A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

Where did Breslow say that? I haven’t been able to find anything…

 

https://nesn.com/2024/04/could-red-sox-move-ceddanne-rafaela-to-shortstop-craig-breslow-weighs-in/

[mvp 78]

4 losses in a row for the Red Sox. Capped by an embarrassing 7-0 shutout loss to the Angels. Is anybody really surprised?

 

Sox can’t hit LHP so not surprised at last night.

[Bellhorn04]

It might also be worth noting that Rafaela already has 3 errors in the outfield. If his defense is a work in progress there, it might not be best to move him to an even harder position. Plus the guy is also struggling with the bat. He's got a lot going on as it is.

[mvp 78]

I want to apologise to the A's for calling them the worst defensive team I'd ever seen. I didn't realise the Sox were about to have a hold my beer moment.

 

When Grissom is back, its time we bite the bullet, move Rafaela to SS to pair with Grissom and hope O'Neil's body holds up in CF.

 

This madness has to stop.

 

It would be Duran in CF, O’Neilll in RF and Abreu/Refsnyder in LF.

[mvp 78]

Cora fan here, so my comments must be viewed accordingly, but AFAIK he doesn't have much say in the budget or roster construction, and even if he knows the team stinks it's not really his job to say so. His only job is get as much as possible out of what he's been handed.

 

A lot of that might be applied to Breslow at this point, too, if he's been handcuffed by Henry's budget.

 

His only say in roster construction may be callups from AAA.

[mvp 78]

https://nesn.com/2024/04/could-red-sox-move-ceddanne-rafaela-to-shortstop-craig-breslow-weighs-in/

 

Yuck

[mvp 78]

It might also be worth noting that Rafaela already has 3 errors in the outfield. If his defense is a work in progress there, it might not be best to move him to an even harder position. Plus the guy is also struggling with the bat. He's got a lot going on as it is.

 

Fair point. They need a better solution at SS than anything they have in house though.

[notin]

His only say in roster construction may be callups from AAA.

 

Do you think Breslow doesn’t talk to him at all? Just surprises him with moves? Maybe makes brain teasers out of them? “Hey Alex, quick riddle. What has a busted elbow and just got traded for Vaughn Grissom?”

[Bellhorn04]

Do you think Breslow doesn’t talk to him at all? Just surprises him with moves? Maybe makes brain teasers out of them? “Hey Alex, quick riddle. What has a busted elbow and just got traded for Vaughn Grissom?”

 

You're missing the point. What say does he have is the question.

[notin]

https://nesn.com/2024/04/could-red-sox-move-ceddanne-rafaela-to-shortstop-craig-breslow-weighs-in/

 

That barely says anything.

 

It implies Breslow said the primary position would be CF, but didn’t even say what exactly that means. And later quotes Breslow saying he’d be moved around the diamond.

 

It credits Cora with the dual platoon of no-hit defensive question marks. And as Romy is part of that, is he back now? Or is this article older?

[notin]

You're missing the point. What say does he have is the question.

 

I think he gives significant input as to what he needs/wants. And Breslow does his best to fill those needs within the budget. And sometimes players have to move on to adjust that budget. Cora probably has some input there as well. But it’s limited. Basically, I mean, another team has to want the player, too.

 

 

But I doubt Cora ever wakes up, scrolls to MLBTR, and sees some Red Sox roster transaction he never saw coming. Never…

[Bellhorn04]

I think he gives significant input as to what he needs/wants. And Breslow does his best to fill those needs within the budget. And sometimes players have to move on to adjust that budget. Cora probably has some input there as well. But it’s limited. Basically, I mean, another team has to want the player, too.

 

But I doubt Cora ever wakes up, scrolls to MLBTR, and sees some Red Sox roster transaction he never saw coming. Never…

 

Cora was obviously frustrated with the roster he was given last year and expressed it more than once. "The roster is what it is." Sure sounded like a guy who thought his needs weren't being met. I suspect he feels the same right now.

[notin]

Cora was obviously frustrated with the roster he was given last year and expressed it more than once. "The roster is what it is." Sure sounded like a guy who thought his needs weren't being met. I suspect he feels the same right now.

 

No doubt.

 

It’s probably not possible to accommodate all his wishes. The CBO can only work within his budget.

 

But that doesn’t mean Cora has no input…

[Bellhorn04]

No doubt.

 

It’s probably not possible to accommodate all his wishes. The CBO can only work within his budget.

 

But that doesn’t mean Cora has no input…

 

Again, the word I used is say. Input is your word.

[notin]

Again, the word I used is say. Input is your word.

 

I use them interchangeably. None of us knows the degree of his say, but Cora absolutely is involved in those activities to some extent. Every manager is. They have to be. The principle of inter-office communication and its benefits has surely reached MLB by now.

 

Also, Houston hired Cora for a lot of his input, and he wasn’t even a manager there. But they were interested in his extensive knowledge about analytics. Boston undoubtedly wanted his input as well. If you think Cora is just working with what they give him, you’re operating on an agenda…

[mvp 78]

Do you think Breslow doesn’t talk to him at all? Just surprises him with moves? Maybe makes brain teasers out of them? “Hey Alex, quick riddle. What has a busted elbow and just got traded for Vaughn Grissom?”

 

Yes.

[Bellhorn04]

I use them interchangeably. None of us knows the degree of his say, but Cora absolutely is involved in those activities to some extent. Every manager is. They have to be. The principle of inter-office communication and its benefits has surely reached MLB by now.

 

Also, Houston hired Cora for a lot of his input, and he wasn’t even a manager there. But they were interested in his extensive knowledge about analytics. Boston undoubtedly wanted his input as well. If you think Cora is just working with what they give him, you’re operating on an agenda…

 

Yes, I think he is mostly working with what they give him. Hence his comments about "The roster is what it is" and his comments about how the fans wanted a team that plays into October, not a great farm system. Yes, I think he's frustrated.

 

If that makes me "operating on an agenda", I'm good with it.

[Randy Red Sox]

It might also be worth noting that Rafaela already has 3 errors in the outfield. If his defense is a work in progress there, it might not be best to move him to an even harder position. Plus the guy is also struggling with the bat. He's got a lot going on as it is.

 

but he has an 8 yr deal in his pocket

[Bellhorn04]

but he has an 8 yr deal in his pocket

 

I know. And usually these seem like great moves. It's possible this one was a bit premature because of the questions about his offense. And they already know what it's like to have a great CFer who can't hit.

[mvp 78]

I know. And usually these seem like great moves. It's possible this one was a bit premature because of the questions about his offense. And they already know what it's like to have a great CFer who can't hit.

 

And he may not hit as well as JBJ and has been prone to more mental mistakes.

[notin]

Yes, I think he is mostly working with what they give him. Hence his comments about "The roster is what it is" and his comments about how the fans wanted a team that plays into October, not a great farm system. Yes, I think he's frustrated.

 

If that makes me "operating on an agenda", I'm good with it.

 

 

He probably didn’t care about the farm until they get called up, and he (like many/most managers) probably didn’t get everything his Xmas list. But he’s also shown a questionable commitment to defense in the past, and some folks like to blame it on the people above him, either only giving him so many players or (and no one has ever proven this happens anywhere) ordering him to play certain players out of position. It’s been going on through three CBOs; Cora is the only common link left…

[notin]

I know. And usually these seem like great moves. It's possible this one was a bit premature because of the questions about his offense. And they already know what it's like to have a great CFer who can't hit.

 

But this is also a $6mill AAV on a contract that only runs through his early 30’s. That’s pretty low risk. These days, $6mill gets you Phil Maton, so the Sox might need to use their farm if they want mediocre middle reliever who gives them 60IP…

[Bellhorn04]

He probably didn’t care about the farm until they get called up, and he (like many/most managers) probably didn’t get everything his Xmas list. But he’s also shown a questionable commitment to defense in the past, and some folks like to blame it on the people above him, either only giving him so many players or (and no one has ever proven this happens anywhere) ordering him to play certain players out of position. It’s been going on through three CBOs; Cora is the only common link left…

 

You're saying the defensive questions started in 2018-2019?

 

Also, the Red Sox front office is chock full of people who have been there a while. The CBO seems to be the fungible one.

[Hitch]

The Sox could use:

 

1b: Casas

2b: Reyes for now

3b: Devers

SS: Rafaela

LF: O’Neill

CF: Duran

RF: Abreu

 

It’s probably their best defensive alignment internally…

 

Maybe I'm overvaluing O'Neils defence but I'd be a bit worried about Duran's adventures in centre.

 

We need to do one of them, though.

[notin]

You're saying the defensive questions started in 2018-2019?

 

Also, the Red Sox front office is chock full of people who have been there a while. The CBO seems to be the fungible one.

 

 

Yes.

 

I don’t know whose idea it was to put Blake Swihart in LF, but if you told me that team also employs a guy who would play Christian Vazquez at 2b, Christian Arroyo in RF, Hunter Renfroe in CF, Justin Turner at 2b, never remove Kike from SS, etc. I might keep him in mind as a suspect.

 

I don’t hold Franchy at 1b against Cora. But the others? Plus all the ones that don’t leap to mind? I can see questioning his commitment to defense…

[notin]

Maybe I'm overvaluing O'Neils defence but I'd be a bit worried about Duran's adventures in centre.

 

We need to do one of them, though.

 

Understandable.

 

But two points.

 

1. Duran still plays there fairly often even now.

2. Duran is a much better at CF than Hamilton is at SS.

 

I keep the fragile O’Neill in the safer LF…

[Bellhorn04]

Yes.

 

I don’t know whose idea it was to put Blake Swihart in LF, but if you told me that team also employs a guy who would play Christian Vazquez at 2b, Christian Arroyo in RF, Hunter Renfroe in CF, Justin Turner at 2b, never remove Kike from SS, etc. I might keep him in mind as a suspect.

 

I don’t hold Franchy at 1b against Cora. But the others? Plus all the ones that don’t leap to mind? I can see questioning his commitment to defense…

 

I didn't even remember Swihart in LF. I don't think it was that big of a deal.

 

It's certainly fair to question Cora on some of those usages, but Bloom had a big role in the shenanigans. He could have nipped the Kike thing in the bud by getting an actual shortstop.

[Bellhorn04]

Anyway, as it pertains to the 2024 season, I'm not sure what Cora is supposed to do to solve the defensive issues when we quite simply have no good defensive infielders, and I'm not sure what part he played in bringing us to that position.

[Bellhorn04]

David Hamilton's SoxProspects page seems to as much as say he's not suited to be an MLB shortstop, but we're in a position of running him out there anyway, because there are no great alternatives. Other than, apparently, our rookie outfielder who is struggling to make contact at the plate and also has an unusually high number of 3 errors in the outfield so far.

[Old Red]

It might also be worth noting that Rafaela already has 3 errors in the outfield. If his defense is a work in progress there, it might not be best to move him to an even harder position. Plus the guy is also struggling with the bat. He's got a lot going on as it is.

 

Raf Man is a work in progress, and maybe needed more at bats in Worcester. It took Casas a while to get going last year, so time will tell on the RAF Man. I would keep him in CF if that’s the primary position he is destined to play. Yes he made some good plays out there like the good running catch at the end of the game out West, and a good diving catch, and a catch that he jumped up thinking he was up against the wall, but wasn’t.i heard his name in the same breath as JBJ on here, but I don’t think he’s as good right now. I’ve seen Reggie Smith make some great catches, and throws, and Lynne some great catches too. I know some want him to be that good, but pump those brakes on his greatness right now. He’s good in CF, but not great yet, and his bat especially has a long way to go, so keep him in CF. The fact that the Red Sox don’t have a good experienced backup IF who can make the routine plays around the bag was a bad plan to start with. Counting on Story Land to play 140 was not a good plan, and planning on him to take JT’s spot in the middle of the order was not a sound plan either. Blame it on whomever you want, and there is probably plenty of blame to go around.