A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[mvp 78]

Indeed. It's hard to coach away from "all or nothing."

 

It just has to happen.

 

Maybe Grissom will add more consistency from the 2B slot on O and D.

 

Not having Casas hurts like hell.

 

Our catchers have done well, so far, but have both seen hot and cold streaks. I'm not sure they can continue near this pace.

 

Devers has heated up and needs to have anear career year.

 

Rafaela at SS is what he is: a work in progress.

 

Duran has been ht and cold. Abreu started out cold, then got hot. O'Neill has been pretty consistently good, except with men on base.

 

I agree about Casas. Without Casas, this lineup just feels really top heavy. The bottom half of the lineup just seems really weak to me. Short/Hamilton and Rafaela hitting back to back is an easy two outs for opposing pitchers.

[mvp 78]

Also, none of the backup 1B's have really provided anything: Dalbec, Smith, Cooper... It's been a huge dropoff.

[mvp 78]

I think you're right, but the espn stats on the Sox say O'Neill's DWAR is -0.4, tied with Casas for lowest DWAR on the team. In his brief return (to date), Refsnyder is actually worse with a -0.3 DWAR in just 12 games. The three best DWAR's on the Sox to date are Duran's +0.7, Abreu's +0.4, and Rafaela's +0.4. Rafaela also leads the Sox in errors with 6.

 

O'Neill's defense has been underwhelming to say the least. -2 DRS, -2 OAA, for a guy that came in as "former CFer and GG winner."

[notin]

O'Neill's defense has been underwhelming to say the least. -2 DRS, -2 OAA, for a guy that came in as "former CFer and GG winner."

 

Some of not all of that could be playing time and opportunities.

 

O’Neill so far has only 34 putouts in 180 innings in the outfield. Verdugo leads MLB with 71.

 

So maybe some of that is missed time plus pitchers who might not give up as many flyballs…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The fact that there are those who criticize Yoshi because a ball got lodged in the light says more about the social attitudes of the posters than it does about Yoshi. What I've seen of him suggests that he's serviceable out there, and there have been many RS outfielders who were not.

 

Not sure which Yoshida posts you're using to discern social attitudes of posters. Mine stated two facts: the play that he missed that broke the light last year, and Cora stating publicly that Yoshida won't be playing much left field this year.

 

I've always defended Yoshida for making the routine plays and hitting the cutoffs, and have never criticized his D -- like I have numerous times with Franchy (wherever he played) and Duran, the year he just stood there and watched an inside-the-parker.

 

But if the manager is staying away from Masa in the field, then the Sox have obviously decided he's too much of a risk to be a regular there.

[moonslav59]

I think you're right, but the espn stats on the Sox say O'Neill's DWAR is -0.4, tied with Casas for lowest DWAR on the team. In his brief return (to date), Refsnyder is actually worse with a -0.3 DWAR in just 12 games. The three best DWAR's on the Sox to date are Duran's +0.7, Abreu's +0.4, and Rafaela's +0.4. Rafaela also leads the Sox in errors with 6.

 

I think O'Neill is fine in LF.

 

vs RHPs:

Duran in LF

Rafaela in CF

Abreu in RF

O'Neill DH

 

However, I want Ref batting vs LHPs, so I'd DH him on those days. I want O'Neill batting FT, so someone else sits vs LHPs.

 

LF O'Neill

CF Rafaela

RF Abreu

Bench: Duran vs LHPs- maybe Abreu for some.

[notin]

The fact that there are those who criticize Yoshi because a ball got lodged in the light says more about the social attitudes of the posters than it does about Yoshi. What I've seen of him suggests that he's serviceable out there, and there have been many RS outfielders who were not.

 

I really don’t think of him as a gifted defender, but as I stated before, outside of Yastrzemski, the Red Sox have never really had anyone with a good glove in LF. O’Neill is the only one to come in with a reputation and some accompanying hardware, but he might not spend a ton of time out there.

 

I’m more critical of Devers and Casas on defense than I am of Yoshida…

[notin]

Not sure which Yoshida posts you're using to discern social attitudes of posters. Mine stated two facts: the play that he missed that broke the light last year, and Cora stating publicly that Yoshida won't be playing much left field this year.

 

I've always defended Yoshida for making the routine plays and hitting the cutoffs, and have never criticized his D -- like I have numerous times with Franchy (wherever he played) and Duran, the year he just stood there and watched an inside-the-parker.

 

But if the manager is staying away from Masa in the field, then the Sox have obviously decided he's too much of a risk to be a regular there.

 

Duran watching Raimel Tapia’s inside-the-park grand slam wasn’t so bad once he completely misjudged the ball. After that Verdugo was closer to the play and had a much better arm anyway. All chasing it down would for Duran is make him look better on TV.

 

Of course, he managed to limbo that bar anyway with his asinine press conference when he asked the world if they could catch a flyball obscured by the twilight.

 

“Gee, Jarren. It just doesn’t come up in my job as a manufacturing engineer. But as long as we’re asking people unfamiliar with the jobs, I bet I can catch a flyball in the twilight before you can validate a process using CpK.”

 

THAT was the low point for Duran in my eyes…

[moonslav59]

Benching Yoshida (or do your plans include the IL stint)?

 

It doesn't matter, because Rafaela is at SS, so there is no OF jam.

 

vs RHP:

LF: O'Neill

CF: Duran

RF: Abreu

DH: Yoshida (when healthy)

 

vs LHPs:

LF: O'Neill/Refsnyder

CF: Duran

RF: Abreu/O'Neill

DH: Refsnyder/Yoshida

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Duran watching Raimel Tapia’s inside-the-park grand slam wasn’t so bad once he completely misjudged the ball. After that Verdugo was closer to the play and had a much better arm anyway. All chasing it down would for Duran is make him look better on TV.

 

Of course, he managed to limbo that bar anyway with his asinine press conference when he asked the world if they could catch a flyball obscured by the twilight.

 

“Gee, Jarren. It just doesn’t come up in my job as a manufacturing engineer. But as long as we’re asking people unfamiliar with the jobs, I bet I can catch a flyball in the twilight before you can validate a process using CpK.”

 

THAT was the low point for Duran in my eyes…

 

Seem to recall those were the days he was "still researching."

 

But I give him all the credit for overcoming mental health issues to become a borderline offensive star in the AL. He didn't have to tell the world, especially about something that remains an ongoing challenge, but he did, in the hopes that it might help others.

[jad]

Not sure which Yoshida posts you're using to discern social attitudes of posters. Mine stated two facts: the play that he missed that broke the light last year, and Cora stating publicly that Yoshida won't be playing much left field this year.

 

I've always defended Yoshida for making the routine plays and hitting the cutoffs, and have never criticized his D -- like I have numerous times with Franchy (wherever he played) and Duran, the year he just stood there and watched an inside-the-parker.

 

But if the manager is staying away from Masa in the field, then the Sox have obviously decided he's too much of a risk to be a regular there.

 

I don't recall you saying anything against him. Just a lot of posts (this year and last--no idea who wrote them) claiming he was a horrible defender; and blaming him for the light incident (it would have been cool had that been Manny!) They may be right about his bad defense, but there's been no evidence of that in the games I've seen.

[Larry Cook]

Come July, what kind of haul can we get for pivetta, Jansen, Martin and o’Neil ?????

[Maxbialystock]

Come July, what kind of haul can we get for pivetta, Jansen, Martin and o’Neil ?????

 

I hope the FO looks at where the team is when they make those decisions in July. If, for example, the Sox are 62-46 in late July, maybe it would make sense to keep one or more of the four you've named.

[Larry Cook]

O’Neill so far has only 34 putouts in 180 innings in the outfield. Verdugo leads MLB with 71.

 

After one month of the season, how do we rate the verdugo trade?????

[notin]

I hope the FO looks at where the team is when they make those decisions in July. If, for example, the Sox are 62-46 in late July, maybe it would make sense to keep one or more of the four you've named.

 

If the Sox are 62-46, they better not be in Sell Mode…

[vegasbob]

After one month of the season, how do we rate the verdugo trade?????

 

Moving Verdugo was a good decision . He is an airhead who will eventually disappoint then trash his team.

[vegasbob]

If the Sox are 62-46, they better not be in Sell Mode…

 

The Sox will not be 62-46 at the deadline, more in the range 54-54, +- 3 games either way. They should be sellers of a sort at that time, particularly Jansen and Martin. Pivetta may tough to eliminate either due to physical status, or due to lack of alternative pitchers. I would require a premium for Pivetta, because the Red Sox will need to replace him for next season.

[Old Red]

The Sox will not be 62-46 at the deadline, more in the range 54-54, +- 3 games either way. They should be sellers of a sort at that time, particularly Jansen and Martin. Pivetta may tough to eliminate either due to physical status, or due to lack of alternative pitchers. I would require a premium for Pivetta, because the Red Sox will need to replace him for next season.

 

I hope the FO looks at where the team is when they make those decisions in July. If, for example, the Sox are 62-46 in late July, maybe it would make sense to keep one or more of the four you've named.

 

If the Sox are 62-46 at any point they’d better be in a buy mode. Before the season, or during the season some are always in a sell mode on here. I know the bar for the Red Sox has been set so low, and anything with a 500, or better season will look like a success, but this constant worrying about selling is comical.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

After one month of the season, how do we rate the verdugo trade?????

 

Worst trade ever.

 

Just yesterday, a young girl caller on MLB Channel asked for advice on how she could be the best ballplayer possible. "The same thing I live by," replied the big league shortstop and MLB leader in WAR, OBP, runs scored, and walks. "Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can't do."

 

The host said that's why Mookie Betts is the best.

 

Maybe some day, Connor Wong and Richard Fitts will form an All-Star battery in Boston... and it will still be the worst trade in Red Sox history.

[moonslav59]

Worst trade ever.

 

Just yesterday, a young girl caller on MLB Channel asked for advice on how she could be the best ballplayer possible. "The same thing I live by," replied the big league shortstop and MLB leader in WAR, OBP, runs scored, and walks. "Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can't do."

 

The host said that's why Mookie Betts is the best.

 

Maybe some day, Connor Wong and Richard Fitts will form an All-Star battery in Boston... and it will still be the worst trade in Red Sox history.

 

We already have a Weissert-Wong battery.

 

Weissert is third in team ERA and 2nd in RP IP.

 

Wong is hitting .950.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Moving Verdugo was a good decision . He is an airhead who will eventually disappoint then trash his team.

 

Weissert has been an important reliever so far.

 

More importantly, Abreu has seized the opportunity as the new rightfielder to become a key member of both the offense and defense.

 

2024 Verdugo: .261, .770, 0.9 WAR; 2024 Abreu: .297, .853, 1.5 WAR

[Bellhorn04]

If the Sox are 62-46 at any point they’d better be in a buy mode. Before the season, or during the season some are always in a sell mode on here. I know the bar for the Red Sox has been set so low, and anything with a 500, or better season will look like a success, but this constant worrying about selling is comical.

 

On this point you and I are in total agreement.

[jad]

Worst trade ever.

 

Just yesterday, a young girl caller on MLB Channel asked for advice on how she could be the best ballplayer possible. "The same thing I live by," replied the big league shortstop and MLB leader in WAR, OBP, runs scored, and walks. "Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can't do."

 

The host said that's why Mookie Betts is the best.

 

Maybe some day, Connor Wong and Richard Fitts will form an All-Star battery in Boston... and it will still be the worst trade in Red Sox history.

 

Alas, it's pointless to argue with someone who is of the "Whatever is, is right" school of philosophy.

[Hugh2]

Alex Verdugo is having a good but not great year so far, very Alex Verdugo like. A .770 OPS vs. his .766 career OPS. He's notoriously been a fast starter and is in Yankee stadium which should be helping him.

 

Weissert - 1.20 ERA 9.6 K/9 1.8 BB/9 he has been one of our better relievers. He also has 2 options remaining and 6 years of team control compared to Verdugos 1. (inlcluding this year)

 

Richard Fitts - currently our top pitching prospect. #6 in the system has a 3.72 ERA down on the farm. Probably a back of the rotation starter, but you just don't know with pitchers. Crawford and Houck all had back end starter profiles coming up to, this is how you develop pitching. You get talented arms. 6 years of team control

 

Nicholas Judice - Has yet to pitch a game, was just drafted last year, will start soon. 6 foot 8 and throws high 90's. High range of outcomes but the kind of arm you can dream on.

 

Yankees got fleeced.

[Bellhorn04]

Alex Verdugo is having a good but not great year so far, very Alex Verdugo like. A .770 OPS vs. his .766 career OPS. He's notoriously been a fast starter and is in Yankee stadium which should be helping him.

 

Weissert - 1.20 ERA 9.6 K/9 1.8 BB/9 he has been one of our better relievers. He also has 2 options remaining and 6 years of team control compared to Verdugos 1. (inlcluding this year)

 

Richard Fitts - currently our top pitching prospect. #6 in the system has a 3.72 ERA down on the farm. Probably a back of the rotation starter, but you just don't know with pitchers. Crawford and Houck all had back end starter profiles coming up to, this is how you develop pitching. You get talented arms. 6 years of team control

 

Nicholas Judice - Has yet to pitch a game, was just drafted last year, will start soon. 6 foot 8 and throws high 90's. High range of outcomes but the kind of arm you can dream on.

 

Yankees got fleeced.

 

Yeah, looks like a superb trade by Breslow.

[mvp 78]

After one month of the season, how do we rate the verdugo trade?????

 

B+

 

Fitts has been good. Weissert has been good. Juidice hasn't pitched yet. They replaced Verdugo on the field via other means.

[moonslav59]

Yeah, looks like a superb trade by Breslow.

 

Plus, it was one year of Dugo for 5+ years or Weissert and 5+ years of Fitts, along with throw-in, Judice.

 

We had Rafaela and Abreu banging on the door, and too many LH'd OF'ers.

 

One could also compare Dugo to O'Neill, as Dugo's contract paid for him. (Abreu was already on the team, but yes, he gets more playing time by trading Dugo.)

 

This trade sort of reminds me of the Beni trade. That trade brought us 5 players- some like Cordero have already flamed out, but Wink has given us more value than a year or two of beni would have, back then. (We also have Gambrell from that deal.) One can argue, we used the "money saved" to sign Renfroe, but one could also argue we signed marwin with that "saved money."

[moonslav59]

On this point you and I are in total agreement.

 

Is it really "worrying," or just banter?

[mvp 78]

The Sox will not be 62-46 at the deadline, more in the range 54-54, +- 3 games either way. They should be sellers of a sort at that time, particularly Jansen and Martin. Pivetta may tough to eliminate either due to physical status, or due to lack of alternative pitchers. I would require a premium for Pivetta, because the Red Sox will need to replace him for next season.

 

If they are at or near .500, they should sell. IF they are 16 games above .500, they should buy IMO.

[Old Red]

The Sox will not be 62-46 at the deadline, more in the range 54-54, +- 3 games either way. They should be sellers of a sort at that time, particularly Jansen and Martin. Pivetta may tough to eliminate either due to physical status, or due to lack of alternative pitchers. I would require a premium for Pivetta, because the Red Sox will need to replace him for next season.

 

On this point you and I are in total agreement.

 

We know how things worked out the last two years as it was, but we don’t know how things would have worked out if Bloom would have added some pitching last year like the PLAYERS were calling for.