A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[oldtimer]

I'm glad you were there to witness the comeback and the homer.

 

We've done amazingly well to this point. Injuries are all part of the game. Not having Betts is huge. I would not be too concerned about Pedey if I thought Nunez was 100%. He just doesn't seem the same to me. One wrong step or turn and he looks to be injured.

 

We still have tons of upside. None of our starters are really in their groove. JBJ maybe breaking out. If he could just hit .250. We just need to leave Devers alone. Hit him 8th if we have to.

 

It's probably still too early to give up on Pom. It's encouraging to see Wright pitch well.

 

Thank God for JD Martinez.

 

It looked to me like JBJ regressed last night with a lot of swing and misses. Also, Swihart seemed overmatched for most of the game. Take the good pitches and swing out of the zone. The good news is Nunez seemed to be hitting the ball but his fielding is still below par for a corner infielder.

[Bellhorn04]

It looked to me like JBJ regressed last night with a lot of swing and misses. Also, Swihart seemed overmatched for most of the game. Take the good pitches and swing out of the zone. The good news is Nunez seemed to be hitting the ball but his fielding is still below par for a corner infielder.

 

On the plus side Swihart did have a nice RBI single. The guy really needs some reps.

[OH FOY]

Sox have 38 games with just 3 days off till All-Star break. This is a tough grind, but have to grind through this. 2nd half of season, they will have more days off while the Yanks will be playing Games, and making up games, in Double-Headers and make-ups. Pitching staffs really get overworked this way. Rather do it now, then as season progresses later. Rest always better later in season.

 

Important part of schedule right now.

[harmony]

Sox have 38 games with just 3 days off till All-Star break. This is a tough grind, but have to grind through this. 2nd half of season, they will have more days off while the Yanks will be playing Games, and making up games, in Double-Headers and make-ups. Pitching staffs really get overworked this way. Rather do it now, then as season progresses later. Rest always better later in season.

 

Important part of schedule right now.

The split in Houston was important because the Red Sox so far have been tested infrequently against good teams.

 

The Red Sox have a modest 12-10 record against teams at .500 or above but are a baseball-best 29-9 against clubs with losing records:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2018-standings.shtml

 

The 38/22 split in games against losing teams and winning teams is not far off from the overall won/loss record of 41-19.

 

At least the Red Sox are apparently taking care of business against the weaker clubs.

[OH FOY]

Too bad we didn't do it in 2011. What teams do you think teams that are dominating up to this point? A couple of key injuries to any team during the season, and things change. Marathon not a sprint. Edited June 4, 2018 by OH FOY!

[sk7326]

The split in Houston was important because the Red Sox so far have been tested infrequently against good teams.

 

The Red Sox have a modest 12-10 record against teams at .500 or above but are a baseball-best 29-9 against clubs with losing records:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2018-standings.shtml

 

The 38/22 split in games against losing teams and winning teams is not far off from the overall won/loss record of 41-19.

 

At least the Red Sox are apparently taking care of business against the weaker clubs.

 

They have had a friendly schedule so far - but they have pounced on it. I mean they are 5-5 vs the Yankees and Astros - which you'd expect. Yankees are 8-5 and the Astros 4-7. Really considering that things have not been crazy ideal - it has been a terrific start.

[OH FOY]

Flip flop this, Sox win their 1st- 2 games at home, then have your Best Starters Pitching next 2, with a key guy out of line-up for visitors. Coming back and winning 2, is a kick in the nuts.

 

Last night's game was huge, not only because we won, but our mindset. We refuse to lose. Game of Baseball, has a lot to do with the mind, besides the performance. Played like Bulldogs last 2 games, that's what I want to see.

[moonslav59]

Flip flop this, Sox win their 1st- 2 games at home, then have your Best Starters Pitching next 2, with a key guy out of line-up for visitors. Coming back and winning 2, is a kick in the nuts.

 

Last night's game was huge, not only because we won, but our mindset. We refuse to lose. Game of Baseball, has a lot to do with the mind, besides the performance. Played like Bulldogs last 2 games, that's what I want to see.

well said. I'm hoping these two wins spring board us into another long hot streak.

[SoxnCycles]

well said. I'm hoping these two wins spring board us into another long hot streak.

 

Playing a bunch of games against the AL Cenbtral will help!

[Spudboy]

On the plus side Swihart did have a nice RBI single. The guy really needs some reps.

 

The voice of reason.

[a700hitter]

Wright will get the start on Tuesday (inserted as a 6th starter into the rotation temporarily to give the rotation extra rest). Who will be availale to piggyback with Pomeranz on Thursday? I am guessing Velasquez.

[mvp 78]

Wright will get the start on Tuesday (inserted as a 6th starter into the rotation temporarily to give the rotation extra rest). Who will be availale to piggyback with Pomeranz on Thursday? I am guessing Velasquez.

 

That's throwing Pom in the deep end. If he can't get through 6, they need to find someone else.

[Spudboy]

Wright will get the start on Tuesday (inserted as a 6th starter into the rotation temporarily to give the rotation extra rest). Who will be availale to piggyback with Pomeranz on Thursday? I am guessing Velasquez.

 

I agree.

 

I wonder if Swihart will catch for Wright.

 

How important are game calling and pitch framing with a knuckleballer?

 

As long as he can keep the past balls to a minimum and deal well with wild pitches I think he'll do fine.

[oldtimer]

On the plus side Swihart did have a nice RBI single. The guy really needs some reps.

 

On the other hand, if you give him a lot more reps and he hits a buck fifty, then the club suffers. So its a judgment call as to whether the FO thinks he is likely to improve significantly.

[cp176]

On the other hand, if you give him a lot more reps and he hits a buck fifty, then the club suffers. So its a judgment call as to whether the FO thinks he is likely to improve significantly.

 

I mentioned earlier that it was good to see Swihart not just hit the ball last night, it was good to see him rip the ball in those two at bats. Altuve looked a little shocked last night with the one he caught. I don't know where he will get the playing time he needs, but I would be willing to bet that he will get his bat on many more balls then Vazuez, Leon, and JBJ combined have so far this year. We are off to an incredible start. The back end of that lineup on occasion has looked pathetic at the plate but we have survived and have been helped by what they give us in the field. Sooner or later someone is going to profit from having his bat in their lineup.

[Bellhorn04]

On the other hand, if you give him a lot more reps and he hits a buck fifty, then the club suffers. So its a judgment call as to whether the FO thinks he is likely to improve significantly.

 

Yes indeed. I'm one that's happy to let Cora and DD make those decisions for us.

[Maxbialystock]

I agree.

 

I wonder if Swihart will catch for Wright.

 

How important are game calling and pitch framing with a knuckleballer?

 

As long as he can keep the past balls to a minimum and deal well with wild pitches I think he'll do fine.

 

Swihart is, if anything, worse at catching the knuckler than Vazquez. He had 16 passed balls in 2015.

[moonslav59]

We have a nice 9 game stretch, but it gets tougher after that:

 

3 vs DET

3 vs CWS

3 @ BAL

 

4 @ SEA

3 @ MN

3 vs SEA

3 vs LAA

3 @ NYY

3 @ WSH

 

Then, I nice stretch right before the AS Break:

 

3 @ KCR

3 vs TEX

4 vs TOR

 

 

[Spudboy]

I mentioned earlier that it was good to see Swihart not just hit the ball last night, it was good to see him rip the ball in those two at bats. Altuve looked a little shocked last night with the one he caught. I don't know where he will get the playing time he needs, but I would be willing to bet that he will get his bat on many more balls then Vazuez, Leon, and JBJ combined have so far this year. We are off to an incredible start. The back end of that lineup on occasion has looked pathetic at the plate but we have survived and have been helped by what they give us in the field. Sooner or later someone is going to profit from having his bat in their lineup.

 

Yup.

 

Talksox can't bitch about Holt now so SWi has to take the heat.

 

I'd be surprised if he does not hit. Somewhere.

[cp176]

Yup.

 

Talksox can't bitch about Holt now so SWi has to take the heat.

 

I'd be surprised if he does not hit. Somewhere.

 

I'm just trying to look at it realistically. No one has said one goddamned thing about the two line drives he ripped last night. I think the world of JBJ but I cringe when he comes to the plate. I'm pleased that recently Vazquez and Leon have started to show some signs of life. I think that Devers will be just fine given time. I think Swihart certainly has the potential to outhit any of them if given the chance.

[Nick]

I haven't compared missed games/starts by starters for both the Sox and the Yankees.

 

It's just a grind. Gutsy performance to win the last two at Houston. It could have gone really south for us.

 

I'm staying positive.

[oldtimer]

I'm just trying to look at it realistically. No one has said one goddamned thing about the two line drives he ripped last night. I think the world of JBJ but I cringe when he comes to the plate. I'm pleased that recently Vazquez and Leon have started to show some signs of life. I think that Devers will be just fine given time. I think Swihart certainly has the potential to outhit any of them if given the chance.

 

At some point in time potential needs to be demonstrated with results. Part of the results are consistent hitting. Guys who have been in baseball longer should get less rope as their potential is not as great and they have to demonstrate they belong. Hanley was one who was headed in the wrong direction. JBJ has survived due to his defensive prowess, but at some point every MLer has to be able to get it done with the bat. Swihart has had a lot less of an opportunity to demonstrate that his potential can be turned into ML performance. Watching him hit and JBJ last night does not give me a lot of confidence in either. JBJ is back to not making contact while Swihart took fastballs over the plate and then swung at breaking balls nearly in the dirt.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm just trying to look at it realistically. No one has said one goddamned thing about the two line drives he ripped last night. I think the world of JBJ but I cringe when he comes to the plate. I'm pleased that recently Vazquez and Leon have started to show some signs of life. I think that Devers will be just fine given time. I think Swihart certainly has the potential to outhit any of them if given the chance.

 

Way over the top. Swihart has never shown that kind of potential. Not even close.

[moonslav59]

Teams already pretty much out of it and maybe looking to trade...

 

17-41 BAL

Machado

Valencia

 

18-38 CWS

J Abreu

J Shields

 

20-39 MIA

Realmuto

J Bour

Straily

Barraclough

 

21-29 CIN

Votto

Gennett

J Hughes

R Iglesias

D Hernandez

 

21-38 KCR

Moustakas

Merrifield

J Soler

A Gordon

K Herrera

 

26-33 TOR

Donaldson

Solarte

Smoak

S Pearce

JA Happ

Clippard

S Oh

 

[a700hitter]

Teams already pretty much out of it and maybe looking to trade...

 

17-41 BAL

Machado

Valencia

 

18-38 CWS

J Abreu

J Shields

 

20-39 MIA

Realmuto

J Bour

Straily

Barraclough

 

21-29 CIN

Votto

Gennett

J Hughes

R Iglesias

D Hernandez

 

21-38 KCR

Moustakas

Merrifield

J Soler

A Gordon

K Herrera

 

26-33 TOR

Donaldson

Solarte

Smoak

S Pearce

JA Happ

Clippard

S Oh

 

No impact pitchers.

[cp176]

Way over the top. Swihart has never shown that kind of potential. Not even close.

 

Could be over the top Max - it is just my opinion. I would be willing to bet a bit though that if he had the same number of at bats as the rest of the non-hitters, yes I think that he would outhit them. For me to make this statement is not over the top Max. I'm pretty sure that you are familiar with the expression "tighter than the bark on a tree" - that is me.

[Maxbialystock]

Teams already pretty much out of it and maybe looking to trade...

 

17-41 BAL

Machado

Valencia

 

18-38 CWS

J Abreu

J Shields

 

20-39 MIA

Realmuto

J Bour

Straily

Barraclough

 

21-29 CIN

Votto

Gennett

J Hughes

R Iglesias

D Hernandez

 

21-38 KCR

Moustakas

Merrifield

J Soler

A Gordon

K Herrera

 

26-33 TOR

Donaldson

Solarte

Smoak

S Pearce

JA Happ

Clippard

S Oh

 

 

I have never played fantasy baseball and consequently don't think in terms of trades even though I agree they have made a difference for the Sox, especially pitchers. Overall DD has done pretty well I think, but I see no compelling need for a trade right now. This particular group of players seems to have jelled despite individual weaknesses/failures.

[oldtimer]

I have never played fantasy baseball and consequently don't think in terms of trades even though I agree they have made a difference for the Sox, especially pitchers. Overall DD has done pretty well I think, but I see no compelling need for a trade right now. This particular group of players seems to have jelled despite individual weaknesses/failures.

 

May be a need for a long term 2nd baseman.

[Maxbialystock]

Could be over the top Max - it is just my opinion. I would be willing to bet a bit though that if he had the same number of at bats as the rest of the non-hitters, yes I think that he would outhit them. For me to make this statement is not over the top Max. I'm pretty sure that you are familiar with the expression "tighter than the bark on a tree" - that is me.

 

I might have misread you. If you mean a better hitter than Leon, Vazquez, and JBJ, I can't quarrel with that. I thought you meant the whole team.

[Maxbialystock]

May be a need for a long term 2nd baseman.

 

Sure. Meanwhile, however, Pedey is under contract for I think two more years plus we have Holt and Nunez. So I don't see a need for a deal this year.