A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[OH FOY]

Take out first 10 games coming out of the break and Sox have a pretty tough schedule. I count 33 games out of 54, with teams over .500.

These next 10 games are critical. Get some cushion.

Edited July 20, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Kimmi]

Take out first 10 games coming out of the break and Sox have a pretty tough schedule. I count 33 games out of 54, with teams over .500.

These next 10 games are critical. Get some cushion.

 

I think both the Red Sox and Yankees will take care of business against the other teams.

 

There are 10 games remaining between the rivals, 7 at Fenway, 3 at Yankee Stadium. Those games could be the difference, with those being the Yankees' best chance of gaining ground on us. If the Sox at least split the remaining games with the Yankees, I think the division is ours.

[a700hitter]

I think both the Red Sox and Yankees will take care of business against the other teams.

 

There are 10 games remaining between the rivals, 7 at Fenway, 3 at Yankee Stadium. Those games could be the difference, with those being the Yankees' best chance of gaining ground on us. If the Sox at least split the remaining games with the Yankees, I think the division is ours.

The Red Sox need to step it up against the Yankees. Every one of those games is like 2 games on the standings. The manager cannot blow off any of them to save the bullpen or for any other reason. No starter can be left out their for 6 HRs and 8-10 runs. If a Sox pitcher doesn’t have it, he had better not give that pitcher the opportunity to blow up the whole game. Also, he had better talk to them about their base running. We can’t be giving outs away.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Yeah the base running has been an issue, especially in the beginning of the year. Is it just me or do we lose most of the replay challenges? Not saying we got screwed, although that has happened, just seems we don't end up with the call often.

[Spudboy]

True.

 

Aren't there supposed to be more guns in the US than people?

[harmony]

Aren't there supposed to be more guns in the US than people?

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2018/feb/20/kevin-nicholson/which-higher-number-people-or-number-guns-america/

[mvp 78]

Aren't there supposed to be more guns in the US than people?

 

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2018/feb/20/kevin-nicholson/which-higher-number-people-or-number-guns-america/

 

Hard to know for sure. However, even if the lower estimate is 250 million guns, that sounds more than enough to me.

[Slasher9]

Keep an eye how Familia does against the Yanks.

 

Good call oh.

[Maxbialystock]

The Red Sox need to step it up against the Yankees. Every one of those games is like 2 games on the standings. The manager cannot blow off any of them to save the bullpen or for any other reason. No starter can be left out their for 6 HRs and 8-10 runs. If a Sox pitcher doesn’t have it, he had better not give that pitcher the opportunity to blow up the whole game. Also, he had better talk to them about their base running. We can’t be giving outs away.

 

The manager? Really? Just about every position player has been out for one reason or another, and the rotation more than the lineup. In fact, ERod, Wright, and Pom (this is actually good in my opinion) are all on the DL right now. Our bullpen has lately been downright scary--to Sox fans, not opposing hitters. And you're going to single out the manager as the one guy who can fix all that by judicious choices on who pitches and when?

 

I'm not saying Cora is perfect. I was furious when he left Wright in to give up 10 runs, but the Sox won that game. I was mostly OK with leaving Price in when he gave up I think 8 runs, and we lost that game. But overall I think he has made some pretty good decisions all season long and despite those injuries and the slumps and the inconsistencies among the pitchers.

 

If we don't measure up against the Yankee is the remaining games, I think it will mostly be because of the pitching and especially the rotation. Last 3 at Yankee Stadium, Sale was terrific and Price and I think ERod stunk. That's also what killed us in the last two ALDS's.

[Maxbialystock]

Yeah the base running has been an issue' date=' especially in the beginning of the year. Is it just me or do we lose most of the replay challenges? Not saying we got screwed, although that has happened, just seems we don't end up with the call often.[/quote']

 

I'm fine with the base running. I hate bonehead plays, and there have been some. But mostly I like aggressive base running and can live with the occasional outs. The Sox are currently 2d in MLB in SB's and have an 83% success rate. They've scored more runs than any other team in MLB, and the 2d place team, the Astros, have scored 30 fewer runs and played 1 more game. I mean, how bad can it be?

[Kimmi]

The Red Sox need to step it up against the Yankees. Every one of those games is like 2 games on the standings. The manager cannot blow off any of them to save the bullpen or for any other reason. No starter can be left out their for 6 HRs and 8-10 runs. If a Sox pitcher doesn’t have it, he had better not give that pitcher the opportunity to blow up the whole game. Also, he had better talk to them about their base running. We can’t be giving outs away.

 

I would think that the starters would be on a shorter leash for this upcoming series, as we are nearing crunch time. That said, I still think that it's a little too early in the season to be managing in a 'win at any cost' mode. When we play the Yankees for two series in September, different story.

 

I am not saying Cora should blow off any game, and I don't think he will. But he also should not do something like pitch Kimbrel for 4 games in a row.

[Kimmi]

I'm fine with the base running. I hate bonehead plays, and there have been some. But mostly I like aggressive base running and can live with the occasional outs. The Sox are currently 2d in MLB in SB's and have an 83% success rate. They've scored more runs than any other team in MLB, and the 2d place team, the Astros, have scored 30 fewer runs and played 1 more game. I mean, how bad can it be?

 

The Sox have done pretty well in terms of stolen bases, 1st in MLB at +7.1 runs. The problem has been with other base running situations, like trying to stretch a single into a double. They are the 3rd worst team in baseball in those situations at -6.8 runs. They are also the 4th worst team in terms of avoiding GIDPs at -2.7 runs.

 

What the Sox have gained in stolen bases has been cancelled out by their other OOBs.

[moonslav59]

Aren't there supposed to be more guns in the US than people?

 

If so, it's because of Texas being part of the country.

[moonslav59]

The Sox have done pretty well in terms of stolen bases, 1st in MLB at +7.1 runs. The problem has been with other base running situations, like trying to stretch a single into a double. They are the 3rd worst team in baseball in those situations at -6.8 runs. They are also the 4th worst team in terms of avoiding GIDPs at -2.7 runs.

 

What the Sox have gained in stolen bases has been cancelled out by their other OOBs.

 

We still have our share of bonehead plays, but it seems better than last year.

 

[devildavid]

We still have our share of bonehead plays, but it seems better than last year.

 

 

Yeah, improved hitting makes boneheaded plays seem less boneheaded.

[devildavid]

I would think that the starters would be on a shorter leash for this upcoming series, as we are nearing crunch time. That said, I still think that it's a little too early in the season to be managing in a 'win at any cost' mode. When we play the Yankees for two series in September, different story.

 

I am not saying Cora should blow off any game, and I don't think he will. But he also should not do something like pitch Kimbrel for 4 games in a row.

 

I think Cora should lose on purpose to the Yankees now to set them up for September.

[moonslav59]

Yeah, improved hitting makes boneheaded plays seem less boneheaded.

 

Maybe, but there seems to be less this year... still too many, though.

[Emp9]

The Sox have done pretty well in terms of stolen bases, 1st in MLB at +7.1 runs. The problem has been with other base running situations, like trying to stretch a single into a double. They are the 3rd worst team in baseball in those situations at -6.8 runs. They are also the 4th worst team in terms of avoiding GIDPs at -2.7 runs.

 

What the Sox have gained in stolen bases has been cancelled out by their other OOBs.

 

Well, two different coaching staffs.. so we really can’t blame the coaches or the managers for the OOBs these last two seasons. .. Right?

[moonslav59]

Well, two different coaching staffs.. so we really can’t blame the coaches or the managers for the OOBs these last two seasons. .. Right?

 

I guess that could be part of the narrative, and I was one to lay some of the blame on the manager, but we also have to face the fact that we have some runners who just plain have no instincts or lack focus while on the base paths.

[Kimmi]

Well, two different coaching staffs.. so we really can’t blame the coaches or the managers for the OOBs these last two seasons. .. Right?

 

I just think the OOBs are a product of the team's aggressive base running style. The team is encouraged to be aggressive on the base paths, to take the extra base when you can. With that type of philosophy, you are going to run into more outs.

[Hitch]

And they assumed that you had a gun too, so it ended peacefully? In NY people would be yelling , screaming and very possibly assaulting. In my travels, I have found that an armed society is a polite society, bless your heart. LOL! I run into more than my share of *******s in NY, and as the *******s become younger and bigger, I have learned to not engage. Not engaging is probably always a good idea, but adrenaline can kick in when you think you are going to be assaulted and if you give into the adrenaline, nothing good can result... ever. I am certain that if we had concealed carry here that the *******s would not be so aggressive.

 

Yeah, arming people who can't control their aggressiveness is always a great idea...

 

Texas has two cities in the top 10 for road rage - https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/us-cities-with-the-worst-road-rage.html

 

You can carry concealed weapons with a permit in California and it has 4 of the top 7 spots for road rage. North Carolina is 3rd and you can carry a concealed weapon there.

 

8 out of the top 10 places for road rage can carry concealed weapons. I think maybe it's time you revised your opinion.

[Hitch]

I just think the OOBs are a product of the team's aggressive base running style. The team is encouraged to be aggressive on the base paths, to take the extra base when you can. With that type of philosophy, you are going to run into more outs.

 

Yeah, definitely. The fact is we are a very aggressive running team. We are bound to run into outs occasionally.

[Kimmi]

As someone who has had a firearm brandished on me while on the interstate (apparently, for driving too slow), I don't even think about 'challenging' or engaging other drivers. Not that I would anyway. If someone wants to cut in front of me or whatever, so be it.

 

Of course, I am also not testosterone driven.

[Hitch]

Yeah I hear you. People get way too angry, at the littlest things. Getting a gun pointed at you for driving slowly...Jesus...

 

A little less anger and a little less ways to kill each other would be a a good idea to start with, you'd think. I went to an anti-gun rally a few weeks ago. Met some great people. Even met some decent Yankee fans! Quite the surprise.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, arming people who can't control their aggressiveness is always a great idea...

 

Texas has two cities in the top 10 for road rage - https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/us-cities-with-the-worst-road-rage.html

 

You can carry concealed weapons with a permit in California and it has 4 of the top 7 spots for road rage. North Carolina is 3rd and you can carry a concealed weapon there.

 

8 out of the top 10 places for road rage can carry concealed weapons. I think maybe it's time you revised your opinion.

Or maybe you should look more deeply behind your numbers.

[Hitch]

Massive LOL!

[a700hitter]

Massive LOL!

You go to anti-gun rallies. I don’t argue politics here, but I am willing to bet that a politically motivated person is resorting to politically biased data. You have trolled me on two threads so far this morning. You really are pathetic.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Back to last night's game who was the Tiger color guy? He sounded like a monotone Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

[moonslav59]

I just think the OOBs are a product of the team's aggressive base running style. The team is encouraged to be aggressive on the base paths, to take the extra base when you can. With that type of philosophy, you are going to run into more outs.

 

Certainly some of our OOBs are due to being more aggressive, but we still seem to have more than our fair share of bonehead plays like being picked off. I don't see as many plays where runners are forgetting how many outs there are, not watching the runner ahead of them stopping and 1st or 3rd outs at 3B.

 

I'm not sure, if anyone tracks those totals separately.

 

[Hitch]

You go to anti-gun rallies. I don’t argue politics here, but I am willing to bet that a politically motivated person is resorting to politically biased data. You have trolled me on two threads so far this morning. You really are pathetic.

 

You brought up the question of carrying guns not me. And unless you believe the Auto insurance centre has compiled this data on road rage with bias against guns in mind it matters not a jot my own personal biases.

 

You offered up the proposal that more concealed guns would lead to less road rage. I offered you a nationwide study that showed that 8 out of the top 10 cities for the worst Road Rage you could carry a concealed gun.

 

Nobody is trolling you, you incredibly thin skinned individual. I just find it amusing that you can never ever admit to being wrong or rowing back on an idea.

 

You repeatedly said Kimmi's opinion was utterly useless and baseless the other night because it didn't have stats to back it up. I offer stats to counter one of your points and it's "Troll" or "Bias"

 

As I said - massive LOL.

 

I'm going out to enjoy this crisp cool New York day. I'll leave you to the last word you so badly crave. Good day sir.