A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[mvp 78]

Kike looks like a much better signing if they leave him in CF, where he can make a positive difference in a game even without hitting...

 

Even when he played mostly CF, he didn't even earn the 10M. He really fell off after 2021.

[mvp 78]

Hard to make real trades in April/early May. A lot of teams have just not gone into Sell Mode yet. The A's started out about as hapless as any team and even they have shown that you just can't give up too early. They're still not likely to make the post-season, but they're probably doing a bit better at the gate at 18-19 in their last 37 games than we all thought they would do after that 1-7 start...

 

I'm not saying he should be able to or not. Just stating what the expectations should be for DFA candidates that are brought in as seat fillers.

[mvp 78]

I can agree with that. Admittedly, I have more faith in Cooper than I do in Smith, but even Smith is better than this...

 

I'd rather have Dalbec than Smith.

[Old Red]

I'd rather have Dalbec than Smith.

 

Bobby D Strike 3!

[notin]

WTF? He didn’t hit his last two years in Boston, and the Red Sox could have done better with the $10M even though I was told by more than 1 poster on here they couldn’t. He was overrated just, because of a hot streak he had in the postseason of 2021.

 

I doubt the Sox put all that much faith in his brief hot streak and paid much more attention to how well he played CF. They didn't extend him until September, 2022, nearly a year after that post-season and after he was well on his way to a .630 OPS season. More likely, they simply valued his glove and overall play than his bat. They likely hoped for the 5.0 bWAR player from 2021, which is a massive discount at that price even if he only achieves half that total. And it's not like $10mill gets you a superstar player anymore. That off-season, $10mill gets you the remarkably unspectacular Eduardo Escobar or the equally bland Eddy Rosario. Boy, did the Sox miss out there...

[Old Red]

I doubt the Sox put all that much faith in his brief hot streak and paid much more attention to how well he played CF. They didn't extend him until September, 2022, nearly a year after that post-season and after he was well on his way to a .630 OPS season. More likely, they simply valued his glove and overall play than his bat. They likely hoped for the 5.0 bWAR player from 2021, which is a massive discount at that price even if he only achieves half that total. And it's not like $10mill gets you a superstar player anymore. That off-season, $10mill gets you the remarkably unspectacular Eduardo Escobar or the equally bland Eddy Rosario. Boy, did the Sox miss out there...

Kike was Cora’s boy, which I believe helped with the resigning.

[moonslav59]

Criswell goes tonight, as we try to split with the Rays.

 

No O'Neill. Cooper and Smith both playing, instead of Wong at DH.

 

Refsnyder starting against a RH'er, as he has done very well, so far, this year vs them.

[notin]

I'd rather have Dalbec than Smith.

 

I go the other way, but at the end of the day citing preference for either one is like trying to decide if you'd rather have syphilis or chlamydia...

[moonslav59]

I doubt the Sox put all that much faith in his brief hot streak and paid much more attention to how well he played CF. They didn't extend him until September, 2022, nearly a year after that post-season and after he was well on his way to a .630 OPS season. More likely, they simply valued his glove and overall play than his bat. They likely hoped for the 5.0 bWAR player from 2021, which is a massive discount at that price even if he only achieves half that total. And it's not like $10mill gets you a superstar player anymore. That off-season, $10mill gets you the remarkably unspectacular Eduardo Escobar or the equally bland Eddy Rosario. Boy, did the Sox miss out there...

 

We repeatedly asked who should have been signed for $10M, instead, and go nothing, as usual.

[notin]

Kike was Cora’s boy, which I believe helped with the resigning.

 

I would imagine Cora is involved in most if not all roster decisions in some capacity...

[Old Red]

We repeatedly asked who should have been signed for $10M, instead, and go nothing, as usual.

 

As usual you wanted someone to do Bloom’s job like I said at the time, because he couldn’t do it himself. Kike was your Boy Toy, who had a brief fling with greatness, who you was hero worshiping.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

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.)

 

The post was a continuation of the first base discussion. Schwarber was a lousy first baseman -- just like all the guys Moon listed -- except he led the world in HRs the past two years. In '22 that type of production might have made up for his D, until the Sox actually traded JD at the deadline (which Bloom might've finally done, if Casas was healthy enough to play first the last two months).

 

At least we know Schwarber would've been a better call at first than standing the cigar-store Franchy over there. He strikes out a ton, but so do all the other first sackers who failed the audition -- and never scored 100 runs to pace a World Series team as their leadoff batter... or got MVP votes the past two seasons.

 

Is Schwarber all done already? He's got 9 homers and a 32.3% K rate. For comparison, O'Neill currently leads Boston with 10 taters and a 32.9% K rate.

[Bellhorn04]

I would imagine Cora is involved in most if not all roster decisions in some capacity...

 

"In some capacity" covers a lot of ground. They keep him informed, I'm sure. But I can't believe Bloom re-signed Kike for $10 mill because Cora and Kike were pals...

[Duran Is The Man]

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

 

hell yeah....Dombo's Phils have the best record in MLB and he's been to the WS once since he was dumped by JH. huge f***up on Henry's part. and what did his idiotic replacement do other than set us back to the stone age with his utterly s***** team-building?

[Old Red]

"In some capacity" covers a lot of ground. They keep him informed, I'm sure. But I can't believe Bloom re-signed Kike for $10 mill because Cora and Kike were pals...

 

I said it helped. Not the only reason.

[Randy Red Sox]

I see the juicer had a good game last night. He is at .256 now--falling fast

[moonslav59]

The post was a continuation of the first base discussion. Schwarber was a lousy first baseman -- just like all the guys Moon listed -- except he led the world in HRs the past two years. In '22 that type of production might have made up for his D, until the Sox actually traded JD at the deadline (which Bloom might've finally done, if Casas was healthy enough to play first the last two months).

 

At least we know Schwarber would've been a better call at first than standing the cigar-store Franchy over there. He strikes out a ton, but so do all the other first sackers who failed the audition -- and never scored 100 runs to pace a World Series team as their leadoff batter... or got MVP votes the past two seasons.

 

Is Schwarber all done already? He's got 9 homers and a 32.3% K rate. For comparison, O'Neill currently leads Boston with 10 taters and a 32.9% K rate.

 

Yes, almost anyone would be better than Franchy/Arroyo at 1B for that long stretch. It seemed obvious in '22, we needed to shift the plan, but sometimes giving a struggling player a longer look works... like Bobby D was given in '21.

 

In 2021, our "problem" was not 1B in 2021, especially after mid May. We stuck with Dalbec and it worked. The plan in '22 did not.

 

Bobby D was on a pretty long warm to hot streak in 2021, which was maybe one reason we stuck with him for so long in '22:

 

.867 May 13 to end of season

 

.916 June 10 to end of season

 

.988 July 21 to end of season

 

1.087 after August 5th

 

It's easy to think all choices that fail were bad choices. It is not really that simple.

 

[Old Red]

Yes, almost anyone would be better than Franchy/Arroyo at 1B for that long stretch. It seemed obvious in '22, we needed to shift the plan, but sometimes giving a struggling player a longer look works... like Bobby D was given in '21.

 

In 2021, our "problem" was not 1B in 2021, especially after mid May. We stuck with Dalbec and it worked. The plan in '22 did not.

 

Bobby D was on a pretty long warm to hot streak in 2021, which was maybe one reason we stuck with him for so long in '22:

 

.867 May 13 to end of season

 

.916 June 10 to end of season

 

.988 July 21 to end of season

 

1.087 after August 5th

 

It's easy to think all choices that fail were bad choices. It is not really that simple.

 

 

Hiring Bloom was a bad choice. IT Was really that simple.🙈🤭

[moonslav59]

I see the juicer had a good game last night. He is at .256 now--falling fast

 

You've been waiting a while for him to have a 10 day slump.

[notin]

I see the juicer had a good game last night. He is at .256 now--falling fast

 

Given his injury history, it is really tough to sell O'Neill as a juicer. Steroids do promote the healing process of many tissues...

[moonslav59]

Given his injury history, it is really tough to sell O'Neill as a juicer. Steroids do promote the healing process of many tissues...

 

How many times are these guys tested?

 

I'm not saying I know he's been clean his whole life, but who knows for sure, otherwise?

[notin]

"In some capacity" covers a lot of ground. They keep him informed, I'm sure. But I can't believe Bloom re-signed Kike for $10 mill because Cora and Kike were pals...

 

 

No, but I could believe Kike was re-signed because Cora advocated for his defense and/or versatility.

 

I’d be surprised if Cora was not involved in that discussion. But I doubt anyone said “we need to extend Kike because he had a good week last October and hasn’t hit since.” Not even facetiously…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yes, almost anyone would be better than Franchy/Arroyo at 1B for that long stretch. It seemed obvious in '22, we needed to shift the plan, but sometimes giving a struggling player a longer look works... like Bobby D was given in '21.

 

In 2021, our "problem" was not 1B in 2021, especially after mid May. We stuck with Dalbec and it worked. The plan in '22 did not.

 

Bobby D was on a pretty long warm to hot streak in 2021, which was maybe one reason we stuck with him for so long in '22:

 

.867 May 13 to end of season

 

.916 June 10 to end of season

 

.988 July 21 to end of season

 

1.087 after August 5th

 

It's easy to think all choices that fail were bad choices. It is not really that simple.

 

 

Makes sense -- Dalbec was a decent option at minimum wage, and a logical righty platoon partner to ease Casas into the majors.

 

My whole Schwarber post today was how much he could've changed Red Sox history had they signed him. Maybe then they don't sign Story and instead extend Bogaerts (at nowhere close to 11/$280M)... maybe X isn't struggling like he is in SD, and definitely Devers is happier and more comfortable -- and probably more productive... '24: XB 4 HRs, 13 RBI; RD 5 HRs, 15 RBI.

 

The maybes also include a '22 deadline deal for JD Martinez, to open up DH for Schwarber. Maybe in exchange they add a decent prospect to the farm. And finally, maybe all the Asst. VPs who actually watched Yoshida hit and play outfield for years, would also admit he was a future DH without Schwarber's power, and insist the Sox invest instead on a Senga or Imanaga.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Given his injury history, it is really tough to sell O'Neill as a juicer. Steroids do promote the healing process of many tissues...

 

I was going to crack a joke about injecting steroids into brain tissue, since his latest injury was a concussion... but I can't rule out a young guy somewhere in the world trying to make millions already trying it.

 

The preceding was typed by a victim and so-far-survivor of concussions from baseball, football, hockey, a playscape, and a Volkswagen hatchback.

[moonslav59]

Makes sense -- Dalbec was a decent option at minimum wage, and a logical righty platoon partner to ease Casas into the majors.

 

My whole Schwarber post today was how much he could've changed Red Sox history had they signed him. Maybe then they don't sign Story and instead extend Bogaerts (at nowhere close to 11/$280M)... maybe X isn't struggling like he is in SD, and definitely Devers is happier and more comfortable -- and probably more productive... '24: XB 4 HRs, 13 RBI; RD 5 HRs, 15 RBI.

 

The maybes also include a '22 deadline deal for JD Martinez, to open up DH for Schwarber. Maybe in exchange they add a decent prospect to the farm. And finally, maybe all the Asst. VPs who actually watched Yoshida hit and play outfield for years, would also admit he was a future DH without Schwarber's power, and insist the Sox invest instead on a Senga or Imanaga.

 

I think trading JD would have meant paying part of his deal.

 

Having Schwarber would certainly have been nice, but I still think spending on good pitching is the way I would do some what if hindsight ideas.

 

[Randy Red Sox]

You've been waiting a while for him to have a 10 day slump.

 

can't really deny that. do not like the guy. he won't be here next year thankfully. Henry [breslow} will find another 1 year replacement.

[Randy Red Sox]

well almost 1/3 of the way through the season Mr Henry. You must be happy with another .500 club

[notin]

can't really deny that. do not like the guy. he won't be here next year thankfully. Henry [breslow} will find another 1 year replacement.

 

Yeah how awful for the Sox to have a right-handed power hitter with multiple Gold Gloves. I mean, no Triple Crown? Are we just supposed to settle here???

[jad]

Given his injury history, it is really tough to sell O'Neill as a juicer. Steroids do promote the healing process of many tissues...

 

The medical studies I've read that have dealt with this issue have not provided any conclusive evidence on this question. (i.e, you see conclusions like "may increase chance of tendon damage", which is essentially meaningless, or even your own statement 'many tissues'). With inconclusive evidence, there is apparently a lot of room for spin. But the temptation for a teenager looking forward to a likely very short prof. career that could earn millions has to be pretty strong. Curious whether any posters here have gone that route-- just answer 'I have a friend who ...'

 

Personally, I have a friend who was too old, too small, and his natural athletic ability insufficient ever to consider them.

Edited May 17, 2024 by jad

[Old Red]

Yeah how awful for the Sox to have a right-handed power hitter with multiple Gold Gloves. I mean, no Triple Crown? Are we just supposed to settle here???

 

You make it sound like he’s Mookie Betts out there. He’s NOT.🙈🤭🤫