A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[Maxbialystock]

I like Hamilton over Valdez. At some point, Grissom will get another opportunity. I doubt the team sends down Romy.

 

Who goes when Grissom is ready?

 

I do not see Grissom back in Boston this season, short of a bunch of injuries. I would take Valdez, Hamilton, Rafaela, and Gonzalez over Grissom. If it comes to it, Mayer as well. Grissom was OK 2 season ago, but not last season or this season. Plus what is it with the hamstrings, for crying out loud?

[dgalehouse]

I think you're right. Jansen's been there, done that, and probably doesn't care about going again.

 

Disagree. While the time off would probably be better for him, it is still an honor to be an All Star. I would bet that he was disappointed.

[Maxbialystock]

i hope it's Grissom.

 

Well said.

[Maxbialystock]

Disagree. While the time off would probably be better for him, it is still an honor to be an All Star. I would bet that he was disappointed.

 

Well good for him. Seriously.

[Maxbialystock]

Ok great mystery solved, almost.

 

I live in Indiana. My MLB package is useless for Cubs, Reds and White Sox games. I am used to it.

 

But couple of weeks ago Sox games on the West cost were blacked out to my dismay.

 

When I called the MLB.TV customer service, it had something to do with my internet provider.

 

So I was at Verizon this am on another matter and I happened to ask about my blackout problem.

 

The guy knew immediately. He said that my service does not use static IP address. It's changing constantly.

 

So some games are randomly blacked out.

 

But apparenly MLB.TV uses my address to blackout the aforementioned 3 teams.

 

I also finally have ESPN. Sometime I go to a bar and spend $40 to watch Sunday night ESPN games so I consider the added cost a push.

 

Ok I feel better. Not too many people understand my problems.

 

I do--somewhat. You see where I live, which means I'm over 200 miles from Atlanta, Washington, and Baltimore, but those are my blackout teams.

 

As it has been explained to me those blackout restrictions are intended to compel me to attend games played in Atlanta, Washington, and Baltimore, which from here is just insane.

 

I have yet to encounter the "random west coast blackout" syndrome.

[notin]

Disagree. While the time off would probably be better for him, it is still an honor to be an All Star. I would bet that he was disappointed.

 

Both are possible, but until we get any confirmation from Jansen himself, neither can be correct.

 

As for me, I wouldn’t have minded seeing Jansen receive the honor, and I agree Clay Holmes going means either the selection committee is clueless or made up of Clay Holmes’ parents. Or both. But I am at least glad Jansen (and the rest of his bullpen cronies) get a couple of well-deserved days off, because they will be needed in the second half…

[moonslav59]

I like Hamilton over Valdez. At some point, Grissom will get another opportunity. I doubt the team sends down Romy.

 

Who goes when Grissom is ready?

 

On the surface, I would say Romy, but he seems to be the back up 1Bman, and might be seeing more and more time there over Smith. The Casas return is a few weeks away, at best.

 

No way DHam is demoted, so it might have to be Valdez, despite him being the best hitter out of all 4 middle infielders since June 1st.

[moonslav59]

Last4 weeks OPS

 

1.059 Devers, yes forevers!

.933 Rafaela, yes, he can hit!

.907 O’Neill, yes, April was no fool.

.906 Romy, yes, yes, yes!

.894 Valdez, yes he should stay over VG!

.878 Duran, yes, this is who he is!

 

.706 Wong, yes, he’s a keeper!

.693 Refsnyder, yes, he should start vs every LHP.

 

.653 Smith, yes 653 is oodles better than Dalbec/Cooper.

.611 DHam, yes the 10 SB helps.

.591 Yoshida, yes he’s over .800 last 11 games.

 

.519 McGuire, yes, he needs to heat up.

 

.468 Abreu, yes, he is streaky.

[moonslav59]

OPS Against last 4 weeks;

 

.421 Martin, back on the IL

.481 Jansen, rumours of being over the hill were false

.494Criswell, ready to return to rotation

.503 Kelly, a pleasant surprise

.558 Booser, the feel good story

.569 Slaten, despite a melt down game

 

.654 Crawford, now our hot starter

.670 Horn, for real?

.696 Keller, decent depth inAAA

 

.727 Wink, despite bad last start

.747 Houck with one bad start

.759 Anderson, ok until last game

 

.833 Pivetta, needs to get consistent

.865 Bello, cannot string together multiple good starts

 

.908 Weissert and .949 Bernardino, hopefully can turn it around

 

 

 

 

[Nick]

I do--somewhat. You see where I live, which means I'm over 200 miles from Atlanta, Washington, and Baltimore, but those are my blackout teams.

 

As it has been explained to me those blackout restrictions are intended to compel me to attend games played in Atlanta, Washington, and Baltimore, which from here is just insane.

 

I have yet to encounter the "random west coast blackout" syndrome.

 

If you have Verizon make sure your IP address is fixed and not in "static" mode.

[mvp 78]

I do not see Grissom back in Boston this season, short of a bunch of injuries. I would take Valdez, Hamilton, Rafaela, and Gonzalez over Grissom. If it comes to it, Mayer as well. Grissom was OK 2 season ago, but not last season or this season. Plus what is it with the hamstrings, for crying out loud?

 

Valdez has a 961 OPS since being called back up at the end of May. That defense is putrid though. He should be the DH.

[mvp 78]

On the surface, I would say Romy, but he seems to be the back up 1Bman, and might be seeing more and more time there over Smith. The Casas return is a few weeks away, at best.

 

No way DHam is demoted, so it might have to be Valdez, despite him being the best hitter out of all 4 middle infielders since June 1st.

 

906 OPS for Romy since coming back from the IL. I wanted to write the dude off, but C'mon man!

 

777 OPS for Dom Smith with ok defense and some real memorable moments (bb before the Masa bomb, position player pitching). He's probably the guy that is gone, but deserves to stay. Seems like a glue guy to me. I don't know why.

[mvp 78]

Let's check in on a former Sox fave:

 

Cubs reliever Colten Brewer came into Saturday’s game against the Angels in the top of the third inning with Chicago down 2-0. He walked the first batter he faced, then fielded a comebacker but threw the ball away into center field which put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Then he gave up an RBI single, recorded an out, gave up another RBI single, another run scored on a throwing error by the catcher, he walked another guy, allowed two base runners to steal, recorded a second out, and then hit a guy. He was then mercifully lifted after having turned a 2-0 game into a 5-0 game.

 

Then things got worse for him:

 

Yep, he punched the dugout wall. Yep, he broke his hand. And yep, he’s been placed on the 60-day injured list.

[notin]

Let's check in on a former Sox fave:

 

Cubs reliever Colten Brewer came into Saturday’s game against the Angels in the top of the third inning with Chicago down 2-0. He walked the first batter he faced, then fielded a comebacker but threw the ball away into center field which put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Then he gave up an RBI single, recorded an out, gave up another RBI single, another run scored on a throwing error by the catcher, he walked another guy, allowed two base runners to steal, recorded a second out, and then hit a guy. He was then mercifully lifted after having turned a 2-0 game into a 5-0 game.

 

Then things got worse for him:

 

Yep, he punched the dugout wall. Yep, he broke his hand. And yep, he’s been placed on the 60-day injured list.

 

 

Brewer has been horrific this year. He’s lucky the Cubs placed him on IL over simply releasing him..

[mvp 78]

Brewer has been horrific this year. He’s lucky the Cubs placed him on IL over simply releasing him..

 

How does a pitcher like Brewer keep getting chances?

 

That's enough!

[notin]

906 OPS for Romy since coming back from the IL. I wanted to write the dude off, but C'mon man!

 

777 OPS for Dom Smith with ok defense and some real memorable moments (bb before the Masa bomb, position player pitching). He's probably the guy that is gone, but deserves to stay. Seems like a glue guy to me. I don't know why.

 

BB before Masa bomb? You do not credit him enough, sir…

[notin]

How does a pitcher like Brewer keep getting chances?

 

That's enough!

 

 

Tolerable to good in the minors? Check.

 

Willing to pitch for no money? Check

[Dipre]

I see that the site's vitriol has turned from Yoshida to Grissom. Very "What have you done for me lately", as usual.

[Bellhorn04]

I see that the site's vitriol has turned from Yoshida to Grissom. Very "What have you done for me lately", as usual.

 

Shocking behavior on an unmoderated fan site!

[Dipre]

Shocking behavior on an unmoderated fan site!

 

I am not only shocked, but appalled!

[mvp 78]

I see that the site's vitriol has turned from Yoshida to Grissom. Very "What have you done for me lately", as usual.

 

The Grissom hatred has existed since he was traded for.

[mvp 78]

I am not only shocked, but appalled!

 

You're not one of them Grissom lovers, are you?

[Dipre]

You're not one of them Grissom lovers, are you?

 

They don't 'preciate my kind 'round here.

[Bellhorn04]

The Grissom hatred has existed since he was traded for.

 

There have been a fair number of Grissom Pollies too. "Yeah, the injury and the flu set him back...he's been hitting the ball, just unlucky...only a matter of time before he starts raking!"

[Maxbialystock]

Grissom's biggest problem is not of his doing. He was the guy Breslow got back from Atlanta after giving them Sale and paying $17M of his 2024 salary while Sale has become the Braves ace in 2024. No way, no how could Grissom make up for that disaster.

 

As for Yoshida, 2 weeks ago I listed 5 reasons for not giving up on him, and right now he almost looks like an asset. That dinger Friday was huge and clutch--in Yankee stadium!! A story he will tell his grandchildren.

 

Make no mistake: I have criticized both players endlessly because I am as shortsighted as anyone on talksox. Way back in April I figured the Sox for 81-81.

 

But this bunch of no names have changed my mind. Cora is the best manager in MLB and Bailey close to the best pitching coach. Plus I was hugely impressed when Kenley Jansen phoned Cora from the bullpen and asked/told him to send Jansen in to get the last out in the 8th inning and then pitch the 9th. When a very senior veteran shows he wants to win, that means something.

[notin]

There have been a fair number of Grissom Pollies too. "Yeah, the injury and the flu set him back...he's been hitting the ball, just unlucky...only a matter of time before he starts raking!"

 

You mean people simply not convinced of anything by his whopping 87 plate appearances? Or by his 170 plate appearances over two years?

 

 

By the way, when counting the pollyannas who called him unlucky, do you count StatCast among them?

[Old Red]

The Grissom hatred has existed since he was traded for.

 

Maybe later on when Grissom couldn’t play, and when he did play he pretty much sucked, and then couldn’t play again. Meanwhile Sale was having a CY type season. Hatred is pretty strong, and not directed at him anyway, but Brez. When the trade was made I think most was happy with the getting back a good suspect/prospect for Sale. No doubt that has soured for some.

[notin]

I still don't hate Grissom.

 

I get why the Sox wanted to move on from Sale and get a more reliable pitcher. I get why Atlanta took a chance on him. I get why Grissom made sense in this trade from each side's perspective.

 

It is annoying that nothing worked out for Boston...

[notin]

I see that the site's vitriol has turned from Yoshida to Grissom. Very "What have you done for me lately", as usual.

 

Plus Yoshida is coming off his JD Drew Moment...

[mvp 78]

You mean people simply not convinced of anything by his whopping 87 plate appearances? Or by his 170 plate appearances over two years?

 

 

By the way, when counting the pollyannas who called him unlucky, do you count StatCast among them?

 

damn.christucker.exe