A Realistic View at 2024: Part III

[Randy Red Sox]

He certainly still has some significant hope. Pitchers often take time to develop. I think he was a good attempt at balancing the farm. We traded a decent batting prospect for a decent pitcher, who has 6 years of control- like a prospect does.

 

It was a good try, and now we wait and see if it works.

 

Even if Yorke does great, and Priester just okay, it might still be worth it, since we are backed up at LF/DH and marginal defensive 2Bmen.

 

i think it was a good trade no matter how it works out cause Yorke was never going to cut it in Boston and we need young pitching

[moonslav59]

i think it was a good trade no matter how it works out cause Yorke was never going to cut it in Boston and we need young pitching

 

There will always be hindsight complaining, if Yorke turns into a peppermint patty and Priest is defrocked.

 

I like the strategy. So far, I like this deal and hope we make more like it.

 

[Maxbialystock]

There will always be hindsight complaining, if Yorke turns into a peppermint patty and Priest is defrocked.

 

I like the strategy. So far, I like this deal and hope we make more like it.

 

 

With Story and Grissom on the IL, Mayer and Campbell in Portland, and Rafaela, Hamilton, and Gonzalez playing and hitting decently in Boston, Yorke was expendable. Even if you like Yorke, the pitching need is far, far greater.

[Maxbialystock]

The difference is our SPs have a history of effectiveness at the ML level. Priester does not.

 

If he pitches in Boston this year, it likely won’t be until September, or close to it…

 

You could be right about Priester, but "our SPs have a history of effectiveness" is misleading. Yes, absolutely, they have been effective. And they have also been putrid, especially since the ASG break.

 

I did notice that with the Pirates this year Priester's ERA is 5.04 in 10 games, 7 starts, and 44.2 IP. That 5.05 is slightly better than Bello's 5.13 and a big improvement over Priester's 2023 ERA of 7.74. Plus I like Bailey, the pitching coach.

[moonslav59]

With Story and Grissom on the IL, Mayer and Campbell in Portland, and Rafaela, Hamilton, and Gonzalez playing and hitting decently in Boston, Yorke was expendable. Even if you like Yorke, the pitching need is far, far greater.

 

For sure. I hope we do more deals like this.

 

We need to trade from excess strength areas to beef up our pitching, even if some don't work out.

 

We still have duplicated values that can't possibly all play near FT over the next 2-3 years:

 

OF: Duran, Rafaela, Abreu (Ref '25>Campbell '26), Anthony, EValdez

2026 or later: Jh Garcia, Montgomery, Castro

2027 or later: Cespedes (infield?) Bleis

 

Middle IF is more mediocre, but still has quantity (although some may end up in the LF)

Story, Mayer, DHam, Romy, Grissom, EValdez (LF/DH) Meidroth

2026 or later: Campbell ('25?) Romero, Riemer

2027 or later: Cespedes, Zanetello, Arias, Alcantara

 

C/DH: Gasper, Hickey, Jo Garcia, Brannon

[Larry Cook]

I think for 2025, we have to give rafeala a permanent home in center field.

 

An outfield of Duran - rafeala - abreau and refsynder should be decent offensively and defensively

[moonslav59]

I think for 2025, we have to give rafeala a permanent home in center field.

 

An outfield of Duran - rafeala - abreau and refsynder should be decent offensively and defensively

 

Agreed, which means Anthony and Campbell do not start the season in MLB. If Anthony joins the OF, we'll be too LHBish.

 

I hope Mayer is ready to play SS to start 2025, but who know?

 

A DHam-Grissom combo at 2B might be okay, but we'd need 145+ games from Story for that to work. I'm not sure Campbell will play 2B for the Sox, but can he be worse than EValdez on D? Romy is nice depth.

 

[moonslav59]

HOU scored 3 unearned runs to beat PIT 5-4.

 

YUCK!

 

Sox are still 2 down from KCR & MIN.

-6.5 from NYY

-7.0 from BAL

 

upcoming series:

 

BAL @ CLE (4 games)

KCR @ DET (4)

TOR @ NYY (3)

BOS @ TEX (3)

TBR @ HOU (3)

CWS @ MIN (3)

 

Then...

HOU @ TEX

MIN @ CHC

BOS @ KCR

LAA @ NYY

BAL @ TOR

 

[MADSTORK]

i think it was a good trade no matter how it works out cause Yorke was never going to cut it in Boston and we need young pitching

 

Lmao!

You have no clue if Yorke was going to cut it in the big leagues or not!

No f’in clue at all

[notin]

And it the meantime how many games did the Red Sox lose , because of the backend of the BP late in games since the AS break? You’ve mentioned this yourself. 4 loses that won’t be given back.

 

 

And how should the Sox have filled those two empty bullpen slots? They didn’t have much internally. Trades are simply not always an option right away, and trading is really always the last resort. That leaves the waiver wire. Or scouring the Dark Web.

 

Or your preferred option of just being short-handed.

 

(I did look up and see technically Wingenter was acquired in a trade with Detroit, but only added to the 49 man later.)

[notin]

Lmao!

You have no clue if Yorke was going to cut it in the big leagues or not!

No f’in clue at all

 

Let the record show for the first time, the Stork is actually right.

 

And Randy’s weird preoccupation with Yorke is bordering on requiring medical attention…

[Old Red]

And how should the Sox have filled those two empty bullpen slots? They didn’t have much internally. Trades are simply not always an option right away, and trading is really always the last resort. That leaves the waiver wire. Or scouring the Dark Web.

 

Or your preferred option of just being short-handed.

 

(I did look up and see technically Wingenter was acquired in a trade with Detroit, but only added to the 49 man later.)

 

Like I asked how many games did the Red Sox lose between the AS break, and the trade deadline, because of the back end of the BP blew games late. They needed help then, and even more knowing Jansen wouldn’t be going to Colorado, and did nothing, and losses resulted, because of it. You have NO clue if a trade could have been done then, or not, and neither do I. In the end they had to trade anyways last resort, or not, but once again waiting for the trade deadline losses happened in the meantime. Using the Wing Man, and the Yo Man they were pretty much pitching short handed anyways.

[Hugh2]

He was drafted # 18 overall, but none of the scouting orgs have ever ranked him as a top 100 prospect…

 

MLB Pipeline ranked him #60 last year.

[Hugh2]

i think it was a good trade no matter how it works out cause Yorke was never going to cut it in Boston and we need young pitching

 

Kind of seems that this was one of those hitting for pitching trades we always talk about finally coming to fruition.

 

If anything, we need more trades like this.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Or your preferred option of just being short-handed.

 

 

We need to be more long-handed. Pedro wasn't a big guy, but his hands were huge -- which lends to more manipulation of grips, pitch shapes, and last second movements.

 

Surely, some Assistant VP execs in our Analytics Dept subscribe to Google Earthlings and consult it daily for digital rankings.

[moonslav59]

Let the record show for the first time, the Stork is actually right.

 

 

Randy actually did not say he won't "cut it in the Major leagues," so again, STORK is never factually correct.

 

He said he won't cut it with the Sox, which may or may not have been about several players being ahead of Yorke on the LF and 2B lists:

 

LF:

Duran

Abreu (if Anthony goes to RF & Rafaela to CF FT)

Refsnyder

Campbell

E Valdez

(Distantly: Jh Garcia, Bleis, Montgomery, Cespedes or Zanetello...)

 

2B

Story or Mayer (whoever does not play SS)

DHam-Grissom platoon

Romy

Campbell

EValdez

Meidroth

Sogard/Westbrook

(Distantly: maybe Cespedes or Zanetello, Romero, Riemer, Arias)

[mvp 78]

He was drafted # 18 overall, but none of the scouting orgs have ever ranked him as a top 100 prospect…

 

Selected by Pittsburgh in the first round (No. 18 overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the right-hander was ranked by Baseball America as a top 100 prospect in 2021 (No. 58) and 2022 (No. 88).

[mvp 78]

Lmao!

You have no clue if Yorke was going to cut it in the big leagues or not!

No f’in clue at all

 

700 PA's in AA of mediocrity for Yorke plus lots of injury history and he's more LF than 2B. If that's the prospect you want to lean in on, go for it.

[mvp 78]

Let the record show for the first time, the Stork is actually right.

 

And Randy’s weird preoccupation with Yorke is bordering on requiring medical attention…

 

Wrong. Yorke was actively pouting in AA this year and putting up bad numbers. Miss me on that. He can go hit 750 and play below average D in PITT. I'll take a flier on a pitcher that has succeeded throughout his career in the minors (unlike '22-'23 Yorke) and just needs to figure it out at the next level.

[mvp 78]

Randy actually did not say he won't "cut it in the Major leagues," so again, STORK is never factually correct.

 

He said he won't cut it with the Sox, which may or may not have been about several players being ahead of Yorke on the LF and 2B lists:

 

LF:

Duran

Abreu (if Anthony goes to RF & Rafaela to CF FT)

Refsnyder

Campbell

E Valdez

(Distantly: Jh Garcia, Bleis, Montgomery, Cespedes or Zanetello...)

 

2B

Story or Mayer (whoever does not play SS)

DHam-Grissom platoon

Romy

Campbell

EValdez

Meidroth

Sogard/Westbrook

(Distantly: maybe Cespedes or Zanetello, Romero, Riemer, Arias)

 

IMO, the Sox just weren't sure about Rule 5ing him and wanted to give playing time to Mayer, Meidroth, Campbell and others. Yorke got hot, increased his value and the Sox capitalized.

 

GRE '22: 668 OPS

POR '23: 785 OPS

POR '24: 691 OPS

 

That they could spin this guy for a 23 year old AAA starter with a 3.21 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 5.14 K/BB? Count me all the way in! SoxProspects already said he's the second best pitcher in the farm behind Perales. David Sandlin is the same age, but in AA and on a pitch restriction.

[moonslav59]

IMO, the Sox just weren't sure about Rule 5ing him and wanted to give playing time to Mayer, Meidroth, Campbell and others. Yorke got hot, increased his value and the Sox capitalized.

 

GRE '22: 668 OPS

POR '23: 785 OPS

POR '24: 691 OPS

 

That they could spin this guy for a 23 year old AAA starter with a 3.21 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 5.14 K/BB? Count me all the way in! SoxProspects already said he's the second best pitcher in the farm behind Perales. David Sandlin is the same age, but in AA and on a pitch restriction.

 

I agree 100%. I liked the trade and hope we look to do more like it.

[notin]

Wrong. Yorke was actively pouting in AA this year and putting up bad numbers. Miss me on that. He can go hit 750 and play below average D in PITT. I'll take a flier on a pitcher that has succeeded throughout his career in the minors (unlike '22-'23 Yorke) and just needs to figure it out at the next level.

 

I like the trade. Sox have plenty of depth behind/in front of Yorke. But the Yorke Hate, such as calling him the worst first round pick in team history, has gotten out of hand. Bloom liked Yorke and probably took him at his only chance to get him. The guy made it to AAA, which is not a given among Sox first rounders. And Pitt liked him enough to give up a 23yo pitcher with MLB experience.

 

Also if Yorke hit .750, he’d be the Sox best option at 2b this year. Heck he’d be their best if he hit .700…

[mvp 78]

@tylermilliken_

I’ll never forget Dom Smith and the month of July.

 

24 Games - 76 PA

.290/.355/.565/.920

3 HR

10 2B

11 RBI

.275 ISO

150 wRC+

 

Those dang d%$&ster d*&es.

[Bellhorn04]

@tylermilliken_

I’ll never forget Dom Smith and the month of July.

 

24 Games - 76 PA

.290/.355/.565/.920

3 HR

10 2B

11 RBI

.275 ISO

150 wRC+

 

Those dang d%$&ster d*&es.

 

Some of them definitely work out.

 

That's why CBO's never stop diving.

[notin]

Some of them definitely work out.

 

That's why CBO's never stop diving.

 

What? Dumpster Diving works on occasion?!?

 

Just because about 20% of the Sox current MLB roster is successful dives doesn’t mean they need to do it!!

[Bellhorn04]

What? Dumpster Diving works on occasion?!?

 

Just because about 20% of the Sox current MLB roster is successful dives doesn’t mean they need to do it!!

 

It has to be done a lot, I would never say otherwise.

 

And if we're starting up the Richards/Kluber thing again, I'm game.

[mvp 78]

What? Dumpster Diving works on occasion?!?

 

Just because about 20% of the Sox current MLB roster is successful dives doesn’t mean they need to do it!!

 

Just keep getting those large contracts like Story, Yoshida and Giolito because they are a big boy team!

[mvp 78]

It has to be done a lot, I would never say otherwise.

 

And if we're starting up the Richards/Kluber thing again, I'm game.

 

1/10M is fine! Were there additional years tacked on I didn't know about?

[notin]

1/10M is fine! Were there additional years tacked on I didn't know about?

 

I will admit, I was happier with the “1” than the “10”. Any contract can go sour, but the ones that go sour and disappear immediately are much less detrimental…

[notin]

Just keep getting those large contracts like Story, Yoshida and Giolito because they are a big boy team!

 

So re-sign Dom Smith at 3yrs /$60mill?