A Realistic View at 2024: Part III

[notin]

Might it have meant there is just too much competition at LF/2B?

 

If it was about the "not hacking BOS," I agree that is and always has been BS.

 

 

Who is the competition at 2b? Especially when you keep in mind he’s a Grissom Hater, too…

[Bellhorn04]

I was surprised how many Astro players were against it. According to Martino, Altuve, for example, got mad at anyone who banged the garbage can during his plate appearances.

 

And let’s not forget the whole scandal came to light when one player blew the whistle…

 

Yes he did, and that did take some guts, but it was also well after the fact of the 2017 championship.

[Bellhorn04]

Who is the competition at 2b? Especially when you keep in mind he’s a Grissom Hater, too…

 

Story/Mayer...

[Bellhorn04]

And Hinch was punished. But he was allegedly far from complicit…

 

He was absolutely complicit. Silent is complicit.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Hinch knew it was going on and did not stop it. He was the manager. At worst, he'd tied for most responsible with anyone else. If Hinch said stop, it stops.

 

Even more responsible than the entire department that devised the system and suggested its implementation before a bench coach scapegoat was hired?

[notin]

Story/Mayer...

 

So two guys not in Boston?

 

If nothing else, Valdez/Hamilton/Westbrook/Romy shows how thin that position is at the top level right now. And Yorke was a full level ahead of Mayer…

[notin]

Even more responsible than the entire department that devised the system and suggested its implementation before a bench coach scapegoat was hired?

 

The bench coach/scapegoat implemented it. He was brought in due to his understanding of analytics (where he’s still apparently among the best in MLB), but Cora was the one who got the new video room set up. (In Houston, the video rooms are further from the dugout than in most other stadiums.)

[moonslav59]

Even more responsible than the entire department that devised the system and suggested its implementation before a bench coach scapegoat was hired?

 

And Crane was later caught lying about knowing nothing about it.

[vegasbob]

Back to Realistic View: Part III

 

After 107 games, Sox are 7 over .500 with 55 to go , with about 29 of those with similar to better records, and some ahead in the 3 team WC race in the AL.

 

If the Sox finished the 55 games, also 7 over .500 31-24 , a considerable reach, their record would be 86-76. A big improvement on '22/'23 but enough to make WC #3 ? #1 WC looks to be Yankees if they don't flop again.

 

Twins, Royals, Mariners/Astros plus Red Sox will take #2 and #3 . 12 games of the 55 are against those 4 opponents, plus another 4 with NYY. The 7 over .500 is already a stretch for 55 games. The results of the 12 head to heads will be the test for Boston to prevail or succumb to almost, but not quite enough.

[notin]

Back to Realistic View: Part III

 

After 107 games, Sox are 7 over .500 with 55 to go , with about 29 of those with similar to better records, and some ahead in the 3 team WC race in the AL.

 

If the Sox finished the 55 games, also 7 over .500 31-24 , a considerable reach, their record would be 86-76. A big improvement on '22/'23 but enough to make WC #3 ? #1 WC looks to be Yankees if they don't flop again.

 

Twins, Royals, Mariners/Astros plus Red Sox will take #2 and #3 . 12 games of the 55 are against those 4 opponents, plus another 4 with NYY. The 7 over .500 is already a stretch for 55 games. The results of the 12 head to heads will be the test for Boston to prevail or succumb to almost, but not quite enough.

 

88-74

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The bench coach/scapegoat implemented it. He was brought in due to his understanding of analytics (where he’s still apparently among the best in MLB), but Cora was the one who got the new video room set up. (In Houston, the video rooms are further from the dugout than in most other stadiums.)

 

That was all in the MLB report -- the one that entirely omitted the true "masterminds" that worked in the front office that invented the whole thing before Cora was hired.

 

None of those specific employees were ever publicly excoriated for exploiting the latest tech to aid in a strategy that has always been a part of the game. But some of them got promoted.

[moonslav59]

Sox rankings by Month:

 

wRC+

12 April 102

22 May 95

6 June 120 (13th best wRC+ on June 30th)

3 July 128

 

Defense (fangraphs)

25 April -9.5

25 May -8.0

26 June -8.5 (26th best D on June 30th)

28 July -8.9

 

SP (fWAR)

2 April 4.5 (better than any other 2 months combined!)

15 May 2.1

17 June 1.5 (9th best rotation on June 30th)

12 July 1.7

 

RP

7 April 1.1

2 May 1.7

7 June 1.3 (3rd best pen up to June 30th!

29 July -1.1

[mvp 78]

I was surprised how many Astro players were against it. According to Martino, Altuve, for example, got mad at anyone who banged the garbage can during his plate appearances.

 

And let’s not forget the whole scandal came to light when one player blew the whistle…

 

Very believable!!!

[mvp 78]

So two guys not in Boston?

 

If nothing else, Valdez/Hamilton/Westbrook/Romy shows how thin that position is at the top level right now. And Yorke was a full level ahead of Mayer…

 

140 AB's at AAA is not that much further IMO. Also, Yorke played more games in LF than 2B for WOO I believe.

[mvp 78]

88-74

 

78 - 84 as it is written

[mvp 78]

And Crane was later caught lying about knowing nothing about it.

 

Every non-Cora person is just playing CYA about the it now. It's not a situation that has really been properly audited.

[moonslav59]

Who is the competition at 2b? Especially when you keep in mind he’s a Grissom Hater, too…

 

I've listed them several times, and Yorke was playing more LF than 2B, anyway, once promoted to AAA.

 

Here it is, again:

 

Story or Mayer

DHam

Grissom

Romy

Westbrook and Sogard were both called up over him.

EVladez hass till played more games at 2B than anyone else in 2024.

Campbell

Meidroth

Riemer

Soon to be: Romero, Cespedes, Zanetello, Arias

 

This is not to say all the guys are better or closer to ML ready, but we are deep in quantity over quality at 2B, and Yorke did not stand out any more than many on this list.

[mvp 78]

@BOSSportsGordo

Chase Anderson declined an outright AAA assignment after clearing waivers and is expected to hit free agency, per @ChrisCotillo.

 

Happy trails as they say.

[vegasbob]

88-74

 

Being realistic ( this is not a game thread) I am between your 88-74 , a considerable rush to the finish line, and MVP's 78-84 which smells of looking at recent history. I think 84-78 is doable and despite the Diamondback's run last year, it will be 1 or 2 games short of the #3WC.

 

At that point, I look at the FO who dithered before the deadline when Martin and Slaten were IL'ed to call up the Waste Management's special pickup division for help after the A-S break.

[mvp 78]

I've listed them several times, and Yorke was playing more LF than 2B, anyway, once promoted to AAA.

 

Here it is, again:

 

Story or Mayer

DHam

Grissom

Romy

Westbrook and Sogard were both called up over him.

EVladez hass till played more games at 2B than anyone else in 2024.

Campbell

Meidroth

Riemer

Soon to be: Romero, Cespedes, Zanetello, Arias

 

This is not to say all the guys are better or closer to ML ready, but we are deep in quantity over quality at 2B, and Yorke did not stand out any more than many on this list.

 

I don't believe Cespedes will be a 2B by the time he's in the upper minors.

[moonslav59]

I don't believe Cespedes will be a 2B by the time he's in the upper minors.

 

Probably not, but more chance there thanSS.

[Hugh2]

It's 10X easier to find another Yorke than it is another Priester. Priester is arguably a much better prospect, and Yorke doesn't really have a future in Boston. He's redundant, He doesn't have much over the fence power, he's a hit first prospect who hasn't hit in over two years except for the past month, and his defense is fringe average at best. We also have several prospects who will probably make a better second baseman than he will, some with a LOT more potential coming up behind him.

 

I'd make this trade over and over and over again if I could. Priester might not become a TOTRS, but if you make several moves like this.....one of those guys will.

[Hugh2]

I think Cespedes will be fine at 2nd, but if he hits as he's supposed to he will be just as fine in the outfield.

 

Mickey Romero is starting to turn things around down in the farm and Franklin Arias is another guy who may have a huge ceiling up the middle and unlike Yorke (and seemingly everyone else) he's right handed.

[mvp 78]

I think Cespedes will be fine at 2nd, but if he hits as he's supposed to he will be just as fine in the outfield.

 

Mickey Romero is starting to turn things around down in the farm and Franklin Arias is another guy who may have a huge ceiling up the middle and unlike Yorke (and seemingly everyone else) he's right handed.

 

Romero still has a long way to go and needs to start staying healthy.

 

Arias has been impressive this year. I didn't think he was supposed to project with the power that he's shown recently.

May 728 OPS

June 1103 OPS

July 1206 OPS (402 avg)

[mvp 78]

It's 10X easier to find another Yorke than it is another Priester. Priester is arguably a much better prospect, and Yorke doesn't really have a future in Boston. He's redundant, He doesn't have much over the fence power, he's a hit first prospect who hasn't hit in over two years except for the past month, and his defense is fringe average at best. We also have several prospects who will probably make a better second baseman than he will, some with a LOT more potential coming up behind him.

 

I'd make this trade over and over and over again if I could. Priester might not become a TOTRS, but if you make several moves like this.....one of those guys will.

 

notin is gonna come after you now.

[Hugh2]

notin is gonna come after you now.

 

IDK, he did say he liked the trade, he just didn’t get the Yorke hate around here. I can agree with that.

 

While Yorkers value wasn’t at an all time high, he obviously rebuilt a lot of it. Just because the Sox traded him doesn’t mean they didn’t like him either

 

That goes for every player the Sox trade away too, or at least 99% of them.

[moonslav59]

There was really just one poster who kept harping on the "wasted pick" Yorke was. I do think others lost faith or hope he'd come through, after some meh numbers he put up, until the recent AAA promotion.

 

I'm not sure many gave up on him, but some felt he was likely going to be best utilized as a LF'er, and we are loaded there, and look to be even more loaded in the OF, in the next 2-4 years. If he ends up being a MLB 2Bman, I won't be shocked, but I think he might be better suited for LF.

 

While 2B has been the team's weakest spot since 2019, we do have a bunch of players and prospects that have close to, equal or more promise at 2B than Yorke does.

 

Many of us have spoken of our need to trade everyday players and prospects for pitching, since we mostly draft everyday players and develop them better than we do pitchers.

 

This was an attempt to do that. I respect the attempt. Time will tell on the results.

[notin]

Being realistic ( this is not a game thread) I am between your 88-74 , a considerable rush to the finish line, and MVP's 78-84 which smells of looking at recent history. I think 84-78 is doable and despite the Diamondback's run last year, it will be 1 or 2 games short of the #3WC.

 

At that point, I look at the FO who dithered before the deadline when Martin and Slaten were IL'ed to call up the Waste Management's special pickup division for help after the A-S break.

 

I liked your 88-74 record. But I also agree it’s not going to be easy…

[Hitch]

If the Sox had a functioning bullpen, they easily have 3-4 more wins.

 

Extra innings have been especially deadly. I don’t think they’ve kept a ghost runner on base since the ASB…

 

While I don't dispute this, every team has hard luck stories that can add up to 3/4 wins.

 

We are where we are, and we deserve to be there.

[Hitch]

Being realistic ( this is not a game thread) I am between your 88-74 , a considerable rush to the finish line, and MVP's 78-84 which smells of looking at recent history. I think 84-78 is doable and despite the Diamondback's run last year, it will be 1 or 2 games short of the #3WC.

 

At that point, I look at the FO who dithered before the deadline when Martin and Slaten were IL'ed to call up the Waste Management's special pickup division for help after the A-S break.

 

This is me, too. I think we'll be just short.