A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[Maxbialystock]

Back to "A Realistic View of 2024." Those 9 runs, all earned, last night dropped the Sox team ERA to 3.54 and 6th place in MLB. Still better than the 2018 Sox.

 

I think Old Red made a huge deal about the presumed idiocy of Cora for using his bullpen--8 relievers, to be precise--to take game 1 from the Jays. But last night, despite Bello only going 2.1 innings, Weissert pitched .2 innings and Winckowski 6, which gave the rest of the bullpen a day off.

 

And guess what? Tomorrow, Thursday, June 27, is an off day, which of course Cora knew about and clearly Old Red did not.

 

Also, as many commented on the game thread, the fact that Winck pitched 6 innings while giving up just 2 runs--which is like a quality start--and threw 91 pitches suggests that Winck might be the new 5th men in the rotation instead of Criswell.

 

Bello, meanwhile, will continue to start.

[moonslav59]

Anthony has the highest ceiling. Teel probably has the highest floor. All three are very good prospects with things that need to be worked on.

 

Agreed.

[Hugh2]

If I had to bet on who has the highest chance of having MVP seasons, I'd put my money on Anthony.

[moonslav59]

If I had to bet on who has the highest chance of having MVP seasons, I'd put my money on Anthony.

 

I think so, too.

 

How many of our big 4 will make tge all star game at least once?

 

Over-under 2.5 or 2? Or 1.5?

[Hugh2]

I think so, too.

 

How many of our big 4 will make tge all star game at least once?

 

Over-under 2.5 or 2? Or 1.5?

 

I'll take the over, but I'm always going to be optimistic. This group does seem special though.

[moonslav59]

I'll take the over, but I'm always going to be optimistic. This group does seem special though.

 

When was the last time we had 3 prospects in just about everyone’s top 40?

 

KC might make it 4 in the top 60-80.

[Hugh2]

When was the last time we had 3 prospects in just about everyone’s top 40?

 

KC might make it 4 in the top 60-80.

 

Idk if we ever did, but the system was definitely top heavy like this back in 2015/2016

[Maxbialystock]

I'll take the over, but I'm always going to be optimistic. This group does seem special though.

 

What's also interesting that the guys ahead of them, the guys Cora is already playing--Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Casas (when he gets back), Hamilton, Gonzalez, Wong, et al--are in their first or second year in MLB and doing reasonably well. So hats off to the Sox drafters and especially to the Sox minor league clubs.

[mvp 78]

When was the last time we had 3 prospects in just about everyone’s top 40?

 

KC might make it 4 in the top 60-80.

 

2016: Moncada, Espinoza, Benintendi

[Hugh2]

2016: Moncada, Espinoza, Benintendi

 

Two of those guys are definitely busts. Benintendi was good for a window of time, but he was certainly no Mookie Betts.

 

That list makes the argument for trading prospects. Of course, it's all relative.

[notin]

What's also interesting that the guys ahead of them, the guys Cora is already playing--Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Casas (when he gets back), Hamilton, Gonzalez, Wong, et al--are in their first or second year in MLB and doing reasonably well. So hats off to the Sox drafters and especially to the Sox minor league clubs.

 

Gonzalez? Did you mean Valdez?

[Bellhorn04]

Gonzalez? Did you mean Valdez?

 

Romy Gonzalez, AKA Senor Clutch.

[notin]

Romy Gonzalez, AKA Senor Clutch.

 

Yeah, I guess he’s only got one year of service time.

 

He’s not exactly a guy who highlights the strengths in the Sox drafting or minor leagues…

[Nick]

Getting Chris Sale for Moncada and Espinoza was a great trade. Contract extension is a separate issue.

 

If I recall, DD got a quick look at Moncada playing third and knew immediately he could be replaced by Devers. Moncada was a second baseman but Pedey was there.

 

Moon and I were more concerned about the 'ceiling' of Espinoza, but he essentially got hurt and his development slowed.

Edited June 27, 2024 by Nick

[mvp 78]

Two of those guys are definitely busts. Benintendi was good for a window of time, but he was certainly no Mookie Betts.

 

That list makes the argument for trading prospects. Of course, it's all relative.

 

Which two?

 

Career bWAR:

Benintendi - 14.2, 958 Games

Moncada - 14.5, 746 Games

[notin]

2016: Moncada, Espinoza, Benintendi

 

2017: Benintendi, Moncada, Kopech, Espinoza

 

Before 2017, Benintendi and Moncada were ranked 1 and 2 by both Baseball America and MLB…

[Nick]

One thing I liked about DD was that he essentially said that enough time spent in AA was good enough to make a jump straight to the majors.

[mvp 78]

Getting Chris Sale for Moncada and Espinoza was a great trade. Contract extension is a separate issue.

 

If I recall, DD got a quick look at Moncada playing third and knew immediately he could be replaced by Devers. Moncada was a second baseman but Pedey was there.

 

Moon and I were more concerned about the 'ceiling' of Espinoza, but he essentially got hurt and his development slowed.

 

At the time of the trade, Devers had only gotten as far as Salem. I don't think DD had seen Devers at the point.

[mvp 78]

One thing I liked about DD was that he essentially said that enough time spent in AA was good enough to make a jump straight to the majors.

 

Back then it was true. They have fundamentally changed that dynamic by getting rid of short season and reducing the amount of players allowed in an organization.

[mvp 78]

2017: Benintendi, Moncada, Kopech, Espinoza

 

Before 2017, Benintendi and Moncada were ranked 1 and 2 by both Baseball America and MLB…

 

Moncada and Kopech were traded December 2016.

 

Not sure Kopech popped high on lists as a prospect until 2017.

[notin]

At the time of the trade, Devers had only gotten as far as Salem. I don't think DD had seen Devers at the point.

 

Or at least wasn’t making decisions about the MLB roster based on him.

 

At that time, the Sox still had Pablo Sandoval locked up for 4 more years…

Edited June 27, 2024 by notin

[notin]

Moncada and Kopech were traded December 2016.

 

Not sure Kopech popped high on lists as a prospect until 2017.

 

It was more of a question of whether or not the lists came out before the trade. 2016 Kopech was ranked on BA and BP, but not top 40…

Edited June 27, 2024 by notin

[Hugh2]

Moncada and Kopech were traded December 2016.

 

Not sure Kopech popped high on lists as a prospect until 2017.

 

Kopech had serious helium at that point. I think he ranked somewhere around 22 (lets see how close I am without looking it up) but that was one of the first set of rankings that came up after they trade and he had been in their system.

[mvp 78]

Or at least wasn’t making decisions about the MLB roster based on him.

 

At that time, the Sox still had Pablo Sandoval locked up for 4 more years…

 

4 more years or lock him up?

[mvp 78]

Kopech had serious helium at that point. I think he ranked somewhere around 22 (lets see how close I am without looking it up) but that was one of the first set of rankings that came up after they trade and he had been in their system.

 

Right, after. I think he had strong value which is why the deal got done. The question was specifically ranked prospects.

[notin]

4 more years or lock him up?

 

All the rage in 2016…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Or at least wasn’t making decisions about the MLB roster based on him.

 

At that time, the Sox still had Pablo Sandoval locked up for 4 more years…

 

Pablo might have been locked up, but he busted out in Spring Training.

 

It was on the beltway around Fort Myers -- gut instinct...

[notin]

Pablo might have been locked up, but he busted out in Spring Training.

 

It was on the beltway around Fort Myers -- gut instinct...

 

He was locked up. You cannot stop Kung Fu Panda; you can only hope to contain him.

 

Which is usually done by pointing him towards the closest buffet. That can contain him for hours…

[mvp 78]

All the rage in 2016…

 

Gotta play all the old hits from time to time. Pokemon Go to the polls!

[Maxbialystock]

Gonzalez? Did you mean Valdez?

 

Romy Gonzalez, whose WAR is currently +0.7 after just 26 games. Valdez is -0.3.