Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 287 | Boston Red Sox | Profile & Projection

Episode Date: February 28, 2021

You guys ranked the Boston Red Sox MLB's #22 team. Jomboy, Jake, & Plouffe preview their 2021 season! Presented by DraftKings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're back. Another team profile and projection. And this time it is the Boston Red Sox. You guys voted them as the 21st ranked team going into the 2021 season. In the 2020 season, they went 24 and 36, which was on pace for a 65 win season. They gave up, I think, on average, 6.2 home runs an inning last year. It was an ugly, unfunned. time they get their manager back.

Who else is coming back and who isn't coming back, Jake? Yeah, I mean, Alex Corr is coming to town. You might see that on the next Christmas holiday album. Jim, they lost one, well, actually a couple familiar names. JBJ is still unsigned as we record this. Maybe he returns and everything is moot and that would kind of eat bugs right now. Dustin Padreuthi, retired. Congrats, P.D., former MVP, short king of the world.

Short King traded Andrew Benendee going to the Kansas City Royals that brought some pieces back. And then Colin McHugh, who never actually pitched for them, a couple other pitchers. Robert Stock, friend of the family, good Twitter follow. Who they added Hunter Renfro, Joms Hunter Renfro, caught me a Marwin, Marwin Gonzalez, Garrett Richards, often hurt, often good, Adamadovino, friend, Kike, Sex Pistol, Hernandez, Franchi Cordero came over in that Bentantini trade. Mora comes over from overseas and Dresi, Rinaldo Hernandez, not too familiar. A lot of bodies.

I don't know what it means, Trev. Man, the more and more, look at who Hymn brought in. I kind of like it. Minus trading away a generational talent in Mookie Betts. That's kind of a big one, though. Flashback. But anyways, let's go over the lineup. How about that?

Sound good? I'm going to have you sub in real quick, Jake. Okay. I get to the first base, okay? I need you to say this guy's name for you first, though. Oh, yeah. Catch your position, Christian Vassie. as at first base Jake who we got oh my god Bobby Dahlbach oh my god you say that I love

when you say that brings me back right there Bobby Dahlback very impressive last year second base newly acquired Kee Hernandez he's in my book no big deal shortstop the X-Men X-man Xander still doing his thing third base baby face Raphael Devers left field Franci we got Franchi Cordero manning that big green monster and then in centerfield from the Dodgers acquired for Mookie Betts, Alex for Dugo, right field, the Yankee killer, Hunter Renfro, and a D.H.

Our guy, J.D. Martinez, big, big slugger, hoping to have a bounce bag. Year, Jim. What's up with that rotation? The rotations where you get brought back to Earth a little bit with Red Sox, because as you're saying all these names,

you're like, damn, okay, yeah, damn, okay. And then it's like, all right, Erod's coming back from Healthcare. Very excited for him to come back. Avaldi, he's like their number two until some injuries get cleared up. Taking a risk on Garrett Richards, that his health will be there. His stuff has always been good. They bring back Martin Perez.

Chris Sails injured. He should return mid-season. Tanner Hawk. Is that our early settler name? Hawk. Tanner, Hawk. No, I don't think Tanner, but I think his dad probably has a bit. We'll find out his dad's name.

Nick Povetta, Matt Andresi, and the Bullseye. in the bullpen you got Matt Barnes You got Ottavino Crooked Head Brazier and Darwinson Hernandez His dad's name is Darren Darren Hawk No I don't think so

Jimmy's not a Darren guy You're out on Darren No I just researched like literally We did the Darren O'Day Player Profile on Projection And Jake asked me if Darren was an early Settler name and I researched it And no Darren got popular in the 50s or something like that

So Yeah Darren does not sound like an early set. No it's not Hawk had a chance at the back end, but it's not there. That's what the Red Sox are rolling out there. I've got a problem with the Red Sox. Here we go. As a Yankee fan, I like too many of the guys on this team.

Oh, you too. Why am I liking this Red Sox? Obviously, I like Atevino. Yeah. I like Kike. Yeah. I like Verdugo. Yeah.

Who else did I, do I like? Routing for Garrett Richards. Devers. Yeah, I don't mind Devers. Devers. Devers is fun. I like Devers. I don't have like, even put a guy. Um, I would like watching him play.

You're entertaining. I like watching him play defense. I like watching him. Come on. What's that? An electric moment last year for Hunter Renfro. I think you're confusing people. Am I confusing him?

You're computing it with Brasso. Oh my God, I am. I was giving him all the credit like all offseason in my head. I was, uh, I wondered why you said Yankee killer because Hunter Renfro couldn't hit a curbsts. Yeah, Brasso. Who, who follows me on? Twitter, so I apologize for that.

Okay. Add. For what? Trevor's Twitter. Okay. It's the ad for Trevor's Twitter. Yeah. Go ahead and follow.

The Red Sox can finish. It hurts. I think the Red Sox can finish third place. I think that they could be in a wild card hunt. We've talked about this for anyone that doesn't listen to the full episodes or you're just picking this up. I'll share my stance on the Red Sox team this year right away. I think they're in a fantastic position.

I think it's somewhat relatable to the 2017 Yankees where, you know, you got some guys that you brought over, you're ready to flip them at the deadline if things don't get right. But if somehow this team has a hell of an April and a hell of a May, and you're like, oh, wait, then I think Hime may sprinkle some ads and you have a fun season. I think they're perfect where if you're not good, you didn't need to be. The plan isn't to be amazing this year and you can make some moves to sprinkle. But I do think they still have enough talent, especially in the lineup in the infield to like maybe make a push. That 2017 Yankees team, if they didn't have like a 700 winning percentage in April,

they would have traded everyone by the deadline. But instead they went for it. They found themselves a game away from the World Series. It's not an exact comparison. But I think as Red Sox fans, you're kind of in a state of, yeah, let's just roll the dice and fucking who cares either way. Yeah, I think the Yanks had a few more young bodies that year that were kind of coin-flippy. I think this is where things do get exciting for the Red So.

And hey, let's be honest. We try to keep ourselves in check. We are Yankee fans. We admit that. So Red Sox fans call us out or don't call us out and say, wow, you guys did a great job. You guys know more than us. And this is talking baseball presented by draft king. Draft Kings.

Bang. Actual ad. Here's what I'll say. I like doing turkey math, Treft. Turkey math. Definition. Kind of putting things together that makes sense, but maybe don't make sense. If you're the Red Sox, you can say this.

We're getting E-Rod back. That guy's been a staple. for us. That guy's a big war pitcher when he's doing it right. He can pitch. I was kind of off the E-rod train for a while. He won me over, even as the Yankees fan. So you get an E-Rod back. You add Garrett Richards. Let's see where the health is at. When that guy's twirling it, he's pretty gross. Trev, you can speak on that a little bit. And as Jimmy mentioned, and I think this is, this is kind of going to be the kingpin of this Red Sox season, is Chris Sale Lumen. If Chris Sale is on the right path to get back, June, July, and he's looking like Chris Sale, one of the best pitchers in baseball

when he's doing it. And these Red Sox are in the race. Can J.D. Martinez turn in line? You know Bogerts is going to hit. You know Devers is going to hit. I mean, that's when this Red Sox team can get excited. And, you know, maybe Mr. Bloom can work some of his magic. So there are fun aspects of it, but they're also kind of thin, especially that second half of the lineup and potentially the rotation to start the year. I'm sorry. I have to share a story. You said Mr. Bloom.

Obviously you're referring to Heim Bloom. Orlando. I had a teacher in high school named Charlie Bloom, Mr. Bloom. Chuck Bloom. I swear to you, one time he was riding on the chalkboard and this kid, he was like a bad kid, took a banana. Okay. And just heaved it at Charlie Bloom and just right in the back.

Nanner to the neck Unpeeled It was so bad man No it was a full banana It was just a Oh So did it hit and just Whap or did it like explode?

A big thud It opened a little bit And then dropped to the floor And that's huge If you're a kid at home And you want to do the same thing Peel it a little And throw it out the blackboard

That's funnier Shout out Draft Kings Mr. Anyways Charlie Bloom's shout out On Talking Baseball Love that But look I'm kind of falling in love with this team as we're, I'm not falling in love.

But my favorite segment that we do on these TPPs is ceiling and floor. Mm-hmm. The ceiling for them is second in the division. Yeah. It is. We have not been able to say that yet. It's a possibility. It's still very unlikely.

I'll say no on that. If it's a possibility, that means it's a ceiling. So much would have to go wrong with the Rays and J's. Well, so much would have to go right with the Red Sox. Like, you're talking about when I look at the rotation. I forgot about the Jays altogether. I know you did. So, no.

I think the ceiling for me is number two I'll tell you why I'm going to give you a reason one give me a reason why you like the lineup I think everybody likes the lineup I think they can play with anybody it's it's a top heavy lineup but good enough especially if JD Martinez can return to form I like the lineup you're talking about the pitchers what have we seen go what have we seen

go on throughout the league baseball there are teams they can take average pitchers and turn them into elite pitchers. We've seen it all over the place. Are the Red Sox that, I don't know. But can they turn a guy like Garrett Richards with plus plus stuff when he's right and get Nathan Evaldi kind of back?

And then a guy like Nick Povetta, and I've been down on Nick Pfeveta, but I have heard many talent evaluators talk about how high his ceiling is. So can you unlock some of these guys? And then, boom, middle of July, whenever he returns, Chris Sale comes back. And if he can be that, there's a chance. that that rotation ends up being pretty damn good. It's just a lot.

It's a lot, but it can happen. I'm not as down on these Red Sox as I thought I would be. I think that the Red Sox are going, the players are going to have to force management's hands for them to buy in on trying to win this season. The books are almost empty, and you know that's what Bloom wants to do. He wants to get as much off so he can restart.

That's why he's signing. need. That's why he's signing, they need pitching, trap. That's why he's signing one year deals, two year deals right now, bringing in people on short term. I mean, they have the potential to get, PD's going to be off the books. He retired, but they still owe him 12 million this year. Then you got Richards next year. He can be off the books. Ottavino can be off the books. They can trade. Erod. Rod. Martine Perez is going to be gone. Vasquez is going to be gone. Marwin Gonzalez is going to be gone. Andresi's money comes off

the books. Erod's gone, Barnes is gone. Like, there's potential for this, for Bloom, to have so much money to work with next year. And I still think that's what he's most excited about. So I do, if they have an amazing April, if they go like 15 and 5, then I think that maybe they hope everything else clicks

like you're saying, Trev, and they can buy in. But I do think management is eyeing still money off the books and rebuilding a little more than they are winning. I understand the need pitching. what I'm saying in my dream scenario and that's kind of what it is sugarcoat it there's a lot of things have to be right but if the pitching overachieves that's what's going to get them to that ceiling and they and they have guys that have the potential to do that now is it going to happen look obviously it's you don't know well here I like I like some of the guys and what they bring to the table how about that here's here's what I'll say Treve I think the bullpen is where you have to again if you can get sales on path. Again, I think that's just a massive piece for them. What does he look like? The bullpen was a disaster last year. Matt Barnes has been solid. Out of Vino comes over. We like Otavino in a biased way, but he also can be gross. Northeastern University guy, so maybe he finds it again. Does Brazier

bounce back? Sauer Mora don't have the scouting report. Darwin's in can do some gross stuff as a lefty. So if they can find a little piecemeal bullpen, you're always going to hit it Fenway. Plus, Verdugo's nasty. Bogart's is nasty. Devers is nasty. J.D. Martinez, a huge coin flip and maybe maybe the first half kingpin of this team to dictate where they're going to be around the trading deadline. Christian Vasquez has become underrated as a ball player. He leads that team defensively, offensively he's been very solid I hope they bring JBJ back maybe I'll look good by the time this comes out

because it seems like they're one short in the outfield but they also have a lot of flexibility between Kike and Marwin I mean those are two guys two very versatile pieces that can move around a lot and then you see what you got in Bobby Dalback you see what you got in the Ice Horse Chavis because yeah right now that second half of that lineup doesn't do much for me

We didn't even talk about him, the ice horse. Right now they've got him projected in the minors. He's had a weird kind of go at it so far. Every time I feel like I'm watching him, he's hitting 450-foot homers, but I guess when I'm not watching him, it's not that good. Didn't we see him hit one? Yeah. Out of the Pittsburgh spring training facility?

Over us. Yeah. He does it against the Yanks, too. There's one guy, I saw a tweet. Oh, yeah. was a Chris Dale and this guy, like comparison. And I believe he was in the minor leagues with the Red Sox. And Chris Sale mentioned like,

can't wait to work with this guy. Don't know who that is. Can we find out who it is? Because look, these are the types of things you love to talk about on a team profile and projection. If you got a guy that's mirroring Chris Sale and Chris Sale can mentor him, I mean, that's all you need. I guess Jim's guy Ryan Weber.

No. no mirroring Chris Sale Is it town or howk? So Hauk came out and maybe the He's a righty but it does come at a gross angle So maybe that was it and he got some big league innings Theme of this season Where teams getting innings from

And that's got to be the Red Sox concern And like we've spun it in a positive way so far If this Red Sox team gets off to a funky start I don't think there's any coming back. Because I very much believe in the Yankees raise and chase. Cutter Crawford?

It was Tanner Halk. Okay. He throws from a gross angle. He had a nice start against the Yanks. Pitching Ninja flipped them to be a lefty and then overlaid it with Chris Sale and it's like the exact same thing. So Chris Sale says he definitely showed up and did the damn thing.

He wants to work with him. So, you know. Huge. Gotta have guys come up if you want to compete. Gotta have faith, faith. Anything else? We need to talk about this Red Sox team? The prospects.

I mean, we talked about Dalbeck. The other guys seem a year or two away. Jeter Downs was another piece in that in the mooky trade. Connor Wong. Josh Winkowski. He moved around a couple times this offseason. I don't know. I got the Tanner Hawk thing up, Jake, right here.

It's very cool. Hey, Jim. And look, this guy pitched last year. Three games. Who, Tanner? Yeah. Three games, 17 innings. He dropped Dick against the Yanks.

21 strikeouts. I mean, he did it. So look, if you're looking for a rotation help, and you got these guys that could refine their form, but you got a young guy that's already, he's doing it. Are we a little upset that there's another pitcher named Tanner in the league and his last name is very similar to Rourke? Tanner Hawk, Tanner Rourke.

It's kind of confusing. No. Both in the NL East. Both in the AL East. names are also very different so no Not very different How can Rourke

Both have Tanner First name as similar first names As you can get We've moved on from the first name The last name The vowel in the middle With a K at the end Short one syllable

I mean very different Would be like Williamson And Rourke You're gonna love this Jim Yeah Early Settler name Tanner Hout kind of Maybe not Tanner

But you like howke Is it early setler name We just do We started the episode We started the episode with that. I know, but he's from, I know what I'm saying is. He's from a place called Collinsville, Illinois, like, colony. Collinsville is early settler town name.

A lot of towns are early settlers because that's how they got settled. We're there. This is where we're at right now. But look, I love this Boston Red Sox team, and I don't even care if we're starting this segment right now. I'm picking the over. I don't care what it is. Resigned JBJ.

But if JBJ wants a four-year deal or they're not. You want to like a six-year. Cool, dude. Trevor Rosenthal wanted a four-year. He signed for one. Well, he's getting paid three years in a row, though. What it does that? That's for another time.

Hey, Red Sox, you might think this is tongue-in-cheek. Be good. It's good for baseball. Makes Yankees Red Sox games more fun. Be good. All right. Mess with the Js, actually. Yeah.

Fuck them up. All right. The Maxis fun stat. Draft Kings. For the Red Sox is, among the pitchers with the most downward movement on their fastballs in 20, The Red Sox had three pitchers in the top 10. Tanner Hawk, not Rourke,

Hawke, Dylan Covey and Marcus Walden, and six in the top 25. Mike Kickham, Zach Godley, and Chris Mazza. No other team had more than two pitchers in the top 25. So does that tell us that the pitching coach in the minor league system is teaching them or love sinkers downward movement? Trying to lose last year. They're trying to lose last year, so they just...

The sinking fastball's out. It's all about the... You're behind, bro. The sinking fastball is back now. Not for the pitchers we just mentioned. Maybe howl. Let me tell you something. It's back.

Got to stay one step ahead of everyone, Jake. Come on. It's not back for Mike Kickham, Zach Godley, and Chris Masa. It's back for my boy. Am I the first guy in the Tanner Hauk? I think that's how you say his name, Train? Well, his dad's a big fan.

you're going to have to step in line behind him. I'm in on this team. I'm in on them. Draft Kings has the over under at 80.5. 500 season. Over. Going under. They got to play the NLE East.

They got to play the AL East. And I don't think management is prioritizing a winning season over rebuilding and reshuffling and getting money off the books. I think they have the talent to go over. So I just think they have the talent to go over. So I just think there's a lot of obstacles in their way, so I'm taking the under. Whoa. Holy smokes, Jake.

You don't get to make your pick. Odor Izzy and Bradley, and then I take it. But they don't have them right now, so I will pass under. They get Odo, I take the over because I think it's right around there. Yeah. Good line by Draft Kings. Good line. Draft Kings.

That's the Red Sox episode. Dieter Downs coming. Mr. Bloom, Banana Neck. Under. Did Trev say he went down on Nick Povetta mid-show? Big Nick Nick. That's not true. The penis or the going down thing?

He went down confirming not a big dick. Graph Kings.