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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:52:23 GMT -5
That was badly needed clutch hit. Dom Smith of course.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:39:42 GMT -5
Going to walk a guy with a 283 OBP? Nope. Thanks Blue
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:39:02 GMT -5
Going to walk a guy with a 283 OBP?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:34:16 GMT -5
Feels all but inevitable that we are going to lose this lead. Yup
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:30:42 GMT -5
Well, I guess Cora stole 1 more out with the non move but the tying run is on.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:29:38 GMT -5
I do not like sending Bello out for the 7th in a one run game. At all. Make me look stupid, Cora. In Cora's defense Bello has a low pitch count and the pen isnt at its healthiest best right now.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:28:26 GMT -5
I predict Verdugo does not get an offer from MFY this off-season. If you are going to be a diva, you better be worth it. So don't miss Verdugo.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:27:51 GMT -5
Yeah, kind of concerning that they're not scoring these runners.
Interesting that Cora preferred Refsnyder/Schreiber matchup than Yoshida/Long matchup. Doesnt say much for their faith in Yoshida to handle lefties.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 14:23:45 GMT -5
These three do seem to have a special bond. Hopefully we get to watch all three blossom into good MLBers with the Sox. Could be recency bias but this could be my favorite trio of Sox prospects I can think of. Agree that it’s really fun that they’re friends. As redsoxchamps points out they probably aren’t as great an on field combo as Betts/Bogaerts/Bradley all debuting around the same time, but there’s something about how they’re so close that I really enjoy rooting for Probably not but wont rule it out. To be determined
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 12:18:26 GMT -5
These three do seem to have a special bond. Hopefully we get to watch all three blossom into good MLBers with the Sox. Could be recency bias but this could be my favorite trio of Sox prospects I can think of. Bogaerts, Betts, and Bradley came up around the same time, too. They werent too bad either.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 12:15:07 GMT -5
Serious question: How would Kyle Teel compare to Reese McGuire as of today? Is his timeline realistically setting him up to contribute by end of season and a potential postseason? Or is Reese our guy for 2024? If you swap Dom/Reese with Casas/Teel in today’s lineup, it’s pretty scary from top to bottom. I think jumping Teel up two levels and sitting him would be a disservice to his career path. He seemingly has defensive issues that need smoothing out. While Tek would be a big aid, trying to do that on the fly in the heat of a pennant race instead of spring training doesnt really help him. The pitching staff is used to working with Wong and McGuire and it's going well. I dont see the big upgrade at this point over McGuire in a limited role that makes it worth cutting into his development time. His time will come in the not so distant future. I just don't see the need to force it now.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 12:04:45 GMT -5
I'd think they would look at that 2nd tier starting with Campbell although I'm not yet convinced that he doesnt belong with the big 3. I think Yorke and/or Bleis are more likely to be dealt for pitching help. Maybe even the young SS Arias. Brooks Brannon is another guy teams might target or Jhostnyxon Garcia. I'd be willing to do Sandlin & Zannatello. I could see that being a more realistic ask. Sandlin would be tough for me because I think he could be a front line starter and other than Perales whose future is a bit uncertain they lack for potential top end pitching in the system, but your position is certainly defensible if you think it's very unlikely that he reaches that level.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 11:58:29 GMT -5
If it really cost them a back end starter, a utility man, and a likely reliever I'd make that deal for Eovaldi in a nanosecond. I would think Texas could extract a better primary piece for a quality post sesson stalwart like Eovaldi, even as a rental, from other teams as he would be attractive to the many teams still in competition for a playoff spot. Yeah, agreed. I’d imagine their starting ask would be Campbell which of course would be denied. Maybe Hunter Dobbins and 1-2 others is a realistic landing point? I'd think they would look at that 2nd tier starting with Campbell although I'm not yet convinced that he doesnt belong with the big 3. I think Yorke and/or Bleis are more likely to be dealt for pitching help. Maybe even the young SS Arias. Brooks Brannon is another guy teams might target or Jhostnyxon Garcia. I could see Lugo but he's more of secondary piece.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 11:47:29 GMT -5
If Eovaldi is available at a reasonable cost, he'd be the perfect addition: proven playoff performer, can be relied on to go 6-7 innings. Then somehow balancing out some lefties for equivalent righties, have no idea how, but Valdez, Yoshida heading out would be good. Have hopes for Yorke/Lugo to provide some right handed punch later in the season. Fitts providing some quality innings. Mata/Guerrero shoring up the pen. Couldn’t agree more. Eovaldi should be your primary target over all the names thrown out there. I will say that it would likely cost you Fitts, Lugo or Guerrero though. I also don’t have much confidence that Fitts can give you any quality innings this season. He’s looked a little overmatched at times this year. If it really cost them a back end starter, a utility man, and a likely reliever I'd make that deal for Eovaldi in a nanosecond. I would think Texas could extract a better primary piece for a quality post sesson stalwart like Eovaldi, even as a rental, from other teams as he would be attractive to the many teams still in competition for a playoff spot.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 9:01:17 GMT -5
Those are 3 guys with big health questions. If the Sox trade Kenley then that means they're not trying to win this year and that would piss off the fanbase and more importantly the clubhouse. Sometimes the best way to get somewhere is the obvious way, the straight line. Trying to thread the needle is fun to do in theory but in reality is much more risky and likely to torpedo a season. As long as the Sox dont go on some extended losing streak in the 2 weeks after the break Jansen isnt going anywhere and rightfully so. If the Sox add on, they not only should make the postseason but they could make some noise there when getting there, kind of like in 21. I know they’re three guys with big health questions. My point is I do not agree that trading Jansen means they aren’t trying to compete this year, it might mean that the Red Sox believe the answers to those health questions are positive ones. They could also trade Jansen and still get better overall by acquiring a starter. I’m not even necessarily advocating for the approach I just really don’t think it’s as black and white as you believe. Have to agree to disagree there. I dont think a reasonable person assumes health and effectiveness for a pitcher who hasn't pitched in over a year in Hendrik or a pitcher in Martin who's been injured almost as much as he's been healthy and hasn't dominated the way he did last year. And Slaten is already feeling the effects of the major league season, which he isn't used to and he has zero closing experience. And then there's the question of what team is going to trade a starter who's a serious upgrade for the Sox for a closer? This is such theoretical stuff. I don't really see how this happens in reality. Then there's the obvious thing that Bloom tried this nonsensical approach which accomplished nothing and got fired. I think Breslow is smart enough not to repeat that, which is why he's been clear about picking a lane. I do think it's black and white in this particular case.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 8:44:38 GMT -5
I’m not sure the Royals gave up as much for Harvey as it seems. The draft pick in a vacuum is good but this draft is supposedly historically weak, and Wallace is a light hitting righty who is currently 3B only and dealt with a soft tissue injury this year. It’s not bad, but like in Red Sox terms I don’t think either of them would be in our top 15 prospects, maybe Wallace is borderline there I think you could debate him/Lugo/Paulino/Castro. Reasonable minds may disagree here, and I’m sure the underlying batted ball data would be informative. As for the draft pick it seems based on the reports I can find if they take the best player available that person would be somewhere in the back half of the top 20, maybe down to 25 or so depending on who it was. That said, given the relative importance of wins for the Red Sox this year (as opposed to the Nationals), if we were to move Kenley I’d want a better return. Still not against the idea of that and to asm’s concerns, personally if they do trade Jansen I’ll take that as a good sign for their faith in Slaten/Martin/Hendriks the rest of the way. Those are 3 guys with big health questions. If the Sox trade Kenley then that means they're not trying to win this year and that would piss off the fanbase and more importantly the clubhouse. Sometimes the best way to get somewhere is the obvious way, the straight line. Trying to thread the needle is fun to do in theory but in reality is much more risky and likely to torpedo a season. As long as the Sox dont go on some extended losing streak in the 2 weeks after the break Jansen isnt going anywhere and rightfully so. If the Sox add on, they not only should make the postseason but they could make some noise there when getting there, kind of like in 21.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 14, 2024 8:26:25 GMT -5
I think if you're looking to hang a WAR like number on a manager, it's not going to really work when it comes to evaluation.
I mean if we're going to try to use numbers like pythagorean record versus real record or something like that, I dont think that'll be accurate. So if Cora's team has a solid 7-0 lead in the 6th inning and opposing manager puts white flag pitcher in who gets bombed and the Sox win 16-1, it's going to potentially look like the Sox are underperforming their pythagorean projection, making Cora look worse.
I just think it's one of those things that is subjective. How many times are you (and everybody is evaluating the manager against their own 100% expertise, lol) complaining about him making a decision that makes no sense to you? For example, how many of us before the damn inning even played out, were wondering why the hell Grady Little is sending out Pedro for the 8th inning? Then there were others of us who could rationalize it up until Matsui came to the plate with a run in, representing the tying run.
So you have game level decisions in which there are many impacts but nobody has the 100% correct answer key.
Then there are roster usage decisions. Is Cora postponing at this position or will he play his player against lefties, too? How does he handle the pitching staff workload? Who out of a group of middleman relievers does he designate leverage situations? Again, no answer key.
Keep in mind decisions that have been impactful. Like taking Ortiz off the bench and letting him play every day. Despite Hillenbrand's trade, Ortiz still languished on the bench and only Jeremy Giambi's injury gave Ortiz the chance. If not for that, would Little have played him?
When Joe Morgan took over for McNanara, he switched Dwight Evans and Todd Benzinger defensively moving Dewey back to RF and installed Jody Reed at SS, which McNamara hesitated to do.
Again, no answer 100% answer key,but these decisions are even more critical than the game level decisions.
Then there's the really can't hang a number stuff with interpersonal relationships. All you have to do is remember the dour reign of John McNamara or the chaotic miserable season of Bobby Valentine whom his own players wanted fired by April, his first month managing in Boston. Contrast that with how players felt playing for Terry Francona. Can't prove it but playing for Morgan and removing McNamara must have felt like a breath of fresh air for the players who won 19 of 20. A return to normalcy in 2013 probably helped to propel that team. I sincerely doubt Valentine pilots that team to ultimate victory.
Likewise, if that Billy Martin circus soap opera in the Bronx had continued throughout the 1978 season I don't think the Yankees would have caught the Sox. The players relaxed under Bob Lemon.
I think these kinds of impacts are temporary for the most part as players play better when the previous manager is removed and the controversy is removed but then different problems set in under the new regime. Of course the opposite can happen when a respected manager is removed and that move is unpopular in the clubhouse like when the Duquette dumped Jimy Williams for Joe Kerrigan and the Sox collapsed under a guy they didn't care for. And we saw the Valentine disaster.
Is Cora irreplaceable? No. Are the odds are that he's so interchangeable with other guys it won't matter when he's gone? I doubt it. I think theyd have to make a fantastic hire because what I'm left with is my opinion of Cora and I think overall he's a damn good manager.
I think I've questioned his strategies a number of times but am surprised by the success he's had when my opinion differs from his. I've had differing opinions with all managers in my time but I've never had as many variances in which what he did worked out, like pinchhitting for Devers with Nunez in Game 1 of the Series. I lambasted the move and Nunez whacked a 3 run HR.....maybe this Cora guy DOES know something, lol.
I think he makes pretty good decisions with his roster when he has decisions to make. He doesn't get too stubborn or too wishy washy. I think the roster management was really tough to do when Bloom was around. He didn't exactly do Cora any favors, at times leaving him without a viable 1b or a viable RF or enough starting pitching which created all those damn pen draining bullpen games.
I think that Cora clashed with Bloom and that lead to a managing malaise that impacted the team the past 2 seasons, which is on Cora, too. I think Cora has come in with a reinvigorated attitude, similar to what he came in with in 18 and 21. I think his pitcher usage in the post season caught up to him in 19 and doomed the season but ultimately I do think it was worth it as I'd never give back that 18 title and they might not have won in 18 if not for those moves
I think if you ask his players they love playing for him but he'll only put up with so much as Verdugo found out. And in the case of Cora vs Verdugo is there anybody that thinks Verdugo was right? Didn't think so, lol.
So my long winded conclusion is that I think and can't prove that Cora is an excellent manager making the team better and they will be hard pressed to replace him with somebody as good and a rich franchise, if they want excellence and stability, should give Cora his market's worth, or else theyll get a subpar replacement or they'll get a good replacement who has success and will eventually want their market's worth as well and if Sox ownership is against that they'll never have the stability they say they seek and it could undermine a potential era of prosperity.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 13, 2024 22:47:02 GMT -5
Nah, most guys are SS when drafted. They're the best players on their high school or college teams and that's where they tend to play, SS, even if it becomes quickly obvious that's where they're not going to stay as they go up the minor league levels. Two quick examples comes to mind. Remember Michael Chavis? I believe he was drafted as a SS and by the time he got to the majors he was anything but a SS. Chipper Jones was drafted as a SS, but never really played SS in the majors as he was quickly shifted to 3b. You have the image of some lightweight guy with a good glove that cant hit his way out of a paper bag, but that's not what the Sox are targeting. They're going after guys who are the best on their teams and can play SS and hopefully stay there, but if not they move to other positions. Remember hulking OF-DH Gary Sheffield? He started off as a SS, even stayed at SS upon arriving to the majors, but nfamously didnt stay there long before being shifted to 3b and eventually RF. If a position player isn't a SS, CF, C or 1B in HS/college, it is likely they are not an MLB caliber defender. Some eventual 1Bs get drafted as 3Bs, and maybe a guy with a great arm plays RF in college. But I could care less if they selected 20 SS. And btw, we actually don't have a lot of MLB shortstops in our pipeline -- guys with the range and arm to do the job at the big league level. Most of our IFs are not MLB quality defenders at SS. So I don't buy that we should stay away from SS at all. What we have a heaping ton of are 2Bs. We don't need any more of those. Like, we could choose zero 2Bs over 20 rounds, and that would probably be great. Correct. I think Mathew Lugo was drafted as a SS, Chase Meidroth, too, if I'm not mistaken. Meidroth is playing primarily at 3b. Lugo is now playing corner OF. I think there's Mayer and likely Arias, as most likely to stick at SS. We'll see about Zannatello. Forgot about Mikey Romero, drafted as a SS and already stationed at 2b. And Pedroia was drafted as a SS but had moved to 2b in AAA.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 13, 2024 9:52:44 GMT -5
I’d like that a lot actually. 148 wRC+ vs lefties this year - can play 1B and corner outfield at a competent level. I don’t even know that’d you have to DFA Dom right away either - they have Romy playing 1B vs lefties. Just send Westbrook back down and Canha mix in at 1B/LF/DH. Yeah agree your option would be keep Dom or have a fourth MI (likely Valdez/Westbrook or Grissom when he’s ready), and then when Casas returns you choose between Canha and the fourth MI for the roster spot. Canha is a good thought, too. Him and Flaherty could help the Sox.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 13, 2024 9:49:33 GMT -5
Agreed. I worry Casa will take a swing and reaggravate his injury. Just in case I think getting a solid RH 1b-DH bat would make sense as I'd hate to see Don Smith have to play 1b every day and I have no desire to see Dalbec. What's Steve Pearce up to these days, lol? Garrett Cooper crashing and burning in his Sox tenure was so unfortunate Yeah, I didn't think he was exactly going to be an all star but I didnt think he'd be so quickly unplayable either but he was unfortunately. Justin Turner actually could help out in this regard as its an obvious name but I'm sure there are others who could fill that role although I think Turner could be had rather cheaply, is good for a clubhouse, and might still have something left offensively as his bat has been better lately. With the way Yoshida hasn't been hitting lefties and although Smith has been holding his own against lefties (I hadnt realized that), who knows if that continues? Obviously Turner is a DH, but can play 1b if need be and if Devers had a brief absence he could fill in at 3b, and with Turner he woukdnt be helpless against righties if there's a pitching change.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 13, 2024 8:47:45 GMT -5
Criswell was actually a highlight of this game - which tells you all you need to know. O'Neill 2 for his last 23, 13Ks. I was wondering when they were going to give O'Neil a day off. He has look horrid at the plate lately. As long as they're facing lefties they'll keep playing him. Their options are limited given how left handed they are. He'll get 4 days off next week which will hopefully recharge him.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 13, 2024 8:15:53 GMT -5
Seems to be an overwhelming pattern there. A solid righty bat could help remedy that perhaps.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 13, 2024 8:13:50 GMT -5
Given the nature of the injury and the violence of his swing, I’ll be shocked if he’s back this year (or not soon enough to make a difference, anyway). Agreed. I worry Casa will take a swing and reaggravate his injury. Just in case I think getting a solid RH 1b-DH bat would make sense as I'd hate to see Don Smith have to play 1b every day and I have no desire to see Dalbec. What's Steve Pearce up to these days, lol?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 13, 2024 8:09:17 GMT -5
I understand that, but most SS’s are speed guys with little power. The power guys play the corner positions 3b,1b, Lf, Rf. Plus in this draft we need to concentrate on pitching. Nah, most guys are SS when drafted. They're the best players on their high school or college teams and that's where they tend to play, SS, even if it becomes quickly obvious that's where they're not going to stay as they go up the minor league levels. Two quick examples comes to mind. Remember Michael Chavis? I believe he was drafted as a SS and by the time he got to the majors he was anything but a SS. Chipper Jones was drafted as a SS, but never really played SS in the majors as he was quickly shifted to 3b. You have the image of some lightweight guy with a good glove that cant hit his way out of a paper bag, but that's not what the Sox are targeting. They're going after guys who are the best on their teams and can play SS and hopefully stay there, but if not they move to other positions. Remember hulking OF-DH Gary Sheffield? He started off as a SS, even stayed at SS upon arriving to the majors, but nfamously didnt stay there long before being shifted to 3b and eventually RF.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 20:56:50 GMT -5
As about as much as you read into my initial comment about me often disagreeing with consensus opinion. Didnt see what was particularly controversial about that, given my usually differing viewpoint, that it merited a sarcastic remark. Had you, in fact, said, "I often disagree with consensus opinion," I wouldn't have commented. That would be your assessment of your posting and entirely your business. Plus, I typically don't pay close enough to attention to the posting habits of any particular poster to know what they do, or do not, usually post. But you said "groupthink," which I find both incorrect and insulting. So I commented, perhaps sarcastically. But now it occurs to me you've never read Orwell, and thus use a more modern definition of the word that shades closer to an individual reluctance to shuck consensus norms? I disagree with that claim too, but usually I'd just ignore such a comment rather than take offense to it and reply. So now that we've heard each other maybe we drop it and move on, yeah? Fine, works for me. Might have read Orwell when I was very young, but didnt really comprehend it and wound up experiencing the real 1984 anyways, which was Roger Clemens debuting, an Eck for Buck deal, a thunderous Red Sox lineup, and the Tigers getting off to that 35-5 start and dominating everybody.
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