Is this 2026 Red Sox team…CONTENDERS or PRETENDERS?

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Crochet hasn’t even thrown a baseball yet. He’ll have to do that, then a long toss for a bit, and if no setbacks, maybe tick it up a little. He will have been out for a few months and people think he’s coming back a ball of fire? He’s got to ramp that arm back up again like spring training. Same with Early, who I believe is behind that’s timeline. Hopefully that forearm isn’t more than they think.. Tolle and Bennett will be non factors for the playoffs due to IP limits. Bello is Bello and Sandoval? Sure thing. 
I really like our chances in 2027 and beyond. But let’s be realistic about our rotation.we would need a starter and a big bat and hope to God Crochet can make it back AND pitch like an Ace. We also have a couple more game without Suarez as long as that groin heals good. 
there are team already better than us who will definitely be upgrading as well. I’m just not sure this is our year to sell the farm to go for it. 

I agree that there just seems like too many balls in the air this year. Crochet, the IP limits, Anthony, plus future injuries that we aren't projecting right now. Plus, being all in for a below .500 team just because the AL is weak seems kinda ridiculous to me. Instead of overpaying at the deadline, just make a fair trade in the offseason. 

[southpaw777]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

 

Give him a couple more years. We’ll end with someone better. 

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Give him a couple more years. We’ll end with someone better. 

Maybe, but the calls to send him to 1b are way too premature. My guess is he's in the OF when Abreu and Duran are elsewhere. Most evaluators have had him as average to above average. The Red Sox see him as having the ability to be the everyday RFer. 

[drewski6]

19 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I agree that there just seems like too many balls in the air this year. Crochet, the IP limits, Anthony, plus future injuries that we aren't projecting right now. Plus, being all in for a below .500 team just because the AL is weak seems kinda ridiculous to me. Instead of overpaying at the deadline, just make a fair trade in the offseason. 

Depends on whats available.  Superstar bat? Cant overpay.  I dont mean like a 32 yr old on a down season. Sometimes superstars get moved at the deadline. It happens.  If thats a possibiity , Im in.  But like you, Im heistant to pay big prices for serviceable rentals.

But Id pay like Mayer and Phillips for Pena.  Hes here for 1.5 years and hes a legit difference maker and Im just not worried about things like but what are we going to do with story and masa?!?!! oh the horror.  I think chasing efficiency and not fixing your team because you are trying to scrape value out of fallen investments is like the literal definition of chasing losers.  

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Maybe, but the calls to send him to 1b are way too premature. My guess is he's in the OF when Abreu and Duran are elsewhere. Most evaluators have had him as average to above average. The Red Sox see him as having the ability to be the everyday RFer. 

RF at Fenway sounds like more injuries.  I want him at DH or 1b if hes going to be our best hitter to protect him.  LF defense is not important and thats why Duran and Anthony are top 10 because other teams have like  a soto there (and i wish we did).  CF defense = very important but cedanne not going anywhere.  Id rather just keep Abreu in RF and let Anthony DH or 1b at least until he proves he can play 100 games in a row without getting hurt.

I dont think roman cant play rf , im just sick of losing entire seasons (thats a stretch but not a crazy one) to his injuries and i want to bubble wrap him.

[drewski6]

rf at fenway? injury trap!!

ra at fenway? bubble wrap!!

sausage-pep at fenway? messy crap!!  

Love me a sausage and peppers and ill get one but my nightmare is having to s*** at fenway.

[notin]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Maybe, but the calls to send him to 1b are way too premature. My guess is he's in the OF when Abreu and Duran are elsewhere. Most evaluators have had him as average to above average. The Red Sox see him as having the ability to be the everyday RFer. 

Abreu elsewhere?

[drewski6]

one of my nightmares*

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Depends on whats available.  Superstar bat? Cant overpay.  I dont mean like a 32 yr old on a down season. Sometimes superstars get moved at the deadline. It happens.  If thats a possibiity , Im in.  But like you, Im heistant to pay big prices for serviceable rentals.

But Id pay like Mayer and Phillips for Pena.  Hes here for 1.5 years and hes a legit difference maker and Im just not worried about things like but what are we going to do with story and masa?!?!! oh the horror.  I think chasing efficiency and not fixing your team because you are trying to scrape value out of fallen investments is like the literal definition of chasing losers.  

Petriello today said "the Astros have a trio of interesting right-handed names in Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña, but the buzz around them is far more of a buyer than a seller." 

Guys he thought could be available: Herrera (STL), Ward (BAL), Jeffers (MIN), Ramons (SFG), Mead (WSH), France (SDP), Thomas (KC), Steer (CIN), Adell (LAA). I don't know if any of those guys knock my socks off. The price would still be high just to obtain them.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

RF at Fenway sounds like more injuries.  I want him at DH or 1b if hes going to be our best hitter to protect him.  LF defense is not important and thats why Duran and Anthony are top 10 because other teams have like  a soto there (and i wish we did).  CF defense = very important but cedanne not going anywhere.  Id rather just keep Abreu in RF and let Anthony DH or 1b at least until he proves he can play 100 games in a row without getting hurt.

I dont think roman cant play rf , im just sick of losing entire seasons (thats a stretch but not a crazy one) to his injuries and i want to bubble wrap him.

His injuries had to do with him swinging the bat, not playing the field. That's not going to change even if he's wrapped in bubble wrap and playing DH. 

[drewski6]

Just now, notin said:

Abreu elsewhere?

yes theyve been on that kick lately.  Im not wit it.  If I was to rank our problems from 1-30, Abreu wouldnt make the list.  they say hes streaky and we can do better, I say sure we can do better , let me know if corbin carroll jordan walker or james wood are available (impossible to overpay for any of those three)

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Abreu elsewhere?

You think they'll extend him? They haven't yet. He's a streaky hitter who has one strong month and then is just fine the rest of the year. Wouldn't be surprised if he's gone at the end of ARB seasons or sooner. 

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Petriello today said "the Astros have a trio of interesting right-handed names in Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña, but the buzz around them is far more of a buyer than a seller." 

Guys he thought could be available: Herrera (STL), Ward (BAL), Jeffers (MIN), Ramons (SFG), Mead (WSH), France (SDP), Thomas (KC), Steer (CIN), Adell (LAA). I don't know if any of those guys knock my socks off. The price would still be high just to obtain them.

wait , which one is spencer steer and which one is sal stewart?

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

yes theyve been on that kick lately.  Im not wit it.  If I was to rank our problems from 1-30, Abreu wouldnt make the list.  they say hes streaky and we can do better, I say sure we can do better , let me know if corbin carroll jordan walker or james wood are available (impossible to overpay for any of those three)

It's not about "doing better." It's about them not re-signing him when his ARB years are over. They have had zero conversations about extending him so far. Have you wondered why? 

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

His injuries had to do with him swinging the bat, not playing the field. That's not going to change even if he's wrapped in bubble wrap and playing DH. 

right but if hes a guy who tends to get hurt, rf isnt going to help.  2 injuries in 2 years swinging doesnt mean he cant get hurt in the field.

[drewski6]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

It's not about "doing better." It's about them not re-signing him when his ARB years are over. They have had zero conversations about extending him so far. Have you wondered why? 

Not really, no.

[mvp 78]

Just now, drewski6 said:

wait , which one is spencer steer and which one is sal stewart?

Sal Stewart is the young LHB that mashes. Steer is the older RHB who pulls the hell out of the ball. 

[drewski6]

im trying to bait and switch the reds....theyll be like wait...how did us dangling spencer steer turn into us discussing elly and ill be like hit this blunt.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

right but if hes a guy who tends to get hurt, rf isnt going to help.  2 injuries in 2 years swinging doesnt mean he cant get hurt in the field.

Did he get hurt because he played in the field. Yes or no? 

[notin]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

wait , which one is spencer steer and which one is sal stewart?

Stewart is the one with an Italian accent.  Steer is the one that eats raw meat and speaks in monosyllabic grunts…

[southpaw777]

14 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Depends on whats available.  Superstar bat? Cant overpay.  I dont mean like a 32 yr old on a down season. Sometimes superstars get moved at the deadline. It happens.  If thats a possibiity , Im in.  But like you, Im heistant to pay big prices for serviceable rentals.

But Id pay like Mayer and Phillips for Pena.  Hes here for 1.5 years and hes a legit difference maker and Im just not worried about things like but what are we going to do with story and masa?!?!! oh the horror.  I think chasing efficiency and not fixing your team because you are trying to scrape value out of fallen investments is like the literal definition of chasing losers.  

I’d make that deal.

[drewski6]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Sal Stewart is the young LHB that mashes. Steer is the older RHB who pulls the hell out of the ball. 

well despite being lefty heavy, i think sal stewart is the one i want.  He also can play many positions serviceably unlike steer who is like a lf/1b but really a dh and kind of fading. Unless hes resurging.  I use to follow the reds because i love pitching with hunter greene in the show.  Cuz hes got a sexy pitch mix.  But I had to take a break from the show.  Everyone is throwing up and in sinkers and i hate when everyone is just doing the same thing. Its also why I stopped playing magic the gathering.  You get to the professional level and everyone is just running the same deck they googled meta deck right now and its laaaaaaaame

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Did he get hurt because he played in the field. Yes or no? 

im jewish , we dont do yes or no, every question is met with either a long-azz pontification or one of those "let me answer your question with a question" jobs.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

I’d make that deal.

wasnt mine cant take credit.

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

Stewart is the one with an Italian accent.  Steer is the one that eats raw meat and speaks in monosyllabic grunts…

what kind of italian accent?  because the stereotypical italian accent with a lot of eh's and oh's and goombaaaa's is really a Sicilian accent

[notin]

Just now, drewski6 said:

what kind of italian accent?  because the stereotypical italian accent with a lot of eh's and oh's and goombaaaa's is really a Sicilian accent

Think North End.  And he can talk quite well without hand gestures.

I don’t think he’s even Italian and it’s probably some other accent.  But the only way to tell is to go to his house and see how much he yells from room to room…

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Think North End.  And he can talk quite well without hand gestures.

I don’t think he’s even Italian and it’s probably some other accent.  But the only way to tell is to go to his house and see how much he yells from room to room…

Yeah, or by how often he goes to "Mas" for dinner.  

[notin]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Yeah, or by how often he goes to "Mas" for dinner.  

I am married to an Italian woman who, if she was reading this, would laugh out loud right before telling me “thats not funny!”

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

well despite being lefty heavy, i think sal stewart is the one i want.  He also can play many positions serviceably unlike steer who is like a lf/1b but really a dh and kind of fading. Unless hes resurging.  I use to follow the reds because i love pitching with hunter greene in the show.  Cuz hes got a sexy pitch mix.  But I had to take a break from the show.  Everyone is throwing up and in sinkers and i hate when everyone is just doing the same thing. Its also why I stopped playing magic the gathering.  You get to the professional level and everyone is just running the same deck they googled meta deck right now and its laaaaaaaame

Sox aren't getting Sal Stewart though. At least be reasonable in the ask.

[moonslav59]

42 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

His injuries had to do with him swinging the bat, not playing the field. That's not going to change even if he's wrapped in bubble wrap and playing DH. 

Of course it can change. Players are not always doomed to repeat the same injuries. Look at Sale: he has a new one every year.