RedneckRedSoxFan

I thought someone came back of IL or something. Well, that's what was in my head as to possibly "why" Gasper isn't in the line up. I wuz wrawng.

Did they send Gasper back down? I was hoping he was in the lineup at C or DH. And stays in the lineup somehow (df ikf or option a catcher down).

I'm actually surprised Mayer isn't at 2B today. I was one of those that didn't like his bat in the lineup and was willing to swap him out. But he's been proving me dead wrong (and I'm happy to say that). And Tracy (I thought) wanted him hitting more lefties. Maybe it's just a designated rest day for Mayer? Or I missed something. Duran has been doing better game by game. MLB stats show his AVG and OPS (and other players) as this. The first "up" means the year-to-date was lower than the 30 day. Duran (up/up/up) Last 30 days: .205 / .614 Last 15 days: .255 / .745 Last 7 days: .368 / 1.242 Durbin (up/down/down) Last 30 days: .198 / .602 Last 15 days: .171 / .512 Last 7 days: .143 / .343 Mayer (up/down/up but consistent!) Last 30 days: .273 / .660 Last 15 days: .371 / .878 Last 7 days: .294 / .627 Story (down/up/up) Last 30 days: .247 /.627 Last 15 days: .233 / .539 Last 7 days: .313 / .728 Yoshida (up/down/up - seems like a consistent hitter) Last 7 days: .600 / 1.467 Last 15 days: .250 / .586 Last 30 days: .317 / .757 Yoshida's numbers are at the level of Abreu with only 54 ABs vs Abreu's 122 AB. Both of them are consistent no matter the week, it seems. Probably not fair to compare them since Abreu has far more ABs and doing well across all of those. Now Duran is swinging. Mayer has been swinging. Contreras has been swinging this whole time. Even Story's numbers (batting) are far better than those first outings. If I only look at the last 30 days for everyone, the only outliers that strike me are Durbin/IKF/Monasterio and both catchers. But those first three have OBP numbers in the .300s or near it. They get on base. Anthony is/was starting to swing as well. Still missing big bats overall all hitting at the same time, in the same game. If we can get/keep Yoshida in games and Duran keeps swinging and Anthony isn't out for a while then...well...I'm starting to get...optimistic. At least fun to watch with Bennett and Tolle and Early and Gray and Suarez and Crochet all being healthy [fingers crossed]. Heck, time for beer!! Last 7 days link: https://www.mlb.com/stats/boston-red-sox?timeframe=-6

In my original post I had Bello demoted. Honestly, I don't think he's a starting pitcher. I didn't understand why he automatically was in the rotation in spring training, either. I think he's only gone one game this season to 5 innings...out of 6 games? I think more than that if you go into September of last year. I wonder what other teams would be ok with this without making a move?

So, what is the rotation now? - Bennett (for Crochet) - Tolle (for Gray) - Early - Suarez - Bello -> need a new starter here IMHO and I'm moving Bello to AAA Then coming off IL-15 we have (in order, maybe?): - Gray - Crochet - Crawford/Sandoval In AAA on the 40 we still have: - Uberstine - Rivera - Anderson - Bello Then, not on the 40 are: - Kahnle - Song - Tayron Guerrero (I may have missed some or gotten some of the above incorrect.) I contend that Bello moves to AAA when Gray returns and Gray takes his rotation spot. I would think when Crochet returns (after Gray returns) Bennett goes back to AAA. And Tolle/Early stay in the rotation. At that point the rotation becomes: - Crochet - Tolle - Early - Suarez - Gray I like this rotation. It's when Crawford and Sandoval return that throws wrenches into this mix. I can see Tolle going to the pen. Maybe Early as well? Or Crawford and Sandoval go to the pen to ramp up.

So, what happens now? The Front Office starts interviewing candidates for all of these 'interim' coach positions? Or do they hold off and work the trading permutations before the deadline and only then worry about the coaching searches? Or do they let the interim coaches ride for the rest of the season? I'm really curious about the trade market between now and the deadline: do they talk to Tracy about these? Or leave him out of those conversations?

Yeah, I'm optimistic. I've accepted where we are right now. My view has re-oriented to see the team we have (not the team I wanted), and wondering what they can do with the rest of the season. I see Mayer hitting recently. Durbin is doing well defensively. I prefer Monasterio at SS, but I'm doubtful that changes. Romy comes back...eventually...hopefully soon. The pitchers are now doing well (except Bello). I can see carrying Tolle from here on out even after Gray returns and cycling in as starter if someone drops in performance or injury. However, if Bello doesn't perform I don't know what is done with him. AAA? And, we are close to an all LHP rotation if Bello doesn't perform until Gray returns. If Bello is...replaced...I would expect Tolle to take that spot. That means only Gray is the RHP. Hmmm...Jake Bennet appears to still need secondary pitch development even though his ERA is 0.86 in WOR. We have Watson and Slaten in the bullpen. Kelly? Uberstine? Kutter returns...June-ish (not sure)? And Anderson is still possible? Ok, we have a lot of RHPs if Bello is not performing or Gray is hurt again later. All that optimism (looking from the bottom upwards) is tempered by then seeing the schedule coming up: Astros, Tigers, Rays, Braves, Guardians. With the Twins and KC sprinkled in. Well, that optimism didn't age well at all. Lasted four paragraphs.

Is a "hitting assistant" the same as the "hitting coach"? Or did they also hire a hitting coach and I missed it?

Well, this is surprising. Durbin's average over the last 7 days is: avg: .308 obs: .400 slg: .538 https://www.mlb.com/stats/boston-red-sox?timeframe=-6

When did Ranger pick up a spiked breaking ball (knuckle-curve)? He threw two different curve balls tonight. One is what I would call his normal curveball that has that slow-loopy curve to it. Then there was the spiked breaking ball that was thrown inside. Sharp break to it. The slo-mo clearly showed his grip with a spike (or a knuckle-curveball whichever way you wish to call it).

ok, I guess I have a blind spot. I just saw the play where Contreras gets the ball and throws to second to Story. Then, I saw the throw Story made back to first. The disparity in the power and speed between those two thrown balls was astounding. I may have been seeing something that wasn't there, but I could have sworn Contreras was upset at how slow the ball was thrown. Yeah, Story's arm is...weak. No way to hide that anymore. Even if he were at 2B it would be an issue. Time to re-evaluate my simpleton analysis.

I'm not convinced of Mayer. Yeah, he does slick things. Is he better than Monasterio (batting .263), or Izzy (batting .222), while batting .188? I THINK they all currently have OAA at +1 (but I can't find Monasterio's so maybe he didn't register at all). Yes, they are all in a slump/slow-start. But we also have last year's averages for Mayer at .228. Is his last season's average an unrealistic expectation for 2026? I'd rather have Monasterio's batting average and get him at 2B and keep Story's bat and at SS. So swap Mayer out, not Story. What about 3B? For 3B, do i really want Mayer there? Or keep Durbin? Or look elsewhere at the Woo Sox? Durbin hit .256 in 2025. If my expectation of Mayer is his last year's avg for the expectation then Durbin would also have an expectation of .256. Winner to Durbin on that. And Durbin played a lot in The Show last year. I'm rather simplistic so my simplistic analysis tells me the Mayer expectations are not reality at this time. Maybe more time to solidify things and he will get there, and hopefully soon. But just looking at the early games there is nothing to me that justifies moving Story right now, and definitely not Mayer for Story. Instead, switch Monasterio for Mayer at 2B.

Vinny Capra is also swinging. Isn't he a 3B? https://www.milb.com/worcester/stats/?playerPool=ALL Yeah, he's a 3B. Looks like the hitters on Woo Sox so far this year are: - SS Tsung-Che Cheng: AB - 30, H - 11, HR - 3, AVG - .367, OPS 1.346 - 1B Mickey Gasper: AB - 35, H - 14, HR - 3, AVG - .400, OPS 1.257 - SS Nick Sogard: AB - 40, H - 11, HR - 3, AVG - .275, OPS 1.017 - 3B Vinny Capra: AB - 31, H - 11, HR - 2, AVG - .290, OPS 1.089 - RF Kristian Campbell AB - 45, H - 12, HR - 1, AVG - .267, OPS 0.775

I like this lineup.

Maybe Story just needs a "rest" day...or three. Play Monasterio while Story "rests".