Rays (Martinez) vs Red Sox (Tolle): 5/10/26, 1:35pm

[JoeBrady]

12 hours ago, iortiz said:

Give him a chance. If that doesn’t work, call Campbell.

Y'all have to stop thinking of KC as a real thing.  Every time I look at his stats, I am shocked at how bad they are.  I still hold out hope, but he has 13 Ks in his last 23 ABs.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

The only different I’ve seen so far since Chad took over on the field is Masa was the odd man out when everyone was healthy, so I don’t think it’s a little bit more up in the air at all. I’m not so sure the Red Sox see Mayer as the SS anymore, and he’s still a platoon player.

Masa being benched isn't rare the past few seasons even when he is hitting the ball well. If Brez doesn't like him, let him be free.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, JoeBrady said:

Y'all have to stop thinking of KC as a real thing.  Every time I look at his stats, I am shocked at how bad they are.  I still hold out hope, but he has 13 Ks in his last 23 ABs.

He's hitting the ball hard, just isn't hitting the ball in the air enough and has a lot of swing and miss now. He's still a decent prospect for now. Just isn't ready today.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Weakening the defense to get Yoshida's bat in the lineup won't be helpful, imo.  He has a .542 over his last 11 games.  At this point, I would simply start Monasterio.  It is unlikely to help, but at this point, the only pitches that Story takes are ones that are likely to hit him if he swings.

But Rafaela probably is better at infield defense than Story. The downgrade in OF defense may outweigh the better infield, but the infield gets more action.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, notin said:

I don’t think they ever wanted Duran and Bello…

And if they didn't want them before, I don't think they will find the .577 OPS and 7.44 ERA as appealing as some fans think.

[JoeBrady]

59 minutes ago, notin said:

Story probably does get more time, but that doesn’t mean is the smart move...

1-I do think it's the smart move.  He played well last year, but he is 33, and skills do fall off quickly at that point.  But the smart thing is to give him 2-3 days off, followed by 2-3 weeks to prove himself.

2-That said, I am so pissed at him for demanding to speak with the FO about the Cora firing, that if he was DFAd tomorrow, I wouldn't think twice.  If I were Henry, I'd okay a meeting with him, and tell him that he was the one responsible for getting Cora fired in the first place.  Then kick him out and tell him to do his fracking job.

[Old Red]

23 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Weakening the defense to get Yoshida's bat in the lineup won't be helpful, imo.  He has a .542 over his last 11 games.  At this point, I would simply start Monasterio.  It is unlikely to help, but at this point, the only pitches that Story takes are ones that are likely to hit him if he swings.

I agree. Masa hasn’t done anything to help his case to stay in the lineup since little Anthony has been out. Then again Duran hasn’t done much either.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

1-I do think it's the smart move.  He played well last year, but he is 33, and skills do fall off quickly at that point.  But the smart thing is to give him 2-3 days off, followed by 2-3 weeks to prove himself.

2-That said, I am so pissed at him for demanding to speak with the FO about the Cora firing, that if he was DFAd tomorrow, I wouldn't think twice.  If I were Henry, I'd okay a meeting with him, and tell him that he was the one responsible for getting Cora fired in the first place.  Then kick him out and tell him to do his fracking job.

Disagree 100%. Story wasn’t the only one who had a discussion with LOWbres after Cora was fired.

[JoeBrady]

17 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

But Rafaela probably is better at infield defense than Story. The downgrade in OF defense may outweigh the better infield, but the infield gets more action.

I'm not really concerned Story's defense.  He's probably as good at SS as Raffy is at 2nd.

But beyond that, RA's defense in LF is not what I expected, though that might improve with experience.  As I've said before, if we had an .850 hitter without a spot to play, I'd be open to fitting the round peg in a square hole.  But just to get Masa's bat into the lineup?  No.

[JoeBrady]

23 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He's still a decent prospect for now. Just isn't ready today.

I'm slowly stepping back from the edge (so long as no one brings up Story's name again).

[Old Red]

21 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

But Rafaela probably is better at infield defense than Story. The downgrade in OF defense may outweigh the better infield, but the infield gets more action.

Story’s defense hasn’t been the reason the Red Sox are 28th in HR, and 27th in runs scored . The error by Story didn’t look good yesterday, but he wasn’t going to get the runner at 1B anyway IMO.

[JoeBrady]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Disagree 100%. Story wasn’t the only one who had a discussion with LOWbres after Cora was fired.

I get that from one perspective, but I'd have preferred to have Story say "It was my fault that Cora was fired".  In addition, I don't really get why Devers attitude got him traded, but Story's attitude doesn't get him fired.

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, JoeBrady said:

I get that from one perspective, but I'd have preferred to have Story say "It was my fault that Cora was fired".

He no doubt he had a hand it, but there would have been a Long line behind him saying the same thing.

[JoeBrady]

2 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Story’s defense hasn’t been the reason the Red Sox are 28th in HR, and 27th in runs scored . The error by Story didn’t look good yesterday, but he wasn’t going to get the runner at 1B anyway IMO.

I just posted the same.  Story's defense is nothing to write home about, but we could easily handle his glove if he reverted back to his .741 OPS from last year.

[Old Red]

Just now, JoeBrady said:

I just posted the same.  Story's defense is nothing to write home about, but we could easily handle his glove if he reverted back to his .741 OPS from last year.

Everything thing gets magnified when the team isn’t hitting, and losing, and closer to last place in the league than to first place.

[mvp 78]

21 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

1-I do think it's the smart move.  He played well last year, but he is 33, and skills do fall off quickly at that point.  But the smart thing is to give him 2-3 days off, followed by 2-3 weeks to prove himself.

2-That said, I am so pissed at him for demanding to speak with the FO about the Cora firing, that if he was DFAd tomorrow, I wouldn't think twice.  If I were Henry, I'd okay a meeting with him, and tell him that he was the one responsible for getting Cora fired in the first place.  Then kick him out and tell him to do his fracking job.

Great FO culture you got there Joe! 

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'm not really concerned Story's defense.  He's probably as good at SS as Raffy is at 2nd.

Rafaela is a 1 DRS in 200+ innings. That is not where Story is at right now. 

[JoeBrady]

Just now, Old Red said:

He no doubt he had a hand it, but there would have been a Long line behind him saying the same thing.

Not a long line.  It is still Story, Duran, Anthony, Crochet & Bello, though Duran and Bello are showing signs of life.  I've done this before, and it is not a particularly elegant analysis, but if Story, Duran & Anthony had the same OPS as they did last year, the RS would be #6 in OPS.

And if Bello & Crochet had the same ERA as last year, we would be 4th in ERA.

[JoeBrady]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Rafaela is a 1 DRS in 200+ innings. That is not where Story is at right now. 

Story is at -0- this year.  Weak last year, but generally a positive.

[moonslav59]

30 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'm not really concerned Story's defense.  He's probably as good at SS as Raffy is at 2nd.

But beyond that, RA's defense in LF is not what I expected, though that might improve with experience.  As I've said before, if we had an .850 hitter without a spot to play, I'd be open to fitting the round peg in a square hole.  But just to get Masa's bat into the lineup?  No.

If it's Masa's bat vs Story's that's a significant bump up.

If the infield defense improves by a little and the OF D gets worse, maybe it's a net plus- maybe.

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Story is at -0- this year.  Weak last year, but generally a positive.

That error yesterday is stuck in our minds, right now.

[notin]

41 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

1-I do think it's the smart move.  He played well last year, but he is 33, and skills do fall off quickly at that point.  But the smart thing is to give him 2-3 days off, followed by 2-3 weeks to prove himself.

2-That said, I am so pissed at him for demanding to speak with the FO about the Cora firing, that if he was DFAd tomorrow, I wouldn't think twice.  If I were Henry, I'd okay a meeting with him, and tell him that he was the one responsible for getting Cora fired in the first place.  Then kick him out and tell him to do his fracking job.

“Son, your mom and I are getting divorced, and we thought you should know - it’s your fault.”

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

That error yesterday is stuck in our minds, right now.

That the ball got through looked bad no doubt, but Story still wouldn’t have thrown the runner out at 1B.

[Old Red]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

If it's Masa's bat vs Story's that's a significant bump up.

If the infield defense improves by a little and the OF D gets worse, maybe it's a net plus- maybe.

Masa’s bat right now is not a big bump up, and Story has the history, and potential to get hot, and produce more than Masa although that wait may be getting shorter. 

[JoeBrady]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Great FO culture you got there Joe! 

As an accountant, I've always believed we should always be the calmest one on the room.  But I also don't think we need to be calm 100% of the time.  But if I need to speak with the president, I probably won't pick a time right after I screwed up.

[notin]

39 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Story’s defense hasn’t been the reason the Red Sox are 28th in HR, and 27th in runs scored . The error by Story didn’t look good yesterday, but he wasn’t going to get the runner at 1B anyway IMO.

His offense is a big part.  In the last 20 games, he has a .481 OPS and 1 RBI.  Hes one of three major non-contributors to tjis offense, alongside Duran and Durbin.  Duran has at least picked it up lately, and Durbin should be on the hot seat as well, but at least unlike Story, he has played elite defense.

Story has stayed cold and can’t field.  Time for some time off..

[notin]

2 hours ago, Old Red said:

Masa’s bat right now is not a big bump up, and Story has the history, and potential to get hot, and produce more than Masa although that wait may be getting shorter. 

Yoshida is getting on base at a .388 clip, despite the lack of XBH.  But he leads the team in this category.   Story has been the exact opposite with a team worst .236 OBP.

Lately the only time Story doesn’t make an out is when a groundball is hit in his direction…

[JoeBrady]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

“Son, your mom and I are getting divorced, and we thought you should know - it’s your fault.”

"Dad, I think we need about my allowance"

"Son, I'd love to talk to you, but maybe first explain why you're flunking half your classes despite me paying $23M for your tuition"

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, Old Red said:

That the ball got through looked bad no doubt, but Story still wouldn’t have thrown the runner out at 1B.

He would have tried to and the ball would have ended up in the camera well. 

[JoeBrady]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

His offense is a big part.  In the last 20 games, he has a .481 OPS and 1 RBI.  Hes one of three major non-contributors to tjis offense, alongside Duran and Durbin.  Duran has at least picked it up lately, and Durbin should be on the hot seat as well, but at least unlike Story, he has played elite defense.

Story has stayed cold and can’t field.  Time for some time off..

I thought about adding both Narvaez and Durbin to my analysis, but neither get paid enough to expect major contributions, and both are young enough to expect some inconsistencies.  And, as you said, defense counts.

And I am not writing off Story, but there has to be some limits.