2015 Red Sox In-Season Thread

[mvp 78]

Trade Papi and Pedroia!!!! For the sake of this franchise, stop letting them drag this team down tothe bottom of the standings!!!!

[wyo-sox]

That's still full of logical leaps and bounds.

 

Without a doubt you are right, but at what point does one say... regardless of logic, stats, etc... this simply is not working?

[wyo-sox]

Trade Papi and Pedroia!!!! For the sake of this franchise, stop letting them drag this team down tothe bottom of the standings!!!!

 

Your sarcastic post makes the point well, it would be silly to trade them or blame them... but if the team is not winning, at what point do you give value to keeping these superstars? Isn't the point to win games, not have trademark players on a losing team? I realize there is not much logic here. I've been posting out of frustration recently. Sucks watching the team lose over and over again.

[Behindenemylines]

Its something different every night. Last night Porcello looked great in the first three innings. Then all #@%$#@ hit the fan. Most nights you score 5 runs off Richards you have a chance to win the game. All parts of their game have been up and down. There is not one thing that are keeping them from winning. The only thing you can hang your hat on as no one in the division looks great right now.

[Kimmi]

I'm afraid there are solid reasons for doubt, Kimmi.

 

On paper, we took a 71-91 team, we added Hanley and Panda, but we subtracted Lester and Lackey.

 

It's conceivable that Papi, Napoli and Pedroia are all in decline phases. Victorino is a no-show. Betts has been decent, but short of expectations. Panda and Nava are automatic outs against lefties. Now I guess we have to hope Castillo can bring something.

 

It is conceivable that what you say is true. However, do you really expect no improvement/regression from this offense over what we've seen so far, especially in the month of May? So maybe they won't be the top offense in the AL, like many projected, but they should certainly be a good bit better than what we've seen so far.

[Kimmi]

I don't think the W-L record in light of our run differential is an enigma at all, nor do I think our hitting is an enigma or our pitching. You can find statistics that will back lots of conflicting theories. The stats show that our hitters should be producing more, but the run differential shows that we should be losing more games. It's the art of statistics, finding the stats that support your argument. I don't need any stats to tell me that this is not a good team. The whole division is a pile of dog crap, so I can see us being competitive until the end as the entire division sputters to the finish. I can also see that Tampa, Baltimore or the Yankees catch fire and run away from the rest of the field. The Sox and Toronto will languish and need to hope that everyone plays down to our level. There is a possibility that we get a spark from Johnson or Rodriguez for our pitching staff, but I don't think that will be enough for this soggy collection of mediocrity to catch fire.

 

Why is it conceivable for Tampa, Baltimore, or the Yankees to catch fire, but not the Sox?

 

I disagree that this is not a good team. It is a good team. They are just playing bad ball right now. There's a difference.

[a700hitter]

Why is it conceivable for Tampa, Baltimore, or the Yankees to catch fire, but not the Sox?

 

I disagree that this is not a good team. It is a good team. They are just playing bad ball right now. There's a difference.

 

We will have to disagree on that. They will need to add some pitching pieces to improve. They are not a good team as presently constituted.

[Northern Star]

Why is it conceivable for Tampa, Baltimore, or the Yankees to catch fire, but not the Sox?

 

I disagree that this is not a good team. It is a good team. They are just playing bad ball right now. There's a difference.

 

Two months is a hell of a large sample size.

[Northern Star]

Anyone notice the board feels different? It's like someone's missing.... but it's so much better.

[mvp 78]

Anyone notice the board feels different? It's like someone's missing.... but it's so much better.

 

Dojji?

[Spudboy]

Anyone notice the board feels different? It's like someone's missing.... but it's so much better.

 

I am not looking forward to a bunch of unjustified "I told you so"s.

 

Sox better keep winning!!!!

[BSN07]

I am not looking forward to a bunch of unjustified "I told you so"s.

 

Sox better keep winning!!!!

 

You could easily point out Bogaerts has been the best hitter with RISP this season and laugh

[VA Sox Fan]

Anyone notice the board feels different? It's like someone's missing.... but it's so much better.

 

It has been wonderful out here without him. Wish it could last forever!!!! Absolutely dreading his return!!

[BSN07]

Finally that gauntlet of LHP is over.

 

Papi still looks off but wow has Napoli finally found it. Dude went from corpse to en fuego over night haha

[Jasonbay44]

Brian Butterfield needs to be fired, demoted, or whatever, the amount of outs this moron costs on the base-paths each year is ridiculous.

[mvp 78]

If the Sox don't turn this around, the house needs to be completely cleaned out.

No excuses for Ben, the coaching staff or the players.

[a700hitter]

Brian Butterfield needs to be fired, demoted, or whatever, the amount of outs this moron costs on the base-paths each year is ridiculous.

 

Was Butterfield with Farrell in Toronto, because this is how Toronto ran the bases when Farrell managed there.

[cp176]

A while back it was brought up that any good team must have a good mix of veterans and youth to be successful. Certainly that is stating the obvious but still true. I do not have faith in the leadership qualities of the veterans that makeup this team in general. Papi and Pedroia do provide some leadership. Napoli is a solid veteran. Never thought of him as a leader. If you think that Sandoval and Ramirez offer leadership, I guess we will have to disagree. 5 veterans in Farrell's office, 2 of whom I see as possible leaders. The coaching staff seems to be taking a beating here and maybe they should but I think that it is time for a heart check for the leaders on the field. We have a nice core of young players who could have bright futures if there is quality leadership to follow. If things don't turn around very soon, we will learn a great deal about the quality of the character of our so called leaders.

[mvp 78]

@TimBritton: The Red Sox have allowed six unearned runs since Sunday. All derive from a Sandoval E5.

 

Wah waaaah waaaaaaaaah...

[Elktonnick]

@TimBritton: The Red Sox have allowed six unearned runs since Sunday. All derive from a Sandoval E5.

 

Wah waaaah waaaaaaaaah...

 

I wonder if the veterans will ever show leadership. How long before even Henry loses patience. They say one can\ measure the team you are going to have after fifty games. Well the Sox have played more than fifty games. This team could be the worst team that Boston has fielded in more than fifty years. It shouldn't be. They have the talent so something must be wrong in that clubhouse for this team to play as badly as it has been.

[User Name]

The best part is that the pitching has steadily improved just as the offense and defense have steadily eroded. Unreal.

[Spudboy]

The best part is that the pitching has steadily improved just as the offense and defense have steadily eroded. Unreal.

 

This is most unfortunate but true.

 

Coming into today's game the starters had allowed what, 3 earned runs in the previous 3 or 4 games?

 

Everyone has a boner for Rodriguez and justifiably so. However, the rest of the guys ( minus Cy ) have been very good too.

 

What a shame that this team is now so dysfunctional that it could not take advantage.

[cp176]

This is most unfortunate but true.

 

Coming into today's game the starters had allowed what, 3 earned runs in the previous 3 or 4 games?

 

Everyone has a boner for Rodriguez and justifiably so. However, the rest of the guys ( minus Cy ) have been very good too.

 

What a shame that this team is now so dysfunctional that it could not take advantage.

 

 

It might be very painful but I think that if the pitching remains solid, it is fixable long term for sure. They have field payers who will go out and play hard everyday in the system. Might mean going young and suffering along the way as we grow but there is no excuse for quit. If we aren't going to hit, that means we have to defend. JBJ comes back. Stick him out there and leave him alone. Might mean giving Craig a little more than 2 to 3 games a week and a pinch hitters role. Castillo??? Ramirez??? Sandoval??? worked out well so far. I had rather lose with youth than watch these guys under achieve. Watching 21 and 22 year olds at least you can have some hope.

[Bellhorn04]

Was Butterfield with Farrell in Toronto, because this is how Toronto ran the bases when Farrell managed there.

 

Affirmative.

[SoxnCycles]

This is most unfortunate but true.

 

Coming into today's game the starters had allowed what, 3 earned runs in the previous 3 or 4 games?

 

Everyone has a boner for Rodriguez and justifiably so. However, the rest of the guys ( minus Cy ) have been very good too.

 

What a shame that this team is now so dysfunctional that it could not take advantage.

 

it';s enough to make you pull your hair out.

 

The division is there for the taking. The pitching is improving but they can't hit.

And, just for fun, let's throw in some abysmal defense.

 

It's like they're trying to be unwatchable on purpose!

[SoxnCycles]

There's a general base running stat called UBR.

 

In 2012 the blue Jays were rated at 0.2, 0 being average.

This year, the Sox are -3.0, good for 26th out of 30 teams.

 

So, I'm not sure the Sox crappy baserunning can all be attributed to Butterfield.

 

Yesterday certainly didn't help.

Sending Napoli probably wasn't the smartest play, but with two out and the way this team has been hitting, I can't call it a totally boneheaded move.

[VA Sox Fan]

it';s enough to make you pull your hair out.

 

The division is there for the taking. The pitching is improving but they can't hit.

And, just for fun, let's throw in some abysmal defense.

 

It's like they're trying to be unwatchable on purpose!

 

I'm trying not to lose my mind. They are so difficult to watch right now. I still do and still hold out hope but as each day passes it gets more and more difficult.

 

Here's hoping Miley pitches well tonight and the offense can find some consistency.

[VA Sox Fan]

The best part is that the pitching has steadily improved just as the offense and defense have steadily eroded. Unreal.

 

^ This ^

[iortiz]

Well, this is what the Red Sox brought last offseason.

 

Sandoval wCR+ 84, -0.3 WAR.

Ramirez wRC+ 112, -0.6 WAR

Castillo wRC+ 4, -0.2 WAR

Miley 4.97 ERA, 0.8 WAR

Masterson 6.37 ERA, -0.2 WAR

Porcello 5.01 ERA, 0.3 WAR

 

While we are already in June, there's still time, but if this continues, yup, the house needs to be completely cleaned out. The problem is that asaide Masterson, these players will continue for a while around here.

[wyo-sox]

I find myself agreeing with everything I'm reading here. The consistent under-performance is embarrassing and frustrating. I think we make a mistake to blame a player or signing. This mess is too consistent and encompassing to think it's just because of a signing or two. Properly motivated and managed, this team should be winning the division. SF and Dodgers both managed to be very successful with Ramirez and Sandavol. There is a sickness in this Sox organization that we can't see. But seeing the effects of it for 3/4 years makes it well known it is there. The culture with this leadership (owners, coaches, scouts, veteran players...) results in no drive, focus, determination, etc.... I wish it wasn't true, but it is. Looking at the past 3/4 years- I fear it does not matter what player we bring in, what trades we make, if we "blow it up", if we go with all young players etc..... We will get the same results until new leadership reinvents the culture.