cp176

It’s going to be interesting to see what happens. When Mayer went down, as was previously mentioned, I was surprised they didn’t bring Grissom up just to give him a shot. I really hope the “need for a backup catcher” doesn’t pick up any steam. given a chance to play, I think that Wong would hit. I’m pretty happy with this team overall but they really could use a bigger bat in that lineup. Diaz? Everybody wants and needs pitching for sure but making a big time costly trade for anyone right now might not be such a good idea.

Ty - As I’ve watched them, I think that it is obvious that they are a special group. Might not win a World Series just yet, but they won’t quit.

I have enjoyed watching this team. They are young and resilient. Sometimes I don’t think that they are as good as they look. I just think that something very special is at work here. With respect to trading any player on this roster who can hit just a little bit, I think would be the wrong decision unless he is replaced by someone who hits better - note I didn’t say pitches. It is sad that Devers really did choose to not be a part of this team - and I do think that it was his choice plus I’m not at all sad that he is gone. I would love to see that certain top of the rotation guy or the next best thing brought in but not at the expense of this current roster. What I would really like to see is a real professional hitter brought in to play first base. The kind of guy I would want though I don’t think exists. Someone who could care less about exit velocity and all of the rest of the analytical ways for a hitter to face a pitcher. Maybe someone who just hits the ball hard and hates to strike out. Oh by the way I would like to see Bregman signed for whatever. He like us and we like him. His type of real leadership is too valuable to lose.

We all know that this team as is isn’t going to win a WS but I am sick of all the potential trade rumors. We have been fleeced by so many trades over the years that it is time to at least pretend that we deal from a position of strength. Trading either Duran or Abreu means we lose offense. Not good when you have a team that needs offense. I get that everybody needs pitching but trading Tolle just seems foolish. He’s young, big and strong. We need pitchers like him. I don’t know what they will or won’t do but I really hope that we don’t get jacked again.

Thanks Kimmi.

Very very true.

If you think that I’m the guy dismissing him as “just a backup catcher”, you are wrong. I like Connor Wong and do not think that dreaming about what another backup catcher might have done, makes any sense at all. A problem there does not exist regardless of what everybody’s metrics analytics and statistics might suggest. He is a hard worker and fits in just fine with this team.,

He is a backup catcher. He gets a few starts here and there. He keeps the ball in front of him. He does his job as a (say it again)backup catcher. When you have a backup catcher and you think a backup catcher is any kind of primary need, then I guess we will just agree to disagree. lol lol lol

I don’t mind being the outlier. I think a backup catcher is nonsense. Wong is fine and will continue to be fine. Analytics and metrics be damned. There looks like there might be just one player that could possibly be traded but I know that I won’t really like it - Duran plus lesser prospects for pitching.

Enjoy your visit up here.

I agree entirely with respect to Mayer. I’m flummoxed how it could have even been a discussion point about which of these two guys was going to be optioned back to Worcester. Mayer should start play and stay.

I think so as well. We know we have an outfield that is slightly over crowded but unlike most teams, it looks crowded with really good players. Relief help makes sense. The only quality player that I guess I could see dangled out there might be Chapman.

Lots of talk here about who to trade, positions of weakness and how to fill them. I’m not sure that I would trade anybody for anybody right now. Personally I don’t any problem at all with the way first base is being covered and I certainly don’t see a backup catcher as a need at all. Wong is fine. Pitching I guess so. Everybody could use pitching. I like both Duran and Abreu in Red Sox uniforms as well next year. I also am anxious to see Dobbins again hopefully soon. I’m beginning to like this team and hope we don’t get fleeced in any deals that might be made. Some times the best trade is no trade at all. Cora is making good money to figure out how to get these players playing time.

Hey glad we are winning and all for sure but cannot and likely will not understand not playing Mayer regardless of who is pitching and whether they are throwing with the right or left arm.

I just want to see the best players on the field.

hey guess I’ll just have to continue to believe that Cora is an average manager. Playing anyone at third other than Mayer while Bregman rehabs just seems silly . Just my opinion. Now before this turns into me being another one who wants Cora, gone, let it be proclaimed that I am not. On one of the poorest defensive teams in all of baseball, Mayer gives you just a little bit of security in the infield.

I think his defense alone should give him a very long leash. Pretty sure that he will hit. I’m not sure anyone is holding him back, I just like seeing him on the field as opposed to the dugout.

It would take an incredible deal for us I think to move either Duran or Abreau. When you need a power bat, trading Abreau doesn’t make much sense to me. I like Duran and what he brings to us as well. Wish his strikeout rate was lower for sure. If Dobbins comes back healthy, with Fitts we will have two big, strong, young right handers good to go. At some point Hamilton is the odd man out. Watson would become my new Hamilton. By the way, I’d play Mayer everyday. This team is growing on me. I like their youth and the energy that comes with it

If Dobbins comes back healthy, we’ll have to big strong right arms good to go with both him and Fitts.

Got to admit that I do like Eaton but not playing Mayer against both righties and lefties is just silly. We need his defense and given half a real chance , he’ll hit lefties. Eaton would become my new Hamilton.

Anytime Mayer isn’t in the lineup, you are hurting the team defensively.

Hamilton at second isn’t any kind of long term answer for us but I’d rather see him there while Bregman prepares to come back as opposed to mixing and matching and experimenting to try to find an answer that temporarily just doesn’t exist. Until Bregman returns I’d leave Mayer at third and play Hamilton daily at second base. When Bregman returns, looks like Mayer goes to second. I’m anxious to see how that infield shapes up then. Leave Toro at first. I’d just like to see some consistency for awhile.

I agree with you about who they might have brought in but at that point I might have brought anybody in.

And I’m ok with all of this. With respect to Cora, I have never argued for his firing. I actually think that his strength is in dealing with his players on a day to day basis. That strength in my estimation is reason enough to keep him. I believe in consistency in coaching. I just have a problem understanding his basic coaching philosophies. Maybe because I did coach for a very long time, that thought is just too important to me. I truly have a hard time just being a fan when I watch any game. I constantly second guessed and hindsiighted myself which I think is important for growth. If you think that you are right all the time, I doubt that you are going to grow much regardless of your profession. One thing that we can certainly agree on is that we love the Red Sox. I actually like this team as badly as I think they execute some of the most basic fundamentals of the game.

There is no question about that . The good ones question themselves. I think that Cora’s best skills are with handling and supporting his players. That is in fact a very important piece of coaching.