A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

1 minute ago, Maxbialystock said:

Very funny.  To Cora's credit, he convinced Raffy to embrace the DH position, where in fact he has been very successful--and that's where he should remain, at least for this season.  

Anyone could play 1b for the Sox as well as Casas was when he injured himself.  

Well, the keystone kops routine in the infield today suggests that they need help.

[Randy Red Sox]

23 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Sox DFA'd Newcomb and reinstated Penrod from the 60 Day IL, sending him to Woo.

17 hits and 5 BBs in his last 13.1 IP gets you a ticket outta town. The A's sent cash to BOS to acquire Newcomb.

another BBB Shipped out of town

[Randy Red Sox]

2 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Well, the keystone kops routine in the infield today suggests that they need help.

i am really disappointed with the 2025 Sox. Henry actually opened his wallet this offseason and we now 4 games under .500

[Randy Red Sox]

5 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Doesn't cora have to ask for devers' permission first?

exactly.  Just tell Devers to not even bother bringing his glove to the park. He never used it when he had one. Great hitter but certainly not a team guy. I'd be gauging trade interest for him.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

3 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

To Cora's credit, he convinced Raffy to embrace the DH position, 

Nonsense, if cora was responsible, it was still handled poorly.

[moonslav59]

I'm not giving up, just yet, but I don't see this team going anywhere but near .500, this season.

It's very sad, because it did look like we made some significant improvements to high need areas, last winter. It looked like we had decent SP'er depth, improved defense and about the same offense, which was not bad, last year. Out pen was a known area of continued need, but that is the one area that seems easier to address mid season.

OH well.

I know many want heads to roll, but I find it hard to be hyper critical towards those that made deals I agreed with. 

[mvp 78]

11 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Nonsense, if cora was responsible, it was still handled poorly.

It was handled fine. The media handled it poorly. Devers gets a pass since the interpreter didn't appropriately pass along Devers' words. 

[Old Red]

Shaugnessy just made a good point that the Red Sox are treating the team like the instructional league with so many guys moving around, and playing out of position, and will probably continue, and even get worse. What can possibly go wrong? 

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It was handled fine. The media handled it poorly. Devers gets a pass since the interpreter didn't appropriately pass along Devers' words. 

Nothing IMO was handled well from top to bottom meaning JH, Sam, Brez, Cora, and Raffy. The media was just reporting the circus acts has has played out under the big top. It was a circus from day 1 of ST.

[mvp 78]

13 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

exactly.  Just tell Devers to not even bother bringing his glove to the park. He never used it when he had one. Great hitter but certainly not a team guy. I'd be gauging trade interest for him.

He's been the 5th best hitter in MLB since 4/2/25. Why would you trade a guy like that? 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Nothing IMO was handled well from top to bottom meaning JH, Sam, Brez, Cora, and Raffy. The media was just reporting the circus acts has has played out under the big top. It was a circus from day 1 of ST.

The media creates the circus act. It's all just a fiction. 

[bkzwhitestrican]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He's been the 5th best hitter in MLB since 4/2/25. Why would you trade a guy like that? 

You can argue that his value is as high as its going to be (given his large contract and questionable locker room presence). If the Sox fall further out of contention I think they should consider it. A $300M contract for a DH will start looking terrible as soon as Devers isn't a top 10 hitter.

[mvp 78]

21 minutes ago, bkzwhitestrican said:

You can argue that his value is as high as its going to be (given his large contract and questionable locker room presence). If the Sox fall further out of contention I think they should consider it. A $300M contract for a DH will start looking terrible as soon as Devers isn't a top 10 hitter.

I can't imagine a trade offer being worth it though. This would be an all time shocker for me.

[Bellhorn04]

39 minutes ago, bkzwhitestrican said:

You can argue that his value is as high as its going to be (given his large contract and questionable locker room presence). If the Sox fall further out of contention I think they should consider it. A $300M contract for a DH will start looking terrible as soon as Devers isn't a top 10 hitter.

And every other team knows that too, so the offers will not be very enticing, methinks.

[bkzwhitestrican]

6 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And every other team knows that too, so the offers will not be very enticing, methinks.

Maybe not at this moment. But at the trade deadline when contending teams are desperate to add help, they might get a handsome offer. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

7 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And every other team knows that too, so the offers will not be very enticing, methinks.

Verdugo, Wong and Jeter Downs.

Only this time, one Devers would equal both Betts and Price... it's all there: attitude, albatross contract, and All-Star talent (not necessarily Cooperstown-bound, but definitely Hall of Shame worthy). 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Verdugo, Wong and Jeter Downs.

Only this time, one Devers would equal both Betts and Price... it's all there: attitude, albatross contract, and All-Star talent (not necessarily Cooperstown-bound, but definitely Hall of Shame worthy). 

They better be sure the prospects they bring back are going to contribute. Furthermore, this would be a signal that the Sox won't be contending in 2026. 

[Nick]

Say what you will, winning the season starts with starting pitching and we're lacking.

 

Think of what has happened to Tanner. He was possibly be starter 1A.  He is now not pitching. God only knows what he will be like when he comes back.

 

What happened to Kutter? When did he exactly get hurt?

Both Buehler and Giolito have been hurt.

 

Its a mess.

If I own a major league team, the success. starts with having bona fide starting pitching staff.

We need more Crochet.

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, Nick said:

Say what you will, winning the season starts with starting pitching and we're lacking.

 

Think of what has happened to Tanner. He was possibly be starter 1A.  He is now not pitching. God only knows what he will be like when he comes back.

 

What happened to Kutter? When did he exactly get hurt?

Both Buehler and Giolito have been hurt.

 

Its a mess.

If I own a major league team, the success. starts with having bona fide starting pitching staff.

We need more Crochet.

Kutter was hurt in May 2024! 

Houck has been struggling off an on since last July. He's been a train wreck this season though. I think he should be sent to the pen and see if he can get his mojo back the way they did with Pivetta. 

[Maxbialystock]

20 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Well, the keystone kops routine in the infield today suggests that they need help.

One game can't tell us spit.  If it could, the 19-5 win 6 games ago could not possibly have led to 5 straight losses (and still counting).  

It's the 5 game losing streak that is scary because it revealed the Sox ineptitude in piching, hitting, fielding, and even running the bases.  In those 5 games it was the Sox hitting that sucked the most.   The pitching was actually decent in games 1, 3, and 4.   I don't recall any great baserunning feats, but do remember a number of gambles that failed.  For most of the 5 games, I think the defense was pretty good--until last night.  

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

21 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

One game can't tell us spit.  If it could, the 19-5 win 6 games ago could not possibly have led to 5 straight losses (and still counting).  

It's the 5 game losing streak that is scary because it revealed the Sox ineptitude in piching, hitting, fielding, and even running the bases.  In those 5 games it was the Sox hitting that sucked the most.   The pitching was actually decent in games 1, 3, and 4.   I don't recall any great baserunning feats, but do remember a number of gambles that failed.  For most of the 5 games, I think the defense was pretty good--until last night.  

Well, it's far from just one game that displays that they need help........

[Maxbialystock]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Kutter was hurt in May 2024! 

Houck has been struggling off an on since last July. He's been a train wreck this season though. I think he should be sent to the pen and see if he can get his mojo back the way they did with Pivetta. 

And the pitching, despite the addition of high-priced Crochet and Chapman, is just as Notin says--ranked 17th in team ERA, it's no better than last year's and therefore stinks.    Historically, the Sox have been terrible at developing pitchers on their MiLB teams.  

Breslow is a former MLB pitcher (10 seasons) and is the guy who dumped Sale and paid $40M for Giolito.    Last year Sale won the NL Cy Young, and this year he has a lower ERA, more IP, and more quality starts than anyone on the Sox not named Crochet. 

However, despite his lousy ERA (5.27), Giolito has 3 quality starts in 5 games.  Plus I haven't quite given up on Buehler (ERA 3.95) and Bello (ERA 3.83).  

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

However, despite his lousy ERA (5.27), Giolito has 3 quality starts in 5 games.  Plus I haven't quite given up on Buehler (ERA 3.95) and Bello (ERA 3.83).  

21st in starter ERA, 7th in starter xFIP

Maybe there will be some positive regression? I think taking Houck out of the rotation could help. I don't know what to think about the seesaw nature of Giolito just yet (good start/bad start/good start). Bello has just permanently stunted his development somehow and may need a scenery change. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

13 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Plus I haven't quite given up on Buehler (ERA 3.95) and Bello (ERA 3.83).  

Both of their ERA's may be being helped by the fact that neither makes it past the 5th inning all that often.

[Maxbialystock]

1 minute ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Well, it's far from just one game that displays that they need help........

I said that already when I discussed the ongoing 5 game losing streak.

As for "help," I don't see many good options.  I'd love to see Anthony move up, but, with Bregman gone for at least 2 months, the 2d, 4th, and 5th best WAR's on the team belong to Abreu, Rafaela, and Duran.  (Devers has the highest WAR and Narvaez is 3d. 

 On this Sox team, it's the infield that needs help.  Story can't hit and had lost some range, Campbell has stopped hitting, and Sabol never has hit.  If Anthony wants to get to Boston ASAP, he should think 1b. 

 

 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

2 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

I said that already when I discussed the ongoing 5 game losing streak.

As for "help," I don't see many good options.  I'd love to see Anthony move up, but, with Bregman gone for at least 2 months, the 2d, 4th, and 5th best WAR's on the team belong to Abreu, Rafaela, and Duran.  (Devers has the highest WAR and Narvaez is 3d. 

 On this Sox team, it's the infield that needs help.  Story can't hit and had lost some range, Campbell has stopped hitting, and Sabol never has hit.  If Anthony wants to get to Boston ASAP, he should think 1b. 

 

 

That I would agree with.

Unless they move ceddanne to the infield to open up an outfield spot for him.

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

If Anthony wants to get to Boston ASAP, he should think 1b. 

If that's the case, we won't be seeing him for another 3-4 weeks while he's learning the position. 🤔

[Maxbialystock]

8 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Both of their ERA's may be being helped by the fact that neither makes it past the 5th inning all that often.

Good point.  The current MLB pitching dictum is not to let a starter go through the opposing lineup a 3d time because the stats say the other team will hit your starter hard.   I say that depends on the starter.  Crochet seems fine the 3d time through.  Last year Houck was fine the 3d time through.  In 30 starts he averaged 6 IP per game and had 19 quality starts.   

Another key factor of course is "how good is your bullpen?"  Ours ain't that good, plus I think they are being overworked.  

Another factor has to be the pitching coach.  Two no doubt insignificant factoids:  last year Houck was great and this year he stinks; last year Pivetta stunk and this year he's the Padres' ace.   What did our pitching coach say about 18 months ago when Bregman wanted to dump Sale and get Giolito?  

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

That I would agree with.

Unless they move ceddanne to the infield to open up an outfield spot for him.

Anthony is not a IF let alone a 1B, and the Red Sox have already shot that idea down. Anthony is an OF, and should stay an OF, and when he comes up he should have a FT position. Campbell doesn’t really have a position, and now he’s going to try another position. He’s not a ML 2B even though he’s played there, and it showed yesterday, so what the heck if he’s not a ML 1B either. Someone has to do it. Mayer is a SS, and is playing out of position too, because the Red Sox need someone there. Spring training and Instructional League baseball , and it shows.🤭

[dgalehouse]

7 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not giving up, just yet, but I don't see this team going anywhere but near .500, this season.

It's very sad, because it did look like we made some significant improvements to high need areas, last winter. It looked like we had decent SP'er depth, improved defense and about the same offense, which was not bad, last year. Out pen was a known area of continued need, but that is the one area that seems easier to address mid season.

OH well.

I know many want heads to roll, but I find it hard to be hyper critical towards those that made deals I agreed with. 

It is far too early to give up on this team. I think Breslow is a pretty good judge of baseball talent, and this team does have talent. They do need a nice little winning streak to generate some confidence in themselves and confidence in the disgruntled fan base. And with three wild cards, it doesn't take all that much to get back in the race. Then the mood will swing back again. The gloom and doom will become seashells and balloons.