Sox hitting??

[Kimmi]

I'll tell you what I liked about last night's (2-1 win over Houston) hitting. The Sox played in Philly the night before, and in the first two innings and good scoring opportunities and actually hit the ball hard--but right to someone--with RISP. Vazquez it's true had a GIDP, but Houston had 3 of them. Bogaerts really struggled last night, but we know he is a good hitter.

 

What is hurting the Sox in the hitting department is being dead last in the AL in dingers but leading the AL in GIDP.

 

Moonslav is probably right the hitting will improve, but no one should claim it will be as good as last year. Improvement, whatever it is, could be enough because the Sox right now have the 3d best won-loss record in the AL and the 5th best in MLB. The pitching is saving this team, and I think it's fair to say that's the first time that's happened in the John Henry era now in its 15th or 16th season.

 

Being last in dingers and first in DPs is probably fairly strongly correlated. Lots of baserunners, lots of contact without homeruns equals lots of DPs.

 

No one expected the offense to be as good as last year's offense, but it should be better than what it has been to date. The hope was that the improvement in pitching would balance out the loss in offense. Lately, that philosophy appears to be working.

[moonslav59]

Ko o

 

I think of looking at UZR like looking at home runs (or any counting stat). If Bogaerts hit 25 one year and 30 the next, that's measurable improvement. Using DRS is like comparing home run ranking. If Bogaerts was 5th in the AL one year seventh in the AL the next, did he get worse or better?

 

(Note: I mistakenly said 2014 not 2015 in earlier posts.(

 

Fair enough point, but it did look like Bogey improved in 2015, and I hoped it would continue.

 

Maybe 2015 was a fluke. Who knows?

 

I do think the fluctuation was more than say 25 to 30 HRs and then back to 25.

 

UZR/150:

-3.7 2014

+0.9 2015

-2.8 2016

-0.4 2017

 

DRS

-9 2014

-1 2015

-10 2016

-6 so far in 2017

 

Widen the sample sizes somewhat:

 

2013-2015: 11th out of 24 and 15th out of 31 in UZR/150 at +1.0

-8 DRS in 2293 innings

 

2016-2017: 17th out of 27 in UZR/150 at -2.0

-16 DRS in 1938 innings

 

I get your point about rankings depending on how good the other SSs are, but clearly Bogey was better defensively by a significant amount from 2013 to 2015, especially in DRS.

 

While the UZR/150 numbers are pretty close, the sample sizes are large enough to show that no improvement has occurred, and a slight regression appears to have taken place on defense.

 

One would expect a SS his age to get better over the last 2 years.

 

He has not.

 

 

.

[moonslav59]

Being last in dingers and first in DPs is probably fairly strongly correlated. Lots of baserunners, lots of contact without homeruns equals lots of DPs.

 

No one expected the offense to be as good as last year's offense, but it should be better than what it has been to date. The hope was that the improvement in pitching would balance out the loss in offense. Lately, that philosophy appears to be working.

 

The defense seems to be doing better than April and early May.

 

Despite the last two days, our hitting has improved over April as well:

 

OPS:

 

.716 April

.791 May

.782 last 28 days

.826 last 7 days

 

Perhaps more importantly, the rise in OPS has been fueled mostly by our surging SLG:

 

April .381

May: .440

Last 28 days: .432

Last 7 days: .464

 

HRs

15 in April (24 games) .625 HR/gm

33 in May (28 games) 1.18 HR/gm

16 in June (15 games) 1.07 HR/gm

 

[notin]

Being last in dingers and first in DPs is probably fairly strongly correlated. Lots of baserunners, lots of contact without homeruns equals lots of DPs.

 

No one expected the offense to be as good as last year's offense, but it should be better than what it has been to date. The hope was that the improvement in pitching would balance out the loss in offense. Lately, that philosophy appears to be working.

 

Lost among all the complaints about the Sox' inability to hit home runs is that the tram is 1 game out of first with the third best record in the AL..

[moonslav59]

Lost among all the complaints about the Sox' inability to hit home runs is that the tram is 1 game out of first with the third best record in the AL..

 

Yeah, but it kind of scary to have so few HRs in the new HR era.

[cp176]

Yeah, but it kind of scary to have so few HRs in the new HR era.

 

I'm not sure that it is scary but it is very odd. I'm happy that the team has played as well as they have but I still think that there is a great lack of power in this lineup. Coming from behind to win games becomes much more difficult when what you are sending to the plate are singles hitters for the most part. To be a real contender they need another real power bat in the lineup. They don't grow on trees and our recent luck with respect to trades makes me think that we should sit tight, take our lumps and find our own power guy. About the trades - I liked the Pomeranz for Espinoza trade when it happened and I luck it more now.

[Nick]

I'm not sure that it is scary but it is very odd. I'm happy that the team has played as well as they have but I still think that there is a great lack of power in this lineup. Coming from behind to win games becomes much more difficult when what you are sending to the plate are singles hitters for the most part. To be a real contender they need another real power bat in the lineup. They don't grow on trees and our recent luck with respect to trades makes me think that we should sit tight, take our lumps and find our own power guy. About the trades - I liked the Pomeranz for Espinoza trade when it happened and I luck it more now.

 

We've been fortunate with our bullpen this year. Kimbrel just has been lights out.

 

1B, 3B and DH spots need to be power positions. Our lack of production at 3B and even at DH is killing us offensively.

 

Front office is delusional thinking we have enough bats, we don't.

[oldtimer]

Lost among all the complaints about the Sox' inability to hit home runs is that the tram is 1 game out of first with the third best record in the AL..

 

Even the most optimistic of Red Sox fans must feel concern about their lack of hitting after 3 games where they have faced pitchers with ERA's of 4.5 or higher and have only managed to score a total of 3 runs. Last night it was 3 hits and 5 base runners for the night with the maximum number of hits of any player was 1. The whole reason we have an entry about Red Sox hitting is the continuing lack of run production and power that this team gets into. One pitcher having a great night against them is understandable but 3 in a row is not, at least to me. The team has many players with BAs over 270 yet they can put up 10 players or more in a row without sniffing a hit. In the words of an old Chinese philosopher, Sum Ting Wong.

 

I don't know what to blame when this kind of thing occurs since it seems to be team wide. Are they just exhausted? Are they not getting good hitting coaching? Is their leadership unable to motivate the team? Betts and Pedroia have been their best recently while Bogaerts and Beni both seem to be slumping again. Is it time to kick ass? I don't have any answers but can see a real problem here.

[cp176]

Even the most optimistic of Red Sox fans must feel concern about their lack of hitting after 3 games where they have faced pitchers with ERA's of 4.5 or higher and have only managed to score a total of 3 runs. Last night it was 3 hits and 5 base runners for the night with the maximum number of hits of any player was 1. The whole reason we have an entry about Red Sox hitting is the continuing lack of run production and power that this team gets into. One pitcher having a great night against them is understandable but 3 in a row is not, at least to me. The team has many players with BAs over 270 yet they can put up 10 players or more in a row without sniffing a hit. In the words of an old Chinese philosopher, Sum Ting Wong.

 

I don't know what to blame when this kind of thing occurs since it seems to be team wide. Are they just exhausted? Are they not getting good hitting coaching? Is their leadership unable to motivate the team? Betts and Pedroia have been their best recently while Bogaerts and Beni both seem to be slumping again. Is it time to kick ass? I don't have any answers but can see a real problem here.

 

What I hope they don't start doing is pressing anymore than they already do. I just don't think that they will morph into something that they aren't. There are plenty of good solid little bats in this lineup. The problem seems to be that they might be too little. If you are getting 5 or 6 hits a night, if they are all singles, you might not be scoring enough runs to compete for a title regardless of how good your pitching is.

[cp176]

We've been fortunate with our bullpen this year. Kimbrel just has been lights out.

 

1B, 3B and DH spots need to be power positions. Our lack of production at 3B and even at DH is killing us offensively.

 

Front office is delusional thinking we have enough bats, we don't.

 

I agree with you but I have kind of resigned myself to just believing that this team is what it is. I really don't want to see them go out and make a trade for any of the guys whose names have been mentioned here. I would hate to see it but I would move Devers right on up to the big club before I would waste any single asset that we have on an average third baseman who may or may not be an upgrade over a combination of Rutledge/Marrero - God did I really just say that.

[Bellhorn04]

Lost among all the complaints about the Sox' inability to hit home runs is that the tram is 1 game out of first with the third best record in the AL..

 

This is just wrong. We're 1 game out of first because the Yankees are in a skid and we've won some close games thanks to an incredible run by our bullpen.

 

But even the board's paragons of patience are puzzled and concerned by our ongoing run-scoring issues.

[Nick]

I agree with you but I have kind of resigned myself to just believing that this team is what it is. I really don't want to see them go out and make a trade for any of the guys whose names have been mentioned here. I would hate to see it but I would move Devers right on up to the big club before I would waste any single asset that we have on an average third baseman who may or may not be an upgrade over a combination of Rutledge/Marrero - God did I really just say that.

 

Yeah, you just threw up a little in your mouth.

[devildavid]

There really isn't a major problem with hitting. The Sox run differential avg. is .4, which is third overall in the AL. You only need to score more runs than you allow. There is room for improvement, but the offense is sufficient to win more games than they lose.

[Bellhorn04]

There really isn't a major problem with hitting. The Sox run differential avg. is .4, which is third overall in the AL. You only need to score more runs than you allow. There is room for improvement, but the offense is sufficient to win more games than they lose.

 

Yes, we're winning more than we're losing thanks to our pitching. But if issues develop with our pitching we'll be in trouble. And those issues are potentially there, with Porcello looking lost, E-Rod out for a while, and Price still somewhat of an unknown.

[Nick]

Yes, we're winning more than we're losing thanks to our pitching. But if issues develop with our pitching we'll be in trouble. And those issues are potentially there, with Porcello looking lost, E-Rod out for a while, and Price still somewhat of an unknown.

 

Basically we have one reliable starting pitcher. Wheels can come off at any minute.

 

3B MUST BE FIXED.

[Nick]

The injury, Farrell has said, began when Ramirez turned to address someone before Thursday’s game.

 

Can we suspend the reporter that asked the question behind Hanley' line of sight? JFC, talk about a wall flower.....I didn't know he was such a drama queen. To John F., it maybe TRUE what you said, but can you come up with a better excuse?

 

 

The real culprit is the object sitting on top of his shoulders.

[moonslav59]

I'm officially concerned about the hitting now. This 3 game stretch, which is a tiny sample size has tipped the scales for me.

 

I still think we can win without great hitting, but I no longer see us as having a chance to finish in the top 5 in runs scored this year. We may be lucky to finish top 8.

 

I had expected us to start "warming up", but the recent trend does not support that position anymore.

 

I still think we have a good chance at winning it all, but it probably won't be on the backs of our hitters.

[moonslav59]

The injury, Farrell has said, began when Ramirez turned to address someone before Thursday’s game.

 

Can we suspend the reporter that asked the question behind Hanley' line of sight? JFC, talk about a wall flower.....I didn't know he was such a drama queen. To John F., it maybe TRUE what you said, but can you come up with a better excuse?

 

The real culprit is the object sitting on top of his shoulders.

 

On a personal note, I let myself get way out of shape over the years. I got a scare from the doctor in February and was told I was pre-diabetic. I started working out at the gym and got to the point where I was working out 13 out of 14 days (70-90 minutes a day- mostly on the treadmill or elliptical). I have lost close to 44 pounds in about 4 months.

 

About a week ago, I was just sitting in my chair, and I twisted to grab my laptop off the table next to me. I felt a sharp spam in my mid back/side area. I was hurting bad for about 5 days. It still bother me a little now, but I have been back to the gym for 3 straight days.

 

Just saying, no real excuse is needed. Injuries can happen almost anytime- anywhere-anyhow.

[Emp9]

On a personal note, I let myself get way out of shape over the years. I got a scare from the doctor in February and was told I was pre-diabetic. I started working out at the gym and got to the point where I was working out 13 out of 14 days (70-90 minutes a day- mostly on the treadmill or elliptical). I have lost close to 44 pounds in about 4 months.

 

About a week ago, I was just sitting in my chair, and I twisted to grab my laptop off the table next to me. I felt a sharp spam in my mid back/side area. I was hurting bad for about 5 days. It still bother me a little now, but I have been back to the gym for 3 straight days.

 

Just saying, no real excuse is needed. Injuries can happen almost anytime- anywhere-anyhow.

 

Getting out of shape is easy to do and so is tweaking your back. I nearly broke my ankle a while back ( about 2 months before Swihart nearly broke his in LF if I remember correctly) from a freak fall doing yard work. I wasn't all that mobile after that, but I've been hitting the gym 3 days a weeks on the regular since late January. Mostly lifting for that time ( I've never been great on the bench press, but i've been improving lately), mixing in a little cardio on the elliptical. I've been adding cardio more and more though as of late. Cardio is getting easier than ever before for me, due to a lot of exceptional 'Leg Days' over the past half year I must say. I gained a lot of muscle weight, but now I'm looking to drop the bad weight without losing too much muscle. It's ... tricky.

 

Dropping 11 lbs a month, that's pretty impressive Moon! Nice job. I don't know if it already exists, but I was thinking of starting a fitness/nutrition (inc. supplements) thread on here. I'm not sure if anyone else would be interested in that though. Any poster interested in that kind of thread, please say so.

[Emp9]

Ok, there is such a thread buried deep on here. I'll have to catchup on it.

[oldtimer]

On a personal note, I let myself get way out of shape over the years. I got a scare from the doctor in February and was told I was pre-diabetic. I started working out at the gym and got to the point where I was working out 13 out of 14 days (70-90 minutes a day- mostly on the treadmill or elliptical). I have lost close to 44 pounds in about 4 months.

 

About a week ago, I was just sitting in my chair, and I twisted to grab my laptop off the table next to me. I felt a sharp spam in my mid back/side area. I was hurting bad for about 5 days. It still bother me a little now, but I have been back to the gym for 3 straight days.

 

Just saying, no real excuse is needed. Injuries can happen almost anytime- anywhere-anyhow.

 

I have a similar issue being overweight as kind of a big person. I have dropped from 235 to 226 and have more to do. I play softball 3 days a week and can still compete but am in my later 70's now so carrying so much weight means its a double instead of a triple. The key is to remain active and perhaps as important is to have good genes.

[moonslav59]

Getting out of shape is easy to do and so is tweaking your back. I nearly broke my ankle a while back ( about 2 months before Swihart nearly broke his in LF if I remember correctly) from a freak fall doing yard work. I wasn't all that mobile after that, but I've been hitting the gym 3 days a weeks on the regular since late January. Mostly lifting for that time ( I've never been great on the bench press, but i've been improving lately), mixing in a little cardio on the elliptical. I've been adding cardio more and more though as of late. Cardio is getting easier than ever before for me, due to a lot of exceptional 'Leg Days' over the past half year I must say. I gained a lot of muscle weight, but now I'm looking to drop the bad weight without losing too much muscle. It's ... tricky.

 

Dropping 11 lbs a month, that's pretty impressive Moon! Nice job. I don't know if it already exists, but I was thinking of starting a fitness/nutrition (inc. supplements) thread on here. I'm not sure if anyone else would be interested in that though. Any poster interested in that kind of thread, please say so.

 

I burn 1500 calories on the treadmill over 62-68 minutes, according to the machine's readings. I do light lifting and crunches afterwards, followed by 2-4 leisurely laps in pool as "cool down".

 

I had gotten up over 295. I'm at 251 now. I'm trying to get down to 210-220.

[harmony]

For years I would gain 20 pounds in even-numbered years and lose 20 pounds in odd-number years ... until this year.

 

I had been trail running four mornings a week and doing yoga, light lifting and stair-climber three mornings a week until I had three toenails removed nine weeks ago. Since then I had only ridden my bicycle occasionally until going on a Father's Day run with my daughters this morning. I am sore. Deteriorating hips should limit my future running. I'm on a wait list for a Learn to Row class and may resume lap swimming when my toes heal.

 

I'm 23 pounds heavier now than I was when I ran my 15th and final marathon shortly after my 60th birthday in October 2015.

 

Wishing everyone good health.

[devildavid]

Yes, we're winning more than we're losing thanks to our pitching. But if issues develop with our pitching we'll be in trouble. And those issues are potentially there, with Porcello looking lost, E-Rod out for a while, and Price still somewhat of an unknown.

 

No, we're winning because on average we score more runs than we give up. Both sides contribute to the equation.

[Spudboy]

On a personal note, I let myself get way out of shape over the years. I got a scare from the doctor in February and was told I was pre-diabetic. I started working out at the gym and got to the point where I was working out 13 out of 14 days (70-90 minutes a day- mostly on the treadmill or elliptical). I have lost close to 44 pounds in about 4 months.

 

About a week ago, I was just sitting in my chair, and I twisted to grab my laptop off the table next to me. I felt a sharp spam in my mid back/side area. I was hurting bad for about 5 days. It still bother me a little now, but I have been back to the gym for 3 straight days.

 

Just saying, no real excuse is needed. Injuries can happen almost anytime- anywhere-anyhow.

 

f***. That sucks Moon.

[Bellhorn04]

No, we're winning because on average we score more runs than we give up. Both sides contribute to the equation.

 

Our offense has been mediocre and our pitching has been excellent. Does that mean the offense has been doing its job? It was expected to be better than mediocre.

[Kimmi]

Even the most optimistic of Red Sox fans must feel concern about their lack of hitting after 3 games where they have faced pitchers with ERA's of 4.5 or higher and have only managed to score a total of 3 runs. Last night it was 3 hits and 5 base runners for the night with the maximum number of hits of any player was 1. The whole reason we have an entry about Red Sox hitting is the continuing lack of run production and power that this team gets into. One pitcher having a great night against them is understandable but 3 in a row is not, at least to me. The team has many players with BAs over 270 yet they can put up 10 players or more in a row without sniffing a hit. In the words of an old Chinese philosopher, Sum Ting Wong.

 

I don't know what to blame when this kind of thing occurs since it seems to be team wide. Are they just exhausted? Are they not getting good hitting coaching? Is their leadership unable to motivate the team? Betts and Pedroia have been their best recently while Bogaerts and Beni both seem to be slumping again. Is it time to kick ass? I don't have any answers but can see a real problem here.

 

Frustration over the lack of hitting? Yes. Concern over the lack of hitting? No.

 

I still believe that the talent is there. For whatever reason, they all tend to go into these funks at the same time. Of course adding another bat would help, but more importantly, we need the bats that we have to perform up to their talent levels.

[Kimmi]

This is just wrong. We're 1 game out of first because the Yankees are in a skid and we've won some close games thanks to an incredible run by our bullpen.

 

But even the board's paragons of patience are puzzled and concerned by our ongoing run-scoring issues.

 

The Yankees being in a skid of course helps, but we still need to win our games while they're skidding. We've been able to make up ground because we are winning. Does it matter how we're winning?

 

As for being puzzled and concerned about our run scoring issues, I am puzzled but I am not yet concerned.

[Kimmi]

Yes, we're winning more than we're losing thanks to our pitching. But if issues develop with our pitching we'll be in trouble. And those issues are potentially there, with Porcello looking lost, E-Rod out for a while, and Price still somewhat of an unknown.

 

Issues can always develop for any team. I think our offense has been largely underperforming, yet the team is in very good shape in the standings.

 

Hopefully, the offense gets their heads out of their butts soon. I really don't think it's a lack of talent.

[Kimmi]

I'm officially concerned about the hitting now. This 3 game stretch, which is a tiny sample size has tipped the scales for me.

 

I still think we can win without great hitting, but I no longer see us as having a chance to finish in the top 5 in runs scored this year. We may be lucky to finish top 8.

 

I had expected us to start "warming up", but the recent trend does not support that position anymore.

 

I still think we have a good chance at winning it all, but it probably won't be on the backs of our hitters.

 

And, I'm now a gang of one.