vegasbob

Bochy will never work in this business again. Catastrophic error

Just close it out now for the first win. Way too many K's on offense. Cut the Abreu trade talk .

yes, because Bregman will get his "Cora" rest days, Devers needs to keep his glove and head still in the game, they will need to get Yoshida some AB's other than PH's . I am sure an injury or two will come about to cause some shuffling. Unless it is a major injury , I do not think the Sox will be in a rush to bring Mayer up and bounce him back and forth to WooSox. There is also the possibility that Dever's shoulders become chronic issues or that Bregman does not hit for OPS or with power.

WooSox may be a team to watch. Lots of experienc4e over there now. The real point is that over the past few unproductive years in Boston results, the FO has, in fact, built depth in all areas. Improvements via the draft at Catcher and 1B would further solidify this organization. Maybe 2 more pitchers would help.

And the pitching has been loud, unpleasantly

After seeing Tanner give up 12 hits and 10 runs in 3.2 innings, the immediate thought goes to his arm/elbow concerned for problems there. He was not right in any way.

Tanner Houck having a really bad 2nd inning vs the Rays . Momma said there'll be days like this.

Monterrey, MX is not high altitude. That would be Mexico City

If Mayer stays on the 26 and plays either 2B or SS from Game #1 on, you guys will not be happy by May 31st. If, however, he goes to Worcester and rakes , then he will have shown he is much closer to being ready for MLB pitching . The slider/sweeper will eat him up at the MLB level unless he gets more experience without the pressure of being in Boston .

The team located closest to me, but not in my heart, is the LA Angels , actually 60 miles out of LA in Anal-heim. Aside from the declining, oft injured Mike Trout, they have no hitters, including the dud Rendon, and are not scoring this ST. Breslow could make a deal with them , eating $12-$13MM of Yoshi's money. Package up the deal with someone like Bernadino or even Abreu. Sox should ask for Logan O'Hoppe in return to solidify the catching position. OTH, here's why Breslow hasn't moved Masataka : Yoshi can actually hit . He will pay most if not all of Yoshi's contract anyway. There is no guarantee that Dever's shoulders are fully healed and strengthened for the 162 game season or that the DH role FT will suit Raffy's persona. There's no guarantee that Bregman will hit well this year, which could lead to other shuffles. Yoshi's inability to throw a ball 90' will create a great excuse to IL him opening the season and kicking the can down the road . Bloom should have been fired for just this mistake highlighting why accountants should not be in operations

Resembles Dewey #24 to me

At the end of the day, Wong is the unlikely survivor of Bloom's wheeling/dealing with his buds at LAD. Somewhat rivaled by Grissom for Sale . Or any of the multiple pickups of injured ( or just about to be injured) throwers of the last 5 years.

Abreu would be doing himself a favor by taking the next 30 days to continue getting in good shape after losing 20 pounds due to severe GI illness. Start on the IL and see if he rebuilds himself in a few weeks. Wilyer ( and Devers) are a combined 1 for 18 in limited action. Both show that quick returns to the lineup late in ST are difficult. Entering the season not quite ready is a poor move too.

Here's some odd roster construction. Up to 11 potential and actual MLB infielders in camp , yet not a clear cut 2Bman. 6 Of'er's , with more on the way , capable of playing now or soon at MLB level , but 2 DH's , who cannot field well, among the highest paid players on the team. The 2025 season and next off season needs to have some difficult choices to make. Hopefully performance will separate the wheat from the chaff , and some guys will get moved on to other opportunities.

What do Devers, Bregman, Casas, Story, Hamilton, Gonzalez, Campbell, Mayer, Grissom, Sogard and Rafaela (occasionally ) have in common ? Answer, all 11 can play or will play infield at a MLB level currently or in the near future. That's enough players to staff the Red Sox and WooSox simultaneously , as well as the bench . Maybe Campbell goes to LF, and Rafaela stays in CF to thin the depth. Otherwise , Breslow has a lot of assets to fill other needs like a #1 catcher or BP setup /closer .

With Yoshida as an expensive DH, and Devers slipping into his role as a really expensive DH, and apparently no platooning at 1B , Breslow finds himself backed into a corner , roster wise and financially . Between now and July 31, I would expect this to get resolved via injuries, Casas's performance, and Bregman's durability . Barring those contingencies, Craig needs to make a deal someway to unclog the DH/payroll conundrum

The oversized shin pads make Connor look and play BIG !

If that lineup's 1-6 performed to their MLB career hitting stats or better, it would give opponents a lot of issues .

The bigger issue could become his shoulders reactions to his aggressive bat swings, rather than any effects of fielding/throwing. Will Raffy keep himself in as good an overall shape if he knows he won't be in the field ? Will be as focused on the game as he would be if in the field ? Maybe just transitioning for a while until 1B beckons.

BTW, with the Minnesota game today, there are only 8 more ST games, including SS games tomorrow. The 2 games in Monterrey , MX are more likely to get players killed or stomach impaired than to polish the edges of the lineup. AC needs to make some decisions later this week and set the lineup for the opening 4 games with the Rangers in Arlington.

What exactly is accomplished by pushing Campbell into the position in March/April ? To prove he is not ready on both aspects of hitting and fielding. Cedanne Rafaela is already being carried due to his exceptional fielding but not his bat , and his upside. Using " veteran" Hamilton to open the year and see where all of these guys are in late April would be the way to go, IMO. In the long run, David H. is most likely a utility/bench player. But at least wait until the weather turns warm to get Campbell elevated to the starting nine. If he does well in extended ST and then at Woo Sox , bring him up. If he doesn't, then he would have done worse in Boston .

Pitchers placed on the short IL must spend minimum 15 days inactive ( no games) , otherwise the 60 day minimum is applicable. So any of the Sox pitchers carried as IL to open the season will miss 2 weeks, plus a day minimum ( 3 starts +-). April 11, beginning a road trip in Chicago , looks like the earliest return . By that time the Sox will have played 14 games with only one off day. Also these same 3 pitchers will have missed most of ST and likely will not be ready for real games. I would say that any pitcher on the IL as of March 27 will not return to the rotation until the week of April 27 , probably on the 29th in Toronto .

Ironic how Grissom has not shown much in his limited performance last season or this ST to date . This despite the fact that the job (2Bman) has been wide open for him to grab. It has nothing to do with Sale , but Vaughn is a low ceiling prospect . Likely untradable except in a bigger package.

Attendance is a little down . Devers finally gets to hit off Sox pitching . And Raffy ran out 3 bases, so all looks good .

Fully appreciative of the depth that guys like Priester and Fitts provide , my comment was a shot at the fact that Houck was the only Sox draftee and team developed name on the list. Obviously looking for recovery by Bello and Crawford but neither looks to be available anytime soon. In any case the origin stories of the guys we do have with avail-ability doesn't matter as long as they can show up and perform well.