Lookin' On the Bright Side

Daniel_Son

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May 25, 2021
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So 2022 is officially in the rear window. Obviously, a lot didn't go right this season - the record speaks for itself, and it always sucks when there's no playoff baseball in Boston.

However, being ever the optimist, I thought it might be worth discussing some of the positives this season. Things the team can build on going forward, things we're excited for in 2023, etc. What went right in 2022?
  • John Schreiber. After a couple middling seasons in Detroit, this guy has been an absolute revelation in the bullpen. 2.22 ERA over 65 innings, just 45 hits and 16 earned runs allowed. Only gave up 3 home runs all season. Controlled until 2027. Super excited to see this guy locking down the 7th/8th innings for the next few years.
  • Brayan Bello. Talk about unlucky. The guy has a 1.77 difference between his FIP and his ERA, which is one of the largest gaps in baseball. He figures to be a fixture in the rotation going forward, and if there's one thing the Sox haven't had in a long time, it's exciting home-grown starting pitching. With a solid defense behind him, he's going to be a force.
  • Triston Casas - After an injury delayed his expected mid-summer debut, he finally got the call-up in September. Although the batting average isn't quite where we'd want it to be, he has shown a keen eye and advanced discipline (19 BBs and just 23 Ks over ~100 PAs, good for a solid .358 on-base percentage). He also finished the season with a 14-game stretch in which he was hitting .316/.490/.579, with a few bombs for good measure. He also provided pretty good defense at 1B, which I've really missed.
What else did you all enjoy watching this season?
 
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Red(s)HawksFan

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Jan 23, 2009
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I think trading out Vazquez for McGuire is a net positive moving forward. He hit quite well in a small sample size after arriving, which is in line with what he showed when he first came up with the Jays, so there's reason to think he'll be at least a solid contributor. Between he and Wong, the catcher spot appears to be taken care of for the time being.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Mar 11, 2007
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So 2022 is officially in the rear window. Obviously, a lot didn't go right this season - the record speaks for itself, and it always sucks when there's no playoff baseball in Boston.

However, being ever the optimist, I thought it might be worth discussing some of the positives this season. Things the team can build on going forward, things we're excited for in 2023, etc. What went right in 2022?
  • John Schreiber. After a couple middling seasons in Detroit, this guy has been an absolute revelation in the bullpen. 2.22 ERA over 65 innings, just 45 hits and 16 earned runs allowed. Only gave up 3 home runs all season. Controlled until 2027. Super excited to see this guy locking down the 7th/8th innings for the next few years.
  • Brayan Bello. Talk about unlucky. The guy has a 1.77 difference between his FIP and his ERA, which is one of the largest gaps in baseball. He figures to be a fixture in the rotation going forward, and if there's one thing the Sox haven't had in a long time, it's exciting home-grown starting pitching. With a solid defense behind him, he's going to be a force.
  • Triston Casas - After an injury delayed his expected mid-summer debut, he finally got the call-up in September. Although the batting average isn't quite where we'd want it to be, he has shown a keen eye and advanced discipline (19 BBs and just 23 Ks over ~100 PAs, good for a solid .358 on-base percentage). He also finished the season with a 14-game stretch in which he was hitting .316/.490/.579, with a few bombs for good measure. He also provided pretty good defense at 1B, which I've really missed.
What else did you all enjoy watching this season?
Barnes looked great again after his return. If the BP keeps Houck and Whitlock (personally I want him in the rotation) and Barnes has found consistency… that’s a great pen. Houck as closer. Barnes and Scheiber as 8th inning. Whitlock as Whitlock.
They already have good quality fillers around them with Crawford, Strahm, German and Ort (who I liked despite his one meltdown as a back end relief arm).
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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Beyond Bello, I think minor league starters Crawford and Winckowski (4.34 and 4.95 FIP, respectively) were mostly good enough as depth, especially as compared to years past. The problem wasn't the depth itself, it was more that all of them (and Crawford) were too-frequently needed at the same time/same turn through the rotation. It's not a huge surprise that Hill, Wacha and Eovaldi didn't make 32 starts. It was unfortunate that all of them were out at roughly the same time.
 

Brianish

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Dec 11, 2008
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Disappointments of this year aside, we'd be 4th place in any other division, and 3rd in the AL Central, AL West, and NL Central. We're not actually as far down as it seems by division standings, either in terms of record or run differential.
 

streeter88

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Apr 2, 2006
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I loved this post and this thread. I posted fairly negatively on the Bloom thread, but enjoyed watching Wacha, Hill and some of the progress of the young starters - and agree it was a shame they were all needed all at once.

Looking forward to a more stable rotation next year, just please not with any contribution expected from Sale.
 

Tony Pena's Gas Cloud

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Jun 12, 2019
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Despite the overall bad numbers of the pitching staff, I liked what I saw from the young guys. Bello, Crawford, Winckowski, Kelly, and Ort (not really young, I know) all showed flashes of being useful pieces in '23. And it was great to see Barnes back to his old self in the second half. The guy has unfairly become a punching bag for some of Red Sox Nation, and I always root for him.
 

CapeCodYaz

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Sep 24, 2020
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a healthy consistent starting pitching group and a definitive closer would go a long way next year-----I'm good with our bats
 

mr_smith02

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On the field, I enjoyed watching Bogie and Devers as well as the hope that Casas will continue to develop and solidify first base. Off the field, I enjoyed hearing Eck during his final broadcasts, especially the "I am a Boston Red Sox" speech this week.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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a healthy consistent starting pitching group and a definitive closer would go a long way next year-----I'm good with our bats
What team doesn't want that? Then name one team that had consistent health pitching through the entire year? The way to do this (or at least create a good buffer against it) is to have young pitchers. The Sox are only now finally getting some of that and it's still mostly on the horizon. And even then... Houck, Whitlock, Crawford all had time on the DL. There's Pivetta. And that's it. And people want to trade him.
 

Daniel_Son

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a healthy consistent starting pitching group and a definitive closer would go a long way next year-----I'm good with our bats
Totally agree on the bats, though I think getting a consistent leadoff hitter in the outfield (probably RF) would make me feel better. Pham filled those shoes in the second half but I think we can do better.

Are we good with Houck as the closer coming into 2023?
 

Daniel_Son

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On the field, I enjoyed watching Bogie and Devers as well as the hope that Casas will continue to develop and solidify first base. Off the field, I enjoyed hearing Eck during his final broadcasts, especially the "I am a Boston Red Sox" speech this week.
Didn't even think about the off-the-field stuff! You're right, the Eck send-off in the last couple weeks was really nice to see, as bittersweet as it was. I also think Youk really came into his own in the broadcast booth, and I loved what Middlebrooks brought to the table.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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Totally agree on the bats, though I think getting a consistent leadoff hitter in the outfield (probably RF) would make me feel better. Pham filled those shoes in the second half but I think we can do better.
He didn't fill them very well. .238/.298/.374 in his time with the Red Sox. Not what you want from your leadoff hitter. Or any hitter for that matter.
 

Daniel_Son

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He didn't fill them very well. .238/.298/.374 in his time with the Red Sox. Not what you want from your leadoff hitter. Or any hitter for that matter.
Wow, you're right. I didn't even register how badly he fell off in the last month. He hit well in August at least... but the point stands, they need a leadoff hitter and a competent RF, no question.
 

budcrew08

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Mar 30, 2007
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Wacha was 11-1 this year. I know that wins and losses don't mean a ton anymore, that's all about those advanced metrics. But Wacha had a hell of a season, lost in the throes of a 78-84 campaign.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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I liked watching Bello pitch and Casas hit. I enjoyed a fine season by Xander and listening to Eck and to an extent Youkilis.

That's pretty much it. This was a tough year, you guys.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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First half Devers was legitimately hitting at an MVP level (in most years). Have to imagine the injuries largely contributed to the poor 2nd half.