Lineup Discussions

[moonslav59]

The need for versatility never diminishes.

 

Obviously with a DH who only plays DH, the need is greater.

[moonslav59]

The need for versatility never diminishes.

 

Obviously, a team with s solid 9 starters and 3 other capable and versatile subs needs a guy like Holt less than teams that do not have that luxury.

[mvp 78]

Obviously, a team with s solid 9 starters and 3 other capable and versatile subs needs a guy like Holt less than teams that do not have that luxury.

 

Obviously, that team already values and requires versatility. The need has not diminished one iota, obviously.

[moonslav59]

Obviously, that team already values and requires versatility. The need has not diminished one iota, obviously.

 

Obviously, you missed the obvious. You are oblivious to what is obviously obvious!

 

LOL

[oldtimer]

The Sox are in first place with solid starting pitching and a lineup that still is producing runs as a major league leading clip. If Bogaerts gets through his slump with some home cooking and we sort out the third base questions, we can continue to make a splash going forward. We still are likely to get Benintendi back for a playoff run and with Young hitting well that is not even critical. We will have a rested Ortiz to add to the lineup for the homestand. Things are looking up.

[moonslav59]

The Sox are in first place with solid starting pitching and a lineup that still is producing runs as a major league leading clip. If Bogaerts gets through his slump with some home cooking and we sort out the third base questions, we can continue to make a splash going forward. We still are likely to get Benintendi back for a playoff run and with Young hitting well that is not even critical. We will have a rested Ortiz to add to the lineup for the homestand. Things are looking up.

 

Shaw has had a great last two games. If that can continues....

 

Uehara's back and could possibly help solve part of our weakest link- the pen.

 

Papi just got a long rest. I wish we could afford to do the same with Bogey.

 

HanRam is becoming the player we'd hoped he be.

 

Even with our best first half starter out, our rotation looks better than it has in a long time. Not many teams can say that.

 

 

Tough schedule coming up. Once we end the Toronto series, we're back to even on home vs away games (10-10).

 

Let's take two of three and win the damn division!

 

[oldtimer]

Shaw has had a great last two games. If that can continues....

 

Uehara's back and could possibly help solve part of our weakest link- the pen.

 

Papi just got a long rest. I wish we could afford to do the same with Bogey.

 

HanRam is becoming the player we'd hoped he be.

 

Even with our best first half starter out, our rotation looks better than it has in a long time. Not many teams can say that.

 

 

Tough schedule coming up. Once we end the Toronto series, we're back to even on home vs away games (10-10).

 

Let's take two of three and win the damn division!

 

 

Don't rule out those "Damn Yankees".

[oldtimer]

Perhaps it is repetitive but I can't resist throwing in my idea of the lineup for next season.

 

Red Sox Lineup 2017/2018

 

The Sox lineup should be solid for the coming year with dangerous hitting up and down the lineup. One could hope for a little more home run power, but it is not a significant negative given the OPS of so many of the likely starters. My view remains the batting order is likely to include:

 

1. Pedey who is a very productive leadoff hitter, who could bat 2nd and do well also.

2. Beni is unproven so this is a stretch but having a lefty with speed to follow Pedey makes it hard on opposing pitching.

3. Bogaerts is a top notch hitter who will come out of his current slump and be very productive in the 3rd slot.

4. Betts does it all. Power, BA, OPS, speed. With the first 3 in front of him there should be a ton of RBI’s

5. JBJ gives us a lefty with equal numbers to Hanley. Bradley is still on the upswing of his career and may put up even better numbers next season.

6. Hanley will probably be a DH next year in American League parks and a first baseman in NL parks. He has come on recently and since he is here with his big contract, he is a better choice than going for another ageing big bat.

7. Leon has shown great improvement this year. He is a switch hitter. When we use a secondary catcher, he can be moved back in the lineup.

8. Shaw is a good defender and hits with power. He is young enough in experience to make a significant hitting improvement next season. I hope we stay with him and play him at first.

9. Moncada is a talent that will make the lineup next year. It appears he will need time to grow into the role of difference maker. I would start him way down in the lineup and react if performance warrants it.

 

We also have utility players who can and will add punch to the lineup to give a rest to some of our players, act as pinch hitters and as a buffer against injuries. We are fortunate to have good quality available.

 

1. Velaquez is my expected backup catcher. We can accept light hitting if we are getting first rate defense. His hitting may trend up a little but I don’t expect a great change.

2. Young is a guy who could be a regular on many teams. Good speed, good defensive outfielder, good major league quality hitter. Good to have a pinch hitter of his caliber as well.

3. Holt while not the best defender at any position is valuable due to his versatility. He is a major league quality hitter and can pinch hit for us. I’d guess his role is somewhat threatened by Hernandez and Rutledge.

4. Swihart is another talent that would be nice to keep on the team. He is young, athletic, can hit well and is versatile enough to play outfield, backup as catcher and possibly handle 1st base.

 

Clearly we will need trade bait to use in acquire RP going forward and we will have pressure on the lineup from quality youngsters currently in the minors, but it looks like we can put up a very competitive lineup without signing high cost free agents. What to do with Craig, Castillo and Sandoval still haunts the FO, but I am at the point of looking at those guys as a sunken and costly lesson about signing players for big contracts when all had warts, if we had looked hard. Existing position players, currently on the roster are likely to be gone next season.

[S5Dewey]

Don't rule out those "Damn Yankees".

 

The bad news for the Yankees is that they're 4 1/2 back and everyone ahead of them is playing one another. That means that even if the Y's win they won't gain on at least one team that's ahead of them. Even if one team falters they still have two others to catch.

The good news for the Yankees is that they have several games left with Tampa Bay so they should win a majority of them - but one never knows. Just look at what the Rays did to the Jays recently.

[Slasher9]

the cot dang MFY are never out of it. even when my dude pythagorean has them 2 games under .500......

[mvp 78]

the cot dang MFY are never out of it. even when my dude pythagorean has them 2 games under .500......

 

Pythagoras gets dragged around the mud here a lot, but that's because he was a pathetic Ionian. Should have sided with Alexander. Sad!

[moonslav59]

The bad news for the Yankees is that they're 4 1/2 back and everyone ahead of them is playing one another. That means that even if the Y's win they won't gain on at least one team that's ahead of them. Even if one team falters they still have two others to catch.

The good news for the Yankees is that they have several games left with Tampa Bay so they should win a majority of them - but one never knows. Just look at what the Rays did to the Jays recently.

 

Well, two of the teams ahead of them will be playing each other a lot of the time, so someone will lose each night.

[moonslav59]

Perhaps it is repetitive but I can't resist throwing in my idea of the lineup for next season.

 

Red Sox Lineup 2017/2018

 

The Sox lineup should be solid for the coming year with dangerous hitting up and down the lineup. One could hope for a little more home run power, but it is not a significant negative given the OPS of so many of the likely starters. My view remains the batting order is likely to include:

 

1. Pedey who is a very productive leadoff hitter, who could bat 2nd and do well also.

2. Beni is unproven so this is a stretch but having a lefty with speed to follow Pedey makes it hard on opposing pitching.

3. Bogaerts is a top notch hitter who will come out of his current slump and be very productive in the 3rd slot.

4. Betts does it all. Power, BA, OPS, speed. With the first 3 in front of him there should be a ton of RBI’s

5. JBJ gives us a lefty with equal numbers to Hanley. Bradley is still on the upswing of his career and may put up even better numbers next season.

6. Hanley will probably be a DH next year in American League parks and a first baseman in NL parks. He has come on recently and since he is here with his big contract, he is a better choice than going for another ageing big bat.

7. Leon has shown great improvement this year. He is a switch hitter. When we use a secondary catcher, he can be moved back in the lineup.

8. Shaw is a good defender and hits with power. He is young enough in experience to make a significant hitting improvement next season. I hope we stay with him and play him at first.

9. Moncada is a talent that will make the lineup next year. It appears he will need time to grow into the role of difference maker. I would start him way down in the lineup and react if performance warrants it.

 

We also have utility players who can and will add punch to the lineup to give a rest to some of our players, act as pinch hitters and as a buffer against injuries. We are fortunate to have good quality available.

 

1. Velaquez is my expected backup catcher. We can accept light hitting if we are getting first rate defense. His hitting may trend up a little but I don’t expect a great change.

2. Young is a guy who could be a regular on many teams. Good speed, good defensive outfielder, good major league quality hitter. Good to have a pinch hitter of his caliber as well.

3. Holt while not the best defender at any position is valuable due to his versatility. He is a major league quality hitter and can pinch hit for us. I’d guess his role is somewhat threatened by Hernandez and Rutledge.

4. Swihart is another talent that would be nice to keep on the team. He is young, athletic, can hit well and is versatile enough to play outfield, backup as catcher and possibly handle 1st base.

 

Clearly we will need trade bait to use in acquire RP going forward and we will have pressure on the lineup from quality youngsters currently in the minors, but it looks like we can put up a very competitive lineup without signing high cost free agents. What to do with Craig, Castillo and Sandoval still haunts the FO, but I am at the point of looking at those guys as a sunken and costly lesson about signing players for big contracts when all had warts, if we had looked hard. Existing position players, currently on the roster are likely to be gone next season.

 

I think I like this better:

 

1) Beni

2) Bogey

3) Betts

4) Pedey

5) JBJ

6) HRam (DH/1B)

7) Shaw/Moncada (3B)

8) Young/Swihart/Shaw (DH/1B)

9) Leon

 

Typo: It's Vazquez not Velazquez.

[Kimmi]

the cot dang MFY are never out of it. even when my dude pythagorean has them 2 games under .500......

 

The Yankees have a -12 run differential and are 23-9 in one run games. Pythagorus is rolling over in his grave.

[S5Dewey]

Well, two of the teams ahead of them will be playing each other a lot of the time, so someone will lose each night.

 

They will, and if all teams were starting on an even footing then your point would be well taken. However, with the Y's being 4 1/2 back they have to not only keep up with the top teams they also have to win MORE games than the top team(s). That's going to be problematic for them when there's a guarantee that a team they're chasing is going to win.

 

I'm not saying it's impossible for the Y's to overcome, but the stars and planets would have to align right in order for it to happen. That is, the teams ahead of them would have to split and the Y's go on a long winning streak.

[S5Dewey]

The Yankees have a -12 run differential and are 23-9 in one run games. Pythagorus is rolling over in his grave.

 

Yes. One would think that 23-9 business would catch up with them soon. Let's hope.

[Kimmi]

They will, and if all teams were starting on an even footing then your point would be well taken. However, with the Y's being 4 1/2 back they have to not only keep up with the top teams they also have to win MORE games than the top team(s). That's going to be problematic for them when there's a guarantee that a team they're chasing is going to win.

 

I'm not saying it's impossible for the Y's to overcome, but the stars and planets would have to align right in order for it to happen. That is, the teams ahead of them would have to split and the Y's go on a long winning streak.

 

I don't think they'll win the division, but sadly, I do think they'll take one of the wildcard spots.

[S5Dewey]

I don't think they'll win the division, but sadly, I do think they'll take one of the wildcard spots.

 

I wish I didn't think you're right.

[Bellhorn04]

The Yankees have a -12 run differential and are 23-9 in one run games. Pythagorus is rolling over in his grave.

 

Maybe Pythagoras can be beaten.

 

2013 Yankees were +6 vs. Pythagorean record

2014 +7

2015 -1

2016 +5

 

Total +17 for 4 years.

[oldtimer]

The Yankees have a -12 run differential and are 23-9 in one run games. Pythagorus is rolling over in his grave.

 

The current Yankee team has changed dramatically to the one that racked up the bulk of the statistics. I would only look at what they have done since the change.

[mvp 78]

Maybe Pythagoras can be beaten.

 

2013 Yankees were +6 vs. Pythagorean record

2014 +7

2015 -1

2016 +5

 

Total +17 for 4 years.

 

What a good manager can do...

[Kimmi]

Maybe Pythagoras can be beaten.

 

2013 Yankees were +6 vs. Pythagorean record

2014 +7

2015 -1

2016 +5

 

Total +17 for 4 years.

 

No, he really can't. Beating one's Pythagorean W-L is not a sustainable skill. It's another one of those fluky random things.

[Kimmi]

What a good manager can do...

 

Not true either.

[sk7326]

No, he really can't. Beating one's Pythagorean W-L is not a sustainable skill. It's another one of those fluky random things.

 

i wonder if there is at least some correlation with bullpen strength ... which would not stun me ... in addition pythagorean formula is really a long run estimator ... does not mean that strength of schedule and stuff doesn't matter when thinking inside of a season. The general formual works though - after all runs are good and preventing runs is good too (maybe even a tad better).

[Kimmi]

i wonder if there is at least some correlation with bullpen strength ... which would not stun me ... in addition pythagorean formula is really a long run estimator ... does not mean that strength of schedule and stuff doesn't matter when thinking inside of a season. The general formual works though - after all runs are good and preventing runs is good too (maybe even a tad better).

 

Yes, there is some correlation to bullpen strength, but if I recall correctly, it wasn't a very strong one.

[bosoxmal]

If I'm not mistaken, Dewey was the ONLY one on this board who agreed this might be a good idea. Guess he was right.

 

One of the best parts of tonight's game is the wearing out of their bullpen. Two more to go here.

[oldtimer]

What really has been good news for the Sox is that Bogaerts appears to be coming out of his slump and Hanley is getting hot at just the right time. The Sox were a scoring machine tonight.

[bosoxmal]

We're going to need them both. Yankees have Rays down 7-4 in the 8th. I think they'll overtake both Baltimore and Toronto before too long.

[moonslav59]

We're going to need them both. Yankees have Rays down 7-4 in the 8th. I think they'll overtake both Baltimore and Toronto before too long.

 

Could end up being Tigers-Yanks in the WC game.

[Maxbialystock]

Farrell stinks, and I hope the Sox keep winning.