Why the Sox are worth watching this last month

[Orange Juiced]

Yes, the Sox are in last place. For the 3rd time in 4 years. But this team is well worth watching at this point, through the end of the year. Why?

 

1. The insanely great outfield defense of Castillo, Betts, and JBJ. They make one or two highlight reel catches among them every game. It's astounding.

 

2. Though they have no shot at the playoffs, they very much could climb to 3rd place. They are 14 back. Baltimore is 13 back. Tampa is 11 back. Since August 17 they are 12-6 and playing excellent baseball. The starting pitching is really performing well. The offense, as hard as it is to believe, is 3rd in MLB in runs scored this year.

 

3. Ortiz' chase for 500. Just three away. He got off to a horrid start, but since July 7, he's put up this line: .337/.402/.721/1.123, with 17 hr and 45 rbi in just 48 games. The man is incredible.

 

4. Blake Swihart. Solid defensively. Can run (a catcher hitting an inside-the-park homer (yes I know it technically was out of the park, but still). And he's now hitting .288/.337/.393/.730. Outstanding talent that is just beginning to emerge.

 

5. The thunderous bat of JBJ. .292/.369/.591/.961. Leads the team with an ops+ of 154.

 

6. Eduardo Rodriguez. Goodness, he's a treat to watch pitch. Electric.

 

7. Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts. Betts is a 4.9 bWAR player so far. Bogaerts is a 3.8 bWAR player. All for a little over $1 million combined. That's incredible. Both guys are just 22.

 

It's so fun watching this team play these days. They stay in games. They have exciting players playing well. Their pitching is really coming around - Rodriguez, Miley, Porcello, and Kelly are all pitching well. Obviously they have no chance at the playoffs, but there are still many great reasons to watch this team closely the rest of the way.

[mvp 78]

I agree with everything except #2.

[mvp 78]

Also, I'm always excited when Owens pitches because there's an off chance that a gust of wind could carry Dumbo off into the clouds.

[a700hitter]

I just like baseball and the Red Sox.

[Orange Juiced]

I just like baseball and the Red Sox.

 

Me too! But it's not easy to watch them when they stink and have very little going on. They are a very fun team to watch right now.

[a700hitter]

Me too! But it's not easy to watch them when they stink and have very little going on. They are a very fun team to watch right now.

 

Yes, I agree. If I had to list reasons why they are fun to watch this September, I would list the same reasons as you.

[Spudboy]

I just like baseball and the Red Sox.

 

Dito.

[Kimmi]

Nice post OJ. Thank you for the positive thread.

 

What we've seen in August and September certainly gives us hope for next season.

[cp176]

Yes, the Sox are in last place. For the 3rd time in 4 years. But this team is well worth watching at this point, through the end of the year. Why?

 

1. The insanely great outfield defense of Castillo, Betts, and JBJ. They make one or two highlight reel catches among them every game. It's astounding.

 

2. Though they have no shot at the playoffs, they very much could climb to 3rd place. They are 14 back. Baltimore is 13 back. Tampa is 11 back. Since August 17 they are 12-6 and playing excellent baseball. The starting pitching is really performing well. The offense, as hard as it is to believe, is 3rd in MLB in runs scored this year.

 

3. Ortiz' chase for 500. Just three away. He got off to a horrid start, but since July 7, he's put up this line: .337/.402/.721/1.123, with 17 hr and 45 rbi in just 48 games. The man is incredible.

 

4. Blake Swihart. Solid defensively. Can run (a catcher hitting an inside-the-park homer (yes I know it technically was out of the park, but still). And he's now hitting .288/.337/.393/.730. Outstanding talent that is just beginning to emerge.

 

5. The thunderous bat of JBJ. .292/.369/.591/.961. Leads the team with an ops+ of 154.

 

6. Eduardo Rodriguez. Goodness, he's a treat to watch pitch. Electric.

 

7. Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts. Betts is a 4.9 bWAR player so far. Bogaerts is a 3.8 bWAR player. All for a little over $1 million combined. That's incredible. Both guys are just 22.

 

It's so fun watching this team play these days. They stay in games. They have exciting players playing well. Their pitching is really coming around - Rodriguez, Miley, Porcello, and Kelly are all pitching well. Obviously they have no chance at the playoffs, but there are still many great reasons to watch this team closely the rest of the way.

 

Nice post. I feel a little sorry for Hanley Ramirez. The winning has been going on with him not in the lineup.

They might actually need his bat someday but for the time being not so much. Having JBJ emerge into the projected player he has been for me has been a wonderful story. With each game he plays, his hitting ceiling seems to keep moving into an area that many of us felt that he had the potential to get to. XB put the work in this past off-season, and watching him becoming one of the best in both leagues at short is huge feel good story. They certainly have some work to do but the youth movement has been fun. How about the big boy? Shaughnessy may not see him as a HOFamer but I guess I do. Over the years, he has meant as much to this franchise as any that I can remember. I have had the great pleasure of watching Ted (arguably the greatest hitter of all time) and Captain Carl. I don't care if Ortiz ever touches another glove, he would get my vote. By the way, I would also be happy if Hanley Ramirez never picked up another glove of any kind for the Sox.

[Dojji]

The team is now playing for next year. They're enjoyable enough if you watch them on that basis.

[Orange Juiced]

If Shaw continues to show he belongs, then Hanley truly is expendable. The Sox would likely have to eat a sizeable portion of his contract, but not all of it. If they're a better team without him, then they should be willing to eat 75% of his contract. It will be a sunk cost, but it will still be cheaper than paying him ALL of his salary. And by eating that money, they get something useful back in return, most likely. Then they will have inexpensive (i.e., league minimum) players at:

 

C - Swihart/Hanigan/Vazquez

1b - Shaw

SS - Bogaerts

CF - Betts

RF - Bradley

 

With reasonable contracts for 2b (Pedroia), LF (Castillo), and even DH (Ortiz). Sandoval is a bad contract, but they can afford a couple of those. They then have the money to go splurge for Price. Use Barnes, Workman (who should be back healthy next year), Taz, Uehara, and Wright in the bullpen. Need to add 2 lefties - go get some good ones, because what they have now isn't very good. And that would be a pretty good bullpen. And then you have Holt and Rutledge as backups. Add a RH-hitting 1b type to platoon with Shaw, and this team should be good to go.

[sk7326]

The team is now playing for next year. They're enjoyable enough if you watch them on that basis.

 

Or if you simply like it when our team outscores theirs - and the players are fun. I wish there was a banner behind it, but whatever at this point. Beats the 2012 tankapalooza.

[Thunder]

I agree with everything except #2.

 

After today, we're tied for 4th and two back of 3rd. It's doable.

 

But, I'm going to stop watching basically this weekend, once we get NCAA Saturdays and NFL Sundays.

[Kimmi]

After today, we're tied for 4th and two back of 3rd. It's doable.

 

But, I'm going to stop watching basically this weekend, once we get NCAA Saturdays and NFL Sundays.

 

One should not even consider football until baseball season is over.

[Thunder]

One should not even consider football until baseball season is over.

 

Even in 2013, I stopped watching Sox games in September. Of course, on most weeknights, I listen to the games while I do homework anyway. On weekends, I'll always prefer football over baseball.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Even in 2013, I stopped watching Sox games in September. Of course, on most weeknights, I listen to the games while I do homework anyway. On weekends, I'll always prefer football over baseball.

 

I always knew there was a reason I didn't like you.

[Jasonbay44]

I wouldn't say I stop watching, but on weekends if I'm home this time of year, I definitely prefer watching football, unless its playoffs.

[Thunder]

I always knew there was a reason I didn't like you.

 

I thought you had a list.

[sk7326]

Football is an easier commitment. I remember on the old Sports Huddle (for the wayback machine) Mark Witkin comparing baseball to marriage and football to an affair - the best description of the two fandoms I can think of.

 

I will say the Red Sox being bad seriously harms my ability to manage my rotoball team - because I have trouble digging into the other 29 teams when the Red Sox fall out.

[Kimmi]

Even in 2013, I stopped watching Sox games in September. Of course, on most weeknights, I listen to the games while I do homework anyway. On weekends, I'll always prefer football over baseball.

 

Well this explains a lot. Like why you think your math teacher is cooler than me. You just don't know what cool is.