Article: Keep Your Password Secure: Jhostynxon Garcia Brings Something Different to the Red Sox's Outfield

[drewski6]

I like having the pros and vets.

1 minute ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Brandon, entertaining article.  It should be fun to see if the Password can start out on fire like Campbell did.  Roman took quite a while to adjust so if the Password's path resembles his then the season will be over before things click.  Let's hope he doesn't resemble Mayer who never clicked his season.

I was surprised you put Duran behind the platoon hitting Abreu.  All Cora has to do is put Rafaela in RF and Duran in CF and BOS would never have to worry about forcing a square peg in a round hole with Abreu.  He can be trade bait; he can DH despite Yoshida being the better all-around hitter or he can be a late inning bat which best fits his skill set.  

There is a valid reason Duran would bring more in a trade; he's the far more complete player with many skills Abreu doesn't have.  Abreu is a sold defender with a good arm that can't hit lefties.  Duran is an exceptionally fast defender who can cover more ground than Abreu, bat leadoff to set the table for the offense and is a much better hitter that steals bases.  It makes sense he would get more in a trade, but the important question is "Who in their right mind trades a top player to get better?"  That's the type of logic that sent Mookie to LAD, Priester to MIL, Sale to ATL. 

Abreu needs to go to stop Cora from making daily mistakes with his line-up card.

Or and here me out, we can keep both.

[Bellhorn04]

38 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I don't believe Masa has earned the "yuck' tag yet. There's been a couple of active Sox players this season who have been more worthy of 'yuck' than Masa.

A lot of the yuck factor with Masa comes from the $105 million he's costing the team. 

[drewski6]

Abreu has HR power and this team doesnt exactly have that in spades.  He plays a very solid RF  and has a great arm.  Sure he platoons, but most players have splits and maybe his are a little extreme but when you pair him with a dude who mashes against lefties, its a LOT of value from the position

Duran, I consider to be, the leader of the team and the face of the franchise.  Hes the emotional leader, the fighter, the energy guy.  He gets in heads , whether that be on the basepaths or giving a stare down.  I also think hes the only dude on the team who is willing to throw a damn punch and we need MORE of that in MLB.

When I played, I was looking for any excuse to fight.  But a lot of that was because I wasnt very good.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

8 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I like having the pros and vets.

Or and here me out, we can keep both.

Agreed.  There is no urgent need at this time to move Abreu because his price is low, and he should be providing depth not starting.  The problem mounts if Garcia turns out to be better than expected because the 13-hitter portion of the 26-man roster leaves room for 3 outfielders starting and 1 in reserve.  Abreu already creates an issue because he is no good versus LH pitchers so he's the equivalent of a half a player which means you need a Refsnyder to offset him pushing the outfield total to 5 which shortchanges your infield and catcher reserves.  With only 4 total non-starters and one needing to be a catcher that leaves 1 spot for corner infield reserve, one spot for middle infield reserve and one spot for outfield reserve.

With Abreu platooning forcing Refsnyder to couple with him that leaves just 2 spots to handle back-up catcher and back-up CI and MI.  The team is forced to be exposed with Abreu on the roster because he can't hit lefties.  This is why I have been harping on moving Abreu not the better player Duran, it allows for more depth in reserve in the infield where injuries tend to happen more often.

These are all things the front office and Cora should be considering.  Instead, like they did with Devers, they are focusing on what's good for just one guy, Abreu.  The team defense improves with Rafaela in RF and Duran in CF and Anthony in LF AND they offense is better as well.  This should be a no brainer.  

Platoon players have been parts of 13 hitter rosters in the past but teams like TB used coupled players that could bridge the gap between backing up the infield and outfield. That's why it worked for them but won't work for BOS. Abreu's qualified positions don't include the infield.

[mvp 78]

23 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

A lot of the yuck factor with Masa comes from the $105 million he's costing the team. 

Having an average hitting platoon DH isn't great either even if he was paid MLB minimum. A lot of more fun ways you could fill that roster spot.

[moonslav59]

55 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Play Garcia at 1b.

I think he played a game there for Woo.

Maybe, someday, but I'm not sure he should play his second career game at 1B on the MLB club. Someday, maybe.

BTW, he's supposed to to be a plus defender at corner OF and maybe okay in CF, but so are our current OF'er, for the most part.

[moonslav59]

The two worst batters vs LHPs, this year (150+ PAs)

.509 Lowe

.590 Duran (7th in MLB in PAs vs LHPs.)

One could argue both should platoon. (Abreu is at .721 in 64 PAs but was worse, last year and career.)

2023-2025 vs LHPs:

.527 DHam (68 PAs)

.607 Abreu (141 PAs)

.641 Duran (457 PAs)

Worst MLB OPS vs LHPs since 2023 (400+ PAs)

.611 de la Cruz

.620 A Gimenez

.624 Cronenworth

.630 B Donovan

.638 McMahon

.641 Duran (only 2 players have more PAs vs lefties and a lower OPS than Duran.)

 

If Abreu is an issue due to platooning needs, then so is Duran. Just because Cora does not platoon Duran does not change the data.

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

The two worst batters vs LHPs, this year (150+ PAs)

.509 Lowe

.590 Duran (7th in MLB in PAs vs LHPs.)

One could argue both should platoon. (Abreu is at .721 in 64 PAs but was worse, last year and career.)

2023-2025 vs LHPs:

.527 DHam (68 PAs)

.607 Abreu (141 PAs)

.641 Duran (457 PAs)

Worst MLB OPS vs LHPs since 2023 (400+ PAs)

.611 de la Cruz

.620 A Gimenez

.624 Cronenworth

.630 B Donovan

.638 McMahon

.641 Duran (only 2 players have more PAs vs lefties and a lower OPS than Duran.)

 

If Abreu is an issue due to platooning needs, then so is Duran. Just because Cora does not platoon Duran does not change the data.

 

Two main reasons Duran isn't platooned as much as Abreu is the speed factor and Duran's ability to play CF when Rafaela isn't.

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Having an average hitting platoon DH isn't great either even if he was paid MLB minimum. A lot of more fun ways you could fill that roster spot.

"Fun" - great adjective there.

Are you going to be dropping in here at all this weekend?

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

"Fun" - great adjective there.

Are you going to be dropping in here at all this weekend?

Maybe tonight. Unsure about the other two. 

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Two main reasons Duran isn't platooned as much as Abreu is the speed factor and Duran's ability to play CF when Rafaela isn't.

Yes, true. Abreu is a better defender in RF and probably LF, though. He has more power.

He hit lefties better over his first 100+ PAs than Duran did at the start of his career.

He has not been given the same opportunity to hit lefties, like Duran was after his poor start.

I'd really like to keep them both, and both have plusses the other does not. Both have one or two different minuses, as well.

If we can get a better return for Abreu, I'd be fine with him as the package headliner for Ryan.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

2 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Abreu has HR power and this team doesnt exactly have that in spades.  He plays a very solid RF  and has a great arm.  Sure he platoons, but most players have splits and maybe his are a little extreme but when you pair him with a dude who mashes against lefties, its a LOT of value from the position

Duran, I consider to be, the leader of the team and the face of the franchise.  Hes the emotional leader, the fighter, the energy guy.  He gets in heads , whether that be on the basepaths or giving a stare down.  I also think hes the only dude on the team who is willing to throw a damn punch and we need MORE of that in MLB.

When I played, I was looking for any excuse to fight.  But a lot of that was because I wasnt very good.

I love Duran's spirit too.  I agree that a platoon can be effective but with Duran, Rafaela and Anthony all superior to the platoon there aren't enough spots to use a platoon, and the added power is being compared to several young players who will develop more power including Anthony, Rafaela and Campbell.

If you can solve the issue with using 2 hitting spots for one position, then Abreu becomes more tolerable, but the 13 spots as a given the platoon option is not in the best interest of the team.  The team needs a reserve catcher, CI, MI and OF.  By changing that to a catcher, 2 OFers, and 1 IF your run a much higher in game risk for injuries.

Again, love the high intensity of Duran and agree that we need that.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, true. Abreu is a better defender in RF and probably LF, though. He has more power.

He hit lefties better over his first 100+ PAs than Duran did at the start of his career.

He has not been given the same opportunity to hit lefties, like Duran was after his poor start.

I'd really like to keep them both, and both have plusses the other does not. Both have one or two different minuses, as well.

If we can get a better return for Abreu, I'd be fine with him as the package headliner for Ryan.

To get Ryan it will take one hell of a package from the Sox. Although I can't prove it the only Sox player the Twinkies were interested in at the TDL was Anthony. No Anthony, no Ryan.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

5 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

My posts will refer to him as J-Gar. Simple and accurate.

On the Bruins' forum I referred to Jeremy Swayman as J-Sway. Strangely enough it didn't catch on with other posters, but I still used it. It was simple and accurate.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

I love Duran's spirit too.  I agree that a platoon can be effective but with Duran, Rafaela and Anthony all superior to the platoon there aren't enough spots to use a platoon, and the added power is being compared to several young players who will develop more power including Anthony, Rafaela and Campbell.

If you can solve the issue with using 2 hitting spots for one position, then Abreu becomes more tolerable, but the 13 spots as a given the platoon option is not in the best interest of the team.  The team needs a reserve catcher, CI, MI and OF.  By changing that to a catcher, 2 OFers, and 1 IF your run a much higher in game risk for injuries.

Again, love the high intensity of Duran and agree that we need that.

My only question is do you carry 3 platoons and a backup catcher or 4 platoons and have a non-catcher as your backup catcher.  Teams are starting to move away from even having a backup catcher and being like hey, this dude who is already on our roster caught in HS, F it - hes the backup catcher. So theres spots to use on platoon players.  Most players have splits.  Like most of even the best hitters are average against either a lefty or righty (but mash the other)

[drewski6]

If I was an MLB manager, wed run 4 platoons. No doubt. 

[drewski6]

Im open to being talked into 3 platoons and a backup catcher, but i lean towards cutting wong for a fourth platoon and like bregman is catching 30%, fight me. I just dont care

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Im open to being talked into 3 platoons and a backup catcher, but im cutting wong for a fourth platoon and like bregman is catching 30%, fight me. I just dont care

That's funny. Breggy gets a leg injury from running. I can only imagine what would happen if he's squatting and running.

[moonslav59]

55 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

To get Ryan it will take one hell of a package from the Sox. Although I can't prove it the only Sox player the Twinkies were interested in at the TDL was Anthony. No Anthony, no Ryan.

I was thinking they wanted Duran or Abreu plus Tolle.

I'm not sure I'd go higher than Duran/Abreu and any 2 from Valera, Clarke, Early and Sandlin. I might give three, if not Valera. If they want DHam or Grissom,,, lol.

[Deja Doh]

Does our team teach sliding feet first (it's rather rhetorical because apparently they don't)?  All the great base stealers knew how and would.  Want to avoid injuries have these guys learn how.

[Deja Doh]

10 pitches from Chapman, 9 strikes.  Lights out.  

[illinoisredsox]

10 minutes ago, Deja Doh said:

Does our team teach sliding feet first (it's rather rhetorical because apparently they don't)?  All the great base stealers knew how and would.  Want to avoid injuries have these guys learn how.

Nobody slides feet first on steals anymore.  Theory is headfirst gets you there faster; presents less surface to tag, and you can use your arms to avoid tags (e.g., swim moves).  Since everything is measured and analyzed these days, I’m going to assume these are true.

Now, I think if you have an infielder who tends to block the base with his knee or feet, a feet first slide will break said infielder of that habit quickly.

 

[Maxbialystock]

13 hours ago, Brandon Glick said:

It's funny because I've gotten so used to calling him "Password" that it's almost like Jhostynxon is his nickname to me now. A bit of a Batman/Bruce Wayne "which one is the real mask" kind of vibe 

A provocative article.  Well done.  

[Maxbialystock]

10 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Brandon, entertaining article.  It should be fun to see if the Password can start out on fire like Campbell did.  Roman took quite a while to adjust so if the Password's path resembles his then the season will be over before things click.  Let's hope he doesn't resemble Mayer who never clicked his season.

I was surprised you put Duran behind the platoon hitting Abreu.  All Cora has to do is put Rafaela in RF and Duran in CF and BOS would never have to worry about forcing a square peg in a round hole with Abreu.  He can be trade bait; he can DH despite Yoshida being the better all-around hitter or he can be a late inning bat which best fits his skill set.  

There is a valid reason Duran would bring more in a trade; he's the far more complete player with many skills Abreu doesn't have.  Abreu is a sold defender with a good arm that can't hit lefties.  Duran is an exceptionally fast defender who can cover more ground than Abreu, bat leadoff to set the table for the offense and is a much better hitter that steals bases.  It makes sense he would get more in a trade, but the important question is "Who in their right mind trades a top player to get better?"  That's the type of logic that sent Mookie to LAD, Priester to MIL, Sale to ATL. 

Abreu needs to go to stop Cora from making daily mistakes with his line-up card.

Abreu has the higher OPS, .811 to .780,  and is the better defender (DWAR 1.2 vs.  0.3).  Duran has the higher WAR, 3.7 to 3.3, because of his excellent baserunning, plus he has played in more games.  

Nothing wrong with thinking Duran is better, but it's wrong to claim Abreu is a dud and that Cora is playing a dud. 

[TedYazPapiMookie]

17 hours ago, drewski6 said:

My only question is do you carry 3 platoons and a backup catcher or 4 platoons and have a non-catcher as your backup catcher.  Teams are starting to move away from even having a backup catcher and being like hey, this dude who is already on our roster caught in HS, F it - hes the backup catcher. So theres spots to use on platoon players.  Most players have splits.  Like most of even the best hitters are average against either a lefty or righty (but mash the other)

I've heard of teams who consider the third catcher to be what you described but I've not heard of any team using anything but a full-time catcher as the back-up.  Since catchers usually get a game off each week the #2 catcher gets to play more than the other reserves usually do.  Cora is the exception.  He completely over plays the 4 players on the bench because he identifies with them since he was a bench guy during his career.

Some teams have super utility guys that can play outfield and infield which allows them to keep a platoon hitter on the roster.  TB always comes to mind when I think of a team with a philosophy of having lots of interchangeable players and that lends itself to a platoon guy as well.

If you go into Abreu's stats on Baseball Reference and choose SPLITS CAREER you'll see how incredibly bad, he is against LH pitchers, how incredibly inconsistent his performance has been month by month during the six-month season.  He gets hot and cold for long periods which is great when he's hot but kills the team when he goes into his prolonged slumps.  

Lastly with regard to Abreu he gets the YIPS when he runs toward the fence at full speed but none of that downside is taken into account by the modern defensive metrics.  Harper as a young player had his hair on fire and crashed into the outfield fences all the time because he was an extremely competitive player like we have discussed.  You won't catch Abreu putting that level of effort into a play, but you will see both Rafaela and Duran make that level of effort.  So, for me, I will never accept modern defensive metrics because they don't reflect level of effort because they don't measure heart, just distance to the ball, route run and the appalling fact is that catching the ball is NOT the primary factor in the bogus DRS calculations. 

Until someone figures out how to properly evaluate defensive metrics, I'm sticking with the single most critical factor - Did they catch the ball.  A player with the YIPS can win a gold glove and the player who NEVER misses a ball is passed over by a faulty measurement system. That's why I consider Abreu as the weakest defensive outfielder on the team.  Nobody is giving great weight to HEART, just distance with the metrics and catching the ball isn't the highest priority. 

If you want to confirm my issues with Abreu, go to the video on balls hit over his head where he turns counterclockwise and runs fast toward the fence in right field.  You'll notice he struggles to catch those balls because his technique is wrong when he reaches out to his left.  He temporarily loses sight of the ball because his right arm passes between his eyes and the ball, so he loses sight of the ball as it approaches his glove causing him to reach to the wrong spot and miss the ball.  Often, the catch is considered difficult so the score keeper chooses to not give him an error on a ball he should have caught.  He still leads all outfielders in errors usually, but it would be worse if scorekeepers had a clue about WHY he's missing routine balls.  

If I had a choice among Rafaela, Duran, Anthony, Abreu, Refsnyder and Garcia,  I would choose in order, Anthony for his hitting, Rafaela and Duran for their all around contributions, Refsnyder for his ability to hit RH and LH batters equally, Garcia because he doesn't have Abreu's weakness for a specific type of pitcher and then Abreu due to his inability to hit LH pitchers and his YIPS.  I want a player with heart.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Not sure debuting Password against one of the best pitchers in MLB was the smartest move by Cora.

Hope Password has some confidence left.

[Bellhorn04]

7 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Not sure debuting Password against one of the best pitchers in MLB was the smartest move by Cora.

Hope Password has some confidence left.

Hard to say, but Fried had been struggling before last night, and Rodon is having as good a season or better than Fried.  They probably wanted to get him some AB's as soon as possible to get a little acclimated.  He'll probably be seeing mostly lefties.

[moonslav59]

On 8/22/2025 at 12:37 PM, mvp 78 said:

Having an average hitting platoon DH isn't great either even if he was paid MLB minimum. A lot of more fun ways you could fill that roster spot.

I just can't see us carrying a platoon DH with very little power for 2 more seasons.

We already carry Refsnyder, who plays just 30% of the games, when healthy and is no help at 1B or 2B, where we need depth.

Ref may retire. It looks like Romy is ready to fill his slot and CAN play 1B and 2B, so without Ref, maybe Yoshida gets another shot to hit .775 or better- the "new .800."