Are we good enough now?

[Sox 42]

If Yes we stay pat and win it all.  If not, do we buy or sell?  If buy who and what must we give up?  If sell who and what do we get?  I am new at this Forum content so let me know where I strayed.  I am Sox 42 which tells my age.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm Sox 85 and think your OP is much too complicated.  

This team is pretty good right now--or so I think--but could use 1 or 2 good arms (starter/reliever) and maybe (or maybe not) a first baseman and/or backup catcher.

Much depends on the deal Breslow can get.  Plus I think he wants to see more of how these Sox play at the Phillies and at Fenway against the Dodgers.  The Cubs at Wrigley were tough, but couldn't sweep.  

If the other team/teams ask for too much, these Sox already have a pretty good lineup at the plate and on defense and 3 pretty decent starters, including All-Star Crochet.  

[Sox 42]

Thanks for the feedback.  Can I delete some of the original?  Bottom line - I don't think we are good enough now to win it all.  Therefore, I recommend we either buy or sell.  

[dgalehouse]

Like most every team, the Sox could use more pitching, both starting and relief.  With the team very much in the race, the idea of being sellers is completely out of the question. 

[Sox 42]

Guess you won't like my latest forum because I would trade both Chapman and Bregman before the deadline if they decline extension.

[Charlie Hoke]

Hopefully if there is a trade, they'll get something of use immediately versus the trade for spare parts and prospects that came from giving Devers away.

[Maxbialystock]

3 hours ago, Sox 42 said:

Thanks for the feedback.  Can I delete some of the original?  Bottom line - I don't think we are good enough now to win it all.  Therefore, I recommend we either buy or sell.  

You deserve no criticism.  I just wanted to rant.  I completely agree we don't have enough now to contend for the WS, but I will be fine with the postseason.  

And you can make good arguments for buying, selling, or not doing much.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, Charlie Hoke said:

Hopefully if there is a trade, they'll get something of use immediately versus the trade for spare parts and prospects that came from giving Devers away.

I'm pretty sure the Giants would agree to a re-do on that trade in a New York minute.

[Kimmi]

21 hours ago, Sox 42 said:

If Yes we stay pat and win it all.  If not, do we buy or sell?  If buy who and what must we give up?  If sell who and what do we get?  I am new at this Forum content so let me know where I strayed.  I am Sox 42 which tells my age.

I think we are a pretty good team and are good enough to make the playoffs if we stand pat.  However, we are by no means a shoo in.  I think we should be buyers, but not at the expense of our long term.  I'd like a top starting pitcher and a back end reliever.  How Breslow is going to do that, I have no clue.

 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I think we are a pretty good team and are good enough to make the playoffs if we stand pat.  However, we are by no means a shoo in.  I think we should be buyers, but not at the expense of our long term.  I'd like a top starting pitcher and a back end reliever.  How Breslow is going to do that, I have no clue.

 

I agree.

I think we agree we should not trade top prospects for a rental or two, but marginal prospects for a couple useful pieces might be fine.

We disagree on trading from OF strength and depth for a controlled pitcher, but I'd rather we stand pat than trade Duran for a rental or controlled 1Bman.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The answer to the question is No. The last two nights vs. postseason pitchers burst any bubble blown in a winning streak forged vs. two small league pitching staffs.

There are simply not enough contact hitters in the batting order to sustain any semblance of an offense to consistently contend. And don't be deceived by the four-game sweep of Tampa right before the All-Star Break, either. The Red Sox won those games because their pitching staff only gave up 8 runs in 4 games.

Since the Break, Boston has scored 10 runs in 5 games. If the Sox have any hopes at all, we have to pray the arms are great for two more months, and Breslow trades for rotation and bullpen reinforcements asap.

(Adding a home run hitter would also help, since the pitching just keeping us in the games won't be enough... because we all know if it goes extras, there's no chance our batters can move a ghost runner around the bases).

 

 

[notin]

On 7/21/2025 at 9:49 PM, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I'm pretty sure the Giants would agree to a re-do on that trade in a New York minute.

Why?

They miss Jordan Hicks? Or do they want to put that money towards other large contracts that free agents will then ignore?

Devers is off to a slow start, but they have him for eight years…

[notin]

16 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

The answer to the question is No. The last two nights vs. postseason pitchers burst any bubble blown in a winning streak forged vs. two small league pitching staffs.

There are simply not enough contact hitters in the batting order to sustain any semblance of an offense to consistently contend. And don't be deceived by the four-game sweep of Tampa right before the All-Star Break, either. The Red Sox won those games because their pitching staff only gave up 8 runs in 4 games.

Since the Break, Boston has scored 10 runs in 5 games. If the Sox have any hopes at all, we have to pray the arms are great for two more months, and Breslow trades for rotation and bullpen reinforcements asap.

(Adding a home run hitter would also help, since the pitching just keeping us in the games won't be enough... because we all know if it goes extras, there's no chance our batters can move a ghost runner around the bases).

 

 

Huh?

You just said this tab lacks hitting, contact, and rub scoring in general.  And then followed up with Breslow needs to get pitchers…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

Huh?

You just said this tab lacks hitting, contact, and rub scoring in general.  And then followed up with Breslow needs to get pitchers…

Acquiring more pitching is the only reasonable way to stay competitive at this point.

Relying on this offense is futile. There are too many Red Sox regulars who can't hit or even make contact with quality pitching, and Breslow can't replace the veteran whiffers or make the young hitters grow up faster or heal Bregman's leg in time.

The best hope is to win as many 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 games as possible... just don't let any go into overtime!

[Kimmi]

21 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree.

I think we agree we should not trade top prospects for a rental or two, but marginal prospects for a couple useful pieces might be fine.

We disagree on trading from OF strength and depth for a controlled pitcher, but I'd rather we stand pat than trade Duran for a rental or controlled 1Bman.

I would hate to see Duran or Abreu get traded, but I understand that it might be necessary in order to acquire the pitching we need.  I would be able to come to terms with that as long as we received equal value in return.  What I don't want to see happen is trading away one of those guys for little value just because we have a surplus of outfielders.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I would hate to see Duran or Abreu get traded, but I understand that it might be necessary in order to acquire the pitching we need.  I would be able to come to terms with that as long as we received equal value in return.  What I don't want to see happen is trading away one of those guys for little value just because we have a surplus of outfielders.

Im not convinced that we have the offense to spare and a giant need for pitching.  Seems to me like its the offense that has been struggling more as of late.

[Kimmi]

On 7/23/2025 at 5:21 PM, drewski6 said:

Im not convinced that we have the offense to spare and a giant need for pitching.  Seems to me like its the offense that has been struggling more as of late.

I often feel like that Drew.  There are many, many games in which I'm more frustrated with the offense than I am with the pitching.

[Soxlover]

2 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I often feel like that Drew.  There are many, many games in which I'm more frustrated with the offense than I am with the pitching.

I think getting a cheap LHB 1Bman to platoon with Romy is all we need on O. A back up catcher might be okay on a rental basis. I doubt this will cost us much.

Im always for adding a SPer, but I’m not for overpaying for a rental. The Chapman injury worries me. It will very hard winning without him and Slaten.

[Kimmi]

16 minutes ago, Soxlover said:

I think getting a cheap LHB 1Bman to platoon with Romy is all we need on O. A back up catcher might be okay on a rental basis. I doubt this will cost us much.

Im always for adding a SPer, but I’m not for overpaying for a rental. The Chapman injury worries me. It will very hard winning without him and Slaten.

Agree on the LH first baseman platoon.  Back up catcher is just not a priority for me.

I'd like to get a #2 or #3 starting pitcher and a back end reliever.  While this offense can be extremely maddening at times, I feel like they have the talent to take us to the postseason.  

[Soxlover]

18 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Agree on the LH first baseman platoon.  Back up catcher is just not a priority for me.

I’m not big on getting a backup catcher either. Wong does well with Bello.

i only mentioned back up catcher because where else should we make a serious effort to upgrade the O, beyond  1B?

[Kimmi]

7 minutes ago, Soxlover said:

I’m not big on getting a backup catcher either. Wong does well with Bello.

i only mentioned back up catcher because where else should we make a serious effort to upgrade the O, beyond  1B?

Not that I'm condoning it, but maybe 2nd base is something that Breslow is looking at?  How long will Mayer be out?  At least with Rafaela playing 2nd, that clears up our outfield logjam.  I'm actually fine with the offense that we have.  Again, they can be extremely frustrating at times, but I think the talent is there.  As you said, a 1B to platoon with Romy should about cover it.

[mvp 78]

Just now, Kimmi said:

Not that I'm condoning it, but maybe 2nd base is something that Breslow is looking at?  How long will Mayer be out?  At least with Rafaela playing 2nd, that clears up our outfield logjam.  I'm actually fine with the offense that we have.  Again, they can be extremely frustrating at times, but I think the talent is there.  As you said, a 1B to platoon with Romy should about cover it.

I think to just get an average 2b in there and move Rafaela back to CF would be HUGE. 

We don't know the extent of the injury, but it cost him about a month last time he had the same injury. He also wasn't really lighting it up out there prior to the injury. If they are serious about competing, he may just need to be optioned strictly for health. 

[drewski6]

29 minutes ago, Soxlover said:

I’m not big on getting a backup catcher either. Wong does well with Bello.

i only mentioned back up catcher because where else should we make a serious effort to upgrade the O, beyond  1B?

Addition by lack of subtraction.  Without Duran, we would have fallen out of it in July.

Dont think we have a major need for a bat, but dont think we have a bat to spare for pitching.  At least not a core one.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

On 7/21/2025 at 7:28 PM, dgalehouse said:

Like most every team, the Sox could use more pitching, both starting and relief.  With the team very much in the race, the idea of being sellers is completely out of the question. 

After the last 3 seasons there's no way they can be sellers. Of course, how the Sox FO defines buying probably won't match up with how many of us define buying.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

After the last 3 seasons there's no way they can be sellers. Of course, how the Sox FO defines buying probably won't match up with how many of us define buying.

Stay tuned. This and many other questions will be answered this coming Friday night.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Stay tuned. This and many other questions will be answered this coming Friday night.

Remember, the less one expects, the less disappointed one will be.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, Soxlover said:

I’m not big on getting a backup catcher either. Wong does well with Bello.

i only mentioned back up catcher because where else should we make a serious effort to upgrade the O, beyond  1B?

Remember a year ago at the deadline when Brez upgraded the catching corp with Danny Jansen?

Me, neither.

Now the guy is batting in the middle of the order for Tampa. That's what's out there: 11 HR, .204 BA, 26% K-rate.

[Kimmi]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I think to just get an average 2b in there and move Rafaela back to CF would be HUGE. 

We don't know the extent of the injury, but it cost him about a month last time he had the same injury. He also wasn't really lighting it up out there prior to the injury. If they are serious about competing, he may just need to be optioned strictly for health. 

Perhaps.  In a perfect world, I'd keep Rafaela in CF.  In the less than perfect situation that we're in, I don't mind having him at second base.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 minute ago, Kimmi said:

Perhaps.  In a perfect world, I'd keep Rafaela in CF.  In the less than perfect situation that we're in, I don't mind having him at second base.

If he's the best player at two positions, he can only be at one at a time. 

When Mookie plays shortstop, he can't be in right field.

When Payton Tolle pitches -- in the pros -- he can no longer bat clean-up.

Why can Ohtani? A: marketing.

[Nick]

2 hours ago, Soxlover said:

I’m not big on getting a backup catcher either. Wong does well with Bello.

i only mentioned back up catcher because where else should we make a serious effort to upgrade the O, beyond  1B?

We're 11-16 when Wong starts......46-34 when Wong doesn't start......