A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

It is astounding how poorly the Red Sox are performing, with the exception of a few players.   They have not been much fun to watch, even when they win.  In fact, it's been downright agonizing.  I still expect them to make the playoffs, but in the meantime, it's been pure frustration.  I didn't sign up for this.  :(

It woulda really sucked had we lost today, but yes, it didn't seem fun watching them win today's morning game.

[Kimmi]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

It wouldn't really be fair to Narvaez, if others have been late, too and not benched.

If several players are late and get away with it, then Cora needs the reprimanding.

Absolutely.  Of course, we don't know how much truth there is to this, and if there is truth to it, how many players are "a lot" that are being late.  At any rate, shame on any player who is showing up late with no good reason, and shame on Cora if he is letting any player get away with it.

[Kimmi]

7 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

It is astounding how poorly the Red Sox are performing, with the exception of a few players.   They have not been much fun to watch, even when they win.  In fact, it's been downright agonizing.  I still expect them to make the playoffs, but in the meantime, it's been pure frustration.  I didn't sign up for this.  :(

Also in the meantime, I'll take enjoyment in following Francona's Reds, with their NL Central leading 14-8 record and -8 run differential.  LOL

[Kimmi]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It woulda really sucked had we lost today, but yes, it didn't seem fun watching them win today's morning game.

It was still a very frustrating game to watch for so many reasons.  That said, I'll gladly take the Win.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Also in the meantime, I'll take enjoyment in following Francona's Reds, with their NL Central leading 14-8 record and -8 run differential.  LOL

Do Bloom's 13-8 Cards bring you any joy?

[moonslav59]

This is not my choice of a line-up, but if you believe what someone has done, so far is about what they do going forward, maybe this would be the best hitting line-up:

1. L Yoshida (.477 OBP) DH

2. R Contreras (.404 OBP/.466 SLG) 1B

3. L Abreu (.352/.481) RF

4. R Wong (.385/.500) C

5. L Anthony (.366/.338) LF

6. R Rafaela (.366/.381) CF

7. L Mayer (.258/.291( SS)

8. R Story (.224/.315 w 17 rbi) 2B

9. R Monasterio (.300/.296) 3B

Bench: Duran, Narvaez, Durbin, IKF

[jad]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

This is not my choice of a line-up, but if you believe what someone has done, so far is about what they do going forward, maybe this would be the best hitting line-up:

1. L Yoshida (.477 OBP) DH

2. R Contreras (.404 OBP/.466 SLG) 1B

3. L Abreu (.352/.481) RF

4. R Wong (.385/.500) C

5. L Anthony (.366/.338) LF

6. R Rafaela (.366/.381) CF

7. L Mayer (.258/.291( SS)

8. R Story (.224/.315 w 17 rbi) 2B

9. R Monasterio (.300/.296) 3B

Bench: Duran, Narvaez, Durbin, IKF

I like it.  Probably in these bizarre times, we should call it a 'reverse lottery' rewarding (strange as it may sound in pro sports) success rather than failure. Yoshi is leading the team in BA, OBP, and OPS.  Until that changes, there is no reason to use him as a 'spot starter' or late inning pinch hitter.  Let the guy hit, and let the other guys give some clear indication that they are better.

[Duran Is The Man]

51 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

This is not my choice of a line-up, but if you believe what someone has done, so far is about what they do going forward, maybe this would be the best hitting line-up:

1. L Yoshida (.477 OBP) DH

2. R Contreras (.404 OBP/.466 SLG) 1B

3. L Abreu (.352/.481) RF

4. R Wong (.385/.500) C

5. L Anthony (.366/.338) LF

6. R Rafaela (.366/.381) CF

7. L Mayer (.258/.291( SS)

8. R Story (.224/.315 w 17 rbi) 2B

9. R Monasterio (.300/.296) 3B

Bench: Duran, Narvaez, Durbin, IKF

looks good to me. 

[moonslav59]

I'm kinda liking it, too.

[moonslav59]

For a team playing this poorly, the next stretch of games could be the nail in the heart... or not.

3 v NYY

3 @ BAL

3 @ TOR

3 v HOU

3 @ DET

4 v TBR

3 v PHI

22 tough games after going 9-13 in the first 22.

[mvp 78]

12 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

It woulda really sucked had we lost today, but yes, it didn't seem fun watching them win today's morning game.

Nothing has been fun about this year's team TBH.

[moonslav59]

22 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Nothing has been fun about this year's team TBH.

Nope- maybe watching Willson, Chapman & Early.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Nothing has been fun about this year's team TBH.

It was fun when NESN showed the owners enclosed in their Fenway suite, peering out and looking confused while the Tigers blasted Crochet... presumably turning their graphs sideways, then upside down, singing "Power to the Peep Hole."

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Nope- maybe watching Willson, Chapman & Early.

Disagree on Chapman. BB's are up. K's are down. Getting hit harder. 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Disagree on Chapman. BB's are up. K's are down. Getting hit harder. 

Agree on Chapman. Not the same pitcher early on as last year, didn’t expect him to be.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Agree on Chapman. Not the same pitcher early on as last year, didn’t expect him to be.

It's a little shaky. Not as bad as he's been in the past, but he's not a lockdown guy. 

His statcast page paints a rough picture right now.

 

[mvp 78]

38 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

It was fun when NESN showed the owners enclosed in their Fenway suite, peering out and looking confused while the Tigers blasted Crochet... presumably turning their graphs sideways, then upside down, singing "Power to the Peep Hole."

Can't be bothered by the plebs! If the common rabble get to Mr Henry, they might convince him to spend his money again! 

[moonslav59]

24 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Disagree on Chapman. BB's are up. K's are down. Getting hit harder. 

True, but still fun to watch.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

True, but still fun to watch.

Results are good for now. Could be some regression!

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Results are good for now. Could be some regression!

He's one of the few getting the job donw, even if with some smoke and mirros.

Speaking of smoke, he ticks up the velo for that final K.

[notin]

14 hours ago, Kimmi said:

Also in the meantime, I'll take enjoyment in following Francona's Reds, with their NL Central leading 14-8 record and -8 run differential.  LOL

But what about Dombrowski’s Phillies at 8-14 with an MLB  worst -42 run differential? 

At least they’re not in last, thanks to the Mets’ 11 game (and counting) losing streak…

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

But what about Dombrowski’s Phillies at 8-14 with an MLB  worst -42 run differential? 

At least they’re not in last, thanks to the Mets’ 11 game (and counting) losing streak…

PHI is 4th in pitching fWAR. For the teams with bad records, I'd expect them to bounce back a little quicker. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

PHI is 4th in pitching fWAR. For the teams with bad records, I'd expect them to bounce back a little quicker. 

They may bounce back, but they also cannot score, hence the run differential.  
 

I watched them get shut down last night by Colin Rea.  How would folks here respond to the Red Sox getting shut down by Colin Rea?

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

They may bounce back, but they also cannot score, hence the run differential.  
 

I watched them get shut down last night by Colin Rea.  How would folks here respond to the Red Sox getting shut down by Colin Rea?

They'll score eventually. The only player they are missing from last season is Max Kepler. 

[drewski6]

18 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The biggest site question is how long you keep your moniker.

 

not the biggest question but a question.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

not the biggest question but a question.

That was rather hyperbolic.

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

They'll score eventually. The only player they are missing from last season is Max Kepler. 

And they never replaced their German ballerina…

[jad]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Nothing has been fun about this year's team TBH.

For me, that's enhanced by the fact that my favorite players (most of them former RS) now play for other teams.

[moonslav59]

29 minutes ago, jad said:

For me, that's enhanced by the fact that my favorite players (most of them former RS) now play for other teams.

Most are sucking for other teams, so there is that.

1 for 24 Refsnyder w SEA

.631 Verdugo w NYY+ATL

.661 Bregman for CHC

.686 O'Neill w BAL

.739 Bogey w SDP

.761 Devers w SFG (.581 in '26)

Oh wait, you said "favorite players"

Betts .710 in '26 (.731 '25+'26 and .787 '24-'26)

[JoeBrady]

On 4/19/2026 at 11:30 PM, moonslav59 said:

I suggested KMart, Neto, Paredes and maybe Hoerner, and others that are not off to great starts.

I was not big on paying that much for Bregman, but he was their "main piece," and they dropped the ball on at least levels with him:

1. They failed to land him.

2. They failed when they made him the "main piece" and target.

1-How did thy drop the ball on not signing him?  You have to put a number on a player and be willing to walk away.

2-And while I did not agree on Bregman, I don't see how making him #1 on their list constitutes a failure.  Someone has to be #1 on your list.