SoxBlanco

But how are you defining a good season? Is it relative to their past performances? Or just relative to the rest of the league at their respective positions?

Tough to answer because it’s all relative. How are you defining most/least confident? Confidence in what?

Offensively, he’s horrendous.

He was one of the worst players in the history of baseball last year, but he’s a useful bench player if he can hit like he did prior to last year. (And if the manager uses him properly)

I don’t recall what you’re referring to, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. There was a game against Cleveland where we were down 1 in the middle part of the game. He led off an inning with a single and then stole second. We ended up scoring 3 runs that inning. Later that game in extras, he was on first with one or two outs and we trailed by a run. He stole second again, and then Abreu tied it up with a single. I’m pretty sure we lost that game anyway, and that’s just one example that sticks out, but I just always got the feeling that he was one of the smartest players on the field…a guy you just want on your team. But I’m admittedly going off of a gut feeling, rather than something that can be measured.

I would only want him if the price was right, but I loved what I saw from him last year in terms of intangibles and baseball smarts. We need more of that type of player on the team.

This would be my 2B plan moving forward: 1. Explore the trade route and hopefully something comes along that’s worth pulling the trigger on. 2. If we’re moving into February and nothing has come to fruition on the trade front, then see if Drury or Andrus are still available. They are not players I’d sign right now, but if there’s not a market for them and they can be signed late in the offseason for less, then I would pull the trigger. 3. If neither of the above works out, then just go with Sosa/Romy/Popeye. It’s nice that there are multiple internal options because even if one of them struggles, hopefully another will step up.

Thank you. I understood the benefit of the larger bases, but I wasn’t sure why people were referring to the plural form of the word “rule”. I forgot about the pickoff attempt rule.

I keep seeing people reference the new base running rules. Did I miss a new rule, or are you just referring to the larger bases?

Anymore? Was there a time when he COULD hit? Love the guy, though!

The beauty of signing Drury is that if Colas was indeed ready, then Drury just moves to 2B. Drury has now become my top target. A week ago, a friend of mine asked me how I would feel about a Drury signing. I said that if he was the only “outfield” addition, I would hate it. But if we signed him in addition to a true LF like Benintendi, then I would be ecstatic. Well, we’re halfway there on that plan now.

That’s a fair guess. I actually think he’ll get to 20 playing at the Rate, which is why I’m not as concerned about a lack of power.

Let’s say Benintendi plays 140 games for the Sox in 2023. How many home runs would you predict he hits?

Agreed. I actually didn’t even realize Seby had as good of a season as he did.

Yeah, it all depends on cost and whether you are getting something closer to the second half of 2022 Andrus or the Andrus from the previous four years. The weird thing is that he was pulling the ball much more and his line drive percentage jumped significantly after joining the Sox. Why is that? Is that just what a hot streak looks like, or is that a change in approach? I honestly don’t know. Maybe a little bit of both? What if you could get a wRC+ of 90 with above average defense at 2B to go along with the leadership and baseball smarts that I discussed earlier? Is that worth it for a one year deal in the $8 - $10M range?

What would Andrus cost? I know the common opinion is that there’s no way he repeats his Sox performance in 2023, which I don’t disagree with. But to me, he brought much more to the team than his numbers. It was refreshing to see a good baseball mind. He knew when to steal a base in a clutch moment, he knew when to sell out for a home run, and I just got the feeling that he was a very smart baseball player. I wish we had more guys like him on the team. Now, he’s obviously a bad fit with our current payroll, unless he can be signed for really cheap, but I would not mind Andrus on this team at all.

The post you quoted isn’t even from this thread. It’s from the Benintendi thread. How did you manage to quote that post and respond to it in a thread from several years ago?

But the other teams in the Central have to play that same balanced schedule. So I’d say beating up on the Central probably would mean you will win the division. The first place team could just have less wins than in previous years.

He would have hit 29 HRs as recently as 2021 if he was playing his home games at the Rate.

It’s a fair question, but I think there’s a lot more to it than just looking at the additions and subtractions. The pieces will fit much better with the 2023 team. Vaughn at 1B, Eloy at DH, and a much better outfield defense. I also think Colas will be a solid addition.

I actually think Kelly has a solid season next year, assuming he’s healthy.

Is Engel as the 4th outfielder a possibility still?

Let’s say the Sox trade for Jansen. Do they cut ties with Grandal before the season? Or do they give him a chance to split time early on, and then cut him if he’s useless?

And Benintendi’s arm is horrendous.

Would any team be willing to take on Grandal’s salary (or some of it, at least) in a trade? Maybe Detroit? I thought I read they were willing to take on salary if the right deal came along.