Xander Bogaerts

[mvp 78]

He's still growing into his body, so for all we know, he could be the next Miguel Cabrera.

 

Or Edgar Renteria.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Or Edgar Renteria.

 

debbie downer. Renteria never showed the pop or plate discipline in the minors that Xander regularly shows.

[mvp 78]

debbie downer. Renteria never showed the pop or plate discipline in the minors that Xander regularly shows.

 

Just trying to have reasonable expectations. His floor is probably Renteria. Don't think his ceiling is Cabrera though.

[Thunder]

Xander could also be the black, PED free version of A-Rod. Or at least what his career could have been.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Just trying to have reasonable expectations. His floor is probably Renteria. Don't think his ceiling is Cabrera though.

 

I agree Cabrera is a stretch. But I can certainly see him putting up numbers consistent with Cano, perhaps a few more HR.

[mvp 78]

What is ARod without PEDs though? He was probably taking them back when he was a teenager.

[mvp 78]

I agree Cabrera is a stretch. But I can certainly see him putting up numbers consistent with Cano, perhaps a few more HR.

 

I'd be ecstatic for Cano numbers. Way too early to tell, but it was just great actually seeing him in an MLB game last night.

[Thunder]

What is ARod without PEDs though? He was probably taking them back when he was a teenager.

 

No. My guess is that he started when he first got to the Yankees. That was when he got rich enough to afford them in large quantities.

[mvp 78]

No. My guess is that he started when he first got to the Yankees. That was when he got rich enough to afford them in large quantities.

 

He said he was using when he was with Texas.

[Thunder]

He said he was using when he was with Texas.

 

You actually believe him? How many times has he lied?

 

Even if he is telling the truth, his first few years with Seattle was the clean A-Rod.

[Jasonbay44]

You actually believe him? How many times has he lied?

 

Even if he is telling the truth, his first few years with Seattle was the clean A-Rod.

 

Why would he lie about taking steroids when he was with Texas? I fully believe A-rod has been taking steroids for a good portion of his career, including his days in Seattle.

[mvp 78]

What did he have to gain by saying he was juicing 01-03?

 

That makes no sense.

 

I believe he was juicing long before.

[Thunder]

What did he have to gain by saying he was juicing 01-03?

 

That makes no sense.

 

I believe he was juicing long before.

 

All I know is that it's certainly possible.

[SoxSport]

I think both ARod and Griffey juiced in Seattle to get their first big FA contracts. Griffey had those 50 HR seasons, then was a different player in Cincy--plagued with leg miseries which are common steroid side effects--as are the hip problems ARod has had recently. In those days, PEDs weren't tested for. Even today, HGH is very hard to detect in the blood--it's gone quickly. And it's not detected in the urine--Papi can pee every day for the testers--it don't mean a thing.

[mvp 78]

Griffey also crashed into a few outfield walls. People want to believe he was clean, but no one really knows.

[Behindenemylines]

Do the Sox play him today in game two of the Dodger series? After last nights offensive failure the Sox now face back to back lefties and is Bogaerts going to play against either?

[SoxSport]

Do the Sox play him today in game two of the Dodger series? After last nights offensive failure the Sox now face back to back lefties and is Bogaerts going to play against either?

 

Bogaerts should be playing against both. And Papi should be playing 1B. But this team is so cautious personnel wise you'll be lucky if you see Bogaerts in one game.

 

They missed the boat, by the way on Hanley, whom they could have had for almost nothing from the Marlins. They just didn't want to pay his contract--or take a chance on him. You can't be too cautious.

[Station 13]

Griffey also crashed into a few outfield walls. People want to believe he was clean, but no one really knows.

 

I would think maybe under 20% of players were clean during that era.

 

Even Pedro Martinez reveal recently the Dodgers urged him to take PEDs.

[Station 13]

Do the Sox play him today in game two of the Dodger series? After last nights offensive failure the Sox now face back to back lefties and is Bogaerts going to play against either?

 

Isn't he brought up to give Drew off days vs lefties? Regardless, these road NL games sucks for anyone who hits down the order with the pitcher behind them.

[jung]

Drew in lineup again today instead of XB. I just don't get that.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Farrell is off his rocker at this point. The game is speeding up on him. He's never managed in a pennant chase and it looks like he's trying to get out of one as quick as he can.

[a700hitter]

Farrell is off his rocker at this point. The game is speeding up on him. He's never managed in a pennant chase and it looks like he's trying to get out of one as quick as he can.

This was the Tito's typical line. There's just not a lot of brain power at work in MLB dugouts. It's very frustrating to watch them make obviously wrong moves.

[Orange Juiced]

Drew in lineup again today instead of XB. I just don't get that.

 

Isn't he brought up to give Drew off days vs lefties? Regardless, these road NL games sucks for anyone who hits down the order with the pitcher behind them.

 

Ryu has reverse splits:

 

vs. RHB: .242/.292/.337/.630

vs. LHB: .268/.325/.425/.750

 

That's gotta be the primary reason, I would think. Then Drew sits tomorrow against a LHP with more traditional splits in Capuano.

 

vs. RHB: .312/.353/.513/.867

vs. LHB: .265/.286/.314/.599

 

So if one of the goals is to put Bogaerts in a position to be successful, this might be a good way to do it.

[jung]

I actually think both SFF and 700 are right in this case although I think SFF is more right if that is possible.

 

I really do think that the Sox brain trust really did not think this is where they would be in August 2013. I really think that they figured that Farrell would have a year or two of additional seasoning before being thrust into a pennant race. He was no great shakes as a manager in Toronto and at least as far as his game to game, day to day decision making he has been no great shakes here.

 

However the more I think about it the more I think the Sox wanted Farrell for all the qualities that I think we would all acknowledge. He is a square jawed, respected figure, about as far away from V as it gets and probably closer to Tito than we were thinking when he was hired. But I think he has a long way to go in his in game and day of game managing.

 

A number of us have commented about what looks like a tendency to develop a plan for a game and then not deviate from it regardless of the game circumstances. Well that sort of sounds like a guy that really does not think on his feet as well as we might like, at least not yet as a manager. But the more I see, the more I am thinking that the Sox simply thought Farrell was going to have more time before being thrust into a pennant race situation.

 

Maybe we should have expected this to some degree.

 

He actually has started looking and sounding a little tweaked the last few days. So I do think it is getting to Farrell and I wonder if that tension or pressure that seems to be wearing on Farrell a little now is having an impact on the team as well.

[a700hitter]

I actually think both SFF and 700 are right in this case although I think SFF is more right if that is possible.

 

I really do think that the Sox brain trust really did not think this is where they would be in August 2013. I really think that they figured that Farrell would have a year or two of additional seasoning before being thrust into a pennant race. He was no great shakes as a manager in Toronto and at least as far as his game to game, day to day decision making he has been no great shakes here.

 

However the more I think about it the more I think the Sox wanted Farrell for all the qualities that I think we would all acknowledge. He is a square jawed, respected figure, about as far away from V as it gets and probably closer to Tito than we were thinking when he was hired. But I think he has a long way to go in his in game and day of game managing.

 

A number of us have commented about what looks like a tendency to develop a plan for a game and then not deviate from it regardless of the game circumstances. Well that sort of sounds like a guy that really does not think on his feet as well as we might like, at least not yet as a manager. But the more I see, the more I am thinking that the Sox simply thought Farrell was going to have more time before being thrust into a pennant race situation.

 

Maybe we should have expected this to some degree.

 

He actually has started looking and sounding a little tweaked the last few days. So I do think it is getting to Farrell and I wonder if that tension or pressure that seems to be wearing on Farrell a little now is having an impact on the team as well.

More right than a700? OMG!! I am deleting you from my Christmas Card list. LOL! (My apologies to non-Christians, but f*** the intolerant bastards who are offended by Christmas). LOL! Anyway, Jung, I think you make a good point that they thought Farrell needed some seasoning and he wouldn't have any big pressure in 2013 after Bobby V had set the bar so low. On the other hand, this is not brain surgery. As you know, my opinion of the brain power of all MLB managers is very low. They are on the whole a dumb group, probably only slightly smarter than your average Gym Teacher. My apologies to Gym Teachers-- unless you are offended by Christmas.

[BigPapi]

First hit by xander.

[sk7326]

I actually think both SFF and 700 are right in this case although I think SFF is more right if that is possible.

 

I really do think that the Sox brain trust really did not think this is where they would be in August 2013. I really think that they figured that Farrell would have a year or two of additional seasoning before being thrust into a pennant race. He was no great shakes as a manager in Toronto and at least as far as his game to game, day to day decision making he has been no great shakes here.

 

However the more I think about it the more I think the Sox wanted Farrell for all the qualities that I think we would all acknowledge. He is a square jawed, respected figure, about as far away from V as it gets and probably closer to Tito than we were thinking when he was hired. But I think he has a long way to go in his in game and day of game managing.

 

A number of us have commented about what looks like a tendency to develop a plan for a game and then not deviate from it regardless of the game circumstances. Well that sort of sounds like a guy that really does not think on his feet as well as we might like, at least not yet as a manager. But the more I see, the more I am thinking that the Sox simply thought Farrell was going to have more time before being thrust into a pennant race situation.

 

Maybe we should have expected this to some degree.

 

He actually has started looking and sounding a little tweaked the last few days. So I do think it is getting to Farrell and I wonder if that tension or pressure that seems to be wearing on Farrell a little now is having an impact on the team as well.

 

I don't think it was that fancy - Francona left and management wanted an outsider ... Farrell was the guy Ben wanted all along, but Farrell got a managing chance before Tito left.

 

What management wanted I think was just a guy who fits in the organizational philosophy - to be able to balance both the needs of the team on a day to day basis, but also being able to understand what the management wants to do developmentwise and stuff. Farrell lapses into a bit too much old timey Fire Joe Morgan sort of mistakes (using the bullpen suboptimally)- but he understands the entire operation, from scouting to teaching to interpreting stuff the nerds are telling him.

 

The idea is just a throughline from the head of baseball down to the coaching staff - and Valentine pooh poohed that sort of thinking. Farrell is a better company man, and has done a better job just not being a carnival side show. This team has had a chance to work and just focus on baseball. His in game management is not Dusty Baker-level awful, but not in the Maddon-Tito sort of level either.

[SoxSport]

This was the Tito's typical line. There's just not a lot of brain power at work in MLB dugouts. It's very frustrating to watch them make obviously wrong moves.

 

I was just saying that to my wife, watching Farrell talking out Lester for no good damn reason. Damn managers, if they weren't managing, most of them would be sweeping floors.

[SoxSport]

First hit by xander.

 

Nice at bat. Went with the pitch. Smart instincts.

[SCM33]

With WMB hitting so well and Mike Napoli injured, why not let XB take some groundballs at 1B? I wouldn't want to disrupt WMB's current mojo.