Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers exited the club’s loss to the White Sox earlier today due to left knee soreness, though manager Alex Cora told reporters (including Tom Caron of NESN) following the game that the club is hopeful that the issue isn’t more serious than that. Caron also relayed comments from Devers himself about the issue. The 27-year-old noted that he would not be in the lineup for tomorrow’s series finale against Chicago but that he hoped to be back in the lineup for the start of the club’s series against the Phillies in Boston on Tuesday.
The news is yet another blow to a club that has dealt with injury woes up and down the lineup all season. Devers has generally been the one consistent offensive presence that the Red Sox have been able to rely on this year. Only Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran have appeared in more games for Boston than Devers this season, and the star third baseman has dominated to the tune of a .286/.376/.563 slash line. That’s good for a 155 wRC+, the seventh highest figure in the AL and fourth among all MLB infielders.
While the Red Sox appear to be optimistic that they’ll only be without that production for a game or two, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Devers’s knee has given him trouble this season. Cora told reporters (including those at the Associated Press) back in April that Devers had undergone an MRI on his left knee and was dealing with a bone bruise. The issue did not require a trip to the injured list but did force Devers to miss five games back in April, and if the injury proves to have worsened it wouldn’t be a shock to see Devers wind up on the IL now that it has flared up again.
With Devers now day-to-day, he finds himself in a similar position as outfielder Tyler O’Neill. O’Neill wasn’t in today’s lineup as he nurses an injured right knee that has caused him to play just three games since May 25. He was briefly placed on the 10-day injured list late last month but was activated early this week only to tweak his knee during yesterday’s loss to the White Sox. Fortunately, the AP notes that Cora told reporters today that the club hopes to avoid sending O’Neill back to the injured list due to the issue and, much like Devers, the hope is he can return to the club’s lineup on Tuesday against Philadelphia.
While O’Neill hasn’t been the offensive juggernaut that Devers has proven to be this season, he’s nonetheless been a key part of the Red Sox offense since arriving in a trade with the Cardinals over the winter. In 44 games with the club this year, the outfielder has slashed .250/.354/.500 with a 133 wRC+ and 11 homers in just 181 trips to the plate. That power production from the right side has been particularly valuable for the Red Sox as they’ve otherwise relied on lefty hitters such as Devers and Wilyer Abreu for their power production this season.
It’s unclear who would replace Devers in the lineup if he were to require a trip to the injured list, as injuries to Vaughn Grissom, Triston Casas, and Trevor Story have severely limited the club’s options around the infield. With David Hamilton handling shortstop duties and Jamie Westbrook splitting time alongside Enmanuel Valdez at the keystone, the club could be left to turn to Bobby Dalbec at the hot corner in the event of an injury to Devers, though they could also utilize Westbrook at third base and move catcher Connor Wong to second as they did to end the game this evening.
Figuring out how the club could handle the loss of O’Neill isn’t nearly as tricky, as the Worcester Red Sox announced this afternoon that outfielder and DH Masataka Yoshida has begun a rehab assignment with them. According to MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, the club hopes that Yoshida will be able to rejoin the Red Sox at some point during this coming week. In the event that O’Neill were to require a return to the injured list, Yoshida could seamlessly replace O’Neill in the club’s outfield/DH mix, taking back his role as the regular DH while Duran, Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder handle the outfield.
Signed out of Japan to a five-year deal prior to the 2023 season, Yoshida has slashed .287/.339/.438 with a 109 wRC+ since his major league career began but appeared in just 24 games before being shelved due to a thumb sprain at the end of April. The 30-year-old seemed to be heating up in his final 48 trips to the plate before hitting the shelf as he slashed a solid .318/.375/.477 across 13 games. If he were to maintain a slash line in that range upon his return to action, that would surely provide the Red Sox with a major boost as they look to rebound from a skid that has left them with a 32-33 record and 1.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.
Breslow scouring the BBB’S as we speak
Randy – Nothing will ever change as long as the condescending and patronizing John Henry is running the team.
I haven’t seen an article here about his first formal Red Sox interview in over four freakin’ years, so I’ll deliver the goods.
Direct quote from Henry: “Fans expect championships almost annually, they easily become frustrated and are not going to buy into what the odds actually are which is 1 in 20 or 1 in 30.”
NO John Henry you condescending patronizing d-bag, Red Sox fans DO NOT expect championships every year.
What we expect from a Top 3 (now Top 4) revenue team is for most years to have a product on the field competitive enough to make the expanded postseason or at least stay in the race until mid-September. Like the Dodgers, Braves and Yankees manage to do nearly every year.
Instead what you’ve given us is a team that has missed the expanded postseason 4 out of the past 5 years, including 3 last place finishes over the past 4 years.
And as for your ignorant “odds” statement, claiming that winning championships is just a crapshoot and that 30 or even 20 teams all have the same chances is the epitome of disingenuous stupidity.
The more John Henry speaks, the more Red Sox Nation can’t stand the guy for his arrogance and blatant hatred of his team’s fanbase.
No team has won more championships than the Red Sox since John Henry bought them.
Expectation should be the most World Series titles with the great support Boston’s fans give. Fans should be questioning the direction of the team the way it has been run the last 5 years.
Expectation should never be the most championships because other teams are trying too. The Dodgers have 1 championship in 30 plus years and that was a shortened season. Yankees have won 1 in the last 20 or so years. Mets nothing. Padres nothing. Jays nothing. Phillies 1 in a rather long period of time. Don’t discredit what they have accomplished.
“with the great support Boston’s fans give”
Can you explain what that means. Is this great fan support were seeing in this comment section? Seems more like the “fans” are trashing the owner, management coaches and even some players on a daily basis.
My point is, that line “great support”, sounds like a rah-rah line every town in America could say. Please eloborate on what makes Boston’s fan support so much greater than other towns. And how you felt a need to point it out as a bonus for why the team should do better than other towns.
KyleT – Top 3 revenue team in MLB perennially over the last, what, 20 years at least? That’s your support.
“Other teams are trying too”.
No kidding.
You don’t expect the team with the most support and nearly the highest revenue in the 21st century to have the most championships. What, was your answer the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nobody here was discrediting anyone else and how you came to that conclusion is baseless. Typically one would expect a Top 3, Top 5 revenue team to be the most successful.
KyleT – Simple answer to why the Boston fans are better. They proved their loyalty over 86 years, found owners who appeared to believe in the team and then suddenly got ghosted by them like a life partner they no longer wanted.
The Red Sox fan base deserves better. Whatever caused the 180 degree turn in support of the fans makes this an issue for the owners today, not their former selves who seemed to get how to support a fan base.
Financial support. Well put. That makes a little more sense.
But using that logic and your “20 year” time frame, the Dodgers, Yankees and Cubs fans should be upset with their teams far more than the Red Sox fans. The Red Sox have 4 WS in the past 20 years, while the Dodgers, Yankees and Cubs have a combined 3.
Yet, year after year, the only team fans with their pitchforks and torches out at this website are the Red Sox fans. You can spin it however you want, but the outrage compared to the team’s end results, just dont add up.
Troll:
“Life Partner” Lol.
Okay, lets explore that relationship from the both sides now. The current ownership comes in and marries the Red Sox fan bases after the fan base has had 3 terrible marriages spanning 86 years. They sweep them off their feet with 4 World Series Championships. But, then they have a down 5 years, while they retool. And they are definitely getting retool, because they are stacked in the minors. But, instead of being content for a little while and saying I can hold on, they’re already saying “I want a divorce, you treat me like garbage”.
In you “Life Partner” scenario, the Red Sox fans are the worst partner. You created this comparison, not me.
KyleT – yes, those teams should be upset.
Fever Pitch has a point when you consider the questionable decisions that started from the very top with ownership.
What team is yours? You are not a redsox fan. 794 straight sellouts the longest in baseball history and that’s with the highest ticket prices for you to not understand why boston fans are angry is proof you are a hater even the staff here has said the anger is justified
I think if you look at the fan support the White Sox are getting in attendance for last place clubs, and compare to the attendance in Boston, you can easily see the difference. At the 60 game mark, the last three years we have been at 500 just like this year and we are headed for a stretch against the better teams in baseball, we seem to be headed for last again. We have not faired well at all this year against the better clubs. Just my opinion.
Highest revenue teams don’t need to suck 4-5 years just to improve the farm system
“794 straight sellouts”
What? Red Sox are in 12th place in attendance in the league. Sellouts are easy. They play in a high school sized park.
Which is also the reason they are able to charge so much for their tickets, Its a supply and demand situation. Not a lot of seats, means you can charge more money.
Do you intentionally look for misleading facts to justify a weak argument.
So what your saying is how can a team with the challenge of having one of the smallest parks in mlb generate top 3 revenue year after year thanks for proving my point you totally fell into it
Mi Casas:
“So what your saying”
So what your saying is Cleveland, KC, Pitt, Cinci should automatically generate more revenue because they have larger parks, regardless of market size.
See dont you love it when people twist your words.
Boston is only the 8th largest market size in MLB but no city or state bears as much natural allegiance to a team nor as much inherent interest in sport for sport’s sake as does Boston. It’s fun watching you twist in the wind with jealousy and you don’t even realize you put your foot in your mouth again as teams like the Dodgers and Yankees have much bigger stadiums and yet are still top 2 in revenue.
NY, LA, SF, Chi, Balt all split markets, by having multiple teams. Once you divide them in half, Red Sox have the 4th largest market. They are literally EXACT where they’re suppose to be.
How many times can you be wrong.
I looked a little further. “Boston Market” is listed as 5.8 million. Thats just the Boston area. Yet, all of New England is 14.85 million. Who are fans rooting for in VT, NH and ME if not the Red Sox? Boston’s Market is waaaay bigger than the listed number. There’s no competition anywhere in New England. Even if you give New York all of Connecticut youre still looking at a market of 11.5 million, putting it at 4th behind LA and NY and Chicago. And all those markets are split between at least 2 teams.
Check and Mate.
Shame you keep digging that hole Philly Dallas-Fort worth atlanta Houston and Toronto all bigger markets
Our friends north of the border have one team for the entire country and you need to learn the population of New England states where are you from UK or some other country
New England:
Area: 71,988 mi²
Population: 14.85 million (2019)
Learn how to use google.
Im pretty sure people in Vancouver are rooting for the Mariners.
Im done. You are much more into trying to find a “gotcha moment” as opposed to talking seriously. Youve been wrong, or used phoney facts so many times now. For example listing ‘sell outs as proof of how popular the team is, It gets old.
Good bye.
Adios hater
Add 5,000 more seats they’d still sell the place out KyleT. Bad point. Boston could probably handle a second franchise playing in the NL again.
Kyle, Vancouver drives to Seattle to cheer for the Blue Jays.
Another bad point.
Blackpink in the area
Expectation should never be the most championships because other teams are trying too.
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If anything, the fact that we are in a division with two huge spenders makes us even more of an underdog.
Mi Casas es tu Casas
Highest revenue teams don’t need to suck 4-5 years
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We’re .500 over the past 5 years. That’s not even close to “suck”.
Being angry about a sport is justified?
Ok buddy.
…..“Life Partner”…. The Red Sox trolls out number the real fans on this site. Fans understand teams go through cycles. The trolls here complain, because they feel powerful and can be heard.
I was a fan through good times and bad for 33 years before seeing a WS in 2004. Twenty MLB franchises do not have 4 WS wins in their entire franchise history! Milwaukee, San Diego, Tampa, Colorado have never won even one WS, and Seattle has never even been to a WS, and yet Boston trolls complain, complain, complain. I do not consider them fans. lol
MLB-1971: Well said. It is unbelievable that John Henry is actually a villain to some people.
You haven’t watched Henry maneuver closely the last 5 years then.
If you were a Red Sox fan you’d know the fanbase wants them to just to be in contention only the Yankees have more revenue in the league so there’s no excuse for the Red Sox not being one of 6 teams in the postseason most of the time only an idiot would be happy with fsg siphoning off the revenue every year instead of reinvesting
He probably doesn’t even know what fsg or Redbird capital is
Yes, I have. They are building through the farm system more than free agency. It is pretty clear. I like that approach better than signing older free agents to deals that often go bad. It takes a little while, but I think it will work out pretty well.
Suit, when it comes to the fans gripes of the past 5 or 6 years, one thing has nothing to do with the other.
The red sox WON using a different business and operating model. The current model has failed to produce results, not just for Boston, but elsewhere as well. How many championships have the Rays won? Ever?
It’s a model about maximizing profits, not winning.
GA: I think they are building a young core from within and will spend more on free agents after that is in place. They gave Devers a 11 year/$331M extension. Cheap teams don’t spend that kind of money. The Red Sox are not emulating the Rays spending. They are significantly outspending them. They may be trying to draft and develop players more like the Rays which is a good idea.
Devers contract was a knee-jerk mistake brought on by utter mismanagement that was causing a fan revolt and hurting the bottom line.
They didn’t have a choice but give him anything he asked for.
If you haven’t noticed, the youth already arrived this season and the end of last. They still haven’t spent to add quality complementary pieces and mentor the young kids.
Its a moving target, theres *always* new names being touted in the farm that we hesr ‘when so and so arrives, theyll start spending…’ but its a moving target that never gets here.
Someday they’ll spend more, probably, but in the meantime they’re wasting the years of cheap control of the current kids that *could* be built around
John Henry didn’t get to be a billionaire by making knee jerk decisions and cheap teams don’t give out $331M contract extensions. Their CBT payroll is $219.7M which is not cheap.
Their cBT payroll is a distortion and does NOT reflect *actual* payroll which is SIGNIFICANTLY less, and Their actuals-to-cbt payroll ratio doesn’t come close to what most teams pay either.
Henry absolutely has made some knee-jerk decisions, and, some idiotic moves as well. Being successful in one area of business does NOT mean you make sound decisions in others. Given enough cash access many could replicate the success.
But, your focus begs the question, and supports my theory as does Henry’s recent interview:
The focus ISNT on winning, and it ISNT about fielding the best possible team that van be afforded. It’s about maximizing profits to invest in other sports.
FYI: According to Cots, the opening roster payroll was 171.2M, projected ending 40 man would be 174.2M assuming no further claims/trades, and, a 40-man CBT of $208m.
If we looks at *actual* cash outlays, your CBT kicks in at 237M in 2024. That means the red sox wouldn’t trigger tax for about $29m in spending, BUT. Actual cash outlays at $174m+29m is still only costing $203m in actual cash paid out.
So now we’ve got an additional 34m difference between an *actual* outlay of 237m, but, it would be taxed as an overage. So, on the first 20m, you pay 20% tax. OK. So, the sox spend 20m, and it costs 24m. Then, on the next 10m, you’d be paying a 12% surcharge. So, let’s call it $7.5m spend, 1.8m or so in tax.
What this means is, for *ACTUAL* money paid out by the red sox to the 237m level, there was $29m in penalty free money, plus $27.5m more due to the discrepancy between actual payroll and CBT figures.
What would an extra $56.5m in veteran talent on this team mean? Would shota be a red sox I stead? Who knows.
But hiding behind what a CBT that is manipulated by contract terms and maneuvers isn’t the right metric to determine spending
Don’t mean a thing unless they hit on the prospects. Then you still have to sign them if they are stars.
John Henry does not care anymore
Henry was much younger and skilled as a commodities trader and investor that’s how he got to be a billionaire not from running a baseball team and there’s nothing more knee-jerk than forcing out a head of baseball ops just 10 months after winning 108 games and a world series
Let’s see if they spend to extend Houck and duran
He’s old and cares only about money now
All – Your logic is off. Cheap teams do spend that kind of money when they are stupid like Bloom was. He screwed the pooch and tried to make one grand gesture to make up for the hundreds of mistakes he made and the result is he completely mortgaged the future for a decade. Then, to flip the sword over and cut at the organization a second time he let Devers play 3B and cost the team countless wins.
List one real positive since they fired DD? There are none. They got better draft positions and made bad choices. The Breslow move was one of desperation since nobody wanted to touch the job with erratic owners. Breslow can take credit for ramping up the pitching coaches and helping the team to transition to an improved pitching staff. The talent was drafted by DD and trained by Breslow. What was needed in addition to that was an influx of talent and that hasn’t happened.
Again, talent not spending is most critical and not happening.
ibuititnoonecame – Nothing worse than a premature contracting agent when it comes to signing young stars. The target year is after the first arbitration year. If they have proven in four seasons to be worthy of an extended contract, that’s when you offer it. The premature offerings this organization has made is another reflection of their lack of savvy in the front office. Houck is far better than Bello and closer to the long term contract age and is without a long term contract but Bello got signed prematurely and now Boston is paying for it because they have put their real talent at risk Devers has ruined the chances for signing two all-stars with his money and both those all-stars would have been great defenders not just a one dimensional prima donna.
It will be interesting how many talented DD signed players will be lost so the front office can try to salvage the Bloom years by signing them to the big deals despite their lack of talent..
hiding behind what a CBT that is manipulated by contract terms and maneuvers isn’t the right metric to determine spending
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CBT payroll is what determines penalties such as paying luxury tax and draft position. It is definitely the right metric if you care about how much you spend and keeping your farm system in good shape. Outspending other teams doesn’t guarantee winning. Last year the Yankees spent $75M more than the Red Sox and paid $32M in luxury tax and only got 4 more wins. I think the Red Sox are spending more than enough money. They need to spend better. Bloom was fired and I think Breslow is making good decisions so far.
Trollfree: I agree acquiring talent is more important than spending. I think the Red Sox are focused on acquiring and developing young talent and having a long window of contention.
Suit, I shoed the math above where blstpn could’ve spent $56.5 million extra this offseason and filled out the most glaring roster holes to have a competitive team THIS year,AND, not exceeded the first tier of CBT penalties which are pure taxation, no draft losses.
The money they had. Henry was just cheap.
And it would still only cost 237m out of pocket of the organization, which, is under the real world first tier anyways. And that 56.5 million in salaries fir a total spend of $237million INCLUDES wrapping all the tax penalties inside the 237 figure.
Very doable by the organization which has lots of money coming off the books after this season too
GA: Cot’s has the Red Sox projected 2024 Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payroll at $218,981,206. CBT payroll is calculated using the average annual value (AAV) of each player’s contract. The first luxury tax threshold is $237M this year. So, the Sox have about $18M in AAV they could spend this year before incurring luxury tax this year. I don’t think you are looking at it correctly to wind up with $56M left to spend. Cot’s even says the amount below the luxury tax threshold is $18,018,794.
It is a good practice to leave some room under the luxury tax threshold in case you add salary at the trade deadline. So, the money left to spend now is maybe only $10M.
I think the Red Sox are spending enough, but they need to spend it better.
In discussing what could’ve been done over the offseason, I compare to opening day payrolls.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1MHh7XnIvTvx1-6…
Cots has the 2024 red sox at 208.5m, with 28.5m below the first tier cbt. HOWEVER, the ACTUAL money flowing out of Henry’s pocket was only 174m.
What does this mean? When you look at the BIG amount of money rolling off the books after this season, you could spend through the first tier of the tax and reset EASILY this offseason. And because the ACTUAL payroll for the sox was opening at 174m, you can eat the 20% overage plus the extra 12% to on money that rises to just shy of the second tier.
When you don’t build a quality depth roster, there’s zero point in saving anything for mid-season additions.
Fact is, the red sox could have spent 56.5 million extra in the offseason, and, Henry wouldn’t have written a check for more than the $237million that is the CBT line. The fact that a few million of that $237 goes to the league instead of a player doesn’t take away from the fact Henry had the money to spend, but was too CHEAP to worry about the quality of the product.
His interview reinforced as much.
GA: I think I see what you are saying. However, I doubt whining fans and media would be satisfied with just one year of paying luxury tax. So, the Red Sox might as well build a team through the farm system. It costs less and it will probably work out better than signing older free agents to long deals that go bad. I think they only care about signing younger players to long-term deals now. This is a new approach and we don’t know how high they will take the payroll when they are extending all their young talent. People will be unhappy no matter how much the Red Sox spend. If they happen to spend enough, then people will complain about how they spend it. I see no end to the complaining and it seems John Henry is in a no-win situation. So, he might as well approach spending and team building the way he wants.
blstpn could’ve spent $56.5 million extra this offseason and filled out the most glaring roster holes
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The problem is that the imagined roster holes were all the rotation.
The next problem is that most of the fans wanted Monty, and probably someone like Snell. Those were the two guys I wanted. And everyone in here wanted Monty.
We could be $50M further in the hole and have a worse record for it.
More than that heyman is saying O’Neil Jansen pivetta all will be traded thats another 15 million savings
6 last place finishes since 2012 name one other team with more
John Henry has instructed Breslow to limit his searching of talent to craigslist.
This team stinks, Randy. I can’t take it anymore.
Like it or not, the team is .500 and 1.5 games out of the playoffs. And we have guys that should return sooner rather than later.
The Red Sox are going to be a very bad team for a long time, as they have for stretches in their history.
It isn’t because of a player, manager, or FO personnel. It’s the owner. He’s got his personnel running into one another. His attention seems to be elsewhere.
I think the Red Sox will be good in the next few years. They have good position players in the farm system and are focusing on pitching. They also have financial flexibility going forward.
Agree with $allin here.
This was never going to be the Sox year. The Sox are the future, they’re not this year.
The issue is that their only flippable piece is O’Neill. They don’t have many expiring contracts. The team will experience severe peaks and valleys through the year, they won’t be competitive every game. And that’s ok!
Does it pain me to say this, you bet. Is this a frustrating season after the Bloom era? You bet. But Breslow made some big changes to the pitching infrastructure and there’s a wealth of LH position players that will be hitting the majors soon. They could have very cheap,and good players at: C,1B,2B,SS,CF,RF, LF(or whatever Anthony,Abreu,Duran,Rafaela plays).
The Sox have Devers at 3B and can beef up pitching through FA if needed.
I’m very excited for the future. I’m not excited for the remainder of 2024.
Joemo: Well said. I guess I am optimistic because I follow the minor leagues closely and I like what I see. I think they are building toward a window of contention and will spend more when more younger players are on the Sox such as Mayer and Teel. I think Kenley Jansen will likely be traded. I thought Chris Martin too, but not sure about that now.
all: I forgot about Kenley and Martin thanks for bringing them up. They both could be moved (Martin has the recent IL stint). The next “big 3” of Mayer, Teel, Anthony could be great. Bleis has potential. I wonder LAD could be a good fit for Martin, going to a good, familiar team may help with his anxiety but that’s a tough road to navigate. I don’t know who would be a good fit for Kenley. KC? LAD? Interested to hear your thoughts.
If the Sox can flip Jansen and/or Martin and get a decent SP back (maybe Baltimore is a good partner here, but being in the same division makes it unlikely) that would be ideal. I think the Sox could go college SP in the draft and accelerate their path to contention.
Joemo: Not sure about Martin. Maybe he won’t pitch again. I wouldn’t trade much for a pitcher with anxiety. The draft is pretty interesting this year. It is not a very strong draft. There is a consensus top 3 pitchers (Burns – Wake Forest, Smith – Arkansas, Yesavage – East Carolina). I’m hoping Yesavage falls to the Sox at pick 12. If none of them fall to the Sox, then I think they may draft a position player there. It will be interesting.
All – The Sox will not be good unless you count .500 as being good. They don’t have good position players in the farm system, their best position players have already graduated. This shouldn’t be new news. Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Casas, Houck, Bello, Crawford. Those are the stars that have graduated. Back in the minors, maybe Teel and Anthony will be impact players eventually but it’s too early to extend their talents that far.
The team doesn’t focus on pitching. They focus on all aspects of the game. The coaches that have been added aren’t focusing more on pitching, they are better pitching coaches than anything Cora or Bloom could find. They still have a huge albatross handing around their neck in Cora and if they don’t move Devers off 3B they will never win again over the next 11 years.
They aren’t even “very bad” now.
You’d think four rings would just make Henry hungrier, but it’s true. He’s turning the franchise into a White Sox-A’s outfit and quite fast. Then they go and lose the first 2 of 3 to the horrendous White Sox. Embarrassing.
He’s turning the franchise into a White Sox-A’s outfit
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Nothing personal, but anyone comparing the RS with the WS and A’s is an idiot.
I don’t often disagree with you, but I think the next RS dynasty is just starting. We have 7 guys on offense playing well, with 3+ years of control. We have 4 SPs playing well with 3+ years of control. Our 4 top prospects are all currently playing well. And we can spend roughly $100M next season before we hit the cap.
Nothing personal but anybody who uses we all the time when talking about a team they are not part of has serious issues and I don’t see anyone else here doing it but you
O’Neill should do less bodybuilding and do more baseball conditioning. His injury history is concerning. And Yoshida should be in the lineup everyday. Him being limited to 24 games isn’t just due to the thumb injury. It’s because Cora was benching multiple games at a time for a couple of weeks there in April. Any time a player was nursing a little injury that player was DH and Yoshida was sacrificed.
Perksy – That’s a very valid point, and a big reason why other highly muscular players such as Stanton are constantly injured. How many injuries are muscle pulls because of the over-developed muscles? How many injuries are joint-related because the player overdid it in the gym? Plenty of people have pointed out that rest is a vital component of avoiding injuries, that’s why in Strength Training 101 it clearly states you don’t work the same muscles every day. And professional athletes should utilize the offseason for rest with just light workouts.
His dad is a famous bodybuilder. His dad helped him get this far and it’s farther than most. I agree he does need to train like a baseball player but I understand what’s going on.
His dad used steroids to win Mr canada in 1975
Perksy – Yoshida is a massive waste of money. He lacks the skills needed to be a MLB DH and he can’t play defense. A gross over pay to cater to a whole new set of fans. His lack of talent and a position makes him a total bust in Boston. He needs to be traded to a team without a DH and enough power that his slap hitting can be effective as a DH.
Yoshida isn’t being sacrificed, he’s not deserving of the DH role. That’s Devers.
Knee issue? Or defensive indifference?
Masa’s going to ‘seamlessly’ replace O’Neil in the Sox’ outfield mix? HaHaHaHa ha……
A guy with NO range, NO arm, and NO natural instincts in the field is going to “seamlessly’ replace a Gold Glove Outfielder?
You’re joking, right?
teach – I know the article could have been worded better, but Nick did write “taking back his role as the regular DH while Duran, Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder handle the outfield.”.
So he made it quite clear Yoshida would be the DH.
Boston feeling the Tyler O’Neil experience. Ton of talent. Glimpse of potential then injuries take over. Cards fans have seen this before . Everybody pulling for him but can’t shake the injuries
Mike – With all due respect I think Cards fans who believe he has a ton of talent are romanticizing about just ONE productive season.
Since his first year in 2018 he has had just ONE season with a >1.2 WAR.
It’s kinda like people who stay in a bad marriage, they do so because all they remember is the one good year and they block out all the other years.
Fever, you sound like romanticizing giving any financial support to Henry and the red sox?
2024 a good year? Not shaping up particularly. 2023? Nope. 2022? 2021? 2020? 2019?
Nope. 7th try is the charm, 2018. That’s been a while
GASox – It’s different though. If I still thought Sox ownership was great, as I did until Dombrowski was forced out in 2019, then I’d be romanticizing. But the behavior of ownership the last 5 years has really, really disgusted me and I’ve been more vocal than most.
I can also honestly say I haven’t given any financial support this year. Games at JetBlue were comped, and all the regular season games have been on the road. I have not set foot in Fenway this year. I was planning to go for the 2004 reunion, but once it was moved to Opening Day I decided against it.
In prior years I’ve attended a very limited number of games at Fenway. When I’m in Boston with the wife and she wants to go for the “experience”, I’m not gonna refuse. My love for her is much stronger than my dislike for John Henry.
So how are you doing by the way? If I recall correctly you were waiting on some test results in May or June? Hopefully they came out good? Keeping you in my thoughts brother.
I too haven’t given any money to the team yet again, and, my wife would only push me to go because she knows of my love of the team. If she can get out of the games, I think she’ll take it!
Your memory serves you well, and, appraciate the thoughts. The results were (are?) a mixed bag. Think of it like a series split, the most important ones didn’t show improvement, but, haven’t gotten much worse either. But put me on the IL anyways, appears I’ve had a collapsed lower right of the lung since Dec. Only took them about 6 months to figure out, I must be seeing some docs retained by the red sox!
Go choose a new team then to complain about
GASox – Thanks for the update. Stabilizing usually is necessary before improvement, so you’re on the right path.
It’s like me gong on a diet, first my goal is to stop gaining …. after that comes the weight loss.
Word of advice: Next time you have an undiagnosed health issue, get the Red Sox to give you a 2-year $39M guaranteed contract first ;O)
Maybe so Fever Pitch. He’s a Red Sox now but the guy has tremendous power. Quick bat. Great speed. Gold glove defense. Has the tools. Just has to stay healthy then consistent
As i said in a previous post, the Red Sox have a knack for making bad teams look good for a weekend, this weekend playing the worst team in all of MLB has been no exception.
This was never going to be the Sox year and even though there have been glimpses of hope of what this team could be if they could stay healthy, that doesn’t appear like it’s going to happen. 2026 is probably when contention becomes a realistic possibility
Rsox – I’m certainly not a Sox suckup or chest puffer, but I think they’ve performed quite well against bad teams until now. Look at how they did against the Nats, Giants, Pirates, Tigers, Cubs, Angels and A’s. Only against the Cards did they lose a series against a not-good team.
I wouldn’t hold my breath on Bello contributing to a winning team in 2026, he really is making that huge extension look like a bad decision. Hopefully the 3 B’s can help straighten him out, because he’s getting worse not better.
Fever – How about this alternate take of this season.
I believe Rsox is right about the fluke bad luck or bad performances against bad teams but I think a lot of the opposite has happened as well making the team APPEAR to be better than they are. We are 65 games into the season with Wong having raised his 2023 OPS+ from 80 to 138. Sustainable? Absolutely not. Abreu at 130? Sustainable? Absolutely not. Hamilton at 107? Sustainable? Absolutely not. Refsnyder 154? Sustainable? Absolutely not. O’Neill 137? Sustainable? Not unless he’s placed in Bubble Wrap. Casas 137? Sustainable? Absolutely but he’s on the IL. Westbrook 147? Sustainable? Absolutely not.
The success this season is not coming from quality players. It’s like when Kiki would get hot for five games and then suck for the next 45. These over achievers will fade as the season progresses so where does the production come from? It doesn’t.
FYI….Boston is 13-5 vs bad teams, 13-17 vs average teams and 6-11 vs good teams thanks to the sweep of TB. So, is the below .500 record really a reflection of having a tough time with the bad teams or is it a reflection of the team not playing well against everybody BUT the bad teams? Rsox is right, however, for each lucky series against a good team BOS finds a way to blow an easy series versus a bad team.
Nice analysis of Bello. They should have stuck with the big payout being after ARB 1 year not prematurely like they did. I love Rafaela but his was way too early too. Marketing moves like early signings are very dangerous because the great players like Houck and Casas can easily be missed due to poor distribution of payroll.
TF – I don’t think they appear better than they are.
Their record right now is identical to what it was a year ago, and 3 games worse than what it was in 2022.
They are basically following the exact same pattern as the past two years, feasting on the many games played against bad teams and getting pounded by the few good teams they’ve played.
If forced to predict, I’d say they go around 2-5 during the next week putting them at 34-38.
That means they go 41-49 the rest of the way to reach my pre-season 75-87 prediction.
Definitely do-able when you factor in the Sox selling at the deadline while the competition buys. Cora will be another factor, the lame duck manager losing the clubhouse again and dragging down the team.
On an individual basis I agree with all of your unsustainable players except Abreu. But I also think Houck, Duran, Devers, Bernardino, and Pivetta (before he’s traded) will continue to keep the team from evolving into a very bad one. Casas is the huge wildcard, we have no idea when he will return or how he will be when he does. Fear of another rib injury could alter his swing for quite some time.
By the way, you didn’t mention Criswell, Slaten or Weissert? Does that mean you think their performance will be sustainable?
Fever – I didn’t review the bat boy or Cora either!!! Criswell is an enigma. He has no stuff. We called them junk ballers in the old days. His stuff is so bad it takes time to adjust to him from the good pitchers like Houck and Pivetta. He will become cannon fodder soon enough.
Slaten went to a bad college for baseball, wasn’t very good, got drafted by the pre-Boche Rangers. Boche and his coaching staff didn’t want him. I’ve already dismissed him so I can’t even tell you what he throws because he should be doing the rest of his career in the minors.
Weissert is an interesting closer. His 5.09 ERA at Fordham should have been a red flag but the proximity to NY suggests he was a political pick. He sucked but probably had an uncle high up in the Yankees. He continued to suck from 2016 to 2019. 2020 was COVID and after that he was a decent closer for AAA Yankees. He wasn’t so hot with the MLB Yankees and ended up in the desperate hands of the Boston pitching coaches who are committed to teaching him to focus on the off speed stuff. So far, his era is better but he’s a time bomb waiting to happen. No history of success makes his current success seem very temporary.
Fever, sorry but none of the three are sustainable or even worth mentioning. Dumpster dives on a hot streak is the best description I can give them.
TF – Excellent analysis as always, thank you!
I didn’t see you mention this, how embarrassing was Cora’s behavior in Saturday’s game!!! He threw a fit about a called third strike on Westbrook, got tossed from the game, covered up the plate with dirt, and then after the game admitted the umpire made the correct call on the pitch! Of all the ejections I’ve seen, I can never recall a manager getting ejected for a call that was actually correct. What a tool he is.
Fever – It’s Cora’s distorted perspective on how to fire up his team. Intentionally getting ejected. He saw it in an old baseball move like MAJOR LEAGUE!! He’s such a tool!!!
Fever let’s take a closer look at Bello and let’s try to come to a conclusion on him this year is he bad or is he just having a bad stretch.
Bello throws 3 pitches this year after scrapping his four seamer by far his least effective pitch a sinking two seamer, changeup, and a slider. He is still getting ground balls at about the same rate as Houck who also throws three pitches. I do believe he is throwing the two seamer to high in the zone but still despite that is getting a lot of ground balls. His sinker has better sink and it also has a tail in on righties and away from lefties. If he can keep that pitch down in the zone it has pretty elite characteristics less sink the Houck’s but more velocity and tail. His slider is what it is at times it can be very good but he throws a lot of non competitive pitches with it it’s kind of a work in progress his slider at this point doesn’t have elite characteristics and needs a lot of work. The biggest issue is the changeup it has gone from one of the best pitches in baseball the last two years to below average. I believe,with no proof,he is tipping his changeup this year. Gavin Sheets teed off on that changeup like he knew it was coming. Bello has a long arm action and as such the hitter gets a longer look than usual at what pitch is coming. If you know a changeup is coming it becomes a batting practice fastball and he’s given up a lot of hard contact on that pitch this year. I’d like to see Bailey work on getting that sinking fastball more down in the zone and work hiding his pitches better. His sinker has so much movement on it there’s no reason to get cute and nibble. Start it thigh high middle of the zone and let sink and natural tail do the rest. Then get back to that changeup with arm side fade as his put away pitch. He needs to save the slider for righties only lefties have hammered that pitch.
Troll Connor Wong is interesting he has ditched the big keg kick and is now making contact at a much improved rate. By going with no leg kick he has become even more rotational and he is seeing that slider much better he has improved his chase rate and his k rate has plummeted he is making more contact. I’m under no illusion he is a .330 hitter moving forward but I like his chances to be a much better hitter than he has been in the past. If he was doing the same thing he was before I would be much more skeptical but he has made a big change that lets him see the ball much better and longer it appears so I will be interested to see what happens with him moving forward.
Bruin – Great analysis on Bello, I really appreciate it!
The one angle you didn’t mention, his mental toughness. He consistently pitches well for several innings, but whenever faced with adversity whether it’s rain or a bad umpire call or runners on base he tends to implode and give up a bunch of runs all at once.
It happened again yesterday, he pitched 4 2/3 innings of solid shutout ball and then BAM he gave up 5 runs all at once. You don’t think that’s a mental thing?
Bruin1012 – Wong has made adjustments and like you the opposing teams will counter them once they consider him significant enough to dedicate time to counter measures. The lack of a big kick simply means new locations need to be defined for getting him out and his power will be less so that helps fine tune the locations you can get him out with weaker contact. We’ll see if he can perform at a higher level than his 80 OPS+. Usually skill dictates performance not technique of a swing. When you read his history starting in college you see he has no power so he added the kick and it didn’t work. He did show some speed his final year at houston so at least he’s a decent base runner. In 207 games in Boston he has 15 home runs and 11 stolen bases. His average is .259 but that may be inflated since 2024 gave it an extraordinary boost so far this season. He’s walked 38 times in 660 plate appearances. That translates to a walk rate of .057 which is league average. So what is the positive attribute he possesses? I still think he’s league average when he’s playing well and below league average in years 2023, 2022 and most of his minor league career.
As far as Bello goes I think his stuff isn’t as good as Houck’s or Pivetta’s so he has to be more precise in his delivery hitting spots more often than the other two. The back up he puts on the inside pitches to lefties need to catch the corner and not drift to the middle of the plate and they have to be close enough to the plate to entice the hitter if he is working just off the plate on a pitch. It’s been too easy to take the ones planned off the plate and there have too many drifting pitches. He is a solid middle to bottom of the rotation pitcher whose going to need a gimmick pitch to be anything more. He can’t count on the stuff like Houck, Pivetta and Crawford. His stuff is much better than Criswell but I’m guessing most guys are.
Fever’s comments about him handling stress is an interesting observation. When you have a guy like Devers behind you not making plays a normal 3B would make the odds of running into more frustrating situations is likely. When you pitch on a staff with a bad fielder and more balls tend to be missed for you than others on the staff if can create some bad mind games for the pitcher. Sale seemed to have the problem and it’s gone now that he plays with a great infield. Maybe Bello’s tendency for big innings will subside if he can ptich on days when Devers is sitting. It sucks that he has to go through that experience.
Personally, I’d like to see Bello throw to the four corners of the strike zone more equally. For years the Red Sox coaches focused too much on the top of the zone and now with all the off speed stuff they are focusing more on the bottom of the zone. It’s kept them in more games and lowered their eras but they need to keep the hitter honest and mix the top of the zone into the specific at bats of the big hitters.
By 2026, a bunch of the key players will be gone, So I don’t know about that based on youth alone.
That being said, it could change any year if the right moves are made.
By 2026, a bunch of the key players will be gone,
=========================
We lose almost no one. Pivetta, Jansen, Martin. Am I missing anyone?
Okay, maybe I’m wrong on that, but my point is I don’t believe in waiting for opportunity to arise. We can build all we want but we have to start winning. I’ve heard the success argument since 2020, with our window of opportunity being 2024. Let’s just keep pushing the window of opportunity and success further and further…
Nation I won’t let you down!!! Time for ME to reverse MY curse( of seeing them live in Chicago) I will pregame with a few Sam Adams summer ales and a cigar Luis would be proud of before game!! Cora says I got the 7 th or 8th just like Brasier my friend!! I feel good!! I look like el guapo only taller… OLMTIANT is back!!! Just have to be woken up in seat ..TESSIE!!!!!
Olm – I have TOTAL CONFIDENCE you will deliver a win today for the good guys!! You’ll also bring great weather, much better than yesterday.
Regarding Sam Adams, have a Wicked Easy for me!!!
I still think Bello is an AAAA pitcher until he proves otherwise. High strikeout rate in the Minors, low ERA in the Minors… none of this transfers to his ML stats. I’m not sure when or if he will “improve,” as we have seen much the same- low strikeout rate, high ERA in the Majors. Not sure if more time in the Minors will help or not, but he certainly isn’t the ML ready pitcher they had hoped for when they signed him. I find this unusual.
Again, I bet someone will come I’m to bash me again for saying this, but it’s how I feel.
Ok, I won’t bite, but I will take a nibble…
True, Bello isn’t the ace that the FO promotes him to be, but he is more than 4A. I would rate his as a #4 guy right now, maybe a #3.
He most defo has the stuff to be a solid #2.
I love what Breslow has done with the pitchers, but in this one case, I would hand his coaching back to Pedro. Seems like the further he gets away from what P3dro was teaching him the more he falls back.
Either way, if he can’t find a way to pitch 6 or 7 innings, he won’t even a #4
DBH – I give the benefit of the doubt to Bello. Prior to this year, Houck faced much the same criticisms about not being a good MLB pitcher, maybe being a fringe backend starter, couldn’t get into a 3rd run through the order…
What a difference a year made. Question is, do we have a porcello-like one year anomaly, or, will he reproduce that here on out.
Houck had injury issues after he first came to us with a good season (or half) under his belt. He was great in the 2021 postseason. Bello has not nearly had the same experience or success
Good points, GA. Like I said, it seems Pedro had good effect on the dude. Enough so to get him extended.
After bello’s meltdown on the mound after giving up the Granny, it could just be the pressure of living up to extension.
This could actually be part of a larger problem… the FO constant need the push PR narratives.
Devers, Bello, Dalbec, and yoshi all seem to be mental victims of the hype machine in the FO, and the pressure that comes with it.
Why are you people hating on Bailey and Breslow just because Bello has sucked
Who is hating on Bailey and Breslow? Personally i think think they are doing a great job+
I don’t think we can just call it “pressure of living up to the extension.” Look at his stats in AAA and look at his stats in MLB. Huge difference, especially with strikeouts. If he’s a #4 or #5 pitcher, he’s not so great at that. A #4 or #5 pitcher on a good team has far better stats. Of course, he is still young, but where is the improvement?
Your right Bello sucks and the contract is terrible
I’m hoping Winck can come back up as an effective starter. I like Houck and Pivetta and I’m ok with Crawford and Bello (sort of) and the bullpen’s got some talent. It’s the bats that have held them back more so far because of the injuries. There’s a promising core developing but they need a longer lineup and a bit more spank.
hayzee – My understanding is Winck will replace Pivetta in the rotation after the trade deadline, so you will get your wish.
FPG, at this point do you think he would get much in return? His injury history has to be a concern
DBH – I’m confused what you mean about injury history? He had the one injury early this year, that’s it. No other injuries in his entire career.
I think he’s pitched well enough since returning to command a good price on the trade market, his last performance against the Braves was phenomenal.
I really don’t want to see him go, but it seems pretty clear to me the team’s lack of effort in extending him last offseason was a sign they are prepared to go into next season with Houck, Bello, Crawford, Gio, and one of Winck, Whitlock or Criswell.
Sorry man, I was thinking wlof Whit.
Carry on, sir lol
FPG, my understanding is that Pivetta will be starting in the postseason for the Red Sox.
Hayzee – Based on your history of understanding, that’s a bad omen for the Red Sox.
I’m not gonna let you bring me down though with all your negative spamming, I will continue to enjoy this win which I predicted. For at least two days they won’t have a losing record, that’s great news for this team. And I’m very happy Olm got a chance to be there for it.
If I say the Red Sox are going to be in the postseason, they are going to be in the postseason. You will see I’m right in October. You have to believe in your favorite team or you’re not a fan. And I’ve believed in them since 1963, when my favorite player won his first batting title. Let’s go Red Sox!
hayzee – You know what’s quite interesting about what you just wrote?
You are overly confident by making hollow promises, which means you don’t follow the team very closely.
The Red Sox front office, by their actions and own admissions over the past couple years, did not believe in the team even when they were playing well and only a couple games out of a WC spot.
Me? I am a centered realist. I closely follow the product on the field, I stay on top of the schedule, I stay on top of the competition, and I keep in mind ownership’s lack of faith and commitment in prior years.
As a result, while I am open to the possibility of a postseason appearance, I acknowledge it will most likely not happen. And if ownership doesn’t decide to “go for it” at the trade deadline, I fully expect them to trade Pivetta since they have yet to make a serious extension offer to him.
Being a real fan requires knowledge, critical thinking, and reality.
Tyler was barely back from the IL and he hurt himself again? Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. R.I.P. Tyler. I hope you don’t get injured while on crutches again. That was embarrassing last time.
My condolences to PugParty/Joel/Kpop sensation BlackPink ….
Tyler is wound so tight….less Juice and Body Building.
One thing is for sure… his value in the trade market iha plummeted.
DBH – Totally agree, between the knee and the concussion it’s buyer beware.
Wow that lineup Boston is throwing out there today is putrid.
Bruin – I totally agree, and I don’t get why Wong is batting so low in the lineup.
Can you imagine if the same lineup is used Tuesday against Wheeler …. that could be a really, really ugly game. Not a good time to face the two best pitching staffs in MLB.
Could be no hitter
And yet. They won.
Okay… Nation.. 4 summer ales.. nub cigar and the NATION representing well at wtf the call this ball park!! Just spoke to Cora the explorer.. told him I can also pinch run for Duran if needed… ala Rick Reuschel .. REDDREDDREDSOX!!!!
Boooooooser!!! My guy from left side… !!!
We win. Everyone complains. Same old same old.
Olm – It was harder than it shoulda been, but they did it!
You probably don’t realize, this was their FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON IN 29 GAMES AFTER TRAILING IN THE 8TH INNING!!
Only 2 other guys could have stolen 3B, Rafaela and Duran. Very fortunate Hamilton hit the double. Especially with Cora stupidly having nobody to pinch hit for strikeout king Dalbec.
Again am I the only one who thinks Slaten looks erie similar to someone I know??? Defense brutal but a big W!! Is all that matters!!
I love when they showed bench players… Devers/ and O Neil… poor Bobby trying to move him over but he could have had a red wood and it wasn’t gonna happen..
olm – Yes I think that’s why Hamilton didn’t even bother to steal with Dalbec at the plate, he knew Bobby wouldn’t make contact.
Olm – He looks like Austin Maddox!
The guy who played CF for the Phillies in 80’s???LOL…Nope didn’t know about 8th inning trailing… man what a lineup… truly can’t tell the players without a scorecard…
That’s Elliot Maddox, I think? Nope, it was Garry Maddox, Secretary of Defense. Not to be confused with Gary Matthews, aka Sarge.
Ah, great nicknames
So true… not many guys with great nicknames today vs 70-80’s … but somewhere I still have a way to small ………HIT DOG shirt I got at the fens in the 90’s..
olm – I got the HIT MAN shirt in 1984 …. he was THE MAN with the Sox and also the FAM-I-LEE !!!!!
hayzee – You’re thinking of Dave Matthews who played in Fenway back in 2006.
1-“Full Throttle” is one of the stupidest things ever said.
2-That said, our Py W/L is still 36-30, with a ton of injuries.
3-Just IMHO, y’all are missing a golden opportunity to start investing in the next crop of RS players. Wong, Casas, Hamilton, Devers, Rafaela, Duran, Abreu, Criswell, Houck, Bello, and Crawford are all young guys with a fair amount of control left.
Joe – As of today the 2024 projection based on series match=ups is 72 wins. The significant injuries this year will surely impact the final number but it’s nice to see the young players with talent proving their legacy and it’s been convenient for the bad young players to have hot streaks like they have. I don’t see guys like Criswell, Hamilton or Wong being anything more than fill ins during the upcoming years but clearly DD left a loaded farm system with Casas, Rafaela, Duran, Abreu, Houck, Bello and Crawford. Also, he traded Espinal to get Pearce, Espinoza to get Pomerantz and of course Moncada, Kopech, Basabe and V Diaz to get Sale. DD was excellent at drafting.
Criswell, Hamilton and Wong all need to be address differently than the DD selected draft picks. These guys may be hot but it’s not going to last because had DD been here they would have been on the pretenders he would have traded away. Don’t expect big futures from any of these guys but the others you mentioned all have all-star potential.
I sure hope your comment about INVESTING in these guys doesn’t mean long term contracts. That’s an entirely different subject. The signing to long term contracts need to happen after the ARB 1 season is over and the player has PROVEN he deserves one. NO MORE PREMATURE OFFERS!!!
TF – Superb comment as always, thank you!! Only one thing, Dombrowski had nothing to do with Abreu.
Your 72-win projection falls right in the middle of my 70-75 range projection!!
Sadly the Red Sox farm system is rated just 14th now that Dombrowski’s guys have graduated to the big leagues, so the weed addicts who claim Bloom has built up the farm system to be one of the best are baked as usual. LOL!!!
mlb.com/news/farm-system-rankings-2024-preseason