ChiSox59

Just the excitement leading up to the season ans nothing else to really talk about other than meaningless ST at bats.

This would result in Eloy playing way more OF than I’d like because the only utility Burger has in this scenario is DHing against LHP and Colas (or Beni) on the bench.

Garfiens podcast with Hahn that was released recently (today?) specifically touches on Billy and the bench. Talks about how Billy is valuable but that you’d also like to have a guy who can take 4 ABs a couple times a week (insinuating he can’t basically). Also touched on opt outs and keeping guys you may otherwise lose (Alberto). And that they’re going to have hard convos with guys that should be big leaguers (Burger and Sheets). And that contract status will not impact decisions (Leury). He didn’t exactly close the door on anything but I felt Seby, Sheets and Alberto are locks after listening and that last spot down to the field of Billy, Leury, Burger and Romy. Haseley was never mentioned.

Sheets and Burger both on this roster make absolutely zero sense if Colas is on it. I’ll believe that when I see it.

I mean, he did spend half a season rostered by LAD last year. I think he has a measurably better chance to end up on a big league roster immediately than Billy.

Sounds like the same thing Fathom has been hearing regarding Burger.

Guarantee you Leury will spend vast majority of the season in the big leagues if Sox were to DFA him. No one will claim due to the $ but he’ll become a FA a week or so later and be back on a big league roster quickly.

For sure. It feels more likely than ever he’s wearing a different uni this season.

I am no Leury fan and will be perfectly fine if they cut him, but it just feels unnecessary right now. If he sucks for the first month, sure, send him packing. But sending Romy to AAA for everyday at bats until he gets into a groove or Leury again proves he shouldn’t be in the big leagues, so be it. It’s not like Romy is going anywhere.

Got some Borgata vibe, dig it.

Moncada’s salary is completely irrelevant in the topic of whether or not he should be playing 3B over Jake fuckin Burger.

But the far worse defender in Burger should? Make it make sense!!

Huh? Moncada is an elite 3B. He’s definitely a very good defensive 3B. Yoan had a terrible 2022 offensively, but let’s see how 23 goes before we deem that he doesn’t belong at 3B. Glad these small contingent of anti-Moncada Soxtalk isn’t responsible for roster decisions. Regardless, the answer at 3B is not Burger for anything more than a short term fill in. He’s an absolute butcher over there.

Need to consult Greg first.

According to what, exactly? Even if you want to completely dismiss the fact that Moncada is an elite defensive 3B and Jake Burger might not even be the best defensive 3B on a competitive mens softball team, I am really curious to hear how you come to this conclusion.

I don't really think its fair to say "Vaughn is always hurt". The Sox stuck a lifelong 1B in the OF everyday. That is really hard on the body, especially one that isn't super long and lean like a lot of OFs. I think we'll see AV be much healthier this year, though I certainly understand the concern with a back issue already presenting itself. Andrew Vaughn has the ability to be an elite offensive player. Gavin Sheets has the chance to be a useful platoon bat. One will be a big leaguer for a very long time, the other has a good chance to be out of the big leagues before his rookie contract is even up. AV needs to play damn near everyday.

He’s just a big Sheets guy. Has been pretty consistent on this take all offseason. Seems as though he’d platoon AV / Sheets if it were up to him.

The Sox are not making Andrew Vaughn a part-time player to get Gavin Sheets at bats. 2-3 starts per week at 1B is 1-2 too many.

Yeah, Burger rakes against LHP but so does the rest of the roster. His role will be so minimal if Sox have their whole complement of position players, and rostering both Burger/Sheets as defensive butchers on the bench in that scenario makes little sense. Its been discussed, but assuming everyone is healthy enough to head to Houston with all position players, Burger's role will quite literally be DHing against LHP, which also means Eloy in RF and Colas on the bench. No thanks. Just send Jake to Charlotte to get everyday at bats and everyday reps at 3B. He'll be needed in Chicago before long. Of course, this calculus all changes if Sox don't break camp with Colas, but that seems unlikely at this point. Sheets on the other hand, despite the defensive shortcomings, actually makes sense to roster for pinch hitting for Seby, Elvis and other bench guys getting a start late against a rough righty, and getting the occasional start at DH/1B. With Romy getting his name back into the OD roster picture with his performance the last week, I think my current bench projection is Seby and Sheets and the final two rosters spots down to a competition between Leury/Romy/Alberto. Romy may still be odd man out as he can be freely optioned.

I'd be a little surprised to see Billy leave. He likes it here, and should see a clearer path the big leagues with the Sox than just about any other contender around. I think Alberto would opt out for sure, tho.

It doesn’t make any sense. Believe that when I see it.

never mind, see you answered question later in thread.

Kevin Pillar would be a nice fit as the 4th OF. Much better than our in house options. I wanted him a couple months ago. Sounds like he may make the Braves, but if not, we should try to get him once released.

Because Vaughn and Moncada are vastly better players than Sheets and Burger. AV could well be the next cornerstone of this franchise; I don't see the Sox pinch hitting for him late in games, nor should they. And by this pinch hitting role you're putting Burger/Sheets in, you're also downgrading the defense substantially for the rest of the game for what amounts to maybe a very small matchup advantage in 1 at bat, that in many scenarios will be counteracted with an immediate pitching change anyway. I just don't really think Pedro is going to manage that way - he is going to stick with his core guys late in games, IMO. Look, I like Burger and Sheets. They are fantastic depth pieces. Both are likely to get a lot of MLB at bats at certain times in 2023 due to injuries. IMO, they should both start the season in Charlotte getting everyday at bats and every day reps in the field assuming Colas breaks camp with the Sox. IMO, the bench SHOULD be Seby, Leury, Alberto and a RHH OF that is a plus defender via a waiver claim / milb deal guy that doesn't make their current roster (or I guess one of the internal OF options (Billy/Marisnick/Haseley) if nothing materializes there). I think the bench WILL be Seby, Sheets, Alberto and Leury. The only way Burger makes a single lick of sense on this roster on OD if is Colas is in AAA.

Insert Simpsons walk in and walk out gif.