moonslav59

The low expectations were real. Most Sox fans are not dumb. We looked at the rosters and knew we were not a winning team. I don't think that stopped any of us from expecting management from getting off their asses and address the holes in the roster- from top to bottom. The glacial pace of improving the roster, starting with the farm and 40 man roster depth did not satisfy the masses. We lacked top quality for too long, while simultaneously watching some of our top talent walk out the door, many times for comp picks, only. It was hard to see the long game, and JH's record breaking spending hiatus wore our patience thin. The Betts walk was a staggering choice that set us ack for long time, but we also watched so many other stars sign with other teams. Many were already in decline, but losing stars and heroes is never easy. The few bigger signings we made did not amount tom much, at all. The Devers extension was viewed as desperate way for JH to save face (or his life.) Now, when we look back, things still bad, but somethings look much more understandable. Beni never became the promising player many felt he'd become. JD was over the hill. Price, ERod, Porcello and other SP'ers lost did not do well after leaving Boston. True, replacing them with Martin Perez, Garrett Richards and Kluber were horrific attempts at staying relevant, granted, but re-signing them would have been pretty bad. The loss of Bogaerts was the final straw for many, but was it really such a big loss? Sure, we'd be a better team with him, over the past 2+ years, but with the fixed budget, maybe we do worse. He's got a .742 OPS w SDP. He has yet to homer, this year. His defense is no better. As it turned out we got Campbell for Bogey and Anthony for ERod. What looked like horrible chocies, at the time, may now become pure genius. I'm very optimistic about the future of this team, but I also think this roster on paper, looks top 3-4 in the AL, and with minimal injuries and expected age related growth, we could be top 1-2. When you look where we were before Brez took over, that is a remarkable improvement. While Bloom's highest prospect traded was Aldo Ramirez for Schwarber, Brez has taken risks and dealt away from our strong and deep farm. He took a big gamble trading away catcher depth, our weakest area, right now, but we got our man: Garrett Freakin' Crochet!

I'm a big Cora supporter, but I do have issues with him giving hot players a day off. We just had a day off on Thursday, and Story has a .984 April OPS. Now, watch DHam come to life.

Sometimes the "right move" doesn't work out. I will always believe that. Some of the hits off Weissert were not scorched. Hey, we got the win. Later in the season, we may look back and be happy we eased Crochet into a full season of starting pitching.

Anthony is no Rafaela on D, but he's pretty good. He's no Refsnyder, Yoshida or Manny. Rafaela could still play CF vs LHPs. That's over 25% or games. He can play back-up infield and late inning defense/PR duties, too. I really like Rafaela, but Anthony deserves a chance to prove he's the best OF'er we have- right now. If he ends up 2nd or 3rd best, which is a strong possibility, especially year one, so be it. Right now, he is DH'ing through an injury, so I'd wait for the day he gains that extra year of control, but I'd wait no longer.

It doesn't help a young player's growth and improvement riding the bench. That being said, there is an argument for having the best possible 26 players on the ML roster. Sort out who plays when and where on the go.

Crochet is not just any pitcher. He blew away his IP high, last year by like 90 IP, and it was only 146 IP. You expect 180 and then playoff innings?

I saw the highlights! YES!!!!

I'm not against babying Crochet and limiting his innings. If we make the playoffs, we may look back and be thankful. I think 96 pitches in mid April was fine.

It's a better defensive OF than the one w Refsnyder in RF. It's not adding a platoon, as I'm just replacing Ref with Raf in the current platoon.

The Rays scored 4 in the bottom of the 9th off D Williams, then 2 in the 10th to beat the Yanks. Updated standings: 13-8 NYY 12-9 TOR -1.0 12-10 BOS -1.5 9-11 BAL -3.5 9-12 TBR -4.0 ________________ WC 12-9 TOR 11-9 CLE 12-10 BOS__________ 10-9 LAA -0.5 11-10 SEA -0.5

Great to see Casas get his juices flowing. Devers with the big boom-boom. Crochet left the WS in stitches.

I would really like the flexibility having Rafaela as the uber utility man. He can play CF as well as anyone in MLB, so by moving others to LF and RF, he can essentially back up LF, CF & RF. He can also be the first in line to back up SS, 2B and 3B (or Campbell to 3B and Rafaela to 2B.) That's 6 positions he'd be the next in line. He could also PR, unless DHam stays on the 26 when Anthony is called up (not likely, though.) Cora would be in heaven. Call up Grissom & demote DHam. When Anthony is okay to play OF and gets the extra year of control, call him up and demote Romy. vs RHPs: 1. L Duran CF 2. L Devers 3. R Bregman 4. L Abreu 5. R Story 6. L Anthony LF 7, R Campbell 2B 8. L Casas 1B 9. R Narvaez/Grandal/Wong C vs LHPs: 1. L Duran CF 2, R Campbell 3. L Devers 4. R Bregman 5. R Story 6. R Refsnyder LF 7. L Anthony RF 8. R Grissom 1B (or Romy) 9. R Narvaez/Grandal/Wong C

I agree that Wink looks like the most likely to be demoted, whenever Bello is needed to start a game. When Gio & Fitts are ready to return, some tough choices might need to be made, but it's nice to have choices like this, instead of choosing between guys like Bailey Horn, Llovera, Brasier, Ort and Danish.

Hendriks activated and joins the Sox. Dobbins optioned to WOO, again. Brayan Bello is set to be promoted, and who gets sent down is a mystery: Weissert, Kelly or Wink?

I've said what I'd do, but will again: Vs RHP: Anthony LF, Duran CF, Abreu RF Vs LHPs: Duran LF, Rafaela CF, Anthony RF Rafaela can be the #1 back-up at SS, 2B and maybe 3B. He can PR and come in as a defensive replacement, late in games. He will get enough chances to be a meaningful player with the chance to increase playing time, if he shows he can improve his offense. I like Rafaela, a lot. This is not about disliking his plus input as a player. It's about thinking Anthony can do much more. Anthony is a decent defender and should hit much better than Rafaela and maybe hit better than all our FT OF'ers.

A look at MLB experience on our current roster: Seasons (including 2025) /Games 10: Bregman 1131, Story 929, Refsnyder 479 9: Devers 1001 5: Duran 373, Wong 294, Romy 183 4: Casas 240 3: Rafaela 198, Abreu 180, DHam 123, Sabol 125 2: Narvaez 20 1: Campbell 19 Pitching: 16: Chapman 805 13: Wilson 595 9: Newcomb 179 8: Buehler 135, Fulmer 263 6: Houck 108 5: Crochet 108, Whitlock 110, Criswell 41, Stock 56 4: Wink 120, Bernardino 121, Weissert 100, Kelly 76 2: Slaten 52, Fitts 7 1: Dobbins 2

Getting the extra year of control does not preclude an extension. It make it easier to do one, and a little less expensive. Also, Anthony is DH'ing, now, due to a sore shoulder, so now is not the time to call him up, anyway.

ERA Leaders International League 0.55 Stock & Chris Flexen 1.23 Drohan Eastern League: 17. Sandlin 3.00 South Atlantic League: 10. Mullins 1.38 Carolina League: 9. Vogatsky 2.53, 10. Sansone 2.92, 12. Aita 3.29

International League OPS Leaders 1.251 Cam Devanney 1.109 Toro 8. Grissom 1.023 9. Anthony 1.000 45. Hickey .802 81. Eaton .716 84. Thompson .702 116. Mayer .583 135. Sogard .480 (Next DFA candidate?) (144 Qualifying players) Eastern League 11. Liendo .920 19. Romero .850 24. Jh Garcia .809 South Atlantic League 4. Y Rod 1.094 9. Alcantara .950 Carolina League 9. Arias .940 18. Anderson .881 33. Asencio .792 34. Encarnacion .786

While true, I'd rather be 2 up in the WC than tied, at any given moment in the season.

Duran's start has been pretty bad, but he has a lot of line-outs, IMO, He had several ups and downs over his early career, and seemed to reinvent his stance or approach almost monthly, but I believe he has found the right approach. He also got himself into pretty damn good shape and improved his defense. In short, I'm not too worries about Duran. I'm more worried about Casas and having two black holes in the line-up (our catchers and CF.) I'm ready for the Anthony promotion, but understand waiting for that extra control year on a 20 year old is worth the wait. I think we'll trade Refsnyder and play Rafaela vs LHPs, as Abreu sits and then try to give Rafaela as much playing time as a super utility man as possible. He could still get 350-400 PAs and some late inning defensive time over a season. The way Story and Campbell are playing, and with recent struggles in AAA, Mayer looks like one that waits the longest, barring injury, of course.

My guess is other teams have their numb ers skewed by 2-3 games, too.

LD% 2023-2025 24% Refsndyer 21% Rafaela, Casas & Wong 20% Duran, Abreu, Devers & Yoshida Hard Hit% is just about flipped: 42% Devers 36% Abreu 35% Casas 34% Duran 31% Yoshida 30% Refsnyder & Wong 25% Rafaela

I'm not sure he ends up playing more than Narvaez, even when fully healthy.

We are 7th in runs scored and 10tth in OPS at .723. (12th in HRs , 4th in SBs and 1st in Ks) We are 16th in ERA but 29th in runs allowed (16 unearned leads the league.) 17 HRs allowed is 7th best.