A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[Emp9]

Not bad considering only 2 out of those 5 Starters will be in our post season rotation. Not that it matters too much anyhow. Hiccups happen. Hmm? Didn’t Sale have a hiccup as well?

[Emp9]

Sale May 27th vs Atl 4.1 Inn, 6 ER

[Emp9]

It’s funny how we all seem to remember theses starts lol (Me included)

[harmony]

The Red Sox apparently have the highest winning percentage of any professional team in MLB-affiliated baseball:

 

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40037140_1949690208424263_6523972240776626176_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=6d6cc99abe32ad8800dd74587000e58e&oe=5BEE422D

 

My local short-season Class A team is second.

Edited August 25, 2018 by harmony

[moonslav59]

May 3 Price 3.2 IP, 9 runs, 8 H+BB

June 23 Wright 3.1 IP, 10 ER, 12 H+BB

July 1 Price 3.1 IP, 8 ER, 9 H+BB

July 13 Porcello 2 IP, 8 ER, 11 H+BB

Aug. 10 Eovaldi 2.2 IP, 8 Runs, 12 H+BB

Aug. 24 Velazquez 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 11 H+BB

 

That's 6 amazingly horrible starts with 8 or more runs scored off the starter in less than 4 IP.

 

I wonder what our SP'er ERA would be without these 6 games.

 

 

I did not research how many times a SP'er gave up 3-4 runs in 1-2 IP, let some men on base, was left in and went on to clamp down and give 2-5 more good innings.

[vegasbob]

You can see the trend: No reported blowouts in March nor April. One in May and June. Now 2 each in July and August with time left. September trending to be a real disaster with 4 blowout losses. This cannot be allowed to continue, so do something, anything , Alex, like make Farrell the pitching coach again. That got us a WS win and later again as manager, so that's trending well.

[moonslav59]

lmao!

[vegasbob]

lmao!

 

Glad someone can identify hyperbolic absurdities when they see it. The Sox will not fail to win the WS because of pitching. It will be due to Mookie's 2 month slump.

[Larry Cook]

Glad someone can identify hyperbolic absurdities when they see it. The Sox will not fail to win the WS because of pitching. It will be due to Mookie's 2 month slump.

 

Seems like most of our hitters are experiencing a bit of a slump against good pitching.

 

Could be troublesome come October!

[moonslav59]

MLBTR reports...

 

Left knee problems have limited Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia to 13 PAs this season and shelved him since May 31, though there is optimism he’ll return in 2018, according to manager Alex Cora (via Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald). “We don’t have anything set as far as timetables, but we’re feeling good with the progress,” Cora said of Pedroia, adding that the 35-year-old will “contribute here in the dugout” even if he’s unable to play again this season. The Pedroia-less Red Sox haven’t gotten much production from any of their second base options this year, evidenced in part by their minus-0.2 fWAR at the position, though the team has still managed easily the majors’ best record (90-40).

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Boy they really miss Peddy, my favorite player. 2nd base has been a black hole all year and Kinsler is apparently not the answer. I'm not worried, although I'd be lying if I said I am not looking closer at the standings now. Sox are just going through a little rough patch as they face better pitching and that continues today.

[oldtimer]

Seems like most of our hitters are experiencing a bit of a slump against good pitching.

 

Could be troublesome come October!

 

We had the very good situation of two table setters who had high OBP and hit with some power. That hasn't been the case of late and really since the AS break there has been a tail off. In the case of Betts he just was found to have a hole on primarily sliders away. That can get into your head and of late he is struggling. Too good to be down for long but it is hurting the team. In the case of Beni, he really didn't lose the ability to maintain a solid OBP but he has not hit with much authority. If you notice, he fouls balls off to the left side and hasn't ulled the ball. I haven't checked, but I think it is one HR since the AS break after 14 earlier on. Something changed in his thinking as his swing still looks good. I notice him swinging through fastballs across the plate a lot more. Both these guys need to get back to nearly where they were. I don't think it has all been about good pitching. Slumps happen to all players and in Beni's case it is more of a power slump than an OBP prooble,.

 

The good news is that JDM, Bogaerts and Nunez seem to be hitting, and by the way, against the same pitching that is so much trouble for our lead off guys.

[User Name]

Every hitter on the face of the planet has problems with sliders away. That's why pitchers throw them so much. Betts is just struggling, as he had to do at some point. No need to reinvent the wheel here.

[jacksonianmarch]

Every hitter on the face of the planet has problems with sliders away. That's why pitchers throw them so much. Betts is just struggling, as he had to do at some point. No need to reinvent the wheel here.

 

The slider away ended my baseball career! I know it seems slowed down on the TV, but the slider is a stupidly hard pitch to hit. Curves you can sometimes see out of the hand, but sliders are released exactly the same as the fastball with a quick flick at the end that is not visible to the eye. You have to pick up the spin in literally a millisecond. When the velocities rise, it can become a guessing game. The only way to hit it beyond guessing is to sit on a certain quadrant of the zone. No hitter, not even Mike Trout or Betts, can step in for a pitch and hit every pitch the pitcher has to every location. Betts is likely being adjusted to right now and his mechanics are probably a tweak away as it has been a long season and the dog days are wearing down. I have a feeling, he’ll be fine. You’ve got bigger fish to fry

[S5Dewey]

MLBTR reports...

 

Left knee problems have limited Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia to 13 PAs this season and shelved him since May 31, though there is optimism he’ll return in 2018, according to manager Alex Cora (via Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald). “We don’t have anything set as far as timetables, but we’re feeling good with the progress,” Cora said of Pedroia, adding that the 35-year-old will “contribute here in the dugout” even if he’s unable to play again this season. The Pedroia-less Red Sox haven’t gotten much production from any of their second base options this year, evidenced in part by their minus-0.2 fWAR at the position, though the team has still managed easily the majors’ best record (90-40).

 

Thanks, Manny!

[oldtimer]

Boy they really miss Peddy' date=' my favorite player. 2nd base has been a black hole all year and Kinsler is apparently not the answer. I'm not worried, although I'd be lying if I said I am not looking closer at the standings now. Sox are just going through a little rough patch as they face better pitching and that continues today.[/quote']

 

2nd base has been an issue but I believe Kinsler is better defensively than the others and Pedey is not likely to come back and be any better. As far as hitting, it is unlikely that Pedey can step right in and hit well enough to outshine even what we have. The idea of Pedey contributing this year is a little optimistic.

[Bellhorn04]

The slider away ended my baseball career! I know it seems slowed down on the TV, but the slider is a stupidly hard pitch to hit. Curves you can sometimes see out of the hand, but sliders are released exactly the same as the fastball with a quick flick at the end that is not visible to the eye. You have to pick up the spin in literally a millisecond. When the velocities rise, it can become a guessing game. The only way to hit it beyond guessing is to sit on a certain quadrant of the zone. No hitter, not even Mike Trout or Betts, can step in for a pitch and hit every pitch the pitcher has to every location. Betts is likely being adjusted to right now and his mechanics are probably a tweak away as it has been a long season and the dog days are wearing down. I have a feeling, he’ll be fine. You’ve got bigger fish to fry

 

We've got rays to fry, and then marlins to fry.

 

But seriously, good post Jackson.

[Bellhorn04]

2nd base has been an issue but I believe Kinsler is better defensively than the others and Pedey is not likely to come back and be any better. As far as hitting, it is unlikely that Pedey can step right in and hit well enough to outshine even what we have. The idea of Pedey contributing this year is a little optimistic.

 

The idea of Pedey ever contributing again is probably optimistic, but I'm down with it. At least he's feeling good.

[OH FOY]

https://www.milb.com/portland/news/rodriguez-and-vazquez-scheduled-for-mlb-rehab-stints-monday/c-291900048

[oldtimer]

The idea of Pedey ever contributing again is probably optimistic, but I'm down with it. At least he's feeling good.

 

I really like what he has done for the Sox but I am more of a realist going forward, at least for this year.

[vegasbob]

I really like what he has done for the Sox but I am more of a realist going forward, at least for this year.

 

A Pedroia return sometime in September may be a feel good situation and Pedey may deserve all due consideration but it would take a real stretch to imagine him in any playoff roster situation. If the last 3 games with NY in Fenway turn out to be meaningless (and they should), then let Pedroia get on the field and rest someone else for the playoff run.

[vegasbob]

With Vazquez and Erod being prepped for a Sept 1 call back , where the heck is 21 year old Rafael Devers ?? I'm personally not missing him but if anyone should be healing quickly, it's this kid. Although he can't hit very consistently yet, he does alter the lineup sequence and gives pitchers something different to think about. His contribution to his first full season is weak, both on offense and defense.

[Bellhorn04]

With Vazquez and Erod being prepped for a Sept 1 call back , where the heck is 21 year old Rafael Devers ?? I'm personally not missing him but if anyone should be healing quickly, it's this kid.

 

Hamstrings can be tricky things.

[moonslav59]

I'm hopeful Pedey can give us something in 2019, but we should not count on it.

 

We'll probably roll the dice and hope one from Holt, Nunez, Marco Hernandez, Lin or Quiroz step up, if Pedey never returns. If second base is a mess again next year, we might make a mid season deal for one.

 

If second base is our biggest weakness, we aren't so bad off.

[oldtimer]

With Vazquez and Erod being prepped for a Sept 1 call back , where the heck is 21 year old Rafael Devers ?? I'm personally not missing him but if anyone should be healing quickly, it's this kid. Although he can't hit very consistently yet, he does alter the lineup sequence and gives pitchers something different to think about. His contribution to his first full season is weak, both on offense and defense.

 

Devers appears to be in need of additional time in the minors. Both the error rate and his hitting difficulties are signs that he could use more development. He probably also could get into better shape as well.

 

Do we need another left hand power hitter in the lineup? Yes we do, but only if he is ready to contribute.

[OH FOY]

E-Rod is suppose to pitch next weekend according to Cora, if he feels OK after tomorrow's nights game.

 

Good chance its E-Rod vs. Koppech

[moonslav59]

Devers appears to be in need of additional time in the minors. Both the error rate and his hitting difficulties are signs that he could use more development. He probably also could get into better shape as well.

 

Do we need another left hand power hitter in the lineup? Yes we do, but only if he is ready to contribute.

 

I'll still take Devers over Nunez/Holt at 3B, despite the fact that Nunez seems to be heating up a little bit.

[oldtimer]

I'll still take Devers over Nunez/Holt at 3B, despite the fact that Nunez seems to be heating up a little bit.

 

Yes, havinng Nunez hitting better is a plus. He really helped the team last year and is showing signs of getting back to that form or at least close.

[moonslav59]

Yes, havinng Nunez hitting better is a plus. He really helped the team last year and is showing signs of getting back to that form or at least close.

 

He'll never be a plus fielder, but it's not hard to be as good as Devers is right now on D.

 

I still look forward to Devers return and think he'll be a plus going forward.

[Larry Cook]

Our goal has to be getting Rodriguez and sale back healthy and pitching well for the playoffs.

 

I think Devers adds a ton of value, if healthy. His hitting is really needed now, but not if his defense is compromised.

 

It would be so nice to have a healthy Vazquez back as well, but I wonder if the hitting will suffer for the rest of the year. Broken fingers injuries always linger.