A Realistic View at 2024: Part III

[dgalehouse]

Second guessing the manager's pitching moves is common fan behavior. The main problem with the Sox pen is simply too many ham and eggers out there. But it is not unreasonable to expect that Winckowski could close out a three-run lead. I can't fault Cora for that.

[mvp 78]

Second guessing the manager's pitching moves is common fan behavior. The main problem with the Sox pen is simply too many ham and eggers out there. But it is not unreasonable to expect that Winckowski could close out a three-run lead. I can't fault Cora for that.

 

It'd be one thing if he brought out Shugart or whoever. Winckowski should be able to get out of that.

[Old Red]

It'd be one thing if he brought out Shugart or whoever. Winckowski should be able to get out of that.

 

Wink is not the same pitcher as he was a year ago, but he should be better than last night.

[mvp 78]

Westbrook cleared waivers and was sent to WOO.

[moonslav59]

Asking "ham and egger" pen arms to get 4 outs an inning is too much.

 

The D has let this team down, way too much, this season. The pen has really sucked, too, but 4 outs is too much.

[notin]

Second guessing the manager's pitching moves is common fan behavior. The main problem with the Sox pen is simply too many ham and eggers out there. But it is not unreasonable to expect that Winckowski could close out a three-run lead. I can't fault Cora for that.

 

Chris Martin and Josh Winkoeski aren’t ham and eggers. Let’s not confuse them with Brennan Bernardino or Bailey Horn…

[vegasbob]

Asking "ham and egger" pen arms to get 4 outs an inning is too much.

 

The D has let this team down, way too much, this season. The pen has really sucked, too, but 4 outs is too much.

 

The manager, AC, is saddled with playing a revolving door of true rookies at key positions ( or out of position guys like Cedanne) in the infield . This is not the sign of a team making the playoffs. Story's and Grissom's season long injuries created the same problems in the field that the Giolito, Whitlock, Martin and other short term injuries in the rotation and BP .

 

The FO has failed to support this team with any kind of notable acquisition. This strict adherence to JH's business plan of internal development , lux tax avoidance and adequacy of young players was and is a sellout. Their semi-success to date and the 30,000+ attendance only reinforces that plan.

 

Games are being played , and not ones on the field. Fans are being played for fools.

[Bellhorn04]

The thing is they did the exact same crap last year when Story got hurt. Instead of signing an actual defensive SS they tried Kike. This year they've tried Rafaela, who clearly belongs in CF just like Kike, and a bunch of other guys.

 

It's deja vu all over again.

[dgalehouse]

This road trip will be the acid test to see if the Sox belong in it or not. The Orioles pitching is depleted with injuries and tired arms. And some of their young stars are struggling a bit. They haven't been playing all that great. Not the worst time to play them. And the Sox should be looking for some payback against Houston for what happened in Boston. Why the Sox don't play better at Fenway is a mystery, but this is an opportunity to show if they are a contender or a pretender.

[moonslav59]

The manager, AC, is saddled with playing a revolving door of true rookies at key positions ( or out of position guys like Cedanne) in the infield . This is not the sign of a team making the playoffs. Story's and Grissom's season long injuries created the same problems in the field that the Giolito, Whitlock, Martin and other short term injuries in the rotation and BP .

 

The FO has failed to support this team with any kind of notable acquisition. This strict adherence to JH's business plan of internal development , lux tax avoidance and adequacy of young players was and is a sellout. Their semi-success to date and the 30,000+ attendance only reinforces that plan.

 

Games are being played , and not ones on the field. Fans are being played for fools.

 

Agreed. I called this a "sham," and i still think the term fits.

 

That being said, our bench and young talent was deeper and better than many of us expected, and the planned kinda worked, except for the pitching.

 

After trying a few middle infielders, and then settling on Rafaela and a second stint from DHam and later additions like Romy and Sogard, we actually have seen better IF play over the last 6 weeks than we did in the first 3 months. Certainly, not great, especially on D, but much better. We've seen the OF go from one of baseball's worst, just a couple years ago to one of the best. We stumbled at 1B with dalbec and Cooper, but D Smith and Romy did stabilize that position wrecked by injury. The catching position was one area some felt we needed to make a signing. It turned out, we did not, and now the jansen addition is looking great. Some started to question the devers extension, after just one month into it. Not much of that, anymore.

 

Despite missing both starting MI'ers and our star 1Bman, as well as O'Neill for some extended time, our everyday players and player depth has been our strength- bad defense notwithstanding.

 

We botched the pitching staff, badly- both in terms of quality and quantity. Doing this for 5 straight years is inexcusable and unforgivable.

[mvp 78]

Chris Martin and Josh Winkoeski aren’t ham and eggers. Let’s not confuse them with Brennan Bernardino or Bailey Horn…

 

This is offensive to ham and eggers considering how Bernardino has pitched lately.

[mvp 78]

The thing is they did the exact same crap last year when Story got hurt. Instead of signing an actual defensive SS they tried Kike. This year they've tried Rafaela, who clearly belongs in CF just like Kike, and a bunch of other guys.

 

It's deja vu all over again.

 

No more Rafaela at SS, please. I keep seeing people say that Rafaela is good at SS and that the metrics are wrong, but he's just bad.

[mvp 78]

This road trip will be the acid test to see if the Sox belong in it or not. The Orioles pitching is depleted with injuries and tired arms. And some of their young stars are struggling a bit. They haven't been playing all that great. Not the worst time to play them. And the Sox should be looking for some payback against Houston for what happened in Boston. Why the Sox don't play better at Fenway is a mystery, but this is an opportunity to show if they are a contender or a pretender.

 

The next 10 games are HUGE.

 

At BAL 4

At HOU 3

Vs AZ 3

 

All are currently in the playoff picture.

[Old Red]

No more Rafaela at SS, please. I keep seeing people say that Rafaela is good at SS and that the metrics are wrong, but he's just bad.

 

Cora’s not listening, because the RAF Man is back at SS tonight.

[mvp 78]

Cora’s not listening, because the RAF Man is back at SS tonight.

 

He blocked my phone number.

[notin]

No more Rafaela at SS, please. I keep seeing people say that Rafaela is good at SS and that the metrics are wrong, but he's just bad.

 

He’s better than Hamilton. Maybe Sogard?

[notin]

This is offensive to ham and eggers considering how Bernardino has pitched lately.

 

Too much ham., not enough egg?

[moonslav59]

He’s better than Hamilton. Maybe Sogard?

 

I wondered about why DHam was at SS and Sogard at 2B, but figured they knew who was better on D.

 

DHam is pretty bad, but Rafaela is no great SS, too.

[notin]

I wondered about why DHam was at SS and Sogard at 2B, but figured they knew who was better on D.

 

DHam is pretty bad, but Rafaela is no great SS, too.

 

 

They should have acquired DeJong. They couldn’t offer a 22yo high A ball pitcher with 5 IP on the season?

 

DeJong also has a 1.000 OPS since the trade…

[moonslav59]

They should have acquired DeJong. They couldn’t offer a 22yo high A ball pitcher with 5 IP on the season?

 

I liked that idea, too.

 

I think he has even hit pretty well, after the deadline.

[Hugh2]

I wondered about why DHam was at SS and Sogard at 2B, but figured they knew who was better on D.

 

DHam is pretty bad, but Rafaela is no great SS, too.

 

Rafaela gets harshly penalized at SS because he wasn’t very good when he first started playing there for about two weeks. But after he shook the rust off he’s been solid there, not elite like he is in CF but he’s been fine. Certainly better than Dham

[notin]

Help is on the way!!

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/red-sox-rich-hill-nearing-agreement-on-minor-league-deal.html

 

 

8th time they signed him. That has to be a record…

[moonslav59]

Rafaela gets harshly penalized at SS because he wasn’t very good when he first started playing there for about two weeks. But after he shook the rust off he’s been solid there, not elite like he is in CF but he’s been fine. Certainly better than Dham

 

I agree he is better than DHam, but he belongs in CF.

[moonslav59]

Help is on the way!!

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/red-sox-rich-hill-nearing-agreement-on-minor-league-deal.html

 

 

8th time they signed him. That has to be a record…

 

Stunning news!

[Nick]

If you want a defensive shortstop why not bring up Mayer when he's healthy?

 

Are you going to tell me that maybe the best player in his draft isn't very good defender?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If you want a defensive shortstop why not bring up Mayer when he's healthy?

 

Are you going to tell me that maybe the best player in his draft isn't very good defender?

 

If it's just D, then why not bring up 18-year old Franklin Arias, who is rated a better defensive shortstop than even Mayer?

 

Arias moved all the way up to #6 on MLB.com's latest Red Sox prospect rankings. He also crushed low level pitching this summer (batting righty), so why not give him a cup of coffee at Fenway, and if he looks like the next Jose Iglesias...

 

... then Breslow can feel confident this winter to trade Mayer -- who's hurt again in the minors -- for an actual good big league pitcher young enough not to fall to pieces a week after he puts on his new Red Sox jersey.

[Hugh2]

If it's just D, then why not bring up 18-year old Franklin Arias, who is rated a better defensive shortstop than even Mayer?

 

Arias moved all the way up to #6 on MLB.com's latest Red Sox prospect rankings. He also crushed low level pitching this summer (batting righty), so why not give him a cup of coffee at Fenway, and if he looks like the next Jose Iglesias...

 

... then Breslow can feel confident this winter to trade Mayer -- who's hurt again in the minors -- for an actual good big league pitcher young enough not to fall to pieces a week after he puts on his new Red Sox jersey.

 

 

That's a great way to absolutey destroy someones development.

 

If things are so bad, you're considering calling up an 18 year old prospect in A ball, then that's probably more reason why you SHOULDN'T call up the 18 year old in A ball.

[mvp 78]

If it's just D, then why not bring up 18-year old Franklin Arias, who is rated a better defensive shortstop than even Mayer?

 

Arias moved all the way up to #6 on MLB.com's latest Red Sox prospect rankings. He also crushed low level pitching this summer (batting righty), so why not give him a cup of coffee at Fenway, and if he looks like the next Jose Iglesias...

 

... then Breslow can feel confident this winter to trade Mayer -- who's hurt again in the minors -- for an actual good big league pitcher young enough not to fall to pieces a week after he puts on his new Red Sox jersey.

 

656 OPS in Salem. He's years away from being ready. Not everyone is Trout or Soto.

[mvp 78]

If you want a defensive shortstop why not bring up Mayer when he's healthy?

 

Are you going to tell me that maybe the best player in his draft isn't very good defender?

 

He's better than Rafaela that's for sure. I think it's important to make sure you take time and develop these guys the right way, especially guys that miss lots of time due to injury like Mayer. With Mayer, they'll super two him and he'll be up before the ASB next year. Just get a cheap defensive SS in the offseason. This season seems kinda toast with how horrible the pen is anyway.

[mvp 78]

Rafaela gets harshly penalized at SS because he wasn’t very good when he first started playing there for about two weeks. But after he shook the rust off he’s been solid there, not elite like he is in CF but he’s been fine. Certainly better than Dham

 

He only looks solid because of how horrible the SS defense has been the past few years. Once the Sox get a decent defensive SS, nobody will want Rafaela there again.