I don’t either, and am always on lookout for shots fired : ) If anything it’s probably air cover for both the FO and JT for why he wasn’t resigned.
How do you solve a problem like Yoshida?
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How so? People have been screaming about the shitty defense and it most definitely has cost the team games. People have also been screaming about how the FO/manager never levels with the fans. Cora seems to be giving the people what they have been asking for.
Exactly. It’s too early to be writing anyone off quite yet. What were Yoshida’s numbers on April 28th last year? Hell, what were Casas’? What were Cedanne’s and Roman’s in the minors, too?
It's almost like baseball is a very long season and it's not wise to rush to judgement if players get off to a cold (or even hot) start. Just settle in and enjoy the ride. (Although here's hoping there will be more days like yesterday. A season with more than a few days like yesterday would be pretty sweet.)
I still don't get why posts like @Salem'sLot and others that were demanding the Sox DFA Youshida immediately. Assuming Devers can play 3rd, then Yoshida has a role on the team. Plus, he could be a great bat off the bench if a team starts a lefty but then brings in a righty.
I stand by my post. The team would be much better with Devers as the primary DH, and having a better glove at 3b going forward. Yoshida cannot play MLB caliber defense anywhere on the field. With the amount of injuries stacking up on the pitching staff, I remain convinced that the 40 man spot is more valuable than a 30 year old DH only player that doesn’t hit for much power.
Who do you want to trade for? There's no 3B in the system who can hit better than Masa banging down the door.
You're seriously standing by, " If they can’t trade him this week they should DFA him."?
Yes. I don’t think he provides much value to this club. He has no position, and he’s on the wrong side of 30. I would rather have a replacement level bat that can field 3b well and allow Devers to DH every day. And yes, with the potential 40 man issues, now is the time to try to trade him while he’s hitting decently. And if they can’t move him, I’d rather have the 40 man spot and let him DH in Worcester.
Just to play a little fantasy, what if we signed Alex Bregman in the off season? An outfield with Duran, Abreu, O'Neill, and Refsnyder. An infield of Bregman, Rafaela, Grissom, Casas. Raffy at DH. The current catching situation. And in 2025, we'd have Teel, Anthony, and Mayer pounding at the door.
It's obviously still early, but Bregman isn't hitting so far, plus he's 2.5 years older than Raffy. Unless Masa's bat falls off, I'm fine with the current arrangement, then move Raffy to DH once that contract's finished (2028, his age 31 season).
I'd much rather spend the money on Burnes and/or extensions than a wrong-side-of-30 3B.
I already hear it in my head every time the thread bumps
There’s a quality corresponding image up thread as well.As to how to solve, with due respect to a better than I expected reasoning from @Salem's Lot, the answer is time. Still think an 825ops guy in there somewhere, even if it’s with limited power (edit- and slow feet and negative defensive value…sigh).
Did Trevor Story get hit by a train in your scenario? Seeing him play GG caliber defense at bot 2B and SS, why couldn’t he be an option at 3B in your scenario since he is already under contract with the Sox? (Plus I’d need a shower having to root for AB)
This is the likely route too, and the one that makes the most sense with fewer moving parts
That's a pretty solid idea if Rafaela can at minimum be a replacement level bat this year (remains to be seen but signs are good) or Mayer appears ready to go on Opening Day 2025. Solid enough that it makes a ton of sense to keep the status quo at 3B and DH through this season and re-evaluate it all this winter.
Another factor here is that O'Neill and Refsnyder aren't under contract for 2025. So Yoshida could be back in the mix in the outfield. I know that they seem loathe to play him out there but I still don't understand why. He was not an abject disaster last season. He wasn't good but he wasn't the worst ever either. Unless they're seeing something behind the scenes, the lengths to which they've gone to avoid playing him in the field seem extreme.
Hm, Ref hasn't played first since 2020 but it looks like he's had his share of chances there in the past. I wonder if he still practices at the position?
I wouldn’t. Think Brad Marchand…loved by Bruins fans, hated by all other NHL fans.
Oh, wow. I owe you a royalty. If my post ever earns me any money, I'll give you a cut.
Was pulled because he jammed his wrist
View: https://twitter.com/smittyonmlb/status/1784764828935966881?s=46
View: https://twitter.com/smittyonmlb/status/1784764828935966881?s=46
https://giphy.com/clips/the-sopranos-silvio-dante-just-when-i-thought-was-out-exDtC9VYdxewuy7u1IDevers to DH, Dalbec at 3B, Yoshida on the IL. All kinds of problems solved!
Bobby D lives another day!
Bobby D is a White Walker with a AAAA bat.
I wonder if Yoshida would be on people's chopping block if he didn't have such a stark first half / second half splits.
What happens if your generic replacement guy comes into the org and gets drilled in the wrist day one? Or Devers as your fulltime DH hurts his shoulder swinging his ball sack off again and has to hit the IL for three weeks? I don't think there's a single organization in the MLB that would DFA Yoshida. If you want to shift Devers to DH you fix that problem in the off-season. There are four regulars on this team with a sub 100 OPS + and none are named Masataka Yoshida. That's simply not an asset you cut bait on in April.
I wonder if Yoshida would be on people's chopping block if he didn't have such a stark first half / second half splits.
You have got to be kidding me.
All of these injuries and Boston is STILL 16-13.
This is actually a pretty good scouting report in and of itself: a prospect with projectable power you can have high hopes for, but when they get into the show they flail around and ultimately fail due to a lack of hand-eye coordination and situational awareness.