Red Sox (May) vs Athletics (Springs): 9/9/25, 10:05pm

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, Cameron Tran said:

I still like Harrison. Red Sox heavily increased his slider percentage, and we've seen the "pitching lab" churn out some solid sliders. Problem is his walk numbers are way up since joining and his strikeout's are down. Seems like we've pretty much given up on him for the 2025 season. 

I hope they can work some magic with Harrison, over the winter.

SP'ers under control for 2026:

Crochet

Bello

Tolle

Dobbins

Sandoval

Crawford

Fitts

Harrison

Early

Criswell

Perales, Uberstine, Drohan, Paez Clarke, 

Winclowski, Murphy, Mullins & Sandlin (RPers)

[Cameron Tran]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I hope they can work some magic with Harrison, over the winter.

SP'ers under control for 2026:

Crochet

Bello

Tolle

Dobbins

Sandoval

Crawford

Fitts

Harrison

Early

Criswell

Perales, Uberstine, Drohan, Paez Clarke, 

Winclowski, Murphy, Mullins & Sandlin (RPers)

This pitcher heavy draft also comes into play, as we've seen Breslow is willing to rush up top pitching prospects (Payton Tolle). For the first time in a real long time it looks like we have some solid young pitching options throughout the minors.

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

So, Early jumped over Harrison. Early was not even Rule 5 eligible, so this caused a winter roster slot to be used up. That tells us that Harrison's ankle injury is the issue, or they lost all faith in his 2025 worthiness.

Tolle and Early both pass Harrison. LOL...great trade there Brez.

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, Cameron Tran said:

With Crochet at well over his career high in innings, Bello approaching his career high, and Giolito coming off a TJ season, I think one of the young guys definitely has a chance of making the postseason roster as a #4. Not that we necessarily need one, but it would be nice to have. 

I am absolutely not against anyone, young or not, who can fill in as the 4th starter or just be a good arm for 3 or so innings.  I like Tolle, but would love to see anyone good enough.  

[Maxbialystock]

3 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Tolle and Early both pass Harrison. LOL...great trade there Brez.

Nobody's perfect.  😁

Breslow also brought in Bregman, Crochet, Chapman, Narvaez, and, oh, yes, Giolito too.  Despite all the injuries and especially to Anthony and Abreu, this is the best Sox team since 2021.  

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, Cameron Tran said:

This pitcher heavy draft also comes into play, as we've seen Breslow is willing to rush up top pitching prospects (Payton Tolle). For the first time in a real long time it looks like we have some solid young pitching options throughout the minors.

Not only did we go through years and years of few pitchers taken highly, we saw many HS players chosen over college players. The good part about that is that recently the HS and college players are all coming into their own near the same time.

Casas HS '18

Yorke HS '20 (traded for Priester> traded for who we are talking about)

Mayer HS '21 and E Rod HS '21 (traded for Narvaez) & Dobbins Jr in college

Anthony & Romero HS '22

__________________

2023 College: Teel (traded for Crochet), K Campbell & Early (all MLB in '25)

2024 College:, Tolle, Neely Montgomery (traded for Crochet), Aita and Clarke (JC)

2025: top 18 picks were college: Witherspoon, Phillips, Godbout, Etanson & more

 

It's almost like they planned it this way!

😉

 

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Tolle and Early both pass Harrison. LOL...great trade there Brez.

Or, great draft picks there Brez!

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Or, great draft picks there Brez!

Early was drafted by Bloom. 

[Maxbialystock]

30 minutes ago, Cameron Tran said:

This pitcher heavy draft also comes into play, as we've seen Breslow is willing to rush up top pitching prospects (Payton Tolle). For the first time in a real long time it looks like we have some solid young pitching options throughout the minors.

Pitching is clearly Breslow's thing.  Despite the degree from Yale, he was a no baloney MLB pitcher for 10 years.  However, he also brought in Bregman and Narvaez and signed Anthony up for 8 years and $130M.  

 

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Nobody's perfect.  😁

Breslow also brought in Bregman, Crochet, Chapman, Narvaez, and, oh, yes, Giolito too.  Despite all the injuries and especially to Anthony and Abreu, this is the best Sox team since 2021.  

Brez also brought in Slaten, Lowe and draft picks we've seen or will see in the bigs, already:

Early & Tolle

Campbell

Montgomery helped get us Crochet, so that was a double get by Brez.

 

[Cameron Tran]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Not only did we go through years and years of few pitchers taken highly, we saw many HS players chosen over college players. The good part about that is that recently the HS and college players are all coming into their own near the same time.

Casas HS '18

Yorke HS '20 (traded for Priester> traded for who we are talking about)

Mayer HS '21 and E Rod HS '21 (traded for Narvaez) & Dobbins Jr in college

Anthony & Romero HS '22

__________________

2023 College: Teel (traded for Crochet), K Campbell & Early (all MLB in '25)

2024 College:, Tolle, Neely Montgomery (traded for Crochet), Aita and Clarke (JC)

2025: top 18 picks were college: Witherspoon, Phillips, Godbout, Etanson & more

 

It's almost like they planned it this way!

😉

 

I've always been a big believer in HS bats > College bats and College arms > HS arms. Seems like Breslow agrees in that matter. Breslow's drafting looks pretty good, seems like he has a more fleshed out plan when drafting. Will be interesting to see how his IFA classes play out, especially with Bloom being solid (imo) in that area.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Early was drafted by Bloom. 

Ah, yes 2023.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Cameron Tran said:

I've always been a big believer in HS bats > College bats and College arms > HS arms. Seems like Breslow agrees in that matter. Breslow's drafting looks pretty good, seems like he has a more fleshed out plan when drafting. Will be interesting to see how his IFA classes play out, especially with Bloom being solid (imo) in that area.

Agreed, and IFA guys take several more years to shine or drift into the darkness.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

May was placed on the IL, but who's 40 man roster spot, does Early take?

Maybe just DFA May?

Sanchez DFA

Fitts 60 Day? 

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sanchez DFA

Fitts 60 Day? 

Better.

Other 60 Day guys could be Hicks, Grissom or Criswell

[Duran Is The Man]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Early was drafted by Bloom. 

Harrison was supposed to be the big "get" in the Devers trade and he still hasn't pitched one freakin' inning for the Sox. and may never. IOW, we traded Devers for nothing.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Better.

Other 60 Day guys could be Hicks, Grissom or Criswell

Grissom hasn't played since Aug 9th? Is there a service time issue with putting him on the 60 day IL? 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Harrison was supposed to be the big "get" in the Devers trade and he still hasn't pitched one freakin' inning for the Sox. and may never. IOW, we traded Devers for nothing.

He's slated to start tomorrow. 🍿

[Cameron Tran]

If Harrison is to start tomorrow, Tolle will get a Friday night start at Fenway against the Yankees in a September series with playoff implications. Can't really think of a higher pressure environment for a young starter in the regular season. He's got a real chance to make a name for himself in just his 3rd start.

[moonslav59]

22 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Grissom hasn't played since Aug 9th? Is there a service time issue with putting him on the 60 day IL? 

You'd be the guy I'd ask about that one.

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Cameron Tran said:

If Harrison is to start tomorrow, Tolle will get a Friday night start at Fenway against the Yankees in a September series with playoff implications. Can't really think of a higher pressure environment for a young starter in the regular season. He's got a real chance to make a name for himself in just his 3rd start.

Probably better Tolle than Early or Harrison on Friday.

[Beaneater]

Wait, what happened to Winck? He's been totally off my radar, so I don't remember him being out for the year.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You'd be the guy I'd ask about that one.

YOU mentioned the 60 day IL! I hadn't thought about him in a long time. Didn't even know he had missed games. 

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, Beaneater said:

Wait, what happened to Winck? He's been totally off my radar, so I don't remember him being out for the year.

Elbow inflamation. Did NOT have surgery. He's in throwing progression. 

He'll get TJS in the offseason or early next year for sure. 

[Cameron Tran]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Probably better Tolle than Early or Harrison on Friday.

 

Harrison blowing up in his Red Sox debut against the Yankees on a Friday night in September with playoff implications would probably seal his and Breslow's fate among Sox nation.

[Beaneater]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Elbow inflamation. Did NOT have surgery. He's in throwing progression. 

He'll get TJS in the offseason or early next year for sure. 

Oh. Wunderbar. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Tolle and Early both pass Harrison. LOL...great trade there Brez.

I read somewhere Harrison was working on both a new pitch and a new grip for an existing pitch. If so, that would explain not only his mediocre numbers to start in Worcester, but also why other itcherscwere primoted first.

 

of course the Early promotion is silly to count against Harrison; Kyle was to be promoted last week (earlier than Early) but instead injured his ankle…

[FredLynn]

2 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Harrison was supposed to be the big "get" in the Devers trade and he still hasn't pitched one freakin' inning for the Sox. and may never. IOW, we traded Devers for nothing.

They dumped Devers because he was a selfish malcontent. They were  lucky to get a bag of golf ball for him and his $250m salary,

Good riddance 

[Sox 42]

Projection of 2026 - 2 of the 3 AAA starters prove to be the real deal which leaves those currently on the IL being expendable.  Brigham is going to opt out and we won't win the re-sign.  I would move Story to third with Mayer at short.  You have to keep Gonzales since he has the best BA and plays many positions.  First is wide open and a free agency sign or trade for those expendable starters works.  I would trade Abreu (I like Duran better).  Bullpen looks OK.  Ryan is expensive but maybe worth the price.  The Oriole catcher is worth a look.

[illinoisredsox]

3 hours ago, Cameron Tran said:

 

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