Red Sox 2024 Spring Training

[jad]

One ranking system does not mean they are average.

 

In all seriousness, how is 14 out of 30 not 'average'? Or would you rather use the word 'mean'? i.e., there are 16 teams worse, and only 13 better?

[Bellhorn04]

In all seriousness, how is 14 out of 30 not 'average'? Or would you rather use the word 'mean'? i.e., there are 16 teams worse, and only 13 better?

 

Keith Law of The Athletic rated the Sox system #8.

 

I think the most sensible approach would be to take an average, or median, of reputable rankers.

[moonslav59]

In all seriousness, how is 14 out of 30 not 'average'? Or would you rather use the word 'mean'? i.e., there are 16 teams worse, and only 13 better?

 

Like I said, one ranking system has us14th, which I agree is “average.” Why do you cling to that one as being the only correct one?

 

Most have us top 10. Do you agree top 10 is not average? Well, that’s why.

 

I’d guess the average ranking is around7-9.

 

Law had us 8th, and he is notorious for dinging the Sox. He even hinted that he thought we were better than 8th but he dropped us due to imbalance.

 

I don’t think our farm is average, and I have more supporting evidence than any who say it is. Explain why you think this one ranking is king.

[moonslav59]

Keith Law of The Athletic rated the Sox system #8.

 

I think the most sensible approach would be to take an average, or median, of reputable rankers.

 

The average ranking seems to be top 10.

[moonslav59]

I think Bleacher report had us average, too, but most had us way higher. I think fangraphs had us 2nd.

 

I e never valued the MLB Pipeline all that much, but I’m no expert on which rankings are most accurate. I think like Bell on this. The average ranking seems to be the way to see it, and I believe that would be around 7-10.

[notin]

I think Bleacher report had us average, too, but most had us way higher. I think fangraphs had us 2nd.

 

I e never valued the MLB Pipeline all that much, but I’m no expert on which rankings are most accurate. I think like Bell on this. The average ranking seems to be the way to see it, and I believe that would be around 7-10.

 

And considering the same methodology had the Sox at 25-30 four years ago, that’s a step up. Most (all?) of those 6-9 programs ranked ahead of Boston didn’t come from so far down…

[moonslav59]

And considering the same methodology had the Sox at 25-30 four years ago, that’s a step up. Most (all?) of those 6-9 programs ranked ahead of Boston didn’t come from so far down…

 

We also graduated Bello and Casas, recently, although many other top ranked teams have graduated as much or more than us.

[Elktonnick]

As I call them OB, and the Yuckers. Definitely not a first rate crew. OB was tolerable when REM Dawg, and Eck were around, but now the broadcast team, is kind of like the team they are broadcasting, which is not very good.🙈🤭

The only positive thing about the NESN fiasco around the Orsillo firing is the guy who actually fired Orsillo was let go himself the following year. Henry's FSGs empire has a tendency to dispatch their scapegoats.

[notin]

We also graduated Bello and Casas, recently, although many other top ranked teams have graduated as much or more than us.

 

And Crawford. Crawford deserves more love…

[moonslav59]

And Crawford. Crawford deserves more love…

 

Yes, and Wong, Whitlock and Houck not long ago.

[Larry Cook]

We also graduated Bello and Casas, recently, although many other top ranked teams have graduated as much or more than us.

 

But this is what the rays and dodgers do better than us. They graduate players, always have more coming up in the pipeline that are just as good if not better!

 

That is the level we have to get to.

[moonslav59]

But this is what the rays and dodgers do better than us. They graduate players, always have more coming up in the pipeline that are just as good if not better!

 

That is the level we have to get to.

 

I’m thinking Teel and Anthony might outshine Casas and Bello.

[notin]

But this is what the rays and dodgers do better than us. They graduate players, always have more coming up in the pipeline that are just as good if not better!

 

That is the level we have to get to.

 

The Rays?

 

Their roster currently has 5 players they drafted and two players signed as international free agents. The Sox currently have 7 players they drafted and 3 acquired via IFA.

 

The Rays, however, are Serial Traders…

[mvp 78]

Yes, and Wong, Whitlock and Houck not long ago.

 

Whitlock wasn’t developed here. Houck’s first MLB appearance was 4 seasons ago!

[mvp 78]

The Rays?

 

Their roster currently has 5 players they drafted and two players signed as international free agents. The Sox currently have 7 players they drafted and 3 acquired via IFA.

 

The Rays, however, are Serial Traders…

They do a good job of scouting MiLB and MLB players. They just always seem to get the most out of their guys. Their pitchers often get put under the knife, but they keep on competing. Sox can’t say that with a much higher payroll.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Rays?

 

Their roster currently has 5 players they drafted and two players signed as international free agents. The Sox currently have 7 players they drafted and 3 acquired via IFA.

 

The Rays, however, are Serial Traders…

 

The Rays? Bah -- swept by their richer but poorer northern versions!

 

Yes, the Red Sox are Kings of the Caribbean.

 

Doesn't the board employ a full-time poster in the DR? Where are the weekend's eye-witness eye-test reports...

[mvp 78]

The Rays? Bah -- swept by their richer but poorer northern versions!

 

Yes, the Red Sox are Kings of the Caribbean.

 

Doesn't the board employ a full-time poster in the DR? Where are the weekend's eye-witness eye-test reports...

 

You think he actually goes to games?

[Bellhorn04]

Bobby Dalbec lives!

 

Kind of liking Rafaela. Is he Opening Day Center Fielder?

[mvp 78]

Bobby Dalbec lives!

 

Kind of liking Rafaela. Is he Opening Day Center Fielder?

 

Rafaela should be the Opening Day CF, but won't be. They'll send him down to AAA for a month to get an extra year of control. Why waste a year of control on a year that doesn't matter?

[Hugh2]

Rafaela should be the Opening Day CF, but won't be. They'll send him down to AAA for a month to get an extra year of control. Why waste a year of control on a year that doesn't matter?

 

It makes sense, he has 199 AAA at bats, if he's "ready" then one more month in AAA won't hurt him. This is most certainly the year to do it. The only argument I see against this is if her performs in spring training......which if he does.....it's spring training.

 

We've been here before.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It makes sense, he has 199 AAA at bats, if he's "ready" then one more month in AAA won't hurt him. This is most certainly the year to do it. The only argument I see against this is if her performs in spring training......which if he does.....it's spring training.

 

We've been here before.

 

And we've also seen players that have succeeded at every level in the minors -- like Bello and Casas -- establish themselves at the final level... especially as they face the same peers on the way up who have been promoted by other MLB clubs.

[mvp 78]

It makes sense, he has 199 AAA at bats, if he's "ready" then one more month in AAA won't hurt him. This is most certainly the year to do it. The only argument I see against this is if her performs in spring training......which if he does.....it's spring training.

 

We've been here before.

 

It's an 824 OPS and many AB's have come against non-MLB pitching. His blast yesterday came against Uwasawa who has been awful every time out this spring.

[mvp 78]

And we've also seen players that have succeeded at every level in the minors -- like Bello and Casas -- establish themselves at the final level... especially as they face the same peers on the way up who have been promoted by other MLB clubs.

 

Casas had 359 AAA PA's before appearing in BOS. Rafaela is well behind that at the moment and is a much less advanced hitter.

[notin]

Casas had 359 AAA PA's before appearing in BOS. Rafaela is well behind that at the moment and is a much less advanced hitter.

 

The main argument would be that Rafaela didn't earn his starting role with his offense anyway. But i agree the extra year of control is huge.

 

If Rafaela starts in Worcester, does that clear a path for Abreu to start in Boston?

[mvp 78]

The main argument would be that Rafaela didn't earn his starting role with his offense anyway. But i agree the extra year of control is huge.

 

If Rafaela starts in Worcester, does that clear a path for Abreu to start in Boston?

 

Well, you can't DH for him so the argument is that it's going to take him longer to reach MLB since his offensive eye is well behind where it needs to be.

 

Aggressive approach that still needs refinement. Does not walk much and expands the strike zone often, but has the bat control to put the ball in play, leading to a lot of weak contact on pitches outside the zone rather than the strikeouts that might otherwise result from a similar approach. Will expand the zone particularly often against secondary pitches, so a key for him will be laying off those down and out of the zone, as those are pitches he has struggled with in the minors and what he is likely to see frequently in the majors until he proves he will lay off them. Potential fringe-average hit tool.

 

Is it better to train him up in AAA as much as you possibly can or just throw him to the wolves? Every player is different, but he didn't hit very well in his brief MLB appearance at the end of last season. ST stats don't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things.

[notin]

Well, you can't DH for him so the argument is that it's going to take him longer to reach MLB since his offensive eye is well behind where it needs to be.

 

Aggressive approach that still needs refinement. Does not walk much and expands the strike zone often, but has the bat control to put the ball in play, leading to a lot of weak contact on pitches outside the zone rather than the strikeouts that might otherwise result from a similar approach. Will expand the zone particularly often against secondary pitches, so a key for him will be laying off those down and out of the zone, as those are pitches he has struggled with in the minors and what he is likely to see frequently in the majors until he proves he will lay off them. Potential fringe-average hit tool.

 

Is it better to train him up in AAA as much as you possibly can or just throw him to the wolves? Every player is different, but he didn't hit very well in his brief MLB appearance at the end of last season. ST stats don't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things.

 

 

I don’t suspect he will be another JBJ, who took over 700 MLB plate appearances before he started to hit MLB pitching. But in the meantime, if he does contribute with game-changing defense, that’s absolutely a startable skill, and one that, as a CF, can be a bigger factor in a game than whatever he does in 4 plate appearances.

 

But in a year where the Sox are making minimal effort to compete, holding him back for an extra season of control certainly has merit.

 

But the Sox are not really loaded with OF talent right now. If Rafaela is in Worcester for April and May, does that mean O’Neill-Duran-Abreu is the starting OF in April?

[Dipre]

JBJ's issue was a complicated, hard-to-repeat swing and bat path, leading to lots of f***ing around with his mechanics. Rafaela's issue is pitch selection and swing decisions. I firmly believe Rafaela's issues are easier to refine than JBJ's, but he definitely needs some AAA seasoning IMO. Kid looks good tho, NGL.

 

The ST games against the Rays were played here in Santo Domingo, but I was unfortunately unable to attend due to a combination of being broke this month, and having clients detained trying to leave the country after I specifically told them they have travel alerts. The point is, I've heard nothing but good things about him, including from Bello and Devers from people who supposedly managed to talk to them. Pinch of salt.

[mvp 78]

I don’t suspect he will be another JBJ, who took over 700 MLB plate appearances before he started to hit MLB pitching. But in the meantime, if he does contribute with game-changing defense, that’s absolutely a startable skill, and one that, as a CF, can be a bigger factor in a game than whatever he does in 4 plate appearances.

 

But in a year where the Sox are making minimal effort to compete, holding him back for an extra season of control certainly has merit.

 

But the Sox are not really loaded with OF talent right now. If Rafaela is in Worcester for April and May, does that mean O’Neill-Duran-Abreu is the starting OF in April?

 

Yes, but they also haven't given up on putting Masa in LF too.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

As a fan of the big-market Red Sox, I always thought it overrated to keep a player in the minors for a month or two just to keep one more year of control. If he proves he's good enough for Boston, then pay him market value to stay as he approaches free agency. Better yet, if he's worth a longterm investment, lock him up asap. That seems to be the big plan these days, anyway.

 

If he can help the club and is one of the best 26, sending him down is unfair to both the player, and the fans, who always want to watch and root for the best possible team.

[mvp 78]

As a fan of the big-market Red Sox, I always thought it overrated to keep a player in the minors for a month or two just to keep one more year of control. If he proves he's good enough for Boston, then pay him market value to stay as he approaches free agency. Better yet, if he's worth a longterm investment, lock him up asap. That seems to be the big plan these days, anyway.

 

If he can help the club and is one of the best 26, sending him down is unfair to both the player, and the fans, who always want to watch and root for the best possible team.

 

Need a different owner to do that.

 

Rafaela is a good, not great, player. There's no harm to the player or the fans. 80% of Sox fans won't notice if he's not there in April.