moonslav59

That pen looked fine, on paper, in the spring and even early summer, but it just goes to show you how fickle RP'ers can be. I hope this "good on paper" pen does through as expected. We will likely really need it to do so.

There must have been 2 dozen second round picks traded away.

I wasn't just talking the playoffs. ERA 2nd Half WHIP 4.57 Kimbrell 1.20 4.50 Kelly 1.65 6.41 Barnes 1.63 4.38 Workman 1.46 5.03 Hembree 1.32 SEPT 8.31 Kelly 1.96 7.36 Thornburg 2.18 6.48 Workman 1.68 5.68 Hembree 0.63 5.06 Barnes 1.68 3.86 Kimbrell 0.75 2.31 Brasier 0.86

I'd be okay adding another pitcher to the 40, like Fulmer, but we can only have 13 on the 26, so he'd just take the place of a pitcher. We still need the 13th everyday player, and there are several choices on the 40 already. I never said Godorum was a lock. I do think he offers the best profile of a SS, and yes, that is our biggest need in this context, assuming Mondesi is not ready, day one.

My post did make it sound like I was calling out those who really bashed our pen (and GM for allowing it to happen.) The pen did suck. Having to move Houck and then Whitlock really hurt. The piggy back idea sucked. Not just choosing a guy to be the closer was a mistake. I thought Whitlock or Houck might have done fine in that tradition role. We'll never know. I think having a much stronger pen should help a lot. With pens, it's always a bit of a dice role, anyway. Was the 2021 pen on paper, really better than 2022? The 2018 pen sucked, at the end. We still won.

Yes, I mentioned that, but the talk was about who takes Story's slot on the 40, and perhaps the same guy on the 26. We need MI depth, especially if Mondesi starts the season on the bench or IL.

One major issue with our depth was that so many SP'ers all got hurt at the same time. I think Kike and Story missed the same time, a lot, so it messed up the depth charts, in that sense. Surely, depth was a major reason, too, and in many ways, I feel that was the first issue Bloom addressed, when he took over- building up the bottom of the 40 and farm depth. It's hard to build a rotation of 12 guys on a tight budget.

IMO, it was way out in front of any other weak area, in terms of comments and criticism, and for good reason. Some were very specific about not having a closer or not defining one and sticking with him. Note" I said "main reason" not only reason.

Zippity-Jacko!

Yes, that's why I'm seriously wondering how notin has Dalbec ahead of Goodrum, or even Valdez or Hamilton for the 26th slot. True, Goodrum needs to be added to the 40, first, so I get that, but going into opening day with just Kike and Arroyo as MI'ers with Dalbec and Wong as their back-ups is more than scary. If Mondesi id ready, I'm fine with keeping Goodrum off the 40 or Valdez in AAA, but I don't want Dalbec and Wong as our immediate 2B depth. I don't like Arroyo at SS, either, at all. Maybe for one game.

One thing I'm wondering about is the pen and how all the fans who said not having a good pen was the main reason we sucked will react, if they do well and we still suck.

At 2B? Plus, we have to move Arroyo to SS, if Kike gets hurt or needs a rest. You really want a middle IF of Arroyo at SS and Dalbec at 2B for more than 1 game?

I have high hopes, but I also realize we could easily end up under .500, even with decent health. I like this team more than 2022's.

I listened to the SP podcast. http://news.soxprospects.com/2023/02/podcast-ep-273-one-where-we-talk-about.html They spoke of how the farm people are basically the same people as under DD. They spoke of Bloom's trades and felt like we should not have expected great returns on guys like Moreland, Vaz and other, and that the Betts trade was severely hampered by including Price. (Downs missing "hurts a lot.") The Beni trade was more about quantity than quality- called in "underwhelming." They seem to feel Bloom has done okay with trades, overall. On Ryan Fernandez moving up: they reacted to feedback they heard on Rule 5 possibilities. On RHern dropping- passing through waivers showed he has very little ML value. They spoke of Goodrum is needed for middle IF depth. Hamilton is not ready. They wondered if Mondesi is only going to miss a few games, maybe they roll with Hamilton or have Wong get reps at 2B. Valdez will get a lot of playing time in ST, but he needs to earn a slot. They say if Mondesi is ready maybe Tapia or Greg Allen will be added to the 40. Dalbec makes no sense on the 26 with healthy Casas and Turner, and no real need for RH'd PH. They wondered about how much the WBC will affect ST'ing and minor league slots. Many of our players are playing in it. Many players will join ST halfway through.

Agreed. Turner is a better back up at 3B and 1B, too, but yes if any of the 3 get hurt, I like having Dalbec as AAA depth. He still has some upside. He's streaky, so if you catch him at the right time, good things could happen. These sample sizes are not small. (One can cherry pick the time periods to show he has longer hot steaks than cold ones: .959 in 92 PAs in 2020 .595 in 173 PAs to start 2021 .916 in last 280 PAs in 2021 (including 1.027 in last 172 PAs) .441 in first 79 PAs in 2022 .714 in last 274 PAs in 2022 (.725 last 115)

As it looks, right now, assuming Mondesi starts the season on the 10 day IL, we have Kike at SS and an injury prone Arroyo at 2B. Dalbec could be an emergency fix at 2B with Arroyo going to SS, but I would not like that to happen for more than 1 game. We need a second SS on the 26, IMO.

I've been very high on Valdez, but I think he needs to have a decent ST to make the opening day roster. He can hit.

The "Big three" from the Nets played 16 games, together, and all requested a trade. It amazes me how many good players are such malcontents and end up demanding to be traded multiple times. Yup, and other teams keep wanting them.

I might be overly optimistic, but I have a sneaky feeling we are going to be pleasantly surprised by the health status of several injury-prone players, this year, and many of the questions we have will be answered in the positive.

I think with Story out and Mondesi in doubt, we add a middle IF'er.

Big trades going down! Durant to Phoenix. Nets get 4 first rounders, Crowder, Bridges & Cam Johnson. Westbrook to his 5th team in 5 years (Utah). (Lakers get D'Angelo Russell +, MN gets Mike Conley) Kyrie Irving traded, again- this time to Dallas.

He was #18, last spring on SP. They had him 9th on NOV 2021.

They have 10 infielders, but how many can play SS and are healthy. (Plus, Kike is part of our shallow OF depth chart.) Middle IF'ers: Kike Arroyo Mondesi (listed as "IL" on SP's) Hamilton EValdez (DH/1B) Rafaela (OF) Dalbec (DH/1B/3B)

I think we will certainly place Story on the 60. That brings him to the end of May. Maybe we add ... Niko Goodrum (SP's has him listed on the 26.) Christian Koss (IF- listed as starting 3B in AAA.) Raimel Tapia (OF- invited to ST) Jorge Alfaro (C- has a clause that allows him to bolt, if not added by a certain date.) Ryan Fitzgerald (IF- invited to ST) Greg Allen (OF) or Narisco Crook (OF) both invited to ST Who else might go on the 60? Paxton? Mondesi? I have not heard either is expected out for more than a few days or weeks, and as far as I know, Paxton is ready for opening day. That could change on a dime.

Didn't the rule used to be opening day?