A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

I agree, and that’s why I said IF they view him more as a 2B/3B going forward with someone else viewed as the long term SS like Arias. I’m definitely not viewing Mayer as the automatic SS of the future, but like you said we don’t know at this time.

Yes, he is no automatic anything.

I'm pretty sure most "baseball people" view Mayer as a better defensive SS than the 2025-2026 Story.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, he is no automatic anything.

I'm pretty sure most "baseball people" view Mayer as a better defensive SS than the 2025-2026 Story.

The ones that don't are only listening in on radio and have missed several important innings. 

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I've made the point before that MAYBE they are holding the door for the hand off to be Story to Arias, but they've already moved Mayer around a bunch. I don't think there's an issue moving Mayer to SS short term and then moving him to 2b or 3b down the road (at least to me).

I’m not disagreeing with you, but Cora does things his own way for whatever reason, or reasons, and I don’t see Mayer being moved to SS anytime soon outside of a major injury to Story.

[Old Red]

37 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, he is no automatic anything.

I'm pretty sure most "baseball people" view Mayer as a better defensive SS than the 2025-2026 Story.

Most people don’t have say, and neither do any of us on here. This is Cora’s decision, and Corahas his own way of doing things.

[notin]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Most people don’t have say, and neither do any of us on here. This is Cora’s decision, and Corahas his own way of doing things.

And Cora’s way involves not moving veteran players off position ever, regardless of ability to still play them.  But on the bright side, he will play bench players nearly anywhere…

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Most people don’t have say, and neither do any of us on here. This is Cora’s decision, and Corahas his own way of doing things.

We all know this aspect of these decisions. Some think it's a fireable offense/issue. I'm getting more and more frustrated by the whole repeating aspect of it.

[notin]

47 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, he is no automatic anything.

I'm pretty sure most "baseball people" view Mayer as a better defensive SS than the 2025-2026 Story.

Story was a defensive whiz earlier in his career, but that was a few years and surgeries ago.

Not sure if Cora has even approached Story with the possibility of moving, but I’d be surprised if he did…

[notin]

49 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, he is no automatic anything.

I'm pretty sure most "baseball people" view Mayer as a better defensive SS than the 2025-2026 Story.

I think most baseball people realize Story is probably the third best defensive SS on the Sox roster right now.  Possibly fourth, as Monasterio has limited experience at the position.

But hey, defensive whiz Tsung-Che Cheng still has an OPS north of 1.100 in Worcester.  Just sayin’…

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

I think most baseball people realize Story is probably the third best defensive SS on the Sox roster right now.  Possibly fourth, as Monasterio has limited experience at the position.

But hey, defensive whiz Tsung-Che Cheng still has an OPS north of 1.100 in Worcester.  Just sayin’…

I thought it was worth a shot calling up Cheng for a look-see.

[Old Red]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We all know this aspect of these decisions. Some think it's a fireable offense/issue. I'm getting more and more frustrated by the whole repeating aspect of it.

I read an article yesterday on theories why Cora does things the way he does. Of course one is Cora doesn’t want to upset his players, and another was Cora just believes in the seniority aspect of how he does things. Could be one, or the other, or a combination of the two.

[Duran Is The Man]

33 minutes ago, notin said:

And Cora’s way involves not moving veteran players off position ever, regardless of ability to still play them.  But on the bright side, he will play bench players nearly anywhere…

yep

[Duran Is The Man]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I read an article yesterday on theories why Cora does things the way he does. Of course one is Cora doesn’t want to upset his players, and another was Cora just believes in the seniority aspect of how he does things. Could be one, or the other, or a combination of the two.

and that is a stupid f***ing way to manage a team.

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I read an article yesterday on theories why Cora does things the way he does. Of course one is Cora doesn’t want to upset his players, and another was Cora just believes in the seniority aspect of how he does things. Could be one, or the other, or a combination of the two.

Sounds about right on the two major theories or combination.

To me, those are important, but putting the best players at their best positions should always be the #1 guideline. I won't say rule, but it should be the top priority.

On the Devers thing, they could have tole him 2-3-4 winters ago, "Hey, can you grab a 1Bman's mitt and workout this winter at 1B, in case we need you there. Expect to work out there this ST'ing a little bit." I don't see that as being a difficult task for a manager to do, and even if it is a bit uncomfortable, it's part of your job functions/description.

The Story-Bogey choice was more complex. Story was coming off a major injury and was building up arm strength. They may have also known Bogey had just one year left and they transition could wait a year. Story was also "okay" with the move to 2B. I guess Cora is fine talking to new players, despite them being veterans.

 

[notin]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

I read an article yesterday on theories why Cora does things the way he does. Of course one is Cora doesn’t want to upset his players, and another was Cora just believes in the seniority aspect of how he does things. Could be one, or the other, or a combination of the two.

So… does he actually do anything?

[notin]

45 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Sounds about right on the two major theories or combination.

To me, those are important, but putting the best players at their best positions should always be the #1 guideline. I won't say rule, but it should be the top priority.

On the Devers thing, they could have tole him 2-3-4 winters ago, "Hey, can you grab a 1Bman's mitt and workout this winter at 1B, in case we need you there. Expect to work out there this ST'ing a little bit." I don't see that as being a difficult task for a manager to do, and even if it is a bit uncomfortable, it's part of your job functions/description.

The Story-Bogey choice was more complex. Story was coming off a major injury and was building up arm strength. They may have also known Bogey had just one year left and they transition could wait a year. Story was also "okay" with the move to 2B. I guess Cora is fine talking to new players, despite them being veterans.

 

It seems like Cora will let veterans change positions if they want to, like how he wanted Bregman for 2b after Bregman’s agent went public with his client’s desire to move.  But not so much with veterans that are unwilling despite their declining or overall lack of ability. 
 

Story did move to 2b before, but that could have been due to his arm problems or out of respect for Bogaerts.  Basically it seemed like Story made it easy for Cora.  But will Cora tell him that he thinks it’s best for the team that he switch?  I have serious doubts…

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, notin said:

It seems like Cora will let veterans change positions if they want to, like how he wanted Bregman for 2b after Bregman’s agent went public with his client’s desire to move.  But not so much with veterans that are unwilling despite their declining or overall lack of ability. 
 

Story did move to 2b before, but that could have been due to his arm problems or out of respect for Bogaerts.  Basically it seemed like Story made it easy for Cora.  But will Cora tell him that he thinks it’s best for the team that he switch?  I have serious doubts…

I wonder if he ever talked to Devers about wanting to move, years ago.

I doubt he even broached the subject.

[Old Red]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I wonder if he ever talked to Devers about wanting to move, years ago.

I doubt he even broached the subject.

Why would he talk to Devers? Devers was the 3B. Casas was the 1B, so Cora maybe unlike you didn’t see a need to change anything, so I don’t wonder at all, and never did. Same with asking Bogey to move.

[mvp 78]

35 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Why would he talk to Devers? Devers was the 3B. Casas was the 1B, so Cora maybe unlike you didn’t see a need to change anything, so I don’t wonder at all, and never did. Same with asking Bogey to move.

If Cora didn't see a problem with Casas's defense after 2023, I have even bigger concerns with him.

 

[moonslav59]

34 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Why would he talk to Devers? Devers was the 3B. Casas was the 1B, so Cora maybe unlike you didn’t see a need to change anything, so I don’t wonder at all, and never did. Same with asking Bogey to move.

You need to ask why? We saw why-- Injuries happen.

I did not say tell Devers he was next year's 1Bman. I said start with "Do some working out at 1B."

In 2022, we figured Dalbec was the 1Bman, but were not 100% sure he was "the guy." That was the Franchy at 1B year. (We also added Hosmer later in the season.)

In 2023, we had Casas and Turner, but maybe we don't sign Turner or use him at DH only.

In 2024, Casas looked like the FT'er, but to borrow your phrase, he was still rather "suspect." Dom Smith ended up starting more than Casas, and that was after we cycled through Dalbec and Garrett Cooper, first.

We all saw what happened in 2025- no refresher needed.

[Maxbialystock]

Fascinating takes on Cora.  

I think a case can be made that he is being stubborn about Story at SS.

On the other hand,  I think "fixing" SS is not nearly as important as fixing the hitting and pitching which are both well below average among MLB teams. 

In that respect Story leads the Sox in rbi's  with 17 in 18 freaking games.  The Sox have won 7 games and Story had rbi's in 4 of them.  He also had 1 rbi in a 3-2 loss @ St Louis and 2 rbi's in an 8-6 loss to Milwaukeee and 1 rbi in 6-5 loss @  Cincy.  Story and his lousy .560 OPS is also 3d in total bases. 

Mayer is confortable at 2b and but not at the plate where his .572 OPS is below last year's .674.  

Back to the Sox team defense.  I think the Abreu, Rafaela, Duran, and Anthony constitute a pretty good outfield.  So do Contreras, Durbin, Mayer, and Wong/Narvaez 4/5 of a decent fielding infield.  

 

 

 

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If Cora didn't see a problem with Casas's defense after 2023, I have even bigger concerns with him.

 

If Casas would have stayed healthy, and I know that’s a big if do you think Casas would be the 1B today?

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If Casas would have stayed healthy, and I know that’s a big if do you think Casas would be the 1B today?

No.

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

No.

Is Casas still on the team, or traded?

[mvp 78]

17 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Is Casas still on the team, or traded?

Today? Yes.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

Fascinating takes on Cora.  

I think a case can be made that he is being stubborn about Story at SS.

On the other hand,  I think "fixing" SS is not nearly as important as fixing the hitting and pitching which are both well below average among MLB teams. 

In that respect Story leads the Sox in rbi's  with 17 in 18 freaking games.  The Sox have won 7 games and Story had rbi's in 4 of them.  He also had 1 rbi in a 3-2 loss @ St Louis and 2 rbi's in an 8-6 loss to Milwaukeee and 1 rbi in 6-5 loss @  Cincy.  Story and his lousy .560 OPS is also 3d in total bases. 

Mayer is confortable at 2b and but not at the plate where his .572 OPS is below last year's .674.  

Back to the Sox team defense.  I think the Abreu, Rafaela, Duran, and Anthony constitute a pretty good outfield.  So do Contreras, Durbin, Mayer, and Wong/Narvaez 4/5 of a decent fielding infield.  

How does a manger "fix" batting or pitching?

I do know how a manger makes out the line-up and positions of the players.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Old Red said:

If Casas would have stayed healthy, and I know that’s a big if do you think Casas would be the 1B today?

Contreras is our 1Bman.

[Larry Cook]

As a team, defensively we have a ton of defensive runs saved so far, yet still almost lead the league in giving up runs?????

Wow!!! 

[moonslav59]

Richard Fitts out for the season.

[moonslav59]

29 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

As a team, defensively we have a ton of defensive runs saved so far, yet still almost lead the league in giving up runs?????

Wow!!! 

Five defensive runs saved is not all that great. (13th in MLB)

Hey, here is an encouraging view...

https://www.mlb.com/news/how-red-sox-can-improve-hitting-pitching-in-2026

[Maxbialystock]

5 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

How does a manger "fix" batting or pitching?

I do know how a manger makes out the line-up and positions of the players.

i've made my case fo leaving Story at SS.  I think it's reasonable, given other factors.  Lots of luck convincing me the Sox would have a winning record if Story weren't playing SS.  

I find it hard to quarrel with the lineups when Story leads the Sox in rbi's by a margin of 6.

Tonight was another game when Cora's management of pitchers and pinch hitters and defensive positioning was impeccable.   And don't forget that two of his best hitters, Contreras and Anthony, failed to drive in runners in scoring position with 2 outs.  

Do I need to add that Narvaez was rested and did not play tonight?