A Realistic View at the 2026 Red Sox Part II

[oldtimer]

The Sox have many impactful players who could return before the year is out, Of those, Rutschman, Story and Kiner-Falafa seem closest. In addition Anthony, Crochett, Mead, Oviedo, Crawford and Houch might become available in Sept. Arias is also a dark horse for promotion.

With an unbelievably hot team now, who drops off the 26(27) man roster to accommodate any of these. Rutschman has a spot to fill, Story and Kiner-Falafa not so obvious. Anthony could be an Impact player and Mead was acquired to fill second base. 

It's a good problem to have but management needs to consider the disruption of a red hot team when returning guys from the injured list.

 

[Bellhorn04]

37 minutes ago, oldtimer said:

The Sox have many impactful players who could return before the year is out, Of those, Rutschman, Story and Kiner-Falafa seem closest. In addition Anthony, Crochett, Mead, Oviedo, Crawford and Houch might become available in Sept. Arias is also a dark horse for promotion.

With an unbelievably hot team now, who drops off the 26(27) man roster to accommodate any of these. Rutschman has a spot to fill, Story and Kiner-Falafa not so obvious. Anthony could be an Impact player and Mead was acquired to fill second base. 

It's a good problem to have but management needs to consider the disruption of a red hot team when returning guys from the injured list.

 

For some reason my confidence in Breslow and Tracy being able to deal with these things is pretty high right now. 🙂 

[jad]

3 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

If you can hit, you get to play, even at SS.  

Unless you're, you know, ,,, Yoshida.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

For some reason my confidence in Breslow and Tracy being able to deal with these things is pretty high right now. 🙂 

The lows were low. The highs are high. I like the group where it is right now. Once future moves are made? I'm not so sure! 

[mvp 78]

Just now, jad said:

Unless you're, you know, ,,, Yoshida.

Yup.

[moonslav59]

45 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Yeah, I'm not saying it's nailed on. Just that there is any chance and if finds it, I'd like his power threat and defence over Mona. 

I'm not enthusiastically pushing for it by any means.

I don't like Story's defense at SS, at all. I know Monasterio is apparently not very good, but Story was getting worse and worse, so I'm expecting continued decline on defense.

I do like his power. I mentioned he was at a 30 HR per /162 games over the second half of 2025. That and an .838 OPS is enough for me to keep him on the 40 over the winter, assuming no trade.

I'm not even sure Story can be net zero at 2B defense, but I'm willing to give him a chance over anyone but a healthy Mead.

That brings me to DH. Yoshida has been one of our best batters for 5-6 weeks, but Story could platoon with him and then play some 2B vs some RHPs. This also assumes Seigler is not on a hot streak. If he is, I'd make Story wait it out even if as the utility IF'er.

[Hitch]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

I don't like Story's defense at SS, at all. I know Monasterio is apparently not very good, but Story was getting worse and worse, so I'm expecting continued decline on defense.

I do like his power. I mentioned he was at a 30 HR per /162 games over the second half of 2025. That and an .838 OPS is enough for me to keep him on the 40 over the winter, assuming no trade.

I'm not even sure Story can be net zero at 2B defense, but I'm willing to give him a chance over anyone but a healthy Mead.

That brings me to DH. Yoshida has been one of our best batters for 5-6 weeks, but Story could platoon with him and then play some 2B vs some RHPs. This also assumes Seigler is not on a hot streak. If he is, I'd make Story wait it out even if as the utility IF'er.

Yeah same,I don't love it either. I'm only talking in comparison to Mona who scares the s*** out of me.

Arias performing again today. He's banging on that door.

 

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Yeah same,I don't love it either. I'm only talking in comparison to Mona who scares the s*** out of me.

Arias performing again today. He's banging on that door.

 

I've also said I'm not sold on Mona, but that sample size is over 350 PAs and growing longer and rising upwards.

Ride the train.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Everyone knows we have 2 gold glovers in the outfield but what I've really enjoyed is watching our infield play defense.  They make the tough play every night.  Contraras is a big reason for that, so many errors in the past were throwing errors and their previous first basemen never bailed out the guy who made the bad throw.  I know the SS's metrics are poor but I don't think he's so bad and the corners have been awesome.  Hard hit balls are scooped up all the time, so many good double plays are being turned.  Just a fun group to watch.  

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Everyone knows we have 2 gold glovers in the outfield but what I've really enjoyed is watching our infield play defense.  They make the tough play every night.  Contraras is a big reason for that, so many errors in the past were throwing errors and their previous first basemen never bailed out the guy who made the bad throw.  I know the SS's metrics are poor but I don't think he's so bad and the corners have been awesome.  Hard hit balls are scooped up all the time, so many good double plays are being turned.  Just a fun group to watch.  

yes indeed. Our pitching numbers look better, in part to better defense.

[UtahSox]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

I feel like IFK is done. I'd be surprised if there is room for him if a) this run keeps going, and b) we get all our guys back to fitness. So I'm not worried about that so much. 

The only SS we have who's been good at D is Cheng and he's down to stay now I imagine. 

Mona is not better than Story on D. If Mona hits and Story doesn't, there's no contest, it stays Mona. If Story gets in a groove there's also no contest.

Time will tell us which happens. Neither is sure. 

I'm not sure they're going to move Story do 2nd but it could happen. 

I’d forgotten about IKF… he’s gonna be “slow played” back to health, see if we have any injuries.. but I think it would take a lot to give him PT. 

Romy, IKF, Mead, Story, Monasterio, Seigler maybe Arias: a lot of right hand hitting MIF 

[moonslav59]

Just now, UtahSox said:

I’d forgotten about IKF… he’s gonna be “slow played” back to health, see if we have any injuries.. but I think it would take a lot to give him PT. 

Romy, IKF, Mead, Story, Monasterio, Seigler maybe Arias: a lot of right hand hitting MIF 

IKF was hot before going on the IL, but he has a long history of low offensive production.

I doubt he gets playing Time.