A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[Hitch]

I feel really sorry for Casas - looks like a bad one, and he was already scuffling. I recall him making comments on betting on himself, and knowing his value when extension talks were thrown around early last year. Man, did he miss out there if there was anything near a Rafaela/Campbell offer in the making. The Red Sox dodged a bullet by not extending him. The kid has some terrible luck.

Campbell should be nowhere near 1B (or CF for that matter).  Leave the kid play his position. 1B is going to be an interesting one to see what they do. My feeling is they will ride Romy for a while with it. Might well be the opening Grissom has been waiting for, however.

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, notin said:

 

Grandal has played 1b.  He doesn’t hit like he used to and defense at catcher is still his best skill.

 

I like Campbell (1b), Story (2b), Mayer (SS).  But I can see why they don’t do it, too.

Devers to 1b makes sense too but won’t happen.

I also agree with Dave Cameron; there’s no such thing as a “natural position.”

I do like that last line. 

Ruth pitched great for the Sox, but was better in RF for the Yankees.  Mookie was a second baseman until he was told the Sox needed an outfielder, plus Pedey was anchored at 2b.  

Some firstbasemen are better than others, but it's the easiest position in the infield, so of course I think Campbell to 1b, Story to 2b, and Mayer to SS makes sense.  Story was excellent at 2b in 2022 when Bogey was the SS.  

[Maxbialystock]

12 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I feel really sorry for Casas - looks like a bad one, and he was already scuffling. I recall him making comments on betting on himself, and knowing his value when extension talks were thrown around early last year. Man, did he miss out there if there was anything near a Rafaela/Campbell offer in the making. The Red Sox dodged a bullet by not extending him. The kid has some terrible luck.

Campbell should be nowhere near 1B (or CF for that matter).  Leave the kid play his position. 1B is going to be an interesting one to see what they do. My feeling is they will ride Romy for a while with it. Might well be the opening Grissom has been waiting for, however.

I wouldn't object to Grissom at 1b, but wonder why Campbell shouldn't play 1b.  

[Maxbialystock]

On 5/2/2025 at 10:18 AM, Randy Red Sox said:

i have no idea why this team is not doing better. I think the major reasons are 1} Casas has stunk  2} Devers has stunk 3} our middle relief has not been good and 4] our C has been a big issue and  5} Ceddano has struggled badly with the bat. I'd look at packaging Casas and Ceddano for a decent C. Then I would call up Anthony. In addition I would gauge the interest for Story which should be at his highest point in a long time. If this team is in fact going nowhere we may as well play the kids.

It's simpler than that.  The hitting is fine.  I even like the baserunning and defense.  But the overall pitching stinks despite the addition of Crochet.  The Sox ERA, 3.95, is ranked 16th in MLB.  

[Larry Cook]

we move Casas to the 60 day DL. We move  story to first base and promote Mayer! 
 

[Hugh2]

Looks like it’s an Abraham Toro/Romney Gonzalez platoon.

I get it, this is why Toro is on the roster and if he doesn’t look good you can just get rid of him.  It just stinks because you want to see other people get a chance down in Worcester.  I’d like to see Grissom given another shot first.  
 

Casas ruptured is patellar tendon, he’s out for the year.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Looks like it’s an Abraham Toro/Romney Gonzalez platoon.

I get it, this is why Toro is on the roster and if he doesn’t look good you can just get rid of him.  It just stinks because you want to see other people get a chance down in Worcester.  I’d like to see Grissom given another shot first.  
 

Casas ruptured is patellar tendon, he’s out for the year.

Why 10 day IL and not 60?

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

1B options: Grissom doesn't make sense as a platoon partner with Romy, since they're both right-handed. Toro is a switch-hitter... 

I't not an ideal platoon, but Romy is so bad vs RHPs, Grissom's .623 career split is significantly better.'

If the hope is that Grissom can return to his 2022 numbers, I think that has to be part of any reason to give him a chance, then his ,723 split, that year is not so bad.

Grandal might be the better platoon bat, and he'd offer a 3rd catcher option that allows for more PH'ing for Narvaez, when needed.

 

[mvp 78]

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Why 10 day IL and not 60?

Delay tactic to choose who to add to the 40?

[moonslav59]

Toro, TORO, TORO!

[notin]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I't not an ideal platoon, but Romy is so bad vs RHPs, Grissom's .623 career split is significantly better.'

If the hope is that Grissom can return to his 2022 numbers, I think that has to be part of any reason to give him a chance, then his ,723 split, that year is not so bad.

Grandal might be the better platoon bat, and he'd offer a 3rd catcher option that allows for more PH'ing for Narvaez, when needed.

 

If it’s a platoon, why would the RHH Romy Gonzalez face RHP? Toro is a switch hitter…

[notin]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Delay tactic to choose who to add to the 40?

Dont they have to add Toro?

[moonslav59]

Just now, notin said:

If it’s a platoon, why would the RHH Romy Gonzalez face RHP? Toro is a switch hitter…

I had Romy vs LHPs and Grissom or Grandal v RHPs. (Yes, Toro is better, too.)

[notin]

Maybe Toro is just here to buy time for Devers to get up to speed at 1b?

[Hugh2]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Delay tactic to choose who to add to the 40?

Exactly, they needed to make a move then when they found out how bad it was they moved him to the 60 day

 

Just now, notin said:

Maybe Toro is just here to buy time for Devers to get up to speed at 1b?

If it’s not Toro then why even have him on the roster.  I suspect he won’t last long, I have a hard time seeing the Sox roll with a Romy/Toro first base platoon all year.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Dont they have to add Toro?

Yes, I'm behind the timeline. 

Been on a plane to Maine, this AM and missed the boat.

[moonslav59]

Toro is an easy guy to later DFA, too.

(Hate to say it, but...)

[jad]

Article says Casas has ruptured patella tendon. and is on 10-day IL.  10-day?   Is that in case the diagnosis is not correct?  That's like a 6-12 month recovery. no?

[notin]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I had Romy vs LHPs and Grissom or Grandal v RHPs. (Yes, Toro is better, too.)

Grissom is RHH as well.  Why bother platooning?

Grandal is at least a switch hitter, albeit one who best part of his game is his glove.

Why not Devers at 1b and activate Yoshidato DH?

[moonslav59]

We had an open 40 slot for Toro, anyway.

The Casas replacement slot is TBD.

[notin]

3 minutes ago, jad said:

Article says Casas has ruptured patella tendon. and is on 10-day IL.  10-day?   Is that in case the diagnosis is not correct?  That's like a 6-12 month recovery. no?

Better move him to the 15 day IL stat!

[notin]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We had an open 40 slot for Toro, anyway.

The Casas replacement slot is TBD.

Where did we get that?

[notin]

7 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Exactly, they needed to make a move then when they found out how bad it was they moved him to the 60 day

 

If it’s not Toro then why even have him on the roster.  I suspect he won’t last long, I have a hard time seeing the Sox roll with a Romy/Toro first base platoon all year.

Even Sox pitching legend Dom Smith and former All Star Garrett Cooper were part timers…

[notin]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We had an open 40 slot for Toro, anyway.

The Casas replacement slot is TBD.

They should add Grandal.  Sabol couldn’t catch COVID if he licked every door knob in 2020…

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, notin said:

Where did we get that?

MLBTR

To replace Casas on the active roster, the team has selected Abraham Toro’s contract from Triple-A Worcester. Boston had an open spot on the 40-man, so no further corresponding transaction was necessary.

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

They should add Grandal.  Sabol couldn’t catch COVID if he licked every door knob in 2020…

That was what I suggested- or save the 40 man slot and call up Grissom to play 1B w Romy.

[mvp 78]

53 minutes ago, notin said:

They should add Grandal.  Sabol couldn’t catch COVID if he licked every door knob in 2020…

Wong was activated.

[illinoisredsox]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Delay tactic to choose who to add to the 40?

Almost certainly the answer.  40 man must be full when anyone goes on the 60 Day.

[notin]

21 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Will the trade market in early May have better options than Abraham Toro?

Right now the best options via trade appear to be Rowdy Tellez, Josh Bell, and LaMonte Wade Jr.  

The Sox might have to tough out the Toro/Gonzalez plan until mid/late July.  
 

Which begs the painfully obvious question - why is Cora averse to putting Devers back in the field?  It’s kind of the obvious solution here…