Where has the most value come from during the red sox post season run?

[BeardedHulk]

The lineup has really worn down pitching and has provided the thump when needed, but I believe pitching has been the difference. The lineup has had a base of the attention during their current post-season run but wow The Sox pitching has been phenomenal, especially Lackey who has really turned his season around. He's been called upon to take on ace after ace and has answered the bell in sterling fashion. It's been great to see after some hard luck injuries on his end. Lester has been nothing short of amazing and of course that Sox bullpen helmed by Koji Uerhara has been borderline unhittable.

 

Do you guys agree?

[sk7326]

To win the title, every part of your team is tested. After all, only 10 teams qualify for the tournament. To make the tournament, you gotta hit - it is hard to make it with incompetent run production. You're #4/#5 starters matter, and you have to be able to exploit the other teams' flotsam.

 

But once you GET to the postseason, different thing. The Red Sox have leaned on their run prevention (and I won't use the word pitching here - we have had average or better defense at all of the defensive positions and elite level defense at 2B, SS, CF, RF), in order to beat teams who on paper should be doing it better. The difference for Boston to date (and yes, it can change, I am ducking a lightning bolt as we speak) - has been that this team has shown more ways to win than anybody else. It has been about balance.

[Dojji]

The value has come mostly from getting players to perform up to their talent levels, moreso than roster structure. On paper we're less talented than we were in 2012, but turning around the culture of the clubhouse that Valentine and to a lesser extent Francona allowed to go to pot has yielded a vastly improved product for less money and with arguably less talent to work with.

 

So I'd say Farrell is the difference this year, and his ability to get guys like Lester and Papi to do what they're supposed to be able to do.

[BeardedHulk]

Wow Dojji that's a very good point. I never actually thought of that but Farrell is a very fair argument as the most valuable asset to this team. The culture of this locker room is like night and day compared to last year. They went from a team with no leader, to a team with a voice everywhere you turn. It's really been refreshing to watch this team come together. Brings back memories from the '04 run.

[sk7326]

The value has come mostly from getting players to perform up to their talent levels, moreso than roster structure. On paper we're less talented than we were in 2012, but turning around the culture of the clubhouse that Valentine and to a lesser extent Francona allowed to go to pot has yielded a vastly improved product for less money and with arguably less talent to work with.

 

So I'd say Farrell is the difference this year, and his ability to get guys like Lester and Papi to do what they're supposed to be able to do.

 

There have been a lot of players in 2013 who did not get hurt like they did in 2012 - between Ellsbury, Lackey, healthy enough Pedey, healthy Ortiz ... there is a LOT of production that was in the medical ward last season. There is a lot that can be cured by just being able to field the team you thought you'd be fielding.

[Orange Juiced]

Sox' pitching has been the key.

 

Regular Season Stats:

Starters: 3.84 era, 1.29 whip, 7.6 k/9, .709 ops

Relievers: 3.70 era, 1.31 whip, 8.9 k/9, .710 ops

TOTAL: 3.79 era, 1.30 whip, 8.0 k/9, .710 ops

 

Playoff Stats:

Starters: 3.44 era, 1.20 whip, 7.7 k/9, .654 ops

Relievers: 1.34 era, 1.11 whip, 7.3 k/9, .594 ops

TOTAL: 2.70 era, 1.17 whip, 7.6 k/9, .633 ops

 

Very impressive.

[Bellhorn04]

It's pretty obvious that Farrell and Nieves have been instrumental in the pitching improvements. Lester being Exhibit A.

[redsoxrules]

Sox' pitching has been the key.

 

Regular Season Stats:

Starters: 3.84 era, 1.29 whip, 7.6 k/9, .709 ops

Relievers: 3.70 era, 1.31 whip, 8.9 k/9, .710 ops

TOTAL: 3.79 era, 1.30 whip, 8.0 k/9, .710 ops

 

Playoff Stats:

Starters: 3.44 era, 1.20 whip, 7.7 k/9, .654 ops

Relievers: 1.34 era, 1.11 whip, 7.3 k/9, .594 ops

TOTAL: 2.70 era, 1.17 whip, 7.6 k/9, .633 ops

 

Very impressive.

 

Indeed but that's because we're not rolling out a # 5 starter out there and most of these numbers are from the Top 3.

I say top 3 as Peavy hasen't pitched a lot of innings compared to the other 3.

[sk7326]

It's pretty obvious that Farrell and Nieves have been instrumental in the pitching improvements. Lester being Exhibit A.

 

Durability is relevant here too ... one of the stats that seems to register over and over again with contenders is that they have not used that many starters. The Red Sox have been lucky - even with Buchholz' injury, our top guys have largely been able to take the ball. There is a world of difference between Ryan Dempster being your weak link vs Kyle Weiland.

[Orange Juiced]

On the flip side, the offense surely has struggled.

 

Regular Season Stats: 5.27 runs per game, .277/.349/.446/.795, 15.6 total bases per game

Playoff Stats: 4.40 runs per game, .226/.307/.349/.656, 11.3 total bases per game

 

But look at the starting pitchers they've had to face, and those pitchers' regular season stats:

 

ALDS

1. Moore - 3.29 era, 1.30 whip, 8.6 k/9

2. Price - 3.33 era, 1.10 whip, 7.3 k/9

3. Cobb - 2.76 era, 1.15 whip, 8.4 k/9

4. Hellickson - 5.17 era, 1.35 whip, 7.0 k/9

 

ALCS

1. Sanchez - 2.57 era, 1.15 whip, 10.0 k/9

2. Scherzer - 2.90 era, 0.97 whip, 10.1 k/9

3. Verlander - 3.46 era, 1.32 whip, 8.9 k/9

4. Fister - 3.67 era, 1.31 whip, 6.9 k/9

5. Sanchez - 2.57 era, 1.15 whip, 10.0 k/9

6. Scherzer - 2.90 era, 0.97 whip, 10.1 k/9

 

WS

1. Wainwright - 2.94 era, 1.07 whip, 8.2 k/9

2. Wacha - 2.78 era, 1.10 whip, 9.0 k/9

3. Kelly - 2.69 era, 1.36 whip, 5.7 k/9

4. Lynn - 3.97 era, 1.31 whip, 8.4 k/9

5. Wainwright - 2.94 era, 1.07 whip, 8.2 k/9

 

I mean, good lord, that's an unbelievable murderer's row of pitchers right there. Every single one of them except Hellickson (and even he has been a very, very good major league pitcher for his whole career - career stats of 3.70 era, 1.24 whip, 6.4 k/9) is an all-star caliber starting pitcher, even if they weren't actually on the all-star team.

[Orange Juiced]

Indeed but that's because we're not rolling out a # 5 starter out there and most of these numbers are from the Top 3.

I say top 3 as Peavy hasen't pitched a lot of innings compared to the other 3.

 

I totally agree. And their best relievers are pitching a lot more innings than their other bullpen guys. But that's all counter-balanced by the fact that in Detroit and St. Louis, they have faced the #2 scoring team in the AL and the #1 scoring team in the NL. Plus Tampa was the #11 scoring team in all of baseball last year, so they were no slouches offensively.

[Bellhorn04]

The only stiff on the list is Hellickson, and Maddon yanked him out of there after a couple of innings for Moore!

[sk7326]

On the flip side, the offense surely has struggled.

 

Regular Season Stats: 5.27 runs per game, .277/.349/.446/.795, 15.6 total bases per game

Playoff Stats: 4.40 runs per game, .226/.307/.349/.656, 11.3 total bases per game

 

But look at the starting pitchers they've had to face, and those pitchers' regular season stats:

 

ALDS

1. Moore - 3.29 era, 1.30 whip, 8.6 k/9

2. Price - 3.33 era, 1.10 whip, 7.3 k/9

3. Cobb - 2.76 era, 1.15 whip, 8.4 k/9

4. Hellickson - 5.17 era, 1.35 whip, 7.0 k/9

 

ALCS

1. Sanchez - 2.57 era, 1.15 whip, 10.0 k/9

2. Scherzer - 2.90 era, 0.97 whip, 10.1 k/9

3. Verlander - 3.46 era, 1.32 whip, 8.9 k/9

4. Fister - 3.67 era, 1.31 whip, 6.9 k/9

5. Sanchez - 2.57 era, 1.15 whip, 10.0 k/9

6. Scherzer - 2.90 era, 0.97 whip, 10.1 k/9

 

WS

1. Wainwright - 2.94 era, 1.07 whip, 8.2 k/9

2. Wacha - 2.78 era, 1.10 whip, 9.0 k/9

3. Kelly - 2.69 era, 1.36 whip, 5.7 k/9

4. Lynn - 3.97 era, 1.31 whip, 8.4 k/9

5. Wainwright - 2.94 era, 1.07 whip, 8.2 k/9

 

I mean, good lord, that's an unbelievable murderer's row of pitchers right there. Every single one of them except Hellickson (and even he has been a very, very good major league pitcher for his whole career - career stats of 3.70 era, 1.24 whip, 6.4 k/9) is an all-star caliber starting pitcher, even if they weren't actually on the all-star team.

 

The ballparks have mattered here too. Detroit is a hitter's park in general though the dimensions are big and the season shifted. Saint Louis, Tampa are pitcher's parks all the way. At home the Red Sox have scored 39 (12 + 6 + 0 + 6 + 5 + 8 + 2) runs while allowing 19 (2 + 4 + 1 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 4). That is 5.6 runs a game against some very high caliber of pitching, when they have come back to a friendlier hitting confines.

[Orange Juiced]

The ballparks have mattered here too. Detroit is a hitter's park in general though the dimensions are big and the season shifted. Saint Louis, Tampa are pitcher's parks all the way. At home the Red Sox have scored 39 (12 + 6 + 0 + 6 + 5 + 8 + 2) runs while allowing 19 (2 + 4 + 1 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 4). That is 5.6 runs a game against some very high caliber of pitching, when they have come back to a friendlier hitting confines.

 

39/7=5.6 runs per game. I sure wouldn't mind seeing 5-6 runs tonight!

[User Name]

Lackey didn't "turn his season around". He's been great all season.

[Dojji]

He turned his career around which is what I thought BH meant

[User Name]

That would make a lot more sense

[BeardedHulk]

saw a great blog that broke down Red Sox chances and talked about comparisons to the '04 and '07 champions. The similarities are definitely there. They just have that kind of mojo about them. More-so like the '04 team.

 

http://blog.movoli.com/2013/10/30/red-sox-world-series-preview-interview-with-matt-sullivan-over-the-monster/

[sk7326]

saw a great blog that broke down Red Sox chances and talked about comparisons to the '04 and '07 champions. The similarities are definitely there. They just have that kind of mojo about them. More-so like the '04 team.

 

http://blog.movoli.com/2013/10/30/red-sox-world-series-preview-interview-with-matt-sullivan-over-the-monster/

 

This team is better than the 2007 team (similar lights out back of bullpen, better starting) ... not as good as 2004. (where the defending batting average champion batted 8th)

[Bellhorn04]

Durability is relevant here too ... one of the stats that seems to register over and over again with contenders is that they have not used that many starters. The Red Sox have been lucky - even with Buchholz' injury, our top guys have largely been able to take the ball. There is a world of difference between Ryan Dempster being your weak link vs Kyle Weiland.

 

The Red Sox have had a lot of good fortune with injuries and also with performance levels this year, I think.

[jung]

I guess the only thing in the piece that I did not agree with to some extent was the comment about Lackey and how fans reacted to his 2011 season. A good deal went wrong for John and Boston. In truth I think it all started because nobody on the outside knew his arm was hanging by a thread. I think that had the real baseball fans of the Sox known that, they would in fact have reacted differently to Lackey. That is where I disagree with the piece which suggests that it would not have mattered to us as fans. We still would have heaped it on him according to the piece.

 

I guess it would not matter if not for the comments people make about Lackey basically hating it here while loving his teammates. For one thing I think it took us all awhile to understand that his teammates were not just tolerating his tirades on the mound when they made some sort of mistake or error behind him. They genuinely understood what he was going through both from a physical pain management perspective on the mound and from a personal perspective. I think we just all thought they were tolerating him but just barely. Clearly we had no idea what he was going through just to pitch at all.

 

In fact that is what turned me around finally. I finally realized that his teammates wanted him around, liked him around even while not playing and did not hold onto any animosity toward him for any of that stuff. Ultimately I just trusted that not only did they know him better than I did but that there had to be some genuine closeness between John and his teammates. Ultimately that was good enough for me.

 

I hope that John has a great night tonight. I hope that the fans in the park are smart enough to recognize what he has done and what he has meant to his teammates...never mind us. I hope they have the opportunity to acknowledge that tonight and I hope they do acknowledge that. Further and maybe more importantly for him, I hope he acknowledges them back and at least begins some sort of healing process between himself and the fans of the Red Sox assuming things are as some suggest as far as John is concerned.

[BeardedHulk]

John Lackey, to me, has been the best story of this post-season. He's come a long way for the Sox and is finally delivering what everyone was expecting from him. He is one of the many Red Sox players running with his opportunity to shine, and relishing the chance to pitch against a gauntlet of aces during the post-season. I really hope he gets the win tonight, and we get to see Ortiz scoop Uehara in his arms 1 more time before the 2014 season begins haha