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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 27, 2024 19:48:49 GMT -5
In what way did they get worse? They had a .700 winning percentage after the trade and a .605 winning percentage for the season. They definitely got better. Can that be put 100% on the shoulders of Orlando Cabrera and Doug Monkeywrench's defense? No, I wouldn't go that far, but they didn't get worse. They got worse at shortstop. Other things got better. But now we’re really getting side tracked No, they actually got better. As Tek said, "our guy (Cabrera) plays EVERY day". That was huge. By Aug 2004 Nomar was missing a lot of games and was in a situation where there was real concern he could miss a lot more. Yeah he could still hit, but his defense was severely limited. Cabrera played steady defense and held his own offensively. Dont know if you recall, but the Sox were getting killed by their erratic defense as August 2004 approached. Yes, they had defensive wiz Pokey Reese to play SS in Nomars absence but Cabrera provided defense about as good as Pokey's and provided more offense. Plus his presence allowed Pokey to defense for Mark Bellhorn at 2b, greatly strengthening two key defensive positions. The other addition in the deal, Mientkiewicz, provided a gold glove upgrade at 1b from defensive liability Millar. Roberts also was acquired and provided solid defense in RF, along with Kapler, until Nixon returned, and then provided a late inning glove for Manny as well. And oh yeah, he could run. That team got better because the defense started making the plays, which allowed the pitchers to attack the strike zone, stay longer in the games, and reduced the stress on the pen. I wasnt excited about that Nomar deal at the time. I was resigned to it, but who knows if the huge ripple effect would have taken place had Nomar remained? I seriously tend to doubt it. I think vastly improved defense was a huge difference maker. I think Theo made a great diagnosis oh what ailed that team and resolved the issue. And its certainly something that could help this year's team. I have no idea who Breslow should target for SS. That's his job, not mine. He gets paid to resolve those issues. I dont. But I have been heartened to read that Breslow is looking for starting pitching and SS help. Perhaps he sees what I see?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 27, 2024 14:22:14 GMT -5
Every team is improveable. Stop acting like the Sox are some 120 win juggernaut. They're not. Nor are all the other teams. I threw a name out there in Tyler Anderson. I would not die on the hill for Tyler Anderson. Doesnt have to be Tyler Anderson. You're so busy throwing projection stats at me and ignoring real life results there is a possibility that his peripherals could improve - they're not written in stone any more than his actual numbers are. Again, not a hill I'd die on, but a larger point is there are pitchers available who could improve this unapproveabke team. The more important question is would it be worth what they likely give up? I've already admitted to my prospect hugging ways so I'd be squeamish on dealing guys I believe in that can impact this team over the next 5 years, so in the end I think we actually agree that making smaller marginal moves makes more sense than being risky with the future. When I mentioned defensive SS it was either the idea that Hamilton slides to 2b on place of Valdez. I'd slide Hamilton back to SS if Grissom was ready to come up and be who I think he can be, which he isnt and wont be for awhile. In any event I wouldnt mind a modern day Pokey Reese coming off the bench for late inning defense if Grissom is part of the plan or a better quality SS if Hamiltin becomes the 2b. I really feel like it should be clear from context that when I say they're unimprovable, I am not saying they're a 120 win team; I mean they can't be improved through any reasonable and practical means. I bet the Cubs would take Mayer, Anthony, and Teel for Dansby Swanson and then, boom, Red Sox would be improved. But that would not be a reasonable and practical trade. Likewise, "modern day Pokey Reese" is not a reasonable and practical trade target because unless I'm overlooking someone there is no such player who will be available. I explicitly made an exception for the possibility that a fairly high-profile pitching addition could improve the team, so I'm not sure why you're still trying to convince me of that. Another pitching injury could intensify the need too. And I can't rule out that they might do something outside-the-box on the position player side involving some buying and selling. The "problem," though, is that once Casas comes back they're basically solid at every position on the roster so even where upgrades are theoretically possible they're only going to be marginal upgrades and therefore not worth the prospect cost; and any more minor moves (like the DeJong proposal) won't actually make the team better.
You're telling me that the Sox shouldn't be able to find a SS who can play SS a lot better defensively than Valdez can play 2b and also a step up from Hamilton at SS? Maybe not Pokey Reese, but somebody that's a big defensive upgrade who isnt a complete zero with the bat? I dont buy that. The Sox biggest weakness is their team defense. Moving Hamilton to 2b would be an upgrade over Valdez and playing a SS who is better defensively than Hamilton shouldn't be a stretch. Depending upon what they plan on doing with Grissom, whether it's a mediocre hitting good fielding SS or a late inning glove wiz, it would be a useful improvement for the team to have.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 27, 2024 11:53:51 GMT -5
The team is certainly improveable. All teams are improveable. The question is what is available, what is the cost, and is it worth it? That said, I have no desire to see any of Mayer, Anthony, Teel, Campbell, Cespedes, or even Bleis get dealt. And I'm not eager to deal youngsters like Abreu, Hamilton, or Rafaela. I think dealing Grissom away would be short sighted So that leaves you a quantity of second tier prospects to deal to improve the current team, which I think should add, rather than subtract, given their emergence, but without giving up any of the guys I listed I doubt there is much in the way of sizeable upgrades to improve the roster. But I am an admitted prospect hugger so i wouldn't be great at the judgment thing like a good PoBO should be. My hope is that Grissom gets healthy, rakes in AAA and becomes the 2b with Hamilton at SS, O'Neill becoming the primary DH with Duran in LF and Rafaela in CF. But if that doesnt work a stop gap SS who can play good defense without being an automatic out would help. And yes starter, perhaps Tyler Anderson, ir maybe a rental would come cheaper, a short-term who could slot in behind Houcj and ahead of Pivetta, Crawford and Bellp, but theyd probably have to give up players I'd hate to give up. You tell me the team is improvable, and then you recommend Tyler Anderson, who would actively make the team worse. He somehow has a 2.63 ERA but that is about the fool's goldiest ERA I've ever seen because look at the rest of these numbers: 5.9 K/9 4.2 BB/9 4.71 xERA 4.77 FIP 5.28 xFIP As for the shortstop, who would it be that would improve on the combination of Hamilton and Romy? I don't see that player out there. Anyway, like I said they might be able to make a marginal improvement by adding a starting pitcher, especially if certain teams fall out of the playoff hunt, which will probably happen in the next month. But there's no obvious hole to fill, and nothing at all they can really do on the position player side. But if it's a seller's market (and with so few sellers it probably will be) I wouldn't want Breslow to force anything if it's not a good deal for the long term. Which is why I don't like Cora putting that much more pressure on him to do so.
Every team is improveable. Stop acting like the Sox are some 120 win juggernaut. They're not. Nor are all the other teams. I threw a name out there in Tyler Anderson. I would not die on the hill for Tyler Anderson. Doesnt have to be Tyler Anderson. You're so busy throwing projection stats at me and ignoring real life results there is a possibility that his peripherals could improve - they're not written in stone any more than his actual numbers are. Again, not a hill I'd die on, but a larger point is there are pitchers available who could improve this unapproveabke team. The more important question is would it be worth what they likely give up? I've already admitted to my prospect hugging ways so I'd be squeamish on dealing guys I believe in that can impact this team over the next 5 years, so in the end I think we actually agree that making smaller marginal moves makes more sense than being risky with the future. When I mentioned defensive SS it was either the idea that Hamilton slides to 2b on place of Valdez. I'd slide Hamilton back to SS if Grissom was ready to come up and be who I think he can be, which he isnt and wont be for awhile. In any event I wouldnt mind a modern day Pokey Reese coming off the bench for late inning defense if Grissom is part of the plan or a better quality SS if Hamiltin becomes the 2b.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 26, 2024 23:04:23 GMT -5
Cranky rain delay opinion: Cora presided over two consecutive years of the team basically quitting in the last quarter of the season. Yeah, Duran and Casas got hurt and they only added one player at the trade deadline last year, but is that why the Red Sox finished *11 games* out of the wild card when they were only 2 games out at the trade deadline? Those consecutive collapses may have caused the last GM his job. So I don't *love* Cora raising expectations and putting public pressure on his GM to be aggressive at the trade deadline. Especially considering that the team is basically unimprovable (barring a fairly major starting pitcher addition). The team is certainly improveable. All teams are improveable. The question is what is available, what is the cost, and is it worth it? That said, I have no desire to see any of Mayer, Anthony, Teel, Campbell, Cespedes, or even Bleis get dealt. And I'm not eager to deal youngsters like Abreu, Hamilton, or Rafaela. I think dealing Grissom away would be short sighted So that leaves you a quantity of second tier prospects to deal to improve the current team, which I think should add, rather than subtract, given their emergence, but without giving up any of the guys I listed I doubt there is much in the way of sizeable upgrades to improve the roster. But I am an admitted prospect hugger so i wouldn't be great at the judgment thing like a good PoBO should be. My hope is that Grissom gets healthy, rakes in AAA and becomes the 2b with Hamilton at SS, O'Neill becoming the primary DH with Duran in LF and Rafaela in CF. But if that doesnt work a stop gap SS who can play good defense without being an automatic out would help. And yes starter, perhaps Tyler Anderson, ir maybe a rental would come cheaper, a short-term who could slot in behind Houcj and ahead of Pivetta, Crawford and Bellp, but theyd probably have to give up players I'd hate to give up.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 26, 2024 11:32:41 GMT -5
They signed Hendriks with the plan of having him close next season. Assuming the Sox arent bringing back Kenley - cant see them spending 20 plus million on 2 mid 30s relievers who can both close. Hopefully they reallocate the money as part of free agent signing for a top notch starter. With what Hendriks is being paid, he very easily could work in a setup/highest-leverage role. For context, he'll make less than what they're paying Martin this year. Just a question. Chris Martin has never been an established closer. Wouldnt a guy with the incredible track record that Hendriks has, sign with the intent of being the closer, rather than a set up man like Martin? I hope we get the chance to see Hendriks set up Kenley, that Hendriks is healthy and effective come August and Kenley is still wearing a Red Sox uniform, that the Sox were buyers rather than sellers. I just find it unlikely that Jansen is back next year and that they invest $16 million or even more to retain Jansen or get an established closer, which Hendriks has already been. I'd think theyd choose to allocate their money on a top notch starter and hopefully be in the chase for Burnes, Fried, or even Sasaki if he gets free agency.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 25, 2024 22:18:25 GMT -5
Alex Speier had an article today talking to Kenley about his desire to win in Boston: www.bostonglobe.com/2024/06/25/sports/red-sox-kenley-jansen/?event=event25Obviously like everything discussed here, things will come down to where the Sox are in the standings. But I kinda wonder why we should assume the team can’t just like… resign Kenley knext year? He’ll be 37, but it’s not like there isn’t a precedent of a Hall of Fame closer throwing almost exclusively cutters aging gracefully. They signed Hendriks with the plan of having him close next season. Assuming the Sox arent bringing back Kenley - cant see them spending 20 plus million on 2 mid 30s relievers who can both close. Hopefully they reallocate the money as part of free agent signing for a top notch starter.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 22:36:25 GMT -5
Duran now leading the AL in doubles and triples. Leading MLB in triples and behind only Alec Bohm in doubles. And that doesnt factor in how many singles he has turned into "doubles" via stolen bases and perhaps a few doubles he turned into "triples" too.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 22:33:44 GMT -5
Tyler Anderson could be a target and the Angels are not known for making brilliant transactions, so maybe there's a reasonable trade to be had.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 22:30:19 GMT -5
Spectacular win. Have to admit. When Campbell gave up that bomb to Vlad Jr, I turned to the hockey game to see if Edmonton could pull an 04 Red Sox- they couldn't.
I know the Jays pen sucks, but I figured they could manage 6 outs without blowing that night a lead. Nope.
The Sox have been amazing the past couple of weeks and fought back with a vengeance and the Jays defense melted.
A couple of other observations.
Havent seen Isaiah Campbell in a long time. Cant say I missed him. I thought he'd be better than that when they traded for him. Unlike many others who panned out, he hasn't. He doesnt belong on a post season roster.
If the Sox do require a RH bat down the road, while there is no premier RH bat to get, if they needed a RH hitting DH, Vlad Jr might be a guy to take a look at.
The guy has declined big time from what he was, but maybe there's an improvement to be had. I'm not sure if he's underachieving his talent or if more likely he is what he is now. I think Boston would appeal to him - I think he loathes the Yankees if my memory serves.
Not saying the Sox must get him down the road. Just saying I still feel like there's more there than he has shown, as that blast reminds me of. Who knows? Just something to consider if he came at a reasonable price and contract term if he filled a need. Somebody to keep in mind.
One last thing, duh...Duran and Hamilton have been a lethal 1-2. With all the mixing and matching he's done, I dont think the great job Alex Cora has done should be underestimated.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 17:43:34 GMT -5
What did Booser do to deserve to get demoted? It's good that they have a lot of pen depth, but its tough to see guys pitching well get demoted. Not about that, they need arms that can throw after the bullpen day and he pitched three straight days. I get that but that means they're down on the farm for at least 10 days which brings me to the original question of why was Criswell demoted in the first place? They could have avoided a bullpen day.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 17:29:43 GMT -5
Cam Booser was demoted to make room for Isaiah Campbell.
Keller goes down for Winckowski.
Kind of tough for two guys in Criswell and Booser who spent a lot of time in the minors get sent back after pitching so well in the majors.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 17:25:40 GMT -5
What did Booser do to deserve to get demoted?
It's good that they have a lot of pen depth, but its tough to see guys pitching well get demoted.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 16:45:52 GMT -5
Everyone seems to have decided that today is the time to come to conclusions about exactly what kind of player Yoshida is. I don't think it could possibly be a *worse* time. He was out for over a month and a half, they gave him one rehab game, and he's gotten 37 PAs since getting back. Why the need to decide Right. Now. what he is and what they ought to do with him? Reminder: in his last 36 PAs *before* hitting the IL, he was hitting .344/.417/.563. It's more complicated than that. It impacts where Rafaela plays defensively as it impacts both the infield and outfield defense. A healthy Yoshida probably shows more than he has this year but if Valdez is hitting, are they better off moving Rafaela, Hamilton, and Duran back and forth between two positions?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 24, 2024 15:17:40 GMT -5
Could SS be our biggest need other than a starter? Would free up Ceddanne. to play CF full time. DH TON. Use Masa strategically. DH against a tough righty. Can rest TON or Ceddanne. A slick-fielding SS could really upgrade D at two spots. With Ceddanne in CF playing at a gold glove level there. I don't think the Red Sox are playing Rafaela at short because they need him there, I think they're doing it because they have too many good outfielders. You want to start all of Duran, O'Neill, Abreu, and Rafaela on most days, the only way to do it is to play Rafaela at shortstop, or DH one of the outfielders but they also are trying to get Yoshida going and they want to play Refsnyder against every lefty. Hamilton's been okay enough defensively at short for a while now IMO. Hate to say it but if Valdez is hitting then they're better off with Hamilton manning SS, Rafaela in CF with Duran and Abreu/Refsnyder in the corners and O'Neill getting the DH atbats. Yoshida is providing next to nothing. Should Valdez struggle then they could go back to Rafaela at SS, and move O'Neil back to LF and shift Duran to CF. But for now, I'd go with Valdez over Yoshida. I honestly dont know if Yoshida is completely healthy. Seems like they just threw him back in the lineup without getting more rehab ABs, moreso than even Grissom.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 23, 2024 22:56:24 GMT -5
This seems so absurd that i find it impossible to believe its true. It's not that implausible. In 1901, a man in his mid 50s or older, could very well have served in the Union army. He's probably exaggerating a bit to make a point about how freaking long ago 1901 was, but its not that unlikely that there were some patrons in the stands who had been Civil War vets.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 23, 2024 19:17:10 GMT -5
I figured that 6 game stretch against Philly and NY would be sink or swim. Well, they swam quite swimmingly.
They look more like a high 80s win team than the high 80s loss team I worried they'd be.
I think David Hamilton's unexpected emergence has played a key part in all this. Add in Duran improving upon last year and Rafaela starting to hit, the Sox create enough traffic on the bases to wreak havoc, as now their speed and athleticism has emerged.
Also, while the rotation has tapered off as expected, its still hanging in there, and it's the pen that has been solid.
No names like Slaten, Weissert, Kelly, and Booser have done the job. Having 4 unprovens pitching well is not something that always happens. Bernardino has picked up where he left off last year, which was hardly a given.
And Kenley has been nails. Hopefully Martin and eventually Hendrik provide an even bigger boost and they can dump Anderson and maybe Keller or replace him with Criswell if they pick up a starter at the deadline.
At this point their biggest need is a middle of the order slugging 1b. If Casas can come back healthy he'd be a big addition.
Just as an aside, this is how screwy baseball can be.
Grissom hits .320 everywhere yet cant hit his way out of a paper bag so far. Meanwhile, David Hamilton is a .250 hitter in the minors yet here he is hitting. 280 in the majors when the league struggles to hit .240.
Two opposite outcomes of two expectations.
I still think Grissom will eventually be a .280 - .300 hitter in the majors and Hamilton's bat will taper off, which would still allow him to be a very useful guy off the bench.
But for now Hamilton has been a difference maker in making the Red Sox go.
When the Sox play like crap I have no problem saying so but when they're playing well like they are now I certainly have no problem saying so. They have been quite exciting over the past two weeks and are playing extremely well. Get Casas back, add a starter through a trade who can slot in between Houck and Crawford if possible - a rental would be fine, and if they can improve defensively, they could become quite the handful.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 23, 2024 12:57:57 GMT -5
Yankees acquired JD Davis They needed to do something about 1st, Rizzo has been pretty awful. Their 3b situation isnt that great either, so he should get plenty of playing time there, too.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 23, 2024 12:55:12 GMT -5
Yankees acquired JD Davis Too bad. Would have been a nice piece off the bench and have been useful in Casas' absence.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 23, 2024 9:22:34 GMT -5
To my own surprise, I think the Red Sox in this (as you note unlikely) hypothetical… say no? Duran has been mildly more valuable (3.1 fWAR, 3.9 bWAR), than Kirby (2.1 fWAR, 1.2 bWAR) or Gilbert (2.2 fWAR, 2.3 bWAR) this season. Duran and Kirby are free agents in 2029, Gilbert a year earlier. Combined with the “elbow tax” of never knowing if or when one of those guys might need a visit with Dr. James Andrews and miss a year and a half, if this is what Jarren Duran is now he is just frankly a better asset than those two arms. I don't think this team is one ML front of the line pitcher away from being a legit WS contender and especially if you remove at least the 2nd best position player from the roster. Also for reasons you point out I'm not dealing duran for Gilbert or Kirby or pretty much any pitcher due to the risk of injury to pitchers is so high. I'd rather just play out this year and make a run at burnes/fried/sasaki. If they pull off signing one of them they're golden. That's where I'm at. I'd rather they risk big money on a pitcher blowing out than risk losing top guys likely to be valuable/needed players in a trade for top of the line pitching. For a lesser tier pitcher I'd be more willing to trade the lesser tier excess depth, not that the Red Sox have actually asked me for my opinion, lol.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 22, 2024 23:02:02 GMT -5
compared to his season from hell, he is a completely different player. its also another example of why you (not you specifically) cant give up on players so quickly. Houck and Hamilton are other examples of players who take time to get adjusted to the big leagues Depends on the player. People giving up on Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec would be right. Giving up on Duran turned out to be wrong. I was at that point. My biggest concern with him wasnt his bat as much as it was his awful defense in the outfield. It was easy to see that he had the speed to play CF, but who knew if he could be an adequate outfielder? Then factor in if he was restricted to LF where his speed is minimized and more emphasis gets put on his bat, would he hit enough to justify a spot in LF compared to somebody who could smash 20 plus HRs per year? His trying to sell out for power certainly wasnt working. But to his everlasting credit, his defense improved dramatically, to the point he's a good CF, although he'll still be displaced to LF because of how good Rafaela is in CF. Ideally he'd play RF but his arm isnt made for RF. Still, he worked his ass off and he went back to his old style of hitting and makes up for his modest power by hitting a ton of doubles and triples and turning walks and singles into extra bases via his blazing speed. He's not the .400 OBP type guy leading off, but his OBP is good and when he gets on he finds a way to motor around the bases and score that others with higher OBPs would be hard pressed to match. He's become a good fielding ignitor atop the lineup. He's probably the most electrifying player to watch on the team.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 22, 2024 22:49:35 GMT -5
I think it's eventually its Grissom and Mayer.
Grissom hasn't been right most of the year but his minor league track record of hitting is still strong and the guy is still quite young.
While I can understand those who dont want to count on him I think it woykd be a mistake to give up on him.
I think next year may start with Hamilton and Story up the middle but I think it will wind up with Grissom and Mayer.
I'm guessing Story's growing injury history will plague him at some point next year, too, Hamilton will hit more like a useful utility man next year while Yorke and/or Valdez could wind up being used in trade(s).
My guess is Story gets hurt again, Hamilton who starts off at 2b, shifts to SS, opening up a spot for Grissom and I think he'll run with the opportunity next year. Eventually Mayer forces his way up and relegates Hamilton to backup infielder.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 22, 2024 18:05:46 GMT -5
Duran is the man!
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 22, 2024 17:51:28 GMT -5
Yoshida has been largely unimpressive. I dont think hes completely healthy. Probably could have used a rehab stint in Worcester.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 22, 2024 17:48:10 GMT -5
Fisk never would have had his heroics had Duran been on 3b in the 9th inning of Game 6, 1975. Old time fans know what I'm talking about, lol Duran faster than Denny Doyle? Yup!! Foster, even in shallow LF, pinned against the stands, doesnt throw out Duran. Duran is just too damn fast No extra innings required.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 22, 2024 17:35:06 GMT -5
Fisk never would have had his heroics had Duran been on 3b in the 9th inning of Game 6, 1975. Old time fans know what I'm talking about, lol
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