2015 Red Sox In-Season Thread

[iortiz]

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.

100 % this and mostly the underlined.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking when I realised that we were going to go with this pitching staff. Kepping proportions, this was what happened in SEP 2011.

[jacksonianmarch]

He's right. There is nothing more demoralizing as an offense to effectively expect to be in a hole early. The early holes and high pitch counts have led to over exposure of a suspect bullpen and they're starting to crack as well. The good thing is, you have your stopper on the hill tonight....lol

[jacksonianmarch]

Time to move Betts down in the order btw. He's young and needs some pressure off of him. He also needs to learn how to hit breaking balls. The kid kills fastballs of all types, but he's lost on breaking pitches

[User Name]

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.

 

Miley, Porcello, and Masterson have all provided good starts in consecutive turns. As an obnoxious Yankees fan, I am not surprised that you don't see anything to suggest they're sucking less, but they are. Of course, as I type this, Suckholz f***s up another ballgame. Brian Johnson plz.

[wyo-sox]

At this point we are hoping the pitching can get somewhere near mediocre. Because of that, we need to get the most out of our offense, and defensive players at all times- in order to compensate for the pitching. Is Hanley in the outfield getting the best out of our defensive positions? Is Napoli in the line-up getting the most out of our offense? Could Hanley play first and put JBJ in the outfield? Assuming Hanley's injury isn't real serious of course.

[wyo-sox]

Miley, Porcello, and Masterson have all provided good starts in consecutive turns. As an obnoxious Yankees fan, I am not surprised that you don't see anything to suggest they're sucking less, but they are. Of course, as I type this, Suckholz f***s up another ballgame. Brian Johnson plz.

 

Agreed, it was our hitters that really cost us the Yankees series. And while Bucholz did not look good last night- our offense again looked awful. The thing about "power offenses" that frustrates me is that turning in tons of runs does not help win games when they come in bunches. Winning one game 100 to 1, doesn't help your record at all if you only score one run a game for the next 5 games- even though you could brag that your offense has scored more runs than anyone else that week. Scoring lots of runs is good... scoring decent amounts of runs on a consistent manner is more important.

[a700hitter]

Agreed, it was our hitters that really cost us the Yankees series. And while Bucholz did not look good last night- our offense again looked awful. The thing about "power offenses" that frustrates me is that turning in tons of runs does not help win games when they come in bunches. Winning one game 100 to 1, doesn't help your record at all if you only score one run a game for the next 5 games- even though you could brag that your offense has scored more runs than anyone else that week. Scoring lots of runs is good... scoring decent amounts of runs on a consistent manner is more important.

The starting pitching is a total s*** show. There's no if, what's and buts about it. I hold no comfort in the fact that the sttats indicate that they shouldn't stay this bad. It's not a big help if the pitching is 20th out of 30 teams instead of dead last. That too will be a horror show, and they will have to work their asses of to get to that point.

[a700hitter]

I can't believe that I am posting this, but they should probably bring back Salty. They can't stick with catching Leon half the games. The guy is a blackhole in the lineup and his catching is not helping much right now. We don't want to ruin Swihart's confidence and bust another prospect. Salty could be a good move.

[mvp 78]

At this point we are hoping the pitching can get somewhere near mediocre. Because of that, we need to get the most out of our offense, and defensive players at all times- in order to compensate for the pitching. Is Hanley in the outfield getting the best out of our defensive positions? Is Napoli in the line-up getting the most out of our offense? Could Hanley play first and put JBJ in the outfield? Assuming Hanley's injury isn't real serious of course.

 

I think Hanley should have an offseason practing before we throw him at 1b.

[SoxnCycles]

Geez, what a bunch of Nancys...

 

The Sox have played like like absolute crap and are still just 2 games behind.

Playing in the worst division in the league gives them the luxury some other teams don't have, time.

 

And, if you look at the division records, there isn't a team in the division that hasn't had a tailspin like the Sox are experiencing now.

 

The Sox scored runs in bunches at the start of the season and I think they will again (providing Hanley is LF and not JBJ).

The rotation has shown flashes of competence. More consistency is needed from them, not an impossible task.

 

If the offense and defense are going to continue to take turns sucking, then, yeah, we're screwed.

 

 

But, I don't see the New York Needle Jumpers running away with anything yet.

[SoxnCycles]

I think Hanley should have an offseason practing before we throw him at 1b.

 

Benching Napoli is the perfect way to ensure he doesn't start hitting.

[mvp 78]

Benching Napoli is the perfect way to ensure he doesn't start hitting.

 

He's gone at year end anyway. If he isn't turning it around by Memorial Day, Ben should turn the page.

[Station 13]

They can reboot this rotation with E-Rod and Johnson. Let's see what they've got. Outside of Porcello, there is not anyone that can be rely on.

[SoxnCycles]

He's gone at year end anyway. If he isn't turning it around by Memorial Day, Ben should turn the page.

 

Fair enough. That's another three weeks.

[mvp 78]

Fair enough. That's another three weeks.

 

I wouldn't make any drastic changes to the roster until then. It bears watching, but there's no reason to head for the Tobin at the moment.

[User Name]

Geez, what a bunch of Nancys...

 

The Sox have played like like absolute crap and are still just 2 games behind.

Playing in the worst division in the league gives them the luxury some other teams don't have, time.

 

And, if you look at the division records, there isn't a team in the division that hasn't had a tailspin like the Sox are experiencing now.

 

The Sox scored runs in bunches at the start of the season and I think they will again (providing Hanley is LF and not JBJ).

The rotation has shown flashes of competence. More consistency is needed from them, not an impossible task.

 

If the offense and defense are going to continue to take turns sucking, then, yeah, we're screwed.

 

 

But, I don't see the New York Needle Jumpers running away with anything yet.

 

This.....this makes sense. Common sense.......in MY Talksox?

[User Name]

I wouldn't make any drastic changes to the roster until then. It bears watching, but there's no reason to head for the Tobin at the moment.

 

A+. Exactly what the Sox' brass mindset should be.

[VA Sox Fan]

Geez, what a bunch of Nancys...

 

The Sox have played like like absolute crap and are still just 2 games behind.

Playing in the worst division in the league gives them the luxury some other teams don't have, time.

 

And, if you look at the division records, there isn't a team in the division that hasn't had a tailspin like the Sox are experiencing now.

 

The Sox scored runs in bunches at the start of the season and I think they will again (providing Hanley is LF and not JBJ).

The rotation has shown flashes of competence. More consistency is needed from them, not an impossible task.

 

If the offense and defense are going to continue to take turns sucking, then, yeah, we're screwed.

 

 

But, I don't see the New York Needle Jumpers running away with anything yet.

 

LMMFAO!!!!

 

I agee about the tailspin. Anything can happen. Houston recently won 9 in a row for God's sake!!

 

To quote Spudboy, "time to call the whambulance"

[Bellhorn04]

They can reboot this rotation with E-Rod and Johnson. Let's see what they've got. Outside of Porcello, there is not anyone that can be rely on.

 

Masterson hasn't been bad. 4 of his 5 starts have been decent.

[mvp 78]

Masterson hasn't been bad. 4 of his 5 starts have been decent.

 

He's been solid. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he's still good enough to give you Lackey type production.

[Palodios]

Masterson hasn't been bad. 4 of his 5 starts have been decent.

 

He has 3 quality starts, and a 5 IP 1 ER game. He has probably been the second best starter on this team so far, but that's not saying much.

[a700hitter]

He has 3 quality starts, and a 5 IP 1 ER game. He has probably been the second best starter on this team so far, but that's not saying much.

 

He's not building any velocity. That has to concern the organization.

[Station 13]

If he has that power 95 sinker back, he can be a top rotation guy like he was for Cleveland. That ship obviously sailed. He may be turning into a pitcher with lesser stuff now If he does that, fine.

[sk7326]

Geez, what a bunch of Nancys...

 

The Sox have played like like absolute crap and are still just 2 games behind.

Playing in the worst division in the league gives them the luxury some other teams don't have, time.

 

And, if you look at the division records, there isn't a team in the division that hasn't had a tailspin like the Sox are experiencing now.

 

The Sox scored runs in bunches at the start of the season and I think they will again (providing Hanley is LF and not JBJ).

The rotation has shown flashes of competence. More consistency is needed from them, not an impossible task.

 

If the offense and defense are going to continue to take turns sucking, then, yeah, we're screwed.

 

 

But, I don't see the New York Needle Jumpers running away with anything yet.

 

I'd also add that if Hanley is out for a significant haul - you probably are looking at Castillo anyway which might not be as big a dropoff

[sk7326]

A+. Exactly what the Sox' brass mindset should be.

 

They have not fallen out of the race.

 

The potential rotation improvements in the trade market ain't going anywhere for another month at the earliest (Cole Hamels, Phil Hughes, Jorge De La Rosa - whomever).

 

Potential rotation improvements on the farm ain't comin for another month at the earliest.

 

SOmehow I don't think Mookie Betts' 250 BABIP is forever. Or Papi's .265 (although he has had over a season of crappy luck on that front). Or Napoli's .177.

[Bigemu23]

At this point we are hoping the pitching can get somewhere near mediocre. Because of that, we need to get the most out of our offense, and defensive players at all times- in order to compensate for the pitching. Is Hanley in the outfield getting the best out of our defensive positions? Is Napoli in the line-up getting the most out of our offense? Could Hanley play first and put JBJ in the outfield? Assuming Hanley's injury isn't real serious of course.

 

You're defense should be a whole lot better without Hanley in the outfield. I think his DRS is something like -6, which I think is one of the worst in the league. I really don't know why they signed Panda to be honest. You could have had Xander/HanRam playing a combo of third and shortstop. With Castillo in the outfield (forgetting the DL stint of course). Then used the money saved from Panda to sign a pitcher.

[User Name]

You're defense should be a whole lot better without Hanley in the outfield. I think his DRS is something like -6, which I think is one of the worst in the league. I really don't know why they signed Panda to be honest. You could have had Xander/HanRam playing a combo of third and shortstop. With Castillo in the outfield (forgetting the DL stint of course). Then used the money saved from Panda to sign a pitcher.

 

Yet Panda (whose signing I hated) has been their best two-way pllayer in the early going. Wanna point fingers? How about Napoli?

[sk7326]

Yet Panda (whose signing I hated) has been their best two-way pllayer in the early going. Wanna point fingers? How about Napoli?

 

He used "you're" - I remain skeptical of the rest of the post

[User Name]

He used "you're" - I remain skeptical of the rest of the post

 

So you do have a little mean streak SK.

[jacksonianmarch]

Let's assume Napoli stays a moving dumpster fire. One option is to move Panda to 1B and Hanley to 3B, paving the way for Castillo in LF.