moonslav59

Skip ahead to about 4:50...

Well, I was not thinking of going opening day to opening day, until you brought up the Story example. I was looking at the discussion in terms of who we have that is totally new, and if they project as upgrades or not. In system players improving or playing more is certainly another major factor, but I viewed that as a separate issue. I see a lot of room for "upgrades" from 2023 to 2024 on returning and advancing players. I also think guys like Devers could very well have a career year that blows away his previous best. Unlike others, I think our defense might very well go from 30th to 15th or 16th. I think our O will be top 10 with minimal injuries or top 12, otherwise. I think the same with our pen, but that will likely depend on how many pitchers are poached by rotation needs. The rotation will make or break this team, and right now, I'm not high on this rotation. I wasn't all that high, even with Gio. It certainly has a lot of potential, and I think our 6th and 7th SP'ers are not all that bad. I'm looking forward to watching this team. We have a lot of pre-prime and early prime players, in fact it is almost the whole 40 man roster, minus 3-4 guys with only Martin and Jansen holding key roles- post prime. I know it's not fun watching my team lose, but with expectations so low, maybe that will be an easier pill to swallow. Who knows? Maybe we can suprise, or at least stay in the race until mid August or September.

It's actually not blue. We are seeing the reflection of blue, because the other colors are absorbed. The sky is actually absent only the color blue as it reflects it.

If we are talking upgrades from opening day to opening day, then we might look better, now. We had no Bello, Paxton, Sale, Whitlock, Story and some others, too, for 2023's opening day roster.

Wong's OPS is over 1.300, this spring, after today's 2 hit (w HR) day.

Just don't HIT the ground too hard!

No we all die. No, the Sox don't finish last, every year. Just 3 seasons ago we were close to going to the WS. Six years ago, we won the WS.

Story was on the roster, but it is an upgrade. We can then count full seasons by Abreu, Rafaela & Reyes, but the "upgrade" part is questionable. Reyes> Kike Abreu + Rafaela > Verdugo & Tapia?

...or Breslow?

Some people and companies pay zero taxes of any kind.

There is hardly any changes, at all. With Grissom out, the only everyday change is O'Neill. ("Upgrade" is questionable) The staff should have a few "new faces" opening day: Slaten, Campbell, Weissert, Criswell. (Doubtful upgrades, unless you comp them to Brasier, Bleier, llovera and Kluber.

I'm way off on my assessment of our catchers, compared to them.

Many large companies pay no taxes.

Who knows? Like we need 10 LF'ers on the 40.

I would assume he'd get a longer break after a 3 IP stint. He did pitch 3 IP 4 times in APR & May, last year. He went into the 3rd IP, at least once. He never pitched 2.1+ IP, after May 26th.

Either the whole league is below avg, or Yorke is above AVG, unless their methods suck.

That is an option. When Refsnyder returns, they can alternate in AAA, unless one is really impressing us. Yoshida can play LF, too. (Cron, Dalbec, or rest Casas, devers, Story, Grissom or an OF'er at DH, when Yoshi plays LF.)

Same answer.

This would make a few posters here happy.

How does the Eastern League choose their Defensive Players of the Year, if this guy is just average?

This made sense from day 1. He can probably go 3 IP, here and there, too.

He looked okay, last year and in ST'ing.

Why not, if we can get by without them on the 26 in 2024 for a month or two? 31 is still prime. It also increases their trade value, if they are decent or better.

I'll take the latter.

Eye-opening numbers. Being pretty good for a 26 game stretch probably qualifies for having a good full season. Most good to great SP'ers have a 2-6 game stretch of bad outings, just about every season.