Marahiro Tanaka And Sox Starting Rotation.

[User Name]

Fernandez seemed to expressing genuine shock at how he crushed that ... hard to act like you've been there when you almost certainly haven't. Taking off your mask at a kid acting like a kid is much more playing to the cameras than expressing joy at a "maybe not once in a lifetime but pretty close" act.

 

Yeah that wasn't it at all. He was showboating because a Braves player showed him up after hitting a HR.

[seabeachfred]

Upped his average because he had a .372 BABIP. When (not if) he regresses to his low-average, sub .300 OBP, you'll be the first to jump his bones.

 

There you go again, being a God damn know it all. How the hell do you know I will jump his bones? You some sort of Merlin or something? I made an accurate statement that Jarrod improved markedly this season, both offensively and defensively, and you're no mind reader either. You have no clue at all except your opinion that he will regress. That may be your position and you could turn out right. You could also prove to be full of s***.

[mvp 78]

Everyone on here is full of s***.

[Bellhorn04]

Everyone on here is full of s***.

 

Hmmm...kind of a Catch-22 isn't it. A regular here can't deny that they're full of s***, because if they weren't full of s*** they wouldn't be a regular here.

[a700hitter]

At least there is an acknowledgment of the fact that we are all full of s***. That's why it is so annoying when one full of s*** person insists that another full of s*** person's opinion is wrong. LOL!!

[marklmw]

Everyone on here is full of s***.

 

Recognizing that you are full of s*** is the first step to recovery. Of course you are right ... we are all full of s*** but tell me who isn't?

[Dojji]

Yeah that wasn't it at all. He was showboating because a Braves player showed him up after hitting a HR.

 

hard to make that claim when this was a 21 year old pitcher who just hit a dinger. If your personality is in any way demonstrative, that will get a demonstration out of you.

 

Call me crazy, but put me in that situation where I'd made a big play that NO ONE, including me, was expecting I'd be able to make, and pivotal to how the game turned out no less, you couldn't shut me up or keep me on the ground for the rest of the night.

Edited October 1, 2013 by Dojji

[sk7326]

hard to make that claim when this was a 21 year old pitcher who just hit a dinger. If your personality is in any way demonstrative, that will get a demonstration out of you.

 

Call me crazy, but put me in that situation where I'd made a big play that NO ONE, including me, was expecting I'd be able to make, and pivotal to how the game turned out no less, you couldn't shut me up or keep me on the ground for the rest of the night.

 

A Braves player got him riled up earlier in the game - but he acted emotionally. What is funny is wanting players with personality and then balking when a player actually expresses it. From a media criticism perspective, there is definitely a racial component to it (if the racial hats were reversed the narrative would be much different). Maybe he should have dialed it back a touch - but then so should have McCann instead of showboating in front of the cameras (and say sending a note after the game). Fernandez, and what he showed this year is very much one of the best things about the game now. BTW: Puig is a fun rookie of the year narrative but it really has to go to Fernandez.

[User Name]

There you go again, being a God damn know it all. How the hell do you know I will jump his bones? You some sort of Merlin or something? I made an accurate statement that Jarrod improved markedly this season, both offensively and defensively, and you're no mind reader either. You have no clue at all except your opinion that he will regress. That may be your position and you could turn out right. You could also prove to be full of s***.

 

No one on here is as full of s*** as you are. Jumping bones is all you did until the team started winning. Get over yourself.

 

a700 talking about others being annoying. My irony-meter is about to explode.

Edited October 1, 2013 by User Name?

[User Name]

Back on the Tanaka/Salty will regress topic:

 

http://irfast.blogspot.com/2013/08/masahiro-tanaka-scouting-report.html

 

This is a very interesting (though not from a reputable source) write-up on Tanaka that i'm sure mark will appreciate.

[sk7326]

Back on the Tanaka/Salty will regress topic:

 

http://irfast.blogspot.com/2013/08/masahiro-tanaka-scouting-report.html

 

This is a very interesting (though not from a reputable source) write-up on Tanaka that i'm sure mark will appreciate.

 

It's a good piece and does cite some reputable blogs ... ERA stats for Tanaka are obviously excellent. At the same time, the strikeout numbers tilt very much in Darvish's favor (in that comparison) - and strikeout rate is a good place to go as a first approximation of "stuff". Tanaka's K's are more reminiscent of DiceK (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=daisuke-matsuzaka).

 

The real issue with his pro translation is approach - we know the Japanese approach for pitchers has involved a lot of deception and often pitching away from contact. Darvish is a notable exception, with his height and his very much American-style "let em try to hit it" view. Does Tanaka "come right at" hitters? These are not prospects but veterans with solid track records - as the Daisuke experience showed, changing their fundamental approach, the thing which got them so much notoriety, is a very difficult ask.

[marklmw]

Back on the Tanaka/Salty will regress topic:

 

http://irfast.blogspot.com/2013/08/masahiro-tanaka-scouting-report.html

 

This is a very interesting (though not from a reputable source) write-up on Tanaka that i'm sure mark will appreciate.

 

Thank You UN ... I do appreciate this scouting report.

[seabeachfred]

Everyone on here is full of s***.

 

MVP----I will second that. All we are doing is making educated guesses and I don't think any of us would put any serious money on it. But we should be able to disagree on something without being attacked. At any rate, let's hope our hearts triumph over our heads. It would mean better news for the Sox.

[seabeachfred]

No one on here is as full of s*** as you are. Jumping bones is all you did until the team started winning. Get over yourself.

 

a700 talking about others being annoying. My irony-meter is about to explode.

 

You get over yourself numbnuts. Another know-it-all muttering from the best ass inspector on the board. If I'm full of s*** you're the expert who can tell me that. If your irony-meter is about to explode it would be a major improvement over your thinking that your s*** doesn't smell. Either accept other opinions not in line with yours or shut the hell up. Some of us are getting tired of you thinking you're some kind of ace around here. You're not. And aside from you, I have bent over backward to getting along with everyone on this board.

[User Name]

You get over yourself numbnuts. Another know-it-all muttering from the best ass inspector on the board. If I'm full of s*** you're the expert who can tell me that. If your irony-meter is about to explode it would be a major improvement over your thinking that your s*** doesn't smell. Either accept other opinions not in line with yours or shut the hell up. Some of us are getting tired of you thinking you're some kind of ace around here. You're not. And aside from you, I have bent over backward to getting along with everyone on this board.

 

Says the guy who spends all of his time talking about how he's a "scout" but goes on diatribes like this one at the slightest provocation (as in, being called out on his s***). A scout needs two things you certainly don't have: Restraint and patience, so save me the stories.

 

You spent the last two years s***ing on Salty, and immediately jumped on his bandwagon after a decent, but not-repeatable season. Please.

 

Really, get over yourself.

 

Oh, and as a side note, my nuts may be "numb", but they still work, along with the rest of the equipment. I'm sure you can't say the same, lostnuts.

[seabeachfred]

Says the guy who spends all of his time talking about how he's a "scout" but goes on diatribes like this one at the slightest provocation (as in, being called out on his s***). A scout needs two things you certainly don't have: Restraint and patience, so save me the stories.

 

You spent the last two years s***ing on Salty, and immediately jumped on his bandwagon after a decent, but not-repeatable season. Please.

 

Really, get over yourself.

 

Oh, and as a side note, my nuts may be "numb", but they still work, along with the rest of the equipment. I'm sure you can't say the same, lostnuts.

 

Amazing how you can dish it out but go into a frenzy when someone comes back at you. A scout? I've mentioned that about three or four times that I have done some scouting for friends who are scouts. I don't go droning in on that incessantly and you seem to be the only one who has trouble with it. Frankly, I'm sick of the way you keep insulting Sox Sport, 700 Hitter and others who you disagree with. Where the hell is that "we can agree to disagree" mantra that most of us have. If someone agrees with you high praise emanates from your computer as if you have a pipeline to on high. And how stupid can you be? When Salty showed improvement this season I said so; when he looked like a player with problems last season I said so too. Again, you need to accept the fact that "we can agree to disagree", but that fact seems to escape you.

 

If you cannot accept that the best advice I could give is the old slogan.....To be seen stand up, to he heard speak up, to be appreciated SHUT UP!!!!!!

[User Name]

Whatever Fred. I said you'd complain if Salty got a ton of money and he sucked (and you would certainly complain, because you complain a lot, and in this case, rightfully so) and you went into full-assault mode. Grow up, for the hundredth time.

 

Just because i told you you'd jump his bones if he sucked, you didn't have to go all f***ing psycho. It's a message board post, not a death threat. You are almost 80 years old, and by now you should be able to : A) Have some goddamned restraint. B ) Be able to read a passing comment as such and not turn it into an all-out flame war.

 

Get a grip.

[lospunchados]

Tanaka seems like an interesting player ( thanks for the article link and scouting report), but I'm not sure what kind of contract he'll command and the new sox front office are already leery of giving proving major league players long term and big contracts. I'd be surprised if the sox are willing to pay what he will go for, especially with the urgency the Angels have to become relevant again and the horrible starting staff they have.

 

As for Jose Fernandez, why not do that? He crushed that pitch and it was his first career home run. He hit .220 this year and the batters against him are hitting .180, that's amazing. I never understood why pitchers are so sensitive about a guy tossing a bat or watching his homer a little. Pitchers are generally successful 65-75% of the time and batters obviously are successful much less. If you don't want him to do that, don't put it right down the middle of the plate. It's not like its a beer league, and Fernandez's team should be playing two levels above because they are winning every game by 20, they are all professionals. If you are a pitcher, get a new ball regroup and try and get the next guy out.

[marklmw]

Tanaka seems like an interesting player ( thanks for the article link and scouting report), but I'm not sure what kind of contract he'll command and the new sox front office are already leery of giving proving major league players long term and big contracts. I'd be surprised if the sox are willing to pay what he will go for, especially with the urgency the Angels have to become relevant again and the horrible starting staff they have.

 

As for Jose Fernandez, why not do that? He crushed that pitch and it was his first career home run. He hit .220 this year and the batters against him are hitting .180, that's amazing. I never understood why pitchers are so sensitive about a guy tossing a bat or watching his homer a little. Pitchers are generally successful 65-75% of the time and batters obviously are successful much less. If you don't want him to do that, don't put it right down the middle of the plate. It's not like its a beer league, and Fernandez's team should be playing two levels above because they are winning every game by 20, they are all professionals. If you are a pitcher, get a new ball regroup and try and get the next guy out.

 

You make a good point ... the whole incident was overblown for sure. You often see pitchers celebrating so why not a hitter. I do not think that Fernandez over celebrated.

[marklmw]

Hey all,

 

I am a rookie on this forum. I have already bumped heads with a few of the members and it surprised me. We all like the Sox so I think it will be great if we can accept the fact that we are all full of s*** and we only know about 1 tenth of what management knows. If someone has a opinion or thought on something that you do not agree with please try your best to do one of the following:

1. Ignore the persons post

2. Reply to the post but in a respectful way.

3. Bust the persons ass but in a respectful and humorous way. You are not speaking to the person so they cannot tell from your voice that you are just busting ass ... make it clear that you are so they do not feel insulted.

4. Remember that just because you think that what was posted is horse-s*** try to be kind. There will be a day believe it or not that you will be on the other end.

5. Have fun ... baseball is an escape for most of us so let's enjoy one another.

 

Any thoughts?

[User Name]

Wait, you freely admit that you don't actually know more about building a baseball team than the people who get paid to build a baseball team?

 

I salute you sir.

[marklmw]

Wait, you freely admit that you don't actually know more about building a baseball team than the people who get paid to build a baseball team?

 

I salute you sir.

You are ok by me UN ... You gave me a different perspective on Ellsbury and Salty. I would love to see Nava and Gomes sharing left next year. JBJ in center, Bogaerts at Short, Middlebrooks at 3rd, Lavarnway and Ross at C, Abreu at 1st but could be Napoli with Carp. Dempster gone and a series bid for a # 1 SP. I want the Sox to shed more payroll because they can. Firm up the pen from within and from without. We should pick up some pics also for their QO's to Salty and Ellsbury so we will replenish the farm. Who would have thought it.

[User Name]

The only thing i'd do differently is getting a veteran catcher on a short deal (Ruiz?) to man catcher. However, Lavarnway is showing signs of life so maybe he's ready for primetime.

[marklmw]

The only thing i'd do differently is getting a veteran catcher on a short deal (Ruiz?) to man catcher. However, Lavarnway is showing signs of life so maybe he's ready for primetime.

 

Ruiz would be great for 1 year ... is Ross under a 1 yr. deal?

[marklmw]

The only thing i'd do differently is getting a veteran catcher on a short deal (Ruiz?) to man catcher. However, Lavarnway is showing signs of life so maybe he's ready for primetime.

 

We would be getter younger and hopefully better. All these younger players will benefit greatly under the leadership of Papi and Pedroia.

[sk7326]

You are ok by me UN ... You gave me a different perspective on Ellsbury and Salty. I would love to see Nava and Gomes sharing left next year. JBJ in center, Bogaerts at Short, Middlebrooks at 3rd, Lavarnway and Ross at C, Abreu at 1st but could be Napoli with Carp. Dempster gone and a series bid for a # 1 SP. I want the Sox to shed more payroll because they can. Firm up the pen from within and from without. We should pick up some pics also for their QO's to Salty and Ellsbury so we will replenish the farm. Who would have thought it.

 

There are probably 10 "number one" starting pitchers in the league period ... it would be nice to make a serious bid, but we have to be realistic. Ellsbury gets a QO, Napoli probably does and Salty is at least a maybe. Drew is a no.

 

Dempster can be moved, although if we have to endure him for another season, that's not a bad thing - his durability means that those are 180 innings we don't have to give to guys who legitimately can't pitch. His contract was one of the best of the offseason though - the cost of pitchers whose main skill is not getting hurt is significant and the Red Sox did not have to tie themselves up for years. Somebody should see some value in a guy who still has swing and miss stuff and who never gets hurt - it is hard to get through the marathon without that.

 

Getting a Choo to man LF would make a lot of sense as would a Beltran. But if you did not want to overextend, the platoon system works just fine. There is no reason Nava-Gomes-Carp-Napoli still can't hold those two positions down credibly next season. Now we probably cannot expect an MVP-ish season from Victorino again, although if he stays a righty, he very well might have more offensive value than could have been projected over the next 2 years.

[Dojji]

The only thing i'd do differently is getting a veteran catcher on a short deal (Ruiz?) to man catcher. However, Lavarnway is showing signs of life so maybe he's ready for primetime.

 

Lavarnway makes me nervous as a potential backup. I like my backups to be defensively focused, especially when I have an offense-first starting backstop. It might be an "ideal world" thing but it's a pretty good rule of thumb that the backup catcher should be able to sub in and provide high level defense. While I think Lavs is a decent prospect, I think he'd be better off getting lots of reps to keep his bat going. Backup catchers don't get the kind of reps offensively that Lavarnway's going to need to develop his offensive skillset and his defense is... not his strong suit as he's come up the system.

[marklmw]

You are ok by me UN ... You gave me a different perspective on Ellsbury and Salty. I would love to see Nava and Gomes sharing left next year. JBJ in center, Bogaerts at Short, Middlebrooks at 3rd, Lavarnway and Ross at C, Abreu at 1st but could be Napoli with Carp. Dempster gone and a series bid for a # 1 SP. I want the Sox to shed more payroll because they can. Firm up the pen from within and from without. We should pick up some pics also for their QO's to Salty and Ellsbury so we will replenish the farm. Who would have thought it.

 

Just thought I would defend the 'Todays Flavor' comment. MVP

[jung]

I guess my concern for Dempster is mostly about the direction he was headed in as we got deeper into the year. What will Demps be in 2014? Will he be some version of a 2013 average or was his trend through the year indicative of the aging process and directionally indicative of what we might expect in 2014?

 

April: ERA 3.30, IP 30, WHIP 1.133, SO/9 12.9

May: ERA 5.51, IP 32.2, WHIP 1.622, SO/9 7.7

June: ERA 3.55, IP 38, WHIP 1.368, SO/9 5.9

July: ERA 4.87, IP 20.1, WHIP 1.82, SO/9 7.1

August: ERA 6.75, IP 30.2, WHIP 1.467, SO/9 7.3

Sept/Oct: ERA 3.20. IP 19.2. WHIP 1.424, SO/9 9.2

Totals: ERA 4.57, IP 171.1, WHIP 1.452, SO/9 8.2

 

His SO/9 fell off and stayed off after April. His WHIP was decidedly poor after June and June was nothing to wright home about. If he duplicated 2013 in 2014 that would be a fine rotation 5, I think. But if in fact his 2013 performance from July on is indicative of a trend and he just picks up where he left off, then maybe you have a guy you are moving to the pen sooner than you had hoped or....as has been suggested....moving out while picking up part of his salary.

 

Demps recovered in September but on only 19 innings pitched. Earlier in the season while he had his usual 1st inning problems (usually in the form of a bomb given up), he was able to pull out of it regularly before and had some decent showings. Later in the season, he continued to have early problems but then would really nose dive his way out of a game more often that not.

 

Would he really be better that Workman in the 5 hole? Would Workman even be ready for the 5 hole?

[sk7326]

I guess my concern for Dempster is mostly about the direction he was headed in as we got deeper into the year. What will Demps be in 2014? Will he be some version of a 2013 average or was his trend through the year indicative of the aging process and directionally indicative of what we might expect in 2014?

 

April: ERA 3.30, IP 30, WHIP 1.133, SO/9 12.9

May: ERA 5.51, IP 32.2, WHIP 1.622, SO/9 7.7

June: ERA 3.55, IP 38, WHIP 1.368, SO/9 5.9

July: ERA 4.87, IP 20.1, WHIP 1.82, SO/9 7.1

August: ERA 6.75, IP 30.2, WHIP 1.467, SO/9 7.3

Sept/Oct: ERA 3.20. IP 19.2. WHIP 1.424, SO/9 9.2

Totals: ERA 4.57, IP 171.1, WHIP 1.452, SO/9 8.2

 

His SO/9 fell off and stayed off after April. His WHIP was decidedly poor after June and June was nothing to wright home about. If he duplicated 2013 in 2014 that would be a fine rotation 5, I think. But if in fact his 2013 performance from July on is indicative of a trend and he just picks up where he left off, then maybe you have a guy you are moving to the pen sooner than you had hoped or....as has been suggested....moving out while picking up part of his salary.

 

Demps recovered in September but on only 19 innings pitched. Earlier in the season while he had his usual 1st inning problems (usually in the form of a bomb given up), he was able to pull out of it regularly before and had some decent showings. Later in the season, he continued to have early problems but then would really nose dive his way out of a game more often that not.

 

Would he really be better that Workman in the 5 hole? Would Workman even be ready for the 5 hole?

 

I think that you can argue Workman, no doubt. And if they dealt Dempster to give Workman a job - more power to them. That said, Dempster essentially filled a Tim Wakefield role last season - a guy who doesn't suck that badly and always takes the ball. This is not a great Hallmark card, and you don't want him near any truly nervous spots - but he is absolutely valuable for negotiating the 6-month slog. Dempster's strikeout rate did not have that crazy April level, but it stayed pretty good all season. I am not stumping for Dempster to stay - but he is a depth guy and a sunk cost ... and for a team who needs an innings eater, he can provide it at a salary which is probably inflated but not that much so.