moonslav59

That sounds like a likely scenario, and maybe Brez pushed the scale back. I was not a big fan of it, last year, and the extra rest sure looked like it did not help our late season play, at all. That being said, I have no beef with Cora.

I really think we have to set things up for 2025 with Rafaela viewed as the FT CF'er, and this is not just about last night's catch. The guy is flat out awesome in CF, and below average at SS on D. I'm okay with going into 2025 with rafaela as the 4th or 5th string SS (or even 2Bman,) but that should be an emergency situation worse than even 2024 was. Beginning with Rafaela in CF, that forces Duran to be the FT LF'er, because his arm is not a Fenway RF arm. That's 2 slots in the OF filled for 2025, right now- in my book. Assuming no O'Neill or O'Neill replacement, that leaves RF and DH to find enough PAs for these guys: L Yoshida (should only DH or platoon DH or be traded) L Abreu (kills RHPs and could use more consistent D in RF) R Refsnyder (should really DH or play Fenway LF or Yankee Stadium RF.) L Anthony (may start 2025 in AAA and "solve the problem" by staying there, but eventually a squeeze will happen. If Refsnyder bolts after 2025, we'll have a very solid OF, but all will be lefties. That may not be a major problem, if they all keep doing so well. but Abreu need to prove he can hit LHPs. Maybe Campbell can play LF by the start 2026, but then how do we play everyone without moving Duran to CF and Rafaela to RF and then what about Anthony. I'll say it again: we are loaded and will be overloaded in the OF. We have serious needs building up our staff and an owner that seems reluctant on spending on top pitchers- large and long. We should trade an LHB OF'er, not named Duran, this winter.

And that guy, Duran is now one hell-of-a defender!

I kinda saw it early, this year: this team seems to have more "heart" or "soul," or whatever you want to call it. "Grit" is another word I have used. For those who think I'm all about data and numbers, I'm not. Nothing about what I just said can be supported by any tangible evidence, but my gut has said this team is different... and i a good way. I like the enthusiasm the youth movement has brought to the table. I like that speed is now a strength on this team. As much as it sucks to see one area of the team struggling mightily, like our rotation has been for over a month, the rest of the team seems to pull up the slack, when needed and put a stop to any prolonged losing stretch. Our depth has carried us for much of the year, and that is even if you don't count Houck as the preseason 6th SP'er. Criswell has been a godsend. We've had rotating pen guys that carried us for significant stretches (Slaten, Bernardino, Kelly and now Booser.) This has been an exciting team to watch, and I expected it to be back in March. We had so many storylines back in March- almost as many as 40. Excitement is not everything: I get that. Missing the playoffs will suck, and our goal should never be to "just not finish last." But, this has been fun, and we are closing in oh the three-quarter mark of the season. GO SOX!

We did our best to help them avoid this.

Seems a bit strange, since our record and games behind almost exactly mirror, last year's, until maybe now.

Is it me, or does Cora seem to be giving less "scheduled" days off, this season?

I'm surprised by the AL Central having the best team in MLB and 2 WC teams, as of now.

I think you posted some other placements, earlier. Do we have a breakdown on every draftee's placement, now?

It will be how the season ends that makes the difference (or not.)

IMO, we'd be wasting a player on the bench and should trade someone to improve the pitching. If we had no high need area, like pitching, then I'm fine with having a very good player on the bench, everyday.

Yes, he is normally rested vs LHPs, but not platooned. So, who sits when Yoshida DHs vs LH SP'ers?

Agreed, but can you answer? If Masas is the 2015 FT DH, who sits vs LHPs and RHPs: Duran Abreu (easy sit v L) Rafaela Ref (easy sit v R) Anthony (assuming all 5 are on the 26.) 4 for 3 slots.

He's okay in LF, but I agree a DH platoon makes more sense.

DH'ing Ref solves that issue, but Cora seems resistant to platooning Yoshida. Without Ref at DH, who sits, then?

Through the ups and downs, the Sox have held pretty steadily around the 10th best record mark for a while, now. Right now, we are tied with the mighty Braves for 9th best. In the loss column, we are tied with KCR for 8th. 2 behind MIL for 7th, 3 behind MIN for 6th, 4 behind LAD for 5th and just 5 losses behindBAL, NYY & PHI for second in MLB! Granted, 5 more losses puts us tied for 18th w STL and not much farther from #20.

I'm really liking both brothers, more and more. I'm loving how so many other prospects in A ball or below are showing major promise. It's a long list. The Arias jump was deserved, and he still needs to prove he can keep doing well, as they promote him, but here is a look at our top prospects, not counting draftees in the lowe rminors, right now: 6 Bleis 8 Arias 7 Cespedes 12 Castro 13 Zanetello 16 E Rod 17 Jo Garcia 18 Romero 19 Jh Garcia 25 Monegro 27 Valera 28 Paez 29 Mullins D Reyes, Dean, Wehunt, Gonzales, Brannon, Anderson, Riemer, Carlson, Ingrassia, Mussett, Rogers...

My guess is, we go with the dreaded "pen game."

Somebody sits, unless Rafaela plays SS (bad idea as a pre-season plan.) My point has been about the obvious overload we will have in the OF, next year, even with not replacing O'Neill! No way, I sit Ref vs LHPs. He is a top 25 batter vs lefties in all of MLB over the last 3 seasons, combined, and he doesn't seem to be slowing down. Duran needs to play FT. I believe Rafaela should be our FT CF'er. Abreu needs to play vs every RHB. How Anthony fits in is an issue. We might see Campbell (RHB) and Jh Garcia, sooner than we think, as well.

Jo Garcia did get off to a great start, before his injury, but the sample size was small. 1.063 OPS in 53 ABs.

Bello vs Seth Lugo RHP (Cy Young Award candidate) Keep it going! Go SOX!

We are tied with KCR in the loss column. (They have 3 more wins.)

Agreed. It's hard to play Duran, Anthony and have an Abreu-Ref platoon, while playing Rafaela in CF FT. I keep coming back to the idea of a trade of Anthony or Abreu.

Great win, despite some mistakes on D and the basepaths. Gotta win these games vs our closest competition. Paxton got the job done. Kudos.

We may be getting Slaten, then Martin & Hendriks, too.