Red Sox sign Alex Bregman

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

That’s on him then. Hes done nothing at all to improve his defensive abilities or show up in better shape.

When the Sox signed Story, Xander was considered an average to below average defender. He wanted to keep the SS job so he came out in 2022 and had the best defensive season of his career. 

I agree, and as Raffy gets older it will be harder, and harder to get into better shape. I don’t see Raffy up to this point to be any fitness buff. Xander was also in a contract year, which turned out great for him.

[mvp 78]

31 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree, and as Raffy gets older it will be harder, and harder to get into better shape. I don’t see Raffy up to this point to be any fitness buff. Xander was also in a contract year, which turned out great for him.

Cora has also said that he wants to do whatever he can to keep Raffy healthy, which probably means him playing the field a lot less. Raffy showing up not ready to go for 3B is the worst case scenario for him holding onto the position.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cora has also said that he wants to do whatever he can to keep Raffy healthy, which probably means him playing the field a lot less. Raffy showing up not ready to go for 3B is the worst case scenario for him holding onto the position.

It better not take him too long for a comeback, because if he waits until midseason when Bregman, Campbell and Yoshida make the All-Star team, it's going to be awkward.

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cora has also said that he wants to do whatever he can to keep Raffy healthy, which probably means him playing the field a lot less. Raffy showing up not ready to go for 3B is the worst case scenario for him holding onto the position.

Agree, and anytime Raffy shows up out of shape is not a good look for him, and most likely won’t help his performance on the field either.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

It better not take him too long for a comeback, because if he waits until midseason when Bregman, Campbell and Yoshida make the All-Star team, it's going to be awkward.

Bregman, Campbell, Story and Yoshida all being on the All Star Team will be must watch tv!

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Agree, and anytime Raffy shows up out of shape is not a good look for him, and most likely won’t help his performance on the field either.

Ortiz began to start off slow every season ('08, '09, '10) but learned how to get himself out of that habit. This may be something that Raffy will have to learn as well as he ages. It won't be as easy to get going every Spring as he puts on weight and his body matures. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Bregman, Campbell, Story and Yoshida all being on the All Star Team will be must watch tv!

Story won't be able to play, but they'll let him shot put the first pitch.

[Bellhorn04]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Agree, and anytime Raffy shows up out of shape is not a good look for him, and most likely won’t help his performance on the field either.

Yeah, it's unfortunate but he's really putting himself behind the eight ball.  If he won't back down on his refusal to DH or play 1B, he's going to look like a major malcontent, like Manny in '08.  And we know how that ended. 

[mvp 78]

25 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Yeah, it's unfortunate but he's really putting himself behind the eight ball.  If he won't back down on his refusal to DH or play 1B, he's going to look like a major malcontent, like Manny in '08.  And we know how that ended. 

If he was going to be a "major malcontent" I think we'd be hearing more from him about 3b. There hasn't been a PEEP since last Monday. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

37 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

It better not take him too long for a comeback, because if he waits until midseason when Bregman, Campbell and Yoshida make the All-Star team, it's going to be awkward.

Going to be interesting to see how yoshida responds from torn labrum surgery. Usually not a good surgery for someone who's entire worth is relying on his bat.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

35 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Yeah, it's unfortunate but he's really putting himself behind the eight ball.  If he won't back down on his refusal to DH or play 1B, he's going to look like a major malcontent, like Manny in '08.  And we know how that ended. 

Ugh -- a whole bleacher section in California of fans wearing Devers skullcaps, and a soft West Coast candy called Freshwater Raffy.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Ugh -- a whole bleacher section in California of fans wearing Devers skullcaps, and a soft West Coast candy called Freshwater Raffy.

If Raffy hit 1232 the first two months the way Manny did, those skullcaps would sell out fast. Manny also had a 1747 OPS in the 2008 postseason. Dude really wanted to be out of Boston. 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

I never stated my opinion,

But given his recent statements where he was pretty adamant about staying at third, it doesn't sound to me like he would go quietly into the night.

He may not. He sounded pretty sure of himself and his position.

He kinda reminds me of Manny, without all the drama, until maybe, now. 

Happy-go-lucky. Loves playing the game and has fun doing it. Extremely focused and studious on hitting.

I'm just saying my gut says he's not a prolonged pouter.

[mvp 78]

 

[notin]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Yeah, it's unfortunate but he's really putting himself behind the eight ball.  If he won't back down on his refusal to DH or play 1B, he's going to look like a major malcontent, like Manny in '08.  And we know how that ended. 

I think stories about his complaints vastly outnumber his actual complaints.

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

I think stories about his complaints vastly outnumber his actual complaints.

I think we're more invested in 3b than Raffy is at this point. 

[Bellhorn04]

35 minutes ago, notin said:

I think stories about his complaints vastly outnumber his actual complaints.

True, but the only statements he's made are that he isn't going to play anywhere but 3B. 

Those statements are still just kind of hanging there...

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

True, but the only statements he's made are that he isn't going to play anywhere but 3B. 

Those statements are still just kind of hanging there...

True. Raffy made his comments, and then Cora made his comments, and Casas put his two cents worth in, and I haven’t heard anymore since then.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Old Red said:

True. Raffy made his comments, and then Cora made his comments, and Casas put his two cents worth in, and I haven’t heard anymore since then.

Who makes the lineup card? Casas? Raffy? 

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Who makes the lineup card? Casas? Raffy? 

Trick question? I’ll take a stab at it anyway. The proof will be in the pudding when the time comes.

[mvp 78]

Adding Bregman's Pull Air % for reference as many people think he's going to have a huge Fenway bump.

[notin]

On 2/25/2025 at 11:23 AM, mvp 78 said:

Bregman, Campbell, Story and Yoshida all being on the All Star Team will be must watch tv!

I was thinking the opposite…

[notin]

On 2/25/2025 at 2:37 PM, Old Red said:

Trick question? I’ll take a stab at it anyway. The proof will be in the pudding when the time comes.

Off topic, but if ever there was an idiomatic expression in dire need of explanation, it’s “the proof is in the pudding.”  

Maybe it’s just me, but my primary searching spot for conclusive evidence is rarely a big ol’ bowl of Jell-O brand butterscotch-flavored polymers…

[notin]

On 2/25/2025 at 2:23 PM, Bellhorn04 said:

True, but the only statements he's made are that he isn't going to play anywhere but 3B. 

Those statements are still just kind of hanging there...

Well, with all the injuries happening to this team, who plays where is more likely to depend on who is still standing come opening day…

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, notin said:

Off topic, but if ever there was an idiomatic expression in dire need of explanation, it’s “the proof is in the pudding.”  

You can only judge the quality of a food by tasting it.

[notin]

On 3/11/2025 at 2:34 PM, moonslav59 said:

You can only judge the quality of a food by tasting it.

Then why not just say that?

[Bellhorn04]

7 hours ago, notin said:

Then why not just say that?

Big fan of figures of speech, huh?

Looks like the original version of this saying was "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Big fan of figures of speech, huh?

Looks like the original version of this saying was "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".

"You can't eat your cake and have it too" - Ted Kaczynski

[moonslav59]

11 hours ago, notin said:

Then why not just say that?

Boredom.

Trying to sound whitty.

 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

"You can't eat your cake and have it too" - Ted Kaczynski

That has been shortened, too.  Now, it's just "You can't have your cake."