drewski6

Sure, but didnt you also say we are middle 5 in hitting in a pathetic AL? Thats mediocre, and thats your projection which is more rosy than national projectors / fangraphs, whichare saying that we are only better than the pathetic white sox. While I agree more with your placement than the ones that have us somehow worse than the rays positionally, I still think we need to raise the ceiling. Its like we go out of our way to sign 4 starters, panic about the defense, but the batting (which I think will impact our success more than anything) is like, its fine, we'll figure it out. And part of me thinks that we're taking things for granted. "We finished 9th last year in hitting" Not close to good enough! We should lead with our bats. Always. Hitting + baserunning = pitching + defense AND defense more important than baserunning. So hitting is #1, and ours isnt good enough. Full stop.

Sure, the AL is relatively pathetic. But we're still mediocre as a team overall, and its almost like we're accepting that because the rest of the AL is mediocre , so maybe we can play meaningful baseball in Aug/Sept. Put us in the NL and I dont think we make the playoffs. But we may in the AL because who are we really competing against aside from the Yankees? The Royals again?

This was brought up yesterday and while many of us (myself included) feel these to be head-scratchingly light (Duran at 2.0 WAR coming off a season of 8.7), the gist of the sentiment (we focused so much on pitching that its leap frogged our now very concerning hitting) - Im with

At this point, we need Yoshida.

Are you super confident that in 2025 Arrenado is a better hitter than Yoshida because Im not. I prob lean the other way.

I usually blame deadline inaction and overall complacency for the limping to the finish line, but I also know it cant be just that.

Its not good enough

You mean , youre not Ryan Lavarnway?

Or the brightest candle on the menorah, if you will

They seem light, but I do feel that one middle of the order bat , preferably from the right side, is needed. I really thought we were getting TH, and Im just kind of surprised how/why they got to me to buy in that they were making a full effort this year. Not to imply that we cant be better than expected, but it feels (to reuse a phrase I used earlier in the week) familiarly directionless. Im with Moon, in or out. Dont like half and half. Be cyclical.

Yup

BTW thats like 4th in pitching, 24th with the bats.

I liked the crochet deal and still do, but i was optimistic when the trade occurred that they would follow it up, and im losing that optimism. Last offseason i had 0 optimism that they were even trying other than dumping verdugo (which i approved of)

It would be a shame if we half punted on Crochets first year and let him walk after his second. It would be (unfortunately) kind of familiarly directionless. Im just looking for ways to not half-ass next year. Without a lineup upgrade, its hard for me to see this as a playoff team. Feels like we are relying on Campbell and Anthony too much.

I think he makes us better. I think hed play some 2b, some 3b, some 1b , some dh , and maybe even some of. I dont think we need to make these decisions right now, and I think where he starts the season isnt necessarily where he'll stay. I think hes no longer a great hitter, but still a good one who is a great fit for Fenway where he has one of the highest OPS in that park among active hitters. I think all free agents are overpays, and if hes a normal FA overpay (as opposed to a huge overpay) , hes worth it. I think he'll make us better, even if Im not sure exactly how at this moment. Because im not sure how campbell is going to do, how cedanne is going to do, if story is going to stay healthy, if yoshida is going to hit. But I think that maybe cedanne struggles, campbell plays of. maybe story gets hurt and dham plays ss. Maybe yoshida is absolutely awful, and you get your devers to 1b, casas to dh. I like the insurance bregman provides , and i think hes a good bet to hit well at fenway where hes always mashed. Hes past his prime but hes not washed up by any means.

Bregman has a career 1.25 career OPS at Fenway, and hit .833 second half last year despite a .255 BABIP. Connor Wong, he would not be.

I dont think Bregman plays 2b for 5-6 years. I think next year, with his position versatility, combined with other guys positional versatility, it will be easy to get him in the lineup everyday at a position where he would be at least above average, Your DHAM/Griss platoon could easily become SS if Story gets hurt. Campbell may play OF. Maybe you get your wish and Devers moves to 1b and Breg slides into 3b. Im not sure how the team will look by June. But I want more options and Breg is a fine option. Not sure what Tigers are offering and of course i have my walk point. I think hes much better option than Arrenado, and I dont think our offense is good enough as is. Im surprised we didnt get TH, personally. But pickens are getting slimmer and I think we need to upgrade the lineup.

I dont think the prospects are going to immediately take the MLB world by storm. And I dont think Bregman blocks em. We have question marks at 5 positions.

I agree, its about stockpiling options and hoarding. Simply not worth it from a cost-benefit perspective to start jettisoning guys off so guys who would be an option to fill a hole become "must fill that hole" Thats my only point. Bregman would be an option at 3b, 2b, 1b, even OF and he'd be a decent bet to lead the team in OPS. It makes sense, not sure its going to happen. But if he goes to Detroit, its hard to see this team making a serious playoff push.

We need to improve the lineup as a whole. Are you trying to just be competent this year or actually compete?

And if they are not going to move Devers off 3b immediately, they should still sign Bregman because Story could get hurt again, Devers could get hurt, Casas could get hurt, Yoshida could suck, Campbell could need more time, Grissom could stink....And its not going to be a 1 yr deal. Of course, Bregman would find his way to 3b. We dont need Bregman as our opening day 3b for him to be nice to have. Things change. Bregman adds a lot to this team. ANd he prob would be a 4fwar 2b. He would be above average defensively and hed mash at fenway. Of course, his fwar would be better at 3b and I prefer him at 3b, and thats where i think he'll ultimately end up. I just think hes still worth signing, even if he plays 2b during April. How we end next year is very unlikely to be the same exact player at the same exact position as we started the year.

Bregmans value extends well beyond upgrading 3b defense. Hed prob lead the team in OPS next year.

Settling for .729 is how you stay mid. We have two good hitters on this team, Bregman would be a third. Fit him in however you wish, but there is certainly room. Unless you think this team is good as is.

A weakness at 3B? We have a perennial all-star at 3b who received MVP votes 5 of the last 6 years. We've had nothing at 2b for multiple years running, and Story is an injury risk. There will be room for Campbell and Anthony to win jobs even with Bregman. Where they line up to start the year, Im not married to. Devers is projected 3.8 WAR next year, followed by Duran at 3.7. Then a huge drop off. Thats pretty weak. Bregman is a good bet for 4+. Hes been over 4 each of the last 3 years despite a slow start last year.

"good" at 2b? Im sure.