A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[Slasher9]

The Yankees just need better offense , better defense , better pitching , better managing and better health. Other than that , all is well.

 

I just hit this websites imaginary "like" button right here......

[mvp 78]

The Yankees just need better offense , better defense , better pitching , better managing and better health. Other than that , all is well.

 

I'd start with a better neighborhood first.

[Kimmi]

How’s the run differential now?!?

 

Are you talking to me?

[Kimmi]

OTOH, it's April 18.

 

I remember one year we had a 14 game lead on them - in August.

 

Just trying to keep things in perspective here...

 

It's far too early to crown ourselves division champs, that's for sure.

 

But dang do we have a good team!

[Bellhorn04]

Are you talking to me?

 

I think he's referring to the thread someone started about run differential...I'm pretty sure I saw such a thing, at least.

[moonslav59]

MLB Leaders

 

Runs/Gm

 

6.2 99/ 16 BOS

6.1 104/17 LAA

5.6 90/ 16 NYY

5.5 88/ 16 TOR

5.2 89/ 17 PIT

5.1 92/ 18 Oak

 

Runs Allowed (Earned & Unearned)

 

2.9 52/18 HOU

3.0 48/16 BOS

3.1 46/15 CLE

3.2 51/16 AZ

 

 

[mvp 78]

I think he's referring to the thread someone started about run differential...I'm pretty sure I saw such a thing, at least.

 

Yup and it was rolled into another post at some point by YOTN.

 

Not in reference to you, Kimmi.

[moonslav59]

Bautista signs a minor league deal with the Braves....

 

to play 3B!

[Maxbialystock]

I think he's referring to the thread someone started about run differential...I'm pretty sure I saw such a thing, at least.

 

I've brought it up a couple of times, especially last year when the Sox were winning despite a relatively low run differential. This was also the case earlier this year only more so. Now the Sox have the best run differential in MLB.

 

Kimmi is the one who said winning close games might be the result of luck/randomness, but a team that is consistently on the winning side of games won by 4 or more runs is probably a pretty good team. The Sox have lost two games, 6-4 to the Rays and 10-7 to the Yankees, and 7 of the wins have been by 4 or more runs.

 

15-2, however, is other worldly, especially given the last two games against the other hottest team in MLB.

[SoxnCycles]

It's far too early to crown ourselves division champs, that's for sure.

 

But dang do we have a good team!

 

Northing random about the beatings the Sox have been handing out in the last week.

This is a very good team!

[moonslav59]

SP'er WAR

 

1.1 Porcello (T 2nd)

1.0 Sale (T 2nd)

0.4 Price (T 31st)

0.3 ERod (T 45th)

 

ERA- (20+ IP)

29 Sale (4th)

33 Porcello (6th)

53 Price (18th)

 

Edited April 19, 2018 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

We now have 7 guys with an OPS over .780:

 

1.249 Betts

1.111 Bogey

1.025 Moreland

.921 JMart

.912 HRam

.838 Devers

.792 Nunez

.782 Beni

 

.668 Holt

.663 JBJ

.595 Vaz

.261 Leon

 

Funny how a 15-2 record has completely silenced the Catcher Offense critics. I suppose when we hit a slump, calls for Swihart to catch will resume.

 

Gotta like how our catchers are getting the most out of our staff!

 

Team Catching OPS:

 

30th BAL .444

29th KCR .480

28th BOS .485

 

I doubt we end up sub .600 by season's end, but even if we do, I'm not messing with our catchers.

 

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Does anyone support the Red Sox going to a 6 man rotation, not necessarily for the entire regular season, but maybe for a 2-3 month stretch?

 

Sale

Price

Porcello

Rodriguez

Pomeranz

 

Options for 6th starter:

Wright

Johnson

Velaquez

 

I want to keep Price healthy. I want to keep Sale strong for October. The Red Sox have so much SP depth, why not use it to their advantage?

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Northing random about the beatings the Sox have been handing out in the last week.

This is a very good team!

 

They are so loaded with depth. Depth in the starting rotation and depth with their position players too. This is a team that can't find at bats for Swilhart, and they will eventually get Pedroia and Bogaerts back from injury. Lin is a valuable asset--good glove and he has a little Brett Gardner to his offensive game with his patience at the plate. Moreland provides awesome depth.

Edited April 19, 2018 by Fan_since_Boggs

[moonslav59]

Does anyone support the Red Sox going to a 6 man rotation, not necessarily for the entire regular season, but maybe for a 2-3 month stretch?

 

Sale

Price

Porcello

Rodriguez

Pomeranz

 

Options for 6th starter:

Wright

Johnson

Velaquez

 

I want to keep Price healthy. I want to keep Sale strong for October. The Red Sox have so much SP depth, why not use it to their advantage?

 

I'm against the idea. I'd just try to give Sale more rest by yanking him earlier than last year and taking advantage of more days off during the season schedule by not skipping lesser pitcher's starts.

[moonslav59]

They are so loaded with depth. Depth in the starting rotation and depth with their position players too. This is a team that can't find at bats for Swilhart, and they will eventually get Pedroia and Bogaerts back from injury. Lin is a valuable asset--good glove and he has a little Brett Gardner to his offensive game with his patience at the plate. Moreland provides awesome depth.

 

When Bogey returns, we'll probably send down Lin.

 

When Pedey returns, it's Holt vs Swihart. I'd keep Swihart and send Holt to AAA.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I'm against the idea. I'd just try to give Sale more rest by yanking him earlier than last year and taking advantage of more days off during the season schedule by not skipping lesser pitcher's starts.

 

This plan sounds reasonable to me.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

When Bogey returns, we'll probably send down Lin.

 

When Pedey returns, it's Holt vs Swihart. I'd keep Swihart and send Holt to AAA.

 

The Red Sox can't risk losing Swihart.

[Nick]

When Bogey returns, we'll probably send down Lin.

 

When Pedey returns, it's Holt vs Swihart. I'd keep Swihart and send Holt to AAA.

 

I also think once all the pitchers are healthy (Thornburg, Wright, Maddox, Poyner...) we'll have some minor league depth for the bullpen.

 

This is fun team to watch right now.

 

Once we get Dustin and Xander back, I can't imagine us not scoring and there will be games we'll just blow open the game as we've done the last two games.

[Bellhorn04]

We now have 7 guys with an OPS over .780:

 

1.249 Betts

1.111 Bogey

1.025 Moreland

.921 JMart

.912 HRam

.838 Devers

.792 Nunez

.782 Beni

 

.668 Holt

.663 JBJ

.595 Vaz

.261 Leon

 

Funny how a 15-2 record has completely silenced the Catcher Offense critics. I suppose when we hit a slump, calls for Swihart to catch will resume.

 

 

But will a 15-2 record and a 1.025 OPS completely silence the Moreland Signing critics?

[Slasher9]

 

Funny how a 15-2 record has completely silenced the Catcher Offense critics. I suppose when we hit a slump, calls for Swihart to catch will resume.

 

 

this is exactly my point in the JBj thread. when the players you are paying to hit the ball actually...hit the ball. you can have your #9 hitter be a #9 hitter. defense is the primary matter for catcher and CFer.

[Slasher9]

Does anyone support the Red Sox going to a 6 man rotation, not necessarily for the entire regular season, but maybe for a 2-3 month stretch?

 

Sale

Price

Porcello

Rodriguez

Pomeranz

 

Options for 6th starter:

Wright

Johnson

Velaquez

 

I want to keep Price healthy. I want to keep Sale strong for October. The Red Sox have so much SP depth, why not use it to their advantage?

 

i am not opposed to this idea at all. in fact, i support this idea.

[moonslav59]

But will a 15-2 record and a 1.025 OPS completely silence the Moreland Signing critics?

 

For now.

\

 

[jung]

We have obviously not seen everybody yet so this is a way premature comment. But I think the starting pitching relative to the teams we are facing is a huge difference. In fact it is likely the dif has been large the last couple of years and Farrell simply did not know how to take advantage of it.

 

Our starting pitching is so good on a relative basis. Been seeing it over and over again. Maybe its the concentration on power pitching. But we see guys that either:

- throw 0-0 meatballs because they are so afraid of getting behind in the count which is their general state of being on the mound. This is where the Farrell approach really became outdated

- then we also see starters that either see their velo fall of a cliff edge at about the 50 pitch mark or loss command of their off speed stuff at about the 40 pitch mark

 

Skaggs last night was a perfect example of the latter case. He started the game with a decent curve, fairly tight, deep. By 40 pitches the thing was already flattening out, was neither as tight nor as deep and it was getting tagged. A decent weapon at the start of the game had turned into a meatball inside of 50 pitches. If that is what the rest of the league calls starting pitching these days, I am not sure they can keep the Sox under 100 wins.

[moonslav59]

We are not going to have an .882 winning % at the end of the season. Even 80% is a 130 win season.

 

We will have some struggles, but this team looks deep and strong. We have enough players coming off the DL soon to help fill any gaps that might open up as the season goes forward or players get hurt.

 

Gotta love this team right now!

[Nick]

We are not going to have an .882 winning % at the end of the season. Even 80% is a 130 win season.

 

We will have some struggles, but this team looks deep and strong. We have enough players coming off the DL soon to help fill any gaps that might open up as the season goes forward or players get hurt.

 

Gotta love this team right now!

 

 

There's going to be competition in the pen when everyone returns.

[Spudboy]

The Red Sox can't risk losing Swihart.

 

Sounds like the plan.

 

Unless they trade Swihart.

 

Now the big dicks on this site will point out that Swihart has very diminished value and he won't draw much attention or much in return.

 

I say this is f***ing ********. The other teams know that the kid has talent. They just need to see that he is healthy.

 

Several teams could use Swihart right now from what I have see on MLBTV.

 

I don't want him gone but if he is just going to be a late inning filler just trade his ass and let him have a chance at flourishing elsewhere.

 

I have no idea what the Sox could get for him.

 

I would take a decent prospect who is producing at lower levels.

[Spudboy]

But will a 15-2 record and a 1.025 OPS completely silence the Moreland Signing critics?

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!1!11!

[mvp 78]

But will a 15-2 record and a 1.025 OPS completely silence the Moreland Signing critics?

Sell high on him for a top of the rotation starter!

[moonslav59]

There's going to be competition in the pen when everyone returns.

 

Indeed.

 

Here's how I see our pen, if fully healthy:

 

(Assuming Pom & Wright are back and healthy as well)

 

Closer- Kimbrel

Set-up- Thornburg

Set-up- C Smith

RP4- Kelly

RP5- Barnes

RP6- Wright (out of options)

RP7- Johnson (out of options)

 

Odd man out: Hembree (out of options)

 

AAA: Velazquez, Poyner, Walden, Maddox, Workman, Scott & Elias