What Should Rob Refsnyder’s Role Be for the Red Sox in 2025?

With no Anthony or an addition like Grichuk on the opening day line-up, I'd say Ref is the LF platoon. This assumes Yoshida is healthy. Even if we add Grichuk/Laureano or Anthony to the roster, Ref should start every game vs LHPs, even if it means platooning Yoshida at DH.

I see our opening day OF configuration as such:

LF: Duran v R/ Ref v L

CF: Rafaela v R/ Duran v L

RF: Abreu v R/ Rafaela v L

(As you can see, Duran and RAF play FT, while Abreu and Ref platoon.)

If Yoshida is hurt, we might see Romy platoon with Abreu in RF and Ref DH or platoon DH with ____?

Hoping DH platoon.  Probably RF platoon, at least as it stands now.

Plus he can back up 1b in a pinch…

33 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

With no Anthony or an addition like Grichuk on the opening day line-up, I'd say Ref is the LF platoon. This assumes Yoshida is healthy. Even if we add Grichuk/Laureano or Anthony to the roster, Ref should start every game vs LHPs, even if it means platooning Yoshida at DH.

I see our opening day OF configuration as such:

LF: Duran v R/ Ref v L

CF: Rafaela v R/ Duran v L

RF: Abreu v R/ Rafaela v L

(As you can see, Duran and RAF play FT, while Abreu and Ref platoon.)

If Yoshida is hurt, we might see Romy platoon with Abreu in RF and Ref DH or platoon DH with ____?

Refsnyder played 163 innings in RF last year; Romy played 11.  It’s painfully obvious who Cora prefers.  
 

Im still holding out that another RHH OF with actual defensive skills enters the picture, but I expect no action on that front until the 60 day IL opens up…

22 minutes ago, notin said:

Refsnyder played 163 innings in RF last year; Romy played 11.  It’s painfully obvious who Cora prefers.  
 

Im still holding out that another RHH OF with actual defensive skills enters the picture, but I expect no action on that front until the 60 day IL opens up…

On away games, Ref in RF is fine with me. At home, I prefer someone/anyone esle.

I can't see what Cora did home and away, but my guess is Ref started more games in LF at Fenway than RF. On the road, it was likely flipped.

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He shouldn't play RF at Fenway. 

If Ref Man platoons any with Abreu he most likely will play RF at Fenway, or anywhere else IMO shouldn’t, or not. I don’t see Cora realigning the whole OF if Abreu isn’t playing as it stands now.

28 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If Ref Man platoons any with Abreu he most likely will play RF at Fenway, or anywhere else IMO shouldn’t, or not. I don’t see Cora realigning the whole OF if Abreu isn’t playing as it stands now.

You keep saying this, but Cora has been doing this, all along.

Last year at Fenway, Ref started 21 games in LF, and only 6 in RF, including 4 games in a row, when O'Neill went down AND Abreu was out, too. It's obvious that Cora rightfully avoids playing ref in Fenway's RF.

Conversely, in away games, Ref started 14 games in RF (my guess is that these were shorter RF or equal to LF is space.) He started 10 games on the road in LF.

Cora is not dumb, and he does not hesitate to move people around, even within a game. He jerked Rafaela between SS and CF, often. He moved DHam from SS to 2B quicker than he did Kike back to CF.

Nobody is saying playing Ref in LF at fenway park is asking for some big change from Cora. We are just suggesting he continue doing what he has been doing.

Now, the Devers to 1B idea is major and is asking for a major shift in game planning. This Ref idea is NOT!

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Who is playing RF and CF in this scenario? 

If it's Rafaela and Duran, I'd push Rafaela to RF and Duran to CF. 

Exactly. The only change is that with no O'Neill, we use Rafaela in RF, instead. There is not reason to think Cora will choose Ref.

BTW, O'nell started 56 gms in LF and 34 in RF, so there is more evidence that Cora does not mind shifting players to different corner OF slots, based on park and who else is playing or platooning with Abreu. O'neal also swapped corner OF slots within 28 different games.

Abreu started just 6 games vs a LH'd SP and 104 vs a RHP.

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Who is playing RF and CF in this scenario? 

If it's Rafaela and Duran, I'd push Rafaela to RF and Duran to CF. 

You keep saying what you would do. I on the other hand are posting what I think the Red Sox will Actually do. I don’t see Cora realigning the whole OF if Abreu doesn’t play, and, Ref  Man does, and Duran, and RAF Man are the other 2 OF.

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You keep saying this, but Cora has been doing this, all along.

Last year at Fenway, Ref started 21 games in LF, and only 6 in RF, including 4 games in a row, when O'Neill went down AND Abreu was out, too. It's obvious that Cora rightfully avoids playing ref in Fenway's RF.

Conversely, in away games, Ref started 14 games in RF (my guess is that these were shorter RF or equal to LF is space.) He started 10 games on the road in LF.

Cora is not dumb, and he does not hesitate to move people around, even within a game. He jerked Rafaela between SS and CF, often. He moved DHam from SS to 2B quicker than he did Kike back to CF.

Nobody is saying playing Ref in LF at fenway park is asking for some big change from Cora. We are just suggesting he continue doing what he has been doing.

Now, the Devers to 1B idea is major and is asking for a major shift in game planning. This Ref idea is NOT!

You keep saying Ref Man would play LF, and I say the Red Sox would play Ref Man in RF if Duran, and RAF Man was the other two OF. How many games did Duran play CF last year when RAF Man was also playing the OF too?

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He already does it though. He moves the players all over the field. 

Duran 105 G CF, 83 LF

Refsnyder 46 LF, 37 RF

Rafaela 87 CF, 82 SS, 10 2B, 4 3B, 1 RF

RAF Man played all of 3 innings in RF last year. RAF Man played SS as much as he did last year, because Story was hurt, and Cora played Raf Man there, because Cora thought he was the best option. Duran played CF when RAF Man was at SS. If EVERYONE is healthy those moves wouldn’t be needed.

28 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

We currently have 6 outfielders on the 40 man roster. Duran, rafeala, abreau, refsynder, Garcia and yoshida. 
1.) Garcia is not ready for major leagues and will start the year in the minors. 
2.) yoshida probably starts the year on the injured list. 
 

Duran, rafeala, abreau and refsynder is an acceptable outfield to start the year! 
 

the problem becomes if rafeala has to play regularly in the infield or refsynder or Duran has a regression year. 
 

with Sandoval and perales going to the 60 day DL, we do have spots open if Campbell or Anthony completely wows everybody in spring training! Or gets off to a fast start in Worcester 

Abreu should not start vs LHPs.

21 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

On away games, Ref in RF is fine with me. At home, I prefer someone/anyone esle.

I can't see what Cora did home and away, but my guess is Ref started more games in LF at Fenway than RF. On the road, it was likely flipped.

Anyone else?  Refsnyder isn’t a good outfielder, but he certainly isn’t the worst one in MLB.  And he’s probably better out there than Romy would be.

Romy is at best an emergency outfielder, best only deployed when the only other remaining options are pitchers, catchers, or just leaving it empty…

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Wrong.

We shall see. What you think, and what the Red Sox will actually do are most likely two different things. The Red Sox don’t make moves for defensive purposes as they have shown time, and time again, so I don’t know why you think they will now, so like I said  shall see.

52 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He already does it though. He moves the players all over the field. 

Duran 105 G CF, 83 LF

Refsnyder 46 LF, 37 RF

Rafaela 87 CF, 82 SS, 10 2B, 4 3B, 1 RF

I think most of Refsnyder’s time in LF was because Duran was covering CF while Rafaela played SS…

43 minutes ago, Old Red said:

RAF Man played all of 3 innings in RF last year. RAF Man played SS as much as he did last year, because Story was hurt, and Cora played Raf Man there, because Cora thought he was the best option. Duran played CF when RAF Man was at SS. If EVERYONE is healthy those moves wouldn’t be needed.

Yes, you further strengthened our position. Cora will move a player like Rafaela to SS, if needed.

Now, he is needed in RF vs LHPs.

Thanks.

1 minute ago, notin said:

I think most of Refsnyder’s time in LF was because Duran was covering CF while Rafaela played SS…

Cora could have played O'Neal in LF and Ref in RF at Fenway, but as far as I can see, he never did.

Most of ref's starts in RF at Fenway was during the time Abreu was ou injured.

It was obvious, Cora tried hard to avoid Ref in Fenway's RF. I doubt that changes, but he may end up there a handful of games, again.

13 minutes ago, notin said:

Anyone else?  Refsnyder isn’t a good outfielder, but he certainly isn’t the worst one in MLB.  And he’s probably better out there than Romy would be.

Romy is at best an emergency outfielder, best only deployed when the only other remaining options are pitchers, catchers, or just leaving it empty…

Rafaela in RF would be way better than Ref. Ref vs Romy is another question.

Duran in CF is no slouch.

Anyone who thinks Duran LF, Rafaela CF and Ref in RF at Fenway is a better defensive alignment than Ref-Duran-RAF is in La-La Land.

Rafaela hardly played RF, last year, because he wasn't needed there as much as he was at SS and CF.

We had O'Neal and Abreu for RF for over 110 games. The other 50 saw a mix of Ref and Abreu, with Abreu starting vs some LHPs, when Ref was in LF or DH'ing.

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

And you assume that you know everything the Sox will do. We shall see. 

He keeps saying Cora is not going to change things around, but if Cora does what he always does, he will flip people all over the place to get a better line-up and defensive alignment.

He rarely played Ref in Fenway's RF, so if he does not change his MO, then Ref will hardly play Fenway's RF, again in 2025.

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, you further strengthened our position. Cora will move a player like Rafaela to SS, if needed.

Now, he is needed in RF vs LHPs.

Thanks.

You thinking something is needed, and Cora thinking something is needed are two entirely different things, so if you think that strengthens your position that doesn’t surprise me at all. At the moment there is NO Injuries to make it any kind of need. Saying Ref Man should not play RF at Fenway didn’t come from Cora either. Need I remind you that MOST of your predictions, suggestions, opinions, or anything else you want to call them them don‘t happen.

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

And you assume that you know everything the Sox will do. We shall see. 

Just an opinion just like you Bub.