So What Would You Do on April 13th ?

[vegasbob]

The fanatics have absorbed the great start , and seen the weak homestand , already on a nasty slide.

 

Just picture that in an alternate universe , You have been given Breslow's job and as long as you stay under the lux tax, you literally have free rein to straighten the ship early. Granted no other team is looking to make serious moves yet, but what would you do to change this trajectory ?

 

You have lost Giolito, and Story. Pivetta is a question mark. Devers is iffy . Casas hasn't progressed much , if any. Yoshida is problematic as a very limited fielder, singles hitting DH. Your closer is a weird guy who can't throw strikes, consequently gives up no hits, except to the payroll. The three amigos ( Valdez, Hamilton, Reyes ) have butchered many plays in the field and combined are hitting only about .200 OPS better than O'Neill by himself. Gonzalez maybe could play but is injured himself for an indeterminate period. The starters have been very good, but short, so the bullpen which was good in the first 10 is now showing some wear and tear already.

 

Honestly, what would you do right now, including maintain status quo ??

 

Credit I think to Nick for already addressing this, but thought it could use its own thread, with all the good baseball people on Talksox. Better than bitching about the 2024 team with no offered solutions.

[moonslav59]

I'll keep watching, especially the younger players.

 

There should be a lot of fun moments, but not a lot of wins.

 

I'm thinking we sell off all 1 year players, this summer, and a 2 year guy or two.

 

I'm wondering what happens, this winter. I don't think Sox Nation will tolerate another "Full throttle" sham.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Tanking won't guarantee a top draft pick, since this year's lottery includes all 18 non-playoff teams. Still:

 

1. Don't trade any top prospects. You can't get there from here.

 

2. Trade Jansen, Martin, O'Neill asap -- before they break down. They all have some value now, and will probably yield some return in June deals; waiting until the last minute on the last day in July is too Bloom, and too risky with their ages and histories.

 

3. If they refuse to use Ceddanne at shortstop, then don't look in the bargain bins for someone the A's cut like Pablo Reyes last summer. Pay for the best glove on the bench of some also-ran.

 

Just buy him -- the investment is too important to the integrity and reputation of the franchise this summer... fans simply won't watch anymore if the defense is an embarrassment; not after last year, and not after this week looking like a rerun.

 

We can say we'll always watch our team, but if there's one thing true baseball lovers -- and that's guys that post about it 365 days a year -- can't tolerate, it's crap D.

[jad]

As owner or GM, I would count my cash, make vacation plans, and shake my head thinking "I can't believe my customers still pay money to see this cr*p."

[Old Red]

Tanking won't guarantee a top draft pick, since this year's lottery includes all 18 non-playoff teams. Still:

 

1. Don't trade any top prospects. You can't get there from here.

 

2. Trade Jansen, Martin, O'Neill asap -- before they break down. They all have some value now, and will probably yield some return in June deals; waiting until the last minute on the last day in July is too Bloom, and too risky with their ages and histories.

 

3. If they refuse to use Ceddanne at shortstop, then don't look in the bargain bins for someone the A's cut like Pablo Reyes last summer. Pay for the best glove on the bench of some also-ran.

 

Just buy him -- the investment is too important to the integrity and reputation of the franchise this summer... fans simply won't watch anymore if the defense is an embarrassment; not after last year, and not after this week looking like a rerun.

 

We can say we'll always watch our team, but if there's one thing true baseball lovers -- and that's guys that post about it 365 days a year -- can't tolerate, it's crap D.

Integrity, and reputation of the franchise? The zRed Sox have been an embarrassment all around MLB for a few years now. Look at all the candidates that was beating down Sam’s door for an opportunity for the job that Bloom left behind, or should I say lack of candidates. EMBARRASSING.🙈🤭

[notin]

Tanking won't guarantee a top draft pick, since this year's lottery includes all 18 non-playoff teams. Still:

 

1. Don't trade any top prospects. You can't get there from here.

 

2. Trade Jansen, Martin, O'Neill asap -- before they break down. They all have some value now, and will probably yield some return in June deals; waiting until the last minute on the last day in July is too Bloom, and too risky with their ages and histories.

 

3. If they refuse to use Ceddanne at shortstop, then don't look in the bargain bins for someone the A's cut like Pablo Reyes last summer. Pay for the best glove on the bench of some also-ran.

 

Just buy him -- the investment is too important to the integrity and reputation of the franchise this summer... fans simply won't watch anymore if the defense is an embarrassment; not after last year, and not after this week looking like a rerun.

 

We can say we'll always watch our team, but if there's one thing true baseball lovers -- and that's guys that post about it 365 days a year -- can't tolerate, it's crap D.

 

2. No one is buying or selling yet. Short term contracts like these might not be in demand

 

3. Pay for whose bench bat? And with what? We can’t chastise the Red Sox for not having a backup SS and then expect some other team to deal theirs away mindlessly.

 

The SS options are largely limited to internal right now. The Sox recently passed on Livan Soto on the waiver wire so they’ll have to see what else presents itself there. Others will as team replace injured players with non-40 man alternatives. And as May 1 approaches, it’s quite possible some shortstops on minor league deals invoke their upward mobility clauses…

[Bellhorn04]

I'll keep watching, especially the younger players.

 

There should be a lot of fun moments, but not a lot of wins.

 

I'm thinking we sell off all 1 year players, this summer, and a 2 year guy or two.

 

I'm wondering what happens, this winter. I don't think Sox Nation will tolerate another "Full throttle" sham.

 

 

The question was about if you are Breslow.

[notin]

The question was about if you are Breslow.

 

If I had Breslow’s job?

 

1. Suggest Rafaela move to SS temporarily. His primary position will be CF, but he’s under control for 8 more years; playing SS for a month or two won’t kill his development.

 

2. Demote Hamilton and recall Refsnyder. The OF alignment would be O’Neill in LF, Duran in CF, Abreu/Refsnyder in RF.

 

3. Count the minutes until the essentially useless Enmanuel Valdez can be demoted and replaced with Vaughn Grissom. Hope Cora starts Reyes over Valdez.

 

4. Be ready to claim any defense-oriented shortstops on the waiver wire. Maybe even work out a trade if possible.

[mvp 78]

Seppuku

[Bellhorn04]

If I was Breslow I'd be focused on investing my pay from the Sox well as long as it lasts.

[notin]

If I was Breslow I'd be focused on investing my pay from the Sox well as long as it lasts.

 

Justifying his inactivity?

[Bellhorn04]

Justifying his inactivity?

 

'Twas merely a jest.

[notin]

Carlos Correa to the IL.

 

With Royce Lewis also injured, the Twins infielder depth is also taxed. Utility players Willi Castro and Kyle Farmer are now in starting roles. Neither is a defensive whiz.

 

So basically the injured SS market is heating up…

[mvp 78]

SS are playing at max effort because of that danged driveline!

[Bellhorn04]

SS are playing at max effort because of that danged driveline!

 

They're going to need a whole new unit to address the fielding.

[Randy Red Sox]

2. No one is buying or selling yet. Short term contracts like these might not be in demand

 

3. Pay for whose bench bat? And with what? We can’t chastise the Red Sox for not having a backup SS and then expect some other team to deal theirs away mindlessly.

 

The SS options are largely limited to internal right now. The Sox recently passed on Livan Soto on the waiver wire so they’ll have to see what else presents itself there. Others will as team replace injured players with non-40 man alternatives. And as May 1 approaches, it’s quite possible some shortstops on minor league deals invoke their upward mobility clauses…

 

whatever happened to the shortstop Bloom signed last year that spent the whole year on the DL?? Is he not healthy by now??

[Randy Red Sox]

If I had Breslow’s job?

 

1. Suggest Rafaela move to SS temporarily. His primary position will be CF, but he’s under control for 8 more years; playing SS for a month or two won’t kill his development.

 

2. Demote Hamilton and recall Refsnyder. The OF alignment would be O’Neill in LF, Duran in CF, Abreu/Refsnyder in RF.

 

3. Count the minutes until the essentially useless Enmanuel Valdez can be demoted and replaced with Vaughn Grissom. Hope Cora starts Reyes over Valdez.

 

4. Be ready to claim any defense-oriented shortstops on the waiver wire. Maybe even work out a trade if possible.

 

anyone have a clue when Grissom might be ready? I assume he will need a long rehab stint in AAA given he really had no spring training.

[notin]

anyone have a clue when Grissom might be ready? I assume he will need a long rehab stint in AAA given he really had no spring training.

 

Early May?

 

So far he has played one game in Worcester…

[notin]

whatever happened to the shortstop Bloom signed last year that spent the whole year on the DL?? Is he not healthy by now??

 

He missed last year and no one signed him as a free agent.

 

No one signed Elvis Andrus, either. Why is Breslow not on this? Does someone in the Sox org hate Elvis?

[Randy Red Sox]

i agree with those who say to deal every one on 1 yr deals like Martin, Janssen, O'Neill, etc. Get as many prospects as possible given that Henry refuses to allow any big name FA signings. I would try and get what I could too for Story but that will be tough given his injury. Sox need to stop trying to simply stay competitive and truly rebuild. And then unless there are NO SP prospects ranked near where we draft I take a P with our 1st rd pick and another P in either round 2 or 3. Sox have done a good job with position players in the system but the P depth in the minors is terrible.

[Randy Red Sox]

Early May?

 

So far he has played one game in Worcester…

 

that is good to know. i did not know he had started rehab. Early May sounds about right then.

[mvp 78]

Early May?

 

So far he has played one game in Worcester…

 

And as a DH

[wyo-sox]

Our pitching has been the closest thing to a strength that we have had this year. It won't be for long. Poor defense and injuries will destroy starting pitching... which will result in the bullpen getting over taxed (bullpen still kinda unproven anyway).

 

To try to save the pitching- I'd try to go with a very unconventional rotation. Something like batteries of three pitchers, each going a max of three innings- and a fourth for the 9th inning if necessary. Those guys could pitch every 3 or 4 days. Our pitchers look good early- lets just let Bello do 3, Houck do 3 Wink do 2-3.... do a similar battery the next day.

 

Maybe when Devers and VG are on the infield the defense looks a little better... I'm not big on Devers for defense... but he's better than the three we are using now. I think you have to somehow find a veteran utility guy that can play defense. As far as offense... I see no solution.

[Randy Red Sox]

And as a DH

 

and went 0/3

[Maxbialystock]

Our pitching has been the closest thing to a strength that we have had this year. It won't be for long. Poor defense and injuries will destroy starting pitching... which will result in the bullpen getting over taxed (bullpen still kinda unproven anyway).

 

To try to save the pitching- I'd try to go with a very unconventional rotation. Something like batteries of three pitchers, each going a max of three innings- and a fourth for the 9th inning if necessary. Those guys could pitch every 3 or 4 days. Our pitchers look good early- lets just let Bello do 3, Houck do 3 Wink do 2-3.... do a similar battery the next day.

 

Maybe when Devers and VG are on the infield the defense looks a little better... I'm not big on Devers for defense... but he's better than the three we are using now. I think you have to somehow find a veteran utility guy that can play defense. As far as offense... I see no solution.

 

Interesting, but I believe the 5 man rotation has worked pretty well so far, the bullpen has been almost decent, and the Sox team ERA, 2.47, is still ranked #1.

 

To me the real problem, which the new CBO can't do much to fix in the short term is that, out of the $180M current payroll--11th biggest in MLB--$100M isn't playing for the Sox: Devers $29M; Story $23M; Giolito $18M; Pivetta $8M; Sale $17M; and Turner $7M.

 

You can almost tack on Yoshida's $18M because he ain't delivering on that salary.

 

So, let's see, now we're at roughly $60M worth of players who can actually play. Thank goodness the 5 original starters--Bello, Pivetta, Crawford, Whitlock, and Houck--are paid just $14M total.

 

Nevertheless, $60M, which does represent the value of the players actually able to play right now, is lower than the A's bottom of the barrel $63M.

 

So I go with moonslav's cautious approach. Watch and see. Maybe trade/dump the 1 year life cycle models like Jansen.

[wyo-sox]

Interesting, but I believe the 5 man rotation has worked pretty well so far, the bullpen has been almost decent, and the Sox team ERA, 2.47, is still ranked #1.

 

To me the real problem, which the new CBO can't do much to fix in the short term is that, out of the $180M current payroll--11th biggest in MLB--$100M isn't playing for the Sox: Devers $29M; Story $23M; Giolito $18M; Pivetta $8M; Sale $17M; and Turner $7M.

 

You can almost tack on Yoshida's $18M because he ain't delivering on that salary.

 

So, let's see, now we're at roughly $60M worth of players who can actually play. Thank goodness the 5 original starters--Bello, Pivetta, Crawford, Whitlock, and Houck--are paid just $14M total.

 

Nevertheless, $60M, which does represent the value of the players actually able to play right now, is lower than the A's bottom of the barrel $63M.

 

So I go with moonslav's cautious approach. Watch and see. Maybe trade/dump the 1 year life cycle models like Jansen.

 

I agree with all that for sure... and yes the pitching era has been great- I just doubt it's as good as the numbers show so far and suspect time will expose that sooner than later.

[gojohn99]

He missed last year and no one signed him as a free agent.

 

No one signed Elvis Andrus, either. Why is Breslow not on this? Does someone in the Sox org hate Elvis?

 

 

Andrus has to be better than what we have now in the infield.

[wyo-sox]

Let me as you this.... we get past the all star break... we are obviously on track to lose enough that we are going to be in the basement again. Devers goes on a hot streak with HR's- you open to trading him to a team that needs a bat to push through the play offs? I certainly am. He's not shown me he is good enough to carry the team, or to build a team around. What is the purpose of paying him all this money for the next few years when the team won't be able to compete?

[oldtimer]

Seppuku

 

I personally am thinking on going on the IL list for the season.

[Bellhorn04]

Let me as you this.... we get past the all star break... we are obviously on track to lose enough that we are going to be in the basement again. Devers goes on a hot streak with HR's- you open to trading him to a team that needs a bat to push through the play offs? I certainly am. He's not shown me he is good enough to carry the team, or to build a team around. What is the purpose of paying him all this money for the next few years when the team won't be able to compete?

 

Devers is in the first year of a 10 year extension paying him $313.5 million. Who's going to take that on for us, especially with him missing games with nagging shoulder pain?