Red Sox: Off Season 2024-2025

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

and why i would give Brez and the FO a big fat F this year. 

I can totally understand giving an "F," assuming we continue like this through September and end up near 78-84 or 81-81. I cut Brez more slack, I guess, due to what I perceive as being a mandate to cut the budget further from what it was in 2023.

He certainly deserves a hindsight "F" for his two biggest moves: the Gio signing and the Sale + Cash for Grissom trade. Those two chocies, alone, keeps him from getting above a "C" in my book. When you factor in the Paxton, Garcia and Sims additions, a C- to D+ seems about right.

I liked the Slaten, Sandlin, Weissert/Fits, and even the I Campbell moves. The Criswell and O'Neill deals worked out well. I don't think those are enough to move the needle up much.

I'd say C- to D+ on the MLB roster.

I'd say B+ to B on the farm build up and  40 man/ minors depth chart improvements.

I'd like to say he's done well improving the pitcher development program, but that will take time to determine, but at least we see some tangible evidence of changes being made, and a deeper focus on adding more pitchers to the farm system via drafting and trading. Maybe this helps bring his overall grade ro a C. 

I have no beef with people saying "D" or even an "F" as some look mainly at the MLB results and little else. (Nothing wrong with that, but it's not for me.)

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

JH wants to build through the farm. We’re playing a waiting game unfortunately. A lot of pressure is being put on unproven guys.

I think Rafaela and Abreu, plus DHam and Slaten handled being given major roles, basically right out of the gate, pretty well.

I think we learned a few things that needed to be known.

Devers is forevers.

Duran is for real.

Rafaela and Abreu look pretty damn solid, but have a major weak area (Rafaela & the K-Zone, low OBP thing and Abreu struggling vs LHPs.)

We seem to have better middle IF depth, now, with DHam, Romy and Rafaela in emergency situations. They seem better than Reyes, Arroyo and EValdez.

Casas still has injury issues, but he did not lose any stock with his bat evaluation. 

Ref solidified his role as a top batter vs LHPs, and Yoshi seems to have calmed the worries of many a Sox fan, after his end of the 2023 season brought on.

The big three turned into the big 4, and that has to be viewed as good. Guys like Arias, Jh Garcia and a few others look poised to make big jumps, again, next season.

It all comes down to how you view the pitching staff. IMO, we have a little more certainty on what we can expect from Houck, Crawford, Whitlock, Wink and Bello, although the outlook on Bello looked shaky for a while. I do NOT think we can or should view any as a 1-2 SP'er, but Houck looks like a real good #3, who might increase his IP, next season, again. Bello should make a fine #4 or 5, and Gio is still the unknown, but counting on him as the #5 seems reasonable. That leaves two major gaps at the 1 and 2 slots, but Criswell, Priester, Fitts and Dobbins could be nice depth, and maybe Crawford could give us a spot start, here and there, so we can avoid those dreaded pen games that use 5-7 RP'ers. I like Slaten and Hendriks as set-up men for 2025. I think Crawford, Whitlock, Criswell and Wink provide some excellent choices for mid to long relief men or spot set-up guys that can go 2 IP, often. If we add a closer, plus the 6 I just named, that's 7 out of the 8 pen slots filled out, nicely. The amount of pitchers we have for the 8-15 slots on the depth chart looks pretty nice, too: Weissert, Kelly, Bernardino, Booser, I Campbell, Magta-horn (like that?) and maybe Guerrero, Fitts or Priester in pen roles, later in the season.

Maybe my pink glasses are clouding my vision, but I think we have a nice foundation, even with the pitching staff, as long as pitchers are placed in roles they can handle.

 

 

 

[Old Red]

28 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I can totally understand giving an "F," assuming we continue like this through September and end up near 78-84 or 81-81. I cut Brez more slack, I guess, due to what I perceive as being a mandate to cut the budget further from what it was in 2023.

He certainly deserves a hindsight "F" for his two biggest moves: the Gio signing and the Sale + Cash for Grissom trade. Those two chocies, alone, keeps him from getting above a "C" in my book. When you factor in the Paxton, Garcia and Sims additions, a C- to D+ seems about right.

I liked the Slaten, Sandlin, Weissert/Fits, and even the I Campbell moves. The Criswell and O'Neill deals worked out well. I don't think those are enough to move the needle up much.

I'd say C- to D+ on the MLB roster.

I'd say B+ to B on the farm build up and  40 man/ minors depth chart improvements.

I'd like to say he's done well improving the pitcher development program, but that will take time to determine, but at least we see some tangible evidence of changes being made, and a deeper focus on adding more pitchers to the farm system via drafting and trading. Maybe this helps bring his overall grade ro a C. 

I have no beef with people saying "D" or even an "F" as some look mainly at the MLB results and little else. (Nothing wrong with that, but it's not for me.)

Like Cora has said that what you do, or don’t do in October is what’s most IMPORTANT, and not what the farm ranking is. If the Red Sox do not play in the postseason again this year that will make it three years in a row, which is totally unacceptable IMO. Just imagine the Gaul of those fans that want to win now.🙈🤭

[notin]

11 hours ago, Old Red said:

Like Cora has said that what you do, or don’t do in October is what’s most IMPORTANT, and not what the farm ranking is. If the Red Sox do not play in the postseason again this year that will make it three years in a row, which is totally unacceptable IMO. Just imagine the Gaul of those fans that want to win now.🙈🤭

Nothing screams “entitled fan” like calling a three year post-season drought “unacceptable”…

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

36 minutes ago, notin said:

Nothing screams “entitled fan” like calling a three year post-season drought “unacceptable”…

 

 

Do you call it acceptable?

I think some context is needed.  I consider it unacceptable in view of the Red Sox being the 3rd wealthiest team in the sport, and in view of the expansion of the playoff field to 12. 

 

[Old Red]

38 minutes ago, notin said:

Nothing screams “entitled fan” like calling a three year post-season drought “unacceptable”…

 

 

Entitled fan? That’s what I mean when I say the bar has been set so low now. If expecting the Red Sox to be in the postseason every year, or at least be in not only in contention, but real contention I’ll take being called an entitled fan along with many, many others who are out in RSN. If you’re not playing to win every year, and get into the postseason then don’t play at all IMO.

[Nick]

"maybe Crawford can give us a spot start"?

Come on Moon. Do you honestly think the penny pinchers in Sox organization think Kutter with 28 starts and 155 IP is a spot starter next year?

 

[Bellhorn04]

15 minutes ago, Nick said:

"maybe Crawford can give us a spot start"?

Come on Moon. Do you honestly think the penny pinchers in Sox organization think Kutter with 28 starts and 155 IP is a spot starter next year?

 

Yeah, we're gonna put Crawford back in the pen once we sign a #1 and a #2 and a closer.

moon really gave in to some dreaming in that post.

[Randy Red Sox]

23 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Where did this come from, other than inside the writer's head?  I see nary a quote in it. 

Edit: I think what probably happened here is that the guy who wrote the story didn't write the headline.  A clickbait headline was chosen by the publisher.

 

the problem with trading Mayer right now is given his injury concerns we would probably be selling low on him right now. If Story comes back and looks at all like he is healthy I'd do whatever I could to deal him including eating some of his $$

[notin]

33 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Do you call it acceptable?

I think some context is needed.  I consider it unacceptable in view of the Red Sox being the 3rd wealthiest team in the sport, and in view of the expansion of the playoff field to 12. 

 

If you’re judging ownership commitment, that’s one thing.  But judging their record relative to other teams is unfair.   And statements like how they should never lose out to Kansas City or Minnesota are just ignorant…

[notin]

37 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Do you call it acceptable?

I think some context is needed.  I consider it unacceptable in view of the Red Sox being the 3rd wealthiest team in the sport, and in view of the expansion of the playoff field to 12. 

 

And let’s add some context.

If the Sox get the third wild card and lose in their first series - acceptable or not?

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, notin said:

If you’re judging ownership commitment, that’s one thing.  But judging their record relative to other teams is unfair.   And statements like how they should never lose out to Kansas City or Minnesota are just ignorant…

Judging their record relative to other teams is unfair?  Huh?

I probably shouldn't have said that about KC and Minny.  The only real point I wanted to make was that the AL East being stacked was part of our problem in 2022/2023, but this year the Rays and Jays declined so it should have been easier for us to make it.  

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, notin said:

And let’s add some context.

If the Sox get the third wild card and lose in their first series - acceptable or not?

For 2024 I think just getting in the playoffs would have been acceptable, yes.  

[Randy Red Sox]

22 hours ago, Old Red said:

I don’t see the Red Sox trading much young talent away for any starting pitcher.

and why not ?  there is certainly not enough space in Boston for all 4 of our top prospects. Trading 1 o2 of them for a young COST CONTROLLED SP makes perfect sense.  The problem is deciding which one{s}

[notin]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Judging their record relative to other teams is unfair?  Huh?

How much of that can the Sox control?

[Bellhorn04]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

How much of that can the Sox control?

They can only control the games they play.  But I really don't know what your point is.  If you're a .500 team you're going to miss the playoffs because too many other teams will have better records.  

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

and why not ?  there is certainly not enough space in Boston for all 4 of our top prospects. Trading 1 o2 of them for a young COST CONTROLLED SP makes perfect sense.  The problem is deciding which one{s}

Oh I think it should be done, but I’ll believe it when I see it, and I’d be shocked if it happens.

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, notin said:

If you’re judging ownership commitment, that’s one thing.  But judging their record relative to other teams is unfair.   And statements like how they should never lose out to Kansas City or Minnesota are just ignorant…

Ignorant? Wow!

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, notin said:

And let’s add some context.

If the Sox get the third wild card and lose in their first series - acceptable or not?

You really asked that question? How many fans out in RSN do you think would rather see the Red Sox make the playoffs, or not. I don’t think the vote would be even close with getting in being the winner. ACCEPTABLE to not getting in at all.

[notin]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Ignorant? Wow!

Even the guy who said agreed.

Are KC and/or Minny actually good teams?  That is a factor.  I actually don’t like either one that much, but that’s me.  And they’ve both been hanging in there…

[notin]

7 minutes ago, Old Red said:

You really asked that question? How many fans out in RSN do you think would rather see the Red Sox make the playoffs, or not. I don’t think the vote would be even close with getting in being the winner. ACCEPTABLE to not getting in at all.

You must be new to online forums. 

I remember back I’m in the 2009-2010, fans complaining the team hadn’t won a playoff game since game 4 of the 2007 WS.

Which would be acceptable? A 90 win team that missed the postseason? Or an 84 win team that got in, lost their first two games, and was done?

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

Even the guy who said agreed.

Are KC and/or Minny actually good teams?  That is a factor.  I actually don’t like either one that much, but that’s me.  And they’ve both been hanging in there…

I don’t think Bell agreed he was ignorant.

[notin]

25 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

They can only control the games they play.  But I really don't know what your point is.  If you're a .500 team you're going to miss the playoffs because too many other teams will have better records.  

But you don’t have to be that much better to get in.  The Sox are still alive.  Floundering, but alive.  They’re on pace to win 83 games.  Not looking the part at the moment, but is that enough or not to get in?

[notin]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

I don’t think Bell agreed he was ignorant.

He said he shouldn’t have said it, and presumably he didn’t do so because he felt he was too observant …

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, notin said:

You must be new to online forums. 

I remember back I’m in the 2009-2010, fans complaining the team hadn’t won a playoff game since game 4 of the 2007 WS.

Which would be acceptable? A 90 win team that missed the postseason? Or an 84 win team that got in, lost their first two games, and was done?

New to online forums? Boy you’re really at it today. It’s always more acceptable to make the postseason. Teams in any sport with the best record don’t always win in the postseason, but teams with the worst record sometimes do. It shouldn’t even be a debate that getting into the postseason is better than not getting in . Teams with better records in the postseason does not guarantee success.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

He said he shouldn’t have said it, and presumably he didn’t do so because he felt he was too observant …

That’s not being ignorant IMO.

[dgalehouse]

  The third wild card is like a carnival hustle. MLB is the barker, and the fans are the marks. " Step right up, spend your money, you could win the prize". But that being said, there is always the chance that the team could get hot and/or lucky and make a deep post season run. 

[notin]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

That’s not being ignorant IMO.

“Ignorant” means “lacking knowledge.”  Root word is “ignore.”  
 

The statement was made as a generalization completely disregarding whether or not the teams were actually good.  

Your opinion is irrelevant; this definition fits…
 

 

[notin]

Just now, dgalehouse said:

  The third wild card is like a carnival hustle. MLB is the barker, and the fans are the marks. " Step right up, spend your money, you could win the prize". But that being said, there is always the chance that the team could get hot and/or lucky and make a deep post season run. 

Like Arizona did last year…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Nothing screams “entitled fan” like calling a three year post-season drought “unacceptable”…

 

 

I never called myself en-titled -- even before the titles -- but for three decades plus, I was always en-tertained.

And yes, I expect a rich club that I help get richer every year to provide me with the entertainment of -- if not making the postseason -- doing everything it can to field a team that has a legitimate chance at making it.