A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

I have to keep bashing him.

 

His OPS went up by 121 points last night.

[SoxnCycles]

His OPS went up by 121 points last night.

 

Details, details...

[moonslav59]

His OPS went up by 121 points last night.

 

Evertime I bash him, he goes off.

 

Then, I get upset they hit him 4th, and BINGO! He goes nutty!

 

The guys sucks. I wish we had Moose or Duda!

[Slasher9]

what I don't understand is why isn't vaz/leon batting 3rd? 3rd is the spot in the order for your worst hitter so I am told........

 

and going back a few pages....yes...yes I would have sent brock down. the dude is done. I am happy enough never seeing him play for the Sox again.

FTR - this isn't an endorsement for lin. it's just stating a fact that brock holt has not deserved a spot on this team for years......

[jacksonianmarch]

Holt doesn’t do anything well. His versatility kept him around, but Lin is just as versatile and at least provides high level defense when he’s on the field. I haven’t understood the hard on for Holt for awhile. I agree

[Bellhorn04]

what I don't understand is why isn't vaz/leon batting 3rd? 3rd is the spot in the order for your worst hitter so I am told........

 

That's not quite accurate. It's worst hitter out of your top 5, so 5th best hitter, basically.

[Bellhorn04]

It's a very strange time to be bashing Holt. He has a .920 OPS and he had some big hits the last few games before going on the DL.

 

He has an fWAR of 0.5 in 16 games, so he has already earned $4 million on FanGraphs dollars and is making about $2 million this year.

[Slasher9]

It's a very strange time to be bashing Holt. He has a .920 OPS and he had some big hits the last few games before going on the DL.

 

He has an fWAR of 0.5 in 16 games, so he has already earned $4 million on FanGraphs dollars and is making about $2 million this year.

 

I'm not bashing him on SSS. im bashing him on 3 years. for years I thought he had the goods on JF. this year made me realize he must have them on Commander Data....

[harmony]

Evertime I bash him, he goes off.

 

Then, I get upset they hit him 4th, and BINGO! He goes nutty!

 

The guys sucks. I wish we had Moose or Duda!

On the topic of bashing, check out the last three columns for first basemen Eric Hosmer and Hanley Ramirez:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2018&month=0&season1=2018&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

[fxkatt]

Yeah, the only thing Holt has done "wrong" this year is get hurt (again). But it's still very early. Let's see where everyone's at at the half-way point...esp all our starters, and many of our position players (last year's history).

 

The only player I have full confidence in right now as an improved player is ironically one who has played less than most--Bogaerts. He just looks better all around, and somehow I trust he will know how to keep it up.

 

As to the third sport in the order, I don't care what the crazy, convoluted stats say, I want my number 3 hitter to someone who hits consistently in and around .300 , a .365 min obp, 20 minimum homers, lots of doubles, a true professional hitter knows how to get on and get people in. Amen amen

[Maxbialystock]

Sox have the best record in MLB despite going 4-5 in the last 9 games. 2d best hitting (runs scored) in MLB and 5th best ERA. Rotation now tied for 2d in quality starts with 19 (out of 28): Porcello 5 of 6, Sale 4 of 6, ERod 3 of 5, Price 2 of 6, Pomeranz 0 of 2. Velazquez terrific over 22 innings, 7 games, ERA 2.02. Sox are tied for fewest errors, 8, in MLB. Oh, and Bogaerts has played just 12 of 28 games, Mookie 24 of 28.

 

Moonslav says the Sox are one of four very tough AL teams, and I agree. Two--us and the Yankees--are in the same division of course.

 

Nunez has been fantastic with the glove so far, plus pretty darn good with the bat, but has earned a rest for tonight. With Sale on the mound, the Sox have a shot with this lineup: Beni, HanRam, JD, Moreland, Bogie, Devers, JBJ, Vazquez, and Lin vs. righty Junis.

 

Oh, best April ever for the Sox.

[mvp 78]

Sox would be 28-0 if it weren't for the following things:

 

Pomeranz

Holt

JD Martinez's defense

Alex Cora being a nOOb who can't manage a bullpen

 

[mvp 78]

@MaureenaMullen

 

Cora said Betts out of lineup tonight, in tomorrow, wasn't going to play day game after night game, wants him in against LHP Duffy tomorrow.

[mvp 78]

@ByChrisMason

 

Pedroia gave Cora a report from Fort Myers today: "And I quote, 'Three innings, four great plays at second base, 1 for 2 with a laser.'"

[Maxbialystock]

Sox would be 28-0 if it weren't for the following things:

 

Pomeranz

Holt

JD Martinez's defense

Alex Cora being a nOOb who can't manage a bullpen

 

 

But Nunez made all those wins possible with his glove and bat. Who needs Pedroia?

[Maxbialystock]

@MaureenaMullen

 

Cora said Betts out of lineup tonight, in tomorrow, wasn't going to play day game after night game, wants him in against LHP Duffy tomorrow.

 

Fantastic if the hammie is OK.

[oldtimer]

Fantastic if the hammie is OK.

 

Betts played anyway as the game went to extra innings and so did Nunez. So much for resting them. It might have been just as easy to start them but who knows if the team would have won anyway. Tough for Sale to get another no- decision.

 

Of concern to me is the relief staff. Kimbrel is not a concern. He throws hard and in pressure situations. One missed location and a HR can result. What concerns me is the quality of our relievers. Kelly and Velazquez are doing okay. Smith has a chance of getting perople out. Barnes is a hard thrower and so is Hembree, but neither seems reliable. johnson isn't getting it done. Time to look for inspiration to the 40 man roster. Thornburg probably isn't ready so who can give us help?

[Maxbialystock]

Sale went 7 innings last night and gave up 1 earned run. The bullpen went 6 innings and have up 5 earned runs and absolutely killed us.

 

I wonder if using Leon more would help. Regardless, Johnson has to go I think.

[SoxnCycles]

Pomeranz better be ready to go at least 6 today.

After last night, a 4 inning outing is going to crush the bullpen.

[Maxbialystock]

Last night Yankees starter Montgomery went 1 inning, after which their bullpen went 8 and held Houston scoreless. Verlander was brilliant for the Astros, going 8 and giving up 0 runs with 14 K's. But the Astros bullpen--Giles- gave up 4 to the Yankees in the 9th including a 3 run dinger by Sanchez.

 

Our lineup is doing OK. So is our rotation except for Pom, who could still come around. But our bullpen and possibly our defense ain't helping much.

[Station 13]

Sale went 7 innings last night and gave up 1 earned run. The bullpen went 6 innings and have up 5 earned runs and absolutely killed us.

 

I wonder if using Leon more would help. Regardless, Johnson has to go I think.

 

The game was on the bats, not the pitching. Johnson was the last out that bullpen and in extra inning.

[Maxbialystock]

The game was on the bats, not the pitching. Johnson was the last out that bullpen and in extra inning.

 

On the bats? The Sox scored 6, which is slightly better than their average runs per game this year, which is the 2d best in MLB.

 

The game was on the bullpen.

[Bellhorn04]

On the bats? The Sox scored 6, which is slightly better than their average runs per game this year, which is the 2d best in MLB.

 

The game was on the bullpen.

 

They only scored 3 in the regulation 9 innings though...

[Station 13]

 

The game was on the bullpen.

 

No it isn't. They deployed all their best relievers first. Johnson a last resort and he loses. Once you depleted the pen, that's on the offense.

[Station 13]

They only scored 3 in the regulation 9 innings though...

 

Good point. and the defense allowed 2 runs as well. That's how some losses are piling up lately.

[a700hitter]

The game was on the bats, not the pitching. Johnson was the last out that bullpen and in extra inning.

The bats were cold, but the game was on the defense. They gave away the game.

[moonslav59]

Sale went 7 innings last night and gave up 1 earned run. The bullpen went 6 innings and have up 5 earned runs and absolutely killed us.

 

I wonder if using Leon more would help. Regardless, Johnson has to go I think.

 

Johnson is out of options. This might be his last chance with this club.

[Slasher9]

So is our rotation except for Pom, who could still come around. .

Price?

[Slasher9]

Sale went 7 innings last night and gave up 1 earned run. The bullpen went 6 innings and have up 5 earned runs and absolutely killed us.

 

I wonder if using Leon more would help. Regardless, Johnson has to go I think.

 

I wonder if we should bump the Sale and run support thread? hmmmmm. but nah, surely he doesn't care about wins......

[Maxbialystock]

Price?

 

He ain't worth the price, that's for sure. But he is still a viable starter. Three good starts (0 runs, 0 runs, 1 run) out of 6 ain't bad.