moonslav59

Well, after you moved the goalposts to an entirely different scenario, yes. I still doubt he gets squeezed, even if he struggles for a month or two, and everyone else is raking.

True, but my tendency is to focus on our weakest link on paper and hope we can upgrade. To me it is closer, followed by Catcher defense and then a true big RHB. (Bregman has great Fenway numbers and a lot of other qualities, but he has struggled v LHPs, recently.) I think we are good enough to challenge for a playoff slot, as is. I could see us finishing with the second best record in the AL- maybe best, with great health and a confluence of good years by nearly everyone, but I could also see us finishing out of the playoffs. Hell, some projections have us last in the ALE, even after adding Bregman. It seems, to me, we have attempted to open the window for 2025. We have added a ton of money for 2025 and 2025, alone, especially if you consider Bregman could opt out. Buehler, Chapman, Bregman, Wilson add up to a boatload of cash. Gio, Hendriks & Ref have one year left and add up to a considerable total of cash. Why not take one more step to help increase the odds we make a run for it in '25? Trade for a closer or big bat/good glove catcher and set ourselves up as a top 2-3 favorite in the AL and maybe top 5 in MLB? Maybe, I'm being a homer in thinking we are 1 -2 players away from being that highly favored, but my gut says we are. (BTW, my gut has been wrong more than right, even for winning seasons like 2013 and 2021.)

Of course, if Ref is doing worse and someone else is doing better, who would be against a swap-out? I think Ref has earned a long leash vs LHPs, though. As I pointed out, Ref need not be squeezed, even if Campbell and Anthony are playing FT. He'd need to be beat out by Yoshida, Abreu or Rafaela, and none seem likely to be mashing lefties better than Ref, even if Ref slips to .800 or maybe even .750 or below. Romy can and should be squeezed, if Campbell becomes the FT 2Bman. I have no issue, there, even if Campbell begins his career with reverse splits. He needs to play FT or be in AAA. I don't see us juggling Campbell between 2B and the OF, just to get Romy time at 2B vs LHPs, but if Anthony is still in AAA, and we decide to play Bregman at 3B FT, I could see this: 2B: Campbell v R/ Romy v L LF: Duran v R/Ref v L CF: Rafaela v R/Duran v L RF: Abreu v R/Campbell v L This assumes Romy is still mashing lefties through ST'ing and makes the 26. This may very well not happen.

Agreed. We could end up "cycling" through 3-4 pitchers and still not find one that does well enough. Each one that fails means we are losing winnable games, and we cannot afford too many of those and still make the playoffs. IMO, the 4 candidates for closer, Hendriks, Chapman, Slaten and Whitlock, all would look like very nice set-up men, and having 4 is a luxury not many teams have. Using one as a closer, lessens that number to 3 and forces Wink or Wilson into a higher leverage role than I like. The problem is, I don't really see Robertson or Finnegan as a sure solution, either. They would just make it 5 guys trying out for the closer role, not 4. 5 is better than 4, and it would add one more quality set-up man and squeeze out our #8 RP'er, but we really need to trade for a lockdown closer to get one, at this point. I see the odds of that happening as less than 1%, before opening day. Maybe we get one at the deadline, if it's not too late, by then.

There is room for Ref, Campbell and Anthony vs LHPs: 2B: Campbell LF: Refsnyder CF: Duran RF: Anthony (Abreu and Rafaela sit vs LHPs.) Bregman at 3B and Devers/Casas share 1B/DH. No squeeze needed.

Why squeeze the 13th best batter vs LHPs since 2022? Why does it matter that he almost retired? Romy, I can see, as 2024 could have just been a fluke, and our IF is crowded. However, Bregman does not have great splits vs LHPs. That being said, I do not bench Bregman to play Romy. If Campbell is on the 26, he should play FT, but he could play 2B vs RHPs and OF vs LHPs, to allow Romy to play, but that would squeeze Ref out of his slot, so no. I do NOT have an issue with Campbell playing over Romy, but if Campbell is in AAA, I'd go with DHam-Romy at 2B, Bregman at 3B, Casas/Devers at 1B/DH and Ref in the OF vs LHPs as Abreu sits. Ref should not be squeezed.

Refsnyder has been a top 20 batter vs LHPs for3 years and has been our best batter vs LHPs over that time. If he does not play, he is being squeezed, by someone. IMO, we have room to play Anthony and Ref, as Abreu sits vs LHPs. Duran would be the 3rd OF'er. I would not play Rafaela over Ref vs LHPs. If we let Yoshida DH FT rather than use Ref vs LHPs, Yoshida would be squeezing Ref. If Devers and or Casas play DH, then Ref has to play OF vs LHPs. He does not need to be squeezed, and he should not be benched v lefties. Only 12 batters in all of MLB have a higher OPS vs LHPs and more PAs than Ref since 2022. None are on the Sox team. Benching him makes us worse. Tell me how it doesn't? Romy's 2024 could very well be a fluke, so I agree, it may not really be a squeeze, if Campbell starts over him, but if Romy's 2024 numbers vs lefties was not a fluke, it's hard to expect Campbell to beat his numbers. He can, but maybe not, and we'd be seeing a drop in numbers vs LHPs, if he does not. Romy hit .879 vs LHPs in 2024. His 130 PAs vs LHPs placed 7th on the team, so it's not like he made a major impact in '24, but he was one of our best batters vs lefties, and he is facing a benching or demotion.

The claim of "closer by committee" was not really ever the reality. The reality was we had a sucky closer. I was at that opening day game in Tampa in '03, when Chad Fox imploded. The next game, Howry blew the save in the 8th, but that was not in a "closer" role. The game went 16, and Brandon Lyon pitched the last 3 innings to get the win- again, no real closer role occured in that game, unless they yanked Lyon after 2 IP. (There were not many RP options.) Game 3: Chad Fox got the save. Game 6: Fox came into the 1-1 game in the 9th and got the loss. Game 12 was the next save situation, but it was Wake in a 2 IP situation. I guess you could call this part of some committee set-up, but so far, it was Chad Fox or long men getting the save chances. Same with game 13, where Timlin pitched 2 innings, blew the save, but got the win, when the Sox scored in the bottom of the 9th. Game 14 was a switch. Fox pitched the 8th (got the win) and Lyon pitched the 9th for the save. To me, this was the first evidence of a "committee." in action not words. Game 18 saw Timlin pitch the final 2 innings for the save. I guess you could call these 2-3 IP saves a "committee," but this was not really the traditional closer role. Game 20: It was Fox, again for a 1 IP closer save. Game 23: Fox for a 1.1 IP save. Game 25: Fox with a BS, and later in extra innings, Jason Shiell got the save. Game 27: Fox was available, but they went with Lyon, who let 2 runners on base, so Embree came in for the last out and the save. This game was when the switch was made, and looked like a hodge-podge "committee" type set-up. Lyon became the closer. Game 28: Lyon with the save. Game 32 : Lyon blew the save and got the loss. 34, 36 & 38: Lyon save 42: Timlin blew the game in the 8th and Lyon got racked in the 9th. 45: Lyon saves v NYY 52: Lyon got the loss in 1.1 IP (Sox score 5 in the 8th and 9th to tie v NYY) 60: Lyon pitched 2 IP and got the win, but Timlin pitched the 9th for the save, as the Sox scored 2 in the top of the 9th. 62: Lyon got the loss after coming in in a tie game in the 9th. 65 & 69: Lyon saves 71: Lyon got the win 72: extra innings- Shiell BS and then Seanez BS 74: Timlin save 77: Lyon 2 IP save 80; Lyon BS (4 runs) 81: Lyon save in 11th 82: Kim save (lyon unavailable) 83; Lyon BS in 1.1 IP & Timlin loss 87: Kim BS 88: KIm save and becomes the FT closer. I see 2003 as not a "closer by committee," ever. It was Chad Fox, who failed. Then, it was Lyon, who failed. Then Kim won the job and held it the rest of the year.

Why wait to midseason? The window has been opened, and we are spending big on several one year or opt-out year deals. While depth is a great thing to have, especially on a team known for having so many injuries, we have so much duplicated value that I feel we can afford to risk trading some depth to fix our weakest areas: 1. Closer 2. Catcher (mostly on defense) A nice big RHB catcher would be a dream come true.

We certainly have the numbers, when it comes to depth, although some of these guys will end up being released, outright by the end of ST'ing. Many have shown some serious skills, in the past, and not so long ago, for some. Numbers are good to have, and playing the odds that a handful out the no-names might rise to the top to be decent depth is a good strategy. I wish we had some more top talent in the pen and at the catcher position, but every team has weak areas, but few have this sort of deep depth.

If he was hurt, back then, these types of things really irk me. We knew we'd have some injuries, but for us, they seem to come before the players even take the field- like Giolito.

To me, getting Bregman does not block Campbell at 2B, Mayer at SS or Anthony in CF or RF. The main players squeezed are Yoshida, Rafaela and maybe DHam-Romy, if Bregman plays 2B. I do not think they keep Bregman at 2B, if they fully believe Campbell is gameday ready. I, personally do not think Refsnyder should or will be squeezed out of a role as always starting vs a LHPs, somewhere. If this team can fully gel, we could see some amazing things. Speaking of depth and subs, imagine Rafaela as our super utility guy and not starting. I may be one of the few fans happy with a DHam-Romy platoon at 2B, but having them on the bench would be awesome. Our rotation depth is really nice, for once. Our pen depth is numerous but not all that great.

Agreed. One thing is that Devers might be so separated from the media and Sox talk that he may not realize how many people view his decision as being so impactful and important to the team's success. I've never viewed Devers as being selfish or so full of himself that he can't see that Bregman at 3B makes the team way better. Whether Devers improves 1B defense is questionable, but give him a shot, mostly because the bar set by Casas is about as low as can be.

Call me a homer, but I gotta think Casas will beat those projections, horrific defense and all.

Robertson and Finnegan can help boost our pen, at a decent price. I think our closer and Catcher positions are the weakest. I doubt Wong hits as well as 2024, as the metrics indicated some luck. Narvaez looks good on D, but his bat has only looked decent at the minor league level. I hope we are still working hard to make one more significant move. My talk of trading for a top catcher is a pipedream. I know that, but we can still get better in other less shocking ways.

I said "IF you and others think Bregman is better at 2B and Devers at 3B, I think you are wrong.," not that you said or think it. The "if" makes it no "news" at all, lat alone "fake news." You do seem more against the idea of a DHam-Romy platoon at 2B, so it seems to me, you'd be more okay with Breg at 2B than some of us, but feel free to correct that assumption.

Stop with the condescending talk. "Should have learned." I know full well I see things differently than Cora, Brez and other posters. We all do. It's not something I "need to learn." If you, Cora, Brez and others think Bregman at 2B and Devers at 3B is better, I think you are wrong. I don't need to "learn" my opinion often varies from others, and BTW, I agree with the vast majority of moves Brez has made and have praised him, often. I'm also a big fan of Cora, and have repeatedly said he knows way more than I do. We all tend to discuss things we disagree with, more often. On the "roster construction" issue, I have said "nobody knows." It's no me pretending to know Cora's decision, beforehand. That was another poster. I just gave my opinion and said we don't know. My point was that the talk seems to indicate the choice is still not made vs the earlier hints that Breg was likely to play 2B and Devers 3B. This is not about anything but that,

How open is ATL to trading Murphy. They will not hand him away. How much they like Story or Mayer is likely the main stumbling block or an impetuous to make the deal. Who else might be part of the deal could be the no or go aspect of a possible trade. They may not want 2 players from the 40, unless we take a second player from theirs, so maybe Cespedes, Bleis, Sandlin or Arias might be needed to complete a deal. Story, Cespedes & Mullins for Murphy? Mayer, Cespedes & Mullins for Murphy and some cash? I think BTV has Murphy with a plus value of about 3, so giving up Mayer would be a gross overpay, by himself. We could ask for more. Story is underwater, so maybe we'd have to include money or better prospects to get Murphy.

If we see Anthony as an equal or better RF option over Abreu, then adding Cease would be a plus. (Campbell can also play OF.) My philosophy has always been to beef up the top of the rotation and improve the weakest links. I think we already did about as much as can be expected on upgrading the rotation (Crochet, Beuhler, Gio> Pivetta,) and so that leaves looking to improve our weakets areas: Closer, having Hendriks, Chapman, Whitlock and Slaten as our 4 top set-up men makes that area much better, too. Catcher; mostly defensively RHB: could be a catcher, if we find a way to take a team into trading a top flight catcher. (I don't think Bregman "fixed" the RHB issue, but he helped.) Havin just 2-3 weak areas is pretty damn good. One addresses half of the catcher issue (just defense) and the other has 4 pitchers somewhat capable of stepping into the closer role. (Gio might be another closer option.) This looks like a pretty solid team, to me, but I must be a homer, because we are still ranked 13th to 18th in most projectiosns.

I acn certainly see Crawford's numbers improving with SEA. Maybe Casillo's decline by the move to BOS. Maybe not. To me, the big gain for BOS is minimizing the cost of dumping Yoshida by getting a better player than Crawford in return. Is Castillo worth the added budget money? I'm not sure. If some reports are correct, adding Castillo would put us over the tax line, when we are just under it, now. That may hurt future plans on spending in '26 and beyond. Again, I'd rather trade Crawford and others for a catcher or lockdown closer than another SP'er, but I think the upgrade to Castillo is worth it. I also think Yoshia's slot on the 40 would be improved upon by adding Campbell or Anthony. (notin is right in pointing out, we can option Yoshida and add them anyway, but we'd still be paying Yoshida, not Castillo.)

Okay. The best roster construction has Bregman at 3B, Campbell or DHam-Romy at 1B and Devers and Casas on a pair-share at 1B/DH. Isn't this also "roster construction?" Adding Bregman was constructive and is most constructive when he plays 3B, because he helps construct a better defensive team without hurting the offense construction, as it means Campbell or DHam-Romy play, instead of Rafaela (or Yoshida, if we sit our $18M man.) Sounds like optimizing roster construction, to me. Thanks for the assistance in making my point. 🤣

I'd love adding Cease, but the one and done part scares me away. His cost would be huge, and we'd be narrowing our window towards 1 year. Our biggest need is a catcher and closer. Our biggest strength is our rotation and its depth. While, I'm never against improving our rotation at or near the top, this seems like going in the wrong direction.

I can understand people not agreeing with my belief that last year's team felt like it was better than a .500 team, but even using the .500 2024 team as the comp, the amount of additions made vs the subtractions, looks very promising to me. The players returning from injuries may be replace by other players or the same ones being hurt in 2025, but we had some very kep players out or playing hurt for long periods of time in 2024. Certainly, we could see the same of more in '25, but 2024 seemed excessive. Gio & Hendriks missed the full season. Story, Whitlock & Casas missed big chunks. Devers played hurt and missed a few weeks. Lesser knowns missed time, too, but not excessively so. These returning players, alone, could easily make up for the losses of O'Neill, Pivetta, Martin and the Jansens. When you factor in the losses or fringe players, the losses of these other players does not look so catastrophic. EValdez .633 in 223 PAs, DSmith .706 in 278 PAs had more PAs than O'Neill in 2024, but that is rarely mentioned. We also lost .575 in 158 by McGuire, .410 by Dalbec in 93 and a few others with 20-90 PAs. I think the overall loss of players on offense and defense, combined is an addition by subtraction, despite all the dingers lost by Tyler. The loss of Pivetta, Jansen and Martin may not be fully replaced by just returning injured player, but Whitlock, Gio & Hendriks can take a massive chunk out of their losses. We also may see more from Fitts, Priester, Criswell and Fulmer. I think one could call the healthy returns of all injured 2024 players as equalling the loss of players, good and bad, from the 2024 roster. New injuries in 2025 have to be expected, and that would have to be filled by the folloing additions to the 2025 roster. Crochet & Buehler to the rotation Chapman & Wilson in the pen. Bregman is the line-up and on D. Sandoval possible joining in August. IMO, this has been a clear plus winter- something we have not seen since the DD days.

That's what the "Company" stands for in "Brez & Co."

Maybe it has, but clearly the language has changed. Saying, "We'll talk about it later," sounds like no decision has been made, and earlier, Cora sounded more like Devers was the starting 3Bman. A few weeks ago, Cora said, "Raffy Devers is our third baseman. Alex was a GG at 3B and we all know that, [but]... he needed to play 3B. I always envisioned Alex as a GG second baseman. His size, the way he moves--it felt kind of like- you will be a second baseman." Cora has also sais, "I guarantee" I have not had any conversations with Devers over moving "off 3B. I don't know where that comes from." Everyone is free to interpret what Cora says, but to me, he sounds more open to the idea of moving Devers, now, than he did before. Nobody knows what the ultimate choice will be, and it might all depend on how Campbell looks, this spring. The tell-tale sign will be, if we see Devers with a 1Bman's mitt, this spring, although, he could be moved to DH and have nothing to do with 1B. I'm keeping an open mind, but I clearly have a strong opinion on where Bregman should play, regardless of Campbell's situation.