Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[Randy Red Sox]

Hell, we'll probably get some more lectures from Kennedy and Henry.

 

someone needs to scold Henry

[moonslav59]

someone needs to scold Henry

 

Who among them is not a "yes man?"

[Randy Red Sox]

Who among them is not a "yes man?"

 

true

[moonslav59]

true

 

Cora is probably the only one who dares speak his mind.

[Bellhorn04]

With Paxton likely gone and Sims and Garcia pitching like crap, Brez must be feeling a little snakebit right now.

[mvp 78]

As much hope as I have for Craig, with the way our pitching is falling apart, he could still get a failing grade for his first season. The pitching was the thing he and Bailey were supposed to fix. After a very promising start it's back to the same old mess, with very little in the way of positives going forward.

 

I can't believe he didn't turn Kutter and Houck into 180 Inning pitchers!!!

[moonslav59]

With Paxton likely gone and Sims and Garcia pitching like crap, Brez must be feeling a little snakebit right now.

 

I'm sure he feels the bite, and in many ways, this team has been bitten, badly- no bigger than Sale having his best year since the extension- for another team, but we've also had quite a bit of things go right, too.

 

Our younger players stepped up in a big way, in several areas, and most of our big time farm hands took strides forward, and few made fantastic gains.

 

Brez will be faced with the same pressing concern, this winter: building up the pitching staff in a major way. It's a pitching staff that has major issues before it loses Jansen, Martin & Pivetta. How Brez handles it may be his defining moment.

 

[mvp 78]

Looking "forward," I feel...

 

Less confident than I did in March on:

Bello

Crawford

Bernardino, Weissert, I Campbell

 

About the same:

Giolito

Whitlock

Winckowski

Hendriks & Fulmer (although I expect more)

 

More confident:

Houck

Criswell

Slaten

Kelly

Booser

 

What hurts the "going forward" the most, to me, is how we replace Jansen, Pivetta and Martin, if the budget does not expand. That's more on JH than Brez. (We also need to replace Paxton, Garcia & Sims.)

 

The "return" of Gio, Henriks, Fulmer, Murphy, Slaten will only make a small dent on the needs.

 

 

Kutter is a 4-5. I don't know how that is different from March.

 

Bello has no doubt been a disappointment. I think a lot of people on here saw him as a TOTR guy, but he's more likely a midrotation guy at best.

 

Hard to get up or down on bullpen guys. They are really hit or miss year to year. We've seen rollercoaster rides from guys like Ryan Brasier and Zack Kelly. Sometimes you just ride them out.

 

I wonder if they re-sign Jansen to a one year deal this offseason and let Pivetta and Martin go elsewhere.

 

I wouldn't count on Fulmer or Murphy for 2025.

[mvp 78]

There were many pitchers signed, last winter, at reasonable deals that are doing very well.

 

Some, that many of us liked, such as Monty, have not done well. Others like Lugo, Imanaga, Flaherty and several more would have been great gets, by Brez, but instead, we got Gio.

 

Gio cost more than Kluber, Richards and Wacha, combined.

 

And some years a lot of the FAs flop. The Gio injury was unforeseen. It's the risk of doing business. Bad luck.

[Bellhorn04]

And some years a lot of the FAs flop. The Gio injury was unforeseen. It's the risk of doing business. Bad luck.

 

What isn't bad luck is thinking a rotation of Houck, Crawford, Bello, Giolito and Pivetta + Whitlock is going to get the job done.

 

What isn't bad luck is not doing anything about it when Giolito and Whitlock go down.

[mvp 78]

What isn't bad luck is thinking a rotation of Houck, Crawford, Bello, Giolito and Pivetta + Whitlock is going to get the job done.

 

What isn't bad luck is not doing anything about it when Giolito and Whitlock go down.

 

They started the season with 6 guys that were pitching well in Spring Training (including Criswell). When Whitlock went down, it was during the season. It's not so simple to just get a starting pitcher that early. Not many teams are looking to deal at that point in the season. It's not MLB the Show. "Oh, just go get somebody." If it was that easy, teams would make early season trades all the time, but you rarely see them.

[moonslav59]

And some years a lot of the FAs flop. The Gio injury was unforeseen. It's the risk of doing business. Bad luck.

 

Agreed, and our "bad luck" streak on FA SP'er signings is years long.

 

Gio was known to be injured with enough time to so something about it: Whitlock, not as easily, for sure.

[mvp 78]

Agreed, and our "bad luck" streak on FA SP'er signings is years long.

 

Gio was known to be injured with enough time to so something about it: Whitlock, not as easily, for sure.

 

In retrospect, hold onto Sale and sign a FA. That really stabilizes the rotation. 2B figured itself out eventually.

 

It's hard to say what Breslow will do this offseason. I think he has a logjam in the OF and too many LHBs. He has some good trading chips to use and may need to make a splash. Trade Houck? Trade Duran or Abreu? Eat Yoshida's contract? Trade Casas and move Devers to 1B?

 

C Wong/Teel

1B Devers/Romy

2B Campbell/Grissom

SS Story/Hamilton

3B Mayer

RF Anthony

CF Rafaela

LF Duran/Refsnyder

 

 

SP1 - Burnes

SP2 - Giolito

SP3 - Trade Acquisition

SP4 - Bello

SP5 - Kutter

SP6 - Priester

RP - Jansen, Hendriks, Slaten, Whitlock, Kelly, Booser, Criswell

[moonslav59]

In retrospect, hold onto Sale and sign a FA. That really stabilizes the rotation. 2B figured itself out eventually.

 

It's hard to say what Breslow will do this offseason. I think he has a logjam in the OF and too many LHBs. He has some good trading chips to use and may need to make a splash. Trade Houck? Trade Duran or Abreu? Eat Yoshida's contract? Trade Casas and move Devers to 1B?

 

C Wong/Teel

1B Devers/Romy

2B Campbell/Grissom

SS Story/Hamilton

3B Mayer

RF Anthony

CF Rafaela

LF Duran/Refsnyder

 

 

SP1 - Burnes

SP2 - Giolito

SP3 - Trade Acquisition

SP4 - Bello

SP5 - Kutter

SP6 - Priester

RP - Jansen, Hendriks, Slaten, Whitlock, Kelly, Booser, Criswell

 

There are many different ways to set up next year's line-up, including the one you mentioned.

 

To me, adding a TOTR pitcher is essential for us to have any chance, but that is just the starting point to fixing our roster. We do need another solid SP'er and should not count on Gio as an addition, since he can be viewed as just replacing Pivetta. A trade makes sense on too many levels to not happen. We have various logjams that can allow us to trade from strength and depth, without really even noticing the loss.

 

Trading Casas and moving Devers to 1B is one idea. Mayer at 3B makes some sense, assuming Story can stay healthy. Moving Story to 2B and playing mayer at SS might work, too, and having casas and Devers in the line-up would be a plus, as well.

 

Trading an OF'er makes the most sense, to me. Abreu would not bring the same return as Anthony, but if we signed a guy like Burnes, trading Abreu plus a couple mid-level prospects might bring back a good enough SP'er to make the rotation close to whole.

 

The heavy LHB nature of our everyday players has to be dealt with, as all of the big 3 prospects are LHBs, too. (I'm not sure Campbell can be counted for the 2015 26 man roster, but he is a RHB.) Trading Yoshida seems like a pipedream, and we'd certainly have to pay a sizeable chunk of his contract to do it. I do love the idea of an Abreu-Ref DH platoon (back-up OF, too.) LF Duran, CF Rafaela, RF Anthony looks impressive.

 

[notin]

They started the season with 6 guys that were pitching well in Spring Training (including Criswell). When Whitlock went down, it was during the season. It's not so simple to just get a starting pitcher that early. Not many teams are looking to deal at that point in the season. It's not MLB the Show. "Oh, just go get somebody." If it was that easy, teams would make early season trades all the time, but you rarely see them.

 

 

Whitlock did go down late, but it was hardly unprecedented and hopefully not unanticipated. The Sox moved Sale because he was injury-prone and unreliable, but then ignored that same issue with Whitlock, and once again forced him into a role he has repeatedly shown he cannot handle…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Brez will be faced with the same pressing concern, this winter: building up the pitching staff in a major way. It's a pitching staff that has major issues before it loses Jansen, Martin & Pivetta. How Brez handles it may be his defining moment.

 

 

I'm coming around to your insistence on trading a top prospect (I just can't wrap my head around trading Roman Anthony, who looks like he could be a lefty Tony Conigliaro).

 

Here's a question sure to provoke some passionate replies: which Red Sox trade was THE most impactful helping the club win a World Series this century?

 

Without giving it too much thought, doesn't it have to be Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez? Beckett, the best pitcher in the world in October 2007, was ALCS MVP. Lowell, who finished fifth in AL Most Valuable Player voting in '07, was the World Series MVP that year.

[dgalehouse]

I think the Sox like the marketing potential of the so-called " Big 3". They promoted them as a group to AAA.

[notin]

I'm coming around to your insistence on trading a top prospect (I just can't wrap my head around trading Roman Anthony, who looks like he could be a lefty Tony Conigliaro).

 

Here's a question sure to provoke some passionate replies: which Red Sox trade was THE most impactful helping the club win a World Series this century?

 

Without giving it too much thought, doesn't it have to be Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez? Beckett, the best pitcher in the world in October 2007, was ALCS MVP. Lowell, who finished fifth in AL Most Valuable Player voting in '07, was the World Series MVP that year.

 

The Beckett trade has a solid case, but it was widely panned by the Boston media and fans after the 2006 season in which Beckett’s ERA was over 5.00, Hanley won ROY, and Anibal Sanchez had a good season that included a no-hitter…

[mvp 78]

I'm coming around to your insistence on trading a top prospect (I just can't wrap my head around trading Roman Anthony, who looks like he could be a lefty Tony Conigliaro).

 

Here's a question sure to provoke some passionate replies: which Red Sox trade was THE most impactful helping the club win a World Series this century?

 

Without giving it too much thought, doesn't it have to be Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez? Beckett, the best pitcher in the world in October 2007, was ALCS MVP. Lowell, who finished fifth in AL Most Valuable Player voting in '07, was the World Series MVP that year.

 

In order:

Roberts

Schilling

Beckett/Lowell

Sale

Cabrera/Mientkiewicz

Eovaldi

ERod

Kimbrel

[moonslav59]

In order:

Roberts

Schilling

Beckett/Lowell

Sale

Cabrera/Mientkiewicz

Eovaldi

ERod

Kimbrel

 

I'd go...

 

 

Beckett/Lowell

Pedro (trade from 1997, but was essential to 2004 ring season)

VTek/DLowe (trade in '97 but essential to '04 ring)

Schilling

Sale

Cabrera/Mientkiewicz

Eovaldi

Roberts

Crisp

ERod

Kimbrel

Wright

Porcello

Holt

Salty

[mvp 78]

I tried to not go too far back, but Tek/Lowe would be behind Roberts to me. I want to put Pedro ahead of Schilling in 04, but I think Schilling had the better playoffs and much better regular season that year.

[moonslav59]

I tried to not go too far back, but Tek/Lowe would be behind Roberts to me. I want to put Pedro ahead of Schilling in 04, but I think Schilling had the better playoffs and much better regular season that year.

 

No Crispy love?

[mvp 78]

No Crispy love?

 

Not really. I forgot he was part of the Josh Bard/Andy Marte deal.

[moonslav59]

Not really. I forgot he was part of the Josh Bard/Andy Marte deal.

 

He had a pretty good 2007 season, especially on D.

[mvp 78]

He had a pretty good 2007 season, especially on D.

 

I prefer my eye test from that era! That's back when I had 20/20.

[moonslav59]

I prefer my eye test from that era! That's back when I had 20/20.

 

Your eye test told you he was not good on D?

[dgalehouse]

In 2007 Crisp was a good defender. Not much offense. Hit .268 , with six homers and a .712 OPS. Not that much of a factor in the team's success. Ellsbury came up late and provided the spark.

[moonslav59]

In 2007 Crisp was a good defender. Not much offense. Hit .268 , with six homers and a .712 OPS. Not that much of a factor in the team's success. Ellsbury came up late and provided the spark.

 

He did have a 3.3 bWAR, which was better than VTek, JD Drew, Manny, Lugo and Jake.

 

His 4.4 fWAR was 3rd best and ahead of Youk and Pedey.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Behind the Beckett-Lowell trade, I'd take Varitek-Lowe. The catcher is always impactful on a champion, while DLowe not only won all three '04 clinchers, but started Game Seven in Yankee Stadium on two days rest and: 6 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 RUN.

 

Schilling and Pedro were neck-and-neck behind Lowe, but I'd probably rate the Nomar trade ahead of both because of shortstop Orlando Cabrera -- who played every inning of every game in the postseason at the most important non-battery position on the field (0 errors)... and only Ortiz had more RBIs.

 

Dave Roberts (who never played in the World Series) provided one of the most memorable moments in '04 -- but I've always maintained it wasn't even the biggest feat of that inning. That came off the clutch bat of Bill Mueller. Some will argue that Roberts' stolen base was so special because everyone watching in the ballpark and on TV knew he was going... but we also all knew Mueller was trying to get a hit and Rivera was trying to get him out.

 

What would most big leaguers say was harder to accomplish: stealing a base off Mariano Rivera or getting a hit off him with the season on the line?

[dgalehouse]

Behind the Beckett-Lowell trade, I'd take Varitek-Lowe. The catcher is always impactful on a champion, while DLowe not only won all three '04 clinchers, but started Game Seven in Yankee Stadium on two days rest and: 6 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 RUN.

 

Schilling and Pedro were neck-and-neck behind Lowe, but I'd probably rate the Nomar trade ahead of both because of shortstop Orlando Cabrera -- who played every inning of every game in the postseason at the most important non-battery position on the field (0 errors)... and only Ortiz had more RBIs.

 

Dave Roberts (who never played in the World Series) provided one of the most memorable moments in '04 -- but I've always maintained it wasn't even the biggest feat of that inning. That came off the clutch bat of Bill Mueller. Some will argue that Roberts' stolen base was so special because everyone watching in the ballpark and on TV knew he was going... but we also all knew Mueller was trying to get a hit and Rivera was trying to get him out.

 

What would most big leaguers say was harder to accomplish: stealing a base off Mariano Rivera or getting a hit off him with the season on the line?

 

Davey came within an inch of being picked off by Mariano. How would that have changed Red Sox history ?