A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

3 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree that Fitts is probably a backend of the rotation pitcher. Gio’s contract will get him his chances if nothing else.

Fitts has been a textbook 4-5 guy so far.  

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Fitts has been a textbook 4-5 guy so far.  

2 G, 2 QS... That's good enough for me! 

[Bellhorn04]

30 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

2 G, 2 QS... That's good enough for me! 

I actually think the minimum QS line means more now than it once did, because with the average start being less than 6 innings, 6 innings and 3 runs is a bullpen saver over the long haul.

 

[moonslav59]

46 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree that Fitts is probably a backend of the rotation pitcher. Gio’s contract will get him his chances if nothing else.

If Gio looks shaky in rehab, and Newcomb pitches well in his next few starts, I still think Cora gives Gio a shot.

(Bello should replace Fitts, as long as he is healthy, IMO.)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

If Gio looks shaky in rehab, and Newcomb pitches well in his next few starts, I still think Cora gives Gio a shot.

(Bello should replace Fitts, as long as he is healthy, IMO.)

I see it more as joining, rather than replacing. They're going to treat these returning starters gently, with plenty of healing time between starts, while they stretch them out until it gets warmer. 

Meanwhile, Fitts hasn't done anything to get demoted to the bullpen, as his ERA is better than that of Houck, Buehler and Newcombe. 

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I see it more as joining, rather than replacing. They're going to treat these returning starters gently, with plenty of healing time between starts, while they stretch them out until it gets warmer. 

Meanwhile, Fitts hasn't done anything to get demoted to the bullpen, as his ERA is better than that of Houck, Buehler and Newcombe. 

Buehler has instilled less confidence in me than any other starter, but I think Newcomb is the first guy ousted from the rotation. 

[moonslav59]

51 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I see it more as joining, rather than replacing. They're going to treat these returning starters gently, with plenty of healing time between starts, while they stretch them out until it gets warmer. 

Meanwhile, Fitts hasn't done anything to get demoted to the bullpen, as his ERA is better than that of Houck, Buehler and Newcombe. 

Well, when someone "joins," someone gets demoted.

I'm not saying Fitts earned a demotion, but he has not done much to impress a longer look, either. When Bello is ready, I see Fitts moving to the pen and "joining" them, or staying stretched out as a starter in AAA.

Gio is going to get a chance, unless he aggravates the injury. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to his "joining," but he could still have something in the tank. He's only 30.

[moonslav59]

53 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Buehler has instilled less confidence in me than any other starter, but I think Newcomb is the first guy ousted from the rotation. 

I think Fitts might go, first, and the Newcomb out of options card may come into play on the choice.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Well, when someone "joins," someone gets demoted.

I'm not saying Fitts earned a demotion, but he has not done much to impress a longer look, either. When Bello is ready, I see Fitts moving to the pen and "joining" them, or staying stretched out as a starter in AAA.

Gio is going to get a chance, unless he aggravates the injury. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to his "joining," but he could still have something in the tank. He's only 30.

I was actually referring to the offseason and what Cora and others here mentioned as a possible """6-man rotation""" (six quotes) -- which may be logical with all these fragile arms and night games played in cold rain and 40 degree conditions.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I was actually referring to the offseason and what Cora and others here mentioned as a possible """6-man rotation""" (six quotes) -- which may be logical with all these fragile arms and night games played in cold rain and 40 degree conditions.

I thought Cora said they gave up on the 6 man idea. Now, we will start having days off.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think Fitts might go, first, and the Newcomb out of options card may come into play on the choice.

I think Newcomb goes to the pen. Stock gets DFA'd. Slaten could also get optioned to AAA as he hasn't looked very good early on. Maybe he needs something tweaked. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I thought Cora said they gave up on the 6 man idea. Now, we will start having days off.

I think they still play like the next 10 straight days. All I know right now is New England weather suuuuuuuuuxxxxxx.

[Old Red]

25 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Well, when someone "joins," someone gets demoted.

I'm not saying Fitts earned a demotion, but he has not done much to impress a longer look, either. When Bello is ready, I see Fitts moving to the pen and "joining" them, or staying stretched out as a starter in AAA.

Gio is going to get a chance, unless he aggravates the injury. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to his "joining," but he could still have something in the tank. He's only 30.

Even if Bello, and Gio come back in to rotation most likely Fitts, Newcomb, or Kut Man will be needed somewhere down the line.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Just now, Old Red said:

Even if Bello, and Gio come back in to rotation most likely Fitts, Newcomb, or Kut Man will be needed somewhere down the line.

Agreed. I think Fitts is too valuable in the long game to be sent to the bullpen. If he gets bumped from the rotation, they'll send him to Woo to get regular starts and be ready for when the next guy gets injured.

[mvp 78]

23 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I think they still play like the next 10 straight days. All I know right now is New England weather suuuuuuuuuxxxxxx.

It won't be "good" until July. 

[moonslav59]

We are about 1/15th through the season, and here are the OPS+, so far:

273 Abreu

272 Romy (12 PA)

223 KC

210 (7 PA)

173 Narvaez

163 Bregman

119 Devers

100 Story

79 Duran, 55 Casas, 37 Rafaela, -16 Wong, -39 DHam

OPS Against

.000 Bernardino

.377 Chapman

.472 Crochet

.544 Slaten

.571 Kelly

.578 Whitlock

.644 Weissert

.736 Fitts

.890 Criswell, .916 Newcomb, .982 Dobbins, 1.006 Buehler, 1.040 Houck

Our SP'er are off to the opposite start as 2024's rotation.

 

[moonslav59]

51 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Newcomb goes to the pen. Stock gets DFA'd. Slaten could also get optioned to AAA as he hasn't looked very good early on. Maybe he needs something tweaked. 

Slaten has the 4th best OPS Against, this year at .544.

Maybe Weissert gets demoted.

[moonslav59]

46 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I think they still play like the next 10 straight days. All I know right now is New England weather suuuuuuuuuxxxxxx.

Yes. We have THU April 17th off.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Slaten has the 4th best OPS Against, this year at .544.

Maybe Weissert gets demoted.

Maybe? Weissert's been decent. The pen overall has been good. The only guy struggling was Criswell. 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Newcomb goes to the pen. Stock gets DFA'd. Slaten could also get optioned to AAA as he hasn't looked very good early on. Maybe he needs something tweaked. 

 

[mvp 78]

Winckowski recalled. 

[mvp 78]

 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Maybe? Weissert's been decent. The pen overall has been good. The only guy struggling was Criswell. 

Okay. I was just responding to a poster who said Slaten has "not looked good early on." I guess that's different from "struggling."

🤪

[moonslav59]

Stock DFA'd. Winckowski was added. He is the 16th pitcher to make the 26, this season.

Sabol replaces Wong. He is the 14th everyday player making the 26.

[mvp 78]

On 4/7/2025 at 1:59 PM, Hitch said:

Those two wins felt huge yesterday for different reasons. The late come-from-behind win. The big bats booming. Willy continuing to be the greatest player the sport has ever seen, the fans were into it, the team was loving it. Felt like the real launch of our season. 

Not trying to pick on Hitch here, but we were all riding high after the 5 game winning streak. These past two games really brought the offense back to earth. Brutal. 

[Old Red]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Not trying to pick on Hitch here, but we were all riding high after the 5 game winning streak. These past two games really brought the offense back to earth. Brutal. 

Better pitching, and cold conditions helped. 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Not trying to pick on Hitch here, but we were all riding high after the 5 game winning streak. These past two games really brought the offense back to earth. Brutal. 

I hope this doesnt turn into some massive home vs away split over the whole seawson.

[Old Red]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I hope this doesnt turn into some massive home vs away split over the whole seawson.

I know it’s the proverbial small sample size, and early in the season, but the Red Sox are leading the league in errors, and that is not a good sign. Bregman no doubt is a better 3B than Raffy, and gets to balls that Raffy wouldn’t, but has 3 errors already. Campbell is far from a polished 2B , and nor do i expect him to be at this point either. He’s young, and has spent time in the OF, and SS in the minors that hasn’t helped his development at 2B. 

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I know it’s the proverbial small sample size, and early in the season, but the Red Sox are leading the league in errors, and that is not a good sign. Bregman no doubt is a better 3B than Raffy, and gets to balls that Raffy wouldn’t, but has 3 errors already. Campbell is far from a polished 2B , and nor do i expect him to be at this point either. He’s young, and has spent time in the OF, and SS in the minors that hasn’t helped his development at 2B. 

I think this will change.

Currently, we are tied for 22nd in DRS, 27th in OAA and are ranked 21st on fangraphs defensive index.

Surprisingly, these are our worst DRS players, so far:

-2 Duran LF (The Fenway curse)

-1, Story, Romy, DHam 2B, Refsnyder and 3 pitchers.

The good:

+3 Rafaela, +2 Abreu, +1 Duran CF, +1 DHam SS

 

[mvp 78]

40 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I know it’s the proverbial small sample size, and early in the season, but the Red Sox are leading the league in errors, and that is not a good sign. Bregman no doubt is a better 3B than Raffy, and gets to balls that Raffy wouldn’t, but has 3 errors already. Campbell is far from a polished 2B , and nor do i expect him to be at this point either. He’s young, and has spent time in the OF, and SS in the minors that hasn’t helped his development at 2B. 

I'm less concerned about splitting time between SS and 2B than being jerked between IF and OF when he has very little professional experience in either area. He's just destined to fail somewhere. He's only getting by because he's freakishly athletic. If he just stayed at one position, he'd be average at least.