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5GoldGlovesOF,75

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Everything posted by 5GoldGlovesOF,75

  1. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I remember listening to Merloni when the '19 deadline passed and the Sox didn't add anyone, especially bullpen help, which was a dire need at the time. In effect, he said the message to the team of no deals at the deadline meant the FO didn't think they were good enough to go "all-in." Demoralizing. On the flip side, the Astros were supposedly ecstatic when they nabbed Verlander at the end of the summer of '17. Imagine the boost of confidence to an already good team that acquires a Cy Young for the stretch drive...
  2. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I wrote this the other day. The real problem for Bloom and Co. is if the Sox are still on top in July, and fell compelled to be buyers; trading prospects for a rental or two while standing in the middle of the bridge may be unpalatable for the FO... but standing pat and not addressing areas of need can destroy team morale and cause friction with Cora (though he'd never admit it publicly).
  3. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    All the good-glove, veteran outfielders we discussed all winter who ultimately signed affordable contracts elsewhere, like Taylor, Marisnick, Pillar, etc. But like we have rehashed, those are the kinds of luxuries true contenders add to balance rosters (or that teams opting for "versatility" avoid).
  4. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I never said bring up Duran to replace Cordero; I was just lamenting the brass passed on a lot of cheap, proven big league outfielders this winter. But the majors isn't the place for on-the-job training -- unless a team is out of contention, has no honest aspirations to contend, and is auditioning for the future. As for Franchy Mo Pena -- he's never been good in the MLB, in parts of five seasons. Sox management may think and/or hope he might be -- someday -- but they're wrong if they think the fan base (and media -- look at all the Cordero articles already) will be patient enough to keep buying tickets, Jordan's furniture, Chevys etc. waiting for it to happen. Especially, after the debacle that was 2020.
  5. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    You're concerned about Torres' offense but not his defense? With so many bats abashing, and Voit returning, wouldn't a true contender be able to carry a good-field, no-hit regular at the most important position on the diamond behind the pitcher? Finding a reliable glove (not a bat) for shortstop isn't key for the AL's heavy runaway favorites?
  6. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    That is his history; he's played in parts of MLB seasons for half a decade now and has never been good or healthy enough to get more PA. Cordero has the same areas of concern that Duran has and needs to learn those in the same place: the minors. Go unleash that infinite potential for the Melting Polar Ice Caps, win the Triple A triple crown, and come back with a bang. Bring up Puello; at least we know he can play outfield (and also had a .900 OPS in the one AAA season Cordero starred -- in the '17 PCL where 32 batters bettered .900). https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=a81c8ceb
  7. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Nobody expected the Sox to contend for the division title this year, so many fans (here; I won't say most in the Nation) accepted Bloom's offseason "stop-gap" "band-aid" "bridge-building" acquisitions. But since Boston has had such a strong start, Renfroe and Cordero are major concerns... because well, they kinda suck. Their histories can't be brushed off like established regulars or stars who typically heat up with the thermometer or maybe had a sub-par pandemic summer. For all we know, the sensible plan may have been to get Duran a few months of actual regular minor league PT to hone his assets and improve his weaknesses before easing him into a big league lineup. The Sox surprise start -- and really, the mediocre nines the other AL East foes have revealed thus far -- may put pressure on Bloom and Co. to expedite Duran's development. Not that Bloom will cave to fandom and media demands, though the standings may inconvenience him having to hear them more...
  8. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    AC learned not to call out players in the media from Tito. This is one of the reasons guys love playing for him (and not Bobby Valentine).
  9. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Ha -- good one; Ortiz just went yard again.
  10. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Cordero shouldn't be trying to learn how to play outfield in the majors. The beginning of the season he was playing left field on the warning track, which was ridiculous. Then last night he was playing softball shortfielder when the "double" over his head blew the no-hitter, the lead, and basically the game. Any pro outfielder standing at the proper depth makes that catch; I won't insult JBJ by saying, "Jackie would've had it"... but Beni would've -- that's Beni Hana, Beni Hill or Beni Siegel (but not Beni Blanco from the Bronx, where they can't catch, either).
  11. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I know I keep harping on this, but this should always be a priority -- and usually, the cheapest way -- to reclaim respectability for a rebuilding/rebounding/revenging ballclub. Good D can make mediocre pitching better, but bad D puts mileage on pitch counts and can nullify good O. It can also make teams look like losers or even Yankees.
  12. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Cordero and Renfroe are what they are. And for Boston in 2021, that's mainly cheaper and more controllable versions of the flickering potential of Beni and JBJ.
  13. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    At least Pivetta has a better WHIP than both Perez and Richards (who looks like he doesn't even know where the ball is going when it leaves his hand sometimes). For all Richards' vaunted spin-rate, we've seen too many pitches spinning out of the zone or onto sweet spots. Pivetta misses more bats... so far. I like Cora, but I was suspicious in ST when he compared Richards to Kevin Brown. Red Sox fans fondly remember Brown for gagging his Game Seven start wearing pinstripes in the '04 ALCS.
  14. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Outfield defense. I know carrying extra pitchers limits the bench to a few multi-positional men, but having one above-average glove for late-innings in the outfield could have helped secure more wins. Cordero and Renfroe are below-average MLB hitters, but at least Renfroe can field his position. Franchy's MLB career may be a small sample size, but he can't be trusted in left. He's faster than JD -- so are most posters here -- but no way either should be on the field when it matters. Verdugo, Kike and Renfroe are the best for now and should close most games.
  15. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    MLB's new rankings #1-150. It's interesting that preseason guys once thought worthy of the top-5 have dropped so low; Hill is now #30, Fabian is #49. This could actually bode well for Bloom's second pick... 34th? Top Baseball Draft Prospects | MLB.com WWW.MLB.COM The Official Site of Major League Baseball
  16. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Verdugo hit .304 with .362 OBP in 33 games (33 Ks, .804 OPS) as the leadoff batter in 2020. He's plenty capable, and actually looks to go opposite-field depending on the count, the pitch, etc. But that doesn't mean the Sox' 21-man analytics dept. doesn't want to optimize his skills as one of the team's top hitters by keeping him in the fashionable #2 hole. Regarding Duran -- say he comes up and only hits .240 but mixes in some gappers and runs wild on the bases -- don't discount the value of energy and foe disruption to guys like Cora and his core lineup.
  17. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I was thinking more like August, after he's played minors a few months, and with the parent club maybe sporting a middle-of-the-pack record... and in need of a transfusion (also, to maybe replace someone injured or traded at the deadline).
  18. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    And it's almost inevitable they'll put Duran there when he's called up... another high-K guy who they want to drive the ball more.
  19. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Of course. Maybe the problem is that it worked for AC with the best hitter in the AL in 2018, but Kike is not even a poor-man's (or a reluctant rich man's) Betts. Another problem sure to hurt more when the offense levels off: the Sox three strikeout leaders basically hit in a row: Cordero, Dalbec, Kike.
  20. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    What does that got to do with it? Cora doesn't want him on base, he wants him to hunt fastballs and hit leadoff homers.
  21. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Agreed. A manager sticking with an established player off to a slow start is different than sticking with a reclamation project. But like others have posted, the team has too much money invested in the spin-rate master to give up on him too soon. The organization won't move on from Richards this season, but may compromise at some point by sending him to Worcester to fine-tune his comeback.
  22. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Sooner the Houck, the better.
  23. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Regarding luck -- just going off memory here from the first White Sox game; Eaton robs Devers of a home run, then Rafie lines one right at him. Plawecki also lined two to right that Eaton caught. Finally, Bogaerts blooped one in front of Eaton that bounced for a ground-rule double. So despite 4 out of 5 hard hit balls to right, Boston's BABIPTOEATON was only .200.
  24. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    At least it won't be like that getaway day game we went to in '17, when the Sox decided at the last minute not to pitch Sale in his prime, and we got to see Fister instead...
  25. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Sox can play with Thunder at Fenway as long as he doesn't bring Lightning.
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