Red Sox Offense – Bold Moves

[Bellhorn04]

FTR, you guys are really depressing. LOL

 

There are 116 games left to be played. Think positive!

 

We're depressing because we're depressed, Kimmi. Following up a 71-91 season with a 21-26 start will do that to most fans, when you're a team with a high payroll and high expectations.

[Spudboy]

Batting average doesn't concern me in the least. He has to earn his keep hitting for power, and he's slugging like a backup MIF.

 

Maybe so but who needs Ryan Howard?

 

He was a .300 hitter two years ago. Now he is a .220 - .230 hitter with now power output.

 

Maybe this is the new norm for him. Maybe not.

[jacksonianmarch]

A few years ago, Ortiz did the same thing. I don't have the numbers in front of me for this ur, but his bat is slow. Ortiz in his prime demolished fastballs out over the plate. He didn't like the heat up and in and that was about it. Now, guys are getting him on fastballs out over the plate, which never happened before. He might finally be slowing down

[a700hitter]

I heard that Hanley is whining that his atrocious May has been the result of getting pitched tough and hitting line drives at people. Nevermind the excuses, Hanley.

[Spudboy]

I heard that Hanley is whining that his atrocious May has been the result of getting pitched tough and hitting line drives at people. Nevermind the excuses, Hanley.

 

I must have imagined all the weak ground balls to short.

[jacksonianmarch]

Are we surprised that Hanley is blaming others? He has been a prima donna since he was signed out of the DR.

[Kimmi]

We're depressing because we're depressed, Kimmi. Following up a 71-91 season with a 21-26 start will do that to most fans, when you're a team with a high payroll and high expectations.

 

None of us likes losing. Believe me when I say that I take the losses as hard as anyone. Gotta keep the faith though.

[Kimmi]

I must have imagined all the weak ground balls to short.

 

I read an interesting article about those "weak" ground balls. Many of his grounders are coming off his bat at 100 mph, according to Statcast. The grounders are slowing down after the first bounce.

 

The point being, he is not making weak contact. Someone pointed out that a ball coming off the bat at 100 mph at a +25 angle is a homerun. A ball coming off the bat at 25 degrees in the other direction becomes a "weak" grounder.

[Spudboy]

I read an interesting article about those "weak" ground balls. Many of his grounders are coming off his bat at 100 mph, according to Statcast. The grounders are slowing down after the first bounce.

 

The point being, he is not making weak contact. Someone pointed out that a ball coming off the bat at 100 mph at a +25 angle is a homerun. A ball coming off the bat at 25 degrees in the other direction becomes a "weak" grounder.

 

Nice stuff to know but he needs to have productive at bats. Really, other than his 10 HR April outburst, he has shown what I will delicately label disappointing power.

 

I was expecting many more XBH based on his stats. Oh well.

[Bellhorn04]

None of us likes losing. Believe me when I say that I take the losses as hard as anyone. Gotta keep the faith though.

 

I have very little faith this year, but I certainly still have just as much interest. Bring on the game. Go E-Rod!

[Northern Star]

I read an interesting article about those "weak" ground balls. Many of his grounders are coming off his bat at 100 mph, according to Statcast. The grounders are slowing down after the first bounce.

 

The point being, he is not making weak contact. Someone pointed out that a ball coming off the bat at 100 mph at a +25 angle is a homerun. A ball coming off the bat at 25 degrees in the other direction becomes a "weak" grounder.

 

I think the point is he's making excuses on the fly ball outs due to the way he's pitched. Just shut up and make adjustments. It's what you're paid to do (and what the hitting coach is paid to help you do).

[Northern Star]

I have very little faith this year, but I certainly still have just as much interest. Bring on the game. Go E-Rod!

 

I'm an atheist this year.

[Spudboy]

I have very little faith this year, but I certainly still have just as much interest. Bring on the game. Go E-Rod!

 

This is how I feel.

 

At this point I have lowered my expectations for this team. Now, I just want to see the team play good baseball and win maybe half of their games.

[User Name]

I think the point is he's making excuses on the fly ball outs due to the way he's pitched. Just shut up and make adjustments. It's what you're paid to do (and what the hitting coach is paid to help you do).

 

Yeah I'm not sold on Davis.

[cp176]

Hanley Ramirez was right where he belongs last night - DH.

[Kimmi]

I think the point is he's making excuses on the fly ball outs due to the way he's pitched. Just shut up and make adjustments. It's what you're paid to do (and what the hitting coach is paid to help you do).

 

I understand and agree. I don't like to hear players making excuses either. I'm just trying to share some positives.

[a700hitter]

I understand and agree. I don't like to hear players making excuses either. I'm just trying to share some positives.

Kimmi, if you are so positive about a last place team, your head must be spinning when the team is on a good run. LOL!! If we didn't have hope, we couldn't watch. Keep the positives coming!

[Kimmi]

Kimmi, if you are so positive about a last place team, your head must be spinning when the team is on a good run. LOL!! If we didn't have hope, we couldn't watch. Keep the positives coming!

 

Well, I'm not always so positive when our pitcher gives up a 3 run bomb. You would not want to watch games with me. LOL

 

That said, I have stay positive about the season long outcome and keep my hopes alive. As many members here do, I live and die with this team.

[Kimmi]

Speaking of positives,

 

Craig joined the PawSox after clearing wavers on May 12. In 13 games since then, he's hitting .315 with a .393 on-base percentage, .389 slugging percentage and .782 OPS. He's hit four doubles in that stretch, drawn six walks and struck out nine times.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if he could regain his stroke from a couple of years ago?

[User Name]

Hanley credits video session with Pedroia for return of power

 

Fire Chili and Farrell, Pedroia for player/manager/hitting coach/pitching coach

[cp176]

Cool Works for me

[cp176]

Call yours and see you one better. Johnson line so far tonight - 4 innings - no hits - 5 strikeouts.

[Spudboy]

Hanley credits video session with Pedroia for return of power

 

Fire Chili and Farrell, Pedroia for player/manager/hitting coach/pitching coach

 

None of this surprises me at all. We all see the fire, the all out effort. We hear the sarcasm and humor. We assume he is a leader. What we never hear is that Pedroia is a pretty bright guy. Sort of like Larry Bird in a way.

 

I hope he has a session with Ortiz.

[Spudboy]

Call yours and see you one better. Johnson line so far tonight - 4 innings - no hits - 5 strikeouts.

 

We all give Ben s*** for the assembly of a less than stellar staff this year. I have worked on the assumption that the Sox are setting this up for a good to outstanding 2016 and 2017.

 

Ben is brighter than we think. Maybe this is wishful thinking. I'm not sure.

[cp176]

We all give Ben s*** for the assembly of a less than stellar staff this year. I have worked on the assumption that the Sox are setting this up for a good to outstanding 2016 and 2017.

 

Ben is brighter than we think. Maybe this is wishful thinking. I'm not sure.

 

Good point - Maybe no need for a major trade for pitching. Free agent maybe - trade maybe not.

[User Name]

There seems to essentially have been a rotation-in-waiting for this team at AA/AAA at the beginning of this season.

[a700hitter]

We all give Ben s*** for the assembly of a less than stellar staff this year. I have worked on the assumption that the Sox are setting this up for a good to outstanding 2016 and 2017.

 

Ben is brighter than we think. Maybe this is wishful thinking. I'm not sure.

I really think this is wishful thinking. He is just as likely an errand boy whose loyalty has been rewarded with a job that is over his head. There is nothing in his his education or work resume that would indicate a high level of intelligence. I am pretty sure that he would get smoked in TalkSox Fantasy. Lol!

[jacksonianmarch]

If that's the case, there no reason to waste starts with Wright. Have Owens and Rodriguez fill the 4-5 holes with Buch, Miley and Porcello occupying the top 3. You won't win a lot, but you'll develop two high end arms for the future

[Bellhorn04]

I really think this is wishful thinking. He is just as likely an errand boy whose loyalty has been rewarded with a job that is over his head. There is nothing in his his education or work resume that would indicate a high level of intelligence. I am pretty sure that he would get smoked in TalkSox Fantasy. Lol!

 

I see no reason to demean Cherington with 'errand boy' and the like. But the reference to fantasy baseball does have some relevance for me. I have this slightly disturbing feeling that Cherington and the Sox have been taking a kind of impulsive, gambling approach with their moves. You certainly can't call it a conservative approach with the money they've thrown around.

 

One thing they seem to have gotten right in their projections is that the AL East stinks and they're going to be able to stay in the race if they can only sniff .500 ball. Then, supposedly, they can decide whether to beef up the rotation or not. I don't know if I like any of this thinking.

 

The bottom line is we've got a very expensive team with a 22-27 record and a run differential that's even worse.

 

To me this is the year for both Cherington and Farrell to show what they've got. Right now it doesn't look good.

 

And if it's the coaching that's letting us down, that's Cherington's ultimate responsibility too.

[jad]

We all give Ben s*** for the assembly of a less than stellar staff this year. I have worked on the assumption that the Sox are setting this up for a good to outstanding 2016 and 2017.

 

Ben is brighter than we think. Maybe this is wishful thinking. I'm not sure.

 

$200/mil (Is that their payroll?) a year to "set things up" for two years down the road?? That may work, since anything can happen (e.g., 2013), but it doesn't sound like a coherent strategy to me. Exactly where is all this cash going that's supposed to pay dividends down the road?