A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[moonslav59]

small sample size, maybe.

[dgalehouse]

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

 

There's a lot of bad teams out there waiting to be beaten.

[Hitch]

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.

 

I don't know how you survive winter with skin this thin.

[a700hitter]

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.

The Red Sox also groomed Butch Hobson to be a manager.

[Bellhorn04]

There's a lot of bad teams out there waiting to be beaten.

 

Well, dgale, you're definitely the front-runner for Most Confident Poster of 2018.

[Nick]

Why does Betts need a day off today?

 

We have an off day on Wednesday, Friday and then again on Monday.

 

We then embark on 13 straight games. Maybe he needs an off day during that stretch, not today. It's beginning of the year, he's an old man of what? 25

[a700hitter]

Why does Betts need a day off today?

 

We have an off day on Wednesday, Friday and then again on Monday.

 

We then embark on 13 straight games. Maybe he needs an off day during that stretch, not today. It's beginning of the year, he's an old man of what? 25

The statistical charts call for it so it must be.

[Spudboy]

The Red Sox also groomed Butch Hobson to be a manager.

 

Klel.

 

Anyone with that name was bound to fail.

[Nick]

Cora did the right thing by bringing in Kimbrel with the game in 'winnable' situation.

 

And I guess I was dead wrong about Kelly and Barnes. I still hate Holt.

Edited April 4, 2018 by Nick

[moonslav59]

Cora did the right thing by bringing in Kimbrel with the game in 'winnable' situation.

 

And I guess I was dead wrong about Kelly and Barnes. I still hate Holt.

 

Hembree showed some guts tonight.

 

Our pen looked shaky to start the yhear, but they are finding their roles now.

[notin]

Why does Betts need a day off today?

 

We have an off day on Wednesday, Friday and then again on Monday.

 

We then embark on 13 straight games. Maybe he needs an off day during that stretch, not today. It's beginning of the year, he's an old man of what? 25

 

Rather he sat Benintendi or Martinez? The guys who produced the Sox only run in the first nine?

[notin]

So as of now, the Sox starting pitching has not given up more than 1 earned run in any game for 6 games in a row. That's absolutely insane...

[moonslav59]

When has a 10.80 ERA ever looked so good?

 

(Joe Kelly)

[moonslav59]

So as of now, the Sox starting pitching has not given up more than 1 earned run in any game for 6 games in a row. That's absolutely insane...

 

Our pen has let up 4 ERs in 21 IP, when you throw out that one inning opening day.

 

[Nick]

Rather he sat Benintendi or Martinez? The guys who produced the Sox only run in the first nine?

 

LF JD

CF Beni

RF Betts

 

JD needs to play. We're not paying him $25M to sit. Give the day off to JBJ.

[moonslav59]

LF JD

CF Beni

RF Betts

 

JD needs to play. We're not paying him $25M to sit. Give the day off to JBJ.

 

Agreed- for most games at NL parks.

[Nick]

Great start. We're 4 games above .500. The goal is 30 above .500. Need to play 5 above .500 each month to get to 30.

 

We have 10 game home stand coming up. I think we'll hit better at home.

 

We have chance to get little more spacing. Looks like E Rod is ready to come back.

[S5Dewey]

Rather he sat Benintendi or Martinez? The guys who produced the Sox only run in the first nine?

 

20-20 hindsight. Always perfect.

[mvp 78]

Cora is determined to rest his players this year. Easing them into the season isn't a bad idea IMO. And you can't argue with the results so far.

[Nick]

Cora is determined to rest his players this year. Easing them into the season isn't a bad idea IMO. And you can't argue with the results so far.

 

I need to bitch about something other than Brock Holt.

 

I think we're in good place. We need for our farm hands get another year older and get closer to contributing at major league level as all these FA come due.

 

I consider closing almost as a separate 'grouping' anymore.

 

I agree that 'bullpen' can be constructed cheaply but the 'closer' is a must and we may have to pay for it.

[mvp 78]

I need to bitch about something other than Brock Holt.

 

I think we're in good place. We need for our farm hands get another year older and get closer to contributing at major league level as all these FA come due.

 

I consider closing almost as a separate 'grouping' anymore.

 

I agree that 'bullpen' can be constructed cheaply but the 'closer' is a must and we may have to pay for it.

 

The closer role is a real weird one. Stat heads believe anyone can close at any time for the most part. However, we saw first hand that Melancon couldn't get the job done here, but has succeeded elsewhere. To me, we've found a guy who has thrived in BOS as a closer and I think you do whatever you can to retain him. If you don't need to reinvent the wheel, don't.

[Emp9]

The closer role is a real weird one. Stat heads believe anyone can close at any time for the most part. However, we saw first hand that Melancon couldn't get the job done here, but has succeeded elsewhere. To me, we've found a guy who has thrived in BOS as a closer and I think you do whatever you can to retain him. If you don't need to reinvent the wheel, don't.

 

Agreed. I tried to reinvent the wheel once. Didn’t go well. Caused a ton of traffic. People were pissed. Got a fine. Trust me, don’t. Sooo not worth it.

[notin]

20-20 hindsight. Always perfect.

 

Is it hindsight if he does it and it works?

 

I think it's a little silly to call out the manager for sitting players sometimes. Unlike us, Cora talks to these guys and knows how they feel each and every day.

 

And we've all watched enough baseball to know giving a player a day off before an off day is very common as it gives him multiple days to heal up the bumps and bruises of day to day games. Sure Betts had to be used last night, but then it's not like Cora knew the game would go to extra innings.

 

This team is 5-1 in all road games, and yet everyone seems to find reasons to question Cora largely based on him making decisions they wouldn't make. At what point does the big picture matter?

[notin]

The closer role is a real weird one. Stat heads believe anyone can close at any time for the most part. However, we saw first hand that Melancon couldn't get the job done here, but has succeeded elsewhere. To me, we've found a guy who has thrived in BOS as a closer and I think you do whatever you can to retain him. If you don't need to reinvent the wheel, don't.

 

Melancon had two save chances in Boston. I don't think that qualifies him as a "failed closer."

 

He had one season in Boston with some injuries and an overall awful year (possibly due to the injuries?) But he's not much for validating the argument...

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't think you can fault Cora all that much. Opening day, he went to his two best setup options and they blew it. Giving Betts the day off when Sale is pitching and you are facing "Project Wolverine" in tank mode shouldn't be a problem. Betts isn't playing 162 games this year. If he does, you will wear him down for the post season or the following seasons. Resting your stars is a reasonable thing to do

[Nick]

Is it hindsight if he does it and it works?

 

I think it's a little silly to call out the manager for sitting players sometimes. Unlike us, Cora talks to these guys and knows how they feel each and every day.

 

And we've all watched enough baseball to know giving a player a day off before an off day is very common as it gives him multiple days to heal up the bumps and bruises of day to day games. Sure Betts had to be used last night, but then it's not like Cora knew the game would go to extra innings.

 

This team is 5-1 in all road games, and yet everyone seems to find reasons to question Cora largely based on him making decisions they wouldn't make. At what point does the big picture matter?

 

I think the tactic of resting players are fine if you have wealth of talent, and I think for most part we do.

 

But let's not pretend it's ok to rest Beni, JBJ and Betts equally. I would want more playing time for Betts.

 

As I posted, I wanted JD, Beni and Betts in the line up. Big part was day off today, play, day off Friday, play, play and another day off. To give Betts three days off out of 4 after only 4 games into the season just did not make sense to me. That's all.

 

I've been very wrong before.

[jacksonianmarch]

Rest them earlier as they are getting their legs under them. Then you rest them again during the dog days then full throttle through September

[Emp9]

Well SOMEBODY had to sit with no DH. Glad JBJ didn’t sit because he saved us run(s) with his defense. jD & Beni both look like they need the reps. HanRam in Miami, nuff said.

[Slasher9]

the "day off" almost worked perfectly when he pinch hit and was robbed of a dinger.

also....Hanley is going to vest. and i love it.

[moonslav59]

Hanley is going to vest. and i love it

 

Sick puppy!

 

(LOL)