A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

When I jumped in, you mentioned we cant platoon both 1b and DH.  I see that the implication was "while also platooning 2b"

Correct, hard to platoon 3x.  Unless its september *(Id also do it playoffs, but Id carry 5 position players, calling Hammy back up). Not sure if teams still do this but you dont need as many pitchers in playoffs.

Yes, for July and August platooning 3 positions would be tough.  You could and I would, but its tough.

The three platoons would be :

Mayer/Romy
Duran/Refsnyder
Toro/Yoshida (working on 1b as we speak)

Id do it, but Im crazy a superior baseball mind.

Or id play Mayer everyday. Or DFA Yoshida and call Ham back up.


 

Yoshida/Toro split doesn't work as they're both better against right handed pitching.

I agree though, a lot of my concern in this area would go away if Cora just started Mayer every day! 

[Hitch]

7 hours ago, harmony said:

After the three-game series at Yankee Stadium, Seattle travels to Detroit to take on the league's best team. It's a brutal road trip for the Mariners before the All Star Break.

Interesting. Didn't realise you guys had it so tough right now.

The Rays series is becoming larger in importance by the day.

[Hugh2]

2 hours ago, Hitch said:

Maybe that's where the disconnect is. I don't see Yoshida getting any time in left. Why would he? So he and Refsnyder will have to share DH (even if we do trade one of Duran or Abreu for pitching - which I feel is a certainty). We will soon have only 5 infielders, 2 of which are going to be platooning and Romy needs to platoon at two places against lefties..This is utterly obvious in its unsuitability to a team going for it, at least to me.

But I've tried long enough to change your mind and it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I'm off to post to Fred that Rafaela may be the most talented hitter we've had since Williams. 

It’s not that I’m against an upgrade at 1b, I just feel it’s lower on the totem pole.  
but hey, I’ll jump on the Rafaela train with you any day.

 

 

[Soxlover]

5 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Why not? Toro/Romy platoon at 1B.  Refsnyder/Duran platoon at DH

That’s my opinion, but Yoshida is about to bench a better player.

[Soxlover]

1 hour ago, Soxlover said:

That’s my opinion, but Yoshida is about to bench a better player.

I hope tonight is a sign how wrong I am.

[Soxlover]

2025 HRs

18 Abreu

17 Devers

15 Story

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Soxlover said:

I hope tonight is a sign how wrong I am.

You are always wrong, you fool!

LOL!

[moonslav59]

Last 30 Days:

HRs: 7 Story, 6 Rafaela, 5 Abreu, 4 Romy & Duran, 3 Mayer, 2 Anthony & Narvaez

RBI: 24 Story, 20 Abreu, 16 Rafaela, 14 Romy, 13 Duran, 11 Anthony, 8 Narvaez & Toro, 6 Mayer

OPS (40+ PAs)

1.167 Romy

.999 Abreu

.977 Rafaela

.911 Story

.795 Anthony

.790 Duran

.785 Narvaez

.754 Refsnyder

.661 Mayer, .624 Toro, .481 DHam

[moonslav59]

I'm really not for trading top prospects for rentals, but I gotta think if AZ decides to sell, a nice duo pick-up would be Zac Gallen (not having a good year, but last 2 gms: 13 IP, 10 Hits, 1BB, 19 Ks, and 1 ER) and Eugenio Suarez (29 HRS & .883 OPS)

[moonslav59]

When Bregman & Dobbins return, we'll probably see DHam demoted to AAA (finally) and I Campbell demoted or DFA'd.

Sandoval and Houck may get Hicks, Murphy or Alcara demoted.

How does this roster look?

SP: Crochet, Giolito, Bello, Dobbins & Sandoval (Buehler, Fitts)

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Wilson, Houck, Buehler, Fitts, Weissert, Bernardino/Alcara/Murphy

1. L Duran LF

2. R Bregman 3B

3. L Abreu RF/ R Refsnyder DH v L

4. R Story SS

5. L Anthony DH/R Romy 1B v L

6. R Narvaez C

7. L Yoshida 1B/ L Anthony RF v L

8. L Mayer 2B/ Rafaela CF v L

9. R Rafaela CF/ Mayer 2B v L (Maybe Romy some)

(Wong as 2nd C and Toro 1B/3B depth)

Gotta say, this looks much nicer than a month or so, ago.

 

[Hitch]

As I've been at pains to point out - it looks incredibly light at infield and Romy would have to cover both Mayer and Toro against lefties in the same game!

Something has to give. 

[Hugh2]

5 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

When Bregman & Dobbins return, we'll probably see DHam demoted to AAA (finally) and I Campbell demoted or DFA'd.

Sandoval and Houck may get Hicks, Murphy or Alcara demoted.

How does this roster look?

SP: Crochet, Giolito, Bello, Dobbins & Sandoval (Buehler, Fitts)

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Wilson, Houck, Buehler, Fitts, Weissert, Bernardino/Alcara/Murphy

1. L Duran LF

2. R Bregman 3B

3. L Abreu RF/ R Refsnyder DH v L

4. R Story SS

5. L Anthony DH/R Romy 1B v L

6. R Narvaez C

7. L Yoshida 1B/ L Anthony RF v L

8. L Mayer 2B/ Rafaela CF v L

9. R Rafaela CF/ Mayer 2B v L (Maybe Romy some)

(Wong as 2nd C and Toro 1B/3B depth)

Gotta say, this looks much nicer than a month or so, ago.

 

I've been wrong many times, but I doubt we ever see the 5'8" Yoshida at 1B

[Hitch]

I need to put my glasses on before replying next time. I didn't even see Yoshida at 1st! 🧑‍🍼

Do what all good posters do and ignore my previous input. 

[Nick]

6 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

When Bregman & Dobbins return, we'll probably see DHam demoted to AAA (finally) and I Campbell demoted or DFA'd.

Sandoval and Houck may get Hicks, Murphy or Alcara demoted.

How does this roster look?

SP: Crochet, Giolito, Bello, Dobbins & Sandoval (Buehler, Fitts)

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Wilson, Houck, Buehler, Fitts, Weissert, Bernardino/Alcara/Murphy

1. L Duran LF

2. R Bregman 3B

3. L Abreu RF/ R Refsnyder DH v L

4. R Story SS

5. L Anthony DH/R Romy 1B v L

6. R Narvaez C

7. L Yoshida 1B/ L Anthony RF v L

8. L Mayer 2B/ Rafaela CF v L

9. R Rafaela CF/ Mayer 2B v L (Maybe Romy some)

(Wong as 2nd C and Toro 1B/3B depth)

Gotta say, this looks much nicer than a month or so, ago.

 

You're nuts if you think Jordan Hicks gets demoted. We are looking for heat. You are not going to send a $12M acquisition to the minors. That will make Bres look dumb as a door knob.

[Nick]

Just now, Nick said:

You're nuts if you think Jordan Hicks gets demoted. We are looking for heat. You are not going to send a $12M acquisition to the minors. That will make Bres dumb as a door knob.

You know I feel comfortable saying that because we are usually on the same side. Optics are important when you're at the head of an organization.

How do you feel about Duran for Joe Ryan of the Twins? 

We can't play this game of not wanting to trade Duran because he's now 'hot'. Just ask the Rays. 

I rather have Abreu than Duran. He hits for power and he's already won a gold glove. He's under contract for 4 more years, one more than Duran. Abreu is also almost 3 years younger. (2 yrs, 10 months)

Do we need more or do the Twins need more out of this fantasy trade?

[Hitch]

41 minutes ago, Nick said:

You know I feel comfortable saying that because we are usually on the same side. Optics are important when you're at the head of an organization.

How do you feel about Duran for Joe Ryan of the Twins? 

We can't play this game of not wanting to trade Duran because he's now 'hot'. Just ask the Rays. 

I rather have Abreu than Duran. He hits for power and he's already won a gold glove. He's under contract for 4 more years, one more than Duran. Abreu is also almost 3 years younger. (2 yrs, 10 months)

Do we need more or do the Twins need more out of this fantasy trade?

Not a cat's chance in hell that Duran gets it done for Ryan. We'd have to tag on quite a bit more.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

30 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Not a cat's chance in hell that Duran gets it done for Ryan. We'd have to tag on quite a bit more.

Agreed. Teams willing to trade bonafide big league pitching always want minor league arms in return. 

This is where Breslow and Bailey's Flying Circus needs to identify building blocks from expendables. It should help that they're ex-pitchers... 

.... just don't trade Anderson Espinoza for Drew Pomeranz!!!! 

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Agreed. Teams willing to trade bonafide big league pitching always want minor league arms in return. 

This is where Breslow and Bailey's Flying Circus needs to identify building blocks from expendables. It should help that they're ex-pitchers... 

.... just don't trade Anderson Espinoza for Drew Pomeranz!!!! 

The problem with the Espinoza trade was that Espinoza should have been used on a better pitcher, not a guy like Pomeranz who was on a crazy run just because he had a new pitch and his time was almost up. It was obvious at the time that Pomeranz was having the greatest stretch of his career, but that it was highly unlikely to continue (and his first 3 starts with the Sox showed that). Espinoza was a highly ranked prospect and continued to be highly ranked through the rest of that season. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The problem with the Espinoza trade was that Espinoza should have been used on a better pitcher, not a guy like Pomeranz who was on a crazy run just because he had a new pitch and his time was almost up. It was obvious at the time that Pomeranz was having the greatest stretch of his career, but that it was highly unlikely to continue (and his first 3 starts with the Sox showed that). Espinoza was a highly ranked prospect and continued to be highly ranked through the rest of that season. 

I was horrified when an org constantly in need of developing pitching traded their #1 mound prospect. And what the hell did i know...

Espinoza is now pitching in Japan -- and if he never makes it back to the majors will finish with a career WAR of 0. 

I am going to assume that ties him with almost all of the posters on this forum.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I was horrified when an org constantly in need of developing pitching traded their #1 mound prospect. And what the hell did i know...

Espinoza is now pitching in Japan -- and if he never makes it back to the majors will finish with a career WAR of 0. 

I am going to assume that ties him with almost all of the posters on this forum.

That's what 2 TJS will do to a pitcher. 

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

The problem with the Espinoza trade was that Espinoza should have been used on a better pitcher, not a guy like Pomeranz who was on a crazy run just because he had a new pitch and his time was almost up. It was obvious at the time that Pomeranz was having the greatest stretch of his career, but that it was highly unlikely to continue (and his first 3 starts with the Sox showed that). Espinoza was a highly ranked prospect and continued to be highly ranked through the rest of that season. 

That was the one time Dave really did act a little desperate...

I don't fault him because Buchholz had just gone down and the need was definitely there.  I assume Pomeranz was the best he could do.  

[mvp 78]

30 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

That was the one time Dave really did act a little desperate...

I don't fault him because Buchholz had just gone down and the need was definitely there.  I assume Pomeranz was the best he could do.  

I don't really remember what happened with Buch in '16. He was awful for the whole year in and out of the rotation a bunch and had a 15 day IL stint. 

Seems like he was better as a reliever: 571 OPS, 3.57 ERA

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Nick said:

You're nuts if you think Jordan Hicks gets demoted. We are looking for heat. You are not going to send a $12M acquisition to the minors. That will make Bres look dumb as a door knob.

I listed him as one of 3 possible demotions. As long as Murphy and Alcara keep getting guys out more than Hicks does, I think his name on the list is valid.

Houck is going to get another look. It is likely someone goes on the IL to make the choice easy, but I listed Hicks first, because I see him as more likely, as of right now. That's not to say he stays in AAA to end the season, but the guy needs to show he belongs. Maybe Bernardino could earn a demotion, if he keeps going like he has the last month or so.

I have I Campbell going down when Dobbins returns, so who do you demote for Houck and then Sandoval? As bad as our staff has looked, at time, suddenly, these choices don't seem so easy, anymore.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

.... just don't trade Anderson Espinoza for Drew Pomeranz!!!! 

It's funny how AE was so highly regarded. Injuries may have been his ultimate downfall, but what about these deals:

Aldo Ramirez for Schwarber

Jalen Beeks for Nate

Moises Bolivar for Paxton & Ovis Portes for Lucas Sims... Oh, wait....

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I listed him as one of 3 possible demotions.

Hicks doesn't have any options. How would they get him to AAA? DFA? That'd be an interesting move. 

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It's funny how AE was so highly regarded. Injuries may have been his ultimate downfall, but what about these deals:

Aldo Ramirez for Schwarber

Jalen Beeks for Nate

Moises Bolivar for Paxton & Ovis Portes for Lucas Sims... Oh, wait....

The Schwarber and Eovaldi deals were completely fine. Nobody was upset at the time. Neither was a top 20 prospect or had that upside. 

Bolivar is a guy nobody was tracking. Portes was an exciting pitcher, but still years and years away. Portes is still in Low A right now. 

The buzz around Espinoza was crazy high when he was traded. Using him on Pomeranz was the problem. Should have just got a better arm for him.

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Hicks doesn't have any options. How would they get him to AAA? DFA? That'd be an interesting move. 

Good point. I stand corrected. They won't DFA Hicks for Houck. Maybe a phantom IL stint, but more likely a demotion for  Alcara, Bernardino or Murphy.

Maybe we add a RP'er (Weissert, Murphy, Bernardino, Kelly, Guerrero?) to the package, when we trade Duran or Abreu.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Good point. I stand corrected. They won't DFA Hicks for Houck. Maybe a phantom IL stint, but more likely a demotion for  Alcara, Bernardino or Murphy.

Maybe we add a RP'er (Weissert, Murphy, Bernardino, Kelly, Guerrero?) to the package, when we trade Duran or Abreu.

I'd option Houck to AAA and keep him there until he actually looks good enough to be promoted. He's been really bad. 

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The Schwarber and Eovaldi deals were completely fine. Nobody was upset at the time. Neither was a top 20 prospect or had that upside. 

Bolivar is a guy nobody was tracking. Portes was an exciting pitcher, but still years and years away. Portes is still in Low A right now. 

The buzz around Espinoza was crazy high when he was traded. Using him on Pomeranz was the problem. Should have just got a better arm for him.

I agree, but I ask, where do we find a trade like Nate and Schwarber, this July?

We'll see a few in MLB, in hindsight, but it seems they are hard to spot when made, in recent years. Many felt the Astros grossly overpaid for the rental Kikuchi. I did, too.

I think it's harder to make deals like those, now.

The Portes trade could have worked out well, as with the Blalock for Urias deal, I did not mention, before, but they did not.

I think Breslow will look to make deals like those, this deadline, but I also see him making one big splash deal involving one of our starting OF'ers and a prospects or two near or better than Aldo Ramirez and Jalen Beeks were when traded. Maybe a third team (Philly) is involved.

Abreu or Duran

Maybe Arias or Romero plus Perales, Early or Sandlin gets added.

Other pieces like Cespedes, Bleis, Mullins, Monegro, Tibbs, Paez, Jordan, Uberstine or Wehunt could sweeten the deal, a little.

I'm really thinking Joe Ryan could be the prize Brez is seeking, with an extension in mind, if possible.

Having Crochet and Ryan locked up for 5 years would be pretty impressive. A supporting cast of Bello, Dobbins, Sandoval, Fitts, Tolle, Harrison plus maybe one or two from Perales and Early looks nice and deep, too.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd option Houck to AAA and keep him there until he actually looks good enough to be promoted. He's been really bad. 

I think he gets promoted, soon, despite how good Alcara & Murphy have looked.

I'm not one to put much stock in one game, but Houck looked pretty good, last night with WOO. 4.1 IP (76 pitches) and just 3 hits, 2BBs, 6 Ks and 1 ER. If he has one more good game like that, he may get the call, 4-5 days later.