I wasn’t specifically talking about Rizzo in this instance although of course as you know he’d be perfect. The defense at first has been horrid all year and you’d think they would’ve addressed it in a better manner. Hopefully they’ll go after Rizzo in the offseason and fix the position.
Two of those options were simply using internal pieces to try to patch together a solution. Why not exhaust such ideas before going shopping? I know if the batteries in my TV remote die, I go checking the junk drawer for spares rather than run right out and buy a new pack of AAs. Shaw I don't think belongs in the discussion. He came available out of the blue at a time when acquiring anyone else is impossible. He's a round peg for a round hole. Maybe not an ideal fit, but he costs them nothing and maybe he bridges the gap for a bit.
This. My guess is(and yes, its only a guess) all options for improvement were exhausted, and they settled on what they could realistically get done with the prospects/resources they were willing to deal. I don't doubt that their inability to upgrade the team more than they did may be driving their poor on field play of late, in the sense that they have run out of the ability to overcome some of their flaws any further. I remain extremely skeptical that the deadline moves and non moves had some morale killing effect on the clubhouse. That sounds like a talk radio theory, and I think it's pretty divorced from how a group of independent contractors, all of whom are likely thinking about their next contracts to some degree, actually go about their business.
He's 32 and he's been trending down for the past two seasons. Going after him in the offseason could do the opposite of fixing the position.
Agreed. IMO if there is a morale issue with this team it stems from their inability to play fundamentally sound baseball. We can set the pitching aside for a moment, those poor bastards have their own issues. This team has played horrendous defense, they strike out to much, don't walk enough and I'm not sure if it's been mentioned at all in any of these threads, but the base running is less than desirable. While this calamity coincides with the period following the trade deadline, I have no earthly idea how anyone can suggest that a team that was close to 100 win pace WITH THE PLAYERS THAT THEY HAD gets a collective case of the sads over what was or wasn't done at the deadline.
Yes they will. They're the core of the team, they're not going anywhere. I think a bunch of their defensive issues are solved with a competent defensive 1B. Mitch Moreland elevated the infield defense simply by giving the other guys a reliable target to throw at, and in doing so covered a lot of potential miscues. That's what they've missed the most about him since he's been gone. 14 of the 26 errors Bogaerts and Devers have committed this season have been throwing errors. And it's not just making plays to convert poor throws from errors to outs, it's the confidence instilled by having a good receiver at 1B. The less you feel you have to throw it on a dime, the more often you'll actually throw it on a dime. The less you're concerned about making a perfect throw, the less you rush things and bobble the transfer or try to make a throw before you have the ball secured.
I agree with this.... the Dalbec potential is significant but I don't think it's in the Sox interests to keep exploring it. Of course, we all know he'll go to Tampa or Oakland and figure out some plate discipline and end up an All-Star, right?
SoxProspects has this: "Confident picking out throws in the dirt. Moves well enough for first base. Potential above-average defender there. Drafted as a third baseman but footwork was choppy, lacked range, and looked awkward fielding the ball there given his size."
As much as I would have preferred Dalbec to not have learned his trade in our 2021 L column, his development is a cost the Sox have already paid. Given that he's hitting now, they should have a reasonable upside/downside projection (for both offense and defense) and will trade accordingly.
The curve ball seems like it's still pretty effective, though he's had some bad luck on it. Since 7/1 he has given up a .300 BA with his curve ball but his xBA is .173. From 4/1-7/1 he was getting a .117 BA against on a .164 xBA. So it looks like the curve is roughly the same, he just took a fairly fortunate run and turned it into a decidedly unfortunate run since 7/1.
We can drop it here, though indulge me with a response.
It's time to put this to bed. They're adults who have no lack of confidence in themselves.
Okay, Chief.
Agreed. I’ll add that there’s a pretty good chance that he will tank again. Dalbec was very streaky throughout his minor league seasons and I think it’s reasonable to expect that as long as he’s with the Red Sox we’ll have to live through these boom and bust cycles as we did with JBJ. Of course they’re worse with Dalbec because when he’s not hitting he doesn’t add value with his defense, and even if he eventually does it will be at 1B rather than CF.
And on Robles
Probably a better answer than the real answer which was "who the fuck else were we supposed to go to?"
FWIW, Cora didnt say “We’re not going to pick on the guy.” I’m not sure exactly what he said— the Zoom audio was kind of muffled—but it wasn’t “pick on.”
Ottavino has a 1.4 WHIP and has allowed 19 steals in 49 innings this year. It's not clear anyone deserves the spot except maybe Whitlock. And since he can't pitch back to back days, I have no problem with Cora picking the closer at random.
He also has a 3.02 FIP and hasn't given up a HR all season. And he's pitched well this month.
Seabold, Bello, and Mata, are all legitimate SP prospects in the upper minors. Groome seems poised to be promoted soon to Portland. Mata (TJ surgery) and Groome (injuries, conditioning, makeup) each have major questions to answer, of course. Lower down in the system are other SP who are highly regarded. So while we won’t know for a while whether the system can produce a couple of decent starters, there is more hope than there’s been for a while.
Rodriguez, who had serious repercussions from covid, has been inconsistent this year. He was awful then very good then awful. His last start was dreadful but the three prior to it were very good to excellent. Can we count on him to pitch well the rest of the way? No. Is there a decent chance he’ll have some excellent starts down the stretch and in the post-season? Yes.
I read an article today grading him at 55 defensively. Will look for it for others to reference.
This is looking far ahead, but:
I had the same thought because he was good last year and has closing experience, then I went and checked bref and Brasier has a 19 era in 5 appearances with the Woosox, so I'm not sure he's the answer at closer right now. As far as who he would replace he doesn't necessarily have to replace anyone, rosters will expand to 28 on September 1st anyway, though they would need a 40 man spot for him.
I'd prefer Mariners or A's... then Blue Jays, Yankees, Tampa and Houston.
It’ll be Sale-to-Whitlock if we can help it, but the plus side is that Eovaldi’s handles the Yanks exceptionally well. One of the very lowest wOBA allowed marks against them in baseball since 2018 (.276), which is impressive considering how often he’s faced them.
Seattle’s the favorite. We’d rough up any of their three LHP, leaving Flexen or Logan Gilbert. They’re also worst against southpaws by team of the bunch.
