moonslav59

But top 5 on your list? What happened to the higher OBP aspect?

He'd be a nice addition, but I was wondering about notin's criteria. It seemed to be high OBP and plus RF defense. I wouldn't put him in my top 4-5 wish list additions for the OF.

I'm not saying I love or even like high K guys, and high K guys with high OBP and power are rare, but I don't dislike a player just for having a high K rate, and since this was started over Story, I will add that he is an exceptional defender, a clear plsu on the basepaths, and has shown power and the ability to get on base near a .340 clip in his past. I won't be calling Story a success, if he continues near a .300 OBP. That would make the signing a failure. He won't be hitting 45 HRs or 75+ XBhs to make up or partially make-up for a .300 OBP, either.

I don't think we have the right QB in the system, now, although Joe Montana was the third string QB, my freshman year, and he led us to the National Champiuonship.

Sox prospects has this on Nick: After the Red Sox acquired him from the Phillies in 2020, he pitched at the Alternate Training Site until making his final two starts of the year in Boston. Was kept in the minors for long enough in 2020 to delay his qualifying for arbitration and free agency by a year each. Entered 2021 in the Boston rotation.

Ort was a minor league Rule 5 draftee, so I'm not sure Bloom expected much, either. You take a bunch of minor league flyers in hopes a couple pan out. Whitlock had to be on the 26, so that was more meaningful than Ort, although a Rule 5 pick is not a major gamble, as he can be returned very cheaply. Pivetta seems to be an example of a guy everyone knew had nasty stuff, but just couldn't put it together enough, especially with the high BB%. Maybe he can be used as an example of a tweak made by the Sox to improve, but it's interesting to note, his BB/9 has increase from 3.4 w PHI to 3.7 w BOS. The improvement has come from lowering his H/9 from 9.5 to 8.4, while slightly improving hi HR/9 from 1.6 to 1.4. His ERA+ went from 78 to 99 with BOS! Schreiber, Whitlock and Wacha are Blooms big hits.

His "strength" was being part of a system that developed young pitchers very well and spotted pitchers on other teams that they felt had something special, or something that could be adjusted to make them better with them. While Bloom literally "wrote the book," we don't really know if he was the talent that made it happen. My original point is that he has seemed to hit on some hidden gems, like Pivetta, Schreiber, Whitlock, Wacha, Strahm, Hill and a few others, but that some of his "misses" have maybe, and I stress the word "maybe" been just bad timing. Of course, one wonders why they didn't or couldn't have done better while with us. Where was that "adjustment" we seem to see with the Rays, even now, after many of their top management guys have left to go to LA, HOU, BOS and elsewhere? He missed with Richards, Perez I, Andriese, Paxton (so far), Sawamura and kind with Perez II, but he has also done pretty well on several others. The jury is still out on Seabold, Wink, German, Kelly and Wallace. (I'm probably missing others.) I'm not sure what the success% in in TB on non-drafted pitchers.

Laureano has a .302 OBP since 2021 in over 750 PAs. He does not fit what you have been saying we need.

The problem with Gallo is that he no longer gets on base like he used to. If I knew he would get to .340, I'd take him. He's been at .319 since 2020, and his .183 BA brought down his SLG to .409 ince 2020. That is not the numbers I am saying can support 200 Ks.

A lot depends on defense, too. I'll take .800 as a plus on O. Has anyone ever had a .340 OBP and 60+ XBhs and been under .800 or 100 wRC+?

I think we did "see something" to get him in the first place. We just lost patience and/or like R hernandez's hopes better.

I used exaggeration just to make a point. Here are some real examples of some of the highest K rates in a season since 2000 with the players OBP: 37% Gallo in '17 .333 (62 XBHs in 532 PAs) 36% Sano in '16 .346 (48 XBhs in 495 PAs) 36% Happ in '18 .353 (37 XBHs in 462 PAs) 36% Sano in '17 .352 (45 XBHs in 483 PAs) 35% Gallo in '21 .351 (52 XBhs in 616 PAs) 33% Cust in '08 .375 (52 XBhs in 598 PAs) Most of these guys were easily over an .800 OPS.

I'm not saying anyone should try to K more, or that it is a good thing. I will say it is better than a DP, and that maybe less DPs help even out the less base runners advanced on ground outs or sac flies. My point is, there are a select few players who K a lot, but they also produce when they don't K. I'm not sure why a .340 OBP with 60+ XBHs doesn't outweigh 200Ks. Add to that, great D and good base-running, and Story would be a big plus, if he can get to .340/60 XBHs, no matter how many K's he has. The man who led MLB in OBP and HRs, Aaron Judge, also had a 25% K rate. Trout had a .369 OBP and a 28% K rate. It's not common, but these guys are damn good, despite the high K rates.

Yes, we heard that several times, and it is a good point, but he did hit better at Fenway than he did in away games. The point some were making, not you, was that we might expect his previous away numbers as his total numbers, which should not be the case, but in 2022 it was pretty close (and worse). Career Away before 2022: .310/.442/.752 Overall 2022 numbers .303/.434/.737 This cannot continue for the Story signing to be viewed as a plus. His great D, high RBI totals and good baserunning cannot overcome those numbers.

Especially the more he ages, but if he has a very good 2023, I think there would be takers. His glove is amazing.

His arm is apparently strong enough for RF, too. Our biggest needs beyond pitching are SS and RF. CF will be open in 2024. soxprospects does tout his SS defense: Field: Versatile, standout defender. Has the potential to be a plus defender at second, short, third, and in the outfield, but best position is center field. In the outfield, has really good instincts. Takes really good routes and has plus range. Played primarily third base in 2018, but also saw time at shortstop. In 2019, split time evenly between second, third, and short. In 2021, became a true utility player, also playing the outfield, showing the ability to play a plus center field. Named farm system's 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. Arm: Plus arm. Quick release and arm shows good carry.

Would you take 300Ks with a .380 OBP and 40 HRs?

I'm not saying 100wRC+. I've said he has to bring his numbers up, as well as his PAs by staying healthy. No batter is at 100wRC+ with a .340 OBP and 60 XBHs. Story was on pace for 60 XBHs, this year. His BA and OBP were way too low. I know that. Story's 2022 numbers at 161 games: .238 27 113 (37 2Bs and 64 XBHs) .303 OBP- YUCK! (.340 before coming to BOS) .434 SLG% Farther from his career SLG (.523 before BOS) than his OBP dip. BTW, his OPS+ was 112. Her certainly need to do better than a 100 wRC+. Agreed.

I just put 240 out there. I'd actually take 300Ks, if any player also gave me .340 and 60 XBhs. Out of the top 270 players in MLB by PAs (30 teams x 9 batters): 67 had an OBP over .340 (only 24%) 18 of those 67 had a SLG% under .425. Not many hitters have a .340 and 60+ XBH. Also, on Story's OBP: it is not largely fed by a high BB rate. He has a decent .268 BA and an 8.5 BB%. He has decent speed and has only 24 GIDPs in his last 1900+ PAs.

A walk is still a big plus, and a K is not a DP. I'll take 240Ks, if the guy gets on base at .340 and hits 60 XBHs. You wouldn't?

I'm willing to take a flyer on Senga, but we'd need more than just him. On trading Rafaela, I really like the guy, but we have to give something to get something, and I don't want to trade Bello. If we extend Bogey, I'm open to trading Mayer, but I'm also thinking Bogey may be ready to move off SS just about the time Mayer is ML ready. (Also, Rafaela can play SS. I'm not sure how well, but I think pretty well.) I'm not so sure Romero, Lugo or Bonaci can be plusses, one day.

Some players can do it. Story's highest K% years and his OBP those years: 34% in 2017 .308 OBP 31% in 2016 .341 31% in 2022 .303 27% in 2019 .363 26% in 2018 .348 24% in 2020 .355 23% in 2021 .329 RED= years over his .336 career OBP There does not seem to be an exact correlation between his K% and OBP, although there is a slight to moderate one.

I agree. I could see us bringing Wacha back, but I think trading for an ace or solid #2 would be the best way to get one. I'm not sure the Sox think now is the time to trade a top prospect or two, though.

I don't care about high K's if the guy can get on base and or hit enough to outweigh the K's. Story just need to get his OBP up near his career norm and hit 60 XBHs, which he was on pace to do, this year, and the K's should be forgotten.

I don't disagree, but they did get a promising catcher for Springs and Mazza. My point is that I'd rather see my GM bringing in guys that later showed skills than swinging and missing on everyone. If every under the radar guy he brought in never played well the year we got them or afterwards, wouldn't that show your GM is worse than the one who missed on timing? I get your point, though. If he saw talent, why give up on it, but you know, many players have a ton of talent and never break through. There is only so long you can stick with a guy who is not producing. We gave Perez two seasons.