mvp 78

DD is lamenting the lack of a cleanup hitter.

FanGraphs has a good article on the Sox's woes today. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/crochets-struggles-are-just-the-start-of-bostons-problems/ Some highlights: Crochet’s average four-seam fastball velocity is down 0.5 mph, and he’s reduced his use of the pitch in favor of his sinker. But even more noticeable is his change in arm angle, which was as high as 56 degrees in 2021, when he was a full-time reliever. It’s dropped from an average of 35 degrees last year to 31, and while it’s cost him less than an inch of movement in any plane with regards to any of his offerings, I wonder if it’s cost him deception as well. Our two pitch modeling systems see declines in both his stuff and command/location... This is Gray’s fourth trip to the IL since the start of 2022 due to a right hamstring strain. Fortunately in the other three (two in 2022, one in ’24), he averaged just 17 days on the sidelines, and this sounds similar. “I threw that last 3-2 pitch, and I felt a grab in my right hamstring,” Gray said afterwards. “It’s something that I have felt before. In the moment, I kind of knew what it was. I knew I needed to at least throw a warm-up pitch before I felt comfortable continuing.” In games where their starter has pitched at least six innings, the Red Sox are 8-0, but in anything shorter, they’re now 1-15, with Gray’s abbreviated start the only one they’ve won. League-wide, teams are 168-79 (a .680 winning percentage) when a starter goes six, and 200-289 (.409) when falling short. The short starts have taxed a bullpen that was supposed to be among the best... but has instead been rather shaky. Closer Aroldis Chapman and top setup man Garrett Whitlock have been fine, but their other higher-leverage righties, Greg Weissert and Zack Kelly, have scuffled. The unit’s 3.56 ERA ranks a respectable 10th in the majors, but they’re 24th in FIP (4.60) and WAR (-0.1), 25th in home run rate (1.35 per nine), and 24th in xERA (4.60). Regarding that last stat, in very small samples somehow nine of the 13 relievers they’ve used have double-digit barrel rates, with Chapman, Weissert and Whitlock all at 13.6% or above. While they strike out enough hitters to help offset that, not all of Boston’s other relievers do. For now it will suffice to say that that the team is hitting a combined .226/.310/.333, ranking dead last in the majors in slugging percentage — how does a team playing in Fenway Park even do that? — and 28th in wRC+ (81). In light of those struggles, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s major roster construction decisions — trading Rafael Devers last year, letting Alex Bregman depart as a free agent and replacing him with the much less powerful Durbin, holding onto the glut of outfielders instead of using the surplus to upgrade the lineup elsewhere — don’t look any better. But starting pitching was supposed to be this team’s strength, and instead it’s just another reason the Red Sox are running last.

Ben - 2012-15 DD - 2016-19 Bloom - 2020-23 Breslow - 2024-? My guess is Breslow gets another offseason to fix his mess. Pulling the plug after 3 years would be a nasty bit of business for Henry unless he has an internal candidate.

He hasn't stolen 60 in a year in MiLB before, but he'll steal 40 more in MLB while getting on base less vs better catchers? Ok.

Bohm has been horrible for a long time and it's not looking better this year. Just saw a video of Vientos running through his coach's stop sign at third. He'd fit in well here.

Give me a 3-5 WAR me first guy over who they have put on the field so far. That last guy received his share of unfair criticisms and still does.

Bennett has an 0.86 ERA in 5 starts in AAA. What else do you want him to do? He has 2 more options after this year. In his last option year, Perales is struggling with a 5.06 ERA in 4 starts. Seems like a good trade to me.

That's less than AZ asked for over the winter.

Home Runs: Boston 13 Opponents 30 Just wait until the weather heats up for the opposition!

Nats say no IMO. Woods still has 5 years of control and is CHEAP.

Fire Fatse now. Cora is going to sink with this season. I think they'll keep tinkering with the lineup until the guys start regressing to norms.

I think what STL is doing right now is the right move. Will it work out? IDK. You need to acquire the right prospects and supplement them with good FA additions.

Making a 22 year old the face of the franchise (many people did this before he reached MLB) wasn't fair to him. This goes back to the FO/Ownership running with the Big Three and buying on the highest outcomes for them years ago.

There isn't an ideal inhouse solution.

Roman and what for James Wood?

Cora said that Anthony will be out again tonight.

They have to get rid of somebody in the OF rotation. It just doesn't work to have 5 starters unless you move Rafaela to 2b. Rotating these guys has impacted how they've played on the field. It's not as simple as what was posted in the offseason "Cora will figure it out" because we've all seen how it's looked so far. It's also not "they have too many great players." They don't have the right roster to do this mix and match nonsense. Duran isn't a guy that will do well if he's sitting. Mayer needs to learn on the job and won't learn by sitting. If they don't trade anyone, they need to move Rafaela to 2b and bench Story/Durbin.

This team doesn't do wholesale rebuilds or firings. FSG won't sell.

Trevor Story is the ultimate stat padder. But why would you say this 17 RBI guy is bad?

What would a 778 OPS (10 singles, 0 XBH, 278 SLG) LHB OFer do for this team?

Casas - 60 day IL

SP, SP, CL, 1B, 2B, DH

They stole a bunch of bases last year. They built this team with speed and guys who get on base. Why not use that speed? Turn a bb into a 2b?

He's only hit 5th once. He did bat 2nd in 5 straight games.