The Playoff Roster

[Nick]

It appears Wright won't be back. There's really not much to say about him right now as we approach the playoffs.

 

I hope he recovers fully and gets back to 1st half performance next year. He really did struggle after the All Star break.

[Palodios]

Do you know what irks me the most about Wright's baserunning injury?

 

In 2010, Clay Buchholz hurt his hamstring running the bases, sidelining him for a month. The pitching coach at the time? John Farrell.

 

Farrell really should have known better.

[Nick]

Do you know what irks me the most about Wright's baserunning injury?

 

In 2010, Clay Buchholz hurt his hamstring running the bases, sidelining him for a month. The pitching coach at the time? John Farrell.

 

Farrell really should have known better.

 

I can't disagree with you. I thought Wright was the worst choice to pinch run at the time.

[cp176]

I don't disagree with you at all. I also think that it was a poor choice but I also think that we are hind sighting this to death. My question is - Who else would anyone here have used to pinch run? - backup catcher? not a good idea. A relief pitcher? probably not. Another starter? I don't know. Who?

[User Name]

Even among the pitchers, Pomeranz was a better option, since he hit and ran the bases regularly as an NL pitcher.

[cp176]

At the time, I also was thinking Pomeranz. The point I am trying to make is that even though it is a practice that does get used, I don't think that using a pitcher for much other than just pitching in the American league makes any sense at all. I think that that is also kind of sad but is what the game has become. i would have felt better about the whole situation if whoever he chose to put in there had just looked like maybe they could have scored from second on a single. If you use any pinch runner, shouldn't that runner be able to run just a little. Maybe Wright is just way more athletic than he looks.

[SoxnCycles]

Rotation is being set for Porcello to pitch Game 1 and Price to pitch Game 2.

 

Excellent!

Porcello has earned it.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't disagree with you at all. I also think that it was a poor choice but I also think that we are hind sighting this to death. My question is - Who else would anyone here have used to pinch run? - backup catcher? not a good idea. A relief pitcher? probably not. Another starter? I don't know. Who?

 

I'm still slightly baffled why they pinch ran at all, considering the poor options. They didn't pinch run for Ortiz when he was on first base. If Betts hit a double Ortiz would have had to run hard from first to third or home. They waited till he got to second. I know it's kind of a standard move to do this, but in this particular situation, it Steven Wright is your best option besides Ortiz, then Ortiz is still your best option.

[moonslav59]

In all honesty I have to admit the criticism is deserved, but it is also in my opinion way, way out of proportion to the actual effect on the team. The critics act as thought Wright was the team's best starter, the indispensable part of the rotation who could always be counted on to shut down the other team's best hitters.

 

And that just ain't so. Yes, in his last start, Aug 5, he went 9 and gave up 0 runs in LA, a great outing. But his ERA for July was 6.23, which by my reckoning is pretty bad. Oh, yes, in June his ERA was 1.26, but that was thanks to not counting those unearned runs cause by the difficulty in catching that knuckler. He actually gave up 16 runs in June vs. the 6 earned ones. Then there's the whole thing in injuring himself trying to get back to 2B. Had he raced around 3B and hurt himself sliding home, I would be a little more willing to slam Farrell. As it is, I think Wright is some kind of hot house flower who already, at age 32, has said he is simply unable to pitch in a NL park for risk that he might end up on base and hurt himself again.

 

I like Wright the same as I liked Wakefield. He's low cost and could be around for a while and could contribute. But I also like the fact that this team has steadily improved without him. They sure as heck don't miss his 6.26 ERA in July or those 10 unearned runs in June.

 

And I sure as heck would not bring him back for the playoffs--way too risky.

 

I think people's talk of knuckleballer's "volatility" and "inconsistency" is overblown. If you look at Price and Buch and ERod, all had horrible stretches this year as long or longer than Wright's, but Wright and Wake before have been singled our more often as being untrustworthy.

 

All pitcher's go through good and bad stretches (except Porcello this year--all good).

 

I'll take Wright's 2016 season 10 times more please (without the injury), and his total body of work this year blows away any other starter besides Porcello and Price. Just because he had a bad streak before the LAD game does not mean he had lost it for the remaining season.

[cp176]

yup

[cp176]

Rotation is being set for Porcello to pitch Game 1 and Price to pitch Game 2.

 

good - he deserves to be first up - he is the best we have right now!

[S5Dewey]

I don't think there's a bad choice there. They're both going to have to pitch anyway.

[Maxbialystock]

I think people's talk of knuckleballer's "volatility" and "inconsistency" is overblown. If you look at Price and Buch and ERod, all had horrible stretches this year as long or longer than Wright's, but Wright and Wake before have been singled our more often as being untrustworthy.

 

All pitcher's go through good and bad stretches (except Porcello this year--all good).

 

I'll take Wright's 2016 season 10 times more please (without the injury), and his total body of work this year blows away any other starter besides Porcello and Price. Just because he had a bad streak before the LAD game does not mean he had lost it for the remaining season.

 

I tend to focus primarily on observable facts. First, the catchers have had problems catching the knuckler--irrefutable. Over time this should level out, but let's not forget that Varitek almost never caught Wakefield. Second, the knuckler by its very nature is hard for any pitcher to command. Thus does Wright have that fastball (85 mph?) and that big curve which is usually outside the strike zone.

 

Statistically for this season Wright's numbers overall look pretty good in terms of ERA, quality starts, etc. I just get irritated that those 10 unearned runs in June simply don't count in pitcher statistics but did on the scoreboard.

 

Like everyone else, I would like to see Wright back next spring when he is a good bet to be in the rotation next season. I would not try to use him in the playoffs this year, however, for the reasons stated.

 

If Wright was indeed our third best starter, how then explain the Sox great success in August and especially September without him? I would offer three explanations: the hitting, which is the best in MLB this year even then good pitching can shut us down; the bullpen, which blossomed in September and contributes mightily to the 11 game streak; the turnarounds by ERod and Buchholz.

 

And, since all of the brickbats have been directed at Farrell for sending poor Wright out into no-man's land, maybe it's worth giving the manager a little credit for pulling together a team that was without benefit of this world-beating knuckleballer.

[User Name]

I'm going to send your post to a legal logic professor I know. All of the logical fallacies would be enough to get him through an entire semester of examples.

[mvp 78]

I tend to focus primarily on observable facts. First, the catchers have had problems catching the knuckler--irrefutable. Over time this should level out, but let's not forget that Varitek almost never caught Wakefield. Second, the knuckler by its very nature is hard for any pitcher to command.

 

I agree.

 

And, since all of the brickbats have been directed at Farrell for sending poor Wright out into no-man's land, maybe it's worth giving the manager a little credit for pulling together a team that was without benefit of this world-beating knuckleballer.

 

I tend to focus on observable facts. Farrell is rightfully excoriated for putting Wright in a horrible position. He also deserves whatever platitudes he gets for getting his team to win the division. It's ok to both criticize and laud a manager.

[oldtimer]

The most difficult decision for JF going into the playoffs is what to do about 3rd base. As I see it, you have choices that can be summed up as follows:

1. Use a guy who hasn't got a hit in virtually a fortnight because he is a decent defender and can be used at 1st base.

2. Use a guy who went 0-21 recently and seldom gets a hit but is also a decent defender

3. Use a key utility guy who can hit at a major league level and has recently shown that ability.

4. Use a rookie who appeared to be absolutely unready in his short time of play.

5. Use a guy who hasn't been used much but may fit the bill and looks like a composed hitter at the plate. Not much experience there.

 

If it was me I would probably go with option 3 (Holt). If not him, I would be interested enough in option 5 to play him during the last 6 games and see what he can do. (Hernandez). Option 1 (Shaw), hasn't been hitting at all. Option 2 (Hill0 also doesn't hit well at all. Option 4 (Moncada) appears out of the question. I didn't even include an option 6 for a player with no PT this year coming back from injury and out of shape (Panda). What I don't understand is why Hernandez hasn't got a look.

[Maxbialystock]

The most difficult decision for JF going into the playoffs is what to do about 3rd base. As I see it, you have choices that can be summed up as follows:

1. Use a guy who hasn't got a hit in virtually a fortnight because he is a decent defender and can be used at 1st base.

2. Use a guy who went 0-21 recently and seldom gets a hit but is also a decent defender

3. Use a key utility guy who can hit at a major league level and has recently shown that ability.

4. Use a rookie who appeared to be absolutely unready in his short time of play.

5. Use a guy who hasn't been used much but may fit the bill and looks like a composed hitter at the plate. Not much experience there.

 

If it was me I would probably go with option 3 (Holt). If not him, I would be interested enough in option 5 to play him during the last 6 games and see what he can do. (Hernandez). Option 1 (Shaw), hasn't been hitting at all. Option 2 (Hill0 also doesn't hit well at all. Option 4 (Moncada) appears out of the question. I didn't even include an option 6 for a player with no PT this year coming back from injury and out of shape (Panda). What I don't understand is why Hernandez hasn't got a look.

 

3B probably is the toughest pick, I agree. I think platoon might be the best choice--Holt or Shaw against righties, Hill vs. lefties. I think Hill is the best defender of the three. Agree Moncada is a no go.

[Kimmi]

Do you know what irks me the most about Wright's baserunning injury?

 

In 2010, Clay Buchholz hurt his hamstring running the bases, sidelining him for a month. The pitching coach at the time? John Farrell.

 

Farrell really should have known better.

 

Who should have pinch run instead of Wright?

 

The only other choice, really, was Pomeranz. I can agree that he was a better choice than Wright, but Farrell didn't have any other options besides a starting pitcher.

[oldtimer]

Shaw has to show some modicum of hitting or why have him in the lineup. Yesterday it was 3 strikeouts in 4 trips. Pretty terrible for a guy to go as many days without not only hitting but barely making contact.

[a700hitter]

Who should have pinch run instead of Wright?

 

The only other choice, really, was Pomeranz. I can agree that he was a better choice than Wright, but Farrell didn't have any other options besides a starting pitcher.

Other relievers were available as was Sandy Leon.

[a700hitter]

Farrell for manager of the Year!!!!

[TylerD]

Farrell for manager of the Year!!!!

 

Hahaha I swear there was so many times this year I said fire him and now I'm in love with him. Sports do funny things to a person sometimes.

[moonslav59]

Maybe with Leon's growing slump, we'll go with a 3rd catcher. I'd rather add a better bat to PH (Moncada/Hernandez?) to PH for Leon or Holaday/Hanigan or a just add a PR'er (Moncada?).

 

[Bellhorn04]

Who should have pinch run instead of Wright?

 

The only other choice, really, was Pomeranz. I can agree that he was a better choice than Wright, but Farrell didn't have any other options besides a starting pitcher.

 

The other option was just leaving Papi in there.

[oldtimer]

Maybe with Leon's growing slump, we'll go with a 3rd catcher. I'd rather add a better bat to PH (Moncada/Hernandez?) to PH for Leon or Holaday/Hanigan or a just add a PR'er (Moncada?).

 

 

The real issue is that the Sox don't have much hitting depth after the lineup and Young/Holt. With both Shaw and Leon in deep slumps, we have to settle between Holaday, Hernandez, Hill and Vaz. Of those I would take Hernandez and Holaday although neither are boppers. At least they make contact.

[moonslav59]

The real issue is that the Sox don't have much hitting depth after the lineup and Young/Holt. With both Shaw and Leon in deep slumps, we have to settle between Holaday, Hernandez, Hill and Vaz. Of those I would take Hernandez and Holaday although neither are boppers. At least they make contact.

 

We'll probably go with 11 pitchers, so we can take 3 from Holaday, Vazquez, Hanigan, Hernandez, Moncada or Hill.

 

I'm real down on Hill right now and high on Hernandez. I don't think we need both, so I'd go with Holaday, Hernandez and Moncada (PR'er and maybe PH'er vs RHP) to fill out the bench with Young and Holt.

[moonslav59]

The other option was just leaving Papi in there.

 

True, but then if Papi gets hurt or throw out at home by an inch, we'd hear people roasting JF for not PR'ing for him with a pitcher- like other teams do.

[Bellhorn04]

True, but then if Papi gets hurt or throw out at home by an inch, we'd hear people roasting JF for not PR'ing for him with a pitcher- like other teams do.

 

But here's what I don't get: Farrell didn't pinch run for him when he was on first - not till he got to second. If Betts had hit a double, Papi would have had to run and would be in just as much jeopardy as if he was trying to score from second on a single.

[moonslav59]

But here's what I don't get: Farrell didn't pinch run for him when he was on first - not till he got to second. If Betts had hit a double, Papi would have had to run and would be in just as much jeopardy as if he was trying to score from second on a single.

 

I'm not defending JF. I wanted him gone last year. I just usually avoid bashing managers for an in-game decision gone wrong. The multitude of bad in-game decisions is another story.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not defending JF. I wanted him gone last year. I just usually avoid bashing managers for an in-game decision gone wrong. The multitude of bad in-game decisions is another story.

 

I'm just questioning the options on that particular play.

 

I wanted JF gone earlier in the year, but I can't argue with the results lately.