8/28 - VS Blue Jays

[Maxbialystock]

This team right now's lackadaisical. Not doing anything good right now. They have no urgency at all.

 

You're kidding, right?

[Maxbialystock]

I was joking.

 

Note: had they batted Devers 4th today, he'd have gone 4-4.

 

Nice. I'm smiling again.

[Spudboy]

I took another blood pressure pill when Kimbrel walked the lead off batter.

 

It was an ugly ninth but a win is a win.

[Thunder]

I took another blood pressure pill when Kimbrel walked the lead off batter.

 

It was an ugly ninth but a win is a win.

 

You're over here taking blood pressure pills when you're concerned about me not liking the smell of weed in my dorm room? Get your priorities straight.

[Slasher9]

Puff puff pass. Sox win.

[Maxbialystock]

Big win. A lot of guys contributed, not just Vazquez. Even got thru a semi-disastrous 9th by Kimbrel.

 

I am still impressed with the way Pom battled all six innings. He walked guys, he got hit, he loaded the bases twice, but he mostly got outs when he really needed them and got thru 6 innings, 3 runs, a quality start. Reed looked pretty darn good.

 

So even though moonslav still disagree on some points, I have to say I finally answered the call to stop focusing so much on the 4 losses.

 

All this is good, but it's still a tough road ahead and a tight race for AL East and for 2d best record in the AL.

 

Our next three starters--Sale, Porcello, and ERod--are all three the ones who had disastrous starts last time out. I thought Pom showed some grit tonight and Fister certainly did yesterday. Now these three need to man up. It's time.

 

Despite my back and forth with moonslav, I actually am fine with almost any lineup. I like mine for the reasons stated, but think a bunch of other options could work, including his.

 

The point--his point--is that this is a team worth rooting for.

[Slasher9]

Reed in the 7th looks good. I don't like him in the 8th. Kimbrel needed every one of those runs. Made us sweat like it was 2016.

[moonslav59]

Max, just so you know, I may come off as someone who acts like a know-it-all, but I'm not. I love the Sox as much as you do and have strong opinions like you. I'm critical of JF and have my own philosophy.

 

I'm glad Devers is up. I'd like to see him or someone other than HRam batting 4th or 5th, but as long as we keep winning, I'm happy.

 

Something happened tonight that nobody expected to happen: Vaz just passed Bogey in OPS and Moreland tied Betts....

 

Updated

 

.898 Devers

.794 Nunez

.791 Beni

.784 Pedey

.780 Betts & Moreland

.775 JBJ

.763 HRam

.751 Vaz (next stop: HRam)

.744 Bogey

.482 Holt

 

Also of note, all our top 8 hitters by PAs with the Sox are between .744 and .791.

[a700hitter]

Reed in the 7th looks good. I don't like him in the 8th. Kimbrel needed every one of those runs. Made us sweat like it was 2016.

I think Reed can handle the 8th. And I am not a bit worried about kimbrel. He is human and will give up the occasional run. I am just glad that he had 3 to play with when he finally gave up a couple.

[oldtimer]

Max, just so you know, I may come off as someone who acts like a know-it-all, but I'm not. I love the Sox as much as you do and have strong opinions like you. I'm critical of JF and have my own philosophy.

 

I'm glad Devers is up. I'd like to see him or someone other than HRam batting 4th or 5th, but as long as we keep winning, I'm happy.

 

Something happened tonight that nobody expected to happen: Vaz just passed Bogey in OPS and Moreland tied Betts....

 

Updated

 

.898 Devers

.794 Nunez

.791 Beni

.784 Pedey

.780 Betts & Moreland

.775 JBJ

.763 HRam

.751 Vaz (next stop: HRam)

.744 Bogey

.482 Holt

 

Also of note, all our top 8 hitters by PAs with the Sox are between .744 and .791.

 

Facts like the OPS seasonal numbers are interesting but I still like to go by observation of how the guys are doing of late. Are they hot or at least making solid contact. We won't know about JBJ when he returns nor Pedey, as they have been away from live pitching for a while (in Pedeys case sing July 28th). I like the idea of front loading the team with solid contact hitters and moving Hanley to the back end at least temporarily. Vaz night indicates that he should get more PAs and more time in the lineup. If we have to bring up a 3rd catcher to make that a possibility, then do it. Our entire utility outfield core is not solid at the plate at this point whether it be Holt, Davis or Young. Fortunately, we are 3 days away from the Sept callup so just maybe the Sox will help themselves or we will get our players back off the DL.

[jad]

They really need to get rid of the "save" statistic, which is bogus (as proved by Kimbrel's performance last night). It would be fine (it's only a statistic--you could equally record how many pitchers throw a strike on a 1-1 count), if agents and GMs didn't value players according to it, and worse, if managers didn't put in relievers based on it. (The notion that a closer should only be used in a "save" situation.)

[Slasher9]

I think Reed can handle the 8th. And I am not a bit worried about kimbrel. He is human and will give up the occasional run. I am just glad that he had 3 to play with when he finally gave up a couple.

 

i hear you on Kimbrel. he's been absolutly lights out this season so it was nice that he had the full cushion when he hit the bump last night.

as for Reed...i know its a sss but in the handful or so games that he pitched in the 8th inning for us he has given up 437 HR's. i'm OK with him being our 7th inning guy for the time being.

[Bellhorn04]

They really need to get rid of the "save" statistic, which is bogus (as proved by Kimbrel's performance last night). It would be fine (it's only a statistic--you could equally record how many pitchers throw a strike on a 1-1 count), if agents and GMs didn't value players according to it, and worse, if managers didn't put in relievers based on it. (The notion that a closer should only be used in a "save" situation.)

 

Quite honestly I think most people now recognize the limitations of this stat, and I don't think there are very many managers who pay attention to it.

 

About the only thing I look at with saves is blown saves and save %.

[Bellhorn04]

Workman continues to look excellent. His return has been a blessing for this team.

[Maxbialystock]

Max, just so you know, I may come off as someone who acts like a know-it-all, but I'm not. I love the Sox as much as you do and have strong opinions like you. I'm critical of JF and have my own philosophy.

 

I'm glad Devers is up. I'd like to see him or someone other than HRam batting 4th or 5th, but as long as we keep winning, I'm happy.

 

Something happened tonight that nobody expected to happen: Vaz just passed Bogey in OPS and Moreland tied Betts....

 

Updated

 

.898 Devers

.794 Nunez

.791 Beni

.784 Pedey

.780 Betts & Moreland

.775 JBJ

.763 HRam

.751 Vaz (next stop: HRam)

.744 Bogey

.482 Holt

 

Also of note, all our top 8 hitters by PAs with the Sox are between .744 and .791.

 

I'm just long-winded. That doesn't make me a better Sox fan. You have a great balance between statistical insights and appreciating the game for what it is, especially as played by the Sox. I taught gunnery and still remember parts of the tabulated firing tables, so I love numbers, and yours are the best I've seen because there is a brain and an appreciation of baseball behind them. The above is just one more great example. I can remember checking Red Sox box scores in the summer of 1949 when I was overseas and we only got the Stars and Stripes. I remember listening to Curt Gowdy call games in the summers of 1953-54. But I was really just a sometime fan from 1954 until pretty close to 2004. I was overseas and remember nothing of the 1967 season, for example. I discovered blog sites maybe 5 or so years ago, about 5 years after I starting getting Sox games on TV regularly (here in N. Virginia), which means that I'm truly a johnny come lately. You've been doing this a whole lot longer, as have a lot of other people on talksox.

 

Back to your numbers above about OPS's. Wow. Vaz over Bogie and Moreland even with Betts. It's a new world. Maybe there is something in a distributed lineup that can bat you in different places and ways. We all love to hammer Moreland, so that tie is a shocker.

[Slasher9]

time to give Moreland 10/$300MM?

[Bellhorn04]

Max, just so you know, I may come off as someone who acts like a know-it-all, but I'm not. I love the Sox as much as you do and have strong opinions like you. I'm critical of JF and have my own philosophy.

 

I'm glad Devers is up. I'd like to see him or someone other than HRam batting 4th or 5th, but as long as we keep winning, I'm happy.

 

Something happened tonight that nobody expected to happen: Vaz just passed Bogey in OPS and Moreland tied Betts....

 

Updated

 

.898 Devers

.794 Nunez

.791 Beni

.784 Pedey

.780 Betts & Moreland

.775 JBJ

.763 HRam

.751 Vaz (next stop: HRam)

.744 Bogey

.482 Holt

 

Also of note, all our top 8 hitters by PAs with the Sox are between .744 and .791.

 

It appears that the goal for this year was to have everyone end up with the same OPS. They just might pull it off.

[Spudboy]

I think Reed can handle the 8th. And I am not a bit worried about kimbrel. He is human and will give up the occasional run. I am just glad that he had 3 to play with when he finally gave up a couple.

 

I agree. The time to worry about Kimbrel is when he has a string of 3 or so crappy appearances.

 

As long as his arm does not get over used he should be what he has been or close to it.

 

The guy is dominant so if he has a hiccup people tend to assume the worst.

[Bellhorn04]

I agree. The time to worry about Kimbrel is when he has a string of 3 or so crappy appearances.

 

As long as his arm does not get over used he should be what he has been or close to it.

 

The guy is dominant so if he has a hiccup people tend to assume the worst.

 

I agree with you. OTOH I fully understand how watching baseball can turn the strongest of men into a Nervous Nelly.

[Spudboy]

Workman continues to look excellent. His return has been a blessing for this team.

 

And it is nice to see the guy having success again. He had big boy talent in 2013 and a bunch of s*** happening since.

 

I like the guy and I am happy for him.

[Spudboy]

time to give Moreland 10/$300MM?

 

Lol. What prompted this?

[Spudboy]

I agree with you. OTOH I fully understand how watching baseball can turn the strongest of men into a Nervous Nelly.

 

And this happens to me, too.

[Slasher9]

Lol. What prompted this?

 

.780 Betts & Moreland

 

~

[moonslav59]

I'm just long-winded. That doesn't make me a better Sox fan. You have a great balance between statistical insights and appreciating the game for what it is, especially as played by the Sox. I taught gunnery and still remember parts of the tabulated firing tables, so I love numbers, and yours are the best I've seen because there is a brain and an appreciation of baseball behind them. The above is just one more great example. I can remember checking Red Sox box scores in the summer of 1949 when I was overseas and we only got the Stars and Stripes. I remember listening to Curt Gowdy call games in the summers of 1953-54. But I was really just a sometime fan from 1954 until pretty close to 2004. I was overseas and remember nothing of the 1967 season, for example. I discovered blog sites maybe 5 or so years ago, about 5 years after I starting getting Sox games on TV regularly (here in N. Virginia), which means that I'm truly a johnny come lately. You've been doing this a whole lot longer, as have a lot of other people on talksox.

 

Back to your numbers above about OPS's. Wow. Vaz over Bogie and Moreland even with Betts. It's a new world. Maybe there is something in a distributed lineup that can bat you in different places and ways. We all love to hammer Moreland, so that tie is a shocker.

 

I used to keep score of every game in the early and mid 70's by radio.

 

OPS is not a perfect stat, and you mentioned who is hot and who is cold...

 

Last 28 days...

 

.994 Vaz

.967 Moreland

.960 Beni

 

.824 Young

.812 JBJ

.789 Devers

 

.763 Nunez

.741 Bogey

.725 HRam

 

.642 Betts

.620 Leon

.371 Holt (Has more PAs than Vaz and Young!)

 

Last 14 Days...

 

1.395 Vaz

1.188 JBJ

1.147 Moreland

 

.847 Bogey

 

.690 Betts

.670 Nunez

.669 Leon

.639 Young

.636 Beni & Devers

.610 HRam

 

.405 Holt

 

 

Last 7 days...

 

1.255 Vaz

1.244 Moreland

 

.842 Nunez

.820 Bogey

 

.718 Betts

 

.633 Young

.583 Davis

.546 Beni

 

.469 Devers

.458 Leon

.449 HRam

 

.404 Holt

[moonslav59]

It appears that the goal for this year was to have everyone end up with the same OPS. They just might pull it off.

 

They heard everyone here screaming about "black holes", so Betts and the people at the top gave some of their hits to Vaz and the other expected bottom feeders.

 

[Maxbialystock]

I used to keep score of every game in the early and mid 70's by radio.

 

OPS is not a perfect stat, and you mentioned who is hot and who is cold...

 

Last 28 days...

 

.994 Vaz

.967 Moreland

.960 Beni

 

.824 Young

.812 JBJ

.789 Devers

 

.763 Nunez

.741 Bogey

.725 HRam

 

.642 Betts

.620 Leon

.371 Holt (Has more PAs than Vaz and Young!)

 

Last 14 Days...

 

1.395 Vaz

1.188 JBJ

1.147 Moreland

 

.847 Bogey

 

.690 Betts

.670 Nunez

.669 Leon

.639 Young

.636 Beni & Devers

.610 HRam

 

.405 Holt

 

 

Last 7 days...

 

1.255 Vaz

1.244 Moreland

 

.842 Nunez

.820 Bogey

 

.718 Betts

 

.633 Young

.583 Davis

.546 Beni

 

.469 Devers

.458 Leon

.449 HRam

 

.404 Holt

 

Wild applause, a real eye opener. OPS is imperfect, but at least we know what's in it, and OBP and Slugging are a good start.

 

28 days is basically August, our best month, and neither Nunez nor Devers are in the top 5--they're 6th and 7th. I have given them credit for reviving the lineup, and that's probably still true, but maybe the greater truth is that it still boils down to the whole lineup. They revived the other players, and that's even better than doing it all themselves.

[Kimmi]

OK. Here's me back on my hobby horse. Subject is managerial and baserunning blunders. I feel certain that, had Vazquez been out going to 2b, this would have been brought up by several is simply gambling and not even with a chance of success. All Farrell's fault of course. The second is the bottom of the 5th. Left Pom in with the bases loaded and 1 out. I guarantee, had the Jays scored, this would have led to a discussion about how Farrell doesn't have a brain in his head. Everyone knows Pom was through. Farrell needs a brain wave check.

 

And here's the best part. No one, but no one--except me--will actually say that in both instances Farrell actually deserves some credit. But doing that is virtually forbidden on talksox.

 

Off my soapbox, now.

 

It would have been called stupid baserunning for sure. In the meantime, the team's UBR (taking extra bases) has improved to +4.7 runs.

[Kimmi]

Reed in the 7th looks good. I don't like him in the 8th. Kimbrel needed every one of those runs. Made us sweat like it was 2016.

 

Reed pitched the 7th because that's when the heart of the order was up.

 

I really like that Workman got the 8th inning.

 

And props to Pom. He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled and got the big outs when he needed them, with a little help from the defense, including himself.

[Kimmi]

Facts like the OPS seasonal numbers are interesting but I still like to go by observation of how the guys are doing of late. Are they hot or at least making solid contact. We won't know about JBJ when he returns nor Pedey, as they have been away from live pitching for a while (in Pedeys case sing July 28th). I like the idea of front loading the team with solid contact hitters and moving Hanley to the back end at least temporarily. Vaz night indicates that he should get more PAs and more time in the lineup. If we have to bring up a 3rd catcher to make that a possibility, then do it. Our entire utility outfield core is not solid at the plate at this point whether it be Holt, Davis or Young. Fortunately, we are 3 days away from the Sept callup so just maybe the Sox will help themselves or we will get our players back off the DL.

 

Vaz is hitting well, but Farrell has the catchers matched up to be personal caddies to specific pitchers. Leon catches Sale, Porcello, and Fister, while Vaz catches ERod and Pom. I don't think Farrell is going to change that to get Vaz more at bats, nor do I think he should if the pitchers want their personal caddies.

[Kimmi]

Quite honestly I think most people now recognize the limitations of this stat, and I don't think there are very many managers who pay attention to it.

 

About the only thing I look at with saves is blown saves and save %.

 

Blown saves are probably even more whack than the save stat.