A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[moonslav59]

Our offense has certainly been inconsistent, perhaps way more than most other teams with winning records.

 

The second place Yanks have been shut out 4 times and held to 1 run, twice.

 

The Sox have scored these runs in games:

 

3 x zero runs

5 x 1 run

1 x 2 runs

1 x 3 runs

(10 x 0-3 runs)

 

4 x 4 runs

4 x 5 runs

(8 times 4-5 runs)

 

2 x 6 runs

2 x 7 runs

3 x 8 runs

1 x 9 runs

 

1 x 12 runs

1 x 17 runs

(10 x 6 or more runs)

 

[notin]

White Sox DFAd former Yankee top prospect Deivi Garcia.

 

 

Since the Sox have an open spot on the 40, he’s certainly worth the gamble. Especially since he’s still only 25. Unfortunately he’s really not the starting pitcher the Sox really need. But he has potential in the bullpen to fill in if the keep bumping relievers into the rotation.

 

And right now, the Sox can get him without DFAing anyone…

[Bellhorn04]

White Sox DFAd former Yankee top prospect Deivi Garcia.

 

 

Since the Sox have an open spot on the 40, he’s certainly worth the gamble. Especially since he’s still only 25. Unfortunately he’s really not the starting pitcher the Sox really need. But he has potential in the bullpen to fill in if the keep bumping relievers into the rotation.

 

And right now, the Sox can get him without DFAing anyone…

 

Probably won't happen, but I like the thinking.

[notin]

Probably won't happen, but I like the thinking.

 

He might not even last long enough for the Sox to make a claim, since he’s pre-arb…

[moonslav59]

Sox OPS in the last 14 Days:

 

1.370 O'Neill

1.283 Refsnyder

1.052 Casas (IL)

1.036 Abreu

1.036 Wong

.989 Devers

.977 Yoshida 1.538 last 7 days

.600 Rafaela .849 last7

.573 Duran

.551 McGuire .929 last 7

 

OPS Against Last 14 Days

.154 Kelly

.380 Houck

.467 Slaten

.492 Bernardino

.513 B Bello

.517 Criswell

.624 Whitlock

.649 Crawford

.650 Reyes

.667 Jansen

.718 Martin

.744 Booser

.785 Wink

.896 Weissert

.943 Anderson

.944 Jacques (DFA'd)

1.050 Joely (DFA'd)

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2024 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

So, here is my guess on who gets demoted when these guys return to the 26:

 

Grissom > DHam

 

Pivetta> Uwasawa

 

Whitlock> Booser

 

Bello> Anderson (maybe Kelly)

 

Romy G > Dalbec or Valdez (or Romy goes to AAA)

 

Casas > Dalbec

 

Hendriks (August) > ???

[Nick]

Mr. Rodriguez saga

 

Signed for $1.5M in 2023 with club option for $4.25M in 2024. The Sox DECLINED the option, paying him $500K in the process. Then the Sox signs him for $2M to pitch in 2024.

 

In both 2023 and 2024, he appeared in 11 games, pitching 11 innings both year and giving up 8 earned runs both year. ERA of identical 6.55.

 

Who in the hell thought it was a good idea to pick him up when you had Bernardino? Again, we sure piss away money.

 

Bottom line? I think it works out to about $200K per inning?

[moonslav59]

Mr. Rodriguez saga

 

Signed for $1.5M in 2023 with club option for $4.25M in 2024. The Sox DECLINED the option, paying him $500K in the process. Then the Sox signs him for $2M to pitch in 2024.

 

In both 2023 and 2024, he appeared in 11 games, pitching 11 innings both year and giving up 8 earned runs both year. ERA of identical 6.55.

 

Who in the hell thought it was a good idea to pick him up when you had Bernardino? Again, we sure piss away money.

 

Can't argue with this, but you hit on some and miss on some. Jacques and Joely were big misses. Campbell might be, but he deserves some time in AAA to earn a shot again.

 

Slaten looks golden.

Weissert has been okay.

Criswell has looked good, so far.

Anderson looked okay, until his last game.

Bernardino was a steal (2023)

 

Edited April 28, 2024 by moonslav59

[Nick]

OPS by positions in AL

 

1st Catcher

1st Left Field

2nd Right Field

4th 1B

8th DH

9th SS

13th 2B

14th 3B

14th CF

[Nick]

Can't argue with this, but you hit on some and miss on some. Jacques and Joely were big misses. Campbell might be, but he deserves some time in AAA to earn a shot again.

 

Slaten looks golden.

Weissert has been okayc

Criswell has looked good, so far.

Anderson looked okay, until his last game.

Bernardino was a steal (2023)

 

 

I realize Bernardino had AAA option but I didn't see how HIS production warranted his demotion, especially in comparison to Rodriquez. Someone was in Joely's corner.

[moonslav59]

I realize Bernardino had AAA option but I didn't see how HIS production warranted his demotion, especially in comparison to Rodriquez. Someone was in Joely's corner.

 

I was with you back on opening day. I also felt like Bernardino should have been on the 26.

 

I do remember someone talking about options and keeping as many pitchers on the team as possible, but Joely was a huge bust.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Mr. Rodriguez saga

 

Signed for $1.5M in 2023 with club option for $4.25M in 2024. The Sox DECLINED the option, paying him $500K in the process. Then the Sox signs him for $2M to pitch in 2024.

 

In both 2023 and 2024, he appeared in 11 games, pitching 11 innings both year and giving up 8 earned runs both year. ERA of identical 6.55.

 

 

Consistent pitching costs money.

[Nick]

Consistent pitching costs money.

 

Very good.

[moonslav59]

I realize Bernardino had AAA option but I didn't see how HIS production warranted his demotion, especially in comparison to Rodriquez. Someone was in Joely's corner.

 

I agree.

 

Some might have felt 2023 was a fluke, but that season was better than anything Joely ever did.

 

They must have saw some hope in Joely, just as someone did in Bernardino, last season.

 

I get the feeling had Joely done well, and Weissert s*****, we might be saying the same thing about him and Bernardino, despite him being RH'd.

 

These kinds of choices are made every spring- right or wrong.

[Elktonnick]

Dalbec did himself no favors tonight. If he is lucky they option him to Worcester. I think he has one left. I just do not think he will ever figure out major league pitching.

[Larry Cook]

I realize Bernardino had AAA option but I didn't see how HIS production warranted his demotion, especially in comparison to Rodriquez. Someone was in Joely's corner.

 

Joely is finally gone!!!!

 

How exciting is that

[Dojji]

Quite happy with Rafaela as an every day shortstop BTW. We need to figure 2B out, but at least for this year I'm not in favor of sending cedanne back into the outfield unless it's necessary. He's obviously raw but the talent is pretty obvious. here's hoping he develops. Edited April 29, 2024 by Dojji

[Hugh2]

Quite happy with Rafaela as an every day shortstop BTW. We need to figure 2B out, but at least for this year I'm not in favor of sending cedanne back into the outfield unless it's necessary. He's obviously raw but the talent is pretty obvious. here's hoping he develops.

 

I don't disagree, but I can see a scenario where Rafaela becomes the full time centerfielder again.

 

If Mayer pushes down on the farm all year and absolutely shoves and is mashing in Worcester, I can see Rafaela moving back to the outfield to make room for him at SS. Between the health and production of Duran/Abreu/O'Neill/Grissom things could look a lot different. But I was a big fan of him moving to SS, the Sox planned on playing him there once a week allegedly anyways which I'm a big fan of.

[Hugh2]

Sox are making all the moves I had been calling for at various points. Garret Cooper was one of the bats I suggested in the offseason when it was obvious they were going cheap, I figured he's be a great platoon option and offer production against LHP. And recently Bernardino called up, Joely gone, Cam Booser up.

[moonslav59]

Joely is finally gone!!!!

 

How exciting is that

 

Good sign that this management team is quicker with the ax.

[moonslav59]

I don't disagree, but I can see a scenario where Rafaela becomes the full time centerfielder again.

 

If Mayer pushes down on the farm all year and absolutely shoves and is mashing in Worcester, I can see Rafaela moving back to the outfield to make room for him at SS. Between the health and production of Duran/Abreu/O'Neill/Grissom things could look a lot different. But I was a big fan of him moving to SS, the Sox planned on playing him there once a week allegedly anyways which I'm a big fan of.

 

The other factor is how well Abreu and Refsnyder are doing. Right now, Duran is the struggling OF'er, but we aren't benching him, soon, and probably never.

 

Once that player, who has yet to play a game for the big club, finished rehab, our IF will be okay. Once Casas returns- better than okay.

 

I'm really proud of the job our catchers have done.

[Hugh2]

When the season looked lost a few players have stepped up to pick up the slack, sanwhiched around those 3 losses was going 3-3 against two good teams at the top of their divisions (although we just booted CHC to 2nd). We are on the cusp of starting to get some guys back, Pivetta soon, hopefully Bello is ok and Grissom coming back up. How well we perform this next week and how well these players perform when coming back can really set the tone moving forward.

[mvp 78]

I wouldn't say it's meaningless, but you can definitely make a case that its importance is way overstated, especially with the playoff crapshoot we now have. Last year Arizona with a -15 differential took out the Dodgers and their +207 differential in 3 straight.

 

Dodgers rotation when they finally got to the playoffs was garbage. Plus, Clayton Kershaw postseason effect.

[mvp 78]

I was with you back on opening day. I also felt like Bernardino should have been on the 26.

 

I do remember someone talking about options and keeping as many pitchers on the team as possible, but Joely was a huge bust.

 

There is an ongoing narrative about team control being king right now. Who cares about control over mediocre players?!?!?!?

[mvp 78]

Quite happy with Rafaela as an every day shortstop BTW. We need to figure 2B out, but at least for this year I'm not in favor of sending cedanne back into the outfield unless it's necessary. He's obviously raw but the talent is pretty obvious. here's hoping he develops.

 

The defense is there. The bat is not. I'm not sure the bat will ever get there. The extensions was signed prematurely IMO.

[moonslav59]

There is an ongoing narrative about team control being king right now. Who cares about control over mediocre players?!?!?!?

 

I agree. I was just reporting on some comments made about Bernardino starting the year in AAA. (I was against that idea, back then.)

[moonslav59]

The defense is there. The bat is not. I'm not sure the bat will ever get there. The extensions was signed prematurely IMO.

 

You always run the risk of him having a big year and not extending or getting much more.

 

It certainly was a gamble.

[mvp 78]

I don't disagree, but I can see a scenario where Rafaela becomes the full time centerfielder again.

 

If Mayer pushes down on the farm all year and absolutely shoves and is mashing in Worcester, I can see Rafaela moving back to the outfield to make room for him at SS. Between the health and production of Duran/Abreu/O'Neill/Grissom things could look a lot different. But I was a big fan of him moving to SS, the Sox planned on playing him there once a week allegedly anyways which I'm a big fan of.

 

Mayer is only hitting 830 in AA (23% k rate). That's not exactly forcing a move up the system.

 

Devers '17 in AA: 944

Betts '14 in AA: 994

[mvp 78]

I agree. I was just reporting on some comments made about Bernardino starting the year in AAA. (I was against that idea, back then.)

 

I understand. If I'm quoting a post, it doesn't mean I'm necessarily criticizing the poster. It was just continuing the conversation about Bernardino being forced to AAA just because he had options and the worse pitcher did not.

[mvp 78]

You always run the risk of him having a big year and not extending or getting much more.

 

It certainly was a gamble.

 

If he had a big year, the extension wouldn't have been much larger IMO. They are already paying him as if he can hit. He's overpaid if he doesn't figure out the bat based on other FA OFers that are good glove, bad bat.