A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

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

😄

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

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…

2027

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

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

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

Massive oversight on their part.

I was wondering if they meant at the time the teams played. For example, Cincinnati was 0-0, 0-1 and 1-1 at the start of each game with Boston.  But there is no getting around that the Brewers were 7-2 at the start of their series with Boston…

[notin]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

😄

Plus I thought Cora said something at some point about wanting him to pull more …

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

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…

While we all felt it was Mayer as the most likely infielder to be platooned, maybe Durbin is making a case.

.402 Durbin v R

.472 Monasterio v R

Perhaps a lefty bat is needed more, now.

(Yes, SSS)

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Plus I thought Cora said something at some point about wanting him to pull more …

This is the PULL AIR team. 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

While we all felt it was Mayer as the most likely infielder to be platooned, maybe Durbin is making a case.

.402 Durbin v R

.472 Monasterio v R

Perhaps a lefty bat is needed more, now.

(Yes, SSS)

546 Marcelo v R

Maybe they can sit Marcelo vs tough RHP too! That Cheng guy is really something else! I've been scouting the box scores extra hard and man is that guy the REAL DEAL! 

😎

[JoeBrady]

6 hours ago, Hitch said:

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.

Cheng is 1-8 in his last two games.  We can't be gauging people on how they play day-to-day.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Cheng is 1-8 in his last two games.  We can't be gauging people on how they play day-to-day.

Well, the Sox infielders have been gauged week to week.

They've sucked.

Look, my point was that was a "close call" and that Cheng would fill a bench role held by Monestario, who has been judged to the MLB OBP leader by some here, and perhaps platoon some.

You guys are acting like I want him in a FT role batting second. (I'd be fine if he stays in AAA until needed.)

[Hitch]

14 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Cheng is 1-8 in his last two games.  We can't be gauging people on how they play day-to-day.

Right? Logic is out the window these days. It's day to day on every judgement. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Well, the Sox infielders have been gauged week to week.

They've sucked.

Weak, too weak.

CJ Abrams, 25, leads NL shortstops with 5 homers.

Brandon Lowe leads all second basemen with 6 HRs. Marte has 4, Donovan 3. 

Old Max Muncy leads third basemen with 4 bombs. Paredes is tied with Durbin with zero...

[mvp 78]

12 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Well, the Sox infielders have been gauged week to week.

They've sucked.

Look, my point was that was a "close call" and that Cheng would fill a bench role held by Monestario, who has been judged to the MLB OBP leader by some here, and perhaps platoon some.

You guys are acting like I want him in a FT role batting second. (I'd be fine if he stays in AAA until needed.)

Sox are going to roll with the current group until Memorial Day. I wouldn't expect substantial changes until then. I don't know why Breslow should start sitting guys and sending others to AAA because of a two week sample. Would we do the same after a two week sample in July? Probably not. 

Only 3 fulltime players have an OPS above 700: Abreu, Contreras and Rafaela. Wong and Masa are over 700, but neither have seen increased playing time. Calling up Cheng isn't going to make up for 6 underperforming starters.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Sox are going to roll with the current group until Memorial Day. underperforming starters.

Or longer.

I get it.

I never expected so much support for Monasterio.

[mvp 78]

27 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Or longer.

I get it.

I never expected so much support for Monasterio.

Monasterio has had hitting success in MLB and AAA at times. Cheng hasn't had success above High A yet. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Sox are going to roll with the current group until Memorial Day. I wouldn't expect substantial changes until then. I don't know why Breslow should start sitting guys and sending others to AAA because of a two week sample. Would we do the same after a two week sample in July? Probably not. 

Only 3 fulltime players have an OPS above 700: Abreu, Contreras and Rafaela. Wong and Masa are over 700, but neither have seen increased playing time. Calling up Cheng isn't going to make up for 6 underperforming starters.

So you’re saying we need. more Chengs?  Possibly up to six?  Thats a tall order …

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

So you’re saying we need. more Chengs?  Possibly up to six?  Thats a tall order …

No short jokes please.

[drewski6]

4 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Weak, too weak.

CJ Abrams, 25, leads NL shortstops with 5 homers.

Brandon Lowe leads all second basemen with 6 HRs. Marte has 4, Donovan 3. 

Old Max Muncy leads third basemen with 4 bombs. Paredes is tied with Durbin with zero...

Right, this is where the whole "we have too many good outfielders and not enough infielders" arguments fall short.  There are more good hitting outfielders than infielders.  

[Old Red]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Or longer.

I get it.

I never expected so much support for Monasterio.

Or so much love for Cheng.🤔

[drewski6]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Sox are going to roll with the current group until Memorial Day. I wouldn't expect substantial changes until then. I don't know why Breslow should start sitting guys and sending others to AAA because of a two week sample. Would we do the same after a two week sample in July? Probably not. 

Only 3 fulltime players have an OPS above 700: Abreu, Contreras and Rafaela. Wong and Masa are over 700, but neither have seen increased playing time. Calling up Cheng isn't going to make up for 6 underperforming starters.

My only nitpick here is that I would argue that Masa's start has resulted in increased playing time.  But I agree with the general premise here.  That these offensive struggles are too pervasive to be fixed by a minor tweak.  And guys are going to have to work themselves out of funks.  And the thing that I would also like to point out is that guys have.  Story, Duran are waking up to go with Abreu, Contreras.

Guys like Durbin - not sure what we will ultimately get there and whether he'll keep the full time starting job all year, but Story and Duran swinging the stick better takes some pressure off Durbin.

Just need more time to assess.  Especially because the second week of the season has been better than the first week, so now we need 2 more weeks to figure out which of the first 2 weeks more accurately represented where we are.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Right, this is where the whole "we have too many good outfielders and not enough infielders" arguments fall short.  There are more good hitting outfielders than infielders.  

Masa only has 40% of the PA's that Contreras has. Seems like they have too many OFers!!!

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

My only nitpick here is that I would argue that Masa's start has resulted in increased playing time.  

Masa is playing LESS in '26 than he did in '23 or '24. If he's healthy, isn't he being wasted on the bench? Couldn't that bench spot go to a good platoon bat or a good power hitter? It just doesn't make sense to have a no glove, no speed, slap hitter sit on the bench. 

[Old Red]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Masa is playing LESS in '26 than he did in '23 or '24. If he's healthy, isn't he being wasted on the bench? Couldn't that bench spot go to a good platoon bat or a good power hitter? It just doesn't make sense to have a no glove, no speed, slap hitter sit on the bench. 

Not sense, but cents.

[drewski6]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Masa only has 40% of the PA's that Contreras has. Seems like they have too many OFers!!!

I think that because of the improvements we've made at the plate, we can afford to give it some more time before we jettison one of our better bats on a team that is expected to struggle for offense, even though it has been a juggle to fit in all the OF'ers.

[drewski6]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Masa is playing LESS in '26 than he did in '23 or '24. If he's healthy, isn't he being wasted on the bench? Couldn't that bench spot go to a good platoon bat or a good power hitter? It just doesn't make sense to have a no glove, no speed, slap hitter sit on the bench. 

I meant more PT than I thought he would get entering the season, not compared to when we signed him in 2023 and thought we were getting a high impact stud.

[Bellhorn04]

Any word on Crochet?

[illinoisredsox]

20 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Any word on Crochet?

Why would there be?  He had a horrific game.  Even the best have them once in a while.  

As I wrote last night in the gamethread, I think he (or Narvaez) was tipping pitches.  The Twins seems to know exactly what was coming.  Or maybe he's gotten into some sort of pattern with his pitches that the Twins picked up on.

I do know in the second inning, the hits that drove in the 7 runs all came in the span of 8 pitches, and that included the two outs he recorded in that inning.

Yes, his velocity was down a tick, but that happened a few times last year and he was able to pitch around it.  He couldn't yesterday.  If we see a repeat over the next couple games, then I'll worry about a physical problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[illinoisredsox]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Masa is playing LESS in '26 than he did in '23 or '24. If he's healthy, isn't he being wasted on the bench? Couldn't that bench spot go to a good platoon bat or a good power hitter? It just doesn't make sense to have a no glove, no speed, slap hitter sit on the bench. 

Because Henry isn't going to eat $36M plus whatever said replacement would cost and Breslow has been told that in no uncertain terms.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

I meant more PT than I thought he would get entering the season, not compared to when we signed him in 2023 and thought we were getting a high impact stud.

You thought he'd get less than 40% of the PA's? If so, he should have definitely been dealt. 

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Any word on Crochet?

They said he's fine. It's up to you if you believe them.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Or so much love for Cheng.🤔

Like who?

I said its a close call.