A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[notin]

Ironically, I was hopeful the last two years around this time and wanted to buy. We all saw how that turned out.

 

Won't Get Fooled Again.

 

 

We did get rid of the guy who refused to put his finger anywhere near the trigger and who oversold Eric Hosmer to us. ( I suppose any selling of Hosmer was overselling.)

 

I’m giving Breslow a chance and not holding Bloom against him…

[Old Red]

It’s not time just yet to run up the white flag…

 

Exactly. I don’t think the players are going to quit like some of the posters on here are doing on JULY 23.

[notin]

Exactly. I don’t think the players are going to quit like some of the posters on here are doing on JULY 23.

 

I like that sentiment.

 

But they do need help…

[Old Red]

I don't feel bad about running up the white flag in July when the front office does it before the season starts.

 

What do you tell the players in the Red Sox clubhouse who aren’t quitting?

[Old Red]

I like that sentiment.

 

But they do need help…

No doubt they need help, but like I said there are no juggernauts in the standings ahead of them.

[Bellhorn04]

We did get rid of the guy who refused to put his finger anywhere near the trigger and who oversold Eric Hosmer to us. ( I suppose any selling of Hosmer was overselling.)

 

I’m giving Breslow a chance and not holding Bloom against him…

 

I get that. It just looks to me like Breslow is in a pretty horrible position.

[Bellhorn04]

What do you tell the players in the Red Sox clubhouse who aren’t quitting?

 

The same thing Sam would have told them the last two years:

 

"Your checks are still cashing, aren't they?"

[Old Red]

I get that. It just looks to me like Breslow is in a pretty horrible position.

 

Poor, poor Brez. He should feel lucky he has the job he has, and that’s ONLY, because so many refused to even interview for the job in the first place.

[Bellhorn04]

Poor, poor Brez. He should feel lucky he has the job he has, and that’s ONLY, because so many refused to even interview for the job in the first place.

 

And maybe the Sox were lucky too.

 

Oh well, the next week should be interesting in some way, shape or form...

[Old Red]

The same thing Sam would have told them the last two years:

 

"Your checks are still cashing, aren't they?"

 

Wow! All these super fans quitting, and throwing up the white flag already. I said all offseason to wait, and see what the club looked like on Mar 28, and go from there, and I’m waiting now to see what the club looks like ton Sept 1. They may crash, and burn like they have the past two seasons, but they haven’t gotten to that point yet on July 23, and 1 game back in the loss column from making the postseason.

[Old Red]

And maybe the Sox were lucky too.

 

Oh well, the next week should be interesting in some way, shape or form...

Only time will tell. I don’t have much confidence in Brez anyway, but I’m giving him a chance to prove me wrong, and I hope he does.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Only time will tell. I don’t have much confidence in Brez anyway, but I’m giving him a chance to prove me wrong, and I hope he does.

 

Brez will put some New Sox into your Old Red. Just you wait until September and see!

 

(... some may just WOO you)

[dgalehouse]

No way you give up and become sellers just because you hit a rough patch. Try to improve the team and go for it. You don't have to mortgage the future to do that.

[Old Red]

No way you give up and become sellers just because you hit a rough patch. Try to improve the team and go for it. You don't have to mortgage the future to do that.

Like I’ve always said the goal each season should be to win as many games you can , and to make it into the postseason. If not then why play at all?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Like I’ve always said the goal each season should be to win as many games you can , and to make it into the postseason. If not then why play at all?

 

If not, then why pay at all? (diehard fan version)

[notin]

No way you give up and become sellers just because you hit a rough patch. Try to improve the team and go for it. You don't have to mortgage the future to do that.

 

Exactly.

 

It’s 4 games. Why those 4 are more relevant sample size than the previous 95 is a mystery to me…

[Old Red]

Exactly.

 

It’s 4 games. Why those 4 are more relevant sample size than the previous 95 is a mystery to me…

I think it’s the big panic before the trade deadline.

[notin]

I think it’s the big panic before the trade deadline.

 

Oh it definitely is…

[dgalehouse]

I would check out the bullpens of the teams that are obvious sellers. I am certain that you could find a couple of good, hard throwing relievers who would give the Sox pen a much-needed boost. And it would not cost all that much to get them. And if a starter like Paxton is available, take a shot. The team has come too far to give up now.

[notin]

I would check out the bullpens of the teams that are obvious sellers. I am certain that you could find a couple of good, hard throwing relievers who would give the Sox pen a much-needed boost. And it would not cost all that much to get them. And if a starter like Paxton is available, take a shot. The team has come too far to give up now.

 

1. I do the rumored Paxton/Paez trade.

 

2. If the White Sox do a suggested Abreu/Fedde swap, even better.

 

3. Apparently Rengifo (and not DeJong) is the top infield target. BTV gives Rengifo a surplus value of 10.9, which suggests Bleis (13.1) as a fair comp…

[Maxbialystock]

Oh it definitely is…

 

Allow me, then, to speak up for us guys in a complete panic.

 

This 2024 Sox team has relied heavily on their pitching, despite the propensity of the lineup to commit errors and cause the Sox to lead MLB in unearned runs.

 

But these last 4 games have made it quite clear the bullpen stinks. Even Jansen, our $16M closer, blew one save and then gave up 3 runs in the next game.

 

Crawford, our 2d best starter, just gave up 5 dingers and 6 runs in his last start, and last night our ace Houck gave up 4 runs in the 3d inning. Who's left? Bello and Pivetta, both of whom have been wildly inconsistent this season. Oh, and Criswell.

 

Wait, there's more. For at least 2 months the Sox team ERA was the best in MLB. Then it dropped to 5th, which was still pretty good. Now it's 10th, with no bottom in sight.

 

And let's not forget that in the past the Sox have always, always led with their hitting and run-scoring. Just 3 seasons ago, 2021, the Sox team ERA, 4.26, was ranked 15th. So what got the Sox into the postseason was the lineup/hitting, which was ranked 3d in MLB in runs scored. This year the Sox are ranked 11th in runs scored, not nearly good enough to compensate for a pitching staff which now seems to be in disarray.

[mvp 78]

1. I do the rumored Paxton/Paez trade.

 

2. If the White Sox do a suggested Abreu/Fedde swap, even better.

 

3. Apparently Rengifo (and not DeJong) is the top infield target. BTV gives Rengifo a surplus value of 10.9, which suggests Bleis (13.1) as a fair comp…

 

I don't think it's a rumor, just a conjecture on my part.

[vegasbob]

Exactly.

 

It’s 4 games. Why those 4 are more relevant sample size than the previous 95 is a mystery to me…

 

I think the last 4 games of both starters ( 5.+ ERA ) and relievers ( 7.+ ERA) are enough to give some pause, especially the utter lack of any competent depth in the BP. The 4 losses will not wreck the season but the results from the mound are not trending well as many of the pitchers are reaching career highs with 60 odd games to go.

 

In LA, the hitters got leads multiple times. Same last night in Denver . Only to see the potential W trashed.

 

Breslow should look beyond rentals ( Paxton ?) and continue building a team that can win from here on out but also next year.

[moonslav59]

Mata has further elbow inflammation and will not be activated any time soon.

 

I Campbell returns to the IL.

[notin]

I don't think it's a rumor, just a conjecture on my part.

 

It’s out there. Therefore, it’s technically a rumor…

[moonslav59]

It’s out there. Therefore, it’s technically a rumor…

 

MLBTR...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/red-sox-trade-rumors-dodgers-james-paxton.html

[moonslav59]

MLBTR on Sox interest in Rengifo...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/red-sox-interested-in-luis-rengifo.html

[moonslav59]

I didn't say you were. Was just providing backup.

 

MLBTR reported...

 

“It will be a while” before Triston Casas is ready for a minor league rehab assignment, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams and other reporters on Friday. Casas hasn’t played since April 20 due to a rib fracture and torn rib cartilage, and he is already well beyond even the broad 3-to-9 week timeframe Casas initially floated three months ago, though the first baseman noted that the nature of the injury led to a lot of fluidity.

 

In yesterday’s update, Cora said Casas was taking soft toss swings and is hitting off a tee, but is still dealing with some nagging discomfort in his side. Until that discomfort entirely subsides, Casas and the Sox can’t really move forward with any kind of concrete plan for even a steadier ramp-up, let alone any minor league rehab work. Cora did say that Casas would play again in 2024, but “we don’t know yet” when a return was feasible.

[mvp 78]

I think there's a strong chance he gets shut down until 2025.

[moonslav59]

I think there's a strong chance he gets shut down until 2025.

 

If he's not ready until September, it might depend on how we look, then.