moonslav59

What a crappy start to the season. We've gone past the 1/10th mark, which is still early, but this is just plain awful baseball to watch. I still think we have some real talent on the roster and on the farm, but it's just not showing up. I'm far from giving up, but we gotta see some kinda spark... and SOON!

We knew the failure to trade an OF'er, this winter was going to lead to some of our best players being forced to the bench, when they are not in need of a rest, and ride the bench. I'm not a Masa hater. One of the reasons I wanted an OF'er traded was because I thought Yoshida as the DH was not a big step down from some of our OF'er's bats. (He's a better bat than Rafaela. As of now, he might be better than Roman & Duran.) We "settled on Durbin," who I don't dislike, either. I liked the trade, but wish he held IKF/Monasterio's role or was a Mayer platoon than someone handed Bregman's job. I know I've beaten the dead horse over and over, but I'm happy we got Contreras, but wish we had gotten someone like KMarte, Hoerner or Neto. Okay, if that was unreasonable or unattainable, they maybe BLowe or Donovan. (True, I also mentioned Polanco or Suarez, and they look as bad as Durbin on O.)

One of my best friends, who played organized ball into his 40's, firmly believed a pitcher was "only as good as his last start," in terms of how much confidence you can have in a guy. Of course he knew great pitchers overcome awful outings, but there is a grain of truth to that sentiment. You kinda have that seed of doubt, until the guy does overcome a god-awful game.

I totally understood your point abut the difference between Tolle and Crochet. I'm not sure why you have to say things like "you seem to have given not thought to" or that I couldn't have read your post, or I that something "means nothing" to me. People can understand fully and disagree. I know Tolle still has work to do, and it would be better to do it in AAA than at the MLB level. How about you giving some thought to the idea that there might be other factors going into the decision, and just because you think this factor overrides all others, doesn't mean we fail to understand your point. I don't like the idea of Tolle having to tinker with his secondary pitches in the bigs, but to me, if him tinkering is still better than someone else we are using, I'd consider pitching him anyway. Let him tinker and fail some. If he ends up failing less than Kelly has, then the team does better and might win a game or two more. That's the big team- not Woo. I don't subscribe to the theory that this almost always ruins a pitcher or messes with his confidence. I don't discount the theory or "GIVE IT NO THOUGHT." I consider all the pluses and minuses of this choice vs those of the "other" choice(s.) and come to my opinion. Stop acting like anyone who disagrees with you must not be able to understand you, because you have to be right, so any failure to agree implies stupidity or ignorance. Your point has merit. I acknowledge that. I don't even disagree with it. I just think the big club's pen need is greater. Hell, I even suggested adding Anderson to the 40 and giving him a try a few days ago as another option. I'm not claiming Tolle is the only option worth trying out, but I thought we needed a move made to boost the pen. Tolle was one idea. It was a risky idea. They called him up, last year and used him in the pen during a high stakes moment in the season, despite knowing he still needed to work on his secondaries. How about giving some thought to that? Does 2025 "mean nothing to you?" (See how that feels when put that way towards you? Kinda condescending, right?)

🤣

My opinion is not a prediction. I know what they called and what they want. I'm not even dead set against it.

I have said development of secondary pitches matters, and agree trying to improve at the MLB level is not ideal. You asked if learning at the MLB level means nothing to me. I fully understood your post and point. I feel there is more to the choice than this one aspect. If Tolle is better than someone else, even with these concerns, the choice is not so clear.

Wow, I mentioned this a few days ago. MVP shot me down.

Like who? I said its a close call.

Or longer. I get it. I never expected so much support for Monasterio.

When did I say it means nothing? I actually pointed out this exact downfall of the choice.

They called him up as a RP'er, last year. Yes, it was different, as he was even farther away on the progress ladder.

Just when you start feeling better about your rotation, your ace lays a stinker.

Well, the Sox infielders have been gauged week to week. They've sucked. Look, my point was that was a "close call" and that Cheng would fill a bench role held by Monestario, who has been judged to the MLB OBP leader by some here, and perhaps platoon some. You guys are acting like I want him in a FT role batting second. (I'd be fine if he stays in AAA until needed.)

I was gonna post, "No he doesns't," but then you posted this... 🤪

I agree.

Injuries and or promotions should give him a shot for a promotion, himself, at some point.

I'm not disagreeing, but they said that last season as he led the league in IP.

I do think mistakes can be made and players set back a little bit, but I agree.

The line-up: L Anthony DH R Durbin 3B L Duran LF R Contreras 1B L Abreu RF R Story SS L Mayer 2B R Narvaez C R Rafaela CF

Gotta hate how that destroyed his development time and career.

For now, yes, but they saw it the other way, last year, when he was farther behind on the progress climb.

Agreed. I'm so glad he got off to a good start and didn't have to deal with fan rumblings.

While we all felt it was Mayer as the most likely infielder to be platooned, maybe Durbin is making a case. .402 Durbin v R .472 Monasterio v R Perhaps a lefty bat is needed more, now. (Yes, SSS)

No disagreement, here. Of course, they've had some good luck, too, but it seems like more bad than good, so far. It's not the major reason we are where we are.