Red Sox Poll Results: Starting Pitching A Priority For Fans
BOSTON (CBS) -- We had some fun on election day, asking you to vote on 10 questions surrounding the Red Sox.
You may be tired of election results at the moment, but let's take a look at what you think about the 2017 Boston Red Sox. Here are the results of each question, with a few thoughts of my own mixed in:
1. Do you consider the 2016 season a success?
Yes 73.05%
No 26.95%
I thought this may be closer to 50/50 judging by the anger that was on display on social media all season long. My thoughts coming into 2016 were that if the Red Sox were in playoff contention on Labor Day, it would be a good season. The Sox gave us that. Yes, it was disappointing that they were swept in the playoffs, and to see David Price and the young players struggle against Cleveland, but it was a major step in the right direction.
The key now is how they follow it up. I'm tired of teams showing strong one year and they being terrible the next. There's no reason why it should happen in 2017 with so many pieces in place.
2. Should Dave Dombrowski have brought back Farrell?
No 55.83%
Yes 44.17%
I expected this. The No. 1 complaint I heard all season long was about John Farrell. Regardless of what he did or didn't do last season, 2017 is huge for him and the Red Sox. Mike Hazen and Tory Lovullo are gone, and all things now fall squarely on Farrell's shoulders. He'll need to keep this core motivated and in line without the help of Lovullo and David Ortiz.
3. What should priority No. 1 be for Dave Dombrowski this offseason?
Another starting pitcher 40.55%
Another bullpen arm 30.18%
A bat to replace Ortiz 27.74%
A new starting catcher 1.52%
Dombrowski wants to find a bat or two and bullpen help, but I would find a way to add another quality starter. It doesn't have to be a Chris Sale, but a second or third-tier veteran would help.
4. Does Dave Dombrowski need to sign/acquire another top starting pitcher?
Yes 64.62%
No 35.38 %
I like the Price-Porcello-Rodridguez-Wright-Pomeranz/Buchholz rotation, but yes, I would add at least one arm to the rotation.
5. Who should DH in 2017?
Edwin Encarnacion 43.87%
DH by committee 21.47%
Hanley Ramirez 17.18%
Other 10.74%
Pablo Sandoval 6.74%
This is a challenge for Dombrowski, as replacing arguably the greatest DH of all-time won't be easy. I'm sure he would love Encarnacion, Jose Bautista or Matt Holliday, but they may be asking too much in terms of years and money. I think we may see (strange as it will seem) a DH-by-committee with the likes of Hanley, Sandoval, Brock Holt and Travis Shaw leading the way.
6. Who should start at third in 2017?
Sandoval 34.7%
Shaw 27.13%
Yoan Moncada 24.61%
Other 13.56%
I'll be the first to admit that I wanted Hanley off the team in Spring Training, but he bounced back in a big way. Now it's Sandoval's turn.
The 2016 season was flat-out embarrassing for the affable Sandoval. The team has almost no choice but to give him the job (maybe a third base/DH combo role) next spring to see if he has some pride left. They need to see him in-person this offseason, working out, and determine if you even want him around. If not, they may be inclined to make a deal where he's part of a package where they take someone else's large contract in return.
7. Who should start at first in 2017?
Ramirez 76.19%
Shaw 11.75%
Encarnacion 9.52%
Sandoval 2.54%
The only question left for Hanley is how he responds without having Ortiz around.
8. Which of these players would you be most willing to part with?
Jackie Bradley Jr. 50%
Moncada 41.45%
Andrew Benintendi 8.55%
I'm surprised at the ease of which fans want to say goodbye to Bradley Jr. He was rock-solid (.267, 26 homers, 87 RBIs, 4.2 WAR) all the way around in 2016. If you keep him in the nine-hole all season then he should be a part of a Benintendi-JBJ-Mookie Betts outfield for years to come.
I also wouldn't give up on Moncada unless you can acquire a top tier starting pitcher for him.
9. Would you be happy with an outfield of Benintendi-Bradley Jr.-Betts?
Yes 99.35%
No 0.65%
A no-brainer. Go look at each player's numbers and smile at what the Red Sox have.
10. Who should be Boston's starting catcher in 2017?
Sandy Leon 33.12%
Christian Vazquez 28.57%
Blake Swihart 26.62%
Other 11.69%
This is an interesting one here, because all three players are question marks going in to 2017 for a variety of reasons.
Leon hit just .216 with no homers and only seven RBIs in September after a sizzling June, July, and August. Can he hit enough to be the starter? Can Vazquez step up and reclaim the job as he gets further away from Tommy John surgery? And do Farrell, Carl Willis, and Brian Bannister have confidence in him? Lastly, can Blake Swihart do enough defensively and with his game-calling to gain the trust of the pitching staff and coaches?
So now we wait to see what, if anything, Dombrowski does over the next month to improve/change the team. It will be interesting no matter which direction he goes in, whether it be the conservative or bold route.
As always, enjoy the Hot Stove season.
