A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part I

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not Cora, but I'm guessing maybe this could be a way he can get 150 games played. Maybe, he will show this plan is not workable, and Cora learns that now and not during the regular season.

If KC was the FT 2B he could play 150 games, and wouldn’t need to play any other positions. Either he’s a 2B, or an OF. 2B is the biggest need right now not seeing how many  positions KC can play IMO.

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Old Red said:

If Campbell is in the running to fix 2B why is he playing in LF so much in ST?

There's no other place to play defensively challenged Grissom or Hamilton. Campbell is versatile enough that you can throw him elsewhere and still get him reps. He's been primarily a 2B and probably should remain there unless they REALLY believe in Grissom IMO. 

[mvp 78]

34 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If KC was the FT 2B he could play 150 games, and wouldn’t need to play any other positions. Either he’s a 2B, or an OF. 2B is the biggest need right now not seeing how many  positions KC can play IMO.

He fielded 4 different positions last season and 6 during his short pro career. Dude is just versatile. I know it's not the answer you want to hear. Some guys can play multiple positions and be fine. 

36% 2B

33% SS

26% CF

5% 3B

If you can just use him as a swiss army knife, fine. I wouldn't put him at SS though. I think he's most likely a 2B/OF/3B guy. 

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He fielded 4 different positions last season and 6 during his short pro career. Dude is just versatile. I know it's not the answer you want to hear. Some guys can play multiple positions and be fine. 

36% 2B

33% SS

26% CF

5% 3B

If you can just use him as a swiss army knife, fine. I wouldn't put him at SS though. I think he's most likely a 2B/OF/3B guy. 

I fully understand KC is versatile, and can play different positions. I would rather see that KC was good enough to win the 2B job FT, and then there wouldn’t be any need for him to play another position. Romy is a Swiss Army knife, and he a backup. I just don’t see the need to move to other positions for the FT players unless there is an injury, or just poor roster construction. I keep repeating that 2B is a BIG need right now.

[Bellhorn04]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I fully understand KC is versatile, and can play different positions. I would rather see that KC was good enough to win the 2B job FT, and then there wouldn’t be any need for him to play another position. Romy is a Swiss Army knife, and he a backup. I just don’t see the need to move to other positions for the FT players unless there is an injury, or just poor roster construction. I keep repeating that 2B is a BIG need right now.

It is, but they're also giving Grissom a look.

Cora is juggling a lot of stuff.  I think he's pretty capable at that. 

[Old Red]

35 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

There's no other place to play defensively challenged Grissom or Hamilton. Campbell is versatile enough that you can throw him elsewhere and still get him reps. He's been primarily a 2B and probably should remain there unless they REALLY believe in Grissom IMO. 

2B has been a revolving door for to long now. I would just like to see someone win the job FT. I don’t care who it is. KC, Grissom, DHam, Romy, or even Bregman. Then I don’t care what they do with the rest.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

18 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It is, but they're also giving Grissom a look.

Cora is juggling a lot of stuff.  I think he's pretty capable at that. 

Cora's Spring line-ups are his way of preparing for the inevitable regular season juggling.

All managers covet the versatile utility rover swingman jackknife of all trades who can fill in wherever the Brock Holt they need him. AC may appreciate the type more, since he was once that guy; how many know Cora played more career MLB games at SS than 2B?

[mvp 78]

33 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I keep repeating that 2B is a BIG need right now.

And they are trying to play as many players as possible to see where everyone is at. If they can give AB's to Grissom/Hamilton/Campbell and starting at different positions during the same game while all competing for the same position, it's a good thing. 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

And they are trying to play as many players as possible to see where everyone is at. If they can give AB's to Grissom/Hamilton/Campbell and starting at different positions during the same game while all competing for the same position, it's a good thing. 

Getting AB yes, but it does Nothing for working on the D, and turning the DP, and working with Story. Absolutely nothing. I thought D was a big concern.

[Bellhorn04]

8 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Getting AB yes, but it does Nothing for working on the D, and turning the DP, and working with Story. Absolutely nothing. I thought D was a big concern.

It is, but how are they supposed to evaluate both Campbell and Grissom at 2B, exactly?

I was going to say before the spring games started that split-squad games would be ideal for this Sox roster.

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Getting AB yes, but it does Nothing for working on the D, and turning the DP, and working with Story. Absolutely nothing. I thought D was a big concern.

You think they only work on turning DP's in game? If so, they may only turn one every game. What kind of work is that? 

[notin]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

You think they only work on turning DP's in game? If so, they may only turn one every game. What kind of work is that? 

Exactly.

 

Games are not where players work on fielding.  During a game, they get maybe 3-4 chances on average.  Not much work for the 3 hours…

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

You think they only work on turning DP's in game? If so, they may only turn one every game. What kind of work is that? 

No I do not think they only work on DP’s in a game. At any rate I think the 2B job has already been decided.

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No I do not think they only work on DP’s in a game. At any rate I think the 2B job has already been decided.

Oh sure, they won't even be half way through Spring Training until next week. Of course the 2b is decided. May as well just go fishing.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Oh sure, they won't even be half way through Spring Training until next week. Of course the 2b is decided. May as well just go fishing.

I know that’s not the answer you wanted to hear, but it’s just my opinion.

[drewski6]

3 hours ago, Old Red said:

If KC was the FT 2B he could play 150 games, and wouldn’t need to play any other positions. Either he’s a 2B, or an OF. 2B is the biggest need right now not seeing how many  positions KC can play IMO.

You are allowed to play multiple positions, and its the way the league is trending.  There are articles everywhere about it.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

There's no other place to play defensively challenged Grissom or Hamilton. Campbell is versatile enough that you can throw him elsewhere and still get him reps. He's been primarily a 2B and probably should remain there unless they REALLY believe in Grissom IMO. 

Or Devers pushes Bregman to 2b

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He fielded 4 different positions last season and 6 during his short pro career. Dude is just versatile. I know it's not the answer you want to hear. Some guys can play multiple positions and be fine. 

36% 2B

33% SS

26% CF

5% 3B

If you can just use him as a swiss army knife, fine. I wouldn't put him at SS though. I think he's most likely a 2B/OF/3B guy. 

some most guys can play multiple positions and be fine.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Old Red said:

11 different players played 2B last year, so that was more than EValdez, and Reyes.

Yup. Even with DHam and Romy finishing out the season taking most of the work, 2B was still not really a plus. DHam's fWAR was nice and Romy killed LHPs, but we have to do better. My point was they were better than what we had earlier in the year and better than most of those in the previous 5 years, save Story, Kike and maybe Rafaela in his limited time at 2B.

As depth, Campbell, DHam, Romy and maybe Grissom look better than we had, last year. The question is, who starts. and can they at least be as good as DHam-Romy were after June 1st, 2024? 

I think 2B looks better on paper than last year, especially if Bregman plays some, there, but paper means little to you. Projections mean little to you. I guess you'd be just as okay with reyes and EVadlez coming back, since on paper is of little or no  use.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Exactly.

 

Games are not where players work on fielding.  During a game, they get maybe 3-4 chances on average.  Not much work for the 3 hours…

This was better than the argument I was going to come up with that its fine, so Ill just hop on this.

Its fine. Its all fine.

[mvp 78]

43 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I know that’s not the answer you wanted to hear, but it’s just my opinion.

So who is it? 

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

No I do not think they only work on DP’s in a game. At any rate I think the 2B job has already been decided.

they are not rigidly slating one starter/position, they are keeping versatility and prioritizing flexibility.

[drewski6]

Im not even sure theres such a thing as a second baseman anymore.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

they are not rigidly slating one starter/position, they are keeping versatility and prioritizing flexibility.

But that's not an easy answer! We need easy answers!!!

[Old Red]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

So who is it? 

I’ll tell you when I come back from fishing.🤫

[Old Red]

23 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yup. Even with DHam and Romy finishing out the season taking most of the work, 2B was still not really a plus. DHam's fWAR was nice and Romy killed LHPs, but we have to do better. My point was they were better than what we had earlier in the year and better than most of those in the previous 5 years, save Story, Kike and maybe Rafaela in his limited time at 2B.

As depth, Campbell, DHam, Romy and maybe Grissom look better than we had, last year. The question is, who starts. and can they at least be as good as DHam-Romy were after June 1st, 2024? 

I think 2B looks better on paper than last year, especially if Bregman plays some, there, but paper means little to you. Projections mean little to you. I guess you'd be just as okay with reyes and EVadlez coming back, since on paper is of little or no  use.

Cora has already said just like he did when Story arrived that Bregman won’t be moving around, so wherever he plays he stays. If you need the help with projections on paper then there is nothing wrong if it makes you feel better. I don’t, need that help, and I’ll just wait, and see how things work out in real time.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

26 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

This was better than the argument I was going to come up with that its fine, so Ill just hop on this.

Its fine. Its all fine.

Can't believe my wife snuck on here and stole the identity of drewski6

[Hugh2]

3 hours ago, Old Red said:

If KC was the FT 2B he could play 150 games, and wouldn’t need to play any other positions. Either he’s a 2B, or an OF. 2B is the biggest need right now not seeing how many  positions KC can play IMO.

You don't believe in the 2nd coming of Ben Zobrist???

[Hugh2]

If games to date are an indication of things, it would appear to be that Campbell is competing for an outfield spot and not the 2nd baseman spot.  Kind of weird, but it does make some sense. 

[Old Red]

7 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

You don't believe in the 2nd coming of Ben Zobrist???

IF needed? Yes.