MLBTR...
When the Red Sox placed left-hander David Price on the disabled list last week on account of elbow issues, they were confident he’d return this season. Now, “the clock is working against” Price, writes Evan Drellich of CSNNE.com, as he’s dealing with soreness that prevented him from throwing from flat ground Friday. Afterward, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was unable to provide a timetable for a potential Price return. While Dombrowski noted that Price’s elbow has been “fine” when he has thrown, the executive conceded “the longer that he’s out, the longer it takes to come back, because you have to then build yourself back up.”
Brock Holt with OPS of .554. He just sucks. Does not belong.
And he bats 2nd. John, have you lost your mind?
I'm not sure if this is a loyalty obsession by JF, or an old page from Sox managers in the past who when resting a player put his sub in the same batting slot.
The fact that Holt did okay yesterday and got a hit today, and we won both games will only encourage JF to continue this type of idiocy.
Even at his best, Holt is maybe a .700 hitter. We can't do better than that with our #2 hitter?
62-49
Last year:
61-50
We went to 61-52 last year before going on a 6 game winning streak this time last year.
A look at 2018's 40 man roster construction...
We have 47 men currently on the 40 man roster due to these 7 players on the 60 day DL:
Wright
Smith
Thornburg
Hernandez
Rutledge
Elias
Ross
Let's not count the 7 free agents to be:
Nunez
A Reed
Moreland
Young
Abad
Boyer
Fister
That puts us down to 40. Here are the Rule 5 players:
Victor Acosta, Yoan Aybar, Trey Ball, Jalen Beeks, Danny Bethea, Jordan Betts, Ty Buttrey, Rusney Castillo, Harrison Cooney, Jake Cosart, Enmanuel De Jesus, Jhonathan Diaz, Willis Figueroa, Pat Goetze, Daniel Gonzalez, Taylor Grover, Justin Haley, Juan Hernandez, Bryan Hudson, Dedgar Jimenez, Raiwinson Lameda, Isaias Lucena, Danny Mars, Algenis Martinez, Kevin McAvoy, Daniel McGrath, Ritzi Mendoza, Mike Meyers, Mike Miller, Samuel Miranda, Joseph Monge, Jhon Nunez, Yankory Pimentel, Jordan Procyshen, Hildemaro Requena, Jeremy Rivera, Jake Romanski, Chandler Shepherd, Josh Smith, Teddy Stankiewicz, Cole Sturgeon, Aneury Tavarez, Carlos Tovar, Jantzen Witte
These players will be minor league free agents unless added to the 40 man roster or re-signed:
Jeremy Barfield, Brian Bogusevic, Bryce Brentz, Dan Butler, Ryan Court, Jacob Dahlstrand, Matt Dominguez, Shawn Haviland, Williams Jerez, Kyle Kendrick, Deiner Lopez, Heiker Meneses, Edgar Olmos, Mike Olt, Mitchell Osnowitz, Tim Roberson, Jose Sermo, Herny Urrutia, Elih Villaneuva, Marcus Walden, Jordan Weems
Out of the bolded players, maybe we'll try to keep/protect:
Beeks
Mars
Brentz
Barfield
and maybe
Olmos
Butler
Tavarez
(Note: Chavis is a Rule 5 candidate after 2018.)
That's 4-7 players. I think, at minimum, we'll sign at least one FA this winter- probably more like 2-3. That makes maybe 5- 8 spots needed to open up vis trades, DFAs or getting some to sign minor league deals.
So, who goes?
Here's my rankings (in order of who is most expendable):
1. Rutledge- Holt, Hernandez, Lin and Marrero makes Josh expendable.
2. Steve Selsky- despite the lack of ML ready OF depth, I think he goes.
3. Noe Ramirez- He's had his chances, and we have plenty of pen depth on the farm.
4. Henry Owens- Maybe he deserves to be first or second on this list.
5. Roenis Elias- How long can injuries be an excuse?
6. Hector Velazquez- Here's where the choices get a little tougher. (Trade bait?)
7. Kyle Martin, Ben Taylor or Austin Maddox (One could be traded.)
8. Holt, Hernandez, Lin or Marrero (One could be traded.)
9. Scott, Hembree or Workman (One could be traded)
10. Leon or Swihart (One could be traded.)
It's way to early to know we might do, but some tough and not so tough decisions will have to be made.
We now have 8 HRs (and 13 doubles) in the last 4 games.