2015 Red Sox In-Season Thread

[Station 13]

I'm wondering if the Sox are giving any thought to moving Mookie down in the order and maybe hitting Holt lead off.

 

No. He won't learn from AAA pitchers.

[Spudboy]

No. He won't learn from AAA pitchers.

 

I said move him down in the order, not down 95.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm wondering if the Sox are giving any thought to moving Mookie down in the order and maybe hitting Holt lead off.

 

And you see what happens when you say things like this. LOL!

[Spudboy]

And you see what happens when you say things like this. LOL!

 

It just came to me. I was not advocating it. I was just wondering if there was any talk of it.

 

I think that overall he continues to have good ABs and he seems to get on base at least once each game.

 

Last night was what we have seen before his slump. I think the confidence gained by his showing last night should help him get back on track.

 

In any case, it is always good to have a lead off hitter getting on base.

[User Name]

Betts should be kept in the leadoff spot. Even though he's struggling, he generally puts up great AB's and he's putting the barrell on the ball consistently. That kid can hit.

[cp176]

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

 

It is very early but Owens has looked very ordinary so far. Middle of rotation guy at best which is probably about what they expect from him. Johnson and Rodriguez have both looked very very good. Rodriguez is the youngest of the bunch but he throws hard. Barnes going back tends to make you think that they still want him to start which I like. For you Steven Wright fans, take heart he is back up with the big club. He will certainly come in handy if they get blasted again.

[Spudboy]

Betts should be kept in the leadoff spot. Even though he's struggling, he generally puts up great AB's and he's putting the barrell on the ball consistently. That kid can hit.

 

I fully agree!!!!

[Spudboy]

I found this amusing little gem on BDC.

 

dragqueenbunter April 28, 2015 — 08:27 AM

 

FROM THE TRAINER'S ROOM

 

"Red Sox: Mike Napoli was out of the lineup because he was sick. ..."

 

Pueblo Mendoza infirmary.

 

Dr. Felipe Mendoza to patient lying in bed: "Ju know ju running muy low fiebre [fever]. Ju need rest en rub este "clear" medicina all over ju body."

 

Mike Napoli [.167]: "Doc, whatever it takes I'll do it. My teammates are counting on me to produce and I'm just not cutting it right now. [1 HR/4 Ribbies]"

 

Dr. Mendoza: "Ju got that right! [turns to next patient] En how ju feeling today mister?"

 

Daniel Nava: "Not so good doc. I'm down to .167 and it's dropping fast."

 

Dr. Mendez: "No problema...I see dis sickness a lot in April and by June ju goin' feel like new. "

 

[calls out to nurse Olivia Juanita Hernandez de Mendoza] "Geev este muchacho dos pills rojo y dos pills blanco. Andale!!"

 

[Peers down at chart for next patient and reads aloud] "Chain..Chane..Cain...how ju pronounce ju name, senor?"

 

patient lifts head and in a raspy whisper responds: "It's Shane...with an 'S'. Shane Victorino [bA .143].....[cough] [cough] When am I going to get out of here doc? I know if Farrell just gives me a chance I can do better. I'm not done, not yet."

 

Dr. Mendoza: "We haf instructiones to move ju to isolation. We no want ju infect the other players. Comprende? Hey, ju look muy familiar..ju familia from Oaxaca?"

 

Victorino: "No, I'm from Oahu...Oahu, Hawaii..............and I think I'm going to throw...[big retching sound as camera turns away]

 

Dr. Mendoza: [looking toward corner of infirmary at pale, listless figure hooked up to ventilator calls out to nurse Olivia Juanita Hernandez de Mendoza] "Olivia....Me think es time we pull de plug on dis one...way don ju go ahead en do it now, hokay? I gone notify Senor Cherington ese hombre es beyon' help."

 

Nurse Olivia Juanita Hernandez de Mendoza moves toward the listless patient and glances down at his wristband. Craig, Allen before snipping the band off.

 

The cold surgical steel on Craig's skin arouses him briefly and realizing his predicament he weakly tears away the intubation life support device croaks out...."But I'm not dead yet. Pleeeaaasseeeeeee.............."

 

Dr. Mendoza: "JU will be, bery bery soon. Lo siento Senor Craig but Mendoza infirmary es no morgue...es for de living."

[BSN07]

lol that was pretty funny

[GomesBeard]

Ok, so now Tanaka is out for a month for the Yankees - and maybe a precursor to TJ surgery - so do the Yankees now have an interest in Hamels? Between the Cards, the Yankees and the Sox, his market might start to heat up a bit. That is, assuming the Sox recognize they may have a problem with the rotation....

[BSN07]

Idk if I see the Yanks giving up what little top end talent they have in the minors and taking on another big contract. But they have surprised me before. I think LAD and St. Louis seem like better bets of landing Hamels. Even with the rotations struggles I'm still not big on Hamels.

[a700hitter]

Idk if I see the Yanks giving up what little top end talent they have in the minors and taking on another big contract. But they have surprised me before. I think LAD and St. Louis seem like better bets of landing Hamels. Even with the rotations struggles I'm still not big on Hamels.

The Yankees have the advantage of taking on more of the financila burden, so they might get away with less prospect cost.

[Spudboy]

Idk if I see the Yanks giving up what little top end talent they have in the minors and taking on another big contract. But they have surprised me before. I think LAD and St. Louis seem like better bets of landing Hamels. Even with the rotations struggles I'm still not big on Hamels.

 

I'm with you on that.

[GomesBeard]

Idk if I see the Yanks giving up what little top end talent they have in the minors and taking on another big contract. But they have surprised me before. I think LAD and St. Louis seem like better bets of landing Hamels. Even with the rotations struggles I'm still not big on Hamels.

 

I haven't been a huge Hamels fan either, but I think he is better than anything currently in our rotation.

[iortiz]

Hamels is not going to be enough to right the ship IMO. We need at least 2 solid SP. So if we trade only for Hamels, I'll pass and wait until next offseason to sign 2 SP. In the mid-time, call up some guys from the farm and see who could be the real deal looking forward.

[SoxnCycles]

Hamels is not going to be enough to right the ship IMO. We need at least 2 solid SP. So if we trade only for Hamels, I'll pass and wait until next offseason to sign 2 SP. In the mid-time, call up some guys from the farm and see who could be the real deal looking forward.

 

Nope, if the rotation doesn't improve, adding Hamels (and paying through the nose for the privilege) isn't going to help.

Either the rotation get's it's collective s*** together, or a couple of minor league pitchers step up.

Otherwise, it's sign someone from the free agent pool next off season.

 

I'm not convinced the season is over yet, however.

[GomesBeard]

Hamels is not going to be enough to right the ship IMO. We need at least 2 solid SP. So if we trade only for Hamels, I'll pass and wait until next offseason to sign 2 SP. In the mid-time, call up some guys from the farm and see who could be the real deal looking forward.

 

So essentially giving up on the season....? At least bringing in Hamels, you know you're going to improve your rotation.

[Elktonnick]

Nope, if the rotation doesn't improve, adding Hamels (and paying through the nose for the privilege) isn't going to help.

Either the rotation get's it's collective s*** together, or a couple of minor league pitchers step up.

Otherwise, it's sign someone from the free agent pool next off season.

 

I'm not convinced the season is over yet, however.

 

Hamels by himself won't be the savior but his addition wouldn't hurt either. It all depends on the price they would have to pay to get him. He won't come cheap that's for sure. There are too many teams that need to pitching so the Phillies are in the cat bird seat. I agree the season isn't lost. The ALE is still up for grabs. All the teams have their weaknesses. No team is poised to run away with it. The way things are going 85-87 wins may be enough to win this division. No one should be surprised with how the season is going; it is pretty much living up to expectations. The Sox need to DFA Mujica and Craig, however. I can't find anyone who could reasonably argue against both such moves. I think Craig's presence in the clubhouse begging playing time isn't helpful. I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone before Victorino's return.

[iortiz]

So essentially giving up on the season....? At least bringing in Hamels, you know you're going to improve your rotation.

 

The way I see the thing, the hole regarding pitching is so big that trading for Hamels is not going to help anyways. Also, you likely going to give up top talent for him, if so. In the end you will give up top talent for nothing, and still I have some concerns about Hamels pitching in the AL.

 

The actual pitching situation is beyond one piece. At this point we need at least 2 SP and probably 3 relievers. Mujica and Vavaro are trash. I like Koji but I do not know if he will last in good shape all season long, unfortunately he is old and he is showing signs that he is losing his command. Tazawa is out there every night, at this pace they are going to blow his arm., etc.

Edited April 29, 2015 by iortiz

[sk7326]

Hamels is not going to be enough to right the ship IMO. We need at least 2 solid SP. So if we trade only for Hamels, I'll pass and wait until next offseason to sign 2 SP. In the mid-time, call up some guys from the farm and see who could be the real deal looking forward.

 

The team is above .500 and right in the middle of a very very muddled division with this level of starting pitching. The rotation needs to get better to be taken seriously as a contendah, but the upgrade to make a dent in this 5-team muck in the AL East only has to be a small one. It could be as simple as replacing one set of starts with Eduardo Rodriguez' potentially.

[jacksonianmarch]

Disagree sk. Your rotation and pen are a joke and in this day and age, your offense isn't strong enough to power past it. You're now the Rockies

[User Name]

That's BS. The rotation is stabilizing, and the hitting has clearly not played up to its ability, specially Napoli. Now the real problem is that Kelly's a lost cause and you don't know what you're getting out of Buchholz. The truth is that they need to replace one of them, or both.

[cp176]

At present , the rotation has been one step above pathetic. Porcello and really that is about it. You could take the other four and trade them to your triple A franchise and probably what would result would be just as good. Lots of people are talking trades in the future. Based on current performance, who really looks untradeable? Rodriguez maybe? In some respects, it looks to me as though we deal with the cards we have. Depth also is one thing but it really looks as though we have stockpiled a ton of very mediocre talent that nobody else wants anyway. Way to early to write this year's version off but the past couple of weeks have been a little disturbing to say the least. You either have faith in what the front office has done and is doing or you find something else to do with your time. I don't see any quick fixes here.

[a700hitter]

I don't think this group of pitchers will continue at this level of ineffectiveness, but I don't think they will improve consistently enough to be a middle of the pack rotation which they will need to be to remain at .500 and be competitve. I continue to shake my head about locking down Miley for 3 years. I just don't see the wisdom in that.

[Meh]

Hamels is not going to be enough to right the ship IMO. We need at least 2 solid SP. So if we trade only for Hamels, I'll pass and wait until next offseason to sign 2 SP. In the mid-time, call up some guys from the farm and see who could be the real deal looking forward.

 

in this marker do you think you'll be able to sign two top pitchers next year? Mark it down Astros will sign one. Dodgers aren't going to let Grienke walk and at least not replace him. Yankees will probably be hot and heavy after Fister.

[jacksonianmarch]

Meh, if Tanaka goes under the knife, we are gonna be going hard after Price.

[SoxnCycles]

Meh, if Tanaka goes under the knife, we are gonna be going hard after Price.

 

That'll be a fun addition to the rivalry....

[jacksonianmarch]

That's BS. The rotation is stabilizing, and the hitting has clearly not played up to its ability, specially Napoli. Now the real problem is that Kelly's a lost cause and you don't know what you're getting out of Buchholz. The truth is that they need to replace one of them, or both.

 

Stabilizing? They have the worst rotation in baseball. Their lowest ERA starter to this point cannot break a pane of glass (Masterson) and cannot keep baserunners off the bases. Miley has been mediocre in 2 starts and an absolute dumpster fire in the rest. Buchholz has been awful. Kelly has the best peripherals, but he is far too hittable. Porcello is your only stable guy out there and his numbers are inflated by really one bad start. UN?, there is nothing to tell me your rotation is stabilizing.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

This team's pitching is absolutely rancid, and it's starting to spread to every other facet of the team. The hitters are gonna start pressing knowing that, more often than not, they have to put a big run total for the team to have a chance at winning. That's going to f*** with the team's psyche.

 

Again, just call up some prospects and purge the dead weight. If we're going to be serving up leads before we can even get our first batter to the plate, I'd rather the guy on the mound be a homegrown prospect taking his obligatory lumps, who can learn from and grow on the experience. As opposed to random guys pushing 30 who have shot velocity and/or can't pitch in the AL.

 

I agree with Jacko about Kelly being more reliever material.

[iortiz]

This team has produced a lot of runs. They are at No. 7th in all baseball and just 9 Runs behind SDP which is at No 2 in that department. There's not the issue. On the other hand the pitching is one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball thus far. The NYY, TBR and even the O's haven't been this bad thus far.

 

On the other hand and on the bright side, the FIP (11) and XFIP (12) is not that good as a staff but encouraging in order to expect some regress. The 1 M question is if this regress (if so) will be enough to right the ship.