A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[Hugh2]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

100%. And still people will defend it. Bizarre. 

And I don't have hate for Devers, I will always love Devers.  It's possible to hold criticism for someone and still hold them in a high regard.  I love Devers....but he acted like a baby about moving to 1B and it got him a ticket out of town.  

[Hitch]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

And I don't have hate for Devers, I will always love Devers.  It's possible to hold criticism for someone and still hold them in a high regard.  I love Devers....but he acted like a baby about moving to 1B and it got him a ticket out of town.  

I felt the same up until this season. I have mentioned several times in the past that people were overseeing the fact he plays hurt and always shows up. That changed this season. I wasn't pleased with his outburst in Spring Training but understood it after the way the Sox handled the whole situation, but the refusing to play 1B thing and then gleefully suggesting he'll play there for the Giants in the first press conference because 'they're in charge' - F--k him. I'm glad he's gone. 

You can get away with most things if you show up for your teammates. Once you're not even prepared to do that - away you go. 

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Hard to do that when you refuse to play 1B for your team. 👍

Hard to play 1b if you're injured. Even harder to want to play 1b if your bosses don't communicate with you and then get pissy with you in the media. 

[Hitch]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Hard to play 1b if you're injured. Even harder to want to play 1b if your bosses don't communicate with you and then get pissy with you in the media. 

Incredible. 

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Incredible. 

Glad I could convince you! 😎

I hope Devers has a long fruitful career in SF and that the Sox win a bunch of championships without him. 

[Duran Is The Man]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Hard to play 1b if you're injured. Even harder to want to play 1b if your bosses don't communicate with you and then get pissy with you in the media. 

Cora is all the time swapping guys around, playing guys at every position (even if they've never played there), and he's done that with everybody except Devers, despite the fact that he absolutely sucked at 3B. is Cora that stupid?

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Cora is all the time swapping guys around, playing guys at every position (even if they've never played there), and he's done that with everybody except Devers, despite the fact that he absolutely sucked at 3B. is Cora that stupid?

He moves guys around, because the team he has isn't that good and the construction of it is poor. He wasn't really doing that when he had really good players in 2018. Now he's been given roster with 6 OFers, which is wild. He isn't going to have these guys languish on the bench, so he's trying to figure out how to fit them in. 

He is also trying to play everyone as much as possible prior to the trade deadline so that opposing scouts can see them. 

[Bellhorn04]

11 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Cora is all the time swapping guys around, playing guys at every position (even if they've never played there), and he's done that with everybody except Devers, despite the fact that he absolutely sucked at 3B. is Cora that stupid?

Sorry but how is this even a question when you just saw what actually happened when they tried moving Devers around?  Devers was the guy with the monster contract and big ego who was promised he would be staying at third.  It was a problem waiting to happen. 

[Duran Is The Man]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He moves guys around, because the team he has isn't that good and the construction of it is poor. He wasn't really doing that when he had really good players in 2018. Now he's been given roster with 6 OFers, which is wild. He isn't going to have these guys languish on the bench, so he's trying to figure out how to fit them in. 

He is also trying to play everyone as much as possible prior to the trade deadline so that opposing scouts can see them. 

i get that, but it doesn't fully explain why he never tried Devers at 1B, even in ST. 

 

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sorry but how is this even a question when you just saw what actually happened when they tried moving Devers around?  Devers was the guy with the monster contract and big ego who was promised he would be staying at third.  It was a problem waiting to happen. 

I don't see him moving Bregman around. That guy's ego must be the size of the Titanic! Just like what he's doing to the Sox W/L %! 😎

[Duran Is The Man]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sorry but how is this even a question when you just saw what actually happened when they tried moving Devers around?  Devers was the guy with the monster contract and big ego who was promised he would be staying at third.  It was a problem waiting to happen. 

so, Cora knew he long ago that he was a big selfish baby and didn't want to play anything but third?

 

[Bellhorn04]

2 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

so, Cora knew he long ago that he was a big selfish baby and didn't want to play anything but third?

 

He knew it would be a problem.  He was right.

 

 

[Duran Is The Man]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

He knew it would be a problem.  He was right.

 

that can be the only explanation. 

[Bellhorn04]

4 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

that can be the only explanation. 

You saw what happened.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

4 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

so, Cora knew he long ago that he was a big selfish baby and didn't want to play anything but third?

 

Cora is known as a players' manager, but that's not always a guy who doesn't force his men to play hurt or hammer them to the media. 

Some athletes need a pat on the back sometimes; others need a kick in the butt. Knowing how to reach each individual and earn their trust cannot be overstated.

[mvp 78]

Red Sox have a .500 win % when Bregman is on the active roster. 🤬

Maybe Manfred can do the right thing and finally suspend those HOU players. 

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He moves guys around, because the team he has isn't that good and the construction of it is poor. He wasn't really doing that when he had really good players in 2018. Now he's been given roster with 6 OFers, which is wild. He isn't going to have these guys languish on the bench, so he's trying to figure out how to fit them in. 

He is also trying to play everyone as much as possible prior to the trade deadline so that opposing scouts can see them. 

Name me a manager who isnt moving guys around and youll be showing me a dinosaur who hasnt kept up with the times.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

A disturbing thing I heard is that the reason the Red Sox don't bunt in extra innings on the road is because one run usually isn't good enough and they don't want to give up an out when they need a rally.

Objectively, I can see how this can make sense to management -- especially upper management calculating percentages.

Subjectively -- as in, I'm constantly subjected to watching whiffers who can't touch the ball with their bats -- I say this: there are, indeed, times when one run is not enough to win in extras...

... but there are absolutely positively with-out-a-doubtly EVERY TIME, THAT ZERO RUN IS NOT ENOUGH!

[jdc69]

4 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Cora is all the time swapping guys around, playing guys at every position (even if they've never played there), and he's done that with everybody except Devers, despite the fact that he absolutely sucked at 3B. is Cora that stupid?

And Cora swapping guys around is something I disagree with. I don't think it's just because of injuries, I think its a workable concept, to have a very flexible roster, where they plug in people based on their skill set for specific games. Its very anti-player and pro-analytics. It treats players like a stat sheet. Its also why they want a good farm system because you need lots of players who desperately want to make it to the big leagues, to make it work. Its also why you need a good "players manager."

[Duran Is The Man]

34 minutes ago, jdc69 said:

And Cora swapping guys around is something I disagree with. I don't think it's just because of injuries, I think its a workable concept, to have a very flexible roster, where they plug in people based on their skill set for specific games. Its very anti-player and pro-analytics. It treats players like a stat sheet. Its also why they want a good farm system because you need lots of players who desperately want to make it to the big leagues, to make it work. Its also why you need a good "players manager."

perhaps players constantly playing out of position is why Cora's teams are last in OOA, fielding pct, errors, etc. every freakin' year. but hey....he's a player's manager. how cool is that?

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, jdc69 said:

It treats players like a stat sheet. 

Have you met our GM's since 2002? 

[Larry Cook]

Anybody heard any rumors about the Sox talking to the reds about Abbott????? 
 

 

[Kimmi]

14 hours ago, vjcsmoke said:

Meh. Moving is stressful but these ballplayers have millions and millions of dollars to smooth over that move process. I've moved multiple times in my life and never had the money to pay professional movers or have a nice mansion waiting for me to get into at the end of the move.

I think the fan attachment of losing a favorite player is more what moves sentiment. As a professional athlete, you already know this is part of the deal, in return you get MILLIONS of dollars to soften landing in a new area if you get traded. 

Fair points.  I still think there is a lot of stress on the players and their families dealing with the rumors and the possible subsequent trades.

[Kimmi]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He didn't hit 9th like the Red Sox 1b. Good riddance though! 🙃

The Giants have scored 18 runs in two games since Raffy became a part-time first baseman.  And Raffy has been on fire in those two games.  The Giants have figured out the secret sauce.

[Kimmi]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I hope Devers has a long fruitful career in SF and that the Sox win a bunch of championships without him. 

Agree with the second part of your sentence.  Can't agree with the first part.  And because Devers is on the team, I hope the Giants don't win any championships.

[Kimmi]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

A disturbing thing I heard is that the reason the Red Sox don't bunt in extra innings on the road is because one run usually isn't good enough and they don't want to give up an out when they need a rally.

Objectively, I can see how this can make sense to management -- especially upper management calculating percentages.

Subjectively -- as in, I'm constantly subjected to watching whiffers who can't touch the ball with their bats -- I say this: there are, indeed, times when one run is not enough to win in extras...

... but there are absolutely positively with-out-a-doubtly EVERY TIME, THAT ZERO RUN IS NOT ENOUGH!

Interestingly enough, the road team has the better overall record in extra-inning games since the inception of the ghost runner.  If the road team can score one run in the top of the inning, they have a good chance of winning the game because the strategy for both teams then chances substantially.

I'm usually not a fan of sacrifice bunts, but depending on who is up and who is on deck, this situation would be a good time for it.  Of course, if the sac bunt is successful, we'd still have to find a way to get the runner home from third base.

The inability of our lineup to, at minimum, make a productive out is maddening.

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

The Giants have scored 18 runs in two games since Raffy became a part-time first baseman.  And Raffy has been on fire in those two games.  The Giants have figured out the secret sauce.

Secret sauce: everyone needs to be kinder to one another

[mvp 78]

22 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Agree with the second part of your sentence.  Can't agree with the first part.  And because Devers is on the team, I hope the Giants don't win any championships.

You want him to have a short and terrible career? Get injured? Why? 

What's the point in holding ill will after a player leaves? It's over. Turn the page. 

[jdc69]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Have you met our GM's since 2002? 

Yeah and I was for some of it then but now its gone too far. 

[Hitch]

19 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

It's over. Turn the page. 

Good advice for everyone.