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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 18:39:24 GMT -5
Want no part of that. Cora is a better manager than Boone. Why would I want to see Cora there? I also dont think managers are interchangeable as some around here think they are. I remember the year of Morgan Magic. I have no doubt McNamara's removal and weird refusal to play Jody Reed at SS over Spike Owen and change of atmosphere in the clubhouse was a difference maker. I have no doubt Bobby Valentine as manager created a team mutiny and soured the season. The change to Farrell allowed the veterans to relax. I'm not saying that a manager can turn a 90 loss team to a 90 win team. But I'm saying that they make a ton of decisions and no two guys are going to make the same exact decisions. There will be a ton of variances in the decisions and I dont believe that those differing decisions dont show up differently from manager to manager. Billy Martin, for all his issues, had a knack of taking lousy teams and dramatically improve them and then theyd eventually self destruct. I have no doubt Cora's presence in 18 and his coming back in 21 helped the team. I think he was kind of going thru the motions out of frustration by the end of last year bit I think he's done a fantastic job this year as manager. I think with another manager they might not be much more than .500. His players play for him. I think not being able to reach Verdugo last year weighed on him.o think with the way he's used his roster and maneuvered his pitching staff, that he deserves an awful lot of credit. Maybe he leaves and they hire the next Earl Weaver, who by the way was an excellent impactful manager, and they're fine, but I think whoever succeeds him is less likely to be as good a manager. I hope we dont find out but I do believe he's a goner, they wont him him Craig Counsell money but the Yankees or Dodgers would and if the Yankees go down in flames I think Boone probably will go. The lack of effort by a few of his players doesn't reflect well on him. Genuinely mean this - I really enjoy when you go into the history tangents, even if we disagree on the implications in this particular case. As to the why: if you think managers are hard to replace and Cora will add a lot to the Yankees and cost the Red Sox a lot you shouldn't want this at all. I personally think that this would be a low on field cost for a high entertainment value gain, so I'm for it. Well I was going to say how about we take one of theirs instead of them taking one of ours? Then because i do like my historical tangents, and I'm glad you get a kick out if them, thank you, i realized the Sox did pluck away a Yankee managing legend, Joe McCarthy, but the same manager who oversaw 4 straight championships for the Yankees made two hideous decisions in key games at the end of the 1948 and 1949 seasons that cost the Red Sox 2 pennants and then the following season was relieved of his duties so he could dry out, as he was a major alcoholic. So no not that I'm saying Boone is a lush like McCarthy was, but I don't want their guy managing our team, lol. I get that you'll get a kick out of the histrionics if Cora goes and worse heads to the Yankees, but honestly there's only 2 managers I've seen the Sox let go in 40 something years in which I was displeased with seeing them go and that was Joe Morgan and Terry Francona. Cora would be the 3rd. I was happy to see Morgan's and Francona's replacements get the boot though.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 18:15:23 GMT -5
This might be unpopular but I would love it if Cora went to the Yankeees. I find managers relatively easily replaceable and that would really reignite some rivalry feelings Want no part of that. Cora is a better manager than Boone. Why would I want to see Cora there? I also dont think managers are interchangeable as some around here think they are. I remember the year of Morgan Magic. I have no doubt McNamara's removal and weird refusal to play Jody Reed at SS over Spike Owen and change of atmosphere in the clubhouse was a difference maker. I have no doubt Bobby Valentine as manager created a team mutiny and soured the season. The change to Farrell allowed the veterans to relax. I'm not saying that a manager can turn a 90 loss team to a 90 win team. But I'm saying that they make a ton of decisions and no two guys are going to make the same exact decisions. There will be a ton of variances in the decisions and I dont believe that those differing decisions dont show up differently from manager to manager. Billy Martin, for all his issues, had a knack of taking lousy teams and dramatically improve them and then theyd eventually self destruct. I have no doubt Cora's presence in 18 and his coming back in 21 helped the team. I think he was kind of going thru the motions out of frustration by the end of last year bit I think he's done a fantastic job this year as manager. I think with another manager they might not be much more than .500. His players play for him. I think not being able to reach Verdugo last year weighed on him.o think with the way he's used his roster and maneuvered his pitching staff, that he deserves an awful lot of credit. Maybe he leaves and they hire the next Earl Weaver, who by the way was an excellent impactful manager, and they're fine, but I think whoever succeeds him is less likely to be as good a manager. I hope we dont find out but I do believe he's a goner, they wont him him Craig Counsell money but the Yankees or Dodgers would and if the Yankees go down in flames I think Boone probably will go. The lack of effort by a few of his players doesn't reflect well on him.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 17:32:21 GMT -5
If that's what you live for, I wont stop you. You read quite a lot into my comment, yeah? 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.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 17:09:04 GMT -5
So if they dont rush him to the majors then they should trade him? How does that make sense? There's no reason to jump him from AA to the majors. He needs to rake at AA which he's doing and he should rake at AAA first which takes time. Marcelo Mayer was never in the big league plans in 2024, so why does that mean they should trade him? How do you get out of his not jumping from AA to the majors on 3 months as a position that it increases his risk of failing in the majors? One thing has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Mayer probably comes up at some point in 2025, probably toward midseason. There's no need to rush him and say well you cant help in 24 so we should trade you because of course that means you're less likely to succeed in the majors. Again, how does that make sense? Geez they should trade Anthony and Teel as well as they're useless to the Sox in 24 so of course they're less likely to succeed in the majors down the road. Makes sense. Might as well dump the whole farm system, too, I suppose? In not one who usually agrees with a lot of the groupthink around here, but man, your views are really out there. I'll be on the lookout for that, yeah? If that's what you live for, I wont stop you.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 17:04:40 GMT -5
What are you suggesting? That they just call up Mayer to the majors tomorrow? I’m suggesting he should have already been moved up to AAA. I’m not advocating to skip AAA. All im saying is he should have been promoted already and the fact he hasn’t suggests to me they don’t believe in him so if that’s the case then trade him That does not say they dont believe in him. It says they're looking for him to accomplish some specific task(s) before putting him in AAA, which for all we know could come in the next week or two. That does NOT mean that they dont think he's the SS of the near future. Hell, coming off an injury plagued season they could have traded him for that cost controlled pitcher Breslow always talks about acquiring yet no such trade ever happened. That's because barring acquiring a young Pedro Martinez, he's very much in their plans.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 17:00:35 GMT -5
So the Sox have a #1 prospect who's pretty young, he's playing really well and because he hasn't been promoted before the all star break you've decided they should dump him because he must not be in their future plans, even though they have the SS stability of a Banana Republic? Just checking to see if I have the logic correct? Never said dump him. I’d prefer to keep him and let him play but based on the Red Sox actions so far they have no interest in that so if that’s the case move him while his value is high because it could crash at any time So if they dont rush him to the majors then they should trade him? How does that make sense? There's no reason to jump him from AA to the majors. He needs to rake at AA which he's doing and he should rake at AAA first which takes time. Marcelo Mayer was never in the big league plans in 2024, so why does that mean they should trade him? How do you get out of his not jumping from AA to the majors on 3 months as a position that it increases his risk of failing in the majors? One thing has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Mayer probably comes up at some point in 2025, probably toward midseason. There's no need to rush him and say well you cant help in 24 so we should trade you because of course that means you're less likely to succeed in the majors. Again, how does that make sense? Geez they should trade Anthony and Teel as well as they're useless to the Sox in 24 so of course they're less likely to succeed in the majors down the road. Makes sense. Might as well dump the whole farm system, too, I suppose? In not one who usually agrees with a lot of the groupthink around here, but man, your views are really out there.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 15:23:24 GMT -5
This got me curious to look up his numbers and man he just keeps getting worse.
wRC+ by month: April: 65 May: 107 June: 54 July -5 Anyways, I'll take my chances with Mayer for tens of millions fewer dollars, thanks.
I’d be fine waiting for Mayer if he was coming up but they haven’t promoted him to even AAA even though he’s been tearing up AA all year and has looked ready for promotion since June. So if they don’t trust him trade him no reason to just keep a guy who they refuse to call up So the Sox have a #1 prospect who's pretty young, he's playing really well and because he hasn't been promoted before the all star break you've decided they should dump him because he must not be in their future plans, even though they have the SS stability of a Banana Republic? Just checking to see if I have the logic correct?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 12, 2024 6:02:49 GMT -5
Rafaelas rates are this or that. They're not chiseled in stone.
He has the athleticism to improve as he gains more experience along the line.
Yes, Rafaela is miles better in CF. Their best defensive team does have him in CF, but they sacrifice offense doing so. The only way this works better is if Grissom comes up and rakes which isnt happen9ng now. Rafaela in CF reduces Yoshida and O'Neill into a DH platoon or takes ABs away from Yoshida altogether so O'Neill DHs full time.
If Hamilton was a ton better at SS than Rafaela and the Sox had a good offensive and defensive 2b that's the direction I'd go, but they dont. A Valdez/Westrook platoon doesnt make me want to do that. Hamiltom is better himself at 2b than SS.
Valdez is a major liability at 2b. Its 1 big puzzle where right now the pieces fit best when Rafaela is at SS especially when Yoshida is now providing offense which wasnt the case until recently.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 9, 2024 19:34:17 GMT -5
Do I understand this right? Bello has gotten 10 outs in the game, all on strike outs and 100% of the balls in play are hits?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 9, 2024 11:47:06 GMT -5
Happy he clarified that the playoff odds are fairly irrelevant as a sole indicator As the context of those are are extremely important I agreed with Breslow's take on the odds wholeheartedly.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 9, 2024 11:45:33 GMT -5
When I get my paycheck, I consider it wishy-washy to spend some of it and save some of it. Feels indecisive. Instead I pick a lane - either I spend every penny or I put it all in the bank. It's really the only sensible approach to weighing present value against future value. Wish I had a choice when I get my paycheck, lol.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 9, 2024 11:15:51 GMT -5
Nomar broke his hamate bone, and it lingered. Ortiz broke his at 22, well before he was Big Papi. Maybe I'm misremembering and maybe it wasnt a break but didnt Ortiz have something similar in 08 which hampered him for a couple of seasons?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 9, 2024 6:07:50 GMT -5
Sounds like that might remove him from the trade equation. I know teams wouldnt be trading for him for what he can do now, but I still think the injury suppresses his trade value for the time being, which ultimately could be a good break for the Sox.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 8, 2024 21:33:49 GMT -5
My quibble with this is that they’ve had no plans (that we are aware of at least) to play Grissom at shortstop. Next year they could go into the season with Story as Plan A at SS, and if that doesn’t work out for whatever reason, you have Plan B Marcelo Mayer in Triple A, or Plan C… I guess going with Rafaela again? So sure, maybe you only end up with only one of Story/Mayer in the middle infield in a scenario where Story is broken or Mayer isn’t ready. But you also have Hamilton/Valdez/Yorke/etc as options competing with Grissom for the 2nd base spot in that case. As many have suggested, Grissom’s value might not be at the highest at the moment - but absent injuries or positional changes there’s only so many spots for 2B at MLB and AAA for these dudes. I assume plan A was always Mayer pushing Story to 2B sometime around 2025. Those timelines add up pretty nicely I think. With the injuries that Story has had though I think acquiring Grissom was a contingency plan for Story in the event that he wouldn't be able to stay healthy. These positional logjams always seem to work themselves out but if I had to guess, I think a year from now Mayer and Grissom are the primary middle infield, Yorke and Story are the odd men out. I think they had hopes of Grissom being the long-term 2b. At the time, Devers was rapidly heading toward DH status, so Story could have shifted to 3b eventually with Grissom and Mayer up the middle. It was also not exactly a ringing endorsement for Nick Yorke as future 2b. The situation has changed a lot. Grissom was never himself. He has been injured, sick, and totally not himself. It was a total waste of a year for a guy who's still quite young. Story will be back, but it would be foolhardy to rely on him. He has been injured a lot the past few years. Devers (knock on wood) hasn't fielded like a DH. He's looked a lot better than anticipated (or at least what I thought). And now Kristian Campbell is having a monster year rocketing up the minors and with the outfield pretty crowded, 2b is his best avenue up to the majors. At this point I have no idea how it shakes out. I still think ultimately the Sox have to decide between Campbell and Grissom for 2b. My guess is Grissom gets first crack in 2025 with Campbell up in Worcester ready to pounce on his first opportunity. Story will start the season at SS, but who knows how long for? Eventually he could get injured or Grissom could or struggle and Story goes to 2b. At some point before the all-star break next year I'd think we'd see Mayer. At any rate the Sox have Hamilton, Valdez, Grissom, Yorke, Campbell, and even Story - six guys who are legit possibilities to start at 2b. The Sox have to sort this out and trade surplus. They have Story's contract so he's there but he'd probably be needed to man SS until Mayer is ready - who knows how long he stays healthy for? Hamilton has been a major spark plug but he is still probably best as a often used utility man. I'd say he increased his trade value. Valdez. Nice bat, but shoddy defensively. He might be a AAAA player or a guy who could get a crack on a bad team to be their every day 2b or even get some DH ABs. Easily trade bait. Yorke. Still think he can be a major leaguer but he might be Todd Walker lite, which means a potential 2nd division starting 2b, and trade bait. Grissom is certainly tradeable although his value is lower now that it would normally be, but if the guy is the hit machine he was in the minors and can be adequate at 2b, would you want to trade him or keep him for the next 5 years? Would Campbell continuing at his blistering pace impact the Grissom question? If the outfield is set for the foreseeable future with Duran in LF, Rafaela in CF, and Abreu/Refsnyder eventually giving way to Anthony, then the Sox wtill need a RH bat and the only spot that could be available is the DH spot, which is blocked by the expensive Yoshida who's LH bat isn't really needed in a lineup that's too LH. Maybe Campbell being able to play the OF or 2b allows for rotation among the other regulars and allows him to be a big RH bat if he does develop that way. There's not many RH mashers they can bring in to fit between Devers and Casas and it's not likely O'Neill is back, especially if Boras is his agent, so their need for an annual RH bat that went from Renfroe to Duvall to O'Neill could land internally with Campbell if he develops. Or he is amazing trade bait. They have a lot of decisions to make regarding their 2b near and not-so near future to make. This is where Breslow needs to sort out his talent, decide who is going to be the guy(s) they want to keep and who is expendable and get value for them before you're stuck with several 2b that amount to very little or are given away.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 8, 2024 21:17:41 GMT -5
Hardly sensible for Texas. What do they get out of it? Jordan isnt going to dislodge Lowe at 1b or Jung at 3b when he's back (or even Jung's replacement who's playing well). Even though they have struggled Lugo isnt putting Carter Evan's or Adolis Garcia out if jobs. Best case they're bench pieces for Texas. They'll get a better offer for Eovaldi. If that was truly the way for the Sox to get Eovaldi I'd jump on it and not think twice. Lugo or Jordan or Meidroth, and somebody perhaps out of the 2nd tier among Campbell (I hope not), Cespedes or Bleis could go. Maybe Brannon, the catcher. I'd expect a #4 type starter though. It's tough, especially for a pitcher because the Sox don't have much young pitching to offer in a deal for a front of the rotation type. The Sox, with what they got, might match up better with the Tigers for Flaherty. For 2 months of Eovaldi? Pass. I wouldn't trade Campbell for Eovaldi, but I'd consider Bleis or maybe Cespedes. You're not going to get a guy like Eovaldi with his post season resume for some third tier prospect or two. You're going to have to give up somebody of value. At this point I think I believe in Campbell succeeding too much and being a part of their future to trade him. Cespedes, from what I've been reading, has defensive issues and there is some concern about his offense as he advances up the levels. Bleis has the tools, but will he have enough plate discipline and enough of a hit tool to be better than what a long termer like Rafaela in CF is going to be? I'd consider Bleis or Cespedes, but if it were possible to get a pitcher like Eovaldi or his ilk without giving up 1st or 2nd tier talent, then I'd jump on it. Ulimately, you have to figure Houck, Crawford, and Bello will be in the 2025 rotation. I'm hoping they spend money on Burnes, Sasaki, or Fried to head the rotation, and I figure Pivetta will walk and Giolito should be healthy enough to grab a spot and the Sox will be in a better position to trade for a starter come 2026.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 8, 2024 20:59:44 GMT -5
No way Texas sells that low for Evoladi. Their current offer probably starts with Bleis. Then why didn’t we trade him in 22? It’s 2 months of eovaldi at an increased salary. The man is an FA no matter what, Texas really isn’t in a position to be asking for a ton here It's not like the choice is trade Eovaldi to Boston for whatever the Sox will give them or hold onto Eovaldi. There are other teams in the wild card/division mix who could improve pitching. I don't think it's hard to imagine the value given up exceeding two players that don't help Texas much from some other team or the Sox having to put together a better package. They're not going to get Eovaldi even as a rental for 3rd tier prospects. Don't use the 2022 as the barometer of Eovaldi's worth. Bloom should have traded Eovaldi. He probably didn't for the same reason he didn't deal Xander - he probably thought he could sign them at some sort of discount - as it was Eovaldi signed at a figure lower than anticipated while Xander got the offer of a lifetime. And that 22 deadline along with the 23 deadline is one of the main reasons Bloom isn't here anymore.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 8, 2024 19:23:47 GMT -5
Lugo and Jordan seems like a sensible enough trade for Eovaldi? I don’t love it but seems right value wise Hardly sensible for Texas. What do they get out of it? Jordan isnt going to dislodge Lowe at 1b or Jung at 3b when he's back (or even Jung's replacement who's playing well). Even though they have struggled Lugo isnt putting Carter Evan's or Adolis Garcia out if jobs. Best case they're bench pieces for Texas. They'll get a better offer for Eovaldi. If that was truly the way for the Sox to get Eovaldi I'd jump on it and not think twice. Lugo or Jordan or Meidroth, and somebody perhaps out of the 2nd tier among Campbell (I hope not), Cespedes or Bleis could go. Maybe Brannon, the catcher. I'd expect a #4 type starter though. It's tough, especially for a pitcher because the Sox don't have much young pitching to offer in a deal for a front of the rotation type. The Sox, with what they got, might match up better with the Tigers for Flaherty.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 8, 2024 11:50:06 GMT -5
I remember the concept of looking at Sox prospects in tiers. So Mayer, Anthony, Teel Then Campbell, Cespedes, Bleis, Perales But, man, Campbell is making me want to stick him in that first tier with Mayer, Anthony, and Teel. I do get the mechanical swing concerns which may indeed prove accurate and let the air out of his production in the majors. But at this point, while I think Breslow will choose the lane of buying, it'll be measured buying, refraining from trading Tier 1 talent. At this point I'd hope Campbell gets lumped in as Tier 1 and is considered a building block keeper. That's the guy I'm most concerned about them losing in a trade for a starting pitcher as I dont think Anthony, Mayer, or Teel are going anywhere other than Worcester, where Campbell should be headed in the not so distant future. What if Campbell is who people want Christian Moore to be? I don't think it changes the draft strategy, but might it just a little? Not that the Sox are lacking for outfielders but Campbell also has the flexibility to play OF as well as being a 2b. I don't know much about Moore. Is he limited to 2b? Not that being a 2b with 30 HR potential is a bad thing. Like you said, BPA in the draft. Everything gets sorted out in due time.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 8, 2024 11:42:31 GMT -5
I remember the concept of looking at Sox prospects in tiers.
So Mayer, Anthony, Teel
Then Campbell, Cespedes, Bleis, Perales
But, man, Campbell is making me want to stick him in that first tier with Mayer, Anthony, and Teel.
I do get the mechanical swing concerns which may indeed prove accurate and let the air out of his production in the majors.
But at this point, while I think Breslow will choose the lane of buying, it'll be measured buying, refraining from trading Tier 1 talent.
At this point I'd hope Campbell gets lumped in as Tier 1 and is considered a building block keeper.
That's the guy I'm most concerned about them losing in a trade for a starting pitcher as I dont think Anthony, Mayer, or Teel are going anywhere other than Worcester, where Campbell should be headed in the not so distant future.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 8, 2024 5:57:47 GMT -5
As of today, all you need to be in a playoff spot in the NL is to have a winning record. That's it. 1 day soon, that wont even be a requirement, particularly a handful of years down the road when 2 expansion teams get added and 4 wild cards per league will be the new format.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2024 23:55:52 GMT -5
Turned out that 14-4 win for the Yankees was their F-it game. I call games like that under those circumstances F-it games because after losing and losing and losing, and not scoring as many runs as they normally or should do, and being completely frustrated, teams have those games where their bats explode and they kick the crap out of their opponents. The funny thing about F-it games is that the next day the team, fresh off clobbering their opponent, will lose 2-1 or in this case 3-0. No, I don't have stats to back that up. Just years of observations. Glad it happened to the Skankees, who are now under .600 for the first time in an awfully long time, perhaps all season? Crawford was great - not sure why he was pulled so quickly but Slaten and Jansen (I think he deserved to be an all-star much more this season than last year) did the job and the Yankees were plagued by Rafael(a)s all series long. Great series. They're now about almost half way done with the Yankees this year. Now let's see if the Sox can get to 10 games over .500. Reason they pulled Crawford so early is to keep his pitch count down. Eye test has shown that if Cora gives him rest and only lets him pitch max 80 pitches, he’s more effective. Ultimately he's going to have to learn how to be able to get through 20 more pitches. The outing he had today, he should be able to go 9 with that low a pitch count/inning. Maybe he isnt there yet but that's another step he will need to learn to take. Houck has taken that step.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2024 21:56:49 GMT -5
It's mind-boggling to me why Breslow has quadrupled down on his "must pick a lane" stance. Is it because that’s supposedly why Bloom got canned? I think you have bingo.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2024 21:18:47 GMT -5
Turned out that 14-4 win for the Yankees was their F-it game. I call games like that under those circumstances F-it games because after losing and losing and losing, and not scoring as many runs as they normally or should do, and being completely frustrated, teams have those games where their bats explode and they kick the crap out of their opponents.
The funny thing about F-it games is that the next day the team, fresh off clobbering their opponent, will lose 2-1 or in this case 3-0. No, I don't have stats to back that up. Just years of observations. Glad it happened to the Skankees, who are now under .600 for the first time in an awfully long time, perhaps all season?
Crawford was great - not sure why he was pulled so quickly but Slaten and Jansen (I think he deserved to be an all-star much more this season than last year) did the job and the Yankees were plagued by Rafael(a)s all series long.
Great series. They're now about almost half way done with the Yankees this year. Now let's see if the Sox can get to 10 games over .500.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2024 17:03:04 GMT -5
Did Duran get passed over? And Wong? They just announced reserves. Duran and Devers made the team as well. Sounds like Wong got passed over. Oh well, there are only so many spots available.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 7, 2024 17:01:48 GMT -5
Wonder what Carson Smith is up to these days Hanging out with Tyler Thornburg.
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