Sox hitting??

[notin]

When you are in the top 5 with respect to the number of hits you have and in the bottom 5 with respect to the number of runs that you have scored with respect to both leagues, what would be a logical conclusion? It might tell someone that it looks as though that as good as our players look athletically, we lack run producers.

 

Another possibility is that the Sox have only played 20 games. Those numbers could easily change in one week.

 

But the overall picture should be wins, not runs. Are the Sox winning or not?

 

 

And throughout the entire month of April, the only team the Sox have played that is more than 1 game below .500 is Toronto, and they might be the biggest underachievers the first month of the season...

[cp176]

I hear your counters to my statements and i hope that you are right. It is still a disturbing trend. i hope that it changes. it seems like a very unusual trend but maybe it isn't.

[SinceYaz]

I hear your counters to my statements and i hope that you are right. It is still a disturbing trend. i hope that it changes. it seems like a very unusual trend but maybe it isn't.

 

The talking heads on tv the other day were noting how empty high BAs are, when one looks at the Red Sox and the fact that the team BA is 11 points higher than any one else's but the run production was so low. I can tell you that I feel MUCH better about a team that is hitting well and not (yet) scoring than a team that is hitting poorly and not yet scoring. I am, however, disturbed by the oddity. I think the runs must be coming ...

[notin]

The talking heads on tv the other day were noting how empty high BAs are, when one looks at the Red Sox and the fact that the team BA is 11 points higher than any one else's but the run production was so low. I can tell you that I feel MUCH better about a team that is hitting well and not (yet) scoring than a team that is hitting poorly and not yet scoring. I am, however, disturbed by the oddity. I think the runs must be coming ...

 

One of the biggest issues with team batting average as a stat is that it is helped by hitting into double plays.

 

After a while those 1 for 3 innings instead of 1 for 4 innings.start adding up...

[Bellhorn04]

One of the biggest issues with team batting average as a stat is that it is helped by hitting into double plays.

 

After a while those 1 for 3 innings instead of 1 for 4 innings.start adding up...

 

Now there's a point I've never even considered before. But that applies to OBP too, doesn't it?

[notin]

Now there's a point I've never even considered before. But that applies to OBP too, doesn't it?

 

It certainly can. If DPs give the team fewer plate appearances, it could have a slight benefit.

 

It won't be as large as the effect on team batting average. .

[jad]

Yup. The best way to cut down on those rally-killing double plays is to ensure that you don't get on base.

[Nick]

Yup. The best way to cut down on those rally-killing double plays is to ensure that you don't get on base.

 

apparently Sox hitting coach didn't get the memo about it's all about hitting fly balls now. Let's hope our clean up DH making $20M per year continues to hit hard into dirt/grass.

[Bellhorn04]

Yup. The best way to cut down on those rally-killing double plays is to ensure that you don't get on base.

 

LOL very well played.

[Kimmi]

Since this thread is labeled hitting, I will confine myself to that topic. I have been disappointed by the season to date and had hoped for more with the guys we have. I find it difficult to play the pollyanna for this team as I don't see a clear way forward to be competitive.

 

True, we have Beni actually performing perhaps better than expected with in excess of a 320 average and on pace for between 15 and 20 HRs. Betts will hit and still has the ultra quick bat. Pedey is still a pro and I expect he will hit but perhaps with reduced power as he ages, Moreland is hitting better than i expected. Good signing by DD. Bogearts will hit but I don't expect a lot of power.

 

The problem I have is with the rest of the starters. Rameriz tends to be erratic and I postulate he missing Ortiz presence to keep his spirit up. Hope he can produce in the DH role and give us 150 games. JBJsaid he worked on his hitting this off season. What I see so far is he is not seeing the ball and cutting at ptches outisde the strike zone. He still has that long, looping swing designed to hit homers but he has to make contact to do that. His problem is he doesn't put the bat on the ball. Sandoval is a free swinger with some power when he makes contact. Again, he doesn't make enough contact to help the team. Hernandez does have plate discipline and would have a decent average but we wouldn't get the long ball a third baseman should provide. Leon appears to be back to his normal hitting which is not major league quality. Vazquez has been better but you wonder if he could keep it up.

 

What i see so far is a team that is a middle of the pack American League team in the runs scored area. We need to get JBJ going although I don't hold a lot of hope for him since he has not made improvements year to year. We need to decide on 3rd base. Preferably we need a 3rd baseman that can hit with power. We currently don't have one. our DH needs to produce regularly. Maybe bring Ortiz back in some capacity would help Rameriz. Our catchers need to hit their weight going forward. Even with those areas improved, we still do not have a lot of power bats.

 

Right now I see at best a team that is average in the RBI race in the American league. I don't think that is good enough to land us in the playoffs.

 

I understand your concerns Oldtimer. What we have seen so far offensively does not instill a lot of confidence in us. At this point in the season, I am not concerned. The team is getting on base, and that usually translates into runs. The Playoff Party Bus will be ready to go in October.

[Kimmi]

Kimmi, the way I look it, whether I'm optimistic or pessimistic doesn't really matter. That statement might end up looking stupid, hopefully.

 

Don't worry, I'm not going to end up going all Pumpsie.

 

I just have a feeling that somewhat unrealistic expectations were placed on this team. You take away David Ortiz and you leave a core of position players that's very young, aside from Pedroia. They may be feeling a lot of pressure.

 

Unrealistic expectations in what sense? Anyone who thought the Sox would dominate and run away with the division might have had unrealistic expectations. Thinking that this team is a playoff team is not an unrealistic expectation by any means.

 

The point about many players being young is valid. We need Pablo!

[Kimmi]

Yup. The best way to cut down on those rally-killing double plays is to ensure that you don't get on base.

 

LOL Nice.

[SoxHop]

Kimmi, the way I look it, whether I'm optimistic or pessimistic doesn't really matter. That statement might end up looking stupid, hopefully.

 

Don't worry, I'm not going to end up going all Pumpsie.

 

I just have a feeling that somewhat unrealistic expectations were placed on this team. You take away David Ortiz and you leave a core of position players that's very young, aside from Pedroia. They may be feeling a lot of pressure.

 

This right here..... is how a level minded Canadian freaks out....

 

 

It's subtle, but Bell just freaked out only a few games into the season....

[Kimmi]

This right here..... is how a level minded Canadian freaks out....

 

It's subtle, but Bell just freaked out only a few games into the season....

 

LOL SoxHop. You have to keep your eye on those crazy Canadians.

 

They're sneaky freakers.

[SoxHop]

LOL SoxHop. You have to keep your eye on those crazy Canadians.

 

They're sneaky freakers.

 

ahahahahahha...... we need to watch those crazy Curling .... slash hockey loving people..... Bell is one of the good ones......... but you can never tell with those people..

[SoxHop]

LOL SoxHop. You have to keep your eye on those crazy Canadians.

 

They're sneaky freakers.

 

Kimmi.....

 

Keep me sane this season.......... I think I called you crazy yesterday...... but that's just me................ you are my rock........ I dig you big time........

 

I'm probably going to go back to crazy mode............... it's who I am........

 

 

if I rant and post total crap......... im not doing it against you...... I'm just stupid.... and kind of aweseomely smart and incredible........ but a bit stupid when I post...... you hear me????????

Edited April 30, 2017 by SoxHop

[Bellhorn04]

ahahahahahha...... we need to watch those crazy Curling .... slash hockey loving people..... Bell is one of the good ones......... but you can never tell with those people..

 

I like hockey...Sidney Crosby grew up about 10 miles from me...but I love baseball.

 

I like the Red Sox, not the Jays.

 

You might think that makes me an atypical Canadian, but from what I've observed there are a lot of my kind, here in part of the country at least. A lot of us Halifax folks have made the trip to Fenway numerous times...it's always been a popular destination for people here because it's not really that far away...you can drive there in about 11 or 12 hours.

Edited April 30, 2017 by Bellhorn04

[cp176]

Yup. The best way to cut down on those rally-killing double plays is to ensure that you don't get on base.

 

You nasty little thing. Couldn't you have said it with a little more of your literary flair?

[SoxHop]

I like hockey...Sidney Crosby grew up about 10 miles from me...but I love baseball.

 

I like the Red Sox, not the Jays.

 

You might think that makes me an atypical Canadian, but from what I've observed there are a lot of my kind, here in part of the country at least. A lot of us Halifax folks have made the trip to Fenway numerous times...it's always been a popular destination for people here because it's not really that far away...you can drive there in about 11 or 12 hours.

 

Nice easy 12 hour drive you have there.

 

I'm now stuck on something. Why baseball>? You know your stuff too....

 

Different strokes for folks I get it. I'm a Mainer that can't skate. Hockey is foreign to me.

[dgalehouse]

Home runs are nice, and they do, obviously, correlate positively to runs scored. However, OBP still has a higher correlation with scoring runs than hitting home runs does.

 

The Sox have the 5th best OBP in baseball. They are 26th in runs scored. It's an enigma, or bad luck, or randomness if you prefer, that the Sox haven't scored more runs.

 

The runs will come.

I agree the runs will come. But they will come when the power hitting improves. OBP is a useful stat, but it is flawed . A walk or weak single is just as good as a double or home run. Obviously , that does not make sense. Bogaerts is a good example. He is working on his OBP by going to the opposite field. Good , but he is sacrificing power. You certainly want guys to get on base , but you do need guys to drive them in too. The Sox have numerous guys with home run power. When they start displaying it , the runs will come.

[devildavid]

Before I take the time to respond to some of the other posts more specifically, you guys need to RELAX! It's been one month. Good teams have months in which they scuffle all the time.

 

Last year, the team was 10-16 in the month of June.

In 2013, the team was 15-15 in May.

In 2008 when we won 95 games, the team was 11-13 in July.

In 2007, the team was 13-14 in June.

 

The fact that it's the first month of the season makes the 'scuffling' seem a little more dire than it is, but all things considered, things are not that bad. If we win today, we'll finish the month at 13-11. If we lose, we finish at an even .500.

 

I'm with you. This team will score plenty of runs. I'm disappointed but certainly not in panic mode.

[cp176]

There is one helluva difference between being concerned and disappointed and being in panic mode. There is a middle ground and really that is where I hear most of the disgruntled folks are living - including me.

[a700hitter]

I am not in panic mode, but I don't expect this team to produce the same number of runs as it did last year with Big Papi. Losing 40 HRs, 115 RBI, the league leader in Xtra basehits will have an effect. He was also a pretty good OBP guy.

[cp176]

I like hockey...Sidney Crosby grew up about 10 miles from me...but I love baseball.

 

I like the Red Sox, not the Jays.

 

You might think that makes me an atypical Canadian, but from what I've observed there are a lot of my kind, here in part of the country at least. A lot of us Halifax folks have made the trip to Fenway numerous times...it's always been a popular destination for people here because it's not really that far away...you can drive there in about 11 or 12 hours.

 

I met a number of Canadians from Ontario this winter. Great people that became good friends. i had no idea how important hockey was to Canada. thought we were enthusiastic about our games but we don't have anything on the Canadians. The consensus among them was though that John Gibbons is a joke and should be gone.

[jad]

You nasty little thing. Couldn't you have said it with a little more of your literary flair?

 

f***in'-A HANLEY! (how's that?)

[Kimmi]

Kimmi.....

 

Keep me sane this season.......... I think I called you crazy yesterday...... but that's just me................ you are my rock........ I dig you big time........

 

I'm probably going to go back to crazy mode............... it's who I am........

 

 

if I rant and post total crap......... im not doing it against you...... I'm just stupid.... and kind of aweseomely smart and incredible........ but a bit stupid when I post...... you hear me????????

 

Actually, you called me a dumbazz yesterday, but at times, I can't really argue with that.

 

I hear you though. We all get a little crazy when it comes to our Sox.

[Bellhorn04]

We've got the talent to be a good offense. Just need guys to stay healthy and get it going.

[Bellhorn04]

I met a number of Canadians from Ontario this winter. Great people that became good friends. i had no idea how important hockey was to Canada. thought we were enthusiastic about our games but we don't have anything on the Canadians. The consensus among them was though that John Gibbons is a joke and should be gone.

 

I was a hockey nut when I was a kid. Bobby Hull was my favorite player and the Hawks were my team. Then old Bobby started up his own freakin' league, the WHA, and never played in the NHL again. That really soured me on hockey.

[Kimmi]

I agree the runs will come. But they will come when the power hitting improves. OBP is a useful stat, but it is flawed . A walk or weak single is just as good as a double or home run. Obviously , that does not make sense. Bogaerts is a good example. He is working on his OBP by going to the opposite field. Good , but he is sacrificing power. You certainly want guys to get on base , but you do need guys to drive them in too. The Sox have numerous guys with home run power. When they start displaying it , the runs will come.

 

Fair enough point that doubles and home runs will score more runs than singles, but OBP still correlates with scoring runs better than SLG does. The point being, you have to get on base first, which our team is doing at a good clip.

[cp176]

f***in'-A HANLEY! (how's that?)

 

Ok Jad - I'm liking it now. Most of us can live in two worlds. good job - gets the proverbial touche from me!!!