April 10 Baltimore at Boston

[Bellhorn04]

*defensively

 

I'm saying offensively, too. Our RH hitting is abominable.

[Dipre]

I'm saying offensively, too. Our RH hitting is abominable.

 

It's been 12 games. Most of these guys have proven track records of production. I get the overreactive nature of this thread, but take a chill pill.

[Bellhorn04]

It's been 12 games. Most of these guys have proven track records of production. I get the overreactive nature of this thread, but take a chill pill.

 

Which of our RH hitters have a proven track record?

[Dipre]

Which of our RH hitters have a proven track record?

 

I'm talking about the offense overall.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm talking about the offense overall.

 

The same applies. Devers has a track record. Casas looks like a rising star. Duran has some promise. O'Neil has some pop. There's not much else.

[Dipre]

The same applies. Devers has a track record. Casas looks like a rising star. Duran has some promise. O'Neil has some pop. There's not much else.

 

I will make a friendly wage that this team, as currently constructed, scores 800 runs.

[Bellhorn04]

I will make a friendly wage that this team, as currently constructed, scores 800 runs.

 

I'm in, but what's this 'currently constructed' thing? Sounds like a qualifier to me.

[Dipre]

I'm in, but what's this 'currently constructed' thing? Sounds like a qualifier to me.

 

Well, that makes it impossible to quantify. Quite simply, the Sox score 800 runs this season.

[moonslav59]

Duran may be improved but is he good?

 

If you take Rafaela out of the picture I don't think it's going to be pretty.

 

I'm just looking at improvements (or not) from 2023- even if just slight.

[moonslav59]

I'm saying offensively, too. Our RH hitting is abominable.

 

It's interesting to note that our LHBs have a higher OPS vs LHPs than RHPs (.714 to .655) , so far, and our RHBs have a much better OPS vs RHP (.771 to .655.)

[mvp 78]

Duran may be improved but is he good?

 

If you take Rafaela out of the picture I don't think it's going to be pretty.

 

He's above average for LF. In CF? Probably below average. His athleticism plays up, but he doesn't have great instincts out there. His jump on balls is good because of his burst speed, not his reaction or route running. His arm was 102nd out of 151 in the league last year for OFers. He's a better fielder than 2024 Benintendi.

[mvp 78]

Quite pleasing to the eye, this thread. But this is what happens when two of what should be your best relievers are in the starting rotarion. The MRP corps of this team is another weakness to pair with the defense.

 

I always need eye wash after logging out.

[mvp 78]

I will make a friendly wage that this team, as currently constructed, scores 800 runs.

 

Oh come on. 800? That's a nope. Only 7 teams scored 800 last year.

[moonslav59]

Oh come on. 800? That's a nope. Only 7 teams scored 800 last year.

 

The Sox were 28 runs from 800 in 2023.

 

I doubt they hit 800, but they might come close to 772.

[mvp 78]

The Sox were 28 runs from 800 in 2023.

 

I doubt they hit 800, but they might come close to 772.

 

IDK, this offense seems like a downgrade from last year to me. This has 750 written all over it.

[notin]

Which of our RH hitters have a proven track record?

 

O'Neill

[mvp 78]

O'Neill

 

Likely to miss about 30 games to the IL at some point and hasn't been exceedingly productive since 2021. If they can manage his health, he'll be another in a long line of fun one year wonders for the Sox (VMart, Beltre, Cody Ross, Renfroe, Bay, etc).

[moonslav59]

IDK, this offense seems like a downgrade from last year to me. This has 750 written all over it.

 

It looks that way, now.

 

I expect Devers & Casas to step it up, but I doubt O'Neill keeps this up.

 

Grissom is a big question mark, but he should be an upgrade from the .663 OPS at 2B, last year.

 

O'Neill may do better than Duvall/Verdugo, but Rafaela/Abreu look scary on O, right now.

 

I expect better O from our catchers.

[mvp 78]

It looks that way, now.

 

I expect Devers & Casas to step it up, but I doubt O'Neill keeps this up.

 

Grissom is a big question mark, but he should be an upgrade from the .663 OPS at 2B, last year.

 

O'Neill may do better than Duvall/Verdugo, but Rafaela/Abreu look scary on O, right now.

 

I expect better O from our catchers.

 

To me, it's more about the loss of Turner. Even if O'Neill replaces Duvall/Verdugo production or whatever. Without Turner, there's just a missing piece in the middle of the order, especially now that Story is out.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

To me, it's more about the loss of Turner. Even if O'Neill replaces Duvall/Verdugo production or whatever. Without Turner, there's just a missing piece in the middle of the order, especially now that Story is out.

 

Missing a guy who doesn't miss as many pitches as most...

 

This Red Sox offense strikes out 10 times a game and is a threat to break the all-time whiff record set by last year's Twins: 1,654. That team also scored 778 runs.

[moonslav59]

To me, it's more about the loss of Turner. Even if O'Neill replaces Duvall/Verdugo production or whatever. Without Turner, there's just a missing piece in the middle of the order, especially now that Story is out.

 

Yes, we effectively replaced Turner with Rafaela/Abreu, as Yoshida's OF was filled by them. That's a huge drop. Grissom> 2023 2B, an increase from our catchers and O'Neill over Duvall/Verdugo probably can't make up the difference.

 

I was hoping for monster years by Devers and Casas, and an uptick at SS with Story, but that is not looking good after 2 weeks.

[Bellhorn04]

Well, that makes it impossible to quantify. Quite simply, the Sox score 800 runs this season.

 

It's a bet.

[Bellhorn04]

To me, it's more about the loss of Turner. Even if O'Neill replaces Duvall/Verdugo production or whatever. Without Turner, there's just a missing piece in the middle of the order, especially now that Story is out.

 

Losing Story was a bone crusher for a team as thin as ours was.

[mvp 78]

Losing Story was a bone crusher for a team as thin as ours was.

 

Yes. It's still a long season, but right now it looks like the best they can hope for is a slight downgrade from last year's offense. Someone is really going to have to step up BIGLY for the offense to get to 800 runs. Rafaela would have to hit like it's AAA. Casas and Devers would have to hit like near MVP's.

[moonslav59]

Yes. It's still a long season, but right now it looks like the best they can hope for is a slight downgrade from last year's offense. Someone is really going to have to step up BIGLY for the offense to get to 800 runs. Rafaela would have to hit like it's AAA. Casas and Devers would have to hit like near MVP's.

 

A full year from Duran and O'Neill might make a dent.

[Bellhorn04]

A full year from Duran and O'Neill might make a dent.

 

Or a dimple.

[Dipre]

Yes. It's still a long season, but right now it looks like the best they can hope for is a slight downgrade from last year's offense. Someone is really going to have to step up BIGLY for the offense to get to 800 runs. Rafaela would have to hit like it's AAA. Casas and Devers would have to hit like near MVP's.

 

I'm expecting overall improvements from last season from Casas, 2B (once Grissom gets going, and it was a black hole last year, so no problem) and Yoshida.

[Bellhorn04]

Breslow acknowledged that we needed another RH bat and then...well...he just didn't get one.

 

That's kind of the way it goes with this team now.

[moonslav59]

Breslow acknowledged that we needed another RH bat and then...well...he just didn't get one.

 

That's kind of the way it goes with this team now.

 

Grissom and Rafaela have not done much.

[Dipre]

Breslow acknowledged that we needed another RH bat and then...well...he just didn't get one.

 

That's kind of the way it goes with this team now.

 

I'm betting that Rafaela will explode for a 2.5-3 month stretch after making some adjustments, until pitchers figure out another flaw to exploit. He's not Javier Baez up there, and the swing speed and power generation are there.