2015 Red Sox In-Season Thread

[Northern Star]

11 games in, 7-4 isn't too bad given how bad the pitching's been. Offense has been good even with Napoli's struggles and Panda yet to hit an XBH.

[Spudboy]

It's still very early. The offense has yet to fully blossom. Give it another month and that will be what we have.

[Bellhorn04]

The offense has averaged about 5.5 runs a game. It won't get any better than that. Some guys will heat up but others will cool off.

 

Scoring runs will not be a problem over the course of the season.

 

The dead horse is right in this case - our rotation will determine our fate.

[Palodios]

They just need to stay in the hunt until reinforcements come into the rotation. With the next several serieses against AL East opponents, it is critical for them to survive as long as they can, and maybe if we're lucky we might see a Cueto-type for July-Christmas.

[seabeachfred]

They just need to stay in the hunt until reinforcements come into the rotation. With the next several serieses against AL East opponents, it is critical for them to survive as long as they can, and maybe if we're lucky we might see a Cueto-type for July-Christmas.

 

That's the problem PaL------and I have deep concerns that they can hold out till then. This rotation of ours shows every indication of imploding. Buchholz is a total sunk cost, worthless and gutless to the core. Masterson is total horse dung.....he is finished with his loss of velocity and his penchant for now getting everything up in the batters wheelhouse. Miley is a question mark

and we better pray his stinky performance against the Nats was just a hiccup. That leaves us with Kelly and Porcello, and they both better pitch for their lives because if they fail we are in deep s***.

[User Name]

They just need to stay in the hunt until reinforcements come into the rotation. With the next several serieses against AL East opponents, it is critical for them to survive as long as they can, and maybe if we're lucky we might see a Cueto-type for July-Christmas.

 

And perhaps Owens from the farm.

[mvp 78]

And perhaps Owens from the farm.

 

People are trending downward on Owens. I've read better opinions on Rodriguez and Johnson lately.

[sk7326]

That's the problem PaL------and I have deep concerns that they can hold out till then. This rotation of ours shows every indication of imploding. Buchholz is a total sunk cost, worthless and gutless to the core. Masterson is total horse dung.....he is finished with his loss of velocity and his penchant for now getting everything up in the batters wheelhouse. Miley is a question mark

and we better pray his stinky performance against the Nats was just a hiccup. That leaves us with Kelly and Porcello, and they both better pitch for their lives because if they fail we are in deep s***.

 

Right now they have the run differential fundamentals of a slightly above .500 team. (obviously very little of the schedule played - I recognize that using run differential right now is flawed, but work with me) At 7-4, they have wins in the bank they don't need to worry about projection wise (the way that your past die rolls do not impact future ones). Given that, a crude projection is 83-84 wins .. which very much falls in "2nd Wild Card possibility" land. Put simply - they play this way they should be able be wait out the pitching market.

[sk7326]

People are trending downward on Owens. I've read better opinions on Rodriguez and Johnson lately.

 

From what I gather - Rodriguez is the stuff guy and Johnson is the probability guy and Owens is a bit of both. Given where he was when the Sox landed him, Rodriguez being any sort of 2015 possibility is a remarkable leap forward.

 

That is, Johnson is the least likely to bust of the pitchers they have - but also the least likely to be anything more than a #4 sort (which is not a dig - who wouldn't love a cheap #4).

[a700hitter]

People are trending downward on Owens. I've read better opinions on Rodriguez and Johnson lately.

 

He gave up a lot of runs in spring training and he has had poor outings after the season started.

[Elktonnick]

After today's game, I think it is pretty clear that the Sox starting pitching isn't going to cut the mustard. The O's appear better than I expected not missing either Crux or Markaikas. The question remains who are the Sox willing to trade to get the pitching they need.

[User Name]

It's the 12th game of the season. Are you people serious with this?

 

By that logic, time to cut bait with Lester and every other establishes star who has struggled so far!

[mvp 78]

It's the 12th game of the season. Are you people serious with this?

 

By that logic, time to cut bait with Lester and every other establishes star who has struggled so far!

 

Lestah is done. He can't throw ta first anymoah...

[Kimmi]

It's the 12th game of the season. Are you people serious with this?

 

By that logic, time to cut bait with Lester and every other establishes star who has struggled so far!

 

This is a bingo. I am as frustrated as anyone right now, but as you said, it's the 12th game of the season. For all the panic we're hearing, the Sox are 7-5, which is a .583 winning %, which would equate to 94 or 95 wins over the season. Why don't we wait a couple of months to see where the team is then?

[jad]

Lestah is done. He can't throw ta first anymoah...

 

That was fantastic! Did anyone object that it wasn't a legal throw, or that the first baseman didn't 'establish control' simply by holding the glove?

[Kimmi]

Lestah is done. He can't throw ta first anymoah...

 

Sure he can.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v80354683/sdchc-lester-tosses-glove-to-make-the-out-at-first

[Northern Star]

You're right, it's 12 games and the pitching has mostly stunk but we should act like nothing's wrong and just patiently await each new game with zero discourse on how the pitching has stunk.

[a700hitter]

You're right, it's 12 games and the pitching has mostly stunk but we should act like nothing's wrong and just patiently await each new game with zero discourse on how the pitching has stunk.

And if they were 12-0 we shouldn't revel in that either by this logic. What's the point of watching... just wait until the end of the season for the post-mortems or celebration. No one is burying them, but it is worth noting that the rotation is living up to the backs of their baseball cards -- they have been very inconsistent and mediocre. There are no encouraging metrics on this bunch. If there are encouraging metrics, I wish someone would share them. Pecotas projections are worthless. Give me some good metrics for us to sink our teeth into.

[sk7326]

You're right, it's 12 games and the pitching has mostly stunk but we should act like nothing's wrong and just patiently await each new game with zero discourse on how the pitching has stunk.

 

No, but I think you need to get to the 40 game mark to really start to say we've learned something about this team one way or the other ... and even then it's not a hell of a lot

[Spudboy]

Lestah is done. He can't throw ta first anymoah...

 

Not true! He threw is glove and ball successfully to Rizzo today.

[jacksonianmarch]

If the sox make the playoffs it is because of their bats. Everyone aside from the rosy glasses wearing pink hats knew the sox rotation stunk. It isn't a surprise

[mvp 78]

How's that great Yankees rotation working out? I know you were pretty high on them with your rose colored glasses this winter.

[Kimmi]

You're right, it's 12 games and the pitching has mostly stunk but we should act like nothing's wrong and just patiently await each new game with zero discourse on how the pitching has stunk.

 

Twelve games is not enough to base any long term decisions on. The starting pitching could be a serious problem, or this past week of starts could be something fluky. It's too early to know. That's all I'm saying.

[Kimmi]

And if they were 12-0 we shouldn't revel in that either by this logic. What's the point of watching... just wait until the end of the season for the post-mortems or celebration. No one is burying them, but it is worth noting that the rotation is living up to the backs of their baseball cards -- they have been very inconsistent and mediocre. There are no encouraging metrics on this bunch. If there are encouraging metrics, I wish someone would share them. Pecotas projections are worthless. Give me some good metrics for us to sink our teeth into.

 

If the team were 12-0, I would be optimistic, but I wouldn't be buying my WS tickets just yet. I know better than to base an entire season on 12 games, good or bad. No one has said that the rotation is perfect, or that they haven't been mediocre and inconsistent. All we are saying is that 12 games is too soon to make any real judgments about how they will be over the course of the season, or to be saying that this team is going nowhere unless they get pitching help.

[User Name]

You're right, it's 12 games and the pitching has mostly stunk but we should act like nothing's wrong and just patiently await each new game with zero discourse on how the pitching has stunk.

 

That's because it's the 12th game of the season. By this time, a bunch of scrubs are leading the league in a bunch of categories, while a bunch of established superstars are sucking ass. You know why? Because 12 games are indicative of nothing. This rotation is not going to be very good, but it's not this bad either.

 

The problem is how goddamn much you've been whining even way before the season started. If they pitch a good game "it's early in the season" if they suck "I knew this would happen". Give it a rest. At the 1/3 point of the season we'll have a better idea of where they really stand, and what they need to do. So will other teams, and it's much more likely that pitching will be available by then.

 

If someone stunk, they stunk, we all vent, on to the next game, no need for a constant whining barrage.

[Elktonnick]

This rotation has lived up to most knowledgeable observers expectations. I believe that Red Sox management itself is also under no illusions as to what they've got but is counting on the mediocrity of the ALE to allow them to be competitive and remain in contention to make the playoffs until they can pick up additional pitching at what they consider a reasonable cost. What I've seen from the Orioles, however, tells me that they are a better ball club than I thought they were going to be. Their relative lack of off season moves hasn't hurt them as much as I thought. Yes, it is still early but I believe and hope the Sox make a move to get additional arms. As much as they need starting pitching, I remain convinced that they need help in the bull pen more, especially if the rotation continues to preform the way it has to date.

[User Name]

We all know the rotation wasn't going to be a world-beating rotation. But it can (and should) certainly be better than this. They are more likely than not going to have to reinforce it either way, but everyone expected that too.

[seabeachfred]

Many are disillusioned somewhat, especially after the way Porcello got the s*** knocked out of him and the fact we have to send Masterson out there tomorrow on what seems to me to be a fool's errand. Yes, it is early but what I'm also seeing is that we aren't hitting too well either the past few games. Four, seven and six hits in a game with the kind of pitching we've been dispensing isn't going to get the job done, and I still insist that Panda is not going to be a power answer or even a run producing answer on third base. Notice WMB hit his third homer today? Just thought I'd through that out. Look, to me, it looks like our rotation is imploding and there seems to be no help on the way and we have a couple of people in that lineup who do not belong there save for their bloated contracts. May I suggest, though, we all take a deep breath and wait one more week before we go to the ledge. We may clear this up, but I do not want to wait until June or July for proactive moves. If my May 1 this horseshit pitching continues we have to look at the reality that we need pitching and have to be willing to give up some nice prospects down on the farm to get it.

[Northern Star]

Many are disillusioned somewhat, especially after the way Porcello got the s*** knocked out of him and the fact we have to send Masterson out there tomorrow on what seems to me to be a fool's errand. Yes, it is early but what I'm also seeing is that we aren't hitting too well either the past few games. Four, seven and six hits in a game with the kind of pitching we've been dispensing isn't going to get the job done, and I still insist that Panda is not going to be a power answer or even a run producing answer on third base. Notice WMB hit his third homer today? Just thought I'd through that out. Look, to me, it looks like our rotation is imploding and there seems to be no help on the way and we have a couple of people in that lineup who do not belong there save for their bloated contracts. May I suggest, though, we all take a deep breath and wait one more week before we go to the ledge. We may clear this up, but I do not want to wait until June or July for proactive moves. If my May 1 this horseshit pitching continues we have to look at the reality that we need pitching and have to be willing to give up some nice prospects down on the farm to get it.

 

Can't expect to get a ton of hits each night, Fred. That's why it's imperative for the pitching to settle down and give us a chance to win.

[Palodios]

I still insist that Panda is not going to be a power answer or even a run producing answer on third base. Notice WMB hit his third homer today? Just thought I'd through that out.

 

Panda is one of those players that many of us didn't want at the time, but he certainly has his value. That just doesn't happen to be home run power.

 

Middlebrooks is a AAAA hitter who ran into a few balls so far this year, and is going to look much less appealing once the NL catches up to his inability to hit offspeed pitches. Panda's OBP in 2015 is .389 compared to WMB's .269 -- That should tell you something.