Sox hitting??

[moonslav59]

Beni has less than 100 career PA's against lefties. Isn't that what you refer to as a tiny sample?

 

He had okay splits. In the minors but not great. He looks way overmatched vs lefties and we can't afford to let him "adjust & develop" and see if his first -100 are a fluke.

[Bellhorn04]

He had okay splits. In the minors but not great.

 

His 2016 splits were good.

[moonslav59]

His 2016 splits were good.

 

Small sample size. LOL!

[oldtimer]

He had okay splits. In the minors but not great. He looks way overmatched vs lefties and we can't afford to let him "adjust & develop" and see if his first -100 are a fluke.

 

I agree with you on this. It has to be about winning now and not about any long term impact on individuals. I have been saying the same about Bogaerts who has been hitting weakly for an extended period. I would rest him tonight as well. Interesting that JF has decided to go with Devers against this tough left hander. We will see what he can do. There aren't a lot of options on the team that are hitting well now so Young will play and I believe Leon as well.

[moonslav59]

I'd DL Bogey and play Devers & Nunez FT.

[Larry Cook]

I'd DL Bogey and play Devers & Nunez FT.

 

Could not agree more. Bogey is not healthy and not the same hitter since he got beaned in Tampa.

[oldtimer]

I'd DL Bogey and play Devers & Nunez FT.

 

We got beat 4 to 2 last night and did that getting 2 for 3 and a walk to Nunez and Devers got a double with Young a triple. The guys who got nothing were Bogaerts (big surprise), Pedey and Hanley. JF is stubborn in his approach with Bogaerts and unwilling to give the guy some needed time off.

 

It seems the spat on the plane marks a milestone for the team more interested in being quarrelsome than in winning games. If I were JH, I would throw in the towel and not spend big to try to solve the many problems this team has this year. There is obvious doubt about reaching even a wild card berth and no hope about a WS win, so start to think about the team going forward.

 

We have some nice pieces in Betts, Pedey, Beni, Bradley and Devers. Leon and Hanley are acceptable unless better come along. The pitcing is very good and should offer enough going forward. Weed out a few while strengthening with a few new arms. Clearly we need additional power so perhaps can find that at first base. We also need to rethink our utility players. Since these guys are fill-ins we can't expect world beaters, but they should be flexible and at least not be total losses at the plate. We have a lot of those guys right now and should weed down to those who offer the most promise going forward. Long term guys with a history of health or other problems should be let go.

 

Leadership is missing on the team and JF and some coaches aren't getting it done. Got to be dispassionate about things and get rid of management and players who can't or won't pull their weight. That includes the guys who act like cancers, if we have any of those.

 

Any long term contracts should be limited to 4 or 5 years. We should take the consequences if a player isn't okay with that. Only offer those to guys who are proven players.

 

DD's vision for the team appears to have been strong pitching first. He made the Price acquisition, which was questionnable especially in length of contract for an ageing star. He also got very unlucky with a couple of relievers. I am not ready to dismiss his contribution to the team as I don't really know the constraints he has been under with the Luxury tax reset and the need to eat big contracts of players previously signed.

 

Maybe we should call on Ortiz to advise on the roster selections. A positive attitude is needed on the club and from one who is respected for his long term performance and engaging personality.

[jacksonianmarch]

You cannot throw in the towel on this year. Let me reiterate that, throwing in the towel on this year would effectively damn DD to the firing squad, and I'm sure he's not interested in being let go again. Prior to 2016, the sox had a top 5 farm system. Since that point, Margot, Espinosa, Asuaje, Guerra, Allen, Kopech, Moncada, Basabe, Dubon, Pennington and Shaw have been dealt. To top that off, you won 90+ games last year and even with your struggles, sit in WC position and a half game out of the ALE race this year. If you sell, you aren't selling much. The assets that would bring back the best return aren't guys you'll sell and the assets you want to sell have no value. You're stuck. This is your window. DD has decimated the farm and your next wave is 3-4 years away and is fronted by an injury prone lefty with a family history of drug trafficking. While your team amassed talent, it was devoid of leadership. But, talent usually wins out. You cannot throw in the towel, trust me. If the sox start selling off parts, then your entire FO will get canned

[Nick]

You cannot throw in the towel on this year. Let me reiterate that, throwing in the towel on this year would effectively damn DD to the firing squad, and I'm sure he's not interested in being let go again. Prior to 2016, the sox had a top 5 farm system. Since that point, Margot, Espinosa, Asuaje, Guerra, Allen, Kopech, Moncada, Basabe, Dubon, Pennington and Shaw have been dealt. To top that off, you won 90+ games last year and even with your struggles, sit in WC position and a half game out of the ALE race this year. If you sell, you aren't selling much. The assets that would bring back the best return aren't guys you'll sell and the assets you want to sell have no value. You're stuck. This is your window. DD has decimated the farm and your next wave is 3-4 years away and is fronted by an injury prone lefty with a family history of drug trafficking. While your team amassed talent, it was devoid of leadership. But, talent usually wins out. You cannot throw in the towel, trust me. If the sox start selling off parts, then your entire FO will get canned

 

Our window of opportunity has not changed. We should be adding pieces not selling off. One thing is clear though, you can't fall in love with guys simply because they came up through the system. I'm perfectly happy with Chris Sale. He didn't grow up in our system. We were talking about extending Xander and Betts this spring. Be careful. Baseball is a game where success is measured by minimizing failures (you are applauded for hitting .300 but you fail 7 out of 10 time). It's easier to bet on losing than winning.

 

Power matters in today's game. We can't ignore it. This can't be a team full of singles hitters. Your run production will suffer.

Edited July 29, 2017 by Nick

[Bellhorn04]

Anagram: Sox hitting = Ox s***ing

[S5Dewey]

You cannot throw in the towel on this year. Let me reiterate that, throwing in the towel on this year would effectively damn DD to the firing squad, and I'm sure he's not interested in being let go again. Prior to 2016, the sox had a top 5 farm system. Since that point, Margot, Espinosa, Asuaje, Guerra, Allen, Kopech, Moncada, Basabe, Dubon, Pennington and Shaw have been dealt. To top that off, you won 90+ games last year and even with your struggles, sit in WC position and a half game out of the ALE race this year. If you sell, you aren't selling much. The assets that would bring back the best return aren't guys you'll sell and the assets you want to sell have no value. You're stuck. This is your window. DD has decimated the farm and your next wave is 3-4 years away and is fronted by an injury prone lefty with a family history of drug trafficking. While your team amassed talent, it was devoid of leadership. But, talent usually wins out. You cannot throw in the towel, trust me. If the sox start selling off parts, then your entire FO will get canned

 

Whoa just a minute there!

 

I usually take Jax comments with a grain of salt but this one steps over the line. Tell me, what does a player's family history have to do with his performance? This is nothing but a cheap shot intended to disparage a player who may be trying to get out of a bad situation. I thought Jax was better than that.

[Bellhorn04]

Whoa just a minute there!

 

I usually take Jax comments with a grain of salt but this one steps over the line. Tell me, what does a player's family history have to do with his performance? This is nothing but a cheap shot intended to disparage a player who may be trying to get out of a bad situation. I thought Jax was better than that.

 

Eh, the deal with Groome's father is something Sox fans have already been jabbering about.

[jacksonianmarch]

So a teenager who just got drafted has a drug trafficking father. Who do you think he learned the ropes of life from?

[Bellhorn04]

So a teenager who just got drafted has a drug trafficking father. Who do you think he learned the ropes of life from?

 

Well, Woody Harrelson became a pretty good actor instead of a hit man like his dad.

[bowman]

So just to prove how this game can change, Espinosa is having Tommy John surgery and Pom has settled into the rotation very nicely. The kid is still a teenager and hopefully he comes back strong. This is why if we have to include a player like Groome (Not that I want to) in a package to get that power bat we need, we have to do it. This line up needs a jolt, but if management wants to stand pat and give the kids another year to mature, well then do it. We all are right now in wonder how the killer bees sting and kill then go dormant. Bogey to me is a real disappointment but much has to do with injuries.

[notin]

So a teenager who just got drafted has a drug trafficking father. Who do you think he learned the ropes of life from?

 

Josh Donaldson's father is in prison. If the Yankees acquired Donaldson, can we assume you'd be equally outraged?

[notin]

Well, Woody Harrelson became a pretty good actor instead of a hit man like his dad.

 

Woody Harrelson is a good actor?

[Bellhorn04]

Woody Harrelson is a good actor?

 

I went with 'pretty good'. I thought he was actually great in True Detective.

[notin]

Beni has less than 100 career PA's against lefties. Isn't that what you refer to as a tiny sample?

 

The team might as well let Benintendi face lefties. He needs to learn and his replacements aren't exactly putting up numbers anyone is going to miss..

[Spudboy]

The team might as well let Benintendi face lefties. He needs to learn and his replacements aren't exactly putting up numbers anyone is going to miss..

 

I agree.

 

He won't be able to side step lefties for his entire career.

[cp176]

The team might as well let Benintendi face lefties. He needs to learn and his replacements aren't exactly putting up numbers anyone is going to miss..

 

i totally agree with this. Trying to go exclusively lefties vs righties and righties vs lefties just doesn't make sense to me. I'm also opposed to what I think is an absolute over abundance of shifts that I constantly see our infielders in. All things in moderation. A time and a place so to speak.

[a700hitter]

The platoon situation is not working. Young is not fulfilling his role.

[Station 13]

So a teenager who just got drafted has a drug trafficking father. Who do you think he learned the ropes of life from?

 

Just cut this s*** already.

[moonslav59]

Just cut this s*** already.

 

Our guys are doomed before they even get a start.

 

No wonder some players avoid Boston like the plague.

[a700hitter]

Josh Donaldson's father is in prison. If the Yankees acquired Donaldson, can we assume you'd be equally outraged?

Thankfully, his mother kept him away from his father and wouldn't let his father take him with him while he was living a life of crime on the run. Hopefully, the Red Sox did their homework and Groome had as little to do with his lowlife father.

[moonslav59]

The team might as well let Benintendi face lefties. He needs to learn and his replacements aren't exactly putting up numbers anyone is going to miss..

 

Now that we have Nunez, the equation has changed.

 

While Young has been disappointing vs LHPs this year, he was a top 10 batter vs LHPs for a the previous 3 year window- a large enough sample size to think there is more hope he can regains his touch than a hope that Beni can grow, adjust or develop suddenly into a decent hitter vs LHPs.

 

I realize Beni was OK vs lefties on the farm, but Young and Nunez have shown they can hit lefties better over a much larger sample size.

 

Plus, as bad as Young has been vs LHPs, he's still been better than Beni this year with that split.

 

2014-2017 vs LHPs

.834 Young

.698 Nunez

.525 Beni

 

(.783 Castillo in more PAs vs LHPs than Beni)

 

Only 23 players out of 518 MLB players have more PAs and a worse OPS vs LHPs than Beni since 2014.

 

Yes, it would be nice to "let him develop", but we can't afford that right now. We have better hitters vs LHPs and we need to get our best batters in the line-up everyday we can.

[Emp9]

Woody Harrelson is a good actor?

 

He took over for "Coach" and Cheers didn't miss a beat. s*** actually got even funnier.

[Larry Cook]

Nunez saves the day!

[moonslav59]

Busting out of the slump.

 

I'm thinking this is the beginning of a long hot streak.

 

[a700hitter]

Busting out of the slump.

 

I'm thinking this is the beginning of a long hot streak.

 

I hope that you are right, but I am not so optimistic about the offense. Betts and Bogaerts still look lackluster. Moreland is still sucking. I saw nothing very encouraging from Benintendi.