oldtimer

It was on Workman tonight. Giving up 2 walks is not what a reliever needs to do in a 1 run game. Brasier came in a put himself in a tough position by going 3 and 2. When he had to come in the batter had the advantage.

I was most disappointed with Kelly. He started out well and still has maintained his velocity but has lost command far too often for an experienced pitcher. Just because he still has velocity, I wouldn't give up on him totally, but since he is a FA next year he probably will not land with the Sox anyway and he is probably not a PO pitcher. The most we will see is a few appearances before the seasons end.

I didn't realize we get to keep Sale for another year. Thanks for the clarification. Porcello has been such an inning eater for us that he still has a lot of value. One could argue the salary limits us but to get another starter of equivalent value to us would run to big bucks also. You and I apparenttly agree that we can't afford a Kinsler while Pedey is on the roster. You also are thinking of a utility player as backup. It is a high risk position, but one the FO put us into by resigning Pedey to an extended contract. You remain high on Holt as do I and he has come back strongly from the concussion syndrome that bothered him. I believe they will place Devers at third along with Nunez for one more year until Moreland's contract runs out. If that is the case, Moreland could use a right handed backup. It might be Swihart or if in spring training either Chavis, Dalbec or Ockimey show a lot, they have a chance to fill that slot. Swihart, however, gives us flexibility in the outfield and catcher, so his utility and experience might rule in his favor. I believe Kimbrel will get an offer we won't be able to match or want to match. You leave out a little hope for Kimbrel but he would have to grant us a discount. Don't think it will happen, so its out on the market. Finally, I would think this is the year to act on our catching. You put Leon and Vaz up but that leaves us with an extemely weak offensive position. Hard to supplement with pinch hitters for them all of the time. I predict some action in that area for 2019.

My loook ahead for 2019 does lose a number of our current players. Just can't keep everyone. We may get some pressure from the minors but not much. I see Pearce, Pomeranz and Eovaldi going. We are unlikely to hold onto Kimbrel for a reasonable contract so it may be to the FA market for a replacement. I hope we can keep Sale for a reasonable contract but if not, we will need a quality starter as a replacement. My view of the spring likely to start the 2019 season include a haziness at Catcher and with numerous possibilities in deep relief. Here it is and is just an adjustment to the 2018 roster, which means it is pretty strong. Boston Red Sox 2019 Possible Roster? Position players: 1. 1st Base: Moreland (Righties) 2. 1st Base; Swihart (Lefties) 3. 2nd Base; Pedey (with Utility backups) 4. SS; Bogaerts 5. 3rd Base; Devers (Righties) 6. 3rd Base; Nunez; Lefties) plus utility for 2nd 7. LF; Beni 8. CF; JBJ 9. RF; Betts 10. DH; JDM 11/12. C; Leon, Vaz or 11/12. C; Vaz, FA or 11/12. C: Leon, FA 13. Utility; Holt Pitchers: Starters: 15. Sale or FA (Can we resign him reasonably) 16. Price 17. Porcello 18. E-Rod 19. Wright Other Relievers: 20. Closer; FA or Kjmbrel (Can we resign him reasonably?) 21. 8th Bridge; Brasier 22. 7th Bridge; Barnes 23. Left Specialist; Poyner 24. Other Relief; Workman 25 Other Relief; Hembree or 25. Other Reliever; Smith or 25. Other Reliever; Maddox or 25. Other Reliever; Thornburg Think relief pitching will be determined during spring training.

Who else other than Kimbrel on the Sox would beat him out? Barnes maybe?

My view of where we are with the PO Roster. I see it as subject to change due to injury or due to last minute performance considerations. Boston Red Sox 2018 PO Roster? Position players: 1. 1st Base: Moreland (Righties) 2. 1st Base; Pearce (Lefties) 3. 2nd Base; Kinsler 4. SS; Bogaerts 5. 3rd Base; Devers (Righties) 6. 3rd Base; Nunez; Lefties) 7. LF; Beni 8. CF; JBJ 9. RF; Betts 10. DH; JDM 11/12. C ; Leon, Swihart or 11/12. C; Leon, Vaz or 11/12. C; Vaz, Swihart 13. Utility; Holt 14. Utility; Swihart or 14. Utility; Lin Pitchers: Starters: 15. Sale 16. Price 17. Porcello Long Relief: 18. E-Rod 19. Wright 20. Eovaldi Other Relievers: 21. Closer; Kimbrel 22. 8th Bridge; Brasier 23. 7th Bridge; Barnes 24. Left Specialist; Poyner 25. Other Relief; Workman or 25. Other Relief; Kelly or 25 Other Relief; Hembree Those marked in red are areas with vaiances possible. I would take Workman at 25, but either of the other two could beat him out. In the case of catcher, if either Vaz or Leon are paired with Swihart, then Lin might well be chosen for a utility role. If not, the utility role will probably go to Swihart.

If you believe Pedey can't recover enough to give us at least half the games then 2nd is a problem with utility guys our current answer. I'm willing to see what Pedey can do as Kinsler is an $11 million answer we can't afford what with arb costs and pitching to locate. Spending heavily on a young 2nd baseman and eating Pedey's contract is an alternate but can we afford to spend there? At catcher, if you believe 0 for 30 stretches at bat are acceptable then Leon is your guy. I am looking for a reaasonably priced alternative. Third base will be Devers again. Hope his fielding and hitting improve and back him up with Nunez. They could go righty, lefty and it wouldn't be optimum but Devers may start to bloom.

For next year, both are well thought of but not can't miss prospects. Chavis to the Arizona league, a plus move and Dalbec our offensive and defensive player of the year. We have a couple of others but one needs seasoning and the other has power but has not reached ML status as yet. I do hope one of the guys makes it next season since we need some lower cost players to balance our roster.

Of course many would want Wilson Ramos and he would be great, but very expensive and probably beyond what we could pay. A more realistic choice would be Jonathan Lucroy, who plays for Oakland now. He has a lifetime CERA of 3.62, which I believe is equivalent to Leon.s. He is a .240 hitter and his current salary is $6.5 mil. He is 32 and caught in 118 games so is hardy. Continuing with our current catchers means we get reasonable defense but poor defense. I am for looking for shoring that area up for next year.

He has value as a utiliity player, not because he is a great defender at one position but because he is versatile and can play many. If he was a plus defender in one infield position, he might well have held that position as a everyday player.

And he appears to have returned to health.

What about picking up a quality FA who can catch and hit better than either Leon or Vaz? That certainly should be an option.

No, I thought Devers would be a lock and Nunez the utility. Either way, I think both make it.

With as many pitches as we have on the roster now, why even put Pom in. He has nothing at all. He shows the fastball, but never on the plate and then he mainly throws a knuckle curve which he can't command. Enough already. Someone like Mookie will get hurt trying to make a play on one of his hard hit balls against. I am officially on Holts wagon. If you say there are 8 field player locks and one of the two catchers, then say Nunez and Holt are on. Pearce appears to be a good bet and who then is the second catcher. If its Swihart then Lin has a chance for his running. If we take both Leon and Vaz, then I think Swihart makes it over Lin.

Wright and a 1 run lead in the 9th doesn't sound w right to me. I just tuned back in to get another case of heartburn?

Now we see why Hembree may not make the Post Season team. Walking the leadoff batter with a one run lead? Nothing good can happen from it. Pom was awful and now Hembree putting a man on gratuitously. These guys are being paid to play? I can't watch and will come back in an hour.

With all the pitchers on the roster, there are better options. Just realize that he can't get it done and don't put him in the game. Getting Betts injured is a side effect of keeping Pom in.

Velazquez needs to think situational baseball. Three run lead, you don't want walks or hit batsmen. If you throw a strike and a guy gets a hit, tip your cap to him and realize that will only happen once in maybe three for a batted ball in play. Don't give gratuitous runners. Think and I hope he can execute.

It was reasonable to think Brock might not return well from his concussion issues and add value to the team. I was skeptical about him as well. Holt has returned and has helped in many ways. Not to denigrate Nunez, he was making his way back from knee issues and only fairly recently showed signs of being fully healthy, according to Cora. I now believe both would help the team again next season as well in utility roles. Pedey will need help during the 162 game season and Devers is by no means a top 3rd baseman and is still developing. We have a strong core back next season. Along with them, at catcher I would let one of our current guys go and try to sign a FA. Lecroy comes to mind. With that group we would need one more probably as a backup at 1st for Moreland. Let it be a contest with Swihart, Dalbac and Chavis having a shot.

I agree both in the matter of the degree that we emptied our prospect bin and also in the overpaying for some players both in prospects and in cash, strapping the team going forward. We also got unlucky with both Smith and Thornburg not really contributing even though we expected more. Like you say, if we will it all even for 1 year it would be woth it. I don't see us on any cliff like decline in 2019 and we do finally clear Panda from the books giving us some additional cash after that. It looks like we will have 4 starters back next year Price Porcello E-Rod Wright With Sale and Eovaldi hitting the FA market we will have to get competitive for a 5th starter. Would love Sale back but only for a reasonable contract in both $ and duration. So we should be active for a very good quality starter if Sale is too unrealistic. Too bad the farm doesn't have strong candidates. Other teams develop pitchers, we should too although our draft picks will be at the end of the line. I expect Pomeranz and his $8.5 Mil contract to go and probablly we can use Johnson as we did this year as a 6th starter. In the area of the BP we will need 6 in addition to the staff mentioned above. Barnes, Brasier, Workman and Poyner come to mind and we probably will not be able to resign Kimbrel at a contract that makes sense (let others go to 5 years at $18 mil a year, we shouldn't). I would think we could find a decent closer for less than he will demand. For other relievers we have Hembree, Kelly, Smith, Maddox and Thornburg. Maybe one or more of them can fill in the pen for us. Certainly some good arms there and even Cuevas has promise. I look forward to 2019 as another strong year.

I would rid myself of one of the two (Leon or Vaz) due to insufficient offense and go for Lucroy in the FA market. Most FA's are going to be in their 30's and Lucroy is 33 but he would be a noticeable improvement and shore up our catching in 2019. He wouldn't be that expensive and maybe a 2 year deal would work.

I hope the Sox players will get hot for the PO's. Right now they seem a little worn down and guys like Mookie and JDM especially need to come in rested and raring to go.

Its too bad but neither of them can get the job done and Thornburg looked bad the last time out as well. Hate to give up on kelly as he still has the velocity. Maybe he can be resserected for next years team.

Probably going to be a pattern going forward into the playoffs as Leon is on a 0 for roughly 30 run while Vaz is not much better. All the more reason to carry 14 position players.

Yes, today we saw continued good performance from our bullpen Wright, Poyner, Brasier and Kimbrel. Probably only Poyner is a bubble player. Also, Devers hit the ball and Holt proved his value once again. The game was also meaningful as we don't want to slump at the end of the season. The Yankees are essentially out of the pennant race. now the goal can be to assure HF advantage.