A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[moonslav59]

This didn't stop people 10 years ago though.

 

No, and I went a few times 5-50 years ago.

[dgalehouse]

A day or night at the ballpark gets more expensive all the time. People have to be pretty motivated to do it. Obviously, having a good team helps a lot.

[Bellhorn04]

Physical discomfort is part of the Experience.

[mvp 78]

Physical discomfort is part of the Experience.

 

I mean, just don't buy the s***** seats?

[Dipre]

Uh, ok.

 

I mean, did you mark them?

[Dipre]

I mean, just don't buy the s***** seats?

 

Bellhorn richer than a mo'fo. He can afford them.

[mvp 78]

I mean, did you mark them?

 

You should have quit while you were ahead, loverboy.

[mvp 78]

Bellhorn richer than a mo'fo. He can afford them.

 

I didn't know Canadians to be miserly.

[Dipre]

You should have quit while you were ahead, loverboy.

 

I'm tired of these motherf***ing Grissom haters, in this motherf***ing Talksox.

[mvp 78]

I would just like to see Grissom back on the field and healthy before making any proclamations.

[moonslav59]

I would just like to see Grissom back on the field and healthy before making any proclamations.

 

If you had to guess, if and when healthy, does he win the 2B job from DHam/Valdez/Romy/Yorke in 2025? (assuming Story at SS not DHam/Romy/Mayer)

[moonslav59]

Pivetta going Friday v LAA

Crawford Saturday.

Bello Sunday

Houck Monday v COL

(Maybe Criswell Tuesday)

 

[moonslav59]

Only 5 teams have less losses than the Sox 42, and look how close to 42 some are:

41 LAD

40 NYY

38 BAL

37 CLE

(34 PHI is not really 'close.")

[mvp 78]

If you had to guess, if and when healthy, does he win the 2B job from DHam/Valdez/Romy/Yorke in 2025? (assuming Story at SS not DHam/Romy/Mayer)

 

I don't think anyone wins the job outright. Too many names involved for someone to get the vast majority of reps. I think we see a timeshare going forward until someone outlasts everyone else.

 

I'd personally put Story at 2B and Mayer at SS on Opening Day. Story is bound to get injured and any of those guys can fill in afterwards.

[moonslav59]

The Sox are 25-13 since May 31st. In those 38 games, nearly 1/4th of the season, here are some numbers:

 

fWAR Player OPS

7.7 Red Sox batters .808 OPS (121 wRC+)

2.1 Duran .908

2.0 Devers 1.060

0.9 Rafaela .837

0.8 DHam .750

0.7 Valdez .973 (demoted)

0.7 O'Neill .834

0.6 Smith .824

0.5 Wong .790

0.2 Abreu .712 (was out for some time)

0.1 Refsnyder .777 & Romy .733

 

-0.1 Westbrook .693

-0.2 McGuire .458, Dalbec .469 (demoted), Yoshida .662 & Cooper (DFA'd)

 

11 Batters over .750, including EValdez who was demoted.

 

Pitching

fWAR Pitcher ERA-

4.3 Red Sox 94 (95 xFIP-)

0.9 Pivetta 100

0.9 Houck 83

0.7 Jansen 27

0.5 Crawford 58

0.4 Kelly 34

0.3 Booser 56

0.3 Bello 155

0.2 Criswell 87

0.2 Bernardino 94

0.2 Martin 0 (IL)

0.1 Slaten 101

0.1 Winkowski 75

0.0 Keller 100 & Horn 58

-0.2 Anderson 114

-0.3 Weissert 176

 

12 pitchers with a plus fWAR

 

[moonslav59]

I don't think anyone wins the job outright. Too many names involved for someone to get the vast majority of reps. I think we see a timeshare going forward until someone outlasts everyone else.

 

I'd personally put Story at 2B and Mayer at SS on Opening Day. Story is bound to get injured and any of those guys can fill in afterwards.

 

Sounds like a top 2-3 scenario.

 

If you had to guess, who gets the most innings at 2B in 2025, if...

 

Mayer plays SS FT: _____ (I assume Story then DHam)

 

Story plays SS FT: _____ (I'd assume a DHam-Grissom platoon.)

[mvp 78]

Sounds like a top 2-3 scenario.

 

If you had to guess, who gets the most innings at 2B in 2025, if...

 

Mayer plays SS FT: _____ (I assume Story then DHam)

 

Story plays SS FT: _____ (I'd assume a DHam-Grissom platoon.)

 

If Mayer at SS: Story>Hamilton>Valdez>Yorke>Grissom

If Story at SS: Mayer>Yorke>Grissom>Hamilton>Valdez

 

Who knows though? I think there will be some moves made in the offseason.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sounds like a top 2-3 scenario.

 

If you had to guess, who gets the most innings at 2B in 2025, if...

 

Mayer plays SS FT: _____ (I assume Story then DHam)

 

Story plays SS FT: _____ (I'd assume a DHam-Grissom platoon.)

 

Not even a mention of the possibility of Campbell in Boston next year?

 

KC gets better every month. At this rate, he'll be hitting .500 by the end of August in Woo, then .600 in Fenway in the pennant run, .700 in Fall Ball, .800 in Winter Ball, and .900 in the Citrus League.

 

I mean, if Nick Yorke has a shot at the majors soon, then Campbell certainly does; they're both 22 years old.

 

Is this a fanboy site or at least a manboy site? Or what.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm tired of these motherf***ing Grissom haters, in this motherf***ing Talksox.

 

Grissom is under attack primarily because of how he came to the Sox--basically, in a trade for Sale, who is now the ace for the Braves. Moreover, $17M of Sale's salary is being paid by the Sox. There is no way, no how Grissom can counterbalance what the Sox gave away.

 

Grissom had 41 decent games in 2022 and has been awful in 46 games since: his average OPS for 2023 and 2024 is around .510 and his cumulative WAR, both seasons, is -1.2. If anything, his persistent hammie problems are a blessing for the Sox.

 

At age 23, what he does have is the promise of youth. But he faces a lot of competition.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Grissom is under attack primarily because of how he came to the Sox--basically, in a trade for Sale, who is now the ace for the Braves. Moreover, $17M of Sale's salary is being paid by the Sox. There is no way, no how Grissom can counterbalance what the Sox gave away.

 

Grissom had 41 decent games in 2022 and has been awful in 46 games since: his average OPS for 2023 and 2024 is around .510 and his cumulative WAR, both seasons, is -1.2. If anything, his persistent hammie problems are a blessing for the Sox.

 

At age 23, what he does have is the promise of youth. But he faces a lot of competition.

 

When I was 23, my hamstrings promised they wouldn't roll and feel like they were ripping off the bone while lying on the couch watching the Red Sox until I was 43.

[moonslav59]

Not even a mention of the possibility of Campbell in Boston next year?

 

KC gets better every month. At this rate, he'll be hitting .500 by the end of August in Woo, then .600 in Fenway in the pennant run, .700 in Fall Ball, .800 in Winter Ball, and .900 in the Citrus League.

 

I mean, if Nick Yorke has a shot at the majors soon, then Campbell certainly does; they're both 22 years old.

 

Is this a fanboy site or at least a manboy site? Or what.

 

I mnetioned KC on another thread on who might be ahead of Yorke. I'm thinking KC might be mis season in MLB '25.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I mnetioned KC on another thread on who might be ahead of Yorke. I'm thinking KC might be mis season in MLB '25.

 

Sorry, I see it now.

 

Note: Portland used Campbell at SS while Mayer was away at the Future Games.

[notin]

I mnetioned KC on another thread on who might be ahead of Yorke. I'm thinking KC might be mis season in MLB '25.

 

I’m thinking Yorke is part of another minor league system come August…

[mvp 78]

Not even a mention of the possibility of Campbell in Boston next year?

 

KC gets better every month. At this rate, he'll be hitting .500 by the end of August in Woo, then .600 in Fenway in the pennant run, .700 in Fall Ball, .800 in Winter Ball, and .900 in the Citrus League.

 

I mean, if Nick Yorke has a shot at the majors soon, then Campbell certainly does; they're both 22 years old.

 

Is this a fanboy site or at least a manboy site? Or what.

 

Campbell is not a good IFer. If he's in BOS, he's in the OF or just in a UTIL role.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Campbell is not a good IFer. If he's in BOS,

 

What does one have to do with the other? Haven't you been watching the past half decade!

[moonslav59]

Campbell is not a good IFer. If he's in BOS, he's in the OF or just in a UTIL role.

 

Valdez is worse.

 

Yorke is not very good on D.

 

I'm not sure KC's D puts him behind either.

 

I still think we roll with the DHam/Romy platoon, until it shows it no longer works.

 

A Mayer call-up and Story return to health would squeeze that platoon out.

 

Using Rafaela at SS or 2B, so we can play Duran, Refsnyder and Abreu (Anthony/KC/Lugo) in the OF in 2025 might also squeeze out DHam/Romy from starting roles.

 

Ideally, we should improve on Rafaela, DHam and Romy at middle infield. We should look to make Rafaela the near FT CF'er, anyway. We could possibly trade Abreu and try to bring back O'Neill of the next 1 year guy in line with O'Neill, Duvall, Renfroe.

 

Since Campbell bats RH'd, he might have a leg up on being added to the 40 and 26 as a LF'er and back-up or platoon 2Bman with DHam, assuming Grissom continues fizzling out.

 

We need reliable/solid middle infielders not massive quantities of wings and prayers or flawed in certain areas:

 

Story- injured most of the time and struggling at the plate when healthy.

Grissom- injured and struggling since mid 2023 on O. Questions of his D moving from SS to 2B.

Rafaela- not great on infield D and is much better in CF. Bat is still in question, too.

Valdez- sucks on D and batting vs LHPs

DHam- not great on D and struggles vs LHPs

Romy- not great on D and struggles vs RHPs

Mayer- still in AA

K Campbell- sill in AA

Yorke- in AAA, but struggled for a long time, until his recent promotion to AAA

Meidroth, Sogard, Westbrook (sucks vs RHPs,) Alvarez look to be minor league depth

 

That's close to 10 guys with some hopes- some slim to very slim.

 

 

[moonslav59]

I’m thinking Yorke is part of another minor league system come August…

 

I'm thinking the same for the Rule 5 eligible Yorke, or we move Valdez, the LHB.

 

We may also look to trade Lugo, who is also Rule 5 eligible.

 

Castro & Paulino are, too, but may not be selected, if left unprotected.

 

I just listed over 10 players who play or pretend to play 2B/SS. It's time to weed some out of the system and try to go more quality over quantity, there.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

After watching video of Roman Candle Anthony going off with the longball to win the Futures Skill Comp, I can't digest any scenario where trading him is a good idea.

 

I grew up rooting for and being entertained by 30-homer hitting Red Sox outfielders, and an All-Star catcher, so I confess I'd really like Boston to hang onto Anthony and Kyle Teel.

 

If Breslow has to swap a top prospect -- a guy whose return can make the team appreciably better now and in the future -- than I would deal Mayer. Plenty of World Champs have won with glove-first shortstops, and there are always plenty of those guys available. Reports speculating Mayer is a candidate to move to third base or another position aren't reassuring.

 

A trade for Crochet doesn't guarantee anybody a playoff spot this year, anyway... as his innings pitched totals approach career highs, just like Houck and Crawford. And I'm sure some posters have seen Fangraphs ratings of hardest second-half schedules. Ya, we're #1, baby...

[Duran Is The Man]

What does one have to do with the other? Haven't you been watching the past half decade!

 

Portland has The Worst defense in the league. Being s***** on defense is just part of the Red Sox DNA.

[notin]

I'm thinking the same for the Rule 5 eligible Yorke, or we move Valdez, the LHB.

 

We may also look to trade Lugo, who is also Rule 5 eligible.

 

Castro & Paulino are, too, but may not be selected, if left unprotected.

 

I just listed over 10 players who play or pretend to play 2B/SS. It's time to weed some out of the system and try to go more quality over quantity, there.

 

Lugo could move as well.

 

I like Yorke because he has the first round pedigree and he’s crushing in AAA in a limited sample. He might be too much for the Anderson/Kikuchi/Eflin crowd I’ve been plugging, but I expect Breslow to acquire a more appropriate target(s)…