A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[Bellhorn04]

Oh Christ here we ago again with the batting order s***.

 

I know. One of my favorites.

[Bellhorn04]

I did not approve Pedroia's "It's not me, it's them" comment either. I wish he would have kept his mouth shut as well. Then again, there were a couple of times that I wish Papi would have kept his mouth shut too, and he is supposedly a great team leader.

 

Bogaerts said in his press conference today that the leaders on the team are Pedroia, Porcello, and Price, in that order. Maybe fans and the media are making more out of the incident, and the Price incident, than we should be.

 

One little incident with Papi I will never forget was when he destroyed that bullpen phone. Man was he angry.

[moonslav59]

Sure. Veterans tend to need less coaching that younger guys. Think of how many times JBJ got doubled up on a dumb base running play. When Victorino, Napoli, Gomes and Dempster came in during 2013, they really calmed the organization down (especially in April when Papi was out). He was really hands off. Once things went downhill in 2014 (typical post WS letdown), the younger players got more run and he just sat on his hands. They needed guidance. Sure, Betts played out of his mind in 2016. JBJ had very molten lava scorching streaks. Beni came up at the end of 2016 and went off. Devers came up and exploded on the scene in 2017. These things were great, but he just seemed unable to lead the young players to be more consistent and to be more aware of situational baseball. When you have a veteran team, you don't need to worry about it as much. With the young team, he needed to be more active in the day to day stuff, but he was largely hands off. Think of what happened when Price got upset last year. Farrell didn't do anything. He just let the players act on their own. That's fine with a largely veteran team because they can handle it in house, but not so fine when players like JBJ have a history of doing the same thing and not being spoken to. What kind of example is that?

 

Okay, I get what you mean.

 

I'm not sure I'd call JBJ young anymore, and I remember Beni making many bonehead plays- not so much JBJ.

[moonslav59]

I'd prefer Betts up second over first, but if we get a true clean-up hitter, I'm fine with Betts leading off.

 

I'd go...

 

1) Bogey

2) Betts

3) Beni

4) JDM

5) Devers

6) Moreland v R/ HRam v L

7) JBJ

8) Marco/Pedey (Nunez?)

9) Vaz

[mvp 78]

One little incident with Papi I will never forget was when he destroyed that bullpen phone. Man was he angry.

 

Interrupting a news conference to complain about the official scorer’s ruling on an RBI.

[Bellhorn04]

I'd prefer Betts up second over first, but if we get a true clean-up hitter, I'm fine with Betts leading off.

 

I'd go...

 

1) Bogey

2) Betts

3) Beni

4) JDM

5) Devers

6) Moreland v R/ HRam v L

7) JBJ

8) Marco/Pedey (Nunez?)

9) Vaz

 

Oh no...

 

I think we need a thread devoted exclusively to lineup suggestions and criticisms.

[Bellhorn04]

Interrupting a news conference to complain about the official scorer’s ruling on an RBI.

 

That was whacked. The bullpen phone was frightening.

[mvp 78]

That was whacked. The bullpen phone was frightening.

 

I thought the phone bit was funny.

[Bellhorn04]

I thought the phone bit was funny.

 

Yes, it was kind of funny too.

 

Man did he put a hurting on that thing.

[notin]

I did not approve Pedroia's "It's not me, it's them" comment either. I wish he would have kept his mouth shut as well. Then again, there were a couple of times that I wish Papi would have kept his mouth shut too, and he is supposedly a great team leader.

 

Bogaerts said in his press conference today that the leaders on the team are Pedroia, Porcello, and Price, in that order. Maybe fans and the media are making more out of the incident, and the Price incident, than we should be.

 

 

 

I think that applies to a lot of incidents.

 

I'll open the bidding with chicken and beer...

[moonslav59]

Bogaerts said in his press conference today that the leaders on the team are Pedroia, Porcello, and Price, in that order.

 

If Pedey is "the leader" of leaders, it's no wonder the team has "issues" to put behind them.

[Larry Cook]

Bogaerts said in his press conference today that the leaders on the team are Pedroia, Porcello, and Price, in that order.

 

If Pedey is "the leader" of leaders, it's no wonder the team has "issues" to put behind them.

 

Amen brother!

 

Did not bogey imply there was tension in the locker room as well last season?

[oldtimer]

I'm optimistic that there are so potential positives for the team, even without signing JDM and/or Nunez.

 

The first reason for optimism is that Cora and his coaches will bring their own approach, which may add some enthusiasm to the club. Under JF I thought he would stand in the dugout like the Buddha. No excitement there. I also think Cora will look for more aggressiveness with the bat and that may also help some of our hitters, like Bogey and even Hanley. Both took too many pitchesd down the middle ndd swung at pitches off the plate.

 

Among the players, I think several could be expected to do better and several at least have a hope of improvement.

 

Benentendi has added some muscle and has a full year plus of experience. I believe he will hit close to 300 and has a chance of increased power ( maybe 30 HRs)

Devers had time to work on his defense and can give us a full season where that natural power could also give us 30 plus HRs and an acceptable average.

Hanley's shoulder surgery may well return him close to his 2016 season. I'd accept his salary if he could d that.

Moreland starts healthy and can give us a solid bat to go with his good fielding.

Vazquez should give us 125 starts this year, with Leon diminished and possibly gone during the season.

 

Bogey is a question mark. He may get some help with new hitting coaching. I hope for our and his sake that he can shake off the bad hitting mechanics and plate approach and do it for a whole season. His fielding isn't top notch so its either hit or be replaced.

Not big on Pedroia's return due to his age and recent injuries. He still might be a quality player if we get lucky. Otherwise, get Nunez and do it now.

JBJ is you get the same guy as last year

Betts may be about the same as last year. Great defender and a solid but not a truly exceptional bat.

 

We can also hope that Price can return to a starter role and be effective and that Porcello also finds himself.

[notin]

I was being sarcastic.

 

If a leader has to tell the world he is a leader, then something is wrong.

 

There is a big difference between Pedroia telling the press and the fans as opposed to him telling it to the clubhouse...

[Bellhorn04]

There is a big difference between Pedroia telling the press and the fans as opposed to him telling it to the clubhouse...

 

I agree. I see nothing wrong with what Pedroia said to the press. He was basically just affirming that he accepts that role, is how I interpret it.

[notin]

I agree. I see nothing wrong with what Pedroia said to the press. He was basically just affirming that he accepts that role, is how I interpret it.

 

My point exactly.

[mvp 78]

Oh Christ here we ago again with the batting order s***.

 

Is there something else you'd like to talk about? We're all ears.

[mvp 78]

I'm optimistic that there are so potential positives for the team, even without signing JDM and/or Nunez.

 

The first reason for optimism is that Cora and his coaches will bring their own approach, which may add some enthusiasm to the club. Under JF I thought he would stand in the dugout like the Buddha. No excitement there. I also think Cora will look for more aggressiveness with the bat and that may also help some of our hitters, like Bogey and even Hanley. Both took too many pitchesd down the middle ndd swung at pitches off the plate.

 

Among the players, I think several could be expected to do better and several at least have a hope of improvement.

 

Benentendi has added some muscle and has a full year plus of experience. I believe he will hit close to 300 and has a chance of increased power ( maybe 30 HRs)

Devers had time to work on his defense and can give us a full season where that natural power could also give us 30 plus HRs and an acceptable average.

Hanley's shoulder surgery may well return him close to his 2016 season. I'd accept his salary if he could d that.

Moreland starts healthy and can give us a solid bat to go with his good fielding.

Vazquez should give us 125 starts this year, with Leon diminished and possibly gone during the season.

 

Bogey is a question mark. He may get some help with new hitting coaching. I hope for our and his sake that he can shake off the bad hitting mechanics and plate approach and do it for a whole season. His fielding isn't top notch so its either hit or be replaced.

Not big on Pedroia's return due to his age and recent injuries. He still might be a quality player if we get lucky. Otherwise, get Nunez and do it now.

JBJ is you get the same guy as last year

Betts may be about the same as last year. Great defender and a solid but not a truly exceptional bat.

 

We can also hope that Price can return to a starter role and be effective and that Porcello also finds himself.

 

If they turned it around and became a 95 win team without getting JDM, it wouldn't be too surprising. Maybe 2017 was just a down year? I'm not counting on it, but optimism this time of the year isn't a bad thing.

[Bellhorn04]

Is there something else you'd like to talk about? We're all ears.

 

I'm with Spudboy on the batting order stuff. Drives me nuts. Let the manager take care of it.

[Bellhorn04]

If they turned it around and became a 95 win team without getting JDM, it wouldn't be too surprising. Maybe 2017 was just a down year? I'm not counting on it, but optimism this time of the year isn't a bad thing.

 

Optimism this time of year is good.

 

One thing I've noticed though is how fast it disappears once the real games start. Just check out the game threads from the first few games of the season and you'll see it. I remember people getting down on Moreland last year because he started 0 for 8 or something.

[mvp 78]

I'm with Spudboy on the batting order stuff. Drives me nuts. Let the manager take care of it.

 

Then let's not worry about the offseason and FA's since DD will take care of it.

[moonslav59]

There is a big difference between Pedroia telling the press and the fans as opposed to him telling it to the clubhouse...

 

Yes, but it shows how Pedey thinks and how he views himself.

[notin]

Yes, but it shows how Pedey thinks and how he views himself.

 

It doesn't. It answers a question and probably one posed by the press. If we've been asking that question here, it's certainly come up in his presence one or twice. ...

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, but it shows how Pedey thinks and how he views himself.

 

Why wouldn't we want him to consider himself a leader? He's got all the credentials. He's a highly accomplished veteran player who's been on 2 World Series winners and who's known for giving 100% effort.

[moonslav59]

It doesn't. It answers a question and probably one posed by the press. If we've been asking that question here, it's certainly come up in his presence one or twice. ...

 

His answer revealed how he views himself, or how he wants the public to view him or know what he thinks about himself in the context of team leadership.

[notin]

His answer revealed how he views himself, or how he wants the public to view him or know what he thinks about himself in the context of team leadership.

 

And is also completely irrelevant in regards to the role.

[sk7326]

The best hitter should have the most opportunities to get ab’s. Helps when he runs well too!

 

Put your best hitter 2nd ... the differences in lineup placement are small, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't grab whatever help you can. But batting 2nd has shown to be the best way to balance getting your best hitter more plate appearances while making sure he also gets plenty of RBI opportunities.

[S5Dewey]

And is also completely irrelevant in regards to the role.

 

Exactly right. How a person sees himself can have little to do with how he's actually seen by his peers.

[notin]

Exactly right. How a person sees himself can have little to do with how he's actually seen by his peers.

 

And how he's seen by people outside the whole situation can also be completely skewed...

[S5Dewey]

And how he's seen by people outside the whole situation can also be completely skewed...

 

I can be. Or both situations could be spot-on.