A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[mvp 78]

31 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Not as a permanent solution.

Yes, bring up the hot hand.

Being hot in AAA has nothing to do with how he'd hit in MLB. 

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Being hot in AAA has nothing to do with how he'd hit in MLB. 

Agreed, but we do have MLB samples on the guys he might replace.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed, but we do have MLB samples on the guys he might replace.

And I'd rather have Durbin at 3B than Cheng. He's not going to replace Story. 

[Hitch]

10 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

such a good idea, it'll never happen. 

There is nothing good about these ideas. Cheng is a nothing player who's having a good couple of weeks. Tolle is our next big starting pitching prospect that has a lot of work to do on secondaries. You don't put him in the pen.

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

He's doing exactly what they brought here to do: play good defense and put the ball in play. I don't believe the 128 BABIP is going to look like that all season. 

Agreed. I'm interested in seeing how the advancement to hitting 2nd works out. So far so good. 

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

There's a lot more investment in KC and KC's ceiling is SO much higher than Durbin's. If you mess up Durbin, it's not a big deal. If you mess up KC, it's kind of a big deal. 

I've all but given up on KC. I really hope he finds it again and turns it around, but I'm just not seeing it. 

[Hitch]

15 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Maybe now is the time to go on a roll...

MON @ MIN (Crochet)

TUE @ MIN (Gray)

WED @ MIN (Early)

THU OFF

FRI vs DET (Suarez w extra day of rest)

SAT vs DET (Bello w extra day)

SUN vs DET (Crochet w xtra day)

MON vs DET (Gray w xtra day)

3 vs NYY (Early>Suarez>Bello)

3 at BAL (Crochet>Gray>Early)

MON 4/27 Off (after 10 straight games)

It would be very helpful if they beat the Twins in this next series, because they then have a seriously tough run after it -

Tigers

Yankees 

Orioles

Blue Jays

Astros 

Rays

Phillies

Braves

[notin]

39 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Being hot in AAA has nothing to do with how he'd hit in MLB. 

Absolutely true, and his 1.346 OPS in AAA is -an insane expectation.  
 

Cheng also crushed all through the WBC.  And he is an excellent defensive infielder, which establishes a solid floor.  He’s not the answer to all the Sox problems, but he is doing everything you’d want from a prospect  who is trying to get you to notice…

[moonslav59]

45 minutes ago, Hitch said:

It would be very helpful if they beat the Twins in this next series, because they then have a seriously tough run after it -

Tigers

Yankees 

Orioles

Blue Jays

Astros 

Rays

Phillies

Braves

We have yet to play a team that is currently over .500.

MIN will be the first. If we sweep them, we can keep it that way.

[notin]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We have yet to play a team that is currently over .500.

 

Except for San Diego (10-6), Cincinnati (9-7), Milwaukee (8-7) and St. Louis (8-7)

But yes, the other two are either .500 or worse…

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

Except for San Diego (10-6), Cincinnati (9-7), Milwaukee (8-7) and St. Louis (8-7)

But yes, the other two are either .500 or worse…

Weird how MLB standings shows us as not having a record vs >.500.

https://www.mlb.com/standings/

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

I've all but given up on KC. I really hope he finds it again and turns it around, but I'm just not seeing it. 

He just had a 9 game hitting streak and his OPS is still only 717. 🫥

[mvp 78]

58 minutes ago, notin said:

Absolutely true, and his 1.346 OPS in AAA is -an insane expectation.  
 

Cheng also crushed all through the WBC.  And he is an excellent defensive infielder, which establishes a solid floor.  He’s not the answer to all the Sox problems, but he is doing everything you’d want from a prospect  who is trying to get you to notice…

In like 10 games. Tell me what his numbers are at Memorial Day and then maybe I'll come around a little. 

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He just had a 9 game hitting streak and his OPS is still only 717. 🫥

KC still can't pull the ball.

 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Absolutely true, and his 1.346 OPS in AAA is -an insane expectation.  

My Cheng expectation upon a call-up:

.600 +

Better defense than we have.

[notin]

19 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

In like 10 games. Tell me what his numbers are at Memorial Day and then maybe I'll come around a little. 

Maybe.   But at least cut him some slack for his WBC performance…

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Maybe.   But at least cut him some slack for his WBC performance…

We will also have to look at Monasterio, Durbin & IKF's Memorial Day numbers.

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

My Cheng expectation upon a call-up:

.600 +

Better defense than we have.

Durbin: 3 DRS

He's not taking over for Story or Marcelo. 

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, notin said:

Maybe.   But at least cut him some slack for his WBC performance…

I don't really care about WBC performance. 

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He's not taking over for Story or Marcelo. 

That's why I did not mention them.

He's take Monasterio's slot on the bench or possibly platoon with Durbin.

[Hitch]

45 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

KC still can't pull the ball.

 

What is up with that! I saw Cora say last year that they were working on getting him to pull more. Weird how he's still not able to do it.

[Hitch]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That's why I did not mention them.

He's take Monasterio's slot on the bench or possibly platoon with Durbin.

What has Monasterio done wrong that warrants sending down?

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, Hitch said:

What is up with that! I saw Cora say last year that they were working on getting him to pull more. Weird how he's still not able to do it.

They completely changed his swing. It's going to take some time. I'm not a hitting guru. Should have either changed his swing earlier or kept his old swing. 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, Hitch said:

What has Monasterio done wrong that warrants sending down?

Takes too many walks.

[Hitch]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They completely changed his swing. It's going to take some time. I'm not a hitting guru. Should have either changed his swing earlier or kept his old swing. 

Man, I really hope we get this right. Not just for us, but for a guy who must have thought he had a great career ahead of him at the start of last year. 

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, Hitch said:

What has Monasterio done wrong that warrants sending down?

It's a close call.

He and Durbin are both RHBs. That's nothing "wrong with him," but I think Cheng is a better fit and better on D than Monasterio.

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Takes too many walks.

LMAO

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

KC still can't pull the ball.

 

Is it that he can’t?  Or are they trying to get him to learn to go the other way?

[notin]

30 minutes ago, Hitch said:

What has Monasterio done wrong that warrants sending down?

He dared to be the only non-catcher on the bench with an option.  At this point, that’s all that matters for bench players.

Cora’s addiction to platoons probably keeps him in Boston until Romy gets back, whenever that is…

[mvp 78]

27 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Man, I really hope we get this right. Not just for us, but for a guy who must have thought he had a great career ahead of him at the start of last year. 

Depressing.