A Realistic View at 2017 Part II

[Emp9]

I agree that XB would be fine at lead-off, and that you don't necessarily have to be a great base stealer to lead-off, just a good, smart base-runner. OBP is king right here.

[devildavid]

Bogey has earned the right to get the most plate appearances. We really need Pedey back in the lineup too.

[moonslav59]

Bogey has earned the right to get the most plate appearances. We really need Pedey back in the lineup too.

 

Yes, and Pedey's has had a very good OBP this year.

 

I'd be fine with this as our line up:

 

1) Bogey

2) Pedey

3) Betts

4) HRam

5) Beni/Young

6) Moreland/Travis

7) JBJ

8) Pablo/Rutledge/Marrero

9) Vaz/Leon

 

[dgalehouse]

There are a lot of very mediocre numbers in the Sox lineup. Some of these guys need to start producing , regardless of their spot in the order. If they don't , no amount of tinkering with the lineup will matter.

[Station 13]

Dropping Betts would not be a bad idea. He is not seeing pitches to hit to start out the game and when he comes hit with no base runners on. Pitchers really have a game plan vs our hitters and they executed them daily. Everything is away to Betts, Xander and Hanley. Same to our lefties. Only if our pitchers can locate the same to the oppenents.

[Emp9]

Dropping Betts would not be a bad idea. He is not seeing pitches to hit to start out the game and when he comes hit with no base runners on. Pitchers really have a game plan vs our hitters and they executed them daily. Everything is away to Betts, Xander and Hanley. Same to our lefties. Only if our pitchers can locate the same to the oppenents.

 

I view Betts as our #1 RBI guy, out of everyone. Does he have other fine traits? Sure. But I'm willing to bet he's been our best pure hitter for a while now, across these last few seasons. So, I agree, Lead-off makes no sense, considering the rest of our lineup... on THIS particular team. 2 out of 5 PAs every game he has zero chance at an rbi because he's leading off the inning. The other 2-3 chances, he doesn't have a great chance at rbi either, with the bottom of the order right before him. This just doesn't compute with me. This needs to change and soon.

[devildavid]

Yes, and Pedey's has had a very good OBP this year.

 

I'd be fine with this as our line up:

 

1) Bogey

2) Pedey

3) Betts

4) HRam

5) Beni/Young

6) Moreland/Travis

7) JBJ

8) Pablo/Rutledge/Marrero

9) Vaz/Leon

 

 

I like that lineup.

[oldtimer]

Yes, and Pedey's has had a very good OBP this year.

 

I'd be fine with this as our line up:

 

1) Bogey

2) Pedey

3) Betts

4) HRam

5) Beni/Young

6) Moreland/Travis

7) JBJ

8) Pablo/Rutledge/Marrero

9) Vaz/Leon

 

Some posters on this site have argued that batting order makes little difference as far as run production. I don't subscribe to that idea and feel the order that you have put forth is a good one, and possibly the best for the pieces that we have. One obvious question is whether batting 4 righties in a row leaves us more susceptable to right handed relief. The problem is that we have little power in the lineup with Hanley being the primary power hitter and he hasn't been producing. Plus we have other weaknesses at the bottom of the order. I don't see how any mixture of our current players will compete for the title with the Yankees and perhaps some other American League teams. The coming road trip may bring our chances into better focus. We are hamstrug as well by the huge contracts we got into so the flexibility to make moves probably is not there. How long will the club go if things go badly, to bring our younger players into the team and play them going forward.?

[moonslav59]

Some posters on this site have argued that batting order makes little difference as far as run production. I don't subscribe to that idea and feel the order that you have put forth is a good one, and possibly the best for the pieces that we have. One obvious question is whether batting 4 righties in a row leaves us more susceptable to right handed relief. The problem is that we have little power in the lineup with Hanley being the primary power hitter and he hasn't been producing. Plus we have other weaknesses at the bottom of the order. I don't see how any mixture of our current players will compete for the title with the Yankees and perhaps some other American League teams. The coming road trip may bring our chances into better focus. We are hamstrug as well by the huge contracts we got into so the flexibility to make moves probably is not there. How long will the club go if things go badly, to bring our younger players into the team and play them going forward.?

 

I've never been a big proponent of needing to have a lefty-righty-lefty line-up to avoid late inning RP'er switches.

 

Put your best guys up first. Get them more ABs.

 

Plus, out of those 4 straight righties, most hit righties pretty well, and Pedey is about even on his splits over his career.

[Bellhorn04]

I've never been a big proponent of needing to have a lefty-righty-lefty line-up to avoid late inning RP'er switches.

 

Put your best guys up first. Get them more ABs.

 

Plus, out of those 4 straight righties, most hit righties pretty well, and Pedey is about even on his splits over his career.

 

I think it's mainly about the LH hitters and the late inning lefty specialists. Managers cringe at the thought that the other team could bring in a LOOGY to face two of his team's good LH batters in a row at crunch time.

[moonslav59]

I think it's mainly about the LH hitters and the late inning lefty specialists. Managers cringe at the thought that the other team could bring in a LOOGY to face two of his team's good LH batters in a row at crunch time.

 

I get the point, but you're gambling on that situation happening.

 

1) It might not happen often.

2) If it does happen here and there, does it outweigh all the other ABs the lefty got earlier in the game with more men on base?

3) Both JBJ and Young are hitting lefties better than righties this year.

 

If all things are pretty much even, then I'd go with the L-R-L-R concept.

[moonslav59]

Big HR for JBJ.

 

Big hits by Bogey and Moreland, too.

 

The pen was strong.

 

Let's get a winning streak going!

[Spudboy]

Big HR for JBJ.

 

Big hits by Bogey and Moreland, too.

 

The pen was strong.

 

Let's get a winning streak going!

 

Let's have a f***ing drink first.

[moonslav59]

Let's have a f***ing drink first.

 

Maybe a couple!

[cp176]

Let's have a f***ing drink first.

 

it's a couple of buds for me. I'm happy when we win for sure but I can't help thinking that we just look like a small team in general comprised of a bunch of pretty good little singles hitters. Our size looks like Mooreland, Sandoval, and Ramirez and that does not impress me. I'm a little concerned that if our good little hitters start thinking that they need to start powering up, they won't continue to hit their singles. We need at least one more power bat in that lineup.

[Fisk]

It's time to go out and get a third basemen, if you don't deem Devers ready. Our third base production is terrible. Johnny Peralta(whom I'm not a fan of) was designated for assignment work out a trade for him, it's an upgrade over what is going on right now.

[oldtimer]

Big HR for JBJ.

 

Big hits by Bogey and Moreland, too.

 

The pen was strong.

 

Let's get a winning streak going!

 

 

 

Pedey was rusty but he will come along and give up table setters. Now if Hanley would look anything like he was last year we might get more competitive with the elite teams. We will get a look during the Houston series.

[Station 13]

http://www.weei.com/articles/pablo-sandovals-defensive-struggles-are-backing-red-sox-corner

 

Get rid of Pablo, and watching last night yes he is a glued down statue at 3B.

 

Call Brett Lawrie out retirement.

[moonslav59]

Pedey was rusty but he will come along and give up table setters. Now if Hanley would look anything like he was last year we might get more competitive with the elite teams. We will get a look during the Houston series.

 

I got tickets to the Astros series. I'm glad they finally lost. Keuchel is out, so we may catch a break there.

[moonslav59]

it's a couple of buds for me. I'm happy when we win for sure but I can't help thinking that we just look like a small team in general comprised of a bunch of pretty good little singles hitters. Our size looks like Mooreland, Sandoval, and Ramirez and that does not impress me. I'm a little concerned that if our good little hitters start thinking that they need to start powering up, they won't continue to hit their singles. We need at least one more power bat in that lineup.

 

It's hard to break the paradigm. Every year we won a ring, we had at least one big hitter- big in size and power & production.

 

We do have little and mid-sized guys with power, and probably 7-9 guys that can hit 10+ HRs given enough PAs, but we need to start winning some games with our defense, with smarter base running, with timely hitting, continued strong pen help and the return to at least partial glory by Price and Porcello.

 

We can afford to go out and trade for a power rental at the deadline (or before if available), but other than 3B, I don't see a position for one.

 

How many big and burly 40 HR 3Bmen are available?

 

Could we make a three team trade and give up Moreland to one team and Vaz to another and get a big 1Bman?

 

Is that enough to give up for a 2 month rental with big impact poser?

[Kimmi]

There are a lot of very mediocre numbers in the Sox lineup. Some of these guys need to start producing , regardless of their spot in the order. If they don't , no amount of tinkering with the lineup will matter.

 

Tinkering of the line up makes very little difference.

 

The bottom line is that these guys have to start producing like they are capable of producing. Saying that the team misses Ortiz is just an excuse. Of course the team misses him, but his absence is not the reason the offense has looked as futile as it has on some nights.

[Kimmi]

On a different note, I read a nice article this morning regarding Pedroia's leadership, about how he asked Beni to move in with him and took the youngster under his wing.

 

I read a lot of comments on here about how Pedroia is not a leader, but all the comments that I read from people who are actually in the clubhouse with him say otherwise.

[Spudboy]

it's a couple of buds for me. I'm happy when we win for sure but I can't help thinking that we just look like a small team in general comprised of a bunch of pretty good little singles hitters. Our size looks like Mooreland, Sandoval, and Ramirez and that does not impress me. I'm a little concerned that if our good little hitters start thinking that they need to start powering up, they won't continue to hit their singles. We need at least one more power bat in that lineup.

 

But what does any of this have to do with having a drink?

[Spudboy]

I got tickets to the Astros series. I'm glad they finally lost. Keuchel is out, so we may catch a break there.

 

Wow. That sounds like fun.

[SoxHop]

We are middle of the pack in runs scored in the ALE, 7th I beleive. And I think 3rd in runs allowed.

 

This team could do what they have been doing and tread water and may get into the WC spot. If two of the following of E-Rod, Price, or Porcello get rolling and are healthy, we can stay in contention. If the batting gets two clicks better...... we move to first.

 

But yea, a big stick would be nice. Or if Hanley could just get his head out of his ass.

 

I think their is a lot of parity going on in the ALE. Every team just isn't that good or at least has major holes. Houston with the execption, and even then if they were in the ALE things would be different.

 

But damn....... this season is just so hard to watch these games...... some of them are like having a root canal..

[Station 13]

I got tickets to the Astros series. I'm glad they finally lost. Keuchel is out, so we may catch a break there.

 

Keuchel doesn't need to be out, starters are catching a break nights after nights against this team.

[moonslav59]

We are middle of the pack in runs scored in the ALE, 7th I beleive. And I think 3rd in runs allowed.

 

This team could do what they have been doing and tread water and may get into the WC spot. If two of the following of E-Rod, Price, or Porcello get rolling and are healthy, we can stay in contention. If the batting gets two clicks better...... we move to first.

 

But yea, a big stick would be nice. Or if Hanley could just get his head out of his ass.

 

I think their is a lot of parity going on in the ALE. Every team just isn't that good or at least has major holes. Houston with the execption, and even then if they were in the ALE things would be different.

 

But damn....... this season is just so hard to watch these games...... some of them are like having a root canal..

 

We've had some nice comeback wins this year. We've had a few late game heroics.

 

We can't seem to put together anything long-lasting. Maybe last night's win will spark something substantial.

[Fisk]

We've had some nice comeback wins this year. We've had a few late game heroics.

 

We can't seem to put together anything long-lasting. Maybe last night's win will spark something substantial.

 

Keep thinking they are ready to take off and then they lose 2 in a row. Need to get Betts and Hanleys bats going, when that happens we should go on a roll.

[moonslav59]

Keep thinking they are ready to take off and then they lose 2 in a row. Need to get Betts and Hanleys bats going, when that happens we should go on a roll.

 

Agreed.

 

I suppose one of Betts or HRam could "get going" along with JBJ having one of his torrid stretches, or maybe Pedey or Beni catching on fire.

 

We could also just see everyone stepping it up just a little bit all at the same time.

 

Something has to change for the good.

[Fisk]

Agreed.

 

I suppose one of Betts or HRam could "get going" along with JBJ having one of his torrid stretches, or maybe Pedey or Beni catching on fire.

 

We could also just see everyone stepping it up just a little bit all at the same time.

 

Something has to change for the good.

 

I'm with you.