A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[moonslav59]

cream of the crap.

 

We should just play Ref at 1B, even near FT. Maybe give Wong a rest as a catcher, somedays and play him there.

 

They should DFA one of Cooper or Smith, and try something else.

 

I doubt Ref will be as bad as Cordero was.

[Old Red]

We should just play Ref at 1B, even near FT. Maybe give Wong a rest as a catcher, somedays and play him there.

 

They should DFA one of Cooper or Smith, and try something else.

 

I doubt Ref will be as bad as Cordero was.

 

Sure let’s just keep throwing things against the wall to see what sticks.🙈🤭🤮

[notin]

There is a reason they cost just a dime, each.

 

Look, I think Bloom should have tried something. I forget the guy, but some FA 1Bman signed in June, that year, once Casas went on the IL. He should have tried, and he probably made a bunch of calls, but the reality is, these are the usual results of trades in May and June: scraps.

 

Well, no one really knows what he tried. Just because he didn’t complete a deal didn’t mean he ignored the issue…

[notin]

Sure let’s just keep throwing things against the wall to see what sticks.

 

Refsnyder came up as an infielder and has around 400 innings at 1b in his career, which is more than Dalbec had before Boston starting use him at 1b…

[moonslav59]

Some WSP'er numbers:

 

QS%

78 Houck (team 4-5 in his starts)

56 Crawford (team 3-6 in his starts)

(38% league avg)

25 Pivetta (2-2 in his 4 starts)

17 Bello (5-1 in his starts)

0 all the rest, including openers

 

If you modify the QS start to count 5 IP and 2 ER or 4 IP w 1 ER allowed, you get these numbers:

 

QS/GS

8/9 Houck (one miss was 4ER in 5.2 IP- his 12 hit game)

7/8 Crawford (one miss was 4 ER in 6IP

5/6 Bello (one miss was 4 ER in 5 IP)

4/5 Criswell (team is 5-0 in his starts. His only miss was 2 ER in 4 IP)

3/4 Pivetta (one miss was 5ER in 4 IP)

3/4 Whitlock (1-3 in his starts. His only miss was 2 ER in 4 IP)

 

Total: 30 out of 36 GS! (83.3%)

 

All of these 6 SP'ers only had one start where they did not meet my modified criteria.

 

More...

 

Run Support per IP

6.4 Criswell

5.8 Bello

4.1 Wink

4.0 Houck

4.0 Crawford

(3.9 league avg)

3.3 Whitlock

1.8 Pivetta

 

When you figure Houck and Crawford have ERAs in the low 2's, we should be than 7-11 in their starts, with them having 4 run support per IP. (Unearned runs and pen letdowns hurt.)

 

Whitlock and Pivetta have been hurt more than Houck and Crawford, although their sample sizes are much smaller.

 

Game Score. Team W-L%

60.6/.444 Houck

59.2/.333 Crawford

58.2/1.00 Criswell

56.3/.250 Whitlock

55.0/.500 Pivetta

54.8/.833 Bello

 

53 league average

 

52.7/.667 Wink

 

Amazing how nearly all our SP'ers are above the league avg, except Wink, who has 3 GS and missed by 0.3!

 

IP/GS

6.4 Houck (96 pitches per game)

5.8 Crawford (91)

5.3 Bello (89)

 

(5.3 league avg)

 

5.2 Pivetta (78)

4.7 Criswell (79)

4.6 Whitlock (80)

3.6 Wink (50)

 

[Old Red]

refsnyder came up as an infielder and has around 400 innings at 1b in his career, which is more than dalbec had before boston starting use him at 1b…

 

nnn.🤭🙈🤮

[moonslav59]

Well, no one really knows what he tried. Just because he didn’t complete a deal didn’t mean he ignored the issue…

 

Remember, Casas was in AAA and healthy, at this time, that year.

 

He got hurt May 17th.

 

I'm not sure they knew how long Casas would be out, but the issue should be about from about May 20 to the Hosmer trade.

 

GS at 1B in 2022

64 Dalbec (coming off a very nice final 4 months of 2021 and a career OPS over .800, at that time.)

3 T Shaw (had a nice finish to the 2021 season)

 

47 Cordero (a failed experiment, to say the least)

22 Casas (after returning from injury)

14 Hosmer (after trade)

6 Arroyo, 5 Vazquez and 1 Chang (trying anything)

 

It was about a third of a season (59 games.)

[Old Red]

Remember, Casas was in AAA and healthy, at this time, that year.

 

He got hurt May 17th.

 

I'm not sure they knew how long Casas would be out, but the issue should be about from about May 20 to the Hosmer trade.

 

GS at 1B in 2022

64 Dalbec (coming off a very nice final 4 months of 2021 and a career OPS over .800, at that time.)

3 T Shaw (had a nice finish to the 2021 season)

 

47 Cordero (a failed experiment, to say the least)

22 Casas (after returning from injury)

14 Hosmer (after trade)

6 Arroyo, 5 Vazquez and 1 Chang (trying anything)

 

It was about a third of a season (59 games.)

You always have two options when someone gets hurt. Either go out, and get a COMPETENT replacement even if it takes a suspect, or stumble, bumble, and fumble around they they have done the last 3 years with the likes of Franchy Strange Glove, Kike at SS, the start of this season at SS/2B, and now at 1B.🙈🤭

[Bellhorn04]

Well, no one really knows what he tried. Just because he didn’t complete a deal didn’t mean he ignored the issue…

 

One never knew exactly what Bloom was thinking or doing, that is for sure.

[notin]

One never knew exactly what Bloom was thinking or doing, that is for sure.

 

We only really know what he did. And that he was not a decisive fellow...

[notin]

You always have two options when someone gets hurt. Either go out, and get a COMPETENT replacement even if it takes a suspect, or stumble, bumble, and fumble around they they have done the last 3 years with the likes of Franchy Strange Glove, Kike at SS, the start of this season at SS/2B, and now at 1B.

 

What if the other team wants Mayer or Anthony for a competent 1B? Should the Sox unload their best prospects for a temporary first baseman?

[Old Red]

what if the other team wants mayer or anthony for a competent 1b? Should the sox unload their best prospects for a temporary first baseman?

 

nnn.🤭🙈

[notin]

nnn.

 

They can only acquire players that are available unless they go crazy and overpay. And all for a temporary replacement, since Casas is not dead...

[vegasbob]

Positive story /interview with Casas by Ian Browne, the ultimate homer, about anticipating a return by end of his 60 day IL, June 21. That would be great but despite Triston's optimism, things rarely work out on a tight schedule, and he will still need to get back to MLB speed.

 

The bigger worry is that he will always be one power swing from reinjuring the regrown cartilage. Good luck , buddy, we sure miss you.

[Old Red]

They can only acquire players that are available unless they go crazy and overpay. And all for a temporary replacement, since Casas is not dead...

 

So the Red Sox continue to stumble, bumble, and fumble around, which sounds about right.

[moonslav59]

They can only acquire players that are available unless they go crazy and overpay. And all for a temporary replacement, since Casas is not dead...

 

Indeed, and the point is, it is not easy finding competent players in mid May. Teams are generally not looking to trade away good players, at that time. It can and does happen, but it is rare.

 

A certain person and others were upset when we played Schwarber at 1B, out of desperation, and that ended up working out okay, and they went silent on he matter.

 

Throwing things at the wall, sometimes works. More often than not, it does not.

 

HRam in LF

Swihart in LF.

Arroyo in RF.

AGon in RF.

Turner at 2B.

Kike at SS.

Rafaela at SS.

Wong at 2B.

Mookie in CF/ RF

 

GG'er Yaz at 1B

 

 

Devers at 1B... ooops, that slipped out.

 

Some work: some don't.

 

Bloom chose to roll the dice with Cordero & Arroyo for way too long. Maybe he expected Casas to return earlier. Maybe few options were open, and none were good ones. May his indecision got the best of him, once again.

 

This wasn't his worst choice made, but it clearly failed.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Remember, Casas was in AAA and healthy, at this time, that year.

 

He got hurt May 17th.

 

I'm not sure they knew how long Casas would be out, but the issue should be about from about May 20 to the Hosmer trade.

 

GS at 1B in 2022

64 Dalbec (coming off a very nice final 4 months of 2021 and a career OPS over .800, at that time.)

3 T Shaw (had a nice finish to the 2021 season)

 

47 Cordero (a failed experiment, to say the least)

22 Casas (after returning from injury)

14 Hosmer (after trade)

6 Arroyo, 5 Vazquez and 1 Chang (trying anything)

 

It was about a third of a season (59 games.)

 

Imagine if they just signed Schwarber instead of Story, and then also instead of Yoshida? A lot of us wanted Kyle back, because he was such a good fit in Boston.

 

Sure, we would've had to live with Schwarbs at first base for a year, but unlike all the other bumblers and big whiffers, at least he was good for 100 home runs in '22-23 -- and yes, I'm absolutely counting the postseason (amplified for importance).

 

With the savings on the two biggest position player busts in the Bloom Era -- so far -- the Sox could've picked up a cheap glove-first shortstop and a back-up first sacker who can scoop, while waiting for Casas and now Mayer. And we'd have a worthy DH, even if it means sacrificing the "versatility" of using that slot for lesser bats that can't hit...

 

... Boston DHs have contributed negative WAR the past three seasons, '22-24 (Losses Below Replacements?).

[moonslav59]

Imagine if they just signed Schwarber instead of Story, and then also instead of Yoshida? A lot of us wanted Kyle back, because he was such a good fit in Boston.

 

Sure, we would've had to live with Schwarbs at first base for a year, but unlike all the other bumblers and big whiffers, at least he was good for 100 home runs in '22-23 -- and yes, I'm absolutely counting the postseason (amplified for importance).

 

With the savings on the two biggest position player busts in the Bloom Era -- so far -- the Sox could've picked up a cheap glove-first shortstop and a back-up first sacker who can scoop, while waiting for Casas and now Mayer. And we'd have a worthy DH, even if it means sacrificing the "versatility" of using that slot for lesser bats that can't hit...

 

... Boston DHs have contributed negative WAR the past three seasons, '22-24 (Losses Below Replacements?).

 

I'd have preferred singing a durable SP'er to any of these guys, and with Bogey bolting, we did need a SS, but I can't disagree with your opinion.

[Duran Is The Man]

Imagine if they just signed Schwarber instead of Story, and then also instead of Yoshida? A lot of us wanted Kyle back, because he was such a good fit in Boston.

 

Sure, we would've had to live with Schwarbs at first base for a year, but unlike all the other bumblers and big whiffers, at least he was good for 100 home runs in '22-23 -- and yes, I'm absolutely counting the postseason (amplified for importance).

 

With the savings on the two biggest position player busts in the Bloom Era -- so far -- the Sox could've picked up a cheap glove-first shortstop and a back-up first sacker who can scoop, while waiting for Casas and now Mayer. And we'd have a worthy DH, even if it means sacrificing the "versatility" of using that slot for lesser bats that can't hit...

 

... Boston DHs have contributed negative WAR the past three seasons, '22-24 (Losses Below Replacements?).

 

gawd, i wish we'd taken Schwarber over Yoshida.

[Duran Is The Man]

What if the other team wants Mayer or Anthony for a competent 1B? Should the Sox unload their best prospects for a temporary first baseman?

 

i still say they should try Kavadas. what on earth do they have to lose?

[Bellhorn04]

gawd, i wish we'd taken Schwarber over Yoshida.

 

Can we cue up some more Dombrowski talk? Phils seem to be doing OK.

[dgalehouse]

Can we cue up some more Dombrowski talk? Phils seem to be doing OK.

 

I'll bite. Dombrowski is an experienced executive and a proven winner. It's not fair to compare a guy just starting out with that. Breslow deserves some time to grow into the job. He certainly seems to know the pitching part of the game. As for Bloom, he simply was not ready for prime time and was an unforced error by Henry.

[mvp 78]

Yea guys that no one else wanted, but at least Brez tried something that Bloom wouldn’t do.🤫

 

Yeah, he only acquired DFA guys. It's not like he went out and did a legit trade.

[mvp 78]

Refsnyder came up as an infielder and has around 400 innings at 1b in his career, which is more than Dalbec had before Boston starting use him at 1b…

 

And his defense at 1b must be really horrendous because the Sox quit that experiment early on this Spring.

[mvp 78]

Imagine if they just signed Schwarber instead of Story, and then also instead of Yoshida? A lot of us wanted Kyle back, because he was such a good fit in Boston.

 

Sure, we would've had to live with Schwarbs at first base for a year, but unlike all the other bumblers and big whiffers, at least he was good for 100 home runs in '22-23 -- and yes, I'm absolutely counting the postseason (amplified for importance).

 

With the savings on the two biggest position player busts in the Bloom Era -- so far -- the Sox could've picked up a cheap glove-first shortstop and a back-up first sacker who can scoop, while waiting for Casas and now Mayer. And we'd have a worthy DH, even if it means sacrificing the "versatility" of using that slot for lesser bats that can't hit...

 

... Boston DHs have contributed negative WAR the past three seasons, '22-24 (Losses

 

Below Replacements?).

 

They already had JD at DH. Where were they going to play him?!?!?!?!

 

He was not worth his contract last year and may not be this year either. (Neither was Story though.)

[mvp 78]

I'd have preferred singing a durable SP'er to any of these guys, and with Bogey bolting, we did need a SS, but I can't disagree with your opinion.

 

Like Giolito?

[mvp 78]

Can we cue up some more Dombrowski talk? Phils seem to be doing OK.

 

Can we swap owners?

[Old Red]

Yeah, he only acquired DFA guys. It's not like he went out and did a legit trade.

 

Agree, but that’s more than Bloom did at 1B until he was pretty much given Hosmer.

[Old Red]

Like Giolito?

 

The one that nobody else was banging down the door for.

[Old Red]

Can we swap owners?

 

Oh no! Moon will tell you be careful what you wish for.