A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[moonslav59]

As I said before, I know that I'm in the minority on this. Most people would give Mookie 10 years and not think twice about it.

 

I'd certainly be worried about the last 2-3 years, but getting the first 7-8 years of mostly prime or near prime years would pay for the last years.

[CliffKlowers]

So you are an optimistic fan. Fooled me. To Mabs.

[Nick]

I can dream

 

Of course that's after Sox winning the World Series

 

I guess you missed this part......

[Nick]

Hanley Ramirez (.708 OPS) not producing as Boston Red Sox's No. 3 hitter, Alex Cora should consider lineup change per MassLive

 

We don't OWE Hanley anything. Let the performance dictate their playing time. It appears to me both Beni and Hanley should be platooned.

[moonslav59]

I've mentioned keeping an eye on Beni vs LHPs. He's at .529 right now with less than 50 PAs this year.

 

I'd give him a little longer, but an HRam-Beni platoon might make sense as soon as right now.

 

JD plays LF vs LHPs.

 

JD plays DH vs RHPs.

 

This assumes JBJ plays FT, but once Pedey returns, Nunez could be plugged into the OF mix.

[mvp 78]

I've mentioned keeping an eye on Beni vs LHPs. He's at .529 right now with less than 50 PAs this year.

 

I'd give him a little longer, but an HRam-Beni platoon might make sense as soon as right now.

 

JD plays LF vs LHPs.

 

JD plays DH vs RHPs.

 

This assumes JBJ plays FT, but once Pedey returns, Nunez could be plugged into the OF mix.

 

A HRam Beni platoon makes zero sense right now actually.

[moonslav59]

A HRam Beni platoon makes zero sense right now actually.

 

True. I was late on the HRam news.

 

[Kimmi]

A HRam Beni platoon makes zero sense right now actually.

 

A Swihart/Moreland platoon at first base doesn't make much sense either.

[mvp 78]

A Swihart/Moreland platoon at first base doesn't make much sense either.

 

I’m a FT Moreland guy.

[moonslav59]

A Swihart/Moreland platoon at first base doesn't make much sense either.

 

Swihart is better vs RHPs same as Moreland.

 

It makes no sense.

 

It still looks like DH is his best chance to get PAs, and that depends on JBJ's offense and JD's OF defense.

[moonslav59]

I’m a FT Moreland guy.

 

I was 110% against the Moreland signing, but he's the best option right now at 1B vs RHPs and LHPs.

 

Holt is probably my second choice- not Swihart.

[a700hitter]

I was 110% against the Moreland signing, but he's the best option right now at 1B vs RHPs and LHPs.

 

Holt is probably my second choice- not Swihart.

I was also baffled by the re-signing of Moreland so early in the off season for a 2 year contract, but he is earning his spot and his money.

[devildavid]

I was 110% against the Moreland signing, but he's the best option right now at 1B vs RHPs and LHPs.

 

Holt is probably my second choice- not Swihart.

 

Holt is a great player to have on the team in any capacity. His season was lost last year due to concussion. It was smart of the FO to hold onto him.

[Bellhorn04]

Holt is a great player to have on the team in any capacity. His season was lost last year due to concussion. It was smart of the FO to hold onto him.

 

I think the FO had a great offseason, personally.

[oldtimer]

The Sox lineup as constituted with Betts, Beni, JDM, Moreland, Bogey, Nunez/Devers, Pedey, Catcher and JBJ . is pretty formidable. If one doesn't come through on a night somebody takes up the slack. Good going again today with Beni doing the heavy lifting. Now Pomeranz needs to get his act together.

[moonslav59]

The Sox lineup as constituted with Betts, Beni, JDM, Moreland, Bogey, Nunez/Devers, Pedey, Catcher and JBJ . is pretty formidable. If one doesn't come through on a night somebody takes up the slack. Good going again today with Beni doing the heavy lifting. Now Pomeranz needs to get his act together.

 

I still have hopes Pom comes around, but he's looked awful shaky since coming back from the injury.

 

I like the way Velazqquez and Wright have looked, so I think we have the depth needed, if Pom never regains.

[Maxbialystock]

I still have hopes Pom comes around, but he's looked awful shaky since coming back from the injury.

 

I like the way Velazqquez and Wright have looked, so I think we have the depth needed, if Pom never regains.

 

I honestly don't see where the hope comes from. He has a sorry ass fast ball and that knuckle curve, and that is it. If he had great control, he might manage on two pitches, but he doesn't. The telltale is the unbelievable amount of time he takes between pitches because he is afraid to throw anything.

 

Tell me, please, what you see in the way he pitches that makes you think he can stay in the rotation.

[Maxbialystock]

I still have hopes Pom comes around, but he's looked awful shaky since coming back from the injury.

 

I like the way Velazqquez and Wright have looked, so I think we have the depth needed, if Pom never regains.

 

I will say one thing more that I said in the game thread. I loved the way Pom pitched today because it reconfirmed how lousy he is and makes it easier for management to move him to where he can't wreck a game every time he goes onto the mound.

[Maxbialystock]

I've mentioned keeping an eye on Beni vs LHPs. He's at .529 right now with less than 50 PAs this year.

 

I'd give him a little longer, but an HRam-Beni platoon might make sense as soon as right now.

 

JD plays LF vs LHPs.

 

JD plays DH vs RHPs.

 

This assumes JBJ plays FT, but once Pedey returns, Nunez could be plugged into the OF mix.

 

Bad call, moonslav. Not like you at all.

[moonslav59]

I honestly don't see where the hope comes from. He has a sorry ass fast ball and that knuckle curve, and that is it. If he had great control, he might manage on two pitches, but he doesn't. The telltale is the unbelievable amount of time he takes between pitches because he is afraid to throw anything.

 

Tell me, please, what you see in the way he pitches that makes you think he can stay in the rotation.

 

So, the first half of 2016 and all of 2017 was just a mirage?

 

I'm fine with anyone giving up on Pom, but to act like there is no basis for hope is being overly pessimistic.

 

The guy is returning from an injury. It's taking longer than any of us hoped, but certainly there's a pretty significant chance Pom can regain what he had. He's been good more than bad over the last 2+ years.

 

I'm not projecting greatness. I just said I still have hope.

 

I never make definitive judgments based on a 1 or 2 month sample size alone.

 

Some here make them on sample sizes measured in days or weeks.

[cp176]

I get the fact that people are upset that Pomeranz hasn't gotten the job done. So am I but there is no way you give up on this kid just yet. How long before it gets to be Porcello's turn to get raked over the coals here?

[moonslav59]

Here's how our starters might line up:

 

5/27 ATL Sale

5/28 TOT Price

5/29 TOR Porcello

5/30 TOR ERod

5/31 @HOU Pom

6/1 @HOU Sale

6/2 @HOU Price

6/3 @HOU Porcello

Day off

3 vs DET

3 vs CWS

10 game roda trip

 

Edited May 27, 2018 by moonslav59

[Maxbialystock]

So, the first half of 2016 and all of 2017 was just a mirage?

 

I'm fine with anyone giving up on Pom, but to act like there is no basis for hope is being overly pessimistic.

 

The guy is returning from an injury. It's taking longer than any of us hoped, but certainly there's a pretty significant chance Pom can regain what he had. He's been good more than bad over the last 2+ years.

 

I'm not projecting greatness. I just said I still have hope.

 

I never make definitive judgments based on a 1 or 2 month sample size alone.

 

Some here make them on sample sizes measured in days or weeks.

 

I'm not going by sample sizes, but by what I see. So please tell me of one other MLB starter who relies on just 2 pitches and is not, like Wright, a knuckleballer. I know his ERA is bad, but I don't understand how he gets anyone out with that 87-91 mph fastball and the knuckle curve. I'm assuming that because of his size batters might a problem picking up the ball when he pitches. But, I say again, he lacks two things crucial for an effective starter: command of his pitches; an effective repertoire of pitches.

[a700hitter]

I'm not going by sample sizes, but by what I see. So please tell me of one other MLB starter who relies on just 2 pitches and is not, like Wright, a knuckleballer. I know his ERA is bad, but I don't understand how he gets anyone out with that 87-91 mph fastball and the knuckle curve. I'm assuming that because of his size batters might a problem picking up the ball when he pitches. But, I say again, he lacks two things crucial for an effective starter: command of his pitches; an effective repertoire of pitches.

Bartolo Colon uses 1 pitch.

[moonslav59]

I get the fact that people are upset that Pomeranz hasn't gotten the job done. So am I but there is no way you give up on this kid just yet. How long before it gets to be Porcello's turn to get raked over the coals here?

 

Good starter often have a stretch of bad games. Let's hope that's all this is for Pom and Porcello.

 

ERod appears to be over his bad stretch. Price had his.

 

Porcello: started the season with 7 starts without allowing more than 3 ERs. He's allowed 5, 5, 3 and 4 in his last 4 starts.

 

Pomeranz: He hasn't looked good all season, a season that began on April 20th for him, Before today's game, he allowed 3, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4. His IP have been low, so those numbers look better than they actually were, but he should improve on his 19 BBs in 32 IP.

 

ERod: Nice first 4 (3, 1, 2, 3 ERs), then 2 back-to-back 5 ER games, followed by another very nice 4 games (0, 3, 0, 2).

 

Price: Started with a nice 4 (0. 0. 4, 1) then 3 bad (4, 5, 7), followed by 3 good (2, 2, 1).

 

Sale has been steady with no game over 3 ERs allowed in 11 games. 7 out of 11 games with 0-1 ER allowed.

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

I'm not going by sample sizes, but by what I see. So please tell me of one other MLB starter who relies on just 2 pitches and is not, like Wright, a knuckleballer. I know his ERA is bad, but I don't understand how he gets anyone out with that 87-91 mph fastball and the knuckle curve. I'm assuming that because of his size batters might a problem picking up the ball when he pitches. But, I say again, he lacks two things crucial for an effective starter: command of his pitches; an effective repertoire of pitches.

 

How was he so effective for 2 very long stretches? Did you "see" that or was it a mirage?

 

Nobody gets lucky for that long.

 

Pom pitched very well, depsite using many pitches to get to the 5th or 6th inning.

 

I'm hopeful he can do that again. I wouldn't bet on it, but there is certainly reason for hope.

 

You don't have to be a homer to have hope. My guess is many opposing GMs would love to take a chance on Pom this year.

[moonslav59]

Pom had a 2.47 ERA after 17 starts in 2016. He wasn't as effective with the Sox after the trade, but he was discovered to have had an injury. He still had 9 of 14 games with the Sox with 0-2 Ers allowed. Yes the 3.4 BB/9 rate was too high, but allowing just 7.2 H/9 shows ability.

 

He ended up with a 3.32 ERA last year in 32 starts, he had 23 of 32 starts with 0-2 ERs allowed. Damn impressive!

 

OPS against

.712 in 2017

.658 in 2016

 

6.0 WAR 2016-2017 combined (28th best in MLB)

 

76 ERA- (11th best in MLB)

 

It was not a fluke.

 

I hated the Pom trade, but it was never about my feelings about Pom. The guy can pitch.

Edited May 27, 2018 by moonslav59

[a700hitter]

Pom had a 2.47 ERA after 17 starts in 2016. He wasn't as effective with the Sox after the trade, but he was discovered to have had an injury. He still had 9 of 14 games with the Sox with 0-2 Ers allowed. Yes the 3.4 BB/9 rate was too high, but allowing just 7.2 H/9 shows ability.

 

He ended up with a 3.32 ERA last year in 32 starts, he had 23 of 32 starts with 0-2 ERs allowed. Damn impressive!

 

OPS against

.712 in 2017

.658 in 2016

 

6.0 WAR 2016-2017 combined (28th best in MLB)

 

76 ERA- (11th best in MLB)

 

It was not a fluke.

 

I hated the Pom trade, but it was never about my feeling about Pom. The guy can pitch.

People are all over him, because he has a placid demeanor (like JD Drew) and some people think he doesn't give a s*** or something. i think his demeanor is perfect for a guy standing in the middle of the field with all eyes on him. I also think that he is working hard to figure out what is wrong. He has been working extra side sessions against hitters etc. Hopefully, he can figure it out. When he is right, he is very, very good. The one big thing that he hasn't had much of this year so far are the key DP balls. They not only help to get him out of jams, but they are very useful in keeping his pitch count down allowing him to go deeper into games. He needs to improve his command. That is clear. But he needs some help from the god of randomness too.

 

The concerning thing about his lack of command and dip in velocity is that it could be an indicator of an injury issue. If so, we will find out soon enough.

Edited May 27, 2018 by a700hitter

[devildavid]

People are all over him, because he has a placid demeanor (like JD Drew) and some people think he doesn't give a s*** or something. i think his demeanor is perfect for a guy standing in the middle of the field with all eyes on him. I also think that he is working hard to figure out what is wrong. He has been working extra side sessions against hitters etc. Hopefully, he can figure it out. When he is right, he is very, very good. The one big thing that he hasn't had much of this year so far are the key DP balls. They not only help to get him out of jams, but they are very useful in keeping his pitch count down allowing him to go deeper into games. He needs to improve his command. That is clear. But he needs some help from the god of randomness too.

 

The concerning thing about his lack of command and dip in velocity could be an indicator of an injury issue. If so, we will find out soon enough.

 

I agree 100%

[moonslav59]

Interesting article ...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/what-to-watch-for-as-the-pitching-landscape-evolves.html