A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

We're definitely still living with JH's "epiphany" about how to run a baseball team.

We're cookin' tonight, just keep on tokin'

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

The demoted comment was a joke after you called him “assistant” GM, implying his role had been much larger in that capacity.

I hate explaining jokes, but that one might be on me…

I did not call him the assistant GM.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Again, the starters have the 21st ranked ERA in baseball.

If you're happy with that, so be it.

I'm not sure anyone is "happy" with our rotation results, to date. I will say, not everyone thinks what happened recently will always repeat itself going forward.

The Sox are 17th in Starter ERA- at 100 and 14th in SIERA. Not great, at all, but not horrible for a team with so many SP'er injuries, and our 2024 ace with an ERA over 8. (They are 7th xFIP at 3.77.)

I'd also like to say that Devers is hitting .816 over his last 81 games, but I never hear about that time frame  anymore.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not sure anyone is "happy" with our rotation results, to date. I will say, not everyone thinks what happened recently will always repeat itself going forward.

The Sox are 17th in Starter ERA- at 100 and 14th in SIERA. Not great, at all, but not horrible for a team with so many SP'er injuries, and our 2024 ace with an ERA over 8. (They are 7th xFIP at 3.77.)

I'd also like to say that Devers is hitting .816 over his last 81 games, but I never hear about that time frame  anymore.

Who cares about an 81 game timeframe? That stretches back through a shoulder surgery into the middle of last season. That sample is meaningless to how he performing right now. 

[moonslav59]

22 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Cora said he has not talked to Raffy about playing 1B. That is a fact. Cora said he wasn’t going to talk with Raffy about playing 1B that is also a fact. Now I heard Cora’s comments the other day, and he did NOT say he was having discussions with Raffy about it. Now if Cora comes out, and says I want Raffy to try 1B my stance would soften, but until that happens my stance will not change about Raffy, and you guys can keep regurgitating your words up, and keep resorting to name calling. That must leave a bad taste, but  to each its own.

I have not disputed any of this. Again, you mistakenly assign opinions to me that I do not hold. I'd say "strawman" again, but you don't know what the means, either.

For the record: I'm for KC at 1B, this year. I thought we should have asked Devers to try a 1Bman's mitt, years ago. I never demanded it or expected Cora & Co. to do it.   There is a difference there that you never acknowledge or understand. 

People have the right to have an opinion that differs from yours over statements (perhaps poorly translated or out of context) Devers made about not playing 1B. My opinion is that if they ask him to, and I never assumed Cora did, he should play there. You can believe my opinion is not that, as you often do, but you are wrong, once again.

I'm not sure he'd be a good 1Bman, but I think he could be, and the bar is set so low with Casas, anyway, that being an improvement is not saying much, at all. I'd rather they try to get him to play 1B in the offseason, not now.

I'm not crying or whining or obsessed over this, despite what you assume, but as always you choose an alternative reality.

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Who cares about an 81 game timeframe? That stretches back through a shoulder surgery into the middle of last season. That sample is meaningless to how he performing right now. 

That's my opinion. I was taking about a certain poster who ranted and raved about 81 games, when it fit his narrative.

All those who wanted Devers demoted in the line-up, or worse, are awfully silent, now.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not sure anyone is "happy" with our rotation results, to date. I will say, not everyone thinks what happened recently will always repeat itself going forward.

The Sox are 17th in Starter ERA- at 100 and 14th in SIERA. Not great, at all, but not horrible for a team with so many SP'er injuries, and our 2024 ace with an ERA over 8. (They are 7th xFIP at 3.77.)

I'd also like to say that Devers is hitting .816 over his last 81 games, but I never hear about that time frame  anymore.

devers has been swinging a great bat lately, no doubt.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Some of that is Newcomb (4.43 ERA as a starter) and Houck (much worse, currently on the IL)….

That's great, but every team can say "Well, if you take out the couple of guys with the worst numbers it really looks so much better"

[mvp 78]

Just now, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

That's great, but every team can say "Well, if you take out the couple of guys with the worst numbers it really looks so much better"

That's great, but those guys are ACTUALLY out of the rotation right now. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That's great, but those guys are ACTUALLY out of the rotation right now. 

That's great, but that doesn't really change their ranking.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That's my opinion. I was taking about a certain poster who ranted and raved about 81 games, when it fit his narrative.

All those who wanted Devers demoted in the line-up, or worse, are awfully silent, now.

I'd like to promote him to clean-up when Anthony gets in the line-up. That should be sometime in 2026, when Bregman's quad is finally healthy (at least it will prevent him from opting out next winter, since who wants to risk kajillions on damaged goods).

Duran-Ant-Breg-Raffy... as much as Duran and Devers bring star power to the batting order, gotta break them up. Story may be poster boy of the Whiff Sox, but don't forget Duran and Devers are also two more of the AL's TOP 10 K men.

[moonslav59]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I'd like to promote him to clean-up when Anthony gets in the line-up. That should be sometime in 2026, when Bregman's quad is finally healthy (at least it will prevent him from opting out next winter, since who wants to risk kajillions on damaged goods).

I've been saying Devers 4th from before Bregman's injury, when we actually had another top hitter to fill the all-important two slot.

I still like the idea, but the change will not make much of a difference, and I'm fine with keeping Devers 2nd.

Anthony 3rd or 4th works for me, too. Just bring the kid up. We could have a goldmine ready for discovery.

Bring on the next GOLD RUSH!

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

7 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I'd like to promote him to clean-up when Anthony gets in the line-up. That should be sometime in 2026, when Bregman's quad is finally healthy (at least it will prevent him from opting out next winter, since who wants to risk kajillions on damaged goods).

I believe bregman is expected to be back long before next season.

Although, I do agree that the injury likely stops him from opting out.

Which I do believe he would have had he continued to perform as he was.

At this point in his career, I would think he wants to play on a winner with another shot at a ring.

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

That's great, but that doesn't really change their ranking.

I don't care about their current ranking, but what they will do going forward. 

[jdc69]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

We're definitely still living with JH's "epiphany" about how to run a baseball team.

What epiphany is that?

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't care about their current ranking, but what they will do going forward. 

Don't you know? All players are doomed (or blessed) to repeat their last 81 games, forever and ever.

[Bellhorn04]

2 minutes ago, jdc69 said:

What epiphany is that?

I'm being facetious with that word, but what I'm referring to is JH believing there was a better way to do things than what they were doing, which led to things like dispatching Dombrowski and Mookie, cutting payroll, "rebuilding while competing" etc. etc.    

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

25 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't care about their current ranking, but what they will do going forward. 

Ya, we don't ever want to chase wins today and risk the future. 

Why try to improve a club badly in need of a spark by calling up Anthony? It's much more important to keep control of him six years from now...

... you know, when he and all of us might not even be here anymore;

[jdc69]

12 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I'm being facetious with that word, but what I'm referring to is JH believing there was a better way to do things than what they were doing, which led to things like dispatching Dombrowski and Mookie, cutting payroll, "rebuilding while competing" etc. etc.    

I actually don't doubt he had an "epiphany," of sorts. He watched Moneyball and thought "ahah, talent doesnt matter!!" 

[mvp 78]

22 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Ya, we don't ever want to chase wins today and risk the future. 

Why try to improve a club badly in need of a spark by calling up Anthony? It's much more important to keep control of him six years from now...

... you know, when he and all of us might not even be here anymore;

Are they calling up Roman Anthony to be in the starting rotation to help with the ERA ranking that he's been complaining about???

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO WORK, SON!!!

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, jdc69 said:

I actually don't doubt he had an "epiphany," of sorts. He watched Moneyball and thought "ahah, talent doesnt matter!!" 

He's is IN Moneyball!!!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Outsider says Ponyball stay gold.

[notin]

2 hours ago, cp176 said:

Yes he did cut up those jersies when he was in Chicago.  I understand your comment though.  I just think that this team is young and with Bregman down, they need strong leadership of the player on the field variety.  That is what I think people like Sale provided.  But hey I’m the same guy who wanted to keep both Sale and Dombrowski in Boston.  

Cutting up the jerseys might have been a prime example of leadership.  The White Sox had numerous critics of management at that time for a bunch of reasons.  I could see that as a unifying act, despite its childish nature.

But for the most part, I have very little idea on which players actually embody positive leadership….

[notin]

25 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He's is IN Moneyball!!!

Also Full Metal Jacket and The Lost World: Jurassic Park

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, notin said:

Cutting up the jerseys might have been a prime example of leadership.  The White Sox had numerous critics of management at that time for a bunch of reasons.  I could see that as a unifying act, despite its childish nature.

But for the most part, I have very little idea on which players actually embody positive leadership….

IDK, the ChiSox are still a mess of an organization. Players have complained about Grandal and what he did there. Players have complained about Hendriks and how he acted there. There must be something in the water.

[notin]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

IDK, the ChiSox are still a mess of an organization. Players have complained about Grandal and what he did there. Players have complained about Hendriks and how he acted there. There must be something in the water.

They’re also the only organization to NOT complain about AJ Pierzynski..

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

They’re also the only organization to NOT complain about AJ Pierzynski..

Yucky

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't care about their current ranking, but what they will do going forward. 

Well, it is who they are until, or should I say if, it changes.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

IDK, the ChiSox are still a mess of an organization. Players have complained about Grandal and what he did there. Players have complained about Hendriks and how he acted there. There must be something in the water.

The whole top drawer of Sox has sucked since '04/'05.

It's probably because when you wash red and white together you get pink.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Are they calling up Roman Anthony to be in the starting rotation to help with the ERA ranking that he's been complaining about???

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO WORK, SON!!!

Not against it