Chimpton

For a start the Sox would have to create 41 save opportunities!

What is becoming increasingly clear is that Hahn and the FO intend to do nothing. They are hoping that a combination of a new manager and a bounceback to 2021 levels by half the team will keep them in contention to the All Star Break, when again they will again promise something and do nothing (except possibly add another reliever). The rest of the season will be a repeat of last season where they are never in real contention but never out of contention, then we will all be back here next off season talking about trades and FA signings that won't happen.

Just read this hilarious quote: “We've got a really good front office that knows what they're doing,” Grifol said. “They know how to assemble clubs.” I think all the evidence suggests otherwise, but poor Grifol has to tow the party line, either that or he is in for a very rude awakening.

Yep that is the depressing state that this rebuild has got to, the Sox have to shop in the bargain basement or below to fill the starting 9 let alone fill out the 40 man roster.

Whilst that is true, his wages would mean bringing in another player who isn't a long shot reclamation project is even more difficult due to the supposed 180m limit. I'm sure there are OF who can hit and catch out there.

What about Leury Garcia 3 years at 15m?

They would probably trade him for a reliever!

But Gallo is a bit better in the OF!

Is Sugar Plums the stage name of an exotic dancer?

No but you said Burger and Sheets could hold down 3b and 1b, implying they would be your starters in those positions. Trading Moncada and/or Vaughan to improve other areas of the team but weakening 1b and 3b doesn't make any real sense.

Do you seriously think an infield with Burger and Sheets as regular starters would help the Sox compete in 2023 more than Moncada and Vaughan?

Most of the posts have been sandwich related!

They spent money but didn't fill the obvious holes at RF and 2b or the need for a left-handed bat, which is what I meant by someone in the FO is at fault if all this money is being spent and still no real success. Hopefully no TLR and a few rebounding players will mean a better season and winning the central but getting beyond the first round of the playoffs would need more than that.

Oh yes I agree this team has the potential to be really good if the players all match their potential or return to anywhere near their best, but equally it would be so typical if that is wasted because they won't spend on anything other than reclamation projects or cheap FAs to fill the obvious holes in the roster.

Sorry to be pedantic but the WS was 2005 and your figures were from 2006, that is why I didn't include it. Either way someone has wasted a lot of money for precious little return!

If they have had top 10 payrolls in all those years, then someone in the front office (Hahn or Williams or both) needs sacking because they haven't actually produced top 10 baseball in those years and only appeared in the playoffs briefly in 3 of those years.

But to answer your question his BA w/RISP was .268 and the team BA w/RISP was .269. Abreu was down from .286 in 2021 and .329 in 2020. So that could support the idea he is in decline but with another hitting coach we could see those figures bounce back.

I can't think of one Sox hitter who had good figures in 2022 with a hitting coach that wanted them to ground out rather than hit for home runs

I'm thinking of next season when age and his lack of general fitness likely to catch up with him even more. If we are relying on a whole season out of him and expecting him to pitch at a good level throughout, then I think that is optimistic. There is a risk he will start falling off a cliff like Keuchal did.

Oh I agree about Clevinger, but it would be nice to see the Sox go after a genuine top of the rotation SP, rather than reclamation projects, but when you have no money I guess you have to buy in the bargain basement. We already have enough reclamation projects of our own in the rotation, and next to nothing other than Martin in the pipeline from below.

Nothing particularly against Clevinger but it is depressing that the Sox are signing a 5th starter level player when they already have Lynn and Giolito who need to rebound or they will be that level and Kopech who is recovering from an operation and needs to improve next season. Apart from Cease the rotation is made up of players who we are hoping to rebound and that is if they stay fit.

Are you sure about that?

And getting injured running the bases!

Do you think Colas will get RF straight out of Spring Training?

That would be great because it means he stayed fit and played 150 games, which he hasn't managed in the last 2 seasons combined. If Eloy and Robert could both stay fit and play that many games, it would make a massive difference offensively; but Robert's 98 games this season is the most either has played in the last 2 seasons.