A Realistic View at 2024: Part I

[mvp 78]

How about handing Refsnyder a 1Bman's mitt?

 

They may resort to it? His splits last season weren't all that hot.

[mvp 78]

Let Rafaela swing!

 

He's too passive when he's worried about the strike zone. His whole batting approach is to see the ball and hit the ball. He's never going to be a great hitter. You just hope he gets about 700 OPS and move on with your life.

[moonslav59]

They may resort to it? His splits last season weren't all that hot.

 

A 128 OPS+ is good enough, for me.

 

It's a little better than casas at 121 v L (much better than his career 87)

[notin]

So I'm saying, why would a team with a horrid defense like Boston's need another Gold Glover who strikes out a lot to play centerfield... especially since it's been over five years since the last one they had (who also was the ALCS MVP and helped them win the World Series).

 

Who knows if his .900+ OPS at the final level below MLB will translate? I'm sure you know exactly 10 big leaguers had .900 or higher OPS last year, and none were centerfielders.

 

Is it worth a shot to see... for a fifth-place team?

 

I have no issues with Rafaela, but if they bring in Taylor temporarily, they at least still have Rafaela if Taylor simply washes out. Or gets hurt. Is having this level of depth such a bad thing? It's not like Taylor - a Gold Glover himself - is a guy you need to tart if you bring him on board?

 

I actually like Duvall over Taylor, but he is not without his issues either.

 

But if they do bring in Duvall, it still could push Rafaela down to Worcester...

[Dipre]

He's too passive when he's worried about the strike zone. His whole batting approach is to see the ball and hit the ball. He's never going to be a great hitter. You just hope he gets about 700 OPS and move on with your life.

 

See-swing has worked out for other guys. I like take and rake guys, but who knows if he develops into an above average hitter. Gotta let him play.

[Bellhorn04]

See-swing has worked out for other guys. I like take and rake guys, but who knows if he develops into an above average hitter. Gotta let him play.

 

And 2024 definitely looks like a year to let the kids play.

[jad]

And 2024 definitely looks like a year to let the kids play.

 

Why wouldn't I want to see them in Portland instead?

[Hugh2]

Why wouldn't I want to see them in Portland instead?

 

Because Abreu, Rafaela, Yorke, Valdez, Bello, Casas, Duran, Fitts + are all in Worcester or above.

[jad]

Because Abreu, Rafaela, Yorke, Valdez, Bello, Casas, Duran, Fitts + are all in Worcester or above.

 

You need to work on your irony.

 

But meanwhile, we can all celebrate that turner signed elsewhere! Another 13million for ownership.

[moonslav59]

I have no issues with Rafaela, but if they bring in Taylor temporarily, they at least still have Rafaela if Taylor simply washes out. Or gets hurt. Is having this level of depth such a bad thing? It's not like Taylor - a Gold Glover himself - is a guy you need to tart if you bring him on board?

 

I actually like Duvall over Taylor, but he is not without his issues either.

 

But if they do bring in Duvall, it still could push Rafaela down to Worcester...

 

I get the gaining of a control year on the back-end of a young players time with a team, but this year seems perfect for allowing Rafaela and Abreu a solid chance at proving they belong in the bigs, or not.

 

I agree, though, sitting on the bench behind Duran, O'Neill and Duvall does neither any good.

[notin]

I get the gaining of a control year on the back-end of a young players time with a team, but this year seems perfect for allowing Rafaela and Abreu a solid chance at proving they belong in the bigs, or not.

 

I agree, though, sitting on the bench behind Duran, O'Neill and Duvall does neither any good.

 

Well it's not like Duval, O'Neill or even Duran are bastions of durability on the cusp of challenging Cal Ripken. I think the Sox can find adequate time for all five...

[notin]

You need to work on your irony.

 

But meanwhile, we can all celebrate that turner signed elsewhere! Another 13million for ownership.

 

How excited was anyone when Turner signed with Boston last year? And do the Sox really need another DH?

 

The Sox need gloves and arms, not bats...

[Bellhorn04]

How excited was anyone when Turner signed with Boston last year? And do the Sox really need another DH?

 

The Sox need gloves and arms, not bats...

 

We'll get nothing and like it!

[notin]

We'll get nothing and like it!

 

Thanks, Judge Smales...

[moonslav59]

How excited was anyone when Turner signed with Boston last year?

 

I love the signing, day one.

 

And do the Sox really need another DH?

 

No, not with Yoshida in the mix.

[Old Red]

I love the signing, day one.

 

And do the Sox really need another DH?

 

No, not with Yoshida in the mix.

 

The Red Sox a RHH power bat after losing JT, and so far Duvall, and if it’s a JD type than so be it.

[mvp 78]

A 128 OPS+ is good enough, for me.

 

It's a little better than casas at 121 v L (much better than his career 87)

 

828 OPS for Refsnyder

 

865 OPS for Casas

817 OPS for Casas against LHP that you said earlier you want to platoon him for!

[mvp 78]

I have no issues with Rafaela, but if they bring in Taylor temporarily, they at least still have Rafaela if Taylor simply washes out. Or gets hurt. Is having this level of depth such a bad thing? It's not like Taylor - a Gold Glover himself - is a guy you need to tart if you bring him on board?

 

I actually like Duvall over Taylor, but he is not without his issues either.

 

But if they do bring in Duvall, it still could push Rafaela down to Worcester...

 

Why waste his at bats in Worcester. He's not going to learn anything more there? He's just going to keep hitting whatever he sees and OPS over 900. He needs to face some adversity and learn from it.

[mvp 78]

I get the gaining of a control year on the back-end of a young players time with a team, but this year seems perfect for allowing Rafaela and Abreu a solid chance at proving they belong in the bigs, or not.

 

I agree, though, sitting on the bench behind Duran, O'Neill and Duvall does neither any good.

 

It makes no sense to start Abreu in WOO after the ending he had in '23. What a slap in the dick that would be.

[mvp 78]

Thanks, Judge Smales...

 

Anybody want a Fresca?

[moonslav59]

828 OPS for Refsnyder

 

865 OPS for Casas

817 OPS for Casas against LHP that you said earlier you want to platoon him for!

 

I never said platoon Casas.

 

I said when Cora chooses to rest Casas, it should be vs a LHP.

 

Why twist everything up like a pretzel?

[Hugh2]

I never said platoon Casas.

 

I said when Cora chooses to rest Casas, it should be vs a LHP.

 

Why twist everything up like a pretzel?

 

 

I would have agreed with this up until recently. Casas does not look like he has platoon splits at all, in 2022 it looked concerning, but his break out was against both LHP and RHP. If anything, I want that cultivated. Imagine going up against our lineup with Casas right in the middle of it who can hit lefties and just DARING a team to burn through their lefty reliever. Kind of un-necessitates the need to be so L/R/L/R/L/R heavy.

[moonslav59]

I would have agreed with this up until recently. Casas does not look like he has platoon splits at all, in 2022 it looked concerning, but his break out was against both LHP and RHP. If anything, I want that cultivated. Imagine going up against our lineup with Casas right in the middle of it who can hit lefties and just DARING a team to burn through their lefty reliever. Kind of un-necessitates the need to be so L/R/L/R/L/R heavy.

 

We all know Cora loves to sit players for rest at least 8 games a year.

 

All I'm saying, is that when he sits players, he should try to do it on the better handed pitcher splits days.

 

Casas is not one of the major split differential players, but why not?

.777 v LHP

.858 v RHP

 

Even "recently, it would be better for him to sit v L:

2023:

.871 v L

.865 v R

 

[mvp 78]

I never said platoon Casas.

 

I said when Cora chooses to rest Casas, it should be vs a LHP.

 

Why twist everything up like a pretzel?

 

You didn't say to platoon Casas today, you said it earlier.

[mvp 78]

I would have agreed with this up until recently. Casas does not look like he has platoon splits at all, in 2022 it looked concerning, but his break out was against both LHP and RHP. If anything, I want that cultivated. Imagine going up against our lineup with Casas right in the middle of it who can hit lefties and just DARING a team to burn through their lefty reliever. Kind of un-necessitates the need to be so L/R/L/R/L/R heavy.

 

Devers vs LHP in '23: 823 OPS

 

Devers and Casas hitting back to back is not a problem ever.

[dgalehouse]

The Sox went from 78 wins and last place in 2015 to 93 wins and first place in 2016. Sadly, that accomplishment included tearing up and " decimating " the back 40. And we still have not dried all the tears from that tragedy.

[moonslav59]

The Sox went from 78 wins and last place in 2015 to 93 wins and first place in 2016. Sadly, that accomplishment included tearing up and " decimating " the back 40. And we still have not dried all the tears from that tragedy.

 

That 2015 team was really quite the roster.

 

Beyond Betts, Bogey, Papi and Pedey, these guys had 288+ PAs:

Holt

Pablito

HRam

Napoli

Swihart

Castillo

 

The IP leaders:

194 Miley

172 Porcello

134 Kelly

122 ERod

113 Buch

73 Wright

63 Owens

59 Masterson

 

65 Ogando

65 Breslow

61 Ross

59 Tazawa

48 Layne

43 Barnes

40 Koji

 

[mvp 78]

That 2015 team was really quite the roster.

 

Beyond Betts, Bogey, Papi and Pedey, these guys had 288+ PAs:

Holt

Pablito

HRam

Napoli

Swihart

Castillo

 

The IP leaders:

194 Miley

172 Porcello

134 Kelly

122 ERod

113 Buch

73 Wright

63 Owens

59 Masterson

 

65 Ogando

65 Breslow

61 Ross

59 Tazawa

48 Layne

43 Barnes

40 Koji

 

 

Miley had the same fWAR as the #1 and #2 starting rotation guys of the WS winner that year. He was really solid for the Sox in '15.

[moonslav59]

Miley had the same fWAR as the #1 and #2 starting rotation guys of the WS winner that year. He was really solid for the Sox in '15.

 

No surprise he wasn't brought back in 2016.

 

There were some key additions to the 2016 team, but one major reason for the big jump in wins was the jump be many returning vets:

 

2015> 2016

Porcello: 172 IP 4.92 ERA> 223 IP 3.15 ERA

Wright: 73 IP 4.09> 157 IP 3.33 ERA

 

Mookie: 654 PA .820 OPS> 730 PA .897 OPS

Bogey 654 and .776 > 719 and .802

Pedey 425 and .797 > 698 and .825

JBJ 255 and .832 > 636 and .835

Papi 614 and .913 > 626 and 1.021

HRam 430 and .717 > 620 and .866

 

(An amazing 6 returning vets with 620+ PAs and an OPS over .800!)

 

[notin]

Why waste his at bats in Worcester. He's not going to learn anything more there? He's just going to keep hitting whatever he sees and OPS over 900. He needs to face some adversity and learn from it.

 

It’s not always about learning. Sometimes it’s about years of control.

 

If Rafaela plays CF, should the plan be O’Neill in RF?