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Now that our offseason has arrived, and we rightly celebrate a winning season and a playoff appearance, it’s still not too early to discuss how to improve the team with a mind toward beating Cleveland and Minnesota more consistently and going deeper in the playoffs next year. These ideas have been posted many places elsewhere, but let’s concentrate on them here.
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PROBLEM: Inconsistent hitting against RHP
Moncada fully recovering from post-COVID syndrome should help his LH bat rebound.
As others have said, signing Joc Pederson to platoon with Engel in RF would bring a solid RH bat that gets on base against LHP. -
PROBLEM: DH
Let Encarnación go.
Bring up Vaughn. Have him and Abreu share 1B and DH duties.
Re-sign McCann. Keep Collins as the third catcher and an occasional DH v. RHP. Grandal and McCann would split about 90% of the starts at catcher, with Grandal also getting lots of DH ABs.Comment
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We need pitching. After Giolito, Keuchel things get a bit iffy. Hopefully, Dunning and Cease show major development next Spring. Crochet worries me. I had visions of Kopech with the velocity drop and removal from the game.
I want no official DH. We have Abreu, Grandal, McCann, Eloy, and Collins if he's brought up. But that means they need to re-sign McCann (a must). Also, I think L. Garcia's contract is up and I like his versatility over many positions.
RF could be improved.Comment
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You win with pitching in the playoffs. Yes it may not be the sexy thing to pay big money in off season and may not get those season tickets to be bought. You pay and even overpay for Bauer. I know the chairman wont, hell go for a cheapie, reclamation project or hope that 3 kids produce.Comment
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Problem: Horrible bullpen management.
Solution: Change management.Comment
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I was not happy with how the bullpen was managed down the stretch either (esp. the use of Carlos Rodon) but doesn't Don Cooper share some of the blame here? Yes, he is the field manager and the buck stops with him however, he doesn't make these decisions in a vacuum does he?Comment
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I am not ripping on Don Cooper. My point is that the bullpen decisions are probably not made without the input of the pitching coach, bullpen coach and bench coach and that if you want to blame RR for bad bullpen management then the blame must rest partially on them too - doesn't it? (actual, not rhetorical question) .
Last edited by kingpin_rcs; 10-02-2020, 09:57 AM.Comment
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I still think re-signing McCann is not likely to happen. I'd love it if it did, but I don't think the Sox are doomed if they don't. Yes he has a great rapport with Giolito but I'm confident that this will develop with Grandal. I think it's clear though that Collins is not ready to be the primary backup C and they need to bring in someone from outside the organization.
Vaughn will likely be brought up in mid-April after the service time deadline passes (this is obviously only based on what we saw in Spring training - the team will have a better idea than we do on where his development is at after a season in Schaumburg. They'll also have a better idea on where his defense is at at 3B and RF to see if he can work his way into the lineup at another position - that will allow for more of a "rotating" DH to give guys rest.Comment
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Moncada's full recovery, in addition to guys like Robert showing a more consistent approach, will be the keys to improving the performance against RHP.
I have argued for Pederson, but Mazara's production over the past couple weeks has made me think that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to stand pat in RF. The Mazara/Engel platoon is a good idea that failed due to Mazara's career-worst season. All he has to do is revert to his typical production against RHP and that position will be fine. I wouldn't be opposed to an upgrade, but I don't think it's the top priority, and it shouldn't prevent them from filling their top need (starting pitching) with the best available candidate.Comment
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1 - Fire Renteria, get a real manager. I know it sucks, it sucked when the Hawks fires Savard. You have to know who is an A to B guy and who is an A to B to C guy.
2 - Sign a LF and move Eloy to DH. A healthy Eloy at DH is better than him missing 40 games being a Bull in a china shop out there
3 - Sign a top flight SP to fill out the rotation.Comment
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My analysis of the Sox issues are Poor managing, ineffective hitting in key situations, pitchers walking too many batters and questionable starters in the 3-5 positions.
To be realistic, Hahn is going to be dictated a budget for 2021. JR is going to decide the budget which probably will be a lower than hoped for number considering the limited revenue from this year. With all that, I think Hahn will have to be very creative with a limited budget. Therefore, I expect Renteria will be back. Ricky certainly has his problems but will Hahn use money to pay Renteria and a new manager? I doubt it. He needs money to fix the on-field issues. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to see Mazara back. He performed okay in the playoffs and he doesn't cost a ton.
I would guess Hahn will resign McCann. We do not have a legit #2 catcher without him. Also, we need a starting pitcher to be our #3 (or better). We have too many question marks beyond Giolito and Dallas.
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