@MacCerullo
Today's #RedSox lineup vs. ATL, perhaps a preview of the Opening Day lineup?
Verdugo RF,
Devers 3B,
Turner 1B,
Yoshida LF,
Duvall CF,
Casas DH,
Arroyo 2B,
McGuire C,
K. Hernández SS,
Pivetta P
It's a shame that Duran sat around during the WBC rather than getting reps in the OF. It automatically pushes him to AAA.
Tapia and Alfaro have both played well this spring. Alfaro doesn't really have the skillset that the Sox are looking for in a player aside from owning a catcher's mitt. He has shown some versatility in the past and could technically play a 1B/LF/C/DH role, but that K rate is a little obscene. Tapia is fine, but arguably isn't much of an improvement from Refsnyder. Is it worth putting him on the roster and making the 40 man move? If they are moving someone else via trade, that is a more likely scenario to get them on the 40 man roster than straight up DFA'ing Ort.
I think Crawford probably has the higher ceiling than Winckowski. It's a little surprising as Crawford was unheralded in the system for many years and now they're relying on him to be the 6th man in the rotation.
This is from his SoxProspects page:
Summation: Projects as middle reliever. Ceiling of a high-quality swingman, capable of pitching in short or long relief outings with the occasional spot start as well. Has the potential for two above-average offerings in his fastball and curveball and a solid third pitch with his cutter, but command needs refinement. Combination of delivery and injury track record point towards him being best suited for a bullpen role.
He never ranked higher than 17th in the system.
Incorrect, unless you think Devin Williams and Ryan Pressley would fall that far. The strategy utilized by USA was to string together short starts and just run a bullpen train. That strategy worked whenever they didn't put Daniel Bard on the mound.
Also, here's Merrill Kelly's stats from last season:
200 IP
1.14 WHIP
177 K
3.37 ERA
Seems like he's a pretty good pitcher. He had about the same fWAR as Shane McClanahan, Joe Musgrove, Julio Urias and Gerritt Cole last season.
@tylermilliken_
Kutter Crawford has made the Opening Day rotation and will start the 4th game of the season.
He’s posted a 2.03 ERA this spring over 13.1 IP. 14 K. 0.98 WHIP.
@MacCerullo
Alex Cora tells reporters that Kutter Crawford will start the season in the rotation and will start the fourth game on April 3 against the Pirates. Winckowski will open the season in the bullpen.
@RobBiertempfel
Catcher Kevin Plawecki’s locker is empty at LECOM Park. Pirates have not yet announced it, but he was told he will not make the team. He has an opt-out if he’s not on roster by Saturday.
I know Goodrum doesn't really matter, but he had a 50% k rate with the Astros last season and has a miserable 45% k rate this spring. Just let anyone else in WOO play SS. Goodrum can't help the big club in any meaningful way. I'd rather go with Arroyo at SS and Valdez at 2B if I had to.
Hmm, well his monthly stats will be skewed a little as he was really good in August/September in 2020 and the 2nd half of 2021. He was basically benched at the end of 2022 and sent to WOO.
Sox are back in the win column today.
Winckowski 4 - 2 ER
Bleier, Brasier, Sherriff all 1 - 0 ER
Dalbec, Alfaro, RHern HR's
Goodrum - 3 more K's. (23 K's, 45% k rate) RELEASE HIM
In his emails he derided Steve Cohen as being bad for the game. Never once has he complained about the smaller market teams pocketing all this money. That is a bigger concern for the game IMO!
But yes, he of course said those exact words. He says them every morning when he looks into the mirror and forgets that he can no longer see his reflection.
This is his bottom line moonsLav:
@BNightengale
Top 5 MLB team values per Forbes:
Yankees:$7.1 billion
Dodgers:$4.8
RedSox:$4.5
Cubs:$4.1
SFGiants:$3.7
Top 5 profits(2022)
Mariners:$83.8M
SFGiants:$74.9
RedSox:$71.6
Orioles:$64.7
A's:$62.2
These profits are just Operating Profits too, it excludes things like all of the real estate money that he makes off the land around Fenway.
@MacCerullo
The Forbes valuation rankings also paint an infuriating picture for several of MLB's small spending clubs. Among the top finishers in 2022 operating income:
Orioles: $64.7m
Athletics: $62.2m
Pirates: $51.5m
All three had total payrolls of under $60 million last season.
John Henry is a proponent of these teams not spending their money and the owners pocketing it.
@SoxProspects
Per the MiLB transactions, the Red Sox are making some cuts from minor league camp. RHPs Blake Loubier, Bryan Lucas, and Osvaldo De La Rosa, and IF BJ Vela have been released.
Loubier got $500k as a 13th-Rd pick in '19. He topped out at 48th (7/20) in the #SP60. Lucas was ranked once, Aug.' 19, at 58. De La Rosa (not to be confused with Luis) peaked at 51st the month prior. All reached Low-A.
Vela spent 2 yrs at the complex after being drafted in '21.