A Realistic View at 2017 Part III

[moonslav59]

What about Cosart instead of Nunez? Similar players but Cosart has a better defense. Both have about the same $ valuation. I do believe Devers will improve. He has the tools but needs to have his head more in the game. Bogey is who he is. Not a great defender but acceptable. I would think his hitting can be brought around. I am not stuck on Duda. Maybe DD will find a better overall player.

 

Personally, I am coming to believe that one of our best fielders is just too much of a project in the batters box. Maybe it is time to see what kind of replacement we can get in Center Field.

 

Cozart has just one big offensive year. I'm not sure I trust that.

 

Do we then move Bogey to 2B?

 

Back to 3B, and Devers to 1B?

 

Too complicated.

 

I might sign Cozart, if we trade Bogey for Votto or Stanton.

[illinoisredsox]

Bogaerts has two problems.

 

1) he can't recognize a slider (this is not unique to this season, it's been a career long issue)

2) he gets tired

 

I don't know what they can do about #1. If we know it, he knows it and the coaching staff knows it. Personally, I think he needs to start thinking aggressively from pitch 1. If the pitcher throws a get me over fast ball down the middle on the first pitch, hammer it. Make the pitcher have to make a great pitch. Stay away from 0-2 and 1-2 counts,

 

As for number 2, the Sox need to stop playing him every inning of every game from opening day through June (slight exaggeration but not far off of reality). Give him one day a week off. Couple it with off days so he actually has 2 days off. Maybe he'll be a little fresher in July and August and not go off the cliff every year,

[oldtimer]

Cozart has just one big offensive year. I'm not sure I trust that.

 

Do we then move Bogey to 2B?

 

Back to 3B, and Devers to 1B?

 

Too complicated.

 

I might sign Cozart, if we trade Bogey for Votto or Stanton.

 

I see Cosart as more of a Nunez type. Play him at 2nd 70 to 80 games a year. DH him some and let him back up Bogey to keep him fresher. I am leaning toward something to be done aboutJBJ. He has been around long enough to see his pattern. Great defensive player but very long periods of deep slumps. i think the team can find better. The question to me is whether a new hitting coach could wake some of these guys up or they are beyond help.

[moonslav59]

The slumps are annoying, but the guy ends up with decent numbers year after year, since that bad start. His defense makes up for a .675 OPS and he's over .730 now, even with all the prolonged slumps.

 

Speaking of OPS, with Bogey having the big game, and JBj slumping, they've passed each other on the top Sox OPS list:

 

.800 Betts

.788 Beni

.767 Pedey

.759 Moreland

.749 HRam

.747 Vaz

.743 Bogey

.733 JBJ

 

Still just a .067 differential from top to bottom.

 

Isn't "no black holes" wonderful?

 

Sometimes, we need to be careful what we wish for.

 

 

[moonslav59]

Bogaerts has two problems.

 

1) he can't recognize a slider (this is not unique to this season, it's been a career long issue)

2) he gets tired

 

You forgot #3:

 

At worst, he's a slightly below average defender at a position where defense matters mightily.

 

 

Plus, people talk about JBJ being a slumper. If you look at Bogey's ups and downs, he's worse.

 

[moonslav59]

It would be great, if the offense many of us thought would be top 3 to 5 in MLB this year, would hit like they did tonight from here on out.

[Bellhorn04]

It would be great, if the offense many of us thought would be top 3 to 5 in MLB this year, would hit like they did tonight from here on out.

 

I hate to say it but it's more likely that Estrada just had a bad night last night.

[oldtimer]

I hate to say it but it's more likely that Estrada just had a bad night last night.

 

We will see when they face Houston pitching starting tonight.

[Bellhorn04]

I must say Bogaerts' body language looked really good last night. He looked amped. Maybe he's finally feeling 100% health-wise again. We could really use some production from him.

[SoxnCycles]

I hate to say it but it's more likely that Estrada just had a bad night last night.

 

Yup, they'll score 2 runs against Peacock tonight.

[moonslav59]

Yup, they'll score 2 runs against Peacock tonight.

 

I live just southwest of Houston. I've been waiting for Peacock to come down to earth all year.

 

It begins tonight.

[moonslav59]

I must say Bogaerts' body language looked really good last night. He looked amped. Maybe he's finally feeling 100% health-wise again. We could really use some production from him.

 

Bogey's been bringing up the rear in Sox OPS (8th out of 8 top PA players) until last night.

 

He's now 7th, but he's about one more big game away from moving to 4th or 5th- assuming those above him don't also have big games.

[Bellhorn04]

Yup, they'll score 2 runs against Peacock tonight.

 

Yes, we need to get the reverse lock mojo going!

[mvp 78]

Yup, they'll score 2 runs against Peacock tonight.

 

Peacock has been pretty good this year. He's a high k guy. I think the Sox lose tonight and the Yanks win. Sox win and Yanks lose on Friday. Champagne is popped.

[oldtimer]

Bogey's been bringing up the rear in Sox OPS (8th out of 8 top PA players) until last night.

 

He's now 7th, but he's about one more big game away from moving to 4th or 5th- assuming those above him don't also have big games.

 

Could be just pride and determination. He has looked better and better for about a week. Good time to straighten things out.

[Slasher9]

Yup, they'll score 2 runs against Peacock tonight.

 

Damn u!!!!!

[SoxnCycles]

Damn u!!!!!

 

Even I didn't think the game would be THAT ugly!

 

The Sox game or watching GB wipe the floor with Da Bears.

What a choice.

[moonslav59]

Yay! Tampa Bay!

[Bellhorn04]

Yay! Tampa Bay!

 

And Yay Girardi...Joe managed last night's game like he wanted to lose it.

[notin]

Bogaerts has two problems.

 

1) he can't recognize a slider (this is not unique to this season, it's been a career long issue)

2) he gets tired

 

I don't know what they can do about #1. If we know it, he knows it and the coaching staff knows it. Personally, I think he needs to start thinking aggressively from pitch 1. If the pitcher throws a get me over fast ball down the middle on the first pitch, hammer it. Make the pitcher have to make a great pitch. Stay away from 0-2 and 1-2 counts,

 

As for number 2, the Sox need to stop playing him every inning of every game from opening day through June (slight exaggeration but not far off of reality). Give him one day a week off. Couple it with off days so he actually has 2 days off. Maybe he'll be a little fresher in July and August and not go off the cliff every year,

 

Bogaerts' real biggest problem is expectations. They were crazy high and he hasn't lived up.

 

Xander's career numbers are slightly better than those of Yankee shortstop Didi Gregorious. And while Xander hasn't lived up to his BA ranking hype, Yankee fans are pleasantly surprised since they didn't think Gregorious would hit this well. Yet the Sox fan remain slightly disappointed despite actually having the better player of the two and didn't have to trade a closer to get him...

[mvp 78]

Bogaerts' real biggest problem is expectations. They were crazy high and he hasn't lived up.

 

Xander's career numbers are slightly better than those of Yankee shortstop Didi Gregorious. And while Xander hasn't lived up to his BA ranking hype, Yankee fans are pleasantly surprised since they didn't think Gregorious would hit this well. Yet the Sox fan remain slightly disappointed despite actually having the better player of the two and didn't have to trade a closer to get him...

 

Everyone kept yelling about how he'd develop power and he'd outgrow SS. Maybe he's just a lanky SS that won't hit a ton of HR's? Is that the worst thing in the world? When he is hitting well to all fields, he's a fun player to watch.

[notin]

Everyone kept yelling about how he'd develop power and he'd outgrow SS. Maybe he's just a lanky SS that won't hit a ton of HR's? Is that the worst thing in the world? When he is hitting well to all fields, he's a fun player to watch.

 

It absolutely is not the worst thing in the world and you're correct about him. He is a fun player when spraying the ball all over.

 

He's a good shortstop who might never develop into a great one. But right now, his biggest problem is everyone expected him to.

 

If he was an unranked prospect, would fans like him more or less? We can compare him to Youkilis, who was never ranked by anyone and not even in MLB when he was Xander's current age. How well would that have helped Youk's rep if he was ranked in the top 20 by BA yet not in MLB by age 24? And how we would we have liked his lack of power as a corner infielder?

 

But since he came up with very little in the way of expectations, we had nothing to weigh Youk against and judged him solely as the player he was...

Edited September 29, 2017 by notin

[Carpin]

And Yay Girardi...Joe managed last night's game like he wanted to lose it.

 

Sad, but true

[Bellhorn04]

Sad, but true

 

I don't understand why he didn't have his best relievers lined up. The 3 previous games were blowouts for the Yankees. And he could see that we were getting hammered. Strange.

[Carpin]

I don't understand why he didn't have his best relievers lined up. The 3 previous games were blowouts for the Yankees. And he could see that we were getting hammered. Strange.

 

He's the only one who understands what he did

 

It was a very winnable game, from the Yankees perspective, just put a lot of pressure in the Sox and force Farrell to use his BP and use his best players the rest of the way. I have supported Girardi all the way, but his decision yesterday was terrible, he waited too long to pull Sonny and then sending his "B" or "C" reliever was terrible, a 7 runs inning is most of the time in the manager

[notin]

I don't understand why he didn't have his best relievers lined up. The 3 previous games were blowouts for the Yankees. And he could see that we were getting hammered. Strange.

 

It is possible Girardi has conceded the division title and is resting relievers and starters. After Tanaka today, the weekend has them starting Jamie Garcia and Jordan Montgomery. No CC, who hasn't pitched since Monday and will see Montgomery start twice in that span.

 

It does line Severino up for the WC game...

[mvp 78]

It is possible Girardi has conceded the division title and is resting relievers and starters. After Tanaka today, the weekend has them starting Jamie Garcia and Jordan Montgomery. No CC, who hasn't pitched since Monday and will see Montgomery start twice in that span.

 

It does line Severino up for the WC game...

 

Nessie called him up and told him about the lock. Even Girardi isn't enough of a fool to ignore Nessie.

[notin]

Nessie called him up and told him about the lock. Even Girardi isn't enough of a fool to ignore Nessie.

 

He's not so silly as to realize it would take a miracle, And while miracles do happen, they don't necessarily leave your pitching staff equipped to face Cleveland or Houston.

 

He probably thinks he's better off facing Minnesota for one game at home with Severino and going forward from there. If he burns out his staff and doesn't win the division, he'll be at a disadvantage because Minnesota will be resting theirs.

 

Even Farrell is doing the same thing. How many of those releivers used last night are even going to make the post-season roster? Maybe Barnes. Anyone else?

[mvp 78]

He's not so silly as to realize it would take a miracle, And while miracles do happen, they don't necessarily leave your pitching staff equipped to face Cleveland or Houston.

 

He probably thinks he's better off facing Minnesota for one game at home with Severino and going forward from there. If he burns out his staff and doesn't win the division, he'll be at a disadvantage because Minnesota will be resting theirs.

 

Even Farrell is doing the same thing. How many of those releivers used last night are even going to make the post-season roster? Maybe Barnes. Anyone else?

 

Abad and Maddox are on the playoff bubble.

[notin]

Abad and Maddox are on the playoff bubble.

 

Abad is certainly on the bubble. I doubt Maddox is.

 

Hembree is certainly on the bubble, and probably more likely than Maddox...