Farrell

[oldtimer]

Not only is playing .499 OPS guy Holt dead wrong, batting him lead-off is criminal.

 

JF should be locked up.

 

That being said, watch Holt go 3 for 5 today.

 

he did get 2 today.

[Northern Star]

Oh come on, Holt can't be that bad Holy s***.

[Maxbialystock]

Not only is playing .499 OPS guy Holt dead wrong, batting him lead-off is criminal.

 

JF should be locked up.

 

That being said, watch Holt go 3 for 5 today.

 

If Farrell thinks Nunez needs an off day, which he probably did, the only choice was/is Holt. My guess is he led off today because Farrell didn't want to shift the other guys around and especially didn't want to make any of them lead off. In the event, Holt played a pretty good 2b (better than Nunez) and had 2 hits, the same number as Betts, HanRam, Devers, and Bogaerts had combined.

 

I am not a Holt fan, as you know, but I think you keep forgetting that, as long as Pedroia is on the DL, Holt is the only guy who can backup 2b, 3b, and SS. In a pinch, he can also play 1b or the outfield, but that should normally not happen.

 

You also think it's criminal that JBJ is batting 9th, but he did well there today--again. Indeed, the bottom 2 in the order batted in all five runs and the bottom 4 in the order scored all the runs.

 

Devers was moved back up to the 5th slot today and bombed.

[moonslav59]

If Farrell thinks Nunez needs an off day, which he probably did, the only choice was/is Holt. My guess is he led off today because Farrell didn't want to shift the other guys around and especially didn't want to make any of them lead off. In the event, Holt played a pretty good 2b (better than Nunez) and had 2 hits, the same number as Betts, HanRam, Devers, and Bogaerts had combined.

 

I am not a Holt fan, as you know, but I think you keep forgetting that, as long as Pedroia is on the DL, Holt is the only guy who can backup 2b, 3b, and SS. In a pinch, he can also play 1b or the outfield, but that should normally not happen.

 

You also think it's criminal that JBJ is batting 9th, but he did well there today--again. Indeed, the bottom 2 in the order batted in all five runs and the bottom 4 in the order scored all the runs.

 

Devers was moved back up to the 5th slot today and bombed.

 

I'd play a blindfolded Nunez over Holt, but having Holt leading off is insanity.

 

Didn't want to move anyone around? Nobody has been set in any position all year long.

 

The two hits were nice, but it was still a bad move.

 

BTW, Holt has started 6 of 13 games. Glad to see him get his OPS over .500.

 

JF is a genius!

[Bellhorn04]

I'd play a blindfolded Nunez over Holt, but having Holt leading off is insanity.

 

Didn't want to move anyone around? Nobody has been set in any position all year long.

 

The two hits were nice, but it was still a bad move.

 

BTW, Holt has started 6 of 13 games. Glad to see him get his OPS over .500.

 

JF is a genius!

 

And as we all know, you're never one to judge a player on tiny sample sizes.

[Maxbialystock]

I'd play a blindfolded Nunez over Holt, but having Holt leading off is insanity.

 

Didn't want to move anyone around? Nobody has been set in any position all year long.

 

The two hits were nice, but it was still a bad move.

 

BTW, Holt has started 6 of 13 games. Glad to see him get his OPS over .500.

 

JF is a genius!

 

I honestly think you are missing the big picture, which is the 13 pitchers on the roster. Given that, Holt becomes a necessity even though Farrell now uses him a little more sparingly because of his weak hitting.

 

Nunez had played in 19 straight games, so Farrell gave him the day off and put Holt in there. As it turned out the top part of the order, 1-5, yesterday were pretty unproductive, but the bottom third--Moreland, Leon, and JBJ--really came through. So did Porcello and so did the bullpen.

 

In other words, it was a team win with several ingredients for success and none of them named Devers (or Nunez) for a change. That's good management.

 

About the 8 relievers: I think it's the right move because right now the rotation and the bullpen are a little less reliable than not too long ago. Also, it's hard for me to think of a position player to bring up who can do what Holt can do or at least back up those three infield positions.

[moonslav59]

And as we all know, you're never one to judge a player on tiny sample sizes.

 

The tiny sample size was 2 for 5.

[moonslav59]

I honestly think you are missing the big picture, which is the 13 pitchers on the roster. Given that, Holt becomes a necessity even though Farrell now uses him a little more sparingly because of his weak hitting.

 

Nunez had played in 19 straight games, so Farrell gave him the day off and put Holt in there. As it turned out the top part of the order, 1-5, yesterday were pretty unproductive, but the bottom third--Moreland, Leon, and JBJ--really came through. So did Porcello and so did the bullpen.

 

In other words, it was a team win with several ingredients for success and none of them named Devers (or Nunez) for a change. That's good management.

 

About the 8 relievers: I think it's the right move because right now the rotation and the bullpen are a little less reliable than not too long ago. Also, it's hard for me to think of a position player to bring up who can do what Holt can do or at least back up those three infield positions.

 

If starting Holt 6 of 13 games is "sparingly", I'd hate to see the "norm".

 

I have no issue with Holt being on the roster when 13 pitchers are also on it. My beef is leading off a .499 hitter with a career OPS hovering around .700. My secondary beef is the 6 starts in 13 games.

 

I honestly think you're missing the point. Yes, Nunez played in 19 straight games, but we had 4 days off since August 2nd, including one just 3 days before this day of rest given by JF. I really cannot accept that Nunez needs 5 days off every 19 days, or for that matter any healthy MLB player.

 

Holt going 2 for 5 reminds me of "Morgan Magic", and that "magic" ran out pretty quickly. It was a dumb move. The notion of "not moving players around" is also hogwash. Nobody on this team has gained any "comfort" by batting in the same slot everyday. JF seems very content moving players here and there, but for some reason, he has a love affair with Brock.

[dannycater]

Holt made a tremendous play at 2b and has filled in adequately. Don't really care if he leads off or not.

[Slasher9]

2-0 count, and that third pitch was also a ball. It's possible JBJ missed a hit and run signal, but I think we would have heard that by now.

indefensible. it did the yankees a huge favor. Betances was way out of sync with his delivery pitching out of stretch. he wasn't close on those first 3 pitches to JBj. he was reverting back to speeding up his delivery too much and couldnt find the plate. that inning needed to play out without cutting down a runner on the basepaths. if it had, we might be discussing how 2 of the yankees vaunted closers now suck. but JF let him off the hook.

[Slasher9]

People sometimes forget how close Dave Roberts came to getting thrown out in 2004. It was so close that a bad umpiring call could have ruined everything. It was a clutch call by that ump.

 

everytime i watch that replay i am nervous the ump is gonna call him out.

[Kimmi]

If starting Holt 6 of 13 games is "sparingly", I'd hate to see the "norm".

 

I have no issue with Holt being on the roster when 13 pitchers are also on it. My beef is leading off a .499 hitter with a career OPS hovering around .700. My secondary beef is the 6 starts in 13 games.

 

I honestly think you're missing the point. Yes, Nunez played in 19 straight games, but we had 4 days off since August 2nd, including one just 3 days before this day of rest given by JF. I really cannot accept that Nunez needs 5 days off every 19 days, or for that matter any healthy MLB player.

 

Holt going 2 for 5 reminds me of "Morgan Magic", and that "magic" ran out pretty quickly. It was a dumb move. The notion of "not moving players around" is also hogwash. Nobody on this team has gained any "comfort" by batting in the same slot everyday. JF seems very content moving players here and there, but for some reason, he has a love affair with Brock.

 

Holt should not be leading off, but it was one game, and it turned out okay. I know that the fact that it turned out okay does not make the decision the right decision, but again, it was only one game. I think that Max has a valid point about not disrupting the rest of the line up, or at least the top guys. That also gave him the L-R-L-R thingy that he likes.

[Bellhorn04]

The tiny sample size was 2 for 5.

 

The tiny sample size I'm referring to, of course, is his 94 plate appearances for the year (89 before yesterday). Normally that would be tiny for you, but I guess if you don't like the player all that stuff goes out the window.

[a700hitter]

I have no problem with Holt. He holds his own with the bat and he is versatile defensively. He is also a pretty heady player who finds ways to contribute.

[Dojji]

I also think it's worth pointing out that Holt got a lot of the bad numbers he has this year while struggling with PCS so judging him based on a period of time when he was playing hurt with a literal brain injury is probably not fair.

[moonslav59]

The tiny sample size I'm referring to, of course, is his 94 plate appearances for the year (89 before yesterday). Normally that would be tiny for you, but I guess if you don't like the player all that stuff goes out the window.

 

No, 89 PAs is a small sample size, but before this year even began, I was saying Holt should never play unless there's an injury.

 

I had him listed as no higher than the third sub off the bench at every position he plays.

 

This year's .499 OPS just helped confirm my pre-season evaluation.

[moonslav59]

Holt should not be leading off, but it was one game, and it turned out okay. I know that the fact that it turned out okay does not make the decision the right decision, but again, it was only one game. I think that Max has a valid point about not disrupting the rest of the line up, or at least the top guys. That also gave him the L-R-L-R thingy that he likes.

 

It wasn't "one game": it was his 5th game leading off! He's also batted 2nd 3 times- supposedly the position you bat your best bat in. That's 9 out of 23 games started with JF pulling a "Morgam Magic" act.

 

Last year, it was 11 out of 76 games batting Holt 1 or 2. I guess JF feels Holt has improved over last year.

[moonslav59]

I also think it's worth pointing out that Holt got a lot of the bad numbers he has this year while struggling with PCS so judging him based on a period of time when he was playing hurt with a literal brain injury is probably not fair.

 

OK, let's be fair:

 

.541 last 14 days

.563 last 28 days

 

This is counting yesterday's 2 for 5. He was lower before that.

 

Yes, tiny sample sizes, but nothing in Holt's pretty long career indicates he'd be a good lead-off or # 2 batter.

[mvp 78]

OK, let's be fair:

 

.541 last 14 days

.563 last 28 days

 

This is counting yesterday's 2 for 5. He was lower before that.

 

Yes, tiny sample sizes, but nothing in Holt's pretty long career indicates he'd be a good lead-off or # 2 batter.

 

Over Holt's pretty long career, he's hit best when at the top of the lineup. His hitting dips when batting anywhere else.

[Bellhorn04]

Holt actually has a higher career OBP than Nunez.

[Maxbialystock]

If starting Holt 6 of 13 games is "sparingly", I'd hate to see the "norm".

 

I have no issue with Holt being on the roster when 13 pitchers are also on it. My beef is leading off a .499 hitter with a career OPS hovering around .700. My secondary beef is the 6 starts in 13 games.

 

I honestly think you're missing the point. Yes, Nunez played in 19 straight games, but we had 4 days off since August 2nd, including one just 3 days before this day of rest given by JF. I really cannot accept that Nunez needs 5 days off every 19 days, or for that matter any healthy MLB player.

 

Holt going 2 for 5 reminds me of "Morgan Magic", and that "magic" ran out pretty quickly. It was a dumb move. The notion of "not moving players around" is also hogwash. Nobody on this team has gained any "comfort" by batting in the same slot everyday. JF seems very content moving players here and there, but for some reason, he has a love affair with Brock.

 

So not so sparingly, granted. From Aug 1 thru yesterday, it might be worth noting, Holt started 7 games and didn't start 10. Of the 7 he started, the Sox lost 1. Of the 10 he didn't start, the Sox lost 2. The Sox record in the 16 games Holt played in July is much spottier, but even there I don't think Holt was a big detriment--any more than the rest of the lineup was. Holt was/is neither the cause of nor the solution to our hitting problems this year which have been manifest. The solution was/is obviously Nunez and Devers.

 

I am not arguing that Holt is any better than you say he is, but I am disagreeing that you have substantive evidence that playing Holt establishes Farrell's malfeasance, ineptitude, idiocy, or whatever you want to call it. And that includes yesterday when Holt replaced Nunez at 2b and lead off. The Sox won, 5-1. Holt's made a nice play on the grounder to his left and got two hits, but he scored 0 runs because the top part of the order wasn't in the mood to drive in runs.

[Slasher9]

we should just bat him 3rd. duh.

[moonslav59]

So not so sparingly, granted. From Aug 1 thru yesterday, it might be worth noting, Holt started 7 games and didn't start 10. Of the 7 he started, the Sox lost 1. Of the 10 he didn't start, the Sox lost 2. The Sox record in the 16 games Holt played in July is much spottier, but even there I don't think Holt was a big detriment--any more than the rest of the lineup was. Holt was/is neither the cause of nor the solution to our hitting problems this year which have been manifest. The solution was/is obviously Nunez and Devers.

 

I am not arguing that Holt is any better than you say he is, but I am disagreeing that you have substantive evidence that playing Holt establishes Farrell's malfeasance, ineptitude, idiocy, or whatever you want to call it. And that includes yesterday when Holt replaced Nunez at 2b and lead off. The Sox won, 5-1. Holt's made a nice play on the grounder to his left and got two hits, but he scored 0 runs because the top part of the order wasn't in the mood to drive in runs.

 

JF was an idiot before Holt came off the DL.

 

He's just driven the point home with Holt.

[moonslav59]

we should just bat him 3rd. duh.

 

Apparently 3rd is less important than 1, 2, 4 or 5, so yeah, 3rd would just be moronic not idiotic.

[Bellhorn04]

What ever happened to the old reasonable moon? He seems to have morphed into seabeachfred somewhere along the line.

[moonslav59]

Over Holt's pretty long career, he's hit best when at the top of the lineup. His hitting dips when batting anywhere else.

 

Last year, he was best 7th and 9th:

 

.777 7th

.771 9th

.718 1st (.318 OBP)

[moonslav59]

What ever happened to the old reasonable moon? He seems to have morphed into seabeachfred somewhere along the line.

 

To me, it seems JF is complete idiot. Only this recent winning stretch has made me a minority of one.

 

3 weeks ago, I was part of a majority.

 

I guess, all of a sudden, in just 3 weeks, JF has become smarter than an imbecile.

[oldtimer]

To me, it seems JF is complete idiot. Only this recent winning stretch has made me a minority of one.

 

3 weeks ago, I was part of a majority.

 

I guess, all of a sudden, in just 3 weeks, JF has become smarter than an imbecile.

 

Virtually no one agreed with me either when I pointed out that they sent old with one out in the ninth and Bradley up. JF risked two outs (which happened) instead of giving Bradley a chance to advance him or drive him in. We were down one. My opinion that was not good baseball and Isand by it.

[Slasher9]

100% if holt doesnt try that steal pitch #4 to JBj is ball four. 1st and 2nd and 1 out. we then have 2 shots to get a basehit to tie the game with nunez and betts all with Betances out of sync. instead he inexplicably and inexcusably sent holt and single handedly killed the game. JF completely mis managed that inning and 100% cost us the game.

[moonslav59]

Virtually no one agreed with me either when I pointed out that they sent old with one out in the ninth and Bradley up. JF risked two outs (which happened) instead of giving Bradley a chance to advance him or drive him in. We were down one. My opinion that was not good baseball and Isand by it.

 

So, we're a minority of 2.