Farrell

[devildavid]

Out of 29 LF'ers with 450+ innings in LF, Beni placed 15th in UZR/150 at +1.3.

 

+1.3 RngR

-0.8 ErrR

+0.9 UZR

 

He's 18th in UZR at -4.6.

 

He's 6th in DRS at +9.

 

Looks pretty close to average, despite all the gaffs.

 

 

So is he a problem defensively? Or do his good plays balance out his bad plays? Average would suggest they do. If he had too many gaffs he should come out with a negative rating.

[devildavid]

The only time I saw Betts do it was when he had a big lead and the ball was hit very slowly to the SS.

 

Getting thrown out at 3B by 4 or more feet is bonehead, especially with 0 or 2 outs.

 

Is it smart with one out?

[SoxHop]

So is he a problem defensively? Or do his good plays balance out his bad plays? Average would suggest they do. If he had too many gaffs he should come out with a negative rating.

 

He's a good ball player that could be much better without all the stupid stuff he does. Is that hard to understand?

 

I never go here. But I'm really just wondering how you can't see this. Do you watch the games? Because I can't fathom anyone who watched Benni play not see he does lots of total boneheaded stuff...

[bosoxmal]

His not starting Devers in Game 2 may be the last straw. The kid comes up in the toghest spot of his life and hoists on 320 feet. Making JF look like what? A jackass would be my answer. Sweet talker, lousy manager. GET DAVID BACK HERE! That would put some energy on this bench.

[moonslav59]

Is it smart with one out?

 

No, but it's doubly dumb to make the first or third out at 3B, when it can be avoided.

[moonslav59]

So is he a problem defensively? Or do his good plays balance out his bad plays? Average would suggest they do. If he had too many gaffs he should come out with a negative rating.

 

So, making 101 great plays and 100 bonehead ones would be okay with you? No problems at all.

 

Just lessen the bonehead plays, Beni, and be a clear plus out there in LF.

 

I actually think it's easier to correct boneheadedness than lack of speed or skill.

 

I'm hopeful we see much less LF blunders next year.

[devildavid]

So, making 101 great plays and 100 bonehead ones would be okay with you? No problems at all.

 

Just lessen the bonehead plays, Beni, and be a clear plus out there in LF.

 

I actually think it's easier to correct boneheadedness than lack of speed or skill.

 

I'm hopeful we see much less LF blunders next year.

 

Yup, that's ok with me as long as it balances out and a winning record is the result.

[a700hitter]

Nope. I'm against the aggressive base running philosophy. I question that massive amounts of boneheaded plays occurred. And if the evidence is presented for massive amounts of boneheaded plays being made it must also then be demonstrated how many wins it cost the team.

You are conflating aggressive play with poor fundamentals which just leads to a fatuous discussion. If you are okay with poor fundamentals if it doesn't cost your team runs, that is okay. I think that is just bad baseball that can't be justified.

[devildavid]

I think where the defense really needs improvement is the left side of the infield. 3b was particularly terrible and has not even improved with Devers who at least can hit.

[SoxHop]

His not starting Devers in Game 2 may be the last straw. The kid comes up in the toghest spot of his life and hoists on 320 feet. Making JF look like what? A jackass would be my answer. Sweet talker, lousy manager. GET DAVID BACK HERE! That would put some energy on this bench.

 

Man...... I've grown to love that you love Ortiz and think he should be the manager. And I have to agree with you about the Devers not playing idea.

 

Imagine that....... Ortiz standing on that first step spitting seeds watching the game as manager................. that would be a beautiful thing....

[devildavid]

You are conflating aggressive play with poor fundamentals which just leads to a fatuous discussion. If you are okay with poor fundamentals if it doesn't cost your team runs, that is okay. I think that is just bad baseball that can't be justified.

 

If bad baseball doesn't stop the team from winning it is not a concern.

 

Or it could be that those who claim they observed bad baseball did not see as much of it as they thought.

 

Or some combination of both.

[moonslav59]

Yup, that's ok with me as long as it balances out and a winning record is the result.

 

And, you see no problem that should be fixed, even if those 100 blunders led to 5 losses that could have been avoided?

 

Well, he won 5 games with great plays, so the 5 losses don't matter at all, right?

 

How about being +5 instead of net zero.

[moonslav59]

If bad baseball doesn't stop the team from winning it is not a concern.

 

 

A team should always strive to improve on its weak areas, even weak areas of net plus players.

[S5Dewey]

So if sloppy baseball can win the division why do fundamentals matter? Baseball must be a very random sport.

 

I'm not going to engage with you because all you want to do is be a jerk. Have (yet another) very nice day.

[a700hitter]

If bad baseball doesn't stop the team from winning it is not a concern.

 

Or it could be that those who claim they observed bad baseball did not see as much of it as they thought.

 

Or some combination of both.

Yeah that makes sense. Bad baseball is not a concern if you win. Sounds like a sustainable strategy and a good example for the organization. Honestly, that is beyond stupid.

[devildavid]

And, you see no problem that should be fixed, even if those 100 blunders led to 5 losses that could have been avoided?

 

Well, he won 5 games with great plays, so the 5 losses don't matter at all, right?

 

How about being +5 instead of net zero.

 

It doesn't really work that way.

[S5Dewey]

It doesn't really work that way.

 

Yup. There goes his credibility! LOL

[devildavid]

Yeah that makes sense. Bad baseball is not a concern if you win. Sounds like a sustainable strategy and a good example for the organization. Honestly, that is beyond stupid.

 

What does what you call bad baseball actually cause? If bad baseball is what wins the division then I guess bad baseball is a great strategy. Or maybe bad baseball is a subjective assessment.

[a700hitter]

What does what you call bad baseball actually cause? If bad baseball is what wins the division then I guess bad baseball is a great strategy. Or maybe bad baseball is a subjective assessment.

Go argue stupid somewhere else. Maybe you should go defend Girardi on a Yankee board.

[Spudboy]

No. Is Beni an overall negative on defense?

 

No, I don't believe that he is and did not say so.

 

Of course if you are serious about finding that answer you should speak with our defensive metric Gurus as they know everything about baseball.

[cp176]

No, I don't believe that he is and did not say so.

 

Of course if you are serious about finding that answer you should speak with our defensive metric Gurus as they know everything about baseball.

 

If you don't believe that then you need to listen more closely to how they constantly pat themselves on their backs as they continue to condescend to us mere mortal no-nothings! lol

[a700hitter]

If you don't believe that then you need to listen more closely to how they constantly pat themselves on their backs as they continue to condescend to us mere mortal no-nothings! lol

Us dopes that think playing good fundamental baseball is a good thing.

[cp176]

Us dopes that think playing good fundamental baseball is a good thing.

 

Their approach is just a little like that old blind squirrel stuff we old dubs talk about. Just like that old blind squirrel finds that gd acorn now and then, you can still win by playing poorly and stupidly because the game is just so random. lol

It does happen but we still opt for at least trying to play the game the right way.

Maybe when I grow up I will get smarter. I'm just so close minded.

[devildavid]

Their approach is just a little like that old blind squirrel stuff we old dubs talk about. Just like that old blind squirrel finds that gd acorn now and then, you can still win by playing poorly and stupidly because the game is just so random. lol

It does happen but we still opt for at least trying to play the game the right way.

Maybe when I grow up I will get smarter. I'm just so close minded.

 

I never claimed that playing sloppy baseball led to a winning record. There are some who claim the Sox played sloppy baseball all season and made a massive amount of boneheaded plays. I question this assessment. And for those who saw massive amounts of boneheaded plays, sloppy play, and a lack of fundamentals, how did the Red Sox manage to win the division? I would have thought you were describing the 1962 New York Mets.

[User Name]

You're pretty good at logical fallacies. Talent can overcome lack of fundamentals, but the point that this team plays bad fundamental baseball shouldn't be ignored. Why shoot for 93 wins when some improvement can lead to a better record and HFA?

[Spudboy]

You're pretty good at logical fallacies. Talent can overcome lack of fundamentals, but the point that this team plays bad fundamental baseball shouldn't be ignored. Why shoot for 93 wins when some improvement can lead to a better record and HFA?

 

But but but....... Home field advantage does not exist!

[cp176]

I never claimed that playing sloppy baseball led to a winning record. There are some who claim the Sox played sloppy baseball all season and made a massive amount of boneheaded plays. I question this assessment. And for those who saw massive amounts of boneheaded plays, sloppy play, and a lack of fundamentals, how did the Red Sox manage to win the division? I would have thought you were describing the 1962 New York Mets.

 

This is really what you do isn't it. First of all, let me just say that I wasn't one who used the word massive amounts of anything when talking about the Red Sox play this year. Suggesting that I was comparing our team to the 62 Mets (no matter how much I loved them) based on anything that I have said in any post that I have made is just ridiculous but certainly indiciitive of the way you do things. I love this team but 'm not going to ignore the fact that they need to do a little better job when it comes to the basic fundamentals of the game.

[devildavid]

You're pretty good at logical fallacies. Talent can overcome lack of fundamentals, but the point that this team plays bad fundamental baseball shouldn't be ignored. Why shoot for 93 wins when some improvement can lead to a better record and HFA?

 

This is the first time anyone claimed that they won because their talent overcame their lack of fundamentals. I don't think the team was as sloppy as others claim. If it was, it is highly unlikely talent alone would overcome it enough to win 93 games. Their numbers don't even show them as the top team left in the playoffs so they are not even the most talented team to make the playoffs. And outside of Beni and Hanley, there is little evidence of massive amounts of boneheaded plays, sloppy play, and lack of fundamentals.

[devildavid]

 

[/b]

This is really what you do isn't it. First of all, let me just say that I wasn't one who used the word massive amounts of anything when talking about the Red Sox play this year. Suggesting that I was comparing our team to the 62 Mets (no matter how much I loved them) based on anything that I have said in any post that I have made is just ridiculous but certainly indiciitive of the way you do things. I love this team but 'm not going to ignore the fact that they need to do a little better job when it comes to the basic fundamentals of the game.

 

So do most MLB teams. There is always room for a "little" improvement.

[User Name]

This is the first time anyone claimed that they won because their talent overcame their lack of fundamentals. I don't think the team was as sloppy as others claim. If it was, it is highly unlikely talent alone would overcome it enough to win 93 games. Their numbers don't even show them as the top team left in the playoffs so they are not even the most talented team to make the playoffs. And outside of Beni and Hanley, there is little evidence of massive amounts of boneheaded plays, sloppy play, and lack of fundamentals.

 

"Outside of Beni and Hanley" means that there was indeed evidence, for one. For two, a quick look at the Fangraphs stats department shows the Sox a mere +5.2 baserunning runs even though they were one of the best base stealing teams in the league, meaning the rest of their baserunning performance was lackluster. The Sox were boneheaded on the bases this year, and both stats and eye test agree.

 

That's just one area presented through quick research. I'm sure I can muster more proof regarding the Sox' overall problems with fundamentals.

 

Also, your point about them "not being the most talented team left in the playoffs" is a horrific strawman. Not once did I compare them to other teams. I said they overcame several fundamental mistakes to win their division because of their talent level. That was the extent of the statement, one I can pretty convincingly present as correct.