2024 Lineup (What we actually have - no trade speculation.)

YTF

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Yep he'll strike out a bunch. But those potential BB's means he'd make opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches in theory. With Casas down, isn't this exactly why you have a guy like him at AAA? If he isn't called up in a situation like this, at least to see what he may look like against ML pitching, than why do you even have him?
One thought on this... We have to remember that as a guy who is primarily a 1B DH type and with Dalbec on the depth chart ahead of him, Niko is not likely to occupy a 40 man spot. If Dalbec was a legit MLB talent and on the big team as the regular CI option, Kavadas might have a place on the 40 man, but that's not the case here. Instead they are going to have to make a path for him because Dalbec was the MiLB 40 man option.
 

sean1562

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Kavadas seems to have pretty pronounced platoon splits, at least last year and this year(so far). 2023 .879 OPS vs RHP/.524 OPS vs LHP, and in 15 games this year 1.379 OPS vs RHP/.350 OPS vs LHP(only 15 PAs vs LHP so far this season).
 

Fishy1

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Funniest thing about that list is that the worst players are at the tippy top. Plantier, Sam Horn, and Middlebrooks combined for like, 5 career WAR. Greenwell obviously a legit major leaguer. Anyways, a list full of legit players.

Abreu's K rate, btw, is down to 28.8%, which is something of a relief. Something worth watching is his BABIP is still north of .400. He could lose 70 or 80 points of batting average on regression alone, abd if I doubted Duran was a .400 BABIP guy, I really really don't think Abreu is.

On the other hand, if he can cut his K rate as he adjusts to the big leagues and get it down to 20-25% like it was in AAA last year, and he's walking 12-15% of the time -- that's a guy who could definitely post a OBP around .350 over a full season, especially if his exposure to LHP is limited. (A .907 OPS againt RHP so far, and a .513 against LHP in a very, very, very small sample size).

As I've noted before, his performance in AAA last year was remarkably similar to the performance Casas put up there the year before -- Abreu was, in fact, slightly better than Casas when adjusted for league/park factors. Casas obviously doing it at a younger age, so more projection there, but they're both guys with average-ish hit tools and upper quartile plate discipline and exit velocities. Could be we've found our major left-handed anchors for years to come between Casas, Abreu, and Devers.
 

nvalvo

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We'll know more about Casas' prognosis soon, but let's say that Casas looks likely to be out until July or so. We also absolutely cannot rush him back from something like this; he means too much to the long-term prospects of the team.

Here is what I think I'd try to do:
  • ASAP: offer Brandon Belt a ml contract with a roster bonus to go to Fort Myers and get in game shape, with an eye to a possible debut in June. Dude is 36, but he had a .254/.369/.490 line for Toronto in 400 PA last year, albeit with an uptick — to 35%, yikes — in his K rate, which is almost certainly why he's still available. He'll strike out plenty, but he's a solid hitter with an elite eye and more pop than you might remember: it was hidden in the marine layer for a long time. As a guy who hits a lot of deep fly balls to from left-center to the RF foul pole, he's always seemed to me like a candidate for a monster season in the AL East's ballparks, and I'd say Toronto saw a bit of that potential last year.
  • Casas to the 60-day IL. 40-man to 39.
  • Nick Sogard up for versatile and competent bench infield depth; takes Casas' spot on the 40 and Heineman's spot on the 26.
  • When Grissom is ready, promote him and option Hamilton. 40-man remains at 40; 26-man remains at 26.
  • J.D. Davis just went down for Oakland, which means it is time for Bobby Dalbec to meet his destiny in the East Bay. Trade Dalbec for whatever non-40-man player you can get, or else DFA him. 40-man to 39, 26-man to 25.
  • Promote Kavadas, who takes Dalbec's spot on the 40 and 26. He plays 1B against righties; Reyes or Refsnyder see time against most lefties.
  • When O'Neill comes off the IL, option Manu Valdez. 26-man to 25.
  • Backfill Kavadas in Worcester by seeing what the Royals (who are insanely deep in high-minors 1B types, some of whom are top prospects) would want for 1B/3B/LF CJ Alexander, currently raking in Omaha. He's 27 and pretty far down their IF depth chart, so I'd guess he wouldn't cost a ton.
  • If Alexander hits the ground running in Worcester and Sogard is playing competently as your bench IF, you outright Pablo Reyes (which exposes him to waivers, which he should get through) and promote Alexander.
I think all the roster stuff works. This gives us the following infielders by the end of April:

In Boston:
3B Devers L
2B Grissom R
SS/CF Rafaela R
1B Kavadas L
3B/1B/LF Alexander R
3B/SS/2B Sogard S

In Worcester, on 40:
SS Hamilton L
2B Valdez L
C Heineman S

In Worcester, off 40:
UT Reyes R (assuming he gets through waivers)
1B Hickey L
2B/3B Westbrook

In Extended Spring Training:
1B Brandon Belt (L)

On the 60-day IL:
1B Casas (L)
SS/2B Story (R)
 

Fishy1

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Nah, the funniest thing is the idea that 44 games is some sort of acknowledged benchmark
And I'm probably too early to be crowning him a middle-of-the-lineup threat. His start has me excited, is all.
 

moondog80

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Belt might be holding out for $, some guys would rather sit than take what they feel is far less than their value. HIs career earnings are over $114 million, so if he's had any long-term financial advice at all, he's in a position to do whatever he wants.
 

Rovin Romine

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A gentle reminder this is the "2024 Lineup (What we actually have - no trade speculation.)" thread. Maybe a bit of a longer one due to the current injury news and uncertainty.

The purpose of the thread is to see what we actually have in the organization and how it fits together. What it's actually doing. What it may do in the future. It also serves as a bit of a record for how the season is going, and I think threads like that can be valuable to review - to see who was where at any given moment and what the team did or could have done.

We've gotten some excellent pro and con points about Abreu, Dalbec, Kavadas, development issues, potential 40 man complications including what might happen after this week. Splits, age, how the pieces fit (or do not fit) together. I think it's great stuff. It's the sort of thing I come here to learn, and I appreciate everyone doing the stat work and pointing out issues. It makes me more engaged and connected with the team.

Prior to this, we had similarly good posts and points about SS/IF issues. And there too, I gained a better understanding of the player dynamics behind the issues we saw on the field. (I don't think anyone following this thread was surprised that Heineman was the position player call-up.)

Maybe our discussion suggests there is no viable in-house option for a particular shortcoming or problem, and that's very important to know. And of course, it's a very natural jump from identifying a problem on the club to wanting to propose a reasonable solution. (And some are quite reasonable.)

However, we want to draw the line at discussing the merits of particular players not in the organization and/or how the Sox might acquire them. The reason we don't want excessive trade discussion here is simply that everyone under the sun can propose a speculative idea or five for how the Sox might potentially completely reshape the roster with a few trades. The vast vast majority of those trades or signings ever happen, and almost none are on the exact same terms that are speculated on or proposed. They clutter and derail threads like these as people argue over the pros and cons of various things that won't come to pass. Or pro/cons of players who are not in the org. (Again, here, we want to know what we actually have.)

That said, we also have places for that kind of (often interesting) trade/acquisition speculation. I like to read it and engage in it myself. But just not here.

So, please take personal GMing strategies and/or trade ideas to any of the other multiple threads we have which are already currently discussing those issues. I'll see you there, and we'll talk about Nick Yorke and unsigned FAs and likely journeymen.
 
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Rovin Romine

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I may as well ping this again, perhaps editing tonight or tomorrow if we get some news. It's getting to be something of an injury update thread. . .but such is life.

This is a snapshot comparison from the opening day roster to today, not a complete record of ups and downs.
* is LHH, Bold is opening day roster, call-up replacements are indented, whether originally on the roster or not.

Catchers:
Wong
McGuire*

Infielders:
Triston Casas* (10 day IL, left rib strain) MRI results pending.
Tyler Heineman - Catcher (WOR)​
Enmanuel Valdez*
note: Vaughn Grissom IL/Delayed ST, AAA began 4/12, 20 days max. Hitting and playing in field.
Trevor Story (60 day IL 4/6, shoulder, out for year)
David Hamilton*​
Rafael Devers* (shoulder and left knee issues =s day to day? MRI good.)
Pablo Reyes
Romy Gonzalez (10 Day IL 4/11, wrist sprain) MRI good.
Bobby Dalbec

Outfielders:
Masataka Yoshida*
Tyler O'Neill (7 Day IL 4/16, concussion) Soonest back April 23. Took batting practice.
Rob Refsnyder​
Wilyer Abreu*
Jarren Duran*
Ceddanne Rafaela

Minors (40 man)
NONE​
MiL players of note (non-40):
Kavadas - 1B LHH (poor defender?, 3 true outcome hitter, 1.089 OPS to date)​
Hickey - C/DH LHH (bat first player, .699 OPS to date)​
Westbrook - 3B/2B RHH (.831 OPS to date - age 28 journeyman type.)​
Sogard - IF/OF SH (.666 OPS)​
Meidroth - 3B/2B (adequate fielder at best, contact heavy .800 OPS)​
Conteras - OF LHH (probably not relevant to immediate needs, .557 OPS, age 29 journeyman type)​
 

pjheff

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One thought on this... We have to remember that as a guy who is primarily a 1B DH type and with Dalbec on the depth chart ahead of him, Niko is not likely to occupy a 40 man spot. If Dalbec was a legit MLB talent and on the big team as the regular CI option, Kavadas might have a place on the 40 man, but that's not the case here. Instead they are going to have to make a path for him because Dalbec was the MiLB 40 man option.
Kavadas also offers no positional versatility, which might tie Cora's hands some with pinch hitting and shifting guys around the infield. At least we know Dalbec can handle the position defensively and we can hope that the team continues winning behinds its pitching and enough offense from other spots in the lineup.
 

Cassvt2023

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You've got to think the roster move sometime today is going to be activating O'Neill and sending Heineman back down. Anything else you can project?
 

YTF

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You've got to think the roster move sometime today is going to be activating O'Neill and sending Heineman back down. Anything else you can project?
Yep, Heineman was never anything more than a body and only there because he was the last remaining player on the 40 man. The next guy with what seems to be the least amount of value to the team is Hamilton who likely gets sent down in a week or so when Grissom is ready to return. At some point Breslow is still going to need to do something to address the lack of viable position players on the 40 man.
 

Coachster

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Yep, Heineman was never anything more than a body and only there because he was the last remaining player on the 40 man. The next guy with what seems to be the least amount of value to the team is Hamilton who likely gets sent down in a week or so when Grissom is ready to return. At some point Breslow is still going to need to do something to address the lack of viable position players on the 40 man.
Ok, but the bottom line is we're going to see Dalbec in the lineup on a regular basis till then, right? Can Raffi play every day? Is O'Neill ok? If the answer to either of those is no, it's Bobby time.

I've been watching way too much college softball recently, so I checked yesterday to see if the MLB rule is a designated HITTER rule, or a designated PLAYER rule, because letting Dalbec play the field but not hit (and letting some pitchers hit) might be a better use of resources, but no. It has to be for the pitcher, dammit.
 

YTF

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Ok, but the bottom line is we're going to see Dalbec in the lineup on a regular basis till then, right? Can Raffi play every day? Is O'Neill ok? If the answer to either of those is no, it's Bobby time.

I've been watching way too much college softball recently, so I checked yesterday to see if the MLB rule is a designated HITTER rule, or a designated PLAYER rule, because letting Dalbec play the field but not hit (and letting some pitchers hit) might be a better use of resources, but no. It has to be for the pitcher, dammit.
"Regular" is TBD. As you alluded to, we'll need to see how ready Raffy and O'Neill are to go full bore. I would imagine one the other or both might get an extra day or two off in the early going just as a precaution and that's manageable without the need for Bobby to become a regular, but if both miss additional time we might see a bit more of Bobby.
 

Cassvt2023

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The weather in Cleveland looks like shit for tonight's game. Maybe they'll wait to see if it's postponed to buy themselves another 24 hours to decide their move. In addition, Worcester is in Toledo this week, so only two hour drive if they do call up someone.
 

Rovin Romine

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You've got to think the roster move sometime today is going to be activating O'Neill and sending Heineman back down. Anything else you can project?
Project. . .that's tricky. To sort of type/think aloud here, I'd note that the 40 man dynamic is pretty important.

You've got 26 guys on the active roster. 13 pitchers, 13 hitters. If a guy goes on the 7/10/15 day IL, you can pull one of the remaining fourteen 40-men up from the minors to replace them, and send them down again without DFAing them if they have options.

If a guy goes on the 60, you can add a player to the 40 man. If a guy comes off the 60, you've got to remove a player (trade, DFA) from the 40 man.

All basic stuff.

But some of the 40-man spots are used to protect minor leagues from the rule 5 draft. So not all will hold viable ML players. Given the volatility re: pitching arms, you're probably going to favor more MiL pitchers than hitters in the remaining spots - certainly you want a couple of backup starters on the 40 man (Criswell/Uwasawa).

In consequence, at this point, they're out of position players on the 40 man.

They can add players to the by moving Walter (or the like) to the 60. They can free up a spot by DFAing players, like they did with Jacques to add Booser (essentially.)

The problem really becomes what to do with players who may have upside but aren't producing? Guys who you're OK losing forever if you DFA them to put another more appropriate MiL player (or acquisition) on the 40 man to deal with temporary injury.

The list of guys on the 40 who aren't nominal ML starters (e.g., Casas, Devers, Grissom):

Prospects: Will be kept but not in the promotion/injury relief equation.​
W. Gonzalez (SP)​
L. Perales (SP)​
P: Ideally you want one or two emergency starters/longmen, and one or two relief arms. In 2024 more than ever it seems.​
Criswell (SP) - up now​
Uwasawa (SP)​
Bernardino - LHR up now​
Booser - LHR up now​
Z. Kelly RHR​
V. Guiterrez (RH project pitcher?)​
plus
Mata 15 day IL (rehab soon?)​
Walter 15 day IL (mystery injury)​
C: You probably always need a AAA catcher on the 40 man in case of injury.​
Heineman - stays on 40.​
OF: Again, OF coverage. But all 5 guys are up right now. Yoshida (DH), O'Neill, Refsnyder, Duran, Rafaela, Abreu.​
IF: Again, you need some IF coverage. Reyes is the nominal MLBer here, but I threw him in anyways. While somewhat fungable, all of these guys have upside. Dalbec's bat, Gonzalez's versatility, Hamilton's speed and nominal ability to play SS, Valdez's bat now that he can imitate a MLB 2B. The trouble is they're all injured or underperforming, so there's no clear hold 'em type player and no clear dump 'em type player - even by contrast.​
Reyes plus
Dalbec
Gonzalez
Hamilton
Valdez
So the way I read the above?

On the 40 man pitching front, they have two emergency starters. They have 3 guys they're stretching out as 2 inning relievers who can go shorter if needed. (Plus one to add in Benetiz?) Gutierrez pitched an inning in relief in AAA, so he's probably in a relief role as well.
I kind of think that's where they want to be.

The least-upside guys are Mata and Walter. Mata's never thrown a ML pitch, is chronically injured, and has no options. So limited play value (upside), and limited trade value. Walter could be a useful pitcher but hasn't appeared in a MiL game yet due to injury. Maybe they're strategically not putting him on the 60 day IL yet.

The main problem is the IF. The best potential defender in the bunch (Gonzalez) is injured. Hamilton is raw and perhaps overmatched at SS. Valdez may have maxed out his limited defensive upside (kudos, though - really) and has a cold bat. Dalbec is mired in a slump. Making the problem worse is that Reyes has regressed, putting pressure on the club to find someone that works.

So do you try to add a player to the 40 by cutting Dalbec? Who may unfunk himself to hit averageish with power and is a passible 1B/3B? Do you cut Hamilton, who is still young? Do you cut Reyes who has ML experience? There's really no good option.

And then who do you put on? Kavadas?

Or do you just have patience and hope one or two of those 5 get it together?

***
Looking to the future: mid-season, Hendricks comes off the 40 and you have to DFA/trade one of those guys. Then maybe Story in Sept.? Although if the Sox are out of it, I don't know if he'd rush back anyway.

For 2025 though - Hendricks, Murphy, Giolito, Story.

If those 4 came back today, who would you cut? It does not really matter. But it illustrates why you might not want to put a future-upside player on the 40 at this moment. Unless they were ready now.
 

6-5 Sadler

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Maybe they're strategically not putting him on the 60 day IL yet.
Re: Walter - I believe they are not putting him on the 60-day IL because they would have to promote him to the ML roster. He would then start accruing service time which he is currently not while on the Worcester roster.
 

Rovin Romine

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Re: Walter - I believe they are not putting him on the 60-day IL because they would have to promote him to the ML roster. He would then start accruing service time which he is currently not while on the Worcester roster.
I don't know if you've mentioned that before, but it's the first cogent explanation I've read on this. That said, are you sure the 40/60 man dynamic works that way? I do not know. @Red(s)HawksFan might know off the top of his head.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I don't know if you've mentioned that before, but it's the first cogent explanation I've read on this. That said, are you sure the 40/60 man dynamic works that way? I do not know. @Red(s)HawksFan might know off the top of his head.
I think that's correct. I don't think they necessarily have to officially call him up to place him on the IL, but placing him on the 60-day does mean he accrues service time which he is not doing while on the minor league IL.
 

Cassvt2023

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No Devers again tonight. Or Yoshida.

Rafaela SS
Duran CF
O'Neill DH
Abreu LF
Refsnyder RF
Valdez 2B
Wong C
Dalbec 1B
Reyes 3B
 

moondog80

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They probably just don't want to put O'Neill in the field yet.
I get the O'Neil part, but they'd rather play Refsnyder against a righty? Is the defensive gap that large?

Yoshida also sat on Sunday while Tyler Heineman was DH. After sitting Wednesday and Thursday.

Could also put Ref at 1B and bench Dalbec.
 

simplicio

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He may be banged up, who knows.

But Ref also has a 1.289 OPS vs righties since he came back, so I'm alright sticking with him until he cools off.
 

Rovin Romine

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I want not to bump this thing but man. . .Tyler Heineman now on the 10 day IL, as O'Neill comes off.

This is a snapshot comparison from the opening day roster to today, not a complete record of ups and downs.
* is LHH, Bold is opening day roster, call-up replacements are indented, whether originally on the roster or not.

Catchers:
Wong
McGuire*

Infielders:
Triston Casas* (10 day IL, 4/21 left rib fracture)
Tyler Heineman (10 day IL, 4/22 hamstring)
Enmanuel Valdez*
note: Vaughn Grissom IL/Delayed ST, AAA began 4/12, 20 days max. Hitting and playing in field.
Trevor Story (60 day IL 4/6, shoulder, out for year)
David Hamilton*​
Rafael Devers* (shoulder and left knee issues =s day to day? MRI good.)
Pablo Reyes
Romy Gonzalez (10 Day IL 4/11, wrist sprain) MRI good.
Bobby Dalbec

Outfielders:
Masataka Yoshida*
Tyler O'Neill (7 Day IL 4/16, concussion, back 4/23)
Rob Refsnyder​
Wilyer Abreu*
Jarren Duran*
Ceddanne Rafaela

Minors (40 man)
NONE​
MiL players of note (non-40):
Kavadas - 1B LHH (poor defender?, 3 true outcome hitter, 1.089 OPS to date)​
Hickey - C/DH LHH (bat first player, .699 OPS to date)​
Westbrook - 3B/2B RHH (.831 OPS to date - age 28 journeyman type.)​
Sogard - IF/OF SH (.666 OPS)​
Meidroth - 3B/2B (adequate fielder at best, contact heavy .800 OPS)​
Conteras - OF LHH (probably not relevant to immediate needs, .557 OPS, age 29 journeyman type)​
 
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Rovin Romine

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Yoshida:

April
15 - 0 for 4
16 - 0 for 6 (maybe a good idea to give him some head space.)
17 - sits while Devers DHs
18 - sits while Wong DHs
19 - 1 for 3
20 - 3 for 4
21 - sits while Heineman DHs (LHP starting)
22 - off day
23 - sits while O'Neill DHs (first day back for O'Neill, wet field, but RHP starting) Game: 0-0, PH - HBP.
 
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Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Game thread but Valdez IS a guy that needs AAA time (I still don’t think Rafaela is though).
There’s a difference between struggling and looking overwhelmed- Cedanne is the former, Valdez the latter.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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If Devers can take the field, the lineup every day should be-

Duran CF
Oneill LF
Devers 3B
Abreu RF
Yoshida DH
Refsnyder 1B
Valdez 2B/Grissom
Wong/Mcguire C
Rafaela SS

PERIOD.

This lineup should be able to score enough to score enough to get some wins enough that even if nothing happens until the ASB when/if Casas returns they could stay in contention
 

Rasputin

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Not here
We get any more IL stints and all further posts to this thread should just be blank.
 

Rovin Romine

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We get any more IL stints and all further posts to this thread should just be blank.
Hypothetically, what would happen if the entire ML team went on the 60-day IL? If you fielded a team by internal promotion to the 40 man, you'd end up DFAing a bunch of players at the end of the year. Granted, you can choose which ones, and there's always someone fungible in the #40 spot, but at the #35 spot?
 

BaseballJones

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Right now the Red Sox are fielding a regular lineup that features four guys with ops+ numbers below 60 (!!!!).

Valdez: .143/.182/.257/.439, 24 ops+
Hamilton: .182/.250/.303/.553, 57 ops+
Rafaela: .171/.213/.293/.506, 43 ops+
Reyes: .170/.214/.208/.422, 21 ops+
 

Rwillh11

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Right now the Red Sox are fielding a regular lineup that features four guys with ops+ numbers below 60 (!!!!).

Valdez: .143/.182/.257/.439, 24 ops+
Hamilton: .182/.250/.303/.553, 57 ops+
Rafaela: .171/.213/.293/.506, 43 ops+
Reyes: .170/.214/.208/.422, 21 ops+
The good news is that Valdez and Reyes will both be out of the lineup very shortly, with Devers and Grissom taking their spots. Once Grissom is activated, if Rafaela takes the bulk of innings at short for the time being, you should only see one of those guys in the lineup most nights going forward.
 

moondog80

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Right now the Red Sox are fielding a regular lineup that features four guys with ops+ numbers below 60 (!!!!).

Valdez: .143/.182/.257/.439, 24 ops+
Hamilton: .182/.250/.303/.553, 57 ops+
Rafaela: .171/.213/.293/.506, 43 ops+
Reyes: .170/.214/.208/.422, 21 ops+
You forgot Dalbec, who, at the moment, is the regular 1B. .054/.125/.084, -40 ops+
 

YTF

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The good news is that Valdez and Reyes will both be out of the lineup very shortly, with Devers and Grissom taking their spots. Once Grissom is activated, if Rafaela takes the bulk of innings at short for the time being, you should only see one of those guys in the lineup most nights going forward.
Yes and Hamilton is hardly a regular in the lineup ATM and is likely not even a bench piece soon. They're weathering the storm right now with some upgrades (hopefully) right around the corner.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Yes and Hamilton is hardly a regular in the lineup ATM and is likely not even a bench piece soon. They're weathering the storm right now with some upgrades (hopefully) right around the corner.
Last season when the cavalry was on the way the team collapsed.
 

chrisfont9

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Wong has been incredible so far, but sadly his statcast numbers suggest that he's not likely to sustain the improvement. His xWOBA and xWOBACON are both down in comparison to last year, and his WOBA is more than 100 points higher than his xWOBA. I was hoping I'd fire up his statcast page and see some significant underlying improvements to explain his numbers this year, but sadly it was not to be.
What if he's better than last year? Not that small samples won't regress to the mean for BABIP and the like, but to the extent his expected performance is based on last year, he's young enough for me to think that he might be leveling up from past performance.
Last season when the cavalry was on the way the team collapsed.
The hollowed out rotation and exhausted bullpen were the culprits that time, mostly. We need Whitlock back ASAP, and Pivetta and Bello close behind him. The lineup injuries, while incredibly frustrating (I'm removing a lot of expletives here) are not as worrisome to me.
 

Cassvt2023

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With Vaughn Grissom reportedly very close to returning, How does this look for a potential lineup?

Duran CF
Devers 3B
O'Neill LF
Abreu RF
Grissom 2B
Yoshida DH
Wong C
Dalbec/Ref 1B
Rafaela SS
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Mar 11, 2007
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With Vaughn Grissom reportedly very close to returning, How does this look for a potential lineup?

Duran CF
Devers 3B
O'Neill LF
Abreu RF
Grissom 2B
Yoshida DH
Wong C
Dalbec/Ref 1B
Rafaela SS
Great except for the fact that there seems no interest in Ref at 1B
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
With Vaughn Grissom reportedly very close to returning, How does this look for a potential lineup?

Duran CF
Devers 3B
O'Neill LF
Abreu RF
Grissom 2B
Yoshida DH
Wong C
Dalbec/Ref 1B
Rafaela SS
If we can find ourselves with a fairly healthy lineup (sans Casas) for any period of time it's really going to be a boost to the pitching staff who is somehow still hanging in there. Rafaela's speed at the bottom of the is something can be an incredible asset if he can find a way to get on base more consistently.
 

BaseballJones

slappy happy
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
26,923
O'Neill now up to .333/.450/.758/1.208, with 9 homers in just 19 games. Obviously he won't keep this up but he's been amazing. I'm very curious to see whether Boston extends him or trades him at the deadline.
 

moondog80

heart is two sizes two small
SoSH Member
Sep 20, 2005
8,819
O'Neill now up to .333/.450/.758/1.208, with 9 homers in just 19 games. Obviously he won't keep this up but he's been amazing. I'm very curious to see whether Boston extends him or trades him at the deadline.
I don’t care how good he’s doing, extending him is going to be scary given his history. I say enjoy the run if nothing else QO him if he keeps it up.