A Realistic View at 2024: Part III

[dgalehouse]

Looks like Dom Smith is being DFA'd. Baseball can be a cold-blooded business sometimes.

[mvp 78]

Jose Iglesias was there for the taking 2 years in a row.

 

He would have been fine as a RHB at 2B/3B/SS instead of Reyes. I just wouldn't want him at SS very often.

[mvp 78]

Shugart sent back to WOO to make room for Criswell.

[Larry Cook]

Shugart sent back to WOO to make room for Criswell.

 

I liked shugart in spring training. Not sure why he did not perform at Worcester

[mvp 78]

I liked shugart in spring training. Not sure why he did not perform at Worcester

 

He’s added a lot of pitches. Has ok stuff with some strong stretches and the gets bombed here and there.

[notin]

I liked shugart in spring training. Not sure why he did not perform at Worcester

 

Maybe they made him focus on secondary and tertiary stuff…

[Larry Cook]

Maybe they made him focus on secondary and tertiary stuff…

 

I think Bailey makes all pitchers throw secondary pitches for strikes.

[Randy Red Sox]

Shugart sent back to WOO to make room for Criswell.

 

Another garbage pitcher

[moonslav59]

Don't look, now, but Yoshida is nearly at the .800 mark.

[moonslav59]

Sox OPS (250+ PAs)

.967 Devers

.901 O'Neill

.856 Refsnyder

.855 Duran

.843 Abreu

.795 Yoshida

.790 Wong

.713 DHam

.707 Smith (DFA'd)

.705 Rafaela

 

Others (under 250):

1.012 Jansen

.831 Casas

.790 Romy

[Nick]

Despite all the talk early in the season about improved and surprising pitching staff this is the same Red Sox from 1970's.

 

We hit. We score runs. We added the speed component.

 

I guess we will just have to out hit the other guys.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Despite all the talk early in the season about improved and surprising pitching staff this is the same Red Sox from 1970's.

 

We hit. We score runs. We added the speed component.

 

I guess we will just have to out hit the other guys.

 

Most of those Red Sox teams in the Seventies were contenders, supported by both fans and team owners.

 

Boston was actually in first place in August or September in 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977 and 1978. But the Sox only won one division title and pennant, in '75.

 

The difference is the 2024 Red Sox aren't good enough to choke. Ownership made sure of that.

[Bellhorn04]

Fire Bailey?

 

We had the best pitching in April, and we've had the worst since.

[Old Red]

Fire Bailey?

 

We had the best pitching in April, and we've had the worst since.

 

The magic show that everyone bought into early on has been exposed.

[Bellhorn04]

The magic show that everyone bought into early on has been exposed.

 

After the great start, we're now 5th worst in MLB in runs allowed per game! Better only than the Rockies, White Sox, Marlins and Angels.

 

It's almost funny. Almost.

Edited August 17, 2024 by Bellhorn04

[Bellhorn04]

All those thoughts about Breslow and Bailey expertly rebuilding and re-calibrating our pitching just might have to be put on hold.

[Bellhorn04]

The Criswell as savior thing might also have to be re-thought.

 

Rich Hill might have to be pressed into service pronto. Time for him to join the fun.

[Bellhorn04]

In retrospect, we had yet another incredibly useless offseason with our rotation. Some of it was bad luck, but the cold fact is that Breslow's moves only made it worse.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

All those thoughts about Breslow and Bailey expertly rebuilding and re-calibrating our pitching just might have to be put on hold.

 

They did it in April, and if anyone's wondering what happened, check the names again of that pitching staff and see how many of those guys were ever above-average big league pitchers for an entire season (couple relievers, but not even Whitlock when he was in the pen...).

 

We can blame B & B for assembling the roster, but here's what really happened: it was just a test from the owners to the new CEO (Chief Excuse Option).

 

This probably happens in a lot of businesses. A new boss gets a probationary period to prove he can be trusted, before being allowed free reign with the budget to expand the company.

 

Just wait until this winter, when John Henry gives the combination of the safe to Craig and Andrew. Because old people change...

[Bellhorn04]

They did it in April, and if anyone's wondering what happened, check the names again of that pitching staff and see how many of those guys were ever above-average big league pitchers for an entire season (couple relievers, but not even Whitlock when he was in the pen...).

 

We can blame B & B for assembling the roster, but here's what really happened: it was just a test from the owners to the new CEO (Chief Excuse Option).

 

This probably happens in a lot of businesses. A new boss gets a probationary period to prove he can be trusted, before being allowed free reign with the budget to expand the company.

 

Just wait until this winter, when John Henry gives the combination of the safe to Craig and Andrew. Because old people change...

 

I think we should be prepared for another winter of promises and lies on their part, disappointment and confusion on ours.

[Bellhorn04]

Imanaga is a clear-cut case of how stupid the Sox have become about signing pitchers. The Cubs got him for an EXTREMELY reasonable 4/53 guarantee. The Sox were reportedly very interested but would not go past 2 guaranteed years. It's kind of mind-boggling at this point.

[mvp 78]

Fire Bailey?

 

We had the best pitching in April, and we've had the worst since.

 

I like the approach. I don’t like the arms he was given.

[mvp 78]

All those thoughts about Breslow and Bailey expertly rebuilding and re-calibrating our pitching just might have to be put on hold.

 

You need to look at the whole org and not just the MLB squad.

[mvp 78]

I think we should be prepared for another winter of promises and lies on their part, disappointment and confusion on ours.

 

I have no expectations anymore for the offseason aside from it being more of the same. Letting Mookie go just fits perfectly into how Henry wants to build this team. Unfortunately, it puts a lot of pressure on “the big three” and I think a lot of people are going to be let down when all three aren’t transcendent players. Anthony can be. Teel should be a solid everyday starter. Mayer should be similar to Teel, but maybe a step behind. Sox need more than that to build on.

[Old Red]

You need to look at the whole org and not just the MLB squad.

 

What’s happening on the MLB squad is what’s most important IMO.

[Old Red]

After the great start, we're now 5th worst in MLB in runs allowed per game! Better only than the Rockies, White Sox, Marlins and Angels.

 

It's almost funny. Almost.

 

But predictable.

[vegasbob]

I like the approach. I don’t like the arms he was given.

 

Consider the premise of Bailey's appproach---If you don't have a live fastball, then don't throw it. Go with breaking stuff to avoid getting pounded on your FB. When the arm tires, the snap off spin slows down and you see MLB hitters teeing off on your breaking stuff and the FB was never good enough anyway.

 

Combine that with not having a reliable out pitch ( splitter, sinker, screwball ) and you have a lot of 2 out rallies , and 2 strike HR's.

[notin]

Consider the premise of Bailey's appproach---If you don't have a live fastball, then don't throw it. Go with breaking stuff to avoid getting pounded on your FB. When the arm tires, the snap off spin slows down and you see MLB hitters teeing off on your breaking stuff and the FB was never good enough anyway.

 

Combine that with not having a reliable out pitch ( splitter, sinker, screwball ) and you have a lot of 2 out rallies , and 2 strike HR's.

 

How is that end result different from pitchers whose arm gets tired from throwing fastballs?

[notin]

In retrospect, we had yet another incredibly useless offseason with our rotation. Some of it was bad luck, but the cold fact is that Breslow's moves only made it worse.

 

It’s one thing for blaming Breslow for his lack of action, but blaming him for not predicting an unlikely future gets silly.

 

Two years ago a story broke about Bloom being offered some nobody MuLB talent for Sale and the entire contract, and fans were mad for him turning it down. Damned if you do, I guess…

[Bellhorn04]

It’s one thing for blaming Breslow for his lack of action, but blaming him for not predicting an unlikely future gets silly.

 

Two years ago a story broke about Bloom being offered some nobody MuLB talent for Sale and the entire contract, and fans were mad for him turning it down. Damned if you do, I guess…

 

If it was only about Sale your post might have a point.