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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 4, 2024 14:24:42 GMT -5
I would have went with Pivetta for 1 more inning. 89 pitches isn't that much
Also another reason why if they're trying to get a playoff spot they need to hang onto Martin and Kenley.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 4, 2024 14:17:36 GMT -5
Was worried when Pivetta got pulled there could be some trouble. Teams like it when a pitcher they're absolutely not hitting leaves the game.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 4, 2024 14:09:45 GMT -5
Damn, I was hoping for a Dave Righetti. wow, i didn't even know that was the case until I read this. I hated it but I remember watching that July 4th no-hitter in 1983. I knew something was up after the first two batters of the game. He struck out Jerry Remy and Wade Boggs to start the game. Those were the two toughest guys to strike out.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 4, 2024 14:07:34 GMT -5
Might not be the worst thing A 4th of July no hitter would have been an all-time moment, but yeah I was nervous about the idea of him throwing 110+ pitches. I think that's overblown. A guy cruising should be able to throw 115 pitches. It's the pitches under duress, even if its only 80 pitches, that can be problematic.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 4, 2024 14:06:10 GMT -5
Captain Chaos is an appropriate nickname for Duran.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 4, 2024 13:58:35 GMT -5
Damn, I was hoping for a Dave Righetti.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 4, 2024 13:44:54 GMT -5
Interesting
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 3, 2024 21:55:38 GMT -5
Good to see the Sox bounce back with 3 wins after 3 losses. Hope they complete the sweep against the lowly Marlins who minus that promising young pitching staff they had before all those injuries, are no more than a minor league team at this point.
I know the Marlins struck gold in 1997 and 2003, but I've gotta say - that 1993 expansion draft produced two weak franchises with the Marlins and Rockies, neither team ever having an extended run of success during all this time.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 2, 2024 22:12:41 GMT -5
No thanks, I don't want to sit here watching the wheels go round and round (all the baserunners circling the bases from walk after walk after walk, lol). You don't want to visualize whirled Speas? Strange days indeed.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 2, 2024 22:00:51 GMT -5
TrotNixom Garcia.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 1, 2024 19:57:48 GMT -5
Reid Detmers is pretty good Reid Detmers is pretty good....at giving up HRs in AAA, lol. Thought he'd be an established big leaguer by now.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 1, 2024 15:44:23 GMT -5
Regarding our unsigned free agents. 1) Pivetta I would keep and make the QO. That way we could end up with a valuable 2nd round pick or if Pivetta accepts only a one year commitment to him. 2) O'Neil is fun, hits some bombs, but he is expendable. If a team sees a fit and we could get an interesting prospect I would do it. 3) Jansen and Martin are not expendable in my mind, regardless of where the Sox are in the race. A solid back end of the pen is so important for holding leads. The still young core of starting pitchers need to have the lead protected when they come out of games. If Liam Hendricks is himself, then we know who the 2025 closer will be. As far as buying this deadline, I still would want it to be for player(s) that can help in 2024 and at least 2025 as well. Diaz from the Rays is the best idea I have seen floated recently, but the Rays are hanging in there so far. If they trade Jansen and Martin, then Slaten, Kelly, and Bernardino will become the back end of the pen, and that would actually mark an improvement. (The front end of the pen would be worse in that scenario, of course; all I'm saying is that if you think there's some special importance to not losing the lead in the 8th or 9th inning they wouldn't actually be in worse shape in this scenario.) One of the reasons I'd be inclined to trade Jansen and Martin is that I think a pen of Slaten, Kelly, Bernardino, Weissert, Booser, Hendriks, and Winckowski if they don't need him in the rotation would be totally fine. Maybe keep Martin if you really want that added depth.
None of those guys are used to pitching in high leverage high pressure situations in the heat of a pennant race, being THE guy everybody looks to to nail down a 4-3 lead in the 9th. If they're trying to won this year, Jansen is the guy. You cant be experimenting with that stuff in August and risk turning a stable position into a roulette wheel. I'll end there because I know your view on relievers and it'll just go round and round from there. I don't think the primary set up and particularly the closers role is as interchangeable as you think it is. I have a feeling the numbers for the pen crew might not be as good if the light was shined on then the way it gets turned on for closers. It can be easier to succeed when working anonymously. And I would not hand back the closers role to Hendriks because who know how healthy and effective he'll be coming off surgery? If the Sox truly dont think they have much of a shot at winning then yeah trade Kenley, Martin, Pivetta and O'Neill, but if they think they can win then you go with your best team. We'll know more in a month depending upon where they are in the standings. At this moment I'd be in slight buy mode. A month ago I was in sell mode. Let's see where they are around 7/25.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jul 1, 2024 6:34:32 GMT -5
It would have to be for a starter that has multiple years of control who you can then sign to an extension. I don't know if Crochet is the guy honestly, like I said it depends on how much breslow and co like him going forward. I think Skubal falls under that category too. My larger point is just how painful of a trade are people willing to make to get a legit, cost controlled starting pitcher? Any package for them starts with one of Mayer/Anthony, and then you would have to start adding on from there. I would guess 1 pitcher and 1 more position player that are all in the top 15, and that is the minimum. I honestly don't know if I would make that, at some point Breslow is going to need to take some big swings though.
Yeah, i’m pretty much always against the idea of trading top 20 position player prospects for pitchers. It’s probably the wrong stance to have and they *probably* need to do it at some point but the injury risk is just way too high for me to feel good about it. Obviously i would do it if it didn’t involve Mayer or Anthony but that package isn’t getting it done for an elite guy. I just wouldnt do that at this point. Use the money to sign a free agent pitcher. Let the kids come up and establish themselves. Then you can deal from surplus if need be to get the pitcher if you have to. Trading any of the Big 3 plus others for a pitcher isnt worth it. Starters pitch 160 innings, are usually gone by the 6th inning, the pen, made up of variable flamethrowers, is where the games are too often won and lost, to invest too much of the farm system for. Then these 160 inning pitchers break down very quickly these days and ten minutes later its TJS time. It's not like theyd be dealing for some 200 plus innings guy who really would impact the rotation that much. Starting pitching is crucial but the impact is a lot less these days as the pen absorbs a larger percentage of the innings, at least not enough to part with needed blue chippers. At some point, yeah if the Big 3 established themselves and you have a blocked prospect coming up behind them, sure, that prospect is on the package, but they have to first let their young talent assert themselves in the majors. Use their money instead of prospect capital to land the big pitcher they need. They can trade from their second tier of prospects to replace a Pivetta for next year. Yes they wouldn't get an ace but they could use their surplus to get a young pitcher with upside.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 19:17:55 GMT -5
Throws 100, can't throw strikes. 4th team in 2024. All im say-ing.. is give Speas a chance. Who's with me? No thanks, I don't want to sit here watching the wheels go round and round (all the baserunners circling the bases from walk after walk after walk, lol).
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 19:16:30 GMT -5
Yankees are also struggling True, but they're still playing .600 ball and not wondering if they should buy or sell.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 16:25:13 GMT -5
I want to like this team and get behind them but they pull this crap as if getting into a 3rd will card is ratified air and they then retreat. They shouldn't be getting their ass kicked at home like this on consecutive days against a meh team.
Theyve literally been unwatchable the last five days between the rain out, day off, freaking Apple TV where I at least didn't spend money to see them get smoked and now today where I'm tuning out midway through the game. Too bad.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 16:04:24 GMT -5
The Sox have been a no show at home against a so-so Padres team so far. Disappointing.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 11:34:52 GMT -5
If the Red Sox are trading Jansen away its signaling that they're not trying to win this year. I wouldn't be eager to turn over the closer's role to an inexperienced pitcher nor am I confident Hendriks is coming back at full strength If the Sox really believe that once they have Casas back they can compete with anybody then they need to have their best team out there rather than opening up holes. If a three weeks from now they are struggling, about 5 games in back of the 3rd wild card spot and more holes, whether it's from more injuries or underperformance, open up than they could reasonably plug,then sure extract big value from Kenley, but if they're seriously in it to win it without having to mortgage their future, then their best version of themselves has Jansen closing. Right now I wouldn't deal him but if things change for the worse obviously you do. I don't care what the signal is, moving Kenley barely affects their odds this season and helps them in all the following ones. I'd only do it (at this point) if the return is better than average, but I'm all for buying and selling. I know you dont but the manager, players, and most other fans do. Kenley is not perfect but for the most part he's done a pretty good job of not turning wins into deflating losses. Trade him and sone of those wins will turn into 9th inning losses unless Hendriks is back to his old self. Now if the Sox arent squarely in the mix, then who cares? Or if Breslow looks at the team and says, yeah it would take a miracle for this team to have a real chance to win, even if they're in the mix, then yeah, ok,iregardless of what the manager, players, and fanbase thinks. I'd be ok with that logic. But if he sees a team headed for 90 wins with Casas returning and other doable improvements, then it would make no sense to weaken the team. And the buying and selling thing gets you nowhere, just stuck in neutral, wishy washy half assing things That's why Breslow says he'll pick a lane. I'd guess that's one of the prerequisites of the job. Bloom really didnt pick a Lane and it cost him his job. Breslow will go a different road or lane most likely.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 10:31:23 GMT -5
Personally I hope Breslow is using this series to lube Preller up to send us something the Padres will regret for Jansen If the Red Sox are trading Jansen away its signaling that they're not trying to win this year. I wouldn't be eager to turn over the closer's role to an inexperienced pitcher nor am I confident Hendriks is coming back at full strength If the Sox really believe that once they have Casas back they can compete with anybody then they need to have their best team out there rather than opening up holes. If a three weeks from now they are struggling, about 5 games in back of the 3rd wild card spot and more holes, whether it's from more injuries or underperformance, open up than they could reasonably plug,then sure extract big value from Kenley, but if they're seriously in it to win it without having to mortgage their future, then their best version of themselves has Jansen closing. Right now I wouldn't deal him but if things change for the worse obviously you do.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 8:51:57 GMT -5
Hard to say what they should do.
Looking over the team, starting pitching is finally becoming the issue that was worried about with one huge exception in that Houck has emerged as an ace.
Pivetta is what he is, a guy who can pitch a shutout and look like an ace or get bombed and look like a back end starter. He has stretches where I think, ok he has turned a corner, but he never maintains it. He's a mid rotation guy. Crawford is kind of there with him and Bello should be and isnt. Criswell has been serviceable as a 5.
They need a guy they can put 1 or 2 in the rotation but a trade for a guy like that would be painful and result in a price I'd rather not see them pay, which is why I prefer free agency.
They need defensive help in the infield. Rafael's presence in the outfield turns that unit's defense into a major strength and it keeps O'Neill who is injury prone at the DH spot whole displacing Yoshida who has done very little this year.
Hamilton is ok at SS and probably would fix the defense at 2b where Valdez has not been good. Whether the answer is more Romy at SS or go outside the organization, it's something they should look at if they want to get better. You can argue there's nobody to get or the upgrade would be minimal. It's fair to argue that theyd be competing against too many teams to improve that issue. But I think it's very hard to argue that the Sox havent been seriously undermined by their infield defense.
While all of that is true I worry about the cost and have no desire to see the Sox mortgage their future.
This is where judgment comes in and figuring out which prospects will make it and be contributors to your team. I'm not good at that - gee maybe that's why they don't pay me to do the job.
A guy like Jhostynxon Garcia spins my head around and I reflexively think dont trade the Garcia brothers. They're both in our long term plans. Maybe they are. Maybe they arent because the Sox have better options or because they'd get exposed as they go up the levels or to the majors. I wouldnt be good in a role like that for that reason.
My instinct is that in the not too distant future Mayer will be the SS, Wong is having a career year and by time Teel is really ready will be regressing a bit but should form a nice tandem and might be athletic enough to steal ABs at other positions every now and then.
I think eventually Anthony will make Abreu expendable but not now and probably not over the winter. I like Abreu but think he's a good strong half of a platoon. While he might function better as a leadoff hitter against righties with a higher OBP than Duran, with his ability to walk, I think Duran is such a spark plug you have to pencil him in as the leadoff hitter/LF until he hits free agency. I'm not sure he'll be somebody to extend longer than a season or two. I don't see him here until he's 36. In about 4 or 5 years I can see LF being open.
I dont know where Campbell fits in or if the concerns about his swing and cheating to get to pitches would expose him in the majors. I worry that in a deal Campbell would be the one who goes.
Right now 2b is wide open and Campbell has a path there and the DH spot is unsettled even with Yoshida and his contract around, not that I see Campbell as a DH. But Campbell offers RH power, something the lineup sorely lacks. They've been picking up short term stop gaps like Renfroe, Duvall, and O'Neill. Campbell could fill that role, but is he the 2b?
Or is it Grissom? The Sox paid down a good portion of Sales' deal thinking the minor league hitting track record shows a Pedroia-ish possibility offensively at 2b, although scouts are probably more luke warm towards him.
Those are the more immediate impacts I'd be hesitant to part with but I'd even struggle with trading Cespedes or Bleis as well, as both have huge potential as I wonder if Cespedes could be a middle of the order RH masher. I do wonder about Bleis, whether he's this generation's Michael Coleman or if he is somebody who eventually joins Rafaela, assuming he hits enough, and Anthony in the outfield as Duran nears the end of his time here.
There are others. Lugo could probably help next years team and Blaze Jordan might surprise but I'd find it easier to deal them than the others, but who wouldn't? I'm not sure who the must keeps are among Arias, Zannatello, or Mikey Romero. What does Coffey's power surge mean?
This is why I couldnt be GM. I'd hang on to the kids too long and a number of them woul decline and lose value and fall by the wayside. That's why somebody with far better judgment than me would need to sit in that chair. And I certainly do expect somebody with great judgment to be the decision maker. I'd just too damn emotional and I certainly dont have the crystal ball that I think a PoBO and his staff must have in making these decisions.
I'll just piss and moan here if they trade away one of my guys I dont want to lose, or do absolutely nothing when a little something might have been more helpful. Tough needle to thread.
My overall feeling is if they're in it and can find a marginal upgrade that doesnt hurt the future, do that than an impact move now that takes away a real piece of the future. Meanwhile I will hope there's a Aldo for Schwarber slam dunk type of deal to be had.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 29, 2024 8:11:24 GMT -5
Orlando Cepeda has passed away. RIP. Really tough week for Giants fans of a certain age. Orlando Cepeda also happened to be the first DH the Red Sox ever had. He was their DH in 1973 and put up his last solid season. Despite playing well, he and fellow veteran HOF-to-be Luis Aparicio, were both dumped anyways as the Sox were transitioning to a youth movement. Carlton Fisk took over the catching duties in 1972 and won ROY, while Dwight Evans had taken over RF by 1973. Cepeda's departure allowed playing time at DH for a young Cecil Cooper while Aparicio's departure opened up a spot for a rookie Rick Burleson. By the end of 1974, 2 more rookies were getting a cup of coffee in Hope's they could impact 1975, Fred Lynn and Jim Rice. Meanwhile, Carl Yastrzemski was a veteran who remained forever young.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 28, 2024 19:38:27 GMT -5
Great day not to watch the game.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 28, 2024 12:07:44 GMT -5
This list is helpful - and the more-likely-than-not sellers list is starting to grow a bit. The Rangers and Tigers are 7 games back of the last wild card. And even in the NL you’re starting to see teams drop below that 2-3 games back margin. Is there anyone on this list ya’ll reckon could be had for cheap that they could buy low on? I’m actually kinda curious about Blake Snell, who has thrown 22 innings between groin injuries. He has not been good in those 22 innings, but he’s still getting swing and miss. Is that someone you could acquire if the Giants punt, get him healthy, and hope to ride for 2.5 good months? (That he has a player option complicates any deal for him ALOT.) For reasons I've given, I think the list of front-line starters is basically the only one that's relevant to the Red Sox. So that would be: I could see any of these other than Montas being a worthwhile pickup if the price is right, but I'd generally be reticent to buy in a seller's market on any rental when the Red Sox don't have a realistic shot at winning the division. I do think the Snell idea is kind of interesting but if the Giants don't eat any of the contract that would push the Red Sox over the LTT, no? I don't think they want to do that, and I don't think it makes a lot of sense to do that at this point. However, the funniest thing they could do would be to add Jordan Montgomery with Arizona eating some of his salary.
And here, I'll make it easy on redsoxchamps by listing all the middle infielders that might be available and he can tell us which one he thinks the Red Sox should add: Bichette Rengifo Rosario DeJong Kiner-Falefa Tim Anderson Jeff McNeil Javy Baez
No idea. I said they could use a defensive boost and the amount of playing time for that boost depends upon their plans for Grissom later on this year, as in are they looking for a backup infielder or looking to shift Hamilton to 2b and get a guy playing pretty regularly at SS? Again, dont know the plan. Which guy? Couldnt tell you. Dont know who's really better than who defensively. I'm sure ths Sox brass can figure that out better than I could. Did you consider that perhaps your list of candidates isnt complete? Maybe there's somebody in AAA who is blocked and could help? Who knows? I mean was Pablo Reyes on your radar last year when the Sox brought him in? I had never heard of him, but he did help them last year even if he wore iut his welcome this year. Maybe there is nobody better than Romy. Hard for me to know because defensively he has moved around so much I haven't been able to come up with an opinion on his defense at SS. Dont know but I do know that I've read Breslow has been looking at SS at starting pitching so maybe it's not THAT far fetched that he might think there could be an upgrade there. But of course, at what cost and would it be worth it?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 27, 2024 21:27:21 GMT -5
Check out the MFY score lol Alex Verdugo has gone ice cold since his World Series walkoff level celebration at Fenway and the Yanks lineup is so shallow right now they had to bat him cleanup. It’s a beautiful thing. I've always theorized that when Verdugo tries to hit HRs and succeeds it royally screws him up and results in a summer of endless ground balls to 2b. I'll guess he was trying to homer against the Sox, succeeded, and kept on trying to jack one, and put himself in a massive slump. Verdugo being Verdugo, the reason I guess why Verdugo has yet to become the player he could have been.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 27, 2024 21:04:16 GMT -5
Monty in 2024: 65.2 innings, 6.03 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 6.17 K/9, 3.15 BB/9. I can’t imagine Boras keeping him from signing and doing a regular spring training did him any favors, but Monty is also likely past the point of “building up”. It’s not like he has a bad pitching coach you can point to either - Brent Strom knows his stuff. Imagine if we'd gone over the lux tax for this (or the equally disastrous Snell). Maybe Montgomery could have used spring training. Score another one for Scott Boras, screwed over his client financially and put him in the best position to fail so he could extract a ridiculous contract his client was never going to get. In the owners vs the players war I'm usually on team players but Boras almost makes me want to go the other way.
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