Farrell probably deserves this

[The Q]

agreed. Outside of someone like Santana and maybe a caddy for Pedroia, I think they should stand pat this offseason. Santana could help alleviate their lack of production from 1B/DH and I think there's reason to be optimistic about the offense rebounding next year (even if they don't approach the 900-ish run pace set by the 2016 team). The bullpen looks good going into next season even if it's "inconsistent" (most relief pitching is inconsistent) and the rotation is pretty set for the foreseeable future. The priority should be trying to lock up Betts and co. to long term deals and rebuilding for the farm system. I think the lower levels of the Sox farm shows promise.

completely agreed.

This should be a quiet winter. Gotta rely on guys like Eddy taking the next step and Porcello going back to his last year in Detroit form.

 

[navamind]

completely agreed.

This should be a quiet winter. Gotta rely on guys like Eddy taking the next step and Porcello going back to his last year in Detroit form.

I'm really not sure about Porcello. You'd think his .324 BABIP allowed would regress next year, but he also gave up a lot of hard contact this year (38.3%, his career high prior to 2017 was 32.8% in 2015). His HR/FB rate might regress, but given his batted ball profiles (he allowed more fly balls than ground balls in 2017), he's going to be giving up home runs regardless. The K/BB rates are still solid, but he might be throwing too many strikes.

Rick Porcello » Statistics » Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball

Even if he repeats his 2017 season, he's still a valuable (albeit frustrating) pitcher.

 

[navamind]

Eduardo looked really good until he hurt himself in the dugout. I think that kind of hurt whatever progress he was making this year and he struggled after coming off the DL before settling down in September. He has his command issues, but he's been a good pitcher already and he saw a pretty good spike in his strikeout rate (21.8% to 25.8%). A lot of upside IMO.

 

[The Q]

I'm really not sure about Porcello. You'd think his .324 BABIP allowed would regress next year, but he also gave up a lot of hard contact this year (38.3%, his career high prior to 2017 was 32.8% in 2015). His HR/FB rate might regress, but given his batted ball profiles (he allowed more fly balls than ground balls in 2017), he's going to be giving up home runs regardless. The K/BB rates are still solid, but he might be throwing too many strikes.

Rick Porcello » Statistics » Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball

Even if he repeats his 2017 season, he's still a valuable (albeit frustrating) pitcher.

I'm amazed how much he's gotten away from his sinker, aka the thing that got him this big deal in the first place.

 

[navamind]

I'm amazed how much he's gotten away from his sinker, aka the thing that got him this big deal in the first place.

his fastball got destroyed this year and his changeup was ineffective after it being a good pitch in 2016.

 

[The Q]

his fastball got destroyed this year and his changeup was ineffective after it being a good pitch in 2016.

he's been throwing more 4 seam fastballs rather than sinkers.

 

[navamind]

he's been throwing more 4 seam fastballs rather than sinkers.

yup. it's awful

 

[molsaniceman]

please no butterball

According to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ron Gardenhire is in the "final three" for the Red Sox managerial opening.

We don't have the names of the other two finalists, but Alex Cora, Brad Ausmus, Gary DiSarcina, Chili Davis, Brian Butterfield, and Jason Varitek would seem to be among the possibilities. Gardenhire served as the manager of the Twins for 13 years, from 2002 until his firing in September 2014. He spent the 2017 season as the bench coach of the Diamondbacks.

 

[navamind]

please no butterball

According to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ron Gardenhire is in the "final three" for the Red Sox managerial opening.

We don't have the names of the other two finalists, but Alex Cora, Brad Ausmus, Gary DiSarcina, Chili Davis, Brian Butterfield, and Jason Varitek would seem to be among the possibilities. Gardenhire served as the manager of the Twins for 13 years, from 2002 until his firing in September 2014. He spent the 2017 season as the bench coach of the Diamondbacks.

 

[Shoeshine Boy]

maybe a caddy for Pedroia

Re-sign Nunez, hopefully.

And maybe try to find a better lefty for the pen than the Scott-Ross-Abad crew. That and a healthy Thornburg and Smith would wrap things up pretty well, I think.

 

[The Q]

please no butterball

According to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ron Gardenhire is in the "final three" for the Red Sox managerial opening.

We don't have the names of the other two finalists, but Alex Cora, Brad Ausmus, Gary DiSarcina, Chili Davis, Brian Butterfield, and Jason Varitek would seem to be among the possibilities. Gardenhire served as the manager of the Twins for 13 years, from 2002 until his firing in September 2014. He spent the 2017 season as the bench coach of the Diamondbacks.

It sounds like no DiSarcina or Tek or frankly any other internal candidate. DD said more or less that he wants to go outside.

I'm thinking it's Cora or Ausmus almost. I'd be blown away if it's anyone else.

 

[redseat]

Re-sign Nunez, hopefully.

And maybe try to find a better lefty for the pen than the Scott-Ross-Abad crew. That and a healthy Thornburg and Smith would wrap things up pretty well, I think.

Yeah they need Nunez.. He was the spark plug for this team... Even when he got hurt...

Whats the word on Wright?

 

[navamind]

Yeah they need Nunez.. He was the spark plug for this team... Even when he got hurt...

Whats the word on Wright?

nothing really. Last update on Rotoworld was that he was moved to the 60 day... back in May. I think it's safe to say he's their #6 starter though.

 

[redseat]

nothing really. Last update on Rotoworld was that he was moved to the 60 day... back in May. I think it's safe to say he's their #6 starter though.

Thanks... Wonder if he gets used as trade bait for a middle reliever or something. Granted not sure what he'd bring back

 

[navamind]

Thanks... Wonder if he gets used as trade bait for a middle reliever or something. Granted not sure what he'd bring back

really not sure.

He's under control for a few years
He doesn't have much of a track record (All-Star in 2016, but there's not much about his first half that year that suggests it was sustainable). Not to mention knuckleballers are volatile
He's 33
He's been injured over the last calendar year

Sox might be better off holding onto him for rotation depth, but they also have Brian Johnson and Jalen Beeks in AAA.

 

[redseat]

really not sure.

He's under control for a few years
He doesn't have much of a track record (All-Star in 2016, but there's not much about his first half that year that suggests it was sustainable). Not to mention knuckleballers are volatile
He's 33
He's been injured over the last calendar year

Sox might be better off holding onto him for rotation depth, but they also have Brian Johnson and Jalen Beeks in AAA.

Rather have Johnson and Beeks instead of Wright

 

[The Q]

Rather have Johnson and Beeks instead of Wright

I'm not getting rid of that arm.

You can just have a guy like that and soak up innings whenever you need it.

just don't pitch him when it's rainy out.

 

[redseat]

I'm not getting rid of that arm.

You can just have a guy like that and soak up innings whenever you need it.

just don't pitch him when it's rainy out.

or when it's cold

 

[The Q]

or when it's cold

he was fine last year .

His only 2 bad starts before the break came in the rain.

 

[redseat]

he was fine last year .

His only 2 bad starts before the break came in the rain.

True but I would think his stuff wasn't that great in the cold