2015 Red Sox In-Season Thread

[User Name]

Hilarious. The pitching has been very good for almost a month, and it's the hitting that f***ing sucks. Just amazing.

[Bellhorn04]

They're averaging under 3 runs a game since May 1, a stretch of 37 games.

[Station 13]

It's starting to look like it's the big boys in the middle-Ortiz, Napoli and Panda-that are killing us.

 

That's it. But Bogaerts into the 3-hole now. He is hitting.

[jacksonianmarch]

Ortiz might finally have lost it.

[mvp 78]

Might? Maybe he just needs ARod's offseason program?

[jacksonianmarch]

The sox would behoove themselves by not letting that option vest

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox have been defying preseason projections since 2011.

We are not the only ones. Preseason projections mean nothing.

[Bellhorn04]

We are not the only ones. Preseason projections mean nothing.

 

I wouldn't go quite as far as saying they mean nothing, but all they are is educated, very fallible guesses.

[a700hitter]

I wouldn't go quite as far as saying they mean nothing, but all they are is educated, very fallible guesses.

Not just fallible, but very inaccurate.

[cp176]

Our hitting has been a lot more than disappointing. I'm going to guess that no one saw this coming. Most people didn't really expect our pitching to be even adequate as well though. Rodriguez has made a big difference on that staff in general. I don't know what his ceiling will be but he looks built for the long haul. It really has been sad watching Ortiz and Napoli in particular at the plate. I think that Betts will be ok over time. At some point, if things don't pick up, really tough decisions will continue to be made. Some of us have been through both the good and the very bad times. Their World Series wins did not spoil me. If some of the bats don't pick up, I can see some more youngsters getting a shot. I am ok with that. i'm actually looking forward to it. In the mean time we have a couple of real All-Stars out there in Pedroia and Bogaerts. I knew that XB would be better in the field but I would not have guessed this much better. I do not care one squat about whether he hits for power or not. It is good to see him hitting the ball and hitting it hard - away from the fielders. There is nothing about E-Rod that would make me think that he won't be successful. He'll have his low points but he has too much going for him not to be successful if he stays healthy.

[Spudboy]

The Sox have ready to order replacements for both Nap and Ortiz.

 

Sandoval could be sent to 1st and Hanley could be the new DH.

 

Who else in the system could or should be considered?

[Kimmi]

The Sox have ready to order replacements for both Nap and Ortiz.

 

Sandoval could be sent to 1st and Hanley could be the new DH.

 

Who else in the system could or should be considered?

 

Call up Allen Craig!!!

[Kimmi]

Read an article as SOSH today that showed that Napoli is really getting hurt the expanded strike zone. Not only is he getting a larger % of balls outside the zone called strikes, but his approach is one that relies on knowing the strike zone and being patient. Double whammy for him.

[cp176]

Read an article as SOSH today that showed that Napoli is really getting hurt the expanded strike zone. Not only is he getting a larger % of balls outside the zone called strikes, but his approach is one that relies on knowing the strike zone and being patient. Double whammy for him.

 

I agree with you. Craig is worth another look but not in the same role. Put him out there and let him play. No every other day. No pinch hitting. let him play and let's find out. Is Farrell tough enough to make the tough calls?

[a700hitter]

Read an article as SOSH today that showed that Napoli is really getting hurt the expanded strike zone. Not only is he getting a larger % of balls outside the zone called strikes, but his approach is one that relies on knowing the strike zone and being patient. Double whammy for him.

 

I am not sure what point you are trying to make with this information by calling it a " double whammy". Are you making the point that his performance is not his fault or is it commentary on his inability to make adjustments. I'm not sure what you meant by this.

[wyo-sox]

Tonight's game, and the following series interest me. If the Sox either get swept by a division rival, or lose two series in a row to series rivals, at this point it tells me they have no interest in getting out of the basement. Something major needs to happen if we have any hopes of getting out of the basement. Baseball is supposed to be fun... this debacle of an organization has not been fun to follow. I'm not sure what keeps ownership from changing management if this keeps up by the all-star break. This team is good enough to be winning- and they are constantly under performing. Last year and so far this year... it's just flat out embarrassing watching the play that is produced from the Sox. Doesn't ownership have enough pride to be pissed about this? And I don't care what anyone says... this is not because of Hanley and Panda signings... the problem is more systematic and encompassing than one or two players.

[sk7326]

Hilarious. The pitching has been very good for almost a month, and it's the hitting that f***ing sucks. Just amazing.

 

Fun stat: Rodriguez has now pitched more innings than Andrew Miller did last year

[SoxnCycles]

Fun stat: Rodriguez has now pitched more innings than Andrew Miller did last year

 

I can understand why they did it, but that trade is going to haunt the O's for a while.

[Bellhorn04]

Tonight's game, and the following series interest me. If the Sox either get swept by a division rival, or lose two series in a row to series rivals, at this point it tells me they have no interest in getting out of the basement. Something major needs to happen if we have any hopes of getting out of the basement. Baseball is supposed to be fun... this debacle of an organization has not been fun to follow. I'm not sure what keeps ownership from changing management if this keeps up by the all-star break. This team is good enough to be winning- and they are constantly under performing. Last year and so far this year... it's just flat out embarrassing watching the play that is produced from the Sox. Doesn't ownership have enough pride to be pissed about this? And I don't care what anyone says... this is not because of Hanley and Panda signings... the problem is more systematic and encompassing than one or two players.

 

My guess is that Henry and the rest of the FO are in shock at what they've seen. They made a lot of moves and spent a lot of money and almost all of it has backfired. At the moment they're not sure exactly what to do. But history tells us they won't just sit back and watch it for the next several months.

[a700hitter]

Tonight's game, and the following series interest me. If the Sox either get swept by a division rival, or lose two series in a row to series rivals, at this point it tells me they have no interest in getting out of the basement. Something major needs to happen if we have any hopes of getting out of the basement. Baseball is supposed to be fun... this debacle of an organization has not been fun to follow. I'm not sure what keeps ownership from changing management if this keeps up by the all-star break. This team is good enough to be winning- and they are constantly under performing. Last year and so far this year... it's just flat out embarrassing watching the play that is produced from the Sox. Doesn't ownership have enough pride to be pissed about this? And I don't care what anyone says... this is not because of Hanley and Panda signings... the problem is more systematic and encompassing than one or two players.

I keep hearing how this generation of Red Sox fans is spoiled by all the recent success. I have enjoyed the World Championships immensely. Other than family events, I have had no bigger thrill than attending Game 6 in 2013. The real great powerhouse teams of 2003 to 2008 were a pleasure to watch, but the team has not been the same since those years. If we come in last place again to make it 3 out of 4 years, that will be a record for futility that I have not witnessed in my 50 years of rooting for the Sox. I never witnessed 2 last place finishes in 3 years. It is beyond belief to me to witness this.

[Elktonnick]

My guess is that Henry and the rest of the FO are in shock at what they've seen. They made a lot of moves and spent a lot of money and almost all of it has backfired. At the moment they're not sure exactly what to do. But history tells us they won't just sit back and watch it for the next several months.

 

I think you and Wyo-sox have hit the nail squarely on the head. I also believe there is a systemic problem which Henry alluded to when he talked about baseball changing and the team may have to change its approach. This is something one can't fix overnight. My question is whether the Red Sox have the right people in Cherrington and Farrell to over haul their thinking. I suspect at some point Henry will have to face that question as well.

[Spudboy]

I keep hearing how this generation of Red Sox fans is spoiled by all the recent success. I have enjoyed the World Championships immensely. Other than family events, I have had no bigger thrill than attending Game 6 in 2013. The real great powerhouse teams of 2003 to 2008 were a pleasure to watch, but the team has not been the same since those years. If we come in last place again to make it 3 out of 4 years, that will be a record for futility that I have not witnessed in my 50 years of rooting for the Sox. I never witnessed 2 last place finishes in 3 years. It is beyond belief to me to witness this.

 

I feel the same. This is sickening to watch yet I do watch.

 

I am very curious to see what will be done to change this situation. I am talking about this year. But really, as you said, this team has been off course for a long time. 2013 was a nice surprise. It just does not make up for the entirety of the futility.

 

What the hell do they plan to do about it? Salary dump to Los Angeles again? We know that will not happen.

 

This is a total mess. Frankly, I am shocked that the FO has allowed this all to happen.

 

Henry has no idea what he is doing. But he is supposed to hire people that do know and can run the operation for him. How can he still have faith in these f*** ups?

[gojohn99]

Maybe. However everyone was down on him at the beginning of 2009 and he rebounded. Of course he's older now.

 

I just can't understand how just about the whole team cannot hit. I thought Sandoval was a bad signing, but I didn't think he would look this bad. Napoli and Ortiz look lost at the plate. Bogaerts is starting to show some of his potential. Betts seems to be struggling. They cannot seem to hit well when they pitch well and vice versa.

 

Ortiz might finally have lost it.

[a700hitter]

I think you and Wyo-sox have hit the nail squarely on the head. I also believe there is a systemic problem which Henry alluded to when he talked about baseball changing and the team may have to change its approach. This is something one can't fix overnight. My question is whether the Red Sox have the right people in Cherrington and Farrell to over haul their thinking. I suspect at some point Henry will have to face that question as well.

At the top of Henry's list has to be upgrading his scouting and player development department. This group wouldn't recognize good pitching talent if a young Sandy Koufax fell on their heads. Even if they had the luck of a blind squirrel in drafting a stud pitcher, they organization has stunk at player development.

[gojohn99]

Talk about Red Sox luck... take a look at these two player stats.

 

Player A 5 HR 17 RBI .241 .304 .348

Player B 8 HR 26 RBI .233 .266 .402

 

any idea who? it involves 3b....

[Bellhorn04]

Talk about Red Sox luck... take a look at these two player stats.

 

Player A 5 HR 17 RBI .241 .304 .348

Player B 8 HR 26 RBI .233 .266 .402

 

any idea who? it involves 3b....

 

Sandoval & Middlebrooks.

[Bellhorn04]

Sandoval got off to a pretty good start. I think maybe his fat & jolly soul has been steadily sucked down into the morass of failure & negativity surrounding him.

 

(That was mainly a joke.)

[gojohn99]

Yes - Middlebrooks is the one with 8 HR and .402 slugging percentage.

 

Sandoval & Middlebrooks.

[Dojji]

Talk about Red Sox luck... take a look at these two player stats.

 

Player A 5 HR 17 RBI .241 .304 .348

Player B 8 HR 26 RBI .233 .266 .402

 

any idea who? it involves 3b....

 

Neither of these numbers in any way are acceptable. I'm not even sure one is clearly worse than the other. While Player A sucks slightly less at the single most important stat, Player 2 will be just barely less deficient with his horrible run production.

 

But be sure you understand there are no GOOD numbers here.

[Spudboy]

Another relevant number is the $20. mil or so difference in pay.

 

I have nothing against Middlebrooks and I hope he can have a career in MLB. His time was over in Boston.

 

So far Sandoval has not come anywhere close to earning his money. And we have 4 more years to go.