Boston RedSox 2010 performance/post game reaction thread.

[Rdsxmbnt]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/gamelog?playerId=3748

 

Pretty easy to find. 3 for 25.

 

And of note, since the ASB, the sox offense has scored 21 runs in 7 games. Not coincidentally, they have gone 2-5 in those games while only allowing 4.7 runs per game. Getting Beckett and Buchholz back will help, but they'll need more than 3 runs per game to stick with it.

 

getting two all-star hitters back might help a bit too, and eventually our leadoff hitter too

[jacksonianmarch]

getting two all-star hitters back might help a bit too' date=' and eventually our leadoff hitter too[/quote']

 

Agree wholeheartedly. VMart might be a week away, but he'll be a hitter before he catches, which hurts the sox a little seeing as Papi is already the DH. Pedroia isnt out of the boot yet, so who knows when he comes back. And Ellsbury is an enigma at this point. The fact is, the sox might be 10 games out by the time the crew comes back. Do the sox have what it takes to play .750 ball for 40+ games? Time will tell.

[SoxSport]

The killer has been Pedroia. This team is DOA without him.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Agree wholeheartedly. VMart might be a week away' date=' but he'll be a hitter before he catches, which hurts the sox a little seeing as Papi is already the DH. Pedroia isnt out of the boot yet, so who knows when he comes back. And Ellsbury is an enigma at this point. The fact is, the sox might be 10 games out by the time the crew comes back. Do the sox have what it takes to play .750 ball for 40+ games? Time will tell.[/quote']

 

the sox don't need to play .750, they just need to make up 4 games in the standing to make the playoffs. if they manage to make the playoffs will all the injuries they've had, they'll be a scary team when healthy. we've yet to see them anywhere close to their full potential

[Yaz Sideburn]

yeah, for whatever reason the red sox offense just hasn't clicked the last week but even the best offenses go through slumps from time to time

[Yaz Sideburn]

here's the offensive produciton from this month from best to worst ops

 

cameron - .293/.375/.610

youkilis - .328/.366/.578

beltre - .274/.318/.532

nava - .278/.409/.417

drew - .259/.323/.500

hall - .236/.295/.455

ortiz - .226/.380/.355

scutaro - .250/.299/.347

mcdonald - .227/.277/.364

cash - .150/.244/.150

 

cash is the worst offender of them all and he'll be replaced by v-mart within the week. it also helps to have lowrie playing instead of hall and eventually getting scutaro out of the leadoff spot should help his production. other than that, there are guys just having bad july's, the offense should pick up quite a bit soon

[SoxSport]

There's talk of extending Ortiz next year at $12.5 mm just to keep him from NY or TB. But the stats don't justify it. This team has a lot of trouble breaking the umbilical cord of a lot of guys who have seen better days. Papi, Tek, Wake,Lowell come to mind. And MDC as well, who can't pitch in high leverage situations. Sentimentality does not beat NY or TB, nor does it keep you below the luxury tax.

 

The heart of the Red Sox right now are guys who aren't killing the payroll: Pedroia, Youks, Lester, Buchholz and Bard. And maybe VMart. Beltre could be if he sticks around, but that's unlikely. Ellsbury should be.

[Dojji]

nava - .278/.409/.417

 

Welcome to Pawtucket, Daniel.

 

Still disgusts me that we kept the schlub Hermida over him. One of the advantages of a big market is supposed to be the ability to eat our mistakes. Play the better guy, Theo.

[Palodios]

Welcome to Pawtucket, Daniel.

 

Still disgusts me that we kept the schlub Hermida over him. One of the advantages of a big market is supposed to be the ability to eat our mistakes. Play the better guy, Theo.

 

I completely agree that Nava is the best chance for this team to win now. But maybe the reason why they sent him down is to help the team later. Nava didn't get much time to develop in AAA, and he has been declining since the ASB, so giving him a chance to develop will only be better for him. It also preserves his trade value, to defend him from a slump between now and the tread deadline

[bsox0407]

Pedrioa was is sneakers before tonights game playing catch.

 

V-mart caught two bullpen sessions last night both according to the globe.

 

Also says don't be surprised to see him playing in Anaheim.

[TedWilliams101]

Cash is a disaster, I can't wait to see him riding the bench (or better, off the team).

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Haha yeah. Seeing Cash behind the plate is torture!

[jacksonianmarch]

Pedrioa was is sneakers before tonights game playing catch.

 

V-mart caught two bullpen sessions last night both according to the globe.

 

Also says don't be surprised to see him playing in Anaheim.

 

Pedroia has a CT next week and after that he could be cleared to play. Earliest expected date of Pedey's return would be first week of August

[Yaz Sideburn]

it looks like we could potentially get both v-mart and pedroia back within a week and a half from now. then we would have 2 full months to make a good run at a playoff spot and possibly the division

[SCM33]

They are in the twilight of theyre season right now. Really had a brutal series with a team that would be around .500 in AAA. How do they not win a series against a team that had practically mailed it in? Pathetic. If they have a bad series against ANH and do nothing at the trade deadline they are done.

[jacksonianmarch]

Heard a good conversation on my way home on EEI.

 

It started with the sox needs at the deadline. Well, it degenerated into a sellers or buyers argument. The crux of the argument that I completely agree with is that the sox cannot just sit back and do nothing.

 

If they think they are buyers, ie, the return to health is gonna get them back in the race, then their pen needs help. Relying on Bard to the level that they do will leave him worthless in the playoffs. He needs help. And with Ramirez, Oki, Delcarmen and other suck around him, they have a gaping black hole that has been destroying games they should have won.

 

If they are gonna be sellers, then they have a few expiring contracts to shop for the best offer, namely Ortiz, VMart, and Beltre. And only Ortiz might slip through waivers in August for a move.

 

I think the Anaheim series will be a big barometer. If the sox lose 2 of 3 and fall 7 or 8 games back in the L column to the Rays for the WC, then it's over and they should sell. If they sweep and the Rays fall back to earth, then maybe they make a move for a reliever to shore up the pen. Regardless, we'll find out soon enough and standing pat is just not an option in either direction

[Yaz Sideburn]

a 3 game series isn't going to be the deciding factor in whether they're buyers or sellers. it seems like they go through a rough stretch like this every june or july and people talk about the season being over and then they make the playoffs

[yankees228]

I would be stunned if the Red Sox's front office made the decision to be sellers at the deadline.

[Yaz Sideburn]

i think everyone would be. when has one of the teams with the best records in baseball ever been sellers at the deadline?

[Palodios]

If they sell, I would bet its in a way that rebuilds the team. Trading off Beltre and VMart and getting back a Corey Hart or Adam Dunn in the process would keep the stadium filled, and still benefit the organization in the long run.

[Yaz Sideburn]

If they sell' date=' I would bet its in a way that rebuilds the team. Trading off Beltre and VMart and getting back a Corey Hart or Adam Dunn in the process would keep the stadium filled, and still benefit the organization in the long run.[/quote']

 

why would they trade beltre and v-mart when

 

a. they have one of the best records in baseball and are in striking distance of a playoff spot

b. both of them players are type a free agents who will at worst net them 2 draft picks next year

[Yaz Sideburn]

since the all-star break, the red sox have had a team era of 3.39. the starters have an era of 3.59 (including wakefield's 9 earned runs in 8 innings) and the relievers have had an era of 3.00

[Palodios]

since the all-star break' date=' the red sox have had a team era of 3.39. the starters have an era of 3.59 (including wakefield's 9 earned runs in 8 innings) and the relievers have had an era of 3.00[/quote']

 

So you're saying because this team has had a good week of pitching, that's enough to validate jeopardizing the team's future? The team may have a good ERA, but the team's win record is 5-7.

[Yaz Sideburn]

So you're saying because this team has had a good week of pitching' date=' that's enough to validate jeopardizing the team's future? The team may have a good ERA, but the team's win record is 5-7.[/quote']

 

i simply posted the team's pitching stats in the team performance thread where they belong. it wasn't in response to anything that anyone else said and it had nothing to do with whether or not the team should be sellers or not

[example1]

Watching this team against the Angels the past few nights, I would say they are roughly as good as they are in the standings. They are probably the 4th best team in the AL behind NYY, TB and TX, and that's with the current injuries. One can see the tremendous impact on this lineup just getting Victor Martinez back. As the other players start to come back this team will go back to being in competition as one of the best teams in baseball. The question is how quickly they will gel and how much time is left to make a run.

 

With the way Beltre is swinging the bat the middle of this lineup is as dangerous as any:

 

Pedroia

Ortiz

Youkilis

Beltre

V-Mart

Drew

 

...round out the rest of the team with Ellsbury, Scutaro and Mike Cameron roaming CF and we're looking at a really solid club. If Jed Lowrie plays near career MiLB numbers (.825 OPS career minors) this team has added depth.

 

This team has all the makings of a really great run and being a dangerous playoff team. We have complained about them being mediocre all year, but for awhile their offense was spectacular despite injury. Their rotation is one of the best in baseball merely with Lester, Buchholz and a combination of "decent-Matsuzaka" or "surging-Lackey". A well rested Josh Beckett is a wildcard that could give them an extra ace, or merely be a 5th pitcher working out his s***. Papelbon is a legitimate closer; Bard is probably the most dominant talent on the team as a second year player.

 

If this team gets healthy and Theo aggressively improves the bullpen, I am confident that they will have a strong finish to this season.

[msubulldogs21]

Good post and agree, example1.

 

I still have faith this team is going to get on a really nice run once we get all the regulars back. Time is a major factor but it can be done.

[jacksonianmarch]

I am also very intrigued by what Theo is gonna do from here on out. He not only has to be active this trading deadline, but he has a very active off season coming up.

[VA Sox Fan]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/graphics/2010_soxschedule/

 

I hope this link works, coolest thing ever!

[Yaz Sideburn]

i think it's fair to say that the sox are finally playing like theo drew it up. their pitching and defense has been some of the best in baseball since the all-star break

[Will617]

He not only has to be active this trading deadline' date=' but he has a very active off season coming up.[/quote']

 

I agree that his offseason will be busy, but I don't see what Theo has to/can do this trading deadline. At most, he'll be adding a bullpen arm.

 

EDIT: I also forgot the Sox payroll is nearing or at the luxury tax threshold. I don't think ownership wants to go over that, so Theo could only add relievers on the cheap, none that are weighed down by large contracts (and would therefore cost less in prospects). I've heard that Toronto wanted Jose Iglesias for Scott Downs, which is a ridiculously high price (for the Sox) to pay.