A Realistic View at 2016

[moonslav59]

We faced Happ yesterday and he may be the Blue Jays best. In addition, the Blue Jays wisely saved their better relief pitching instead of using them up in the blow out the day before.

 

I'm not going to take the time to study how other top contending teams do against the very best pitchers in MLB, but here are the best pitchers in MLB by WAR from 2014 to 2016 (I'm using a larger sample size than this year, because if we killed a pitcher this year, we might have knocked him out of the top 30- like Greinke):

W-L ERA/WHIP

Kershaw DNP

Kluber 1-1 4.28/1.46

Scherzer DNP

CSale 1-1 1.29/0.71

J Arrieta DNP

Quintana 1-0 4.73/1.35

Lester DNP

Bumgarner 0-0 1.50/0.83

J Cueto DNP

Keuchel 0-1 12.00/2.17

Greinke 0-1 48.60/6.00

deGrom DNP

Strasburg DNP

C Archer 0-4 6.65/1.75

CHamels DNP

Carrasco 0-0 7.20/1.60

G Cole DNP______

Vs top 17: 8-3

 

Tanaka 1-0 2.13/0.79

Verlander 2-0 1.50/0.92

Zimmerman DNP

JFernandez DNP

GGonzalez DNP

CMcHugh 0-1 8.10/2.40

J Lackey DNP

Wainwright DNP

Syndergaard DNP

Samardzjia DNP

Pineda 0-2 4.50/1.50

Hendricks DNP

B Colon DNP

T Ross DNP

Richards DNP

Salazar 0-1 8.31/2.54

S Gray 0-1 17.18/2.73

 

Our record vs the best 34: 12-5

 

I doubt any other team has a better W-L record vs these guys this year.

 

Edited September 12, 2016 by moonslav59

[Nick]

Realistic View 2016...Clay still afraid to throw strikes....what the hell is Hambree doing in a meaningful game?

 

Is everybody in the pen tired? What a bunch of f***ing pussies.

[southpaw777]

Realistic View 2016...Clay still afraid to throw strikes....what the hell is Hambree doing in a meaningful game?

 

Is everybody in the pen tired? What a bunch of f***ing pussies.

 

HA! was saying the same thing about Clay... "Theres the Clay we all know"

meanwhile Erod looked good and Pomeranz has been looking solid. IP will be his enemy

[moonslav59]

Before today's game, there were 124 AL players with 300+ PAs.

 

Here's how our players rank in key categories:

 

BA

2) Pedey .328

8) Ortiz .316

9) Betts .315

19) Bogey .298

32) Ramirez .285

52) Bradley .272

 

HR

14) Ortiz 31

15) Betts 30

30) JBJ 23

35) Ram 22

51) Bogey 18

60) Shaw 16

 

RBI

3) Ortiz 107

4) Betts 101

7) Ramirez 93

27) Bogey 81

28) JBJ 80

40) Shaw 70

46) Pedey 65

 

OPS

1) Ortiz 1.022

11) Betts .903

17) Pedey .850

19) JBJ .849

23) Ram .841

45) Bogey .800

 

170 players with 180+ PAs

1) Ortiz 1.022

4) Leon .958

12) Betts .903

17) Young .864

20) Pedey .850

22) J B J .849.

26) Ramirez .841

53) Bogey .800

75) TShaw .770

_____________

.748 AL OPS____

 

107) Holt .719

 

[Spudboy]

Realistic View 2016...Clay still afraid to throw strikes....what the hell is Hambree doing in a meaningful game?

 

Is everybody in the pen tired? What a bunch of f***ing pussies.

 

I would have used him with 6 innings to go. He is pretty good sometimes. Not today.

 

Did we also see Noe Ramirez? We should s*** on Farrell for that too.

[RedSuxlastchance]

I would have used him with 6 innings to go. He is pretty good sometimes. Not today.

 

Did we also see Noe Ramirez? We should s*** on Farrell for that too.

 

I just don't think this red sux team has it in them. We're obviously looking at a sweep at home, don't think we will ever recover.

[southpaw777]

red sux? hmmmm after a win and 1st place?

i dont think your a fan of the Sox mr 6 posts.

[moonslav59]

I would have used him with 6 innings to go. He is pretty good sometimes. Not today.

 

Did we also see Noe Ramirez? We should s*** on Farrell for that too.

 

Both teams used 8 RP'ers!

 

That's one thing that sucks about expanded roster. All the pitching changes adds an hour to the game.

[moonslav59]

red sux? hmmmm after a win and 1st place?

i dont think your a fan of the Sox mr 6 posts.

 

I think it was bold sarcasm for a 6th post.

 

All the doom & gloomers saying we "are not a playoff team" after a poor stretch here and there.

[S5Dewey]

I think it was bold sarcasm for a 6th post.

 

All the doom & gloomers saying we "are not a playoff team" after a poor stretch here and there.

 

I'm casting one vote for it being a troll.

[greenwell]

I'm casting one vote for it being a troll.

 

with the name "redsuxlastchance"? Yeah, odds are pretty good it's a troll.

[S5Dewey]

with the name "redsuxlastchance"? Yeah, odds are pretty good it's a troll.

 

Ya. That was my first clue, too.

[moonslav59]

339 MLB players with 190+ PAs this year (about 11 per team).

 

OPS Leader Rankings

 

1) Ortiz 1.034

4) Leon .967

18) Young .919

29) M Betts .901

...4 in the top 10%...

 

44) Pedroia .853

45) Ramirez .853

47) Bradley .850

...7 players in the top 50 and top 20%...

 

101) Bogaerts .800

.... 8 players at .800 or above and in the top 30%...

[sk7326]

Both teams used 8 RP'ers!

 

That's one thing that sucks about expanded roster. All the pitching changes adds an hour to the game.

 

I think the "25 players per series" rule makes sense - you can carry a roster of any size, but you have to lock in 25 for a given series.

[moonslav59]

Just listened to the soxprospects.com podcast, and heard some interesting discussions.

 

http://news.soxprospects.com/2016/09/podcast-ep-105-moncadainboston.html

 

They mentioned how Basabe is NOT going to be a rule 5 this winter (ggod news), and how they all agreed on the top 8 prospect order. After the top 8, they put Marco Hernandez at #9 (up from 12) and Dubon #10 (up from 13). I like these two placements. I've always been high on MH.

 

Perhaps the most exciting placements were Bobby Dalbec at #11 and CJ Chatham at #12. Both were previously unranked due to being new to the system.

 

A big surprise was Josh Ockimey moving from 37th to 13th.

 

Chavis fell from 11 to 14, but one of the biggest fall was Devon Marrero from 9 to 28th. (Stanki fell from 26 to 41 & Austin rei from 25 to 45th). Tonight's spotlight pitcherf ell from 28th to 47th.

 

Longhi stayed close at 15, but Roniel Raudes jumped from 33 to 16.

 

Lakins fell from 10 to 17, and TBall stayed close at 18.

 

Kyle Martin and Shaun Anderson rounded out the top 20.

 

Cosart jumped from 44 to 25.

 

Moncada, Beni, Devers, Groome, Kopech, Travis, Johnson & Basabe.

 

[moonslav59]

Moncada, Kopech and Dubon will be going to the Arizona Fall League.

 

TBall in relief, but he expected to be a starter again next year.

 

Others from Salem: Danny Mars and JD Callahan (rule 5 eligible)

 

[moonslav59]

more from soxprospects.com...

 

 

Baseball America has named Yoan Moncada (pictured, right) its Minor League Player of the Year.

 

http://news.soxprospects.com/2016/09/moncada-named-baseball-americas-minor.html

[Nick]

Just listened to the soxprospects.com podcast, and heard some interesting discussions.

 

http://news.soxprospects.com/2016/09/podcast-ep-105-moncadainboston.html

 

They mentioned how Basabe is NOT going to be a rule 5 this winter (ggod news), and how they all agreed on the top 8 prospect order. After the top 8, they put Marco Hernandez at #9 (up from 12) and Dubon #10 (up from 13). I like these two placements. I've always been high on MH.

 

Perhaps the most exciting placements were Bobby Dalbec at #11 and CJ Chatham at #12. Both were previously unranked due to being new to the system.

 

A big surprise was Josh Ockimey moving from 37th to 13th.

 

Chavis fell from 11 to 14, but one of the biggest fall was Devon Marrero from 9 to 28th. (Stanki fell from 26 to 41 & Austin rei from 25 to 45th). Tonight's spotlight pitcherf ell from 28th to 47th.

 

Longhi stayed close at 15, but Roniel Raudes jumped from 33 to 16.

 

Lakins fell from 10 to 17, and TBall stayed close at 18.

 

Kyle Martin and Shaun Anderson rounded out the top 20.

 

Cosart jumped from 44 to 25.

 

Moncada, Beni, Devers, Groome, Kopech, Travis, Johnson & Basabe.

 

 

I get it that Beni is technically a rookie, but everyone else should be moved up one. He ain't coming back to the minors.

I'm intrigued by power bats, Bobby Dalbec and Josh Ockimey. I think Dalbec will always strike out much like Orioles Davis but looks to have legit power.

 

It will be interesting to see if the Sox will reshuffle the deck and trade for a top of the line SP. You've mentioned that White Sox maybe rebuilding. Obviously we'll have to give up some players. Will the Sox be willing to clean out the farm system? Price, Porcello, Sales, E Rod, Pomeranz, Wright looks formidable.

[southpaw777]

Dalbec is really interesting to me. if that kid gets some pitch recognition he can be a 40-hr player at a corner. Hes an Arizona kid so pedeys probably all about it He has a legit shot to be in AA by the end of 2017 if everything goes right.

[mvp 78]

Dalbec is really interesting to me. if that kid gets some pitch recognition he can be a 40-hr player at a corner. Hes an Arizona kid so pedeys probably all about it He has a legit shot to be in AA by the end of 2017 if everything goes right.

 

"Questionable hit tool" is what Soxprospects say.

[S5Dewey]

I get it that Beni is technically a rookie, but everyone else should be moved up one. He ain't coming back to the minors.

I'm intrigued by power bats, Bobby Dalbec and Josh Ockimey. I think Dalbec will always strike out much like Orioles Davis but looks to have legit power.

 

It will be interesting to see if the Sox will reshuffle the deck and trade for a top of the line SP. You've mentioned that White Sox maybe rebuilding. Obviously we'll have to give up some players. Will the Sox be willing to clean out the farm system? Price, Porcello, Sales, E Rod, Pomeranz, Wright looks formidable.

 

Ockimey kinda went into the dumpster during the last month of the season. Too man 0-fers and too many K's. I haven't given up on him but I'm not as high on him as I was in May and June. I'm hoping he can straighten his swing out and start making contact again but at this point he's got to prove it again.

[moonslav59]

Here's the fall instructional league roster (not the AZ Fall league), courtesy of soxprospects.com:

 

Pitchers (21)

Shaun Anderson, Gerson Bautista, Ty Buttrey, Jake Cosart, Enmanuel De Jesus, Jhonathan Diaz, Victor Diaz, Matthew Gorst, Jason Groome, Darwinzon Hernandez, Francisco Lopez-Soto, Joan Martinez, Bryan Mata, Stephen Nogosek, Yorvin Pantoja, Josh Pennington, Juan Perez, Robby Sexton, Michael Shawaryn, Hunter Smith, Jordan Weems

 

Catchers (5)

Roldani Baldwin, Alan Marrero, Samuel Miranda, Alberto Schmidt, Tyler Spoon

 

Infielders (11)

Pedro Castellanos, CJ Chatham, Yesion Coca, Bobby Dalbec, Imeldo Diaz, Santiago Espinal, Stanley Espinal, Everlouis Lozada, Josh Ockimey, Jagger Rusconi, Kervin Suarez

 

Outfielders (10)

Juan Carlos Abreu, Yoan Aybar, Lorenzo Cedrola, Chad Hardy, Tyler Hill, Trenton Kemp, Tzu-Wei Lin, Tate Matheny, Ryan Scott, Kyri Washington

[southpaw777]

"Questionable hit tool" is what Soxprospects say.

 

and thats why I said If he can get some pitch recognition

[moonslav59]

Beni won the soxprospects.com "Player of the year Award".

 

Interesting since Baseball America chose Moncada as the minor league player of the year.

 

Pretty exciting stuff when you have 2 guys getting such praise from baseball "experts".

[moonslav59]

Quick update on Sox OPS after tonight's game:

 

(110+ PAs, unless noted)

 

1.036 Ortiz

.938 Leon

.894 Young

.893 Betts

.858 Ramirez

.857 Benintendi (77 PAs)

.852 Bradley

.851 Pedroia

.795 Bogaerts

 

.780 Hernandez (50 PAs)

.764 Shaw

.733 Rutledge (56 PAs)

.728 Holt

.720 Swihart (74 PAs)

 

.690 Brentz (50 PAs)

 

.583 Vazquez

.545 A Hill

 

.463 HAnigan

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

Compare the balance... (240+ PAs)

 

2004..............2007...............2013...............2016

1.009 MRam 1.066 Ortiz.......959 Ortiz......1.036 Ortiz

.983 Ortiz.......881 HRam ......885 Carp ........938 Leon

.872 V Tek......879 Lowell.....842 Napoli........893 Betts

.857 Damon....843 Youkilis....831 DNava......858 HRam

.857 K Millar....823 Pedey......804 Salty.........852 JBJ

.817 Bellhorn..796 JDRew.....801 Victorino.....851 Pedroia

.811 Mueller...787 V Tek.......787 Pedroia.......795 Bogaerts

.785 OCabr......643 J Lugo ...781 Ellsbury......764 Shaw

.780 Youkilis..........................777 S Drew.......728 Holt

.700 Kapler............................771 Gomes

others 120-240 PAs

.893 Mirab......902 Ellsbury.....785 Iggy.........894 Young

.887 Nixon.....714 Hinske.......681 D Ross.....583 Vazquez

.867 Nomar....684 ACora........617 Bradley....545 AHill

.731 MCarty...675 WM Pena.....................

.574 Reese....637 Mirabelli........................

[Bellhorn04]

Mike Napoli hit a fly ball last night that J. Upton lost in the lights. When the ball hit the ground it bounced like a freaking Superball, up and over the 19 foot high left field wall, with some to spare.

 

Some folks have been wondering why the big increase in home runs this year.

 

I've been wondering if the balls have a little extra spring in 'em.

[a700hitter]

Mike Napoli hit a fly ball last night that J. Upton lost in the lights. When the ball hit the ground it bounced like a freaking Superball, up and over the 19 foot high left field wall, with some to spare.

 

Some folks have been wondering why the big increase in home runs this year.

 

I've been wondering if the balls have a little extra spring in 'em.

I have heard that too and the people that I have heard say it are former pitchers. And a pitcher can tell if a baseball is off in even the slightest way. If pitchers are saying the balls are wrapped tighter, that is gospel as far as i am concerned. One night watching an out of market game, I hear an announcer/former pitcher (can't remember his name) talk about this, and he also talked about opening the ball to see see the construction. He thinks that the baseballs are definitely different this year.

[moonslav59]

It used to be that when you watched (on TV) a hitter make contact, you could tell, most of the time, if a hitter got "all of it" or "got under it".

 

Now, you never can tell.

[moonslav59]

BAL & TOR both lose. Nice!

 

AL East

BOS

TOR -3

BAL -3

NYY -7

 

WC

TOR -

BAL -

DET -3

HOU -3

SEA -3

 

We're 6 up on the last WC slot for those who tend to be pessimists.

 

We're 2 away from the 2nd best AL record and 4 away from the best in the AL.