Article: The Red Sox Have Bet On Connor Wong; What Improvements Can He Make To Justify That Bet?

[Bellhorn04]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They made the playoffs by winning 86 games. That's not an undoable number this year. 

I kind of forgot about this too, but they only played 144 games in 1995, so 86-58 was not so bad.

[moonslav59]

54 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Pre-Pedro? 

Pedro joined the team in 1998. I think Dan D was around for 3 years before that, and we did okay- maybe about like now.

From 1998 to when JH took over the team, we tried to win. We did finish in 1st in 1995.

[Hugh2]

People forget how good Dan Duquette was (the original DD).  He largely assembled that 2004 team, and if it wasn't for MLB they probably would have won sooner. 

In 1994 Duquette had all of Sammy Sosa, John Wetteland, and Kevin Appier signed but MLB nixed those deals. 

Without those deals that team finished 1st the next year.  With them, they had a better chance in 95 and 98 to bring titles to Boston. 

Dan tried to win. 

[Bellhorn04]

28 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

People forget how good Dan Duquette was (the original DD).  He largely assembled that 2004 team, and if it wasn't for MLB they probably would have won sooner. 

In 1994 Duquette had all of Sammy Sosa, John Wetteland, and Kevin Appier signed but MLB nixed those deals. 

Without those deals that team finished 1st the next year.  With them, they had a better chance in 95 and 98 to bring titles to Boston. 

Dan tried to win. 

And the ownership of the time backed him up by funding the extension for Pedro, and the signing of Manny, which was the next huge step forward..

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I kind of forgot about this too, but they only played 144 games in 1995, so 86-58 was not so bad.

Nobody wants to work anymore! SMDH

[Bellhorn04]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Nobody wants to work anymore! SMDH

1995 shouldn't even count, according to those who say 2020 shouldn't count! 🙃

[Randy Red Sox]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sure feels like the "hope as a strategy" thing with Wong and a completely untested backup.

Cheap, though. 

that is the REAL reason they are "betting" on Wong

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

1995 shouldn't even count, according to those who say 2020 shouldn't count! 🙃

142 games = 60?

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And the ownership of the time backed him up by funding the extension for Pedro, and the signing of Manny, which was the next huge step forward..

Agreed. There was a marked shift in spending policy under Dan D. He also signed Offerman and Tom "Flash"  Gordan.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

12 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

that is the REAL reason they are "betting" on Wong

Saw him earlier this month in Boston and he didn't look bulked up at all; he looked rather thin. Maybe he's been pounding smoothies ever since.

All this fan desperation pinning hopes on health for the current roster kinda assumes most guys who avoid injury will be better players... but health doesn't make anyone more talented. 

That doesn't mean young players can't or won't improve, but the Red Sox need more talent in the batting order and in the positions around the mound, and they didn't acquire anyone this offseason except a minor league back-up catcher.

[Randy Red Sox]

2 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Saw him earlier this month in Boston and he didn't look bulked up at all; he looked rather thin. Maybe he's been pounding smoothies ever since.

All this fan desperation pinning hopes on health for the current roster kinda assumes most guys who avoid injury will be better players... but health doesn't make anyone more talented. 

That doesn't mean young players can't or won't improve, but the Red Sox need more talent in the batting order and in the positions around the mound, and they didn't acquire anyone this offseason except a minor league back-up catcher.

actually we got 2 m/l backup c--just signed another one today

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

actually we got 2 m/l backup c--just signed another one today

Yes!!!!

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

actually we got 2 m/l backup c--just signed another one today

4 MiLB backup C.

Sabol

Narvaez

Zavala

Kolzsvary (probably shouldn't even count as he's more of a bullpen catcher and emergency AAA guy)

[Bellhorn04]

17 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

142 games = 60?

Same principle.  Not a full season, anything could happen in the games that were missed, blah, blah, blah

You already know my stance on 2020, I'm just being mischievous for the sake of it, to pass the time on another no-news-is-bad-news day from the Sox. 😀

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Same principle.  Not a full season, anything could happen in the games that were missed, blah, blah, blah

You already know my stance on 2020, I'm just being mischievous for the sake of it, to pass the time on another no-news-is-bad-news day from the Sox. 😀

Besides, I ended up saying it should count, just put an asterisk.

[Bellhorn04]

20 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Besides, I ended up saying it should count, just put an asterisk.

Sure, as long as you asterisk the other shortened seasons too.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sure, as long as you asterisk the other shortened seasons too.

I'm not against the idea. Maybe a double asterisk for a 60 game season and 1 for the others.

[jad]

 i guess this is as good a place as any to rant about "framing," which to me is an uninteresting skill that basically amounts to 'ability to cheat'--to make the officials make a bad call.  Can't wait for robo-umps to put an end to this b.s.   Since MLB and its stat-hounds USE the robo-zone to evaluate both umps (their ability to conform to robo-calls) and catchers (their ability to draw a call different from teh robo-call), why not just use the robo-zone to begin with? 

[Bellhorn04]

4 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not against the idea. Maybe a double asterisk for a 60 game season and 1 for the others.

Ah yes, the old double asterisk.  

[moonslav59]

On 1/24/2025 at 8:57 AM, Old Red said:

Tek has been there. What new coaches are going to improve Wong?🤭 Remember Wong CAN be Wrong.🙈

We do have a new coach, who did help some Yankee catchers greatly improve their D.

With new catching instructor Parker Guinn, the Red Sox have developed an individualized plan for Wong that they hope will pay off in a big way.

[mvp 78]

On 1/25/2025 at 6:34 PM, moonslav59 said:

We do have a new coach, who did help some Yankee catchers greatly improve their D.

With new catching instructor Parker Guinn, the Red Sox have developed an individualized plan for Wong that they hope will pay off in a big way.

They traded for Narvaez the day after they signed Guinn. 🤔

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They traded for Narvaez the day after they signed Guinn. 🤔

Narvaez is supposed to be good on D.

He has shown some power and OB skills in the minors, but who knows. 

[Old Red]

52 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They traded for Narvaez the day after they signed Guinn. 🤔

If I wasn’t excited before I certainly am now that this new catching instructor is going to get the best out of Wong that Tek couldn’t do, and if that’s not enough Narvaez will be lights out too. Of course I remember when some were excited when the Sox got McGuire to HANDle things.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If I wasn’t excited before I certainly am now that this new catching instructor is going to get the best out of Wong that Tek couldn’t do, and if that’s not enough Narvaez will be lights out too. Of course I remember when some were excited when the Sox got McGuire to HANDle things.

You couldn't get excited if 1992 Cindy Crawford sat down next to you at the bar. 🤷‍♀️

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If I wasn’t excited before I certainly am now that this new catching instructor is going to get the best out of Wong that Tek couldn’t do, and if that’s not enough Narvaez will be lights out too. Of course I remember when some were excited when the Sox got McGuire to HANDle things.

Just because VTek was a human computer brain, doesn't mean he's the best coach of catchers. He was best at knowing opposing batters, while his blocking, framing and throwing skills took a long time to develop into pluses.

I doubt anyone "gets excited" about a team's catching coaches, but this guy does have pretty good track record on improving catcher defense.

When I mentioned the new guy, it wasn't out of any sure thing expectation, but you did ask, "what new coaches?"

[mvp 78]

I thought it was interested that they hired the Yankees coach and immediately went out and traded for a catcher that the coach worked with. Clearly, that coach much be high on Narvaez and believes he's worth having in the organization. 

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I thought it was interested that they hired the Yankees coach and immediately went out and traded for a catcher that the coach worked with. Clearly, that coach much be high on Narvaez and believes he's worth having in the organization. 

Agreed, but also, Narvaez is going to have to hit- hopefully better than Sandy Leon (except for 2016.)

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed, but also, Narvaez is going to have to hit- hopefully better than Sandy Leon (except for 2016.)

Sure, but he needs more than a 15 PA sample to show what he can do in MLB. He had a 782 OPS in AAA last season. Leon had an OPS under 700 throughout most of his MiLB stint including his lead up to to promotion in BOS in 15 and 16. 

[notin]

What will help Wong the most is if MLB implements the automated ball/strike system, negating his lackluster framing skills.  He does a decent job controlling the running game.  He’ll still be inadequate at blocking pitches, however…

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

What will help Wong the most is if MLB implements the automated ball/strike system, negating his lackluster framing skills.  He does a decent job controlling the running game.  He’ll still be inadequate at blocking pitches, however…

His CS% dipped last season due to arm injuries. We'll see if he can get back to his '23 levels this year. 

2023 DRS 4, FRV -3

2024 DRS -14, FRV -10