moonslav59

That's the season

Back down to earth, tonight

Can you be a great manager and not a genius?

What else is there to spend on? A back-up catcher- maybe a RHB, but at what position, and who would be benched? I could see us swapping a LHB for a RHB or equal value, and maybe even the same position. I'm thinking maybe Abreu and or DHam, but more likely I could see us trading one or both for a RP'er or two- maybe a decent back-up Catcher with one year of control left. I sure hope the budget is set higher at $195M, and I'm not sure that will be enough, even if Brez hits on every signing, this time. The tax line is $241M, so $195M would be a really weak showing from JH, and enough to get me pretty pissed off- well, even more than I am, now. There is no reason for it to be that low, whatsoever, but I guess profits mean more to some people than others. If $195 is the number, I have that giving Brez about $25-30M for a winter budget. That's enough for a decent SP'er, RP'er and back-up catcher, assuming none of those roles are filled via trade(s.) With a logjam at a few positions, I can't imagine us not making a trade. That would allow the full amount to be spent on 1-2 slots, not 3-4. If the budget is set at $210M or even $220, we could do so much more. Setting it at just below the tax line, say around $240M, we'd have close to $70M to spend on what feel is really just 3-4 key slots needing major upgrades- maybe 1-2, if we make a trade or two. In short, a lot depends on what the what the winter spending payroll is.

Thanks for the clarification. Kinda nice having both winners on our farm, and both being ML or near ML ready. Not long ago, Mayer was #1 on our farm, and he's still looking about the same. It's just the others passed him. Teel, Arias and others are knocking on the top 3 door, too.

I'm not even sure he pays attention to drops in attendance or NESN subscriptions. I'm pretty sure he cares less about fan grumblings. All jokes aside, I do think the fans and media will be more vocal and critical, if we repeat doing so little to improve the roster over the winter. I might say I hope he listens, but I know better.

I actually think we need 2 major rotation additions to be a top contender. It would push a current starter to the pen and keep those we think might be our #5 as AAA depth. I know it WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

Flaherty, Chafin & Sewald

Coaches Poll has ND 14th and Louisville 17th. AP has Louisville #15 and ND #16. Whoever wins might jump to near #12. Michigan is now #12 with one loss.

When you consider that fact about Bello's slot and then losing Gio (maybe our 2/3 slot SP'er,) our rotation did pretty well. Many felt Houck was the #6 and Criswell the #7 or 8. We also lost Whitlock after 4 starts, and he started off very well. Our rotation depth ended up carrying us, but it was only 2 deep (Houck & Criswell,) and that turned out to be not enough. Pivetta did okay. Crawford pitched more innings and GS than expected and probably did about as expected. Bello did worse then expected (or hoped for.) Houck did great, despite the near .500 team record in his starts. Criswell kept us in the race.

I get this, totally. I have serious doubts we add a solid SP'er to the mix, but I see it this way: even if Gio takes Pivetta's job and does it well, AND they decide to put and keep Whitlock in the pen, are we really oaky with just running back the same rotation, next year? Aren't we just begging for the same results? Another near-miss. Houck, Gio, Crawford, Bello still leaves the 5th slot open, as Criswell was never intended to be a 28 start pitcher. Sure, they might think between Criswell, Fitts, Priester, Dobbins and (gasp) Whitlock, we don't need one, but do. I am certain of this. I see our chances being very slim at doing anything great, next season with a status quo rotation, and I feel the same about the pen. I don't see adding Hendriks, Whitlock & Fulmer as being an upgrade over Jansen and Martin. I'm not predicting major additions: I am suggesting (and begging for) them.

Yes, unless you have 5 guys with even better numbers. Quick question, let's say we have 4 SP'ers better than Bello & Crawford. Who stays in the rotation as the #5,

Soxprospects.com wrote this... http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/09/minor-notes-minor-league-season-ends.html Baseball America names Campbell Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year After an incredible season, Baseball America has named Kristian Campbell

I've changed my mind on moving him to the pen. I'm not sure anyone else supported my earlier position. Ideally, I would still like to have 5 better SP'ers, but that would take 2-3 major rotation additions, and that is NOT happening.

Best "Sox" player in the minors.

I think the trade route is our best option for adding a higher quality pitcher or two.

I understands this. It is also one reason I do not view W-L records of pitchers as being all that useful in determining how good or bad they are.

I included Houck, because we should have had a much better record with both of these guys. We won way more with Bello & Criswell.

Story loves Rafaela to CF and Duran to LF, which improves 3 positions. He also keeps DHam and others at 2B not SS- another plus.

100%

I do think winning the ring is the ultimate goal, and I am not giving up on our chances of #5 under JH & Co., but we can't be thinking no major deals are needed to get there in 2025. No way, can anyone expect these guys to keep the status quo, let alone improve on the 2024 team: Pivetta> Giolito Jansen> Hendriks Martin> Whitlock Sims/Garcia/Paxton> Fulmer RHB O'Neill> RHB Story (Rafaela to CF) This is NOT an improvement. I'm not trading Anthony and DHam for a decent RPer and adding Anthony & Campbell/Mayer can be close to enough, either.

Perhaps the biggest ball-buster about 2024, besides the Sale trade and zero IP from Gio was this... 62 Games Started by our top 2 SP'ers (Houck and Crawford) and this record: 26-36

One of my biggest hopes of this season was that the other teams had bigger holes than we did. We've seen they do have gaping holes, but we had too many and too big ones of our own. We can pretty easily run off a few legitimate and singular "what ifs and we'd be in the playoffs."

KCR won on a 10th inning error by the SS. Det won 2-1. Close calls in both games, but that fat lady keeps singing, loudly.

Yes. I think they felt we already have added enough pitching prospects and needed to try and balance the everyday player glut with the lack of ML ready pitchers. I'd rather DFA Shugart than Priester, come November.