Who is the Biggest Problem Right Now?

[Thunder]

No offense can score 5 every night, and I think it's unrealistic to expect it. Obviously, having good hitters is important, but I believe the number of teams that won with good hitting and average pitching are vastly outnumbered by the teams that won with good pitching.

 

Are you talking World Series, or in general? I would love to do research to prove you wrong either way.

[Kimmi]

No offense can score 5 every night, and I think it's unrealistic to expect it. Obviously, having good hitters is important, but I believe the number of teams that won with good hitting and average pitching are vastly outnumbered by the teams that won with good pitching.

 

If I had my choice, I would pick strong pitching, mediocre hitting every time over strong hitting, mediocre pitching. That said, even though this team's construction would not be my first choice of ways to construct a team, it is still constructed well enough to win the division if there weren't so many underperforming players, both with the pitching and with the offense.

 

I don't expect the team to score 5 runs every night. I know that is unrealistic. However, if the team had been averaging 5 runs/game all season like they were expected to do, they would have won several more games than they have, and would probably be leading the division, even with the pitching being as bad as it has been.

[sk7326]

If you are looking to win the World Series then yeah, power pitching wins the day ... but that's not the immediate goal - getting to October is. Teams of all sorts of shapes can (and have) done that. Execrable Rangers pitching staffs with Rick Helling as an "ace". The 1987 Minnesota Twins which had Les Straker as a #3 starter. The 70s Red Sox, with their ummm ... problematic pitching staffs would have qualified for the postseason in expanded formats of today.

[a700hitter]

The 70s Red Sox, with their ummm ... problematic pitching staffs would have qualified for the postseason in expanded formats of today.

Luis Tiant and Eck weren't bad. And prior to Nettles hurting his shoulder, Bill Lee was a very solid pitcher. Edited July 8, 2015 by a700hitter

[cp176]

Luis Tiant and Eck weren't bad. And prior to Nettles hurting his shoulder, Bill Lee was a very solid pitcher.

 

Not bad indeed

[SoxHop]

Just answering the opening topic question. Porcello is the biggest problem on the Sox. Then Masterson, then Kelly...... then Napoli......

[Thunder]

If we get above .500 by the end of the month, I will regret making this thread.

[SoxHop]

If we get above .500 by the end of the month, I will regret making this thread.

 

I'll make you regret that you regret.....

[sk7326]

Luis Tiant and Eck weren't bad. And prior to Nettles hurting his shoulder, Bill Lee was a very solid pitcher.

 

Oh they had good starters no doubt, but you look at the staffs those years 1975-1978, you are looking at 9th, 8th, 8th, 9th in fWAR. Once again, a case of "enough" pitching to augment a really good lineup. Balance would be great - but in terms of winning games, teams that rake to cover up pitching flaws happens plenty often too.

[cp176]

Oh they had good starters no doubt, but you look at the staffs those years 1975-1978, you are looking at 9th, 8th, 8th, 9th in fWAR. Once again, a case of "enough" pitching to augment a really good lineup. Balance would be great - but in terms of winning games, teams that rake to cover up pitching flaws happens plenty often too.

 

The term "rake" doesn't do the Sox teams in that era justice. How good were they top to bottom!

[SoxnCycles]

I'll make you regret that you regret.....

 

No worries!

The Sox could be cruising into the playoffs in Sept and there will still be plenty of "problems" to discuss.

[Bellhorn04]

Big Papi at first again tonight. Farrell lied - lied, I tell ya!

[cp176]

Big Papi at first again tonight. Farrell lied - lied, I tell ya!

 

Are you saying that ortiz is starting at first as in tonight? Shaw gets last night's start, gets 3 hits and sits?

[mvp 78]

Travis Shaw is barely an adequate AAA 1b.

[Elktonnick]

Are you saying that ortiz is starting at first as in tonight? Shaw gets last night's start, gets 3 hits and sits?

 

I think they wanted to get De Aza into the lineup.

[cp176]

Travis Shaw is barely an adequate AAA 1b.

 

There is no questioning that he is just a step above adequate. Why was he in the lineup last night? It is an odd way to use players.

[Northern Star]

There is no questioning that he is just a step above adequate. Why was he in the lineup last night? It is an odd way to use players.

 

Because even you would have a better chance of a hit than Napoli?

[SCM33]

The problem with this team?

 

Yeah, easy to blame BC and the owners........in years past.

 

This year, its on the players. Yeah, Kelly and Craig bombed....and Porcello was overpaid......there is still too much talent on this team to suck this bad thus far. Plenty of teams have done better with less. The rotation has under-performed, but it looks like they are finally starting to come around.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Who cares, you're a Cubs fan.

[mvp 78]

f*** the Cubs. f*** SCM's stupid avatar. f*** everytime he says he's leaving forever and then comes back.

[cp176]

Because even you would have a better chance of a hit than Napoli?

 

The question really was - Why was he not in the lineup the second night after getting the 3 hits? I don't think he provides an answer to any questions this team has but it is still a strange way to use your players. I really don't worry too much about the future of Travis Shaw. It was at least good to see him at first base as opposed to another position that he has seldom if ever played.

[mvp 78]

De Aza >>>> Shaw

That's why he was on the bench.

[Bellhorn04]

The question really was - Why was he not in the lineup the second night after getting the 3 hits? I don't think he provides an answer to any questions this team has but it is still a strange way to use your players. I really don't worry too much about the future of Travis Shaw. It was at least good to see him at first base as opposed to another position that he has seldom if ever played.

 

How is it strange when the lineup is producing and we're winning games?

[Thunder]

Who cares, you're a Cubs fan.

 

I said pretty much the same thing and got attacked by him and Spud, and was obligated to apologize.

[Bellhorn04]

I said pretty much the same thing and got attacked by him and Spud, and was obligated to apologize.

 

He put a smiley at the end of his.

[Thunder]

He put a smiley at the end of his.

 

Okay. I got you. Understood.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

What he said^

 

I know deep down, SCM33 is a Red Sox fan. He was frustrated with how the team FO was doing and took it to the next step to cheer the Cubs. Don't know why and don't care to be honest. I'll continue to poke fun at him but he knows I'm not serious.

[Kimmi]

He put a smiley at the end of his.

 

LOL Smileys let you get away with saying a lot of crap that otherwise would not be tolerated.

[Thunder]

LOL Smileys let you get away with saying a lot of crap that otherwise would not be tolerated.

 

You're the most obnoxious, unfunny person that I've ever met.

[Kimmi]

You're the most obnoxious, unfunny person that I've ever met.

 

You're a goober.