A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[moonslav59]

Can anyone really say, with a straight face, our pen is doing worse than we expected?

 

Same with last year.

 

We have Kimbrel and then a bunch of hopes and prayers, but somehow, Leon & Vaz have gotten our pen to be ranked 2ns in Pen WAR from 2017-2018.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2018&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

 

Our catchers should be praised for getting the most they can from our RP'ers, even though lately, it has looked horrific.

 

[Slasher9]

this is why i dont get the love for DD. he did absolutely nothing to address our RP situation in a year that we have a very legitimate shot at a parade.

[Bellhorn04]

this is why i dont get the love for DD. he did absolutely nothing to address our RP situation in a year that we have a very legitimate shot at a parade.

 

He should get no love for 50 games over .500?

[kenmeister]

this is why i dont get the love for DD. he did absolutely nothing to address our RP situation in a year that we have a very legitimate shot at a parade.

 

I agree with the non-move. Starters will be moving to the bullpen as E-Rod and Wright return as it is, plus Brasier is helping and - at least at the time - it seemed Thornburg had figured things out. Plus Brandon Workman is at AAA and I think he'd be a fine addition to the bullpen.

[moonslav59]

this is why i dont get the love for DD. he did absolutely nothing to address our RP situation in a year that we have a very legitimate shot at a parade.

 

He was banking on Smith or Thornburg to be capable "additions" and probably felt the SP'ers who did not make the rotation could bolster the pen.

 

Our pen still ranks 5th out of 30 this year. Sure it would be nice to be #1 at every position, but we're up against the max penalty on taxes for spending way more than anyone else. We're 50 games over .500, and DD is being criticized for not making us the 2nd or 3rd best pen in MLB.

 

Hmmm.....

 

[OH FOY]

If were up by 2 win by 1, good deal. Win is a win, nothings perfect. Just frustrating to see the BP work so hard at times for outs.

[Slasher9]

He should get no love for 50 games over .500?

 

Hahaha. It’s an off day..... I gotta post something controversial

[Kimmi]

I'm getting tired of hearing "if not for Devers' error". I was hoping his defense would improve.

 

It gets frustrating to watch, for sure.

 

We have to keep reminding ourselves how young he is. He would be the youngest player in Pawtucket and Portland (I think I have that right).

 

He was called up before the team would have liked to call him up.

 

We need to have patience with him.

[Kimmi]

There were tons of conversation about JBJ prior to opening day. My thought is don't create a problem where there is none. Stick JBJ out there and let him do his thing.

 

Catching is another area we shouldn't worry about. Sandy is outstanding defensive catcher. I believe Vazquez is too. Now we're adding Swihart to the mix. We're solid.

 

Biggest issue for this team right now is inconsistency of the pen. Relievers can be fickle. Good one month, no so good the next month.

 

It's now all about getting ready for the playoffs.

 

I agree Nick. My priority at the deadline was adding a late inning reliever, but even that I didn't consider to be a dire need.

 

Our team is in excellent shape.

 

Take it one game at a time and enjoy the ride.

[Kimmi]

He should get no love for 50 games over .500?

 

He gets 20% love.

 

The rest of the love goes to Ben and Theo.

[a700hitter]

He gets 20% love.

 

The rest of the love goes to Ben and Theo.

And of course this is supported by advanced metrics.

[moonslav59]

Great to see the Yanks lose to the Rays (again).

 

I guess we wore the Phillies out as they lost to the Mets by 20 runs! WOW!

 

Here's how many times the top 8 slots got on base vs Philly today:

 

4

3

3

3

3

5

4

6

 

 

Edited August 16, 2018 by moonslav59

[oldtimer]

Great to see the Yanks lose to the Rays (again).

 

I guess we wore the Phillies out as they lost to the Mets by 20 runs! WOW!

 

Here's how many times the top 8 slots got on base vs Philly today:

 

4

3

3

3

3

5

4

6

 

 

 

Their relief pitching must have been dreadful.

[moonslav59]

Their relief pitching must have been dreadful.

 

Makes ours look like the Yankees...

[Slasher9]

Makes ours look like the Yankees...

 

Well they did have a CF pitch 1 inning and a SS pitch another....

[Larry Cook]

The rays are getting pitching, and they have some hungry kids in the field.

 

That is beginnings of a recipe for a winning team somewhere down the line.

 

The rays pitching coaches can get a quality start out of a statue. Meanwhile we are stacking up first round pitchers in the majors and minors in the bullpen.

 

With all his money maybe John Henry should think about hiring us the rays pitching coaches. Hhhmmmmm!!!!

[illinoisredsox]

Well they did have a CF pitch 1 inning and a SS pitch another....

 

Usually happens like that in these types of games but it was also Game 1 of a doubleheader.

[moonslav59]

Time to start a new winning streak!

[Nick]

He gets 20% love.

 

The rest of the love goes to Ben and Theo.

 

Ben and Theo definitely have your Aretha.

[OH FOY]

Rays always plays us tough.

[moonslav59]

Devers to the DL.

 

Kinsler activated.

[kenmeister]

Devers to the DL.

 

Kinsler activated.

 

Oh wow. I wonder what put Devers on the DL.

 

In other news: https://www.boston.com/sports/mlb/2018/08/17/clay-buchholz-diamondbacks-complete-game. It's always nice to see Buchholz shows those flashes of brilliance. I give him 3-4 more starts before he breaks down for the year.

[kenmeister]

Devers: Left hamstring strain, or inability to throw the ball to first base?

[S5Dewey]

Devers: Left hamstring strain, or inability to throw the ball to first base?

 

You choose.

[Bellhorn04]

Oh wow. I wonder what put Devers on the DL.

 

In other news: https://www.boston.com/sports/mlb/2018/08/17/clay-buchholz-diamondbacks-complete-game. It's always nice to see Buchholz shows those flashes of brilliance. I give him 3-4 more starts before he breaks down for the year.

 

Everyone's expecting him to get hurt so he probably won't this time. He's got a big financial incentive going for him too.

[Kimmi]

Oh wow. I wonder what put Devers on the DL.

 

In other news: https://www.boston.com/sports/mlb/2018/08/17/clay-buchholz-diamondbacks-complete-game. It's always nice to see Buchholz shows those flashes of brilliance. I give him 3-4 more starts before he breaks down for the year.

 

We should have signed him when we had the chance.

 

He was worth the risk of a minor league contract.

[Kimmi]

Devers: Left hamstring strain, or inability to throw the ball to first base?

 

Sounds like one of those phantom DL stints.

[moonslav59]

We should have signed him when we had the chance.

 

He was worth the risk of a minor league contract.

 

He'll go on the DL any second, now.

[oldtimer]

Devers: Left hamstring strain, or inability to throw the ball to first base?

 

The kid is 6 feet tall and weighs 237 pounds according to the red sox data. He is a candidate for hamstring injuries. He needs to consider conditioning as a priority if he is to attain his best form and stay off of the DL. Clearly people will quesion if this is truly an injury or an excuse to get him down to work on his defense and hitting. Both need help, along with his conditioning.

[kenmeister]

The kid is 6 feet tall and weighs 237 pounds according to the red sox data. He is a candidate for hamstring injuries. He needs to consider conditioning as a priority if he is to attain his best form and stay off of the DL. Clearly people will quesion if this is truly an injury or an excuse to get him down to work on his defense and hitting. Both need help, along with his conditioning.

 

I see your point. 6 feet in peak health and conditioning is probably 180.