A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[cp176]

I just found this article on Benitendi's bulk up: https://www.mlb.com/news/benintendi-hopes-added-bulk-means-more-homers/c-266327630

 

Thanks for posting that. Good read. I knew what the rational behind putting on the weight was I guess and now I guess we just wait to see how it translates on the field.

[cp176]

I read and saw in interviews a while back that both Bennie and Holt put on weight intentionally because they believe that they will better be able to withstand the long season physically.

 

Bennie bulked-up his upper body coming into the 2017 season. Now he says he has gained mass on the rest of his body. Also, he cropped his hair so his head does appear different even if he had not gained weight.

 

Before the ST report date for position players Holt was in camp and he had the midriff of Butthead's Father. He looked f***ing porky. Now he looks a little more fit but he continues to carry more weight than last year.

 

Holt does not "look" as fast but that could be just an impression aided by getting gun down by a large margin at the plate. I don't know.

 

I think Bennie has the same swing and approach. He was hitting well in ST and is in a mini-slump ( as compared to Louis Apericio sp ). He will start hitting soon, I think.

 

I remember Luis like it was just yesterday. I'm not going to look it up - just a guess but wasn't he something 0 for 36 - maybe even worse. it was still ok because he still was one hell of an athlete. With respect to Benintendi and Holt, I'm just glad that there some others that see what I see but even though the new Beni might turn out better than the the old Beni, I'm still in wait and see mode. Honestly - I hope he pounds that ball and makes me look like a fool.

[kenmeister]

Ok? He's a 34 year old knuckleballer with one good season. He can go away.

 

I agree. But even then, if the 5 starting pitchers we have now continue to impress after say 4-5 starts, what to do with Pomeranz and Rodriguez? Those two are perennially injured; yes they have talent but not durability. Glad I'm not Cora!

[kenmeister]

Ya’ll don’t like Barnes either? 2.2 IP, era 0.00, whip 0.75, hits 0, BB 2, SO 3

 

I'm pretty high on Barnes. I'm more or less done with Kelly.

[Slasher9]

It's 9:47AM and JD Martinez has yet to hit a HR today. WTF?

he may not be built to handle Boston/big market. Too soon to tell or to get really bent out of shape because he has yet to go yard....

[Bellhorn04]

Scoreboard says - 4 - 1 , First place in the A.L. East. Not the least bit surprising. So far , I have not seen anything that is a cause for concern going forward. This is a very good team that should have a smooth ride to the post season.

 

'Smooth ride to the post season' may be a tad premature after 5 games against bad teams.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Beating bad teams is what good teams are supposed to do. And the Sox have done that. But unless the Sox are only playing games against Florida teams this season, I'd hit the breaks on the 'easy road to the playoffs' narrative.

[mvp 78]

he may not be built to handle Boston/big market. Too soon to tell or to get really bent out of shape because he has yet to go yard....

 

He has literally ZERO plate appearances at Fenway this year. What is Cora afraid of? Why is he hiding him from the fans?!!?

[mvp 78]

I'm pretty high on Barnes. I'm more or less done with Kelly.

 

Barnes is fine. Kelly just isn't an 8th inning guy.

[Slasher9]

It is always heart warming to see the refugees back each other.

 

.

 

is this a shot at BDC posters?

nice! that's pretty good!

(i dont think anyone noticed)

[Slasher9]

He has literally ZERO plate appearances at Fenway this year. What is Cora afraid of? Why is he hiding him from the fans?!!?

i thought you were implying he is a bust because he hasnt homered yet. was just offering that it's too early to tell. but it now looks like you were just kidding on your original post.

[Slasher9]

Beating bad teams is what good teams are supposed to do. And the Sox have done that. But unless the Sox are only playing games against Florida teams this season, I'd hit the breaks on the 'easy road to the playoffs' narrative.

 

edited. as i now see who it was in response to.

[mvp 78]

Kelly in 2017:

 

High Leverage - 41 sOPS+

Medium Leverage - 37 sOPS+

 

100 sOPS+ is average, above is good, below is bad.

[mvp 78]

i thought you were implying he is a bust because he hasnt homered yet. was just offering that it's too early to tell. but it now looks like you were just kidding on your original post.

 

I was making fun of the people getting worked up the first week of the season. To me, it takes a month or two for everything to work itself out. I try not to freak out before Memorial Day. Somehow, I think a lot of posters will hold losing game 1 of a 162 game season over Cora's head for the rest of the year.

[Slasher9]

I was making fun of the people getting worked up the first week of the season. To me, it takes a month or two for everything to work itself out. I try not to freak out before Memorial Day. Somehow, I think a lot of posters will hold losing game 1 of a 162 game season over Cora's head for the rest of the year.

 

got it.

i will say in the moment of game 1 i was "oh no...WTF". but the 3 one run win games that followed were plenty to kill that feeling.

whatever happens with Cora....thank god we didnt hire our boy gabe......

[Bellhorn04]

Kelly in 2017:

 

High Leverage - 41 sOPS+

Medium Leverage - 37 sOPS+

 

100 sOPS+ is average, above is good, below is bad.

 

I think you may have that backwards, mvp.

 

Kelly had a 523 OPS in high lev, and 502 in medium lev, so his scores were really good.

[mvp 78]

I think you may have that backwards, mvp.

 

Kelly had a 523 OPS in high lev, and 502 in medium lev, so his scores were really good.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=kellyjo05&year=2017&t=p

 

I think I was confused by how horrible Baseball Ref writes stuff. That's why I typically only read Fangraphs.

 

Fool me once Baseball Ref. Shame on me. Fool me twice? We won't get fooled again.

[mvp 78]

got it.

i will say in the moment of game 1 i was "oh no...WTF". but the 3 one run win games that followed were plenty to kill that feeling.

whatever happens with Cora....thank god we didnt hire our boy gabe......

 

If Kapler was the coach, there'd be so much more to discuss on here!

[moonslav59]

If Kapler was the coach, there'd be so much more to discuss on here!

 

Remember when JF forgot the rule about not being able to take a pitcher out?

 

Talk among yourselves....

[Spudboy]

"After a strong rookie season for the Red Sox in 2017, Benintendi purposely bulked up in the offseason so he can better withstand the rigors of the baseball marathon.

 

"I think just over a course of a year, I tend to lose a little weight," said Benintendi. "So I think staying a little stronger this year and just trying to get through the season healthy, that extra weight will help."

 

As I was saying.

 

I don't make this s*** up.

 

Of course with no supporting data I can understand why my post would be questioned.

[Spudboy]

I remember Luis like it was just yesterday. I'm not going to look it up - just a guess but wasn't he something 0 for 36 - maybe even worse. it was still ok because he still was one hell of an athlete. With respect to Benintendi and Holt, I'm just glad that there some others that see what I see but even though the new Beni might turn out better than the the old Beni, I'm still in wait and see mode. Honestly - I hope he pounds that ball and makes me look like a fool.

 

Yeah I think Luis was about 0 fer 52 when Richard Nixon ( I believe ) sent him a telegram or letter wishing him well.

 

Nixon, in any case, was a huge baseball fan. Sort of like George Will in some ways. He could talk baseball for hours. Of course he was still nuts.

 

Probably a Yankee fan.

[mvp 78]

"After a strong rookie season for the Red Sox in 2017, Benintendi purposely bulked up in the offseason so he can better withstand the rigors of the baseball marathon.

 

"I think just over a course of a year, I tend to lose a little weight," said Benintendi. "So I think staying a little stronger this year and just trying to get through the season healthy, that extra weight will help."

 

As I was saying.

 

I don't make this s*** up.

 

Of course with no supporting data I can understand why my post would be questioned.

 

Who was questioning your post?

[Spudboy]

It's easy to ridicule Gabe Kapler after that very conspicuous bonehead maneuver but many people have been very high on Kapler's potential to manage baseball.

 

The Sox, if anyone recalls, wanted to groom him as a manager by asking him to manage Greenville. Of course that is when he got the itch to play again which was in my view, misguided.

 

So make fun of him all you want. He may fail. But he was very highly regarded prior to his flub at the mound.

[Spudboy]

Who was questioning your post?

 

No one, apparently. Not even you.

 

I was just posting preemptively as most of my post seem to be bait for those who have an undeniable urge to be heard and to show that they are so bright.

 

Now STFU and go start a forest fire.

[cp176]

No one, apparently. Not even you.

 

I was just posting preemptively as most of my post seem to be bait for those who have an undeniable urge to be heard and to show that they are so bright.

 

Now STFU and go start a forest fire.

 

You really are a rig. These young ponies could learn a lot from an old stallion like you.

[Spudboy]

You really are a rig. These young ponies could learn a lot from an old stallion like you.

 

Many of them know so much more already. Hadn't you figured that out already?

[mvp 78]

At least I'm still young, I guess.

[cp176]

At least I'm still young, I guess.

 

you are probably one of those mill aliens I keep hearing about

[mvp 78]

you are probably one of those mill aliens I keep hearing about

 

I was born yesterday. That means I'm part of the iGeneration.

[oldtimer]

Yeah I think Luis was about 0 fer 52 when Richard Nixon ( I believe ) sent him a telegram or letter wishing him well.

 

Nixon, in any case, was a huge baseball fan. Sort of like George Will in some ways. He could talk baseball for hours. Of course he was still nuts.

 

Probably a Yankee fan.

 

Kind of interesting that all the left handed hitters except Devers and possibly Swihart (I don't know the breakdown of his switch hitting) are hitting poorly in the lineup. Were the pitches doing something that caused the lefties to be off so poorly or are they just in a collective slump?