A Realistic View at 2016

[a700hitter]

The thing I find amazing about this is that I heard today that Papelbon is expected to make his decision today. I can't believe that ML teams are so desperate for washed-up closers that the closer has so many suitors that he has to make up his mind which one to go with!

If he was left handed, he'd already have signed regardless of whether he still had a pulse.

[cp176]

They would have been wrestling on the clubhouse floor.

 

Surer than s*** that wrestling match wouldn't have lasted very long. billy was an ass kicker. He would have been hired back in a month!

[moonslav59]

Mookie for President!

[moonslav59]

Nice to see Young is finally in rehab.

 

Owens had his first one or less walk performance of the year yesterday.

 

[moonslav59]

After tonight's game, Betts' OPS went up 12 points. He's getting close to coming within 100 points of Big Papi, despite Papi getting on base 3 of 4 times tonight.

 

Some nice things going on with out offense:

 

Pedey, Bogey, Papi, Betts, Leon and Beni are all batting over .300. If you fill out the rest of the line-up with JBJ, HanRam and Shaw, the lowest OPS would be .762 (T Shaw). 8 of 9 players would have an OBP of .347 or higher (Shaw at .318).

 

[moonslav59]

There are 177 players in the AL with 140+ PAs.

 

The Sox have 3 of the top 9 OPS leaders:

1) Leon 1.054

2) Papi 1.028

9) Betts .926

(JBJ is 18th at .874.)

 

We have 6 of the top 36 and 7 of the top 48 AL OPS guys.

 

Toronto has 1 in the top 9, 2 in top 18, 3 in 36 and 4 in 48.

 

Baltimore has 0 in top 9, 2 in 18, 5 in 36 and 48.

 

Cleveland has 1 in top 9, 2/18, 3/36 and 5/48

 

 

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

On ERod's injury...

 

The Red Sox are hopeful they caught the injury early enough that it won't be an issue going forward.

"I think we got this early," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "He felt a little bit of hamstring tightness come on towards the last hitter of the fourth inning. We checked him in between innings. There was no reduction of strength or range of motion, but it was clear the first two pitches he threw to start the fifth [that] he was not right.

"He was definitely favoring it, so we got him out of the game at the time. He feels a little bit looser postgame. We'll have a better read on this tomorrow."

It was tough for Rodriguez to come out at a time he felt his stuff might have been the best of his young career.

"From last year to this year, that was the first time I felt like that," Rodriguez said. "Every pitch was right where I wanted -- the fastball, changeup, slider, two-seam. Everything was right where I wanted."

Rodriguez spent the first two months of the season on the disabled list due to a right knee injury he suffered early in Spring Training.

After struggling mightily and then being optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, Rodriguez has thrived since his recall after the All-Star break, posting a 2.51 ERA.

"He's thrown the ball like he has the last few starts," said Farrell. "He's relaxed, he's free. He had such good life to that swing and miss fastball through the zone. He elevated at the appropriate times. He threw enough secondary pitches to keep guys off stride. He had a very good fastball tonight."

Rodriguez hopes the hamstring injury doesn't derail his recent momentum.

"I felt it on one pitch before the strikeout to [Mark] Trumbo," said Rodriguez. "When I threw the pitch, I felt something get tight in there. When I came out for the fifth, I was feeling like it was getting worse, so I didn't want to do something to something inside of there. I feel like we made the right decision before it got worse."

-Ian Browne

 

[Dojji]

Taking a step backwards for a second...

 

when I was asked what my objective was for this team last offseason, all I asked was that the team go into the stretch with a fighting chance. Well, we're in the stretch now, and we are tied for first. That's a good fighting chance. For DD, this year is a solid "mission accomplished" as far as I'm concerned. There's still plenty to do to put the roster right, but it's nice to be trending upward again.

[moonslav59]

Taking a step backwards for a second...

 

when I was asked what my objective was for this team last offseason, all I asked was that the team go into the stretch with a fighting chance. Well, we're in the stretch now, and we are tied for first. That's a good fighting chance. For DD, this year is a solid "mission accomplished" as far as I'm concerned. There's still plenty to do to put the roster right, but it's nice to be trending upward again.

 

Tied for the first wild card, but your point is well-taken.

 

I thought this team was a top AL contender on paper last winter- not so much out of how good we looked, but how many holes other AL teams had compared to ours.

 

Just 5-6 days ago, some here were ready to write this team off, saying things like, "This is not a playoff team!"

 

Now, we look like the best team in the AL. (just kidding)

[Dojji]

Right, I forgot, the Jays won.

 

I thought this team would be neither dominant nor awful, and would finish somewhere in the upper middle of the AL, enough so to potentially wrangle a playoff berth and then who knows. We're still on track for that.

[Kimmi]

What's the difference? If a pitcher is on the bases he needs to be treated differently? Does the catcher have to be gentler with a tag? Should the 3b throw to the bag with less vigor to give the pitcher a sporting chance?

 

Because pitchers are usually brought in when no other options are available. They really aren't running threats. Professional courtesy, if you will.

[Kimmi]

I guarantee that no one on here would have said "BUT WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE STEVEN WRIGHT PINCH RUN?!?!?"

 

Of course not. But seriously, who else was there realistically besides Pomeranz?

 

Regardless, they would have been saying "WHY DIDN'T FARRELL PINCH RUN FOR ORTIZ??!!??"

[mvp 78]

Because pitchers are usually brought in when no other options are available. They really aren't running threats. Professional courtesy, if you will.

 

There were other options available. There's no such thing as professional courtesy in MLB. They don't have to be beholden to any of that nonsense.

[mvp 78]

Of course not. But seriously, who else was there realistically besides Pomeranz?

 

Regardless, they would have been saying "WHY DIDN'T FARRELL PINCH RUN FOR ORTIZ??!!??"

 

Why? It was the 6th inning, not the 8th or 9th.

[Kimmi]

Why? It was the 6th inning, not the 8th or 9th.

 

It doesn't matter what inning it was. If Papi had gotten injured being on the basepaths that game, people would have been criticizing Farrell for not pinch running for him. You know that I speak the truth.

[Kimmi]

I just posted elsewhere that I think Papelbon is worth serious consideration.

[mvp 78]

It doesn't matter what inning it was. If Papi had gotten injured being on the basepaths that game, people would have been criticizing Farrell for not pinch running for him. You know that I speak the truth.

 

So, if he gets hurt in the 3rd inning, someone is going to complain that he should have been pinch run for? I doubt it.

 

If there's a chance that he'll get another AB in the game, you don't pinch run for him. Even if it's the 7th inning, I'm not sure you would pinch run for Ortiz. 8th or 9th? Sure.

[User Name]

Papelblows. f*** that.

[Dojji]

You consider every acquirable player. You don't give Papelbon special consideration but only an idiot rules out bringing in a player who would make the team better.

[mvp 78]

You consider every acquirable player. You don't give Papelbon special consideration but only an idiot rules out bringing in a player who would make the team better.

 

Would he make this team better though? I'd rather have Hembree out there than Papelbon.

[Wade Boggs]

Ever since Hembree gave up the tying homerun, to I think it was Juan En, in that the game in Toronto , he has been sinking. They did win the game with CB coming out of the pen. But Farrell has lost faith in him. His numbers look better than what they are.

[sk7326]

I just posted elsewhere that I think Papelbon is worth serious consideration.

 

I just don't see any high leverage place where I'd use him.

[oldtimer]

Papelblows. f*** that.

 

I know I am from an earlier generation, but do we have to descend into such crudely put posts?

[mvp 78]

I know I am from an earlier generation, but do we have to descend into such crudely put posts?

 

It seems like it. I would recommend that you don't read the gamethreads. They are the Mos Eisley Cantina of Talksox.

[Wade Boggs]

I just don't see any high leverage place where I'd use him.

 

If he came here, he split the 7th with Taz. To give him a rest. My problem is, Pap's is not the same pitcher anymore, but like everybody is saying, you have nothing to lose... Screw it . Go sign him.

[mvp 78]

Ever since Hembree gave up the tying homerun, to I think it was Juan En, in that the game in Toronto , he has been sinking. They did win the game with CB coming out of the pen. But Farrell has lost faith in him. His numbers look better than what they are.

 

Farrell and Co needs to get these guys to bounce back. You're bound to give up runs to the best hitters in the game sooner than later.

[Thunder]

I just posted elsewhere that I think Papelbon is worth serious consideration.

 

Oh, Kimmi. I almost always agree with your viewpoints, but this is your worst in awhile. We have 3 closers. I'm not a believer that acquiring a closer to do anything but close is good for his psyche. Plus, he's moody, and he's already having his worst year ever. Yes, the bullpen is shaky, but Papelbon would be the bull in the china shop to this team.

[User Name]

You consider every acquirable player. You don't give Papelbon special consideration but only an idiot rules out bringing in a player who would make the team better.

 

His 1.45 WHIP and 97 ERA+ are clear indications of possible improvement for the team.

[sk7326]

If he came here, he split the 7th with Taz. To give him a rest. My problem is, Pap's is not the same pitcher anymore, but like everybody is saying, you have nothing to lose... Screw it . Go sign him.

 

I don't care if they sign him - but he lacks the flexibility needed to be a quality set-up person, as well as (now) the stuff. With the rotation injuries piling up, signing him is better than nothing - but just barely.

[Nick]

John Farrell moves to his comfort food......Abad has been a huge disappointment....

 

I wonder what it would have taken to get Miller back....