Red Sox Offense 2016

[User Name]

There are games where they do swing at the first pitch. The problem is that they have a game plan, and they tend to execute it with consistency and success. Considering their past success against Tanaka (he entered the night with a 4.69 ERA against the Sox) their plan had been working against him. Sometimes you tip your cap to the pitcher and move on.

[mvp 78]

There are games where they do swing at the first pitch. The problem is that they have a game plan, and they tend to execute it with consistency and success. Considering their past success against Tanaka (he entered the night with a 4.69 ERA against the Sox) their plan had been working against him. Sometimes you tip your cap to the pitcher and move on.

 

All I'm asking is for Pedroia and Papi to not look completely disinterested before the pitch is thrown. It's obvious when they are taking a pitch and would be unable to adjust fast enough if the pitcher just grooved one. Just make it look like you might actually swing for once...

[kenmeister]

Nah, he needs to hit 8th and Mookie 9th. I don't get why either of them hit so high in the order.

 

Maybe it was that 5 home runs in 2 games span, but right now my must-watch-at-batter is Mookie.

 

My ideal lineup is:

 

Bogaerts - let the high average hitter lead off

JBJ - seems to me an ideal #2 hitter; nice power/average combo

Betts

Ortiz

 

After that it's not so clear. It would be awfully nice if Travis Shaw regained his April hitting form.

[User Name]

Ortiz has a 1.375 OPS in 36 AB's when swinging at the first pitch.

 

Pedroia has an .864 OPS in 26 AB's when swinging at the first pitch.

 

I'll let them handle their first-pitch AB's by themselves.

[mvp 78]

Ortiz has a 1.375 OPS in 36 AB's when swinging at the first pitch.

 

Pedroia has an .864 OPS in 26 AB's when swinging at the first pitch.

 

I'll let them handle their first-pitch AB's by themselves.

 

So maybe they should swing more often at the first pitch?

[User Name]

Or they pick their spots really well, and that's why they've had success. They are the sure fire HOF and MVP, so let's trust their judgement.

[S5Dewey]

The Red Sox lead the majors in most offensive categories, but they should change their approach because Tanaka had a hellacious split last night? Are y'all serious?

 

It would depend on who the other team's pitcher is. When a pitcher is "on" you swing at the good pitches when you get them.

 

Something I started noticing last year (ok, maybe a bad example, but still...! LOL) is that there are certain RS hitters who always get a fast ball strike on the first pitch because the pitcher knows the hitter is going to take that pitch. That works for the hitter as long as they're not facing a pitcher with excellent control but to face a control pitcher and allowing yourself to go 0-1 digs a big hole.

 

I did some pitching in my demented youth and something I realized early-on is that this game is A LOT easier for a pitcher when they start 1-0 than when they start 0-1.

[Hugh2]

Taking a first pitch strike isn't completely un useful if you know the strike is coming. There is something to be said of getting a look at a pitchers delivery, their angle, and timing. Some of the best hitters almost always take a first pitch, I'm not going to nit-pick someones approach because we get shut down from time to time. You will never see an offense, even a legendary one that isn't going to get beat from time to time. Last night was just not our night....it's as simple as that.

[User Name]

Albert Pujols spent his entire prime swinging at the first pitch less than 5% of the time. I'm sure he knows a thing or two about hitting.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm with UN. It's comical when armchair warriors like us critique the hitting approach of guys like Ortiz and Pedroia.

[Hitch]

 

I did some pitching in my demented youth and something I realized early-on is that this game is A LOT easier for a pitcher when they start 1-0 than when they start 0-1.

 

Am I misreading this...? You're saying it's easier for a pitcher after going behind 1-0 in the count, rather than being in front 0-1?

[Hugh2]

I'm with UN. It's comical when armchair warriors like us critique the hitting approach of guys like Ortiz and Pedroia.

 

I agree, some guys do great and are known to jump on the first pitch. A lot of other great hitters spend their entire career taking the first pitch.

 

These guys have a plan, and they stick to it, as they should.

[a700hitter]

I'm with UN. It's comical when armchair warriors like us critique the hitting approach of guys like Ortiz and Pedroia.

I am not sure that it was the intent to criticize any particular hitter's ABs last night, but rather a strategy on how to approach a pitcher. I don't know if there are strategy meetings on things like this. Does the coaching staff meet with the team and tell them that they should run up a pitch count on a pitcher or that they need to be aggressive and try to get a pitcher early?

[User Name]

Farrell has stated several times (remember that game against Seattle last year you criticized the offense on, but Farrell came out and said the pitcher came out and did the opposite of what they expected?) that they have an overall game plan, and they generally stick to it.

[S5Dewey]

Am I misreading this...? You're saying it's easier for a pitcher after going behind 1-0 in the count, rather than being in front 0-1?

 

Uhh... nope. You're not misreading it. I f***d it up! Thanks!

[oldtimer]

They can get a look at the pitcher the first time up but then they should be ready for a grooved fast ball the second time up. Hitters have to adapt their approach to circumstances. They do that all the time to be successful. To take a rigid position of not swinging at the first pitch is handicapping the at bat. They can get away with it against some pitchers, but Tanaka had a nasty splitter and a slider last night and held them in check. The bull pen is very difficult to hit and the main chance was agaist Tanaka.

[User Name]

No one on this team takes "rigid position of now swinging". That is fan hyperbole. As I pointed out before with the stats for Pedroia and Ortiz when swinging at the first pitch, they pick their spots, and have been very succesful with their current approach.

[mvp 78]

No one on this team takes "rigid position of now swinging". That is fan hyperbole. As I pointed out before with the stats for Pedroia and Ortiz when swinging at the first pitch, they pick their spots, and have been very succesful with their current approach.

 

Is first pitch OPS skewed because you can't strike out? How does a swing and miss affect the OPS here? Maybe I'm just tired from a weekend at the beach, but how is OPS calculated for only one pitch?

[User Name]

Is first pitch OPS skewed because you can't strike out? How does a swing and miss affect the OPS here? Maybe I'm just tired from a weekend at the beach, but how is OPS calculated for only one pitch?

 

The possibility of a strikeout does skew the numbers somewhat, but the lack of the possibility of walking somewhat normalizes that fact. It's a two-outcome scenario. In an early count, the outcome only counts when contact is made, you either get a hit, or make an out.