A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[moonslav59]

It was clear that Henry was becoming increasingly concerned about the payroll. But did he order Bloom to trade Mookie ? Maybe, maybe not. That is where the theories come in. All we know for sure is that Bloom pulled the trigger on the trade.

 

You spoke of "legacy" which is beyond the fact that Bloom pulled the trigger that DD nearly did, earlier.

 

The legacy part is opinion- not fact.

[moonslav59]

It was clear that Henry was becoming increasingly concerned about the payroll. But did he order Bloom to trade Mookie ? Maybe, maybe not. That is where the theories come in. All we know for sure is that Bloom pulled the trigger on the trade.

 

We all agree on this.

 

I and others don't agree it is "his legacy."

 

His legacy to me was indecision and neglecting the rotation- not Betts. This my opinion not a fact. Same as your legacy opinion.

[Old Red]

We all agree on this.

 

I and others don't agree it is "his legacy."

 

His legacy to me was indecision and neglecting the rotation- not Betts. This my opinion not a fact. Same as your legacy opinion.

 

Bloom’s legacy in Boston is NOT a good one Mookie, or no Mookie.🙈🤭

[moonslav59]

No surgery for Yoshida, but expected to miss several more weeks with the thumb injury.

 

Bello may start Sunday.

 

Whitlock three 3 innings of live batting practice.

[Randy Red Sox]

No surgery for Yoshida, but expected to miss several more weeks with the thumb injury.

 

Bello may start Sunday.

 

Whitlock three 3 innings of live batting practice.

 

Sox at .500 now

[Bellhorn04]

Red Sox offense in high leverage situations:

191/262/258 - 520 OPS

 

Red Sox offense in innings 7-9:

197/272/312 - 583 OPS

 

YIKES

[Old Red]

Red Sox offense in high leverage situations:

191/262/258 - 520 OPS

 

Red Sox offense in innings 7-9:

197/272/312 - 583 OPS

 

YIKES

 

If they don’t hit HR they don’t seem to score many runs, and they haven’t hit many HR lately.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Red Sox offense in high leverage situations:

191/262/258 - 520 OPS

 

Red Sox offense in innings 7-9:

197/272/312 - 583 OPS

 

YIKES

 

The worst part is: it's not a slump. This is the offense.

 

Can't blame Wong, who is doing all he can.

 

Can't blame Duran and Abreu, the Sox' two best players this year in WAR -- young guys who still strikeout twice as much as they walk.

 

Can't blame Ceddanne, who is slowly coming around... but don't expect huge plate discipline from a guy who made the majors as a free-swinger.

 

Can't blame O'Neill -- a lifetime 30% K-rate whiffer who has only driven in more than 58 runs once in his career, when he had 80 RBI in the season he hit 34 homers (look familiar?).

 

Finally, can't blame Raffy. No matter what he gets paid, Devers is always better with guys around him: Bogaerts his buddy on the left side of the infield, and X, JD, Schwarbs, Mookie etc providing protection in the batting order -- now he has neither; Raf understands every interview question in English, but still prefers a translator to deliver his replies. Devers thrives on being one of the guys; not THE guy.

 

Story is still a what-if, Casas has to someday hit again without swinging too hard, and the Big Three hopefuls are learning their profession, two levels away.

 

And that's it.

[Bellhorn04]

The one thing Breslow might be faulted for is not picking up another RH power bat like Teoscar. Our RH hitting is feeble, even with Wong's tremendous start.

 

Hopefully Grissom's numbers will improve from Gruesome.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

NESN pregame last night, trying to contrive optimism as usual, Youk said that Raffy drawing more walks lately was "impressive."

 

I call it "DEpressing." Opposing pitchers have absolutely no reason whatsoever to throw Devers a strike down the middle -- especially with men on base or in a big spot.

 

I even predicted that in the offseason, when Story was supposed to be the #3 batter behind Raffy. If Devers is supposed to be the next Oritz, who is going to be the next Manny to protect him... Machado?

[Bellhorn04]

It's one thing to get owned by Chris Sale, but when you're getting owned by Patrick Corbin it's a different story.

[notin]

The worst part is: it's not a slump. This is the offense.

 

Can't blame Wong, who is doing all he can.

 

Can't blame Duran and Abreu, the Sox' two best players this year in WAR -- young guys who still strikeout twice as much as they walk.

 

Can't blame Ceddanne, who is slowly coming around... but don't expect huge plate discipline from a guy who made the majors as a free-swinger.

 

Can't blame O'Neill -- a lifetime 30% K-rate whiffer who has only driven in more than 58 runs once in his career, when he had 80 RBI in the season he hit 34 homers (look familiar?).

 

Finally, can't blame Raffy. No matter what he gets paid, Devers is always better with guys around him: Bogaerts his buddy on the left side of the infield, and X, JD, Schwarbs, Mookie etc providing protection in the batting order -- now he has neither; Raf understands every interview question in English, but still prefers a translator to deliver his replies. Devers thrives on being one of the guys; not THE guy.

 

Story is still a what-if, Casas has to someday hit again without swinging too hard, and the Big Three hopefuls are learning their profession, two levels away.

 

And that's it.

 

This isn’t the same O’Neill.

 

In St. Louis, he drove in 13% of all runners on base when he came up. Most good RBI hitters knock in 15-17%, so while below that level, it’s still reasonable.

 

This year in Boston, he’s knocked in 5% of all runners. Granted, small sample so far. But that number is in the range closer what pitchers used to give you at the plate…

[notin]

NESN pregame last night, trying to contrive optimism as usual, Youk said that Raffy drawing more walks lately was "impressive."

 

I call it "DEpressing." Opposing pitchers have absolutely no reason whatsoever to throw Devers a strike down the middle -- especially with men on base or in a big spot.

 

I even predicted that in the offseason, when Story was supposed to be the #3 batter behind Raffy. If Devers is supposed to be the next Oritz, who is going to be the next Manny to protect him... Machado?

 

If the Sox put together a lineup with Devers-O’Neill-Casas-Story in the 2-5 spots, that’s not a bad heart of the order. You can’t set the bar at Ortiz-Manny; not many teams have two Cooperstown talents in their batting order at once…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If the Sox put together a lineup with Devers-O’Neill-Casas-Story in the 2-5 spots, that’s not a bad heart of the order. You can’t set the bar at Ortiz-Manny; not many teams have two Cooperstown talents in their batting order at once…

 

Yanks had Ruth and Gehrig... but those guys were on nicotine, rotgut and lactose.

[notin]

The one thing Breslow might be faulted for is not picking up another RH power bat like Teoscar. Our RH hitting is feeble, even with Wong's tremendous start.

 

Hopefully Grissom's numbers will improve from Gruesome.

 

 

Think about this bizarre little fact.

 

Ceddane Rafaela, the team’s number 9 hitter, is second on the Red Sox in plate appearances…

[notin]

Yanks had Ruth and Gehrig... but those guys were on nicotine, rotgut and lactose.

 

And Lazzeri. But if the goal is the 1927 Yankees, you are always going to be disappointed…

[Bellhorn04]

Think about this bizarre little fact.

 

Ceddane Rafaela, the team’s number 9 hitter, is second on the Red Sox in plate appearances…

 

Weird but not shocking, considering all our injuries, and our plethora of AAAA guys LOL

[notin]

Weird but not shocking, considering all our injuries, and our plethora of AAAA guys LOL

 

That's the root cause.

 

If Breslow signed Teoscar, and he got hurt, would we be any better off right now?

 

It was far from a perfect off-season, but at some point this season has really been run by injuries. The Sox projected starting infield of Casas-Grissom-Story-Devers has not and will not play a single game together this season. Their biggest itcing addition will give them 0 IP.

 

Breslow has been somewhat lucky with regards to the depth he has added. It's not often you have a player go down with an injury and another team DFA's a player at that same position that was an All Star 2 years ago. But it has been silly. There's all kinds of unexpected developments based on PA alone. The Sox never at any point in the season expected Enmanuel Valdez to have more PA than Casas, for example.

 

I think Berslow was weak when it came to adding depth, but his overall plan, when uninjured, was not that bad...

[notin]

That's the root cause.

 

If Breslow signed Teoscar, and he got hurt, would we be any better off right now?

 

It was far from a perfect off-season, but at some point this season has really been run by injuries. The Sox projected starting infield of Casas-Grissom-Story-Devers has not and will not play a single game together this season. Their biggest itcing addition will give them 0 IP.

 

Breslow has been somewhat lucky with regards to the depth he has added. It's not often you have a player go down with an injury and another team DFA's a player at that same position that was an All Star 2 years ago. But it has been silly. There's all kinds of unexpected developments based on PA alone. The Sox never at any point in the season expected Enmanuel Valdez to have more PA than Casas, for example.

 

I think Berslow was weak when it came to adding depth, but his overall plan, when uninjured, was not that bad...

 

And this was just talking about games missed.

 

O'Neill had a 1.209 OPS when he sustained his collision (concussion?) with Devers. Since his return, his OPS has been .776.

 

No one expected him to maintain the 1.200 OPS all season (or even for another month), but a drop of .450 since a head injury is pretty alarming, too...

[Old Red]

And this was just talking about games missed.

 

O'Neill had a 1.209 OPS when he sustained his collision (concussion?) with Devers. Since his return, his OPS has been .776.

 

No one expected him to maintain the 1.200 OPS all season (or even for another month), but a drop of .450 since a head injury is pretty alarming, too...

 

And You wanted to lock this guy up. Someone who has only played 100 games once in his career.🙈🤭

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

And Lazzeri. But if the goal is the 1927 Yankees, you are always going to be disappointed…

 

The goal is the 1939 Yankees. When you get a chance, check out their run differentials, especially on the road.

[notin]

And You wanted to lock this guy up. Someone who has only played 100 games once in his career.

 

Yes. For a 2-3 year deal.

 

He collided with Devers. That’s hardly the same as having recurring elbow issues…

[Old Red]

Yes. For a 2-3 year deal.

 

He collided with Devers. That’s hardly the same as having recurring elbow issues…

 

As usual your suggestion/prediction isn’t, and won’t happen.

[notin]

As usual your suggestion/prediction isn’t, and won’t happen.

 

I curse Bill Gates and Windows for making the computer so readily accessible and easy to use, even for complete morons…

[Old Red]

I curse Bill Gates and Windows for making the computer so readily accessible and easy to use, even for complete morons…

 

I agree like NNN.

[Maxbialystock]

I curse Bill Gates and Windows for making the computer so readily accessible and easy to use, even for complete morons…

 

Speaking as one of the many morons, I can assure that Windows started out as fairly user hostile. Apple was far more user-friendly, so Gates had his guys switch to some of Apple's basic ideas. In any case, as a novice back in 1995 I spent two months trying to master word and excel and almost got to the point of adequacy. Not so, powerpoint with all its intricacies.

 

What Gates was great at was the whole notion of making people pay for software, which then led to its virtual universality. Now even Apple products can accommodate microsoft.

[Old Red]

Yes. For a 2-3 year deal.

 

He collided with Devers. That’s hardly the same as having recurring elbow issues…

 

Did you come up with this after about 20 games, because he started out hot with the bat like Duvall did last year? Colliding with Devers is just part of the game, and part of getting hurt just like Story, Casas, and NOshida getting hurt. Hurt is hurt, and it doesn’t matter how you get that way. Even falling off a bicycle.

[dgalehouse]

It's only May 11th. It hasn't even gotten warm yet. And there have been a dozen mood swings so far. Today, it's gloom and doom. But if they win today, it will be seashells and balloons, scoreboard watching and updated, color-coded wild card standings. Folks, you have to let things play out a little. You can't live and die with every game. It's baseball.

[Maxbialystock]

As for Breslow and the 2024 Sox, my impression is simply that most of the problems were/are too deep and ingrained to fix in one offseason. Among those problems, and here I'm just guessing, are--

 

1. Lack of intelligent coaching and assessment in the Sox minor leagues.

2. An owner who has backed off of paying top dollar for talent, probably as a result of the 2019 season, after which he plowed megabucks into paying Price and Sale even though Price pitched for the Dodgers, and Sale simply stayed on the IL.

3. The MLBPA, which, along with players' agents, has brilliantly ensured that almost all contracts are guaranteed, which means that owners and CBO's are almost always gambling on the continued health of their most expensive acquisitions. I hasten to add that sports commentators of all ilk seem to share the notion that the owners are all billionaires and should share that wealth with the players, regardless of the risks.

4. The ongoing dynamics of MLB rule changes, which are invariably intended to allow for more scoring, but nevertheless seem unable to combat the ongoing refinement of pitching techniques/effectiveness.

5. He replaced Chaim Bloom, who proved to be the wrong guy to execute whatever John Henry and his brain trust intended as a sea change for the Sox. Bloom came from the very good Rays system for identifying and developing MLB-level talent, but could not bring that system with him.

[notin]

Did you come up with this after about 20 games, because he started out hot with the bat like Duvall did last year? Colliding with Devers is just part of the game, and part of getting hurt just like Story, Casas, and NOshida getting hurt. Hurt is hurt, and it doesn’t matter how you get that way. Even falling off a bicycle.

 

I wanted Duvall back, too. Both are right-handed power bats with good defensive skills who are not likely to require expensive long term deals, and should easily fit the Sox budget.

 

 

 

And any injury O’Neill incurs could give the Sox a chance to break in Roman Anthony without the risk of having too many long term deals in the outfield. They already have one out there…