Franklin Morales

[jung]

I would be absolutely in heaven to see Morales mowing down pinstriped ding-a-lings

[redsoxbeatz]

Morales must be extremely determined tonight. He's back in the starting role where he used to think he would always be. He's got to know this Seattle offense is weak and if he can shut them down tonight it'll boost his own confidence as a starter again but also the team/FOs confidence in him.

 

I think Morales will be spectacular tonight.

 

Hopefully my hopes aren't getting too high.

[jung]

The best thing Morales has going for him is that his last performance was his best. If he can just keep up the momentum from that last start he has every chance at being terrific tonight.

[FredLynn]

Yankees lost Pettitte yesterday too. Gives the Red Sox a good opportunity to make up some ground.

 

If they fail to do so then the injury excuse people are using to rationalize our mediocre performance so far can be tossed out the window. So far this year the Yankees have lost Pineda, Rivera, and now CC and Petitte to the DL. I am sure there are more too. Those guys are KEY pitchers, yet today they rank third in ERA in the AL. If that kind of pitching holds up over the next few weeks and we do not gain ground then the players have only themselves to blame.

[BecKett]

If they fail to do so then the injury excuse people are using to rationalize our mediocre performance so far can be tossed out the window. So far this year the Yankees have lost Pineda' date=' Rivera, and now CC and Petitte to the DL. I am sure there are more too. Those guys are KEY pitchers, yet today they rank third in ERA in the AL. If that kind of pitching holds up over the next few weeks and we do not gain ground then the players have only themselves to blame.[/quote']

 

This team's playing great baseball right now. They don't need to worry about the Yankees at this point in the season. Keep winning games and the rest will take care of itself as Ellsbury, Crawford, and Bailey (hopefully) return fairly soon.

[redsoxbeatz]

If they fail to do so then the injury excuse people are using to rationalize our mediocre performance so far can be tossed out the window. So far this year the Yankees have lost Pineda' date=' Rivera, and now CC and Petitte to the DL. I am sure there are more too. Those guys are KEY pitchers, yet today they rank third in ERA in the AL. If that kind of pitching holds up over the next few weeks and we do not gain ground then the players have only themselves to blame.[/quote']

 

They also score 52%+ of their points on the longball.

[FredLynn]

They also score 52%+ of their points on the longball.

 

I don't understand why thats a bad thing...all the runs count. They are fourth in runs scored, second in OBP and OPS. They mash, unfortunately.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't understand why thats a bad thing...all the runs count. They are fourth in runs scored' date=' second in OBP and OPS. They mash, unfortunately.[/quote']

 

It matters because homeruns come in bunches. You don't want to be overly dependent on the long ball. You want to be able to produce runs and manufacture them if you need to.

[jung]

Well the Yanks are leaving a lot of runners on base. That is the other side of the HR to runs scored stat the does sort of count for something.

 

It would appear that they are not doing a good job of moving runners along either.

 

What it does say is that good pitching can really control their offense. All hitters are mistake hitters. Don't make mistakes to good hitters and you can control their offensive output. That is particularly true if the team you are playing is not very adept at manufacturing runs and situational hitting.

 

They Yanks may also be more vulnerable away from that bandbox they call Yankee Stadium. 314 down one line and 318 down the other!

[kapsis21]

Well the Yanks are leaving a lot of runners on base. That is the other side of the HR to runs scored stat the does sort of count for something.

 

It would appear that they are not doing a good job of moving runners along either.

 

What it does say is that good pitching can really control their offense. All hitters are mistake hitters. Don't make mistakes to good hitters and you can control their offensive output. That is particularly true if the team you are playing is not very adept at manufacturing runs and situational hitting.

 

They Yanks may also be more vulnerable away from that bandbox they call Yankee Stadium. 314 down one line and 318 down the other!

bloody AAA sized stadium made so Granderson and every other yankmee can count 10 more HRs there then they would have ever hit every year...

we need to beat them up bad in their own territory. that would be a blissful feeling.

[seabeachfred]

You got to hand it to Forsyth. He really carries optimmism and hope to an extreme, doesn't he? Well I'm not here to knock him. I hope he is absolutely right as he was in a couple of other instances. In my opoinion, however, I think it is very premature to label Morales as a "find". It ia going to take a good month or two of solid pitching to see if Dame Fortune is finally smiling on us f or a change. When it came to Buccholz, Beckett and especially Lester all I saw on that lady was a frown and a snarl. Yes, we could sure use a little luck to come down the chimney to us.

[SoxFanForsyth]

hey man. I just believe in our team. Nothing wrong with that.

[SCM33]

After those 3 outings, is there any question he should be in the rotation?

 

I mean, lights out.

 

109 pitches tonight.....7 scoreless innings.

[Soxfan1]

This guy is fantastic. Tough game to lose but loved watching him pitch.

[Youk Of The Nation]

One of the bright spots of the season. Held his own against Hernandez. Granted, it was a weak offense, but 7 scoreless is more than you can ask for from the number four guy against ANY team. Hope he can keep it up.

[mvp 78]

Watch a Morales start. Then watch a Lester start. Still sure Lester is just unlucky?

[Station 13]

Watch a Morales start. Then watch a Lester start. Still sure Lester is just unlucky?

 

You can sums up Lester this season: Mediocre

 

He's has given up 3 or more runs in 8 straight start.

[Elktonnick]

Watch a Morales start. Then watch a Lester start. Still sure Lester is just unlucky?

 

Lester used to be a power pitcher. Now he is lucky if he breaks 92 mph.

[Station 13]

As for where Morales fits in, if he keep performing, he will eat into Doubront innings when Felix reach his limit. Good to have by August.

[kapsis21]

As for where Morales fits in' date=' if he keep performing, he will eat into Doubront innings when Felix reach his limit. Good to have by August.[/quote']

 

unless Doubront can show he can pitch better games, i think he is gassed out. last 2 starts were abysmal

[jung]

More importantly, Morales is now pitching better than anybody other than Buch and that is just not enough starting pitching to get anything done.

 

Clearly, BC and Sox management realize they need more starting pitching to truly compete this year. It is going to be really interesting watching the Sox as they roll up to the deadline. Will they really go get at least one more quality arm for this rotation? How much arm will they try to get and what will they give up for it.

 

This year is really a conundrum for them. They truly do look like a team that could be one good arm away from getting through the toughest division in baseball and going all the way. In an odd quirky way, maybe the injuries even end up helping them in that Ells and CC will be fresh and virtually everybody but Pedey, Aviles and Agons will have taken forced absences that should help them get through the dog days of August.

 

Just as the Sox need it to happen, the Yanks starting pitching is being bitten by the injury bug. This might all be falling into place but the Sox are still an arm short from what I can tell.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Here's the thing about finding a guy like Franklin Morales.

 

Fast forward to late September/early October, when you're still trying to win the division, while a team like the Angels or Rays are setting up their SP for the 1 game playoff.

 

Now you can go with a Lester - Beckett - Buchholz in the final 3 of the season and feel very comfortable going into a play in game with a guy like Franklin Morales throwing for you.

 

This could be one of Theo's best moves.

[SemperFi Sox]

He's great, now trade him.

[mvp 78]

He's great' date=' now trade him.[/quote']

 

For what? 3 starts don't provide for significant trade value.

[a700hitter]

Here's the thing about finding a guy like Franklin Morales.

 

Fast forward to late September/early October, when you're still trying to win the division, while a team like the Angels or Rays are setting up their SP for the 1 game playoff.

 

Now you can go with a Lester - Beckett - Buchholz in the final 3 of the season and feel very comfortable going into a play in game with a guy like Franklin Morales throwing for you.

 

This could be one of Theo's best moves.

You mean getting this guy to be a lefty specialist with no thought to him being a starter was a great Theo move? This would be like giving the GM credit for the field coach figuring out that the team mascot mule could kick field goals.

[SemperFi Sox]

For what? 3 starts don't provide for significant trade value.

 

Was his value higher or lower before he began to start? It's never going to be top level.

[SoxFanForsyth]

You mean getting this guy to be a lefty specialist with no thought to him being a starter was a great Theo move? This would be like giving the GM credit for the field coach figuring out that the team mascot mule could kick field goals.

 

No, I'm not saying that.

 

I'm saying it could turn out to be one of his best moves. He just didn't realize it at the time. Whether or not he thought of Morales as a SP or not, who knows, probably not.

 

But, at the same time, he made the move, and it's turning out to be a great acquisition. He traded low-6-figure cash and a PTBNL, which I still don't know who it was, obviously nobody good, for a guy who was ranked as high as the #8 prospect in baseball just a couple years ago.

 

So, he got a young (25 when acquired), very high ceiling guy for nothing. Like I said, he almost certainly saw Morales as a LH specialist out of the bullpen, but regardless, if he comes out and becomes a top of the rotation starter, you look back and say "Wow. We really stole him from the Rox".

 

So, anyone would say "Wow that was a fantastic trade for the Red Sox". I guess you could say it would be one of the better moves made during the Theo era. Would that be better for your Theo-hating heart?

[jung]

Now you can go with a Lester - Beckett - Buchholz in the final 3 of the season and feel very comfortable going into a play in game with a guy like Franklin Morales throwing for you.

 

You want to put a post season birth in the hands of Lester, Beckett, Buch and now 3 starts Morales? You want to bet that this team wins the division as is or you are willing to play 162 games to get to a 1 game play in?

 

Morales does not change the need for another good arm.

[SoxFanForsyth]

You want to put a post season birth in the hands of Lester, Beckett, Buch and now 3 starts Morales? You want to bet that this team wins the division as is or you are willing to play 162 games to get to a 1 game play in?

 

Morales does not change the need for another good arm.

 

I never said we don't need another arm. Chill out man.

 

All I said was that the emergence of Morales is big because, potentially, it doesn't force the Red Sox to concede the division in the last series because they don't have confidence in a #4 or #5 starter. They can go after the division in the final series with their 1-2-3 starters and feel confident that, if they don't win the division, they can go into a play in game with their #4 starter and feel very confident about winning.

 

I still very much think they need another arm, Garza or Grienke. Jayson Stark reported today that the Cubs are looking for 2 controllable players with high upside. So, would you go Lavarnway + Kalish for Garza? Or Lavarnway + Cecchini?

 

The emergence of Salty makes Lavarnway expendable, IMO. He definitely fits the bill as a high upside, controllable player.

 

You go into the 2nd half of the season with a rotation of Lester Beckett Buchholz Garza Morales/Doubront, and you have to feel pretty comfortable with that.

[kapsis21]

what happens to DiceK? BP?