A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[JoeBrady]

9 hours ago, harmony said:

Guess who gave the Red Sox offseason an A?

I gave them a strong B+.

[Maxbialystock]

On 1/14/2026 at 10:38 AM, notin said:

My silver lining is I can go back to hating Alex Bregman, although he actually did seem to be a pretty positive addition overall.  Still, it’s nice to have the option again.

But I’ll probably see him play in person at least half a dozen times this year…

Cubbies lost today, but not his fault.  

[Maxbialystock]

On 3/25/2026 at 8:19 AM, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

A few points read elsewhere this AM:

Four of the top five teams in Fielding Independent Pitching metrics last season didn't make the postseason... but the Top Five in runs scored all made the playoffs.

The Red Sox offense is missing their top four batters vs. left-handed pitching from a year ago: Romy, Refsnyder, Bregman, Devers.

And yet, over 50 percent of posters on the most infamous Red Sox fan forum pick Boston to win the AL East. Yow.

Great stuff! Thanks.  I did notice success of run scoring vs run prevention last year.  

Today, game 1, we saw exactly how much those 4 are missed.  

[Maxbialystock]

13 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

With Abreu being given the chance to play FT, Refsnyder gone and Romy on the IL, it looks like there will be less platoons and more defined roles among the everyday players.

Catcher: Narvaez looks to start in 4 out of 5 games with Wong catching Bello.

1B: looks as steady as it has been in many years. (Moreland in 2018?)

2B: is still a bit unknown, as Mayer's health and production, especially vs LHPs is up in the air.

3B: Durbin looks like a lock, here.

SS: It's all about Story's health.

LF: Anthony is the FT'er with Duran giving him a spell, here and there.

CF: Hopefully, Rafaela plays CF only.

RF: Abreu has been given the chance to play FT.

DH: Duran looks like the near FT DH. When an OF'er needs a break, he should slide into LF.

Bench: Yoshida PH'er vs RHPs, Wong (Bello's binky), IKF the defensive utility infielder & Monasterio to keep Romy's seat warm.

I've been engaged with ACC basletball since November, plus I don't know jack anyway.

Nevertheless I can't resist saying I think Mayer will be more valuable and just as healthy as Durbin or Contreras.  

Absolutely weird seeing Anthony in LF and Duran DHing today, but it definitely worked.  

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

I've been engage with ACC basletball since November, plus I don't know jack anyway.

Nevertheless I can't resist saying I think Mayer will be more valuable and just as healthy as Durbin or Contreras. 

Absolutely weird seeing Anthony in LF and Duran DHing today, but it definitely worked.  

Anthony is way better on D than Duran

[moonslav59]

What a huge plus it would be for Mayer to come into his own!

[mvp 78]

10 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

Cubbies lost today, but not his fault.  

Not true. He's a bad clubhouse guy from what I here. He stopped sharing his ipad. 

[mvp 78]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Anthony is way better on D than Duran

In LF and RF, yes. In CF, no. 

[mvp 78]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

What a huge plus it would be for Mayer to come into his own!

I heard that the focus this offseason was him to build muscle and work on patience at the plate. He was a 100 hitter outside the zone and a 300 hitter inside the zone. I'm hopeful, but am glad they are making him earn it.

[moonslav59]

53 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

In LF and RF, yes. In CF, no. 

Probobaly not, but Duran is so hit and miss on D.

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I heard that the focus this offseason was him to build muscle and work on patience at the plate. He was a 100 hitter outside the zone and a 300 hitter inside the zone. I'm hopeful, but am glad they are making him earn it.

That may be all well, and good, but Mayer’s work ethic has been questioned by more than one in the organization, and that’s why Cora has been pushing him, nd that’s why he has to earn it.

[moonslav59]

Another really big hit by Rafaela. A significant uptick from him could be just the boost we need.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Another really big hit by Rafaela. A significant uptick from him could be just the boost we need.

Ceddanne with another slice of clutch pie.

That doesn't mean he's a repeating decimal, just that he never ends... like 22 divided by 7 on my calculator that ran out of room: 3.142857142857143infinity

Of course, 7 for 22 is a pretty good modern batting average: .31818181818181818181818.... which could mean a lot of different batters ate a piece of pie -- or three kept repeating the same dessert...

...like Rafaela, Story and Duran coming through with RBI hits; meanwhile Anthony was 0fer with men on base, though he did come through with a clutch challenge. On base four times, almost killed the first baseman -- what a leadoff man!

[mvp 78]

48 minutes ago, Old Red said:

That may be all well, and good, but Mayer’s work ethic has been questioned by more than one in the organization, and that’s why Cora has been pushing him, nd that’s why he has to earn it.

Ok, and if he has adjusted his work ethic, will you start to give him the benefit of the doubt? 

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Ok, and if he has adjusted his work ethic, will you start to give him the benefit of the doubt? 

"Suspect" is Red's middle name.

[drewski6]

13 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I gave them a strong B+.

You said had they signed either of the Japanese third baseman, it would have been a top offseason of all time , and then they didnt get either of those 3b but instead signed IKF and traded for Durbin after you made that statement.  Normally I try not to keep tabs on poster's record for a few reasons.  One, its petty. Two, people are allowed to change their mind, 3rd 2 ppl arguing over what someone said is not good reading for third parties, 4th I really dont want people digging up stuff Ive said long ago because like everyone sometimes Im coming from a place of emotion/exuberance. But honest question here , is the decrease from among the best off seasons all time to strong B+ because you were that high on the Japanese third basemen coming over (unseen ny your own eyes, I assume) or were you a little exuberant when you said all time great offseason?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

An all-time great offseason may be Theo Epstein's first in 2002-03 when he acquired Todd Walker, Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar and David Ortiz. He also added Brandon Lyon off waivers and a year later traded him for Curt Schilling.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

An all-time great offseason may be Theo Epstein's first in 2002-03 when he acquired Todd Walker, Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar and David Ortiz. He also added Brandon Lyon off waivers and a year later traded him for Curt Schilling.

That "year later" also included signing Foulke.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Ok, and if he has adjusted his work ethic, will you start to give him the benefit of the doubt? 

Mayer had to earn it (past tense).  Mayer had to improve his work ethic (past tense).  The results are of course TBD until they aren't but even if he struggles to stay healthy again or hit consistently again - the effort thing is already behind him.

You put in that kind of work in the offseason.  Once you hit the regular season, its kind of routine.  And he did everything asked of him this offseason.  I was skeptical when he reacted well when they challenged him to work out more.  I was even skeptical when early reports were that he bought in on it.  Gyms are always crowded in January, empty in September.  Its the follow through that many dont have.  

And then he came into camp , for the first time, as strong as a 6'3 person should be.  Could regress, sure.  

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

An all-time great offseason may be Theo Epstein's first in 2002-03 when he acquired Todd Walker, Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar and David Ortiz. He also added Brandon Lyon off waivers and a year later traded him for Curt Schilling.

Also:

Mike Timlin

Bronson Arroyo

 

[mvp 78]

Brandon Lyon was claimed on waivers on 10/9/02

Then traded on 7/22 to the Pirates with Anastacio Martinez for Mike Gonzalez and Scott Sauerbeck

Then traded on 7/30 to the Red Sox with Anastacio Martinez for Mike Gonzalez and Freddy Sanchez

Why? The Pirates didn't like his elbow and wanted a redo on the trade. 

Lyon had been a serviceable member of the Red Sox bullpen in 2003 when Boston decided to ship him to Pittsburgh as part of the package for left-handed reliever Scott Sauerbeck on July 22. Pittsburgh, though, wasn't comfortable with the state of Lyon's elbow, disputing the trade. Nine days later, he was sent back to Boston as part of the Jeff Suppan-Freddy Sanchez trade.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Mayer had to earn it (past tense).  Mayer had to improve his work ethic (past tense).  The results are of course TBD until they aren't but even if he struggles to stay healthy again or hit consistently again - the effort thing is already behind him.

You put in that kind of work in the offseason.  Once you hit the regular season, its kind of routine.  And he did everything asked of him this offseason.  I was skeptical when he reacted well when they challenged him to work out more.  I was even skeptical when early reports were that he bought in on it.  Gyms are always crowded in January, empty in September.  Its the follow through that many dont have.  

And then he came into camp , for the first time, as strong as a 6'3 person should be.  Could regress, sure.  

Exactly.

Of course, being in the best shape of his life doesn't mean he won't get hurt or slump.

[moonslav59]

14 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I gave them a strong B+.

We are close. 

I'd give an A-.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Also:

Mike Timlin

Bronson Arroyo

Mike Timlin made fun of my son when they took a pic together.👍

Bronson Arroyo... only started 293 more MLB games and threw 1,847.1 innings after leaving Boston 👎

[notin]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Ok, and if he has adjusted his work ethic, will you start to give him the benefit of the doubt? 

That work ethic commentary is so vague and probably misused.  I’ve seen it used to describe oft-injured players before and it basically makes them sound like players who don’t care…

[drewski6]

33 minutes ago, notin said:

That work ethic commentary is so vague and probably misused.  I’ve seen it used to describe oft-injured players before and it basically makes them sound like players who don’t care…

Sure, but not in this case.  You never got frustrated with teammates who didnt weight room?  If I was a coach it would be 0 tolerance.  Pat Riley.  Run a mile every day, lift weight for 2 hours every day.  Or you arent on my team. No exceptions.

[drewski6]

Up until a few months a go, Mayer was a string bean who didnt have the muscular padding to stay healthy.  They needed him to correct that. He corrected that.  I dont know if hes going to stay healhty now, but I know the odds of it have increased.  And Im sure he'll notice the extra strength at the plate too.

Best thing about increasing your raw strength (besides staying healthy) is that you dont have to swing as hard as you can at everything.  I think I had more homeruns on 0-2 counts than any other.  "Okay Drew, take something off, youre hacking and not making contact.  Boom fastball at my knees, drop the bat head, focus on sweet-spot contact vs bat-speed".....And now Im looking at the CF'ers back which is always a great sign.

[drewski6]

The best feeling in baseball is when you see that CF turn around.  My buddy tells me its when he makes a bad throw at 2b because hes rushed and the 1b bails him out.  Ive never been there.  I dont "infield".

[mvp 78]

51 minutes ago, notin said:

That work ethic commentary is so vague and probably misused.  I’ve seen it used to describe oft-injured players before and it basically makes them sound like players who don’t care…

The one guy it made sense for was Alex Verdugo. He'd show up late for games. Was a top prospect and seen as a guy that could potentially get an extension. He squandered whatever potential he had and is now a MiLB contract guy. 

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Sure, but not in this case.  You never got frustrated with teammates who didnt weight room?  If I was a coach it would be 0 tolerance.  Pat Riley.  Run a mile every day, lift weight for 2 hours every day.  Or you arent on my team. No exceptions.

Lift weights everyday for 2 hours? LOL, no. That's maybe an offseason workload.

The best players can make better use of that time during the season.