A Realistic View at the 2026 Red Sox Part II

[moonslav59]

9 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

The offense is already okay.  We are 9th in OPS.  We might be 4th with Mead and Anthony.

You do know we will never have 100% health.

Mead & Anthony return- maybe 1-2 other top batters go out.

With pitching, it's even more probable.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Realistic thread final word on Ceddanne's catch that was in his glove the entire time he rolled over:

I went ballistic because there was no doubt in my mind about two things: 1. the New York employees who live and work in NY at the replay review would not overturn the call; and 2. in this scoreless game, both baserunners would immediately score.

 

 

[drewski6]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Would the offense be okay with Anthony, Story and Mead?

1. L Anthony DH

2. R Mead 2B

3. L Abreu RF

4. R Contreras 1B

5. S Rutschman C

6. R Rafaela 2B

7. R Durbin 3B

8. L Duran LF/ R White or Jones LF

9. R Story SS/ S Sogard SS

  

If Jones hits the lefties the way he has been and Duran gives us his 2025 OBP + 2026 power and playing decent defense when hes out there , and we get 2025 Anthony - more than okay. Significantly more than okay.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

If Jones hits the lefties the way he has been and Duran gives us his 2025 OBP + 2026 power and playing decent defense when hes out there , and we get 2025 Anthony - more than okay. Significantly more than okay.

To many ifs, especially the Duran ones.

[JoeBrady]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Mead & Anthony return- maybe 1-2 other top batters go out.

That happens to every team.  But Mead and Anthony should be substantially better than those they are replacing.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

That happens to every team.  But Mead and Anthony should be substantially better than those they are replacing.

That's assuming Abreu and Willson don't get hurt and "replaced."

Or Ceddanne & Durbin, who would hurt the O and D.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

That's assuming Abreu and Willson don't get hurt and "replaced."

Or Ceddanne & Durbin, who would hurt the O and D.

I'm thinking in terms of what we have today, and what our projections are going forward.  We just lost Contreras and I'd still bet on an above-average OPS in September,

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'm thinking in terms of what we have today, and what our projections are going forward.  We just lost Contreras and I'd still bet on an above-average OPS in September,

Mead is not "today" and probably is done for the year.

I was talking 2027. With a healthy Mead and Anthony and other top bats not out, we'll be fine, but counting on 100% health for the best bats is not a sound strategy.

I'd like to see us add another bat, but our bench does look pretty solid. It's not going to be super urgent- like replacing Gray, Early and Sandoval's innings.

Healthy 9

1. Anthony DH

2. Mead 2B

3. Abreu RF

4. Contreras 1B

5. Rutschman C

6. Rafaela CF

7. Durbin 3B

8. Duran LF

9. Arias/Story SS

_________________________

Bench/AAA depth:

C: Wong, Gasper, Jo Garcia

1B: Romy, Gasper, Casas

2B: Story, Sogard, Seigler, Monasterio, Rodgers

SS: Story/Arias, Sogard, Monasterio, Cheng

3B: Monasterio, Sogard, Seigler, Eaton, Romero

LF: (Anthony) Jones

CF: (Duran) White

RF: Campbell, Eaton

DH: Campbell, Romy/Casas, Brannon

 

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I was talking 2027.

I'd bet on a top-10 offense and wouldn't think twice about it.  I'd bet on a .700+ from the top 8 hitters, and Story has a decent shot at a .700 as well.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd bet on a top-10 offense and wouldn't think twice about it.  I'd bet on a .700+ from the top 8 hitters, and Story has a decent shot at a .700 as well.

I've been raving about the outlook of a healthy 2027 offense.

What are we disagreeing on?

[moonslav59]

This might blow some minds:

AUGUST top Sox OPS:

1.671 Gasper (was demoted and returned)

1.556 Anthony (fresh off the IL)

1.389 Rogers (DFA'd)

1.284 Jones (only earned 19 ABs)

1.250 Story (Yes, the one from Story Land)

.971 Abreu (Okay, someone we'd expect might be top 6.)

.892 Yoshida (on IL)

.801 Sogard (like the 5th string 2B/SS)

.789 Duran (like the guy many wanted DFA'd)

.772 Seigler (like the guy just demoted)

.726 Durbin (like the guy batting .5 something in May.)

No Willson, Rafaela, Rut or Mono in top 10!