A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[jgar658]

How about moving Devers to DH?

Bring up Mayers and turn him into a third baseman? He is supposed to be slow, so I do not see him as a SS in the big leagues.

Or better yet, put him on 2nd base.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

How about moving Devers to DH?

Bring up Mayers and turn him into a third baseman? He is supposed to be slow, so I do not see him as a SS in the big leagues.

Or better yet, put him on 2nd base.

 

What -- and start his freaking clock? Why would we want to bring up a young player who could possibly inject life into a fading entity?

 

Well... maybe that's a tad dramatic; at least Mayer might inject embalming fluid into decomposing composure.

[jgar658]

What -- and start his freaking clock? Why would we want to bring up a young player who could possibly inject life into a fading entity?

 

Well... maybe that's a tad dramatic; at least Mayer might inject embalming fluid into decomposing composure.

 

I have to admit the sarcasm is quite funny!

[jgar658]

What -- and start his freaking clock? Why would we want to bring up a young player who could possibly inject life into a fading entity?

 

Well... maybe that's a tad dramatic; at least Mayer might inject embalming fluid into decomposing composure.

 

Al Kaline made his major league debut at age 18. Soto at age 19.

[moonslav59]

Who would that be?

I guess there are quite a few. Who is available?

That would open the spot for the right handed bat.

 

I do t know anyone. I doubt there is a RHB RFer just like Abreu.

 

Maybe a little better but 2-3 years not 4.

Maybe better hitter but worse on D or vice Versa.

Maybe better but more expensive.

 

This is a task for notin.

 

[Nick]

 

You'd need JH to cooperate with DD, to make that work.

 

Yes, we do need a RH bat, and will need two, next year as O'Neill reaches free agency.

 

Ideally, O'Neill would be the DH and Abreu/Ref would platoon RF (Duran in LF and Rafaela in CF.) I wonder if Duran might be better in RF than Ref and maybe even Abreu. His arm seems okay.

 

The issue is Yoshida, and he might be for a couple more years. If O'Neill or Ref (platoon) do not play DH, where do we add the RH bat?

 

With Story, Mayer (LHB) and a DHam/Romy/Grissom platoon as back up, I'm not sure adding a middle IF big bat is likely, and it would be very costly.

 

Assuming Casas returns to form, he will not be platooned, so a RHB 1Bman makes little sense for 2025>>>.

 

Perhaps the best choice, in theory would be to trade Abreu for an Abreu clone who bats RH'd.

 

Anthony bats LH'd. (Campbell might play LF and bats RH'd.)

 

In 2025, maybe bring back O'Neill and trade Abreu for a RH'd RF'er with the same control and skills as Abreu. Our offense would be set, as long as one from Mayer and Story produce. Those are not long odds.

 

Add Teel to the catching tandem, and we look sweet on O, and not bad on D:

 

2025:

C: R Wong & L Teel

1B: L Casas (Romy)

2B: R Story & L DHam/R Romy-Grissom

SS: L Mayer (Story & DHam-Romy)

3B: L Devers (Romy)

LF: R O'Neill & R Refsnyder(L Duran)

CF: R Rafaela & L Anthony (L Duran)

RF: L Duran & RHB return for Abreu

DH: L Yoshida (R Refsnyder/ R O'Neill)

 

All 3 rookies will not be on the 26 in April, but by August they very well could be.

 

Our issue is and always has been pitching. The only times it wasn't was 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018.

 

I would look for a right hand bat guy that can play corner infield and DH. Surely there's someone out there that fits the mode.

[Nick]

I have NEVER heard that Mayer is too slow to play shortstop.

[moonslav59]

I have NEVER heard that Mayer is too slow to play shortstop.

 

Me neither, buy sp's has this...

 

Run: Below-average speed. Good instincts, but not a burner. Will play faster than his foot speed because of how he reads the game.

 

Field: Instinctual defender with very fluid actions. Looks like he is gliding on the field. Soft hands and solid footwork. Moves well and has plenty of range for shortstop. Confident defender; will take a flashy infield. Potential plus defender at short.

[moonslav59]

Al Kaline made his major league debut at age 18. Soto at age 19.

 

We do have Ref, but a good RF'er with a RHB would be nice to take O'Neill's place in '25.

[moonslav59]

You'd need JH to cooperate with DD, to make that work.

 

Yes, we do need a RH bat, and will need two, next year as O'Neill reaches free agency.

 

Ideally, O'Neill would be the DH and Abreu/Ref would platoon RF (Duran in LF and Rafaela in CF.) I wonder if Duran might be better in RF than Ref and maybe even Abreu. His arm seems okay.

 

The issue is Yoshida, and he might be for a couple more years. If O'Neill or Ref (platoon) do not play DH, where do we add the RH bat?

 

With Story, Mayer (LHB) and a DHam/Romy/Grissom platoon as back up, I'm not sure adding a middle IF big bat is likely, and it would be very costly.

 

Assuming Casas returns to form, he will not be platooned, so a RHB 1Bman makes little sense for 2025>>>.

 

Perhaps the best choice, in theory would be to trade Abreu for an Abreu clone who bats RH'd.

 

Anthony bats LH'd. (Campbell might play LF and bats RH'd.)

 

In 2025, maybe bring back O'Neill and trade Abreu for a RH'd RF'er with the same control and skills as Abreu. Our offense would be set, as long as one from Mayer and Story produce. Those are not long odds.

 

Add Teel to the catching tandem, and we look sweet on O, and not bad on D:

 

2025:

C: R Wong & L Teel

1B: L Casas (Romy)

2B: R Story & L DHam/R Romy-Grissom

SS: L Mayer (Story & DHam-Romy)

3B: L Devers (Romy)

LF: R O'Neill & R Refsnyder(L Duran)

CF: R Rafaela & L Anthony (L Duran)

RF: L Duran & RHB return for Abreu

DH: L Yoshida (R Refsnyder/ R O'Neill)

 

All 3 rookies will not be on the 26 in April, but by August they very well could be.

 

Our issue is and always has been pitching. The only times it wasn't was 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018.

 

I would look for a right hand bat guy that can play corner infield and DH. Surely there's someone out there that fits the mode.

 

Only Aaron Judge had a better OF OPS v LHPs than O'Neill, so maybe we just need to extend or re-sign him and trade Abreu in a package for pitching.

 

We have LHB Anthony and RHB Campbell and Lugo who can play LF in 2025 or 2026 for the Sox.

 

2025 OF>>

 

LF: L Duran, R Refsnyder/Campbell/Lugo

 

CF: R Rafaela, L Anthony/Duran

 

RF: R O'Neill, L Anthony, R Refsnyder

 

DH: L Yoshida/ R Refnsyder> Campbell/Lugo

 

Note: this does not mean I dislike Abreu or appreciate him any less than anyone else. I really like him, a lot. I just think he is the best trade chip we can afford to lose and replace with pretty highly regarded players.

 

Ref is great vs LHPs, now. Campbell or Lugo can be by 2026.

 

Edited July 30, 2024 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

KCR was losing to CWS, but scored 6 in the 8th to go up 8-5. (3 Hrs, including a granny by Whitt.)

 

MIN lost, bigly to the Mets.

 

It seems we lit a fire under the Yanks, who destroyed the Phillies 14-4.

 

HOU is down to PIT 5-2 in the 9th, and BAL is down to TOR 6-4 in the 7th.

 

It might be nice to gain on some.

 

[moonslav59]

The Sox are up on HOU & SEA in the standings, but one will make the playoffs by winning the ALW.

 

I'm not sure the ALC will send 3 teams to the playoffs, but as of now, three are in. CLE has a comfortable lead, so it will likely come down to BAL or NYY winning the ALE and the WC 1 slot.

 

These teams will battle it out:

 

58-47 MIN +2.0 on BOS (two less losses)

58-49 KCR +1.0 on BOS (tied in losses)

56-49 BOS

56-52 SEA -1.5 from BOS (3 more losses)

54-52 TBR -2.5 from BOS (3 more losses)

 

TEX seems to be buying, but they have 6 more losses than BOS.

 

[Maxbialystock]

Today, July 30, the Sox team ERA is 3.94, ranked 13th in MLB. Right before the ASG break it was 5th.

 

The hitting, on the other hand, is now tied with the Phillies for 5th most runs scored. Before the ASG break, it was ranked 12th.

[moonslav59]

Today, July 30, the Sox team ERA is 3.94, ranked 13th in MLB. Right before the ASG break it was 5th.

 

The hitting, on the other hand, is now tied with the Phillies for 5th most runs scored. Before the ASG break, it was ranked 12th.

 

It's been a complete flip flop that actually began before the AS break but accelerated, then.

 

The D improved a lot, but has dipped, recently.

[sk7326]

The Sox are up on HOU & SEA in the standings, but one will make the playoffs by winning the ALW.

 

I'm not sure the ALC will send 3 teams to the playoffs, but as of now, three are in. CLE has a comfortable lead, so it will likely come down to BAL or NYY winning the ALE and the WC 1 slot.

 

These teams will battle it out:

 

58-47 MIN +2.0 on BOS (two less losses)

58-49 KCR +1.0 on BOS (tied in losses)

56-49 BOS

56-52 SEA -1.5 from BOS (3 more losses)

54-52 TBR -2.5 from BOS (3 more losses)

 

TEX seems to be buying, but they have 6 more losses than BOS.

 

 

Texas is closer to the division than the wild card, so they at least have a couple of avenues here.

[notin]

The Sox are up on HOU & SEA in the standings, but one will make the playoffs by winning the ALW.

 

I'm not sure the ALC will send 3 teams to the playoffs, but as of now, three are in. CLE has a comfortable lead, so it will likely come down to BAL or NYY winning the ALE and the WC 1 slot.

 

These teams will battle it out:

 

58-47 MIN +2.0 on BOS (two less losses)

58-49 KCR +1.0 on BOS (tied in losses)

56-49 BOS

56-52 SEA -1.5 from BOS (3 more losses)

54-52 TBR -2.5 from BOS (3 more losses)

 

TEX seems to be buying, but they have 6 more losses than BOS.

 

 

Texas is apparently both buying and selling. They dealt RHSP Mike Lorenzen to KC despite KC being ahead of them in the WC chase…

[moonslav59]

Texas is closer to the division than the wild card, so they at least have a couple of avenues here.

 

Yes, I left them out of the WC talk, but if they win the division, HOU AND SEA would both be in the WC race- not just one.

 

We are 2.5 up on HOU and SEA, now, so both are very much in the WC race, especially since we play SEA two more times, and HOU 6 times. (TEX 6 as well.)

[Maxbialystock]

Al Kaline made his major league debut at age 18. Soto at age 19.

 

True, but you miss two key points, the most important of which is that hitting is way more important than fielding. Consequently, when you move Devers to DH, you eliminate Yoshida, who right now has a hot bat and a season OPS of .752. Moreover, you throw away his rather large salary.

 

Kaline and Soto and Bryce Harper and Ted Williams all come up early because they could hit.

 

The second is that Sox primary problem is pitching, not hitting and, really, not even fielding.

[moonslav59]

Trevor Rogers to O's (makes me wonder if the Sox were in it to the end, and decided on Sims, instead.)

[Maxbialystock]

It's been a complete flip flop that actually began before the AS break but accelerated, then.

 

The D improved a lot, but has dipped, recently.

 

If you agree, why in the wide, wide world of sports are you dead set on getting a righty bat? I'd like one too, but with the Sox runs scored currently in 5th place, I think the total focus by Breslow must be on pitching.

 

Thus I guess I agree that trading Yorke for Priester makes sense. Both are first round draft picks who are struggling, but Priester is an arm and York is a bat.

 

Now Sims, so, including Paxton, that's 3 new arms.

[moonslav59]

Brandon Walter DFA'd to make room for Sims. No surprise.

[moonslav59]

If you agree, why in the wide, wide world of sports are you dead set on getting a righty bat? I'd like one too, but with the Sox runs scored currently in 5th place, I think the total focus by Breslow must be on pitching.

 

Thus I guess I agree that trading Yorke for Priester makes sense. Both are first round draft picks who are struggling, but Priester is an arm and York is a bat.

 

Now Sims, so, including Paxton, that's 3 new arms.

 

I have repeatedly suggested we trade Abreu for an Abreu clone who bats RH'd. However, I'd prefer we package him for a solid pitcher with 2.3+ years of control.

 

Priester will be in AAA, so he should not count as a pitcher acquired for 2024's run.

 

Sims had not been acquired, when I made my points.

 

Paxton is barely better than Criswell/Pivetta, but he should eat innings. He was not the level of pitcher I hoped for: neither was Sims.

 

The "lane" chosen was mediocrity. Full throttle.

 

There is still time to change that, but like I said, I'm not expecting anything major.

[dgalehouse]

The Yankees scratched Cole from his start against the Phillies tonight due to ( get this) " General body fatigue".

[Maxbialystock]

I have repeatedly suggested we trade Abreu for an Abreu clone who bats RH'd. However, I'd prefer we package him for a solid pitcher with 2.3+ years of control.

 

Priester will be in AAA, so he should not count as a pitcher acquired for 2024's run.

 

Sims had not been acquired, when I made my points.

 

Paxton is barely better than Criswell/Pivetta, but he should eat innings. He was not the level of pitcher I hoped for: neither was Sims.

 

The "lane" chosen was mediocrity. Full throttle.

 

There is still time to change that, but like I said, I'm not expecting anything major.

 

It's August 1, and I'm fine with Abreu still on the roster. MLB righty pitchers appear to outnumber lefty pitchers about 3 to 1.

 

As for Priester going to Worcester, that's fine, but does not mean he can't be called to Boston. He has pitched in 20 MLB games and started in 14. Last year his ERA was 7.74, and this year it's 5.04 . I would be astounded if the Sox never use him in relief this season.

[mvp 78]

It's August 1, and I'm fine with Abreu still on the roster. MLB righty pitchers appear to outnumber lefty pitchers about 3 to 1.

 

As for Priester going to Worcester, that's fine, but does not mean he can't be called to Boston. He has pitched in 20 MLB games and started in 14. Last year his ERA was 7.74, and this year it's 5.04 . I would be astounded if the Sox never use him in relief this season.

 

Most likely will keep Priester down 24 and work with him in the lab. After he gets the extra year of control, they'll probably bring him up at some point to either spot start or be a multi inning reliever. Sox will need all the healthy arms they can get down the stretch. It's no safe bet that Martin, Slaten and Hendriks will be ready.

[moonslav59]

It's August 1, and I'm fine with Abreu still on the roster. MLB righty pitchers appear to outnumber lefty pitchers about 3 to 1.

 

As for Priester going to Worcester, that's fine, but does not mean he can't be called to Boston. He has pitched in 20 MLB games and started in 14. Last year his ERA was 7.74, and this year it's 5.04 . I would be astounded if the Sox never use him in relief this season.

 

I'm a big Abreu fan, and there are no trades until winter.

 

I'm not sure when they think Anthony gets "the call," but when he does, Abreu will be squeezed (or Anthony, I suppose.)

 

Duran is FT LF or CF. (I might be okay in RF.)

 

Rafaela should be our FT CF'er.

 

That leaves RF for Abreu & Ref, assuming O'Neill or the like are not on the '25 roster.

 

Campbell might off the RHB we need for LF, so that would squeeze Duran to CF (or RF) and Rafaela to RF or the bench, if Anthony/Abreu and Ref fight over CF and back up OF roles.

 

Yoshida as the FT DH takes away a landing spot for the "left out" OF"er.

 

We don't have an issues, now, as long as Rafaela stay at SS.

[mvp 78]

Duran doesn't have the arm for RF IMO. Abreu is fine as a 4th/5th OFer once Anthony is ready to take over.

 

Campbell is behind the big 3. I don't think we'll see him in 2025 unless it's late. He's also more likely to be a super UTIL guy than a one position guy.

 

If Rafaela is the fulltime SS, they have a big time hole at SS as their SS sucks. A lot of Rafaela's value is in his CF glove. Pushing him to SS any longer doesn't make sense IMO.

[Larry Cook]

Duran doesn't have the arm for RF IMO. Abreu is fine as a 4th/5th OFer once Anthony is ready to take over.

 

Campbell is behind the big 3. I don't think we'll see him in 2025 unless it's late. He's also more likely to be a super UTIL guy than a one position guy.

 

If Rafaela is the fulltime SS, they have a big time hole at SS as their SS sucks. A lot of Rafaela's value is in his CF glove. Pushing him to SS any longer doesn't make sense IMO.

 

I agree! Duran had a pop gun for an arm. He only works in left field. I think Anthony and rafeala can play center or right field. Abreau has huge upside to be the best bat in the outfield!

 

The problem is 3 of the 4 bat lefty!

 

Anthony is finally starting to figure out breaking balls in Portland. He looks closer to Boston ready every day

[mvp 78]

I agree! Duran had a pop gun for an arm. He only works in left field. I think Anthony and rafeala can play center or right field. Abreau has huge upside to be the best bat in the outfield!

 

The problem is 3 of the 4 bat lefty!

 

Anthony is finally starting to figure out breaking balls in Portland. He looks closer to Boston ready every day

 

Anthony hit some absolute tanks yesterday. He has unbelievable power potential.

[Hugh2]

I agree! Duran had a pop gun for an arm. He only works in left field. I think Anthony and rafeala can play center or right field. Abreau has huge upside to be the best bat in the outfield!

 

The problem is 3 of the 4 bat lefty!

 

Anthony is finally starting to figure out breaking balls in Portland. He looks closer to Boston ready every day

 

For Abreu to be the best bat in the outfield he will have to hit better than .433 OPS. Vs. LHP