was kept around as he continues to adjust and improve.

 

Duran will again have bursts of stardom like last season, because speed doesn't slump... but not as a fulltime centerfielder (he's just as much a part-time DH candidate as Masa).

 

LF/DH: Yoshida/Duran

CF: Rafaela

RF: new acquisition/righty bat

5th OF: Refsnyder

 

I'd say Duran is a significantly better LF'er on D than Masa. Duran showed a big improvement on D, last year. Was it a fluke? Can he continue to improve. (As of now, I would totally avoid placing Duran in CF. Maybe someday, he can be good enough on D to play in CF.)

 

If Dugo goes, I agree, I think we add a RH'd RF'er, so the other OF'ers will not really be affected.

[moonslav59]

Defense is clearly not a concern, which means Duran in CF is probably still on the table…

 

I'm not sure Breslow has the same concern about D as Bloom.

 

Rafaela could solve the OF defense by hitting just well enough to stick in CF. If he does not, then it comes down to Abreu or Duran in CF. At least we have multiple options, but at some point, we are going to need someone we can count on, or go outside the system and get one.

 

With Anthony beating on the door, I doubt we go large & long on an OF'er.

[moonslav59]

mute ≠ moot

 

I was going to say something, but didn't want to stir the pot.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Brave trade talk on Felger and Mazz.

 

Latter says trading Mayer for available big league talent makes sense. Felger, who admits he's clueless about baseball, wants Boston to keep its top three prospects.

 

Somehow, the dispute revolved around whether it was worth swapping Mayer to the White Sox for Cease AND Robert (even though Chicago just said the CF is off limits).

 

What, these guys don't consult BTV? Both also called him Marcelo MEYER, instead of the Mayor.

[notin]

Brave trade talk on Felger and Mazz.

 

Latter says trading Mayer for available big league talent makes sense. Felger, who admits he's clueless about baseball, wants Boston to keep its top three prospects.

 

Somehow, the dispute revolved around whether it was worth swapping Mayer to the White Sox for Cease AND Robert (even though Chicago just said the CF is off limits).

 

What, these guys don't consult BTV? Both also called him Marcelo MEYER, instead of the Mayor.

 

BTV? If they think the Red Sox could get Dylan Cease and Luis Robert all for a Double A shortstop, they’re clearly using LSD.

 

Talk to them after the chartreuse elephant carrying the inflatable road map has left the room…

[notin]

Cal Quantrill DFAd

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/guardians-dfa-cal-quantrill.html