6/25-6/27 Red Sox vs. Yankees Series Thread

That's part of the problem, in my opinion. Kiké is kind of a super utility player but he's no Ben Zobrist, and he shouldn't be a starter he should be a fill-in three times a week guy and maybe a late-inning defensive replacement. But he's no solution. They need a legit CF (or LF and move Verdugo back to CF). I had a significant problem with the way Bloom built this team in the off-season. A lot of people loved the versatility, but this is not the NL Central. On a AL team they should carry one utility guy, a 4th OF and a back-up catcher and have legit players at all the other positions. To carry three utility players, two of whom live below the Mendoza line, is ill-advised and becomes outright stupid when the manager feels compelled to use them more than one at a time once or twice a week.

If Bloom was planning on being a 4th place team and building for the future this works. But to his credit he either inadvertently (a lá Cherington) built a contender or a combination of luck and three guys having career years have pushed this team into contention. Whatever the case the game is about adjusting or falling behind. Bloom needs to make a few adjustments unless he and Henry plan to just show face in the playoff race. There's a sharp cliff after Houston, Tampa and Toronto offensively. Then there's Chicago, the Red Sox and Oakland. I know it's more than offense, but the Sox defense and baserunning certainly hasn't been stellar either. If this is about winning - and in baseball those chances at the playoffs are finite and fleeting - then Bloom has to adjust.

First adjustment should be bring up Duran or Franchy and play them virtually every day for 2-3 weeks to see if either can cut it. If not, go get a lead-off hitter who's either an OF, or someone like Ketel Marte who's a legit hitter AND can play more than one position AND has significant service time remaining. A left-handed first-baseman would also be appreciated unless Dalbec can continue being short to the ball. Also, trade off (or in the case of Santana release) the chaff. Keep one of Kiké or Marwin and use AAA for back-up if someone goes down.

Or be happy to be also-rans and delude yourselves that this will be a repeat division-winning team somewhere down the road.