9/2 v Detroit

[User Name]

Are you really still banging the Lavarnway drum? I salute you sir.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

The wave sucks, Sweet Caroline sucks, beach balls suck, guys who go up and down the rows during an AB suck, annoying drunk college kids suck, pink hats suck, cotton candy sucks, overpriced beer sucks, the dude that gets stuck selling the penants sucks and scalpers also suck.

 

All the drunk people around me were super obnoxious, but they were super funny. Some people just don't know how to act. I can see how you find Sweet Caroline annoying, but I don't mind it. That was something I really looked forward to doing at Fenway Park.

[seabeachfred]

Are you really still banging the Lavarnway drum? I salute you sir.

 

Can't help myself User; I just think this guy can still be a productive player. I think this may be an example where the Red Sox organization might have impeded this guy's progress. Not the first time such a thing has happened. Apparently the FO does not hold him in the esteem that I do. I still think they're making a mistake. Oh well, let's head for Cairo and see if the Pyramids are still standing.

[User Name]

Considering the success they've had this year with identifying and maximizing homegrown talent production, you may wanna do a double-take on who's wrong here.

[rjortiz]

Can't help myself User; I just think this guy can still be a productive player. I think this may be an example where the Red Sox organization might have impeded this guy's progress. Not the first time such a thing has happened. Apparently the FO does not hold him in the esteem that I do. I still think they're making a mistake. Oh well, let's head for Cairo and see if the Pyramids are still standing.

 

He has a good minor league track record, but the FO being down on him is probably because he hasn't translated those numbers to the majors. In 274 PA's he has a .561 OPS. He's also 26, so time is running out on him. I've heard it said that catchers develop later than other players, so maybe he could turn it around, but it's looking more and more likely that he could be an AAAA player.

 

Also, the Pyramids are in Giza. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[SoxSport]

Middle of the batting order is weak. There are too many outs. Low OBP guys. K guys. And Nava doesn't hit with power.

[Youk Of The Nation]

He has a good minor league track record, but the FO being down on him is probably because he hasn't translated those numbers to the majors. In 274 PA's he has a .561 OPS. He's also 26, so time is running out on him. I've heard it said that catchers develop later than other players, so maybe he could turn it around, but it's looking more and more likely that he could be an AAAA player.

 

Also, the Pyramids are in Giza. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

You'd think he would have known that, being a Giza himself.

[rjortiz]

Middle of the batting order is weak. There are too many outs. Low OBP guys. K guys. And Nava doesn't hit with power.

 

Is this one opinion connected by supporting details, or is it multiple opinions on the lineup? Has to be the second one.

 

Pedoria, Ortiz, and Nava are all above average hitters. They are .03 points behind the Tigers in OBP. If you removed Peralta, the Sox would be in first. Middlebrooks is the only low OBP player on the roster. K's are just another out, and the ones that do strike out too much have been hitting above average. I agree that Nava isn't a power threat, but he does get on base a lot, which is more valuable than no OBP and high SLG numbers.

 

Despite those "flaws" you bring up, they are second in runs scored. The offense isn't the problem. I'd worry more about Buchholz, and the lack of depth in the bullpen.

Edited September 3, 2013 by rjortiz

[Navafan29]

Hey guys, since it's getting too easy to beat the Rays in this division, I decided to pretend that the 10 teams with the best records are all in the same division and figure out how many games back each team is of having the best MLB record.

 

http://share.pho.to/3cLiN/original

[rjortiz]

Hey guys, since it's getting too easy to beat the Rays in this division, I decided to pretend that the 10 teams with the best records are all in the same division and figure out how many games back each team is of having the best MLB record.

 

http://share.pho.to/3cLiN/original

 

Best record in MLB is meaningless, because homefield is decided by the All Star game. I think BR already does what you did. I know fangraphs does it by projected standings.

[SoxSport]

Is this one opinion connected by supporting details, or is it multiple opinions on the lineup? Has to be the second one.

 

Pedoria, Ortiz, and Nava are all above average hitters. They are .03 points behind the Tigers in OBP. If you removed Peralta, the Sox would be in first. Middlebrooks is the only low OBP player on the roster. K's are just another out, and the ones that do strike out too much have been hitting above average. I agree that Nava isn't a power threat, but he does get on base a lot, which is more valuable than no OBP and high SLG numbers.

 

Despite those "flaws" you bring up, they are second in runs scored. The offense isn't the problem. I'd worry more about Buchholz, and the lack of depth in the bullpen.

 

The middle of the order starts with the no.5 hitter.

[Bellhorn04]

The middle of the order starts with the no.5 hitter.

 

It's pretty silly to be complaining about a weak middle of the lineup when the team is second in the majors in runs scored, and very close to first.

 

Sure things could be better. Things could always be better.

 

But it is kind of important to note that all the other teams besides Detroit have bigger problems scoring runs than we do.

[User Name]

Also, the middle of the order are the 3, 4 and 5 hitters. SoxSport is clearly spouting a bunch of whiny nonsense.

[sk7326]

Can't help myself User; I just think this guy can still be a productive player. I think this may be an example where the Red Sox organization might have impeded this guy's progress. Not the first time such a thing has happened. Apparently the FO does not hold him in the esteem that I do. I still think they're making a mistake. Oh well, let's head for Cairo and see if the Pyramids are still standing.

 

In his September 2011, he proved he could hit potentially. In Pawtucket he showed he could catch. What he has not shown is the ability to hold both jobs at the same time - catching is probably too much work for him. The question is - if he just focused on hitting, could he rake enough to be a passable DH/1B sort. I think it's possible - maybe. But if he is not offering offense from the catcher spot, he offers virtually nothing playing there.