moonslav59

I've already seen many signs. Our roster is way better than last year. I realize better than worst can still be bad, but we are not bad. Signs from the season? Many more wins. Improvement from many of our pre-prime and prime players, which is a huge percentage of our roster. Watching some kids get a look-see, at some point, this year. Excitement from Devers, Bogey, JD, Verdugo and others, including a few pitchers many have all but written off.

I can't help it if I'm feeling optimistic. Not for a great season but for a a clear sign we are getting much better.

I'm not seeing that, especially at this point in his career.

Zach Bryant

Really looking forward to a dull season with nothing to cheer for. Thanks, Dave.

Close call for me. If it weren't for his 17 IP, last season, Houck's name would not even be part of this discussion. Pivetta has some nasty stuff, and yes, his history is long enough to not be too hopeful. It's hard to get very hopeful over either of these guys, but it's spring, so I'm optimistic on both- pretty close to evenly. I can certainly understand someone liking Houck's chances better, but 17 innings is smaller than a small sample size. What about these sample sizes? 517 IP 3.53 ERA MiLB (98 in AAA at 2.40)- Pivetta vs 249 IP 4.08 ERA MiLB (25 in AAA at 3.96)- Houck (Note: Pivetta was younger at every level in the minors as Houck had 3 years of college before pro ball.)

Very exciting! In 2002, we had Manny, Damon and Nixon, and missed the playoffs.

So, in a sense, they project Pivetta doing better, but Perez getting more IP.

Exactly. You apparently missed the sarcasm.

The infield has a little more to offer, but yes, it's hard.

One wanted too much honey. One got hives. One wanted to be a "king" bee elsewhere.

We have a bunch of arms that can start. The question is, are 6 good enough and healthy enough to hold us to Sale's retuen? ERod Eovaldi Richards Pivetta Perez Houck 2nd Tier Andriese Whitlock Seabold Mata Last resort: Gossett Hart Ward Politi German Winckowski Reyes Or, go with "an opener" day 6.

Let's not forget JBJ's career OPA+ of 94 (also 94 from 2017-2020). 99 Cordero 99 Marwin (108 since 2017/ 93 after trashcan year) 98 EHern (98 since 2017, too)

The hope for a 4.08 career minor league pitcher with 17 IP in the bigs makes so much more sense.

We went from the killer Bees to the killer Dees. Dalbec & Downs with taters, today.

He was placed on the list Feb 22. I found this... It’s unclear whether Cordero tested positive or is isolating due to contact tracing. Per the MLB’s health and safety protocols, “individuals who test positive will be required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days, receive appropriate care and monitoring from the Club medical staff, and be cleared by the Joint Committee and the individual’s team physician, following a mandatory cardiac evaluation and a determination that the individual no longer presents a risk of infection to others.” Meanwhile, players who have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID “will be subject to a mandatory quarantine of seven days and must test negative on day 5 or later among other requirements to rejoin club facilities.” and this... Red Sox OF Franchy Cordero (COVID-19) could rejoin the team on Monday. (Chris Cotillo on Twitter) Alex Speier... Cora says Sox are hoping Franchy Cordero (COVID protocols) is cleared to play before Tuesday.

Nobody who has ever bombed out does well, afterwards. In think I might have more faith in Pivetta than Perez. He may also be more likely to have more IP than Richards or Eovaldi.

COVID precautions.

Hard to know or calculate. Renfroe makes $3.1M, this year and has two arb years left. He may never reach what Beni made, and Beni had one year left after 2021. Cordero makes $800K and has two arbs left. Do you count the $2.8M we are paying Beni? (What about the Betts money?) Beni makes $6.6M and has one more arb year left. Interestingly, Beni's $6.6M -$2.8M = $3.8M, almost the exact same as Renfroe + Cordero, but had we kept Beni and not added Renfroe and Cordero, we'd still have to pay the second player over $700K and Beni $6.6M, so a total of $7.3M to $3.9M.

Renfroe or a Renfrfoe/Cordero platoon is likely better than Beni, too.

Yes, but nobody answered my question: would adding JBJ & Odorizzi make us serious contenders in 2021?

The obvious choice is EHern with Arroyo, Chavis & Gonzalez splitting time at 2B.

If we signed Odorizzi, Bick Dick would not be needed.

Ooops. I went back and edited.

I predict Duran & Houck start the season in AAA. Houck has the better chance at beginning the season in the bigs, due to Sale being on the 60 day IL and the fragility of 3 other starters, but even if Houck does start in the bigs, my guess is, he will be sent down for enough time to gain a year of control AND to limit his IP, this year, which should be part of any plan, as it is. Duran's best hope is that Cordero flops or gets hurt, but even if he does, we have Marwin, EHern and Chavis who can play OF and Arroyo, Marwin or Chavis to play 2B, if EHern plays OF. I may be over hyping the team control aspect of the choices, but there are several other valid reasons to keep both in the minors for significant periods of the 2021 season. Again, Houck's IP will surely be limited, so why not do that by sending him to AAA for a period of time? Duran is still learning the OF position. He's just made a major adjustment to his hitting approach. He has not produced good numbers at a high level of the minors for any significant period of time. We have 6 guys out of our 13 everyday players that can play OF without Duran with maybe EHern being the best of the 6 on defense not even being slated to play the OF on opening day.