Random thoughts on the 2019 Red Sox and what I would do for 2020

Some of what I've written about the Red Sox in recent posts on Facebook. Some of the stats are outdated by a few weeks now but were accurate when originally posted.

Realistically, the 2019 Red Sox aren't good enough to make the playoffs this year. I'd rather see them miss the playoffs then lose embarassingly in a one and done Wild Card game. Just too inconsistent. The problems are obvious:

1) Starting pitching hasn't nearly lived up to its potential. This should be one of the best starting staffs in the AL, maybe even all of baseball. But it isn't. Not even close.

2) Bullpen is a mess without a proven closer. No one really has a defined role. Having Kimbrel and Kelly wouldn't have solved all of the bullpen issues but certainly would have helped.

3) Inability to win at Fenway Park. 30-32 is totally unacceptable. Good teams should play around .667 on the home field. 2018 record at Fenway was 57-24 .704

4) Inability to beat teams in the AL East. Overall the Sox are 28-31 within the division. The Sox are 8-5 v. Bal, 10-6 v. Tor, 6-9 v. TB and 4-11 v. NYY. Pathetic. 2018 record vs. AL East was 52-24 .703

The Red Sox do have one of the best offenses in baseball again, but it is hard to outscore your own pitching staff every night. Run differential is huge. 2019 so far 693 Runs scored, 634 Runs allowed (+59) compared to 2018, 876 Runs scored, 647 Runs allowed (+229)

On another Red Sox page, someone asked when people are going to get fired or benched. Here's what I replied:

Realistically, the Red Sox are not going to fire a manager that won 119 games, playoffs included, just one season ago. I doubt DD will get fired either. The problems for the 2019 team are many:

1) Starting pitching as a group has seriously under achieved.

2) Bullpen is not as good as it was last year without a proven closer. Even inconsistent Joe Kelly last year was better than some of the relievers this year.

3) Piss poor W-L record at Fenway Park, where the Sox should kick ass.

4) Inability to win games within their division.

Look on the bright side:

The Red Sox have the best offense in the game, again. But it is hard to outscore your own pitching staff every night.

Raffy: is having a breakout year and he is only 22. Great things ahead for that young man.

X-Man: will be a steal at $20m for the next 6 years as he continues to get better, which is scary.

E-Rod: The most consistent of all the Red Sox starters. He just needs to throw more strikes and less pitches overall so he can last deeper into games.

Hopefully the Red Sox can make some big moves in the offseason. Will DD be around to make them?

Bill Parcells once said you are what your record says you are, and at this point the Red Sox are a barely over .500. team. For a team this talented to have such a poor record is baffling. 
Sure they could still technically win 100 games but they would have to go 35-3 the rest of the way. Winning 90 games this season would be an accomplishment, given the inconsistencies. It is what it is. 
Prepare and start making plans for 2020. Use the remainder of the season to evaluate what needs to be done in the off-season and when free agency starts, pounce like hell on whomever you've targeted. Don't wait.

For example... A trade that someone suggested just before July 31 trade deadline, which I hope DD pursues:

Red Sox send Jackie Bradley Jr, Bobby Dalbec and a second tier prospect to the New York Mets.

New York Mets send Noah Syndegaard and Edwin Diaz to the Red Sox.

Why I like this trade scenario: in order to get something, you have to give something. JBJ's defense in center is immaculate but his bat is frustrating, maddening and woefully inconsistent. Dalbec is behind Rafael Devers, who is having a breakout season. Dalbec is probably the Red Sox best trade chip. The second tier prospect really just evens out the deal from the Red Sox side.

Syndegaard was in awe of pitching at Fenway last season, is still arbitration eligible for a few more seasons and would be a great fit as a rotation replacement for Rick Porcello, who probably will sign elsewhere for 2020, because he makes too much and the Sox would want him to take a serious pay cut if they were to resign him. Diaz, also arbitration eligible, would fill the closer role for the next few seasons, allowing Nathan Eovaldi to be more effective out of the bullpen this year and move back into the rotation for 2020.

For example... Andrew Cashner. Good luck as a FA. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out. 

For example... Rick Porcello. The only way he's coming back is on a super large pay cut on a new contract, like $8m/yr instead of $21.12 m/yr.

For example... Red Sox do not resign Steve Pierce. Maybe re-sign Moreland on a modest 1 year contract (whose 2019 salary is reasonable) and play Chavis as your primary 1B. If Moreland doesn't resign, then find a similarly priced option to back up/platoon with Chavis.

 For example... hope that JD decides to NOT opt-out of his contract and decides to stay, not wanting to risk a stagnant FA market like he had in 2018, when he signed on 2/26.

For example... re-sign Brock Holt. He has said he wants to stay here long term. Even if you double his 2019 salary to $7m/per yr., on a 5 (or 6) year deal, he'd still be a bargain. Chemistry guys like Brockstar are essential to successful teams.

For example... pursue Gerritt Cole as a FA. Excellent pitcher and weaken another AL competitor in the process. He'll only be 29 next season and I can see him getting $25m/yr on a 6 year deal easily.

Can you imagine rolling out a rotation of Sale, Price, Cole, Syndegaard, E-Rod and Eovaldi? Yes, six starters for five slots because you can never have enough pitching.