Farrell

[SoxnCycles]

Their OOB is not worse, but their UBR and BsR (overall baserunning) is much worse. They have cost themselves approximately 2 games due to poor baserunning. Despite all of our OOBs, we are about even in baserunning.

 

This is why you can't look at OOBs in and of itself. And our damage comes from GIDP.

 

Thanks for digging deeper. As usual you are correct.

[SoxnCycles]

And this is why I miss Buchholz. I miss his threads.

 

LOL

 

E-Rod is starting to look like Buchholz 2.0!

[Kimmi]

Again, we've had 4 days off in 20, and our roster is as young as I've ever seen it.

 

Yes, Pedey out has forced Holt to play more than anyone (but JF) wants, but with Nunez able to play 2B, I don't see the need to start Holt in 7 out of the last 14 games.

 

Perhaps some of it is also giving Holt the playing time to assess exactly what he will be able to give us. I know he hasn't been that good, but seeing him in the lineup regularly at this point really doesn't bother me. Despite all the days off, some of our guys are banged up. They can use the rest. I'd rather have them rested and fresh at the end of the season.

[moonslav59]

Before the season started, I pointed out how Holt was no longer the second or third best sub at any position. His versatility still had value, but with (DH only) Papi's departure, that value was minimized to some extent. HRam's injury and need to play DH changed that once the season began, and Holt had to deal with health issues as well, but by and large, our everyday players have remained comparatively healthy.

 

My pre-season depth chart (from memory):

 

C: Vaz/Leon, Swihart, (Butler)

1B: Moreland/HRam, Travis,

2B: Pedroia, Hernandez, Rutledge, Holt, Marrero

3B: Pablo, Hernandez, (Devers), Rutledge, Holt, Marrero

SS: Bogey, Hernandez, Marrero, Lin, Holt

LF: Beni, Young, Selsky, Holt

CF: JBJ, (Beni>Young/Selsky LF), Holt

RF: Betts, (Beni>Young/Selsky LF), Holt

DH: HRam/ Young

 

(Note: I obviously had Rutledge over-rated.)

 

[Kimmi]

...and how to avoid bonehead plays.

 

I have agreed with you and others that it is fair to question Farrell and the coaching staff about the more than usual mental gaffes.

[Kimmi]

I'll go you one better - even if Farrell does get canned, we'll be reading the same sort of stuff again next year, just with a new name attached.

 

Good point.

 

How many 'Francoma' critics would like to have him back now?

[Kimmi]

I see what you did there.

 

LOL Scout's honor, I did not read your post before posting the exact same thing.

[mvp 78]

LOL

 

E-Rod is starting to look like Buchholz 2.0!

 

In ERod's first 59 games, he has about 4.6 WAR.

 

For Buch's first 4 year (64 games), he had about 4.7 WAR.

 

Good news is that there are 4 more years of ERod posts until he gets to FA.

[mvp 78]

Good point.

 

How many 'Francoma' critics would like to have him back now?

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2011-baserunning-batting.shtml

 

Back in the good old days when they scored runs and didn't have to lead the league in OOB, you mean?

[Kimmi]

LOL

 

E-Rod is starting to look like Buchholz 2.0!

 

Well, as Bell pointed out with regards to managers, there will always be another pitcher to take Buchholz' place.

[SoxnCycles]

Well, as Bell pointed out with regards to managers, there will always be another pitcher to take Buchholz' place.

 

Or a utility player.

[moonslav59]

Good point.

 

How many 'Francoma' critics would like to have him back now?

 

I was critical of Francoma towards the end, and I did feel like the right thing to do, at that time, was to let him go, but he was no idiot, moron or imbecile. He was a very good manager who lost control of his team while being distracted by more important things in his life.

 

I'd take Terry back in a heartbeat.

 

I'll never want JF back.

[Bellhorn04]

Umm, Young plays LF, too.

 

Beni should be rested vs LHPs with Young playing LF.

 

Holt should be a last resort starter anywhere. His "versatility" is maximized by having him be the last guy on the bench allowing JF to PH and make other moves knowing he has anything but catcher covered.

 

You totally skipped past the point I was trying to make because of your Holt obsession.

[Kimmi]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2011-baserunning-batting.shtml

 

Back in the good old days when they scored runs and didn't have to lead the league in OOB, you mean?

 

They were up there. And they had a low XBT%.

[Kimmi]

Or a utility player.

 

LOL

 

That's the beauty of Red Sox fans. We all have a little bit of 'Fred' in us.

[Bellhorn04]

Perhaps some of it is also giving Holt the playing time to assess exactly what he will be able to give us. I know he hasn't been that good, but seeing him in the lineup regularly at this point really doesn't bother me. Despite all the days off, some of our guys are banged up. They can use the rest. I'd rather have them rested and fresh at the end of the season.

 

Exactly. The guy is trying to come back from concussion/vertigo symptoms that some thought might be career ending. I also think Dombrowski has some input in this.

[mvp 78]

They were up there. And they had a low XBT%.

 

Up there =/= Leading the league

[mvp 78]

Also, they lead the league in runs that year. Maybe XBT% is less important than OOB?

[moonslav59]

Perhaps some of it is also giving Holt the playing time to assess exactly what he will be able to give us. I know he hasn't been that good, but seeing him in the lineup regularly at this point really doesn't bother me. Despite all the days off, some of our guys are banged up. They can use the rest. I'd rather have them rested and fresh at the end of the season.

 

Pedey's been banged up. It took a few days to place him on the DL.

 

HRam has been limited to mostly DH duty.

 

Moreland has been playing injured for a while. Bogey has looked tired.

 

We lost subs, Hernandez & Rutledge, to injuries. Holt missed a lot of time, too.

 

By and large, compared to normal expectations, we've done great with having very few injuries to non-pitchers. especially starters.

 

We had 4 days off for the all star break and returned to action on July 14th. We played double header on the 16th and didn't have a day off until July 27th. However, starting with July 27th, we had 5 days off up to August 17th. That's 5 days in 22 days (23% days off) before beginning our crucial match-ups with the Yanks and Guardians. That alone should have been enough rest for any young player on our team and most prime age players not battling injuries. This isn't a football team. Nobody should have needed non-injury related rest vs NYY & CLE. Nobody.

 

Games started since July 27th (21 games in 26 days):

 

21 JBJ (5 days of rest out of 26 days)

20 Betts (6 days off out of 26)

20 Bogey (6/26)

19 Beni (7 days out of 26 off)

17 HRam (10 out of 26 off-injured for some)

14 Moreland (12 out of 26 off- injured for some)

9 B Holt (17 days off- started more games than Young)

8 C Young (18 our of 26 days off-including the 2 days off given to Beni)

2 Pedroia (Out injured 24 of 26 games)

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

You totally skipped past the point I was trying to make because of your Holt obsession.

 

I'm responding to your point about Beni. Yes, it looks like he benefited by sitting, I guess I should have mentioned I understood your point, but why not respond to my counter point about why JF picked Holt to play LF over Young, who did not start those two games at DH?

 

Beni should have sat 2 games to rest vs a LHP, so Young could play LF not Holt.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm responding to your point about Beni. Yes, it looks like he benefited by sitting, I guess I should have mentioned I understood your point, but why not respond to my counter point about why JF picked Holt to play LF over Young, who did not start those two games at DH?

 

Beni should have sat 2 games to rest vs a LHP, so Young could play LF not Holt.

 

As Kimmi and I have suggested, they seem to be giving Holt extra playing time to try to get him back into game shape, or to see what he has, after missing a lot of time with the kind of injury whose effects can be difficult to assess.

 

I think part of this is the possibility that they may have to release him and bring up Lin or whoever.

 

I really don't think it's because JF has a crush on him.

[moonslav59]

As Kimmi and I have suggested, they seem to be giving Holt extra playing time to try to get him back into game shape, or to see what he has, after missing a lot of time with the kind of injury whose effects can be difficult to assess.

 

I think part of this is the possibility that they may have to release him and bring up Lin or whoever.

 

I really don't think it's because JF has a crush on him.

 

He's a career .700 hitter who can barely play several positions well enough to not be embarrassed. What's there to "find out?"

 

Is he back to being the mediocre sub we expected?

 

Is this the time of the season to experiment?

 

Shouldn't we also be thinking about helping Young find his stride, particularly against LHPs, but also to see if his new found success vs RHPs is for real? Isn't that a more legitimate thing to assess?

 

With HRam and Moreland banged up, and Nunez needed at 2B, I'd think getting Young in stride could be vital to this team's success.

 

 

 

Holt is never going to win the 2B job from Nunez, come playoff time. And WOW, in one breath you say we need to play Holt, and then speak of possibly releasing him in the next. I've never hinted that Holt was so bad as to be DFA'd-- traded, maybe, but not DFA'd.

 

[Kimmi]

Also, they lead the league in runs that year. Maybe XBT% is less important than OOB?

 

No, I'm not sure I can agree with that. That would be like saying that stolen base % is less important than stolen bases.

 

They led the league in runs that year despite their poor baserunning.

[Bellhorn04]

And WOW, in one breath you say we need to play Holt, and then speak of possibly releasing him in the next. I've never hinted that Holt was so bad as to be DFA'd-- traded, maybe, but not DFA'd.

 

It's not uncommon to play guys to see what they have left knowing if they don't look good you'll probably have to release them (like Sandoval). I just mentioned it as a possibility, that's all. It's speculation.

[moonslav59]

It's not uncommon to play guys to see what they have left knowing if they don't look good you'll probably have to release them (like Sandoval). I just mentioned it as a possibility, that's all. It's speculation.

 

I think they know what Holt can do. I guess they may have wanted to see, if he was over the effects of his health issues. That's a fair point, especially with Pedey's playing time at 2B in doubt.

 

I just think it is Young who needs playing time. He's a lefty-killer normally, and needs to find his stride. With out OF locked in, any time an OF'er rests or a DH is needed, I feel it should be Young- not Holt.

[mvp 78]

No, I'm not sure I can agree with that. That would be like saying that stolen base % is less important than stolen bases.

 

They led the league in runs that year despite their poor baserunning.

 

And the Sox are in 1st place this year despite their poor baserunning.

[mvp 78]

Holt is fine on the roster. I think they just need to bring Lin up and drop one of their relievers. Having 13 pitchers is overkill imo.

[Kimmi]

and the sox are in 1st place this year despite their average baserunning.

 

ftfy

[a700hitter]

Their base running is horrendous except for Mookie.

[mvp 78]

I agree with you always 100%

 

ftfy