Devers Ready To Play WHEREVER The Giants Need Him To

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Trying to win via pitching as best foot forward is a suckers game in 2025.  Every pitcher has a 60% chance of getting hurt (or stinking out of nowhere).  Bats are more predictable and reliable.

Not to say we dont need pitching, but trying to replace Raffy by focusing on pitching, I dont want to hear about the bad luck when they all wind up on the IL or just plain not being any better than in-house candidates.

Also if we make the playoffs, we can lean on Crochet.

We are so much further away now :/

All true, but appears to be our best chance at taking up the slack...and a lot of slack it is.

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Agreed.  Though I am hopeful that the kids will take a big bite out of the apple for 2025.

I am, too, but how realistic is that even 3-4 players can make up for even half of what we just lost?

Remember, they have to do way better than they have, so far. That might be possible for Mayer and Anthony, and even Campbell, but not so much for anyone else, except Story and to some extent Duran. Most others are already doing as much or more than expected.

Let's assume all 3 rookies do this going forward:

162 game pace: .280 25 90

Is that enough, and how likely is this?

[king koji]

5 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

So taking the sarcasm route, nice.

We're pretty tolerant here but there are limits, too.  It's up to you if you want to stick around or not. 

Nooooooooo!!!! Not being sarcastic at all. You called me out on something and I copped to it. I am being 100% genuine in admitting I was wrong for that.

 

Of course I want to stick around. 

[Hitch]

2 hours ago, king koji said:

Nooooooooo!!!! Not being sarcastic at all. You called me out on something and I copped to it. I am being 100% genuine in admitting I was wrong for that.

 

Of course I want to stick around. 

That's how I read it. Fair play to you..

[Hitch]

9 hours ago, notin said:

And when the Sox go to SF this week, I’m putting the over/under for number of Devers home runs in that series at 3.5.

I’m mad at him and don’t like him, but there should be no denying that man can hit…

Nothing in the sport of baseball has been more nailed on.

[moonslav59]

I want to see Devers playing 2B in our series.

[vjcsmoke]

Devers trade to the Giants feels like another salary dump by the Red Sox. They are allergic to keeping their own stars when large sums of money is involved.

It feels like they deliberately sabotaged the relationship to create an excuse to trade Devers contract away.

You're telling me they couldn't have handled this quietly in house instead of negotiating through the press and insulting Devers to the point he felt very unhappy?

It's all deliberate and calculated. This feels like the Betts trade all over again. Except they are doing it after giving the big contract.

If Breslow gets rid of Bregman at the deadline too you will know for sure it's all money motivated. A mandate from the top, get rid of big salaries, we need to go cheap. You can't hate this front office and ownership enough.

They dismantled this team's chances in 2025 right as it was heating up and starting to play over .500 ball.

[vjcsmoke]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I am, too, but how realistic is that even 3-4 players can make up for even half of what we just lost?

Remember, they have to do way better than they have, so far. That might be possible for Mayer and Anthony, and even Campbell, but not so much for anyone else, except Story and to some extent Duran. Most others are already doing as much or more than expected.

Let's assume all 3 rookies do this going forward:

162 game pace: .280 25 90

Is that enough, and how likely is this?

I only expect Anthony, who is our top prospect and MLB top 5 prospect, to do as well or better than the .280/25/90 pace you theorized.

Don't forget these players are all rookies.

Campbell and Mayer are just getting their feet wet even if they are talented and might end up good going forward.

There's also a question of where they will all play. We have too many outfielders and need to make room for Anthony. We have a 1B issue unless we unexpectedly shift Campbell or Mayer from their natural positions. Trevor Story is going to get games and minutes ahead of them because of his hefty salary even if he is an inferior player to Campbell/Mayer.

We'll have to see going forward but I wouldn't put too much pressure or expectation on the rookies to produce. They are not saving our season.

Looking back to the past, when the Red Sox were at their best they had veterans to lead the way and added young talent to supplement such as Ellsbury/Pedroia to complete the team, etc.

[Hugh2]

Sometimes really really good players take a while to get going as well. 

Bogaerts first full season in the majors .660 OPS, never mind the slow month Pedroia had, it took a full year of exposure.  It wasn't until his 4th year that he was a guy who you can bat towards the top of your lineup. 

How long will it take these guys to become who they are?  Campbell could turn it around next week, next month, or next year, or never.  Mayer could look good for a week then get figured out and how long will it take him to adjust? a week or never?

This is what you get with youngsters, a big ass bag of uncertainty. 

I just hope people are ready for this.  A lot of growing pains with this team.  I've been one of the biggest prospect advocates and homers for a youth movement but as Lou Merloni always says "you need some adults in the room" I can see why they got rid of Devers when you look at it from that angle.  Having one of the adults in the room being the highest paid guy who refuses to do anything for the team outside of some kind of negotiation is the worst kind of example to set for the youngsters.   

However, his absence still leaves the team without that veteran presence.  The only guys to fill the void are Bregman, Story, and maybe a guy like Duran now. 

It's really hard to listen to a guy and look up to him when he sucks, which is why I think it's been a very big deal that Trevor Story has looked better recently.  It's not just the production that adds value, but being the type of guy that youngsters can look up to is a big deal.  

[cp176]

13 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Sometimes really really good players take a while to get going as well. 

Bogaerts first full season in the majors .660 OPS, never mind the slow month Pedroia had, it took a full year of exposure.  It wasn't until his 4th year that he was a guy who you can bat towards the top of your lineup. 

How long will it take these guys to become who they are?  Campbell could turn it around next week, next month, or next year, or never.  Mayer could look good for a week then get figured out and how long will it take him to adjust? a week or never?

This is what you get with youngsters, a big ass bag of uncertainty. 

I just hope people are ready for this.  A lot of growing pains with this team.  I've been one of the biggest prospect advocates and homers for a youth movement but as Lou Merloni always says "you need some adults in the room" I can see why they got rid of Devers when you look at it from that angle.  Having one of the adults in the room being the highest paid guy who refuses to do anything for the team outside of some kind of negotiation is the worst kind of example to set for the youngsters.   

However, his absence still leaves the team without that veteran presence.  The only guys to fill the void are Bregman, Story, and maybe a guy like Duran now. 

It's really hard to listen to a guy and look up to him when he sucks, which is why I think it's been a very big deal that Trevor Story has looked better recently.  It's not just the production that adds value, but being the type of guy that youngsters can look up to is a big deal.  

Maher’s ability to play defense alone is enough to get excited about.  Watching him just swing the bat is enough to get me going.  I think that of the group, he looks very special.  You have to keep Anthony in the lineup for some time just to figure out what he has at this stage of development.  Campbell looks absolutely lost.  

[Hugh2]

2 minutes ago, cp176 said:

Maher’s ability to play defense alone is enough to get excited about.  Watching him just swing the bat is enough to get me going.  I think that of the group, he looks very special.  You have to keep Anthony in the lineup for some time just to figure out what he has at this stage of development.  Campbell looks absolutely lost.  

MAYER is going to be good, I'm still most excited about Anthony, who has some of the loudest tools I've ever seen and he's performed at every level at such a young age. 

If Storys' rebound is real, then when Bregman comes back the ceiling of the lineup goes up and takes pressure of these kids and guys like Campbell. 

When is Bregman coming back? I keep hearing soon. 

[cp176]

16 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Managers don't ask players where they will play on the field. They write out line-ups and assign positions.

They may talk to a guy individually to help soothe his ego, but the dialogue usually starts with a statement: "Casas blew out his knee; I need you to play first base tonight."

If the player is super sensitive and someone you don't wanna lose, you might end with a question to make him feel wanted, and let him know you're counting on him (with an arm around his shoulder, to keep him from shaking): "Can you do that for me?"

I like this.  No two athletes or players are exactly alike.  The need to understand how to motivate them, comes with the need to understand who they are.  As a coach, you might have to treat them differently but the overall same result is what you are trying to achieve.  When nothing seems to work, you need to make a change and sometimes the change can be drastic but for the greater good.  Looks like Devers had to go.  

[cp176]

13 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

MAYER is going to be good, I'm still most excited about Anthony, who has some of the loudest tools I've ever seen and he's performed at every level at such a young age. 

If Storys' rebound is real, then when Bregman comes back the ceiling of the lineup goes up and takes pressure of these kids and guys like Campbell. 

When is Bregman coming back? I keep hearing soon. 

I love how both Anthony and Mayer approach hitting.  I agree with you about Anthony.  I would not even think about platooning either one of these guys right now.  They need to both be given long leashes.  They both should be used daily whether they are facing a lefty or righty.  We won’t know how good they can be until they are given a chance.  All I’ve heard about Bregman is that he is ahead of schedule and might be back before the AS break.  Mayer has proven his ability to field at this level at multiple positions.  Going forward, looks like he is going to be our next ss but when Bergman comes back, I’d pencil Mayer right in at second base.  Campbell I just don’t think is ready yet but I hope he proves me wrong.

[Bellhorn04]

3 hours ago, vjcsmoke said:

Devers trade to the Giants feels like another salary dump by the Red Sox. They are allergic to keeping their own stars when large sums of money is involved.

It feels like they deliberately sabotaged the relationship to create an excuse to trade Devers contract away.

You're telling me they couldn't have handled this quietly in house instead of negotiating through the press and insulting Devers to the point he felt very unhappy?

It's all deliberate and calculated. This feels like the Betts trade all over again. Except they are doing it after giving the big contract.

If Breslow gets rid of Bregman at the deadline too you will know for sure it's all money motivated. A mandate from the top, get rid of big salaries, we need to go cheap. You can't hate this front office and ownership enough.

They dismantled this team's chances in 2025 right as it was heating up and starting to play over .500 ball.

It's nothing like Betts because Raffy is nothing like Betts - IMHO.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It's nothing like Betts because Raffy is nothing like Betts - IMHO.

The Betts trade was franchise altering because of the trajectory the Sox are now on. Raffy is a very frustrating trade for many reasons, but ultimately just another notch on the bedpost where the fanbase has been getting reamed by ownership over the past 6 years. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

Rafael Devers Disrespects Red Sox, Craig Breslow With Latest Comments - Newsweek

[Bellhorn04]

2 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Rafael Devers Disrespects Red Sox, Craig Breslow With Latest Comments - Newsweek

Good riddance to disrespectful players.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

Just now, Bellhorn04 said:

Good riddance to disrespectful players.

A week ago you were in love with him.

[Bellhorn04]

5 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

A week ago you were in love with him.

Nope.  I was happy with how he was hitting and I stuck up for Cora's handling of the situation, but I was worried about the lingering clubhouse drama.  When the team pulled the trigger on trading him I was comfortable that they were doing it because it was something they had to do.   

[Bellhorn04]

I distinctly remember that when I heard Devers's comments about the situation in that press conference, my first post was "Wow, they may have to trade him."

[notin]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Sometimes really really good players take a while to get going as well. 

Bogaerts first full season in the majors .660 OPS, never mind the slow month Pedroia had, it took a full year of exposure.  It wasn't until his 4th year that he was a guy who you can bat towards the top of your lineup. 

How long will it take these guys to become who they are?  Campbell could turn it around next week, next month, or next year, or never.  Mayer could look good for a week then get figured out and how long will it take him to adjust? a week or never?

This is what you get with youngsters, a big ass bag of uncertainty. 

I just hope people are ready for this.  A lot of growing pains with this team.  I've been one of the biggest prospect advocates and homers for a youth movement but as Lou Merloni always says "you need some adults in the room" I can see why they got rid of Devers when you look at it from that angle.  Having one of the adults in the room being the highest paid guy who refuses to do anything for the team outside of some kind of negotiation is the worst kind of example to set for the youngsters.   

However, his absence still leaves the team without that veteran presence.  The only guys to fill the void are Bregman, Story, and maybe a guy like Duran now. 

It's really hard to listen to a guy and look up to him when he sucks, which is why I think it's been a very big deal that Trevor Story has looked better recently.  It's not just the production that adds value, but being the type of guy that youngsters can look up to is a big deal.  

Pedroia took four years?  He was ROY in 2007 and MVP in 2008!

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

Pedroia took four years?  He was ROY in 2007 and MVP in 2008!

I think that was bad sentence structure and trying to say it took four years for Bogey to bat at the top of the lineup. Pedroia was just an aside. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It's nothing like Betts because Raffy is nothing like Betts - IMHO.

So true.

Even in his press conference, Devers was fabricating hypothetical scenarios about the Sox potentially asking him to play outfield.  Betts established himself as an elite outfielder but still took infield practice even after signing his $360mill deal with LA,  When asked why, he said “in case I’m needed there.”  He even moved to shortstop so LA could put Jason Heyward -who hasn’t been good in years - into his position.  Devers, when needed to play a new position, just whined and took everything as an insult and lived in a world of imagined scenarios..

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think that was bad sentence structure and trying to say it took four years for Bogey to bat at the top of the lineup. Pedroia was just an aside. 

Bogaerts hit .320 and won a Silver Slugger in his second full season in the majors. 

It may hard now for fans to remember he was the AL Silver Slugger shortstop five times. That's almost half a decade!

In comparison, Nomar only won one Silver Slugger (playing in a much stronger SS era, with ARod, Jeter, and Tejada). Story won two in Colorado.

[mvp 78]

37 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Good riddance to disrespectful players.

I don't see any disrespect in those comments. Quite the leap in logic to make that claim. 

[mvp 78]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Bogaerts hit .320 and won a Silver Slugger in his second full season in the majors. 

It may hard now for fans to remember he was the AL Silver Slugger shortstop five times. That's almost half a decade!

In comparison, Nomar only won one Silver Slugger (playing in a much stronger SS era, with ARod, Jeter, and Tejada). Story won two in Colorado.

It wasn't my post! He hit 3rd in 80 Games in 2015. 

[dannycater]

This was me on Sox pretty much this season, I couldn't get a discount from DirectTV so they gave me MLB Innings rest of year for free--so that meant I could watch pretty much any Sox game I wanted. Then the Sox just went to pieces and I stopped even recording the games to watc h later. So the Sox started playing better, and I still didn't record games or watch them live. Lousy fan right? So I was thinking about going to see Sox at Angels because in my mind I felt I can still see Devers hit and that's enticing and the connection from '18 WS team. Then he got traded. I still was watching Sox highlights in those condensed games and the short version or even Twitter--Anthony's first MLB HR. And then I realized wait the Giants are playing and I got MLB...so I click the game for the Giants broadcast and I watched a few innings live--and then Devers finally comes up and rips a first pitch single after Mike Yaz singled--Giants didn't rally and lost to Cleveland...what's my point? I really wanted to see Devers hit and I guess I must have liked him a lot to want to see him in a Giants jersey. The fans were excited and embraced him as the team already. You can spin the Devers trade all you want, including the money freedom aspect that Globe's Chris Gasper wiped out (700 mill offer to Soto was out there from Sox)--but the reality is if you are a long-time fan, you start losing interest when every marquee Sox veteran gets jettisoned for whatever reason--contract, poor recent performance, or disgruntled, or felt mistreated--it just gets old. Watching Devers in a SF jersey--that was fresh. Also sad for me, but at same time felt like Marchand on Florida---NHL--totally different scenario, but the end result--B's jettison last connection to Cup, Devers last connection to WS title--lets all get excited about kids I don't know and I don't know if they will become the next Devers, the next Betts, the next Marchand...I feel like I watch small market teams instead of the champions both the Sox and B's were and at the very least were competitive all the time. .500 teams or missing playoffs make it difficult to continue watching. Losing the players that I would purchase a ticket for make it continually worse.

[moonslav59]

6 hours ago, vjcsmoke said:

I only expect Anthony, who is our top prospect and MLB top 5 prospect, to do as well or better than the .280/25/90 pace you theorized.

Don't forget these players are all rookies.

Campbell and Mayer are just getting their feet wet even if they are talented and might end up good going forward.

There's also a question of where they will all play. We have too many outfielders and need to make room for Anthony. We have a 1B issue unless we unexpectedly shift Campbell or Mayer from their natural positions. Trevor Story is going to get games and minutes ahead of them because of his hefty salary even if he is an inferior player to Campbell/Mayer.

We'll have to see going forward but I wouldn't put too much pressure or expectation on the rookies to produce. They are not saving our season.

Looking back to the past, when the Red Sox were at their best they had veterans to lead the way and added young talent to supplement such as Ellsbury/Pedroia to complete the team, etc.

I wasn't projecting those numbers for all 3 rookies: I was asking if those numbers would be enough to make up for the loss of literally 25% of our offense.

I hate the idea of putting more pressure on these kids by batting them 3-4-5, like we had 3 rookies slotted, the other night.

I don't expect any in house replacements to come close to making up 25% of our offense lost by trading Devers. I can hope and pray the remaining 12 guys + who? Eaton can maybe make up 5-10%. Maybe an outside addition can add another 5-10%, but I seriously doubt we can get to 15%, this summer/fall. I'm not for trading top prospects for a 2 month bat rental.

This looks like yet another "wait till next year" moment way too soon within a season, but I'm not giving up, just now.

I think Brez understands that the best trades are made in the winter, so I hope he doesn't go hog wild on rentals, unless we just trade marginal and blocked prospects to get them.

It does seem like we manufacture or are terrible at avoiding these major cluster you-know-whats, time and time again.

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Pedroia took four years?  He was ROY in 2007 and MVP in 2008!

No, Xander Bogaerts