RedneckRedSoxFan

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".