The Alex Cora Managerial Decision Thread

[SoxHop]

 

"You scratched my anchor".

 

AHAHAHHH !!!!!! Oh man......... WHAT a great line......

[mvp 78]

Some stats from Mazz:

 

"So far, through 17 starts, Sale has thrown 138 fewer pitches and totaled 11.2 fewer innings than he did a year ago. Given that Sale is precisely halfway through his season, that translates into a commendable savings of roughly 276 pitches and 23.1 innings, essentially the equivalent of three starts."

 

Mazz also points out that Sale started to fade in August last year, so he may need even more rest in the 2nd half of the season. I'm not sure if that will be possible, however, given the tight division race with the Yankees.

 

That's actually really good news.

[mvp 78]

Mazz said something useful & based in facts for once? Holy s***.

 

He's really a garbage person. And I don't say that lightly.

 

His baseball show is ok, but everything else about him is just terrible.

[moonslav59]

That's actually really good news.

 

I'd try to rest him even more than he has so far. Shoot for 325+ less pitches and 30+ less IP.

[notin]

Mazz said something useful & based in facts for once? Holy s***.

 

Someone clearly hacked his account and is using it for actual journalism...

[Kimmi]

Mazz said something useful & based in facts for once? Holy s***.

 

LOL Blind squirrel?

[SoxnCycles]

LOL Blind squirrel?

 

Pretty much!

Years ago, I considered Mazz a must read for baseball.

I don't know if it's his involvment with the Felger & Mazz show and his need to have hot takes, no mater how dumb, but he's definitely not what he used to be.

[Kimmi]

Pretty much!

Years ago, I considered Mazz a must read for baseball.

I don't know if it's his involvment with the Felger & Mazz show and his need to have hot takes, no mater how dumb, but he's definitely not what he used to be.

 

I mostly agree with you about Mazz, though I do think he, as well as the other writers, have some good stuff now and then. Even Shaughnessy.

 

Truth be told, I often can't remember who writes what.

[oldtimer]

I'd try to rest him even more than he has so far. Shoot for 325+ less pitches and 30+ less IP.

 

Going to be difficult to do with us in a cat fight with the Yankees probaably through Sept. It's very important to avoid the wild card game, so there will be an enducement to keep on with our best. Now if we fall too far back to make that a possibility then resting him in September would make sense.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Perhaps the worst thing about ending up a Wild Card is that the SOX would have to use Sale in that one game, which, if the SOX advance,would mess up the rotation going forward. This one game WC is bad in so many ways. Let's just hope the Yankems have to deal with it.

[S5Dewey]

Perhaps the worst thing about ending up a Wild Card is that the SOX would have to use Sale in that one game, which, if the SOX advance,would mess up the rotation going forward. This one game WC is bad in so many ways. Let's just hope the Yankems have to deal with it.

 

Not necessarily, unless we had a big lead in the WC race (which we may have). A normal WC race comes down to the last day or two of the season when a team doesn't have a chance to set their rotation up for that single game. That leaves it to the luck of the draw which team gets to use their better pitcher.

 

With pitching being as big a part of the game as it is, that's my biggest issue with the one game playoff. In a worst case scenario one team could end up pitching their #5 against another team's #1 just by whose turn it is in the rotation and who's rested. That's just WRONG.

[dgalehouse]

One wild card is enough. The only reason for a second wild card is to try and keep the turnstiles moving for teams basically undeserving to be in the playoffs. Not worth the problems it creates.

[Bellhorn04]

One wild card is enough. The only reason for a second wild card is to try and keep the turnstiles moving for teams basically undeserving to be in the playoffs. Not worth the problems it creates.

 

Yes, I firmly believe the change had everything to do with dollars and nothing to do with fairness.

[mvp 78]

Yes, I firmly believe the change had everything to do with dollars and nothing to do with fairness.

 

All the recent changes (past 20 years) they have made have been strictly dollar moves. Interleague play, AS Game changes, Wild Card expansion...

 

If only there was a way to monetize robot umps!!!!

[Slasher9]

with an unbalanced schedule you have to have 2 WC teams. IMO.

if they balance the god damn schedule we can just have the top 4 teams from each league make the postseason.

playing TB / NYY / Tor / Bal 10x instead of 18x is enough. no more divisions. just 2 leagues.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

One wild card is enough. The only reason for a second wild card is to try and keep the turnstiles moving for teams basically undeserving to be in the playoffs. Not worth the problems it creates.

 

Money will always overrule what's best for the game.

[dgalehouse]

Money will always overrule what's best for the game.

 

Yep. The game of baseball and most everything else as well.

[moonslav59]

Money will always overrule what's best for the game.

 

While agree that money is what it's all about, I think giving 2 teams a shot at the final berth is worthwhile, especially with unbalanced schedules and weak divisions.

 

If you do as Slasher suggests and go to a no division format, then you really reduce a lot of rivalry games (more money), and we end up taking 2 west coast trips every season.

 

14 teams x 10 games (5H & 5A)=140

22 games vs other league (maybe 3 gms x 6 teams + 2 gms x 2 teams)

 

or

 

14 teams x 8 games (4H + 4A)= 112

10 teams x 3 games=30

5 teams x 4 games=20

(Not very unbalanced)

 

 

 

 

You'd still end up with unbalance due to playing different NL/AL teams, but it's closer to parity.

 

If you do away with inter league play:

 

6 teams x 11 games= 66

8 teams x 12 games= 96

 

Still slightly unbalanced

 

I'm in favor of something more radical: a total realignment of MLB by doing away with the NL & AL and forming 5 divisions with 3 wild card teams (no play-in).

 

East

BOS

NYY

NYM

PHI

BAL

PIT

 

South

WSH

ATL

TBR

FLA

HOU

TEX

 

North

TOR

DET

CLE

CIN

CWS

Cubs

 

Central

MN

MIL

STL

KCR

COL

AZ

 

West

SEA

OAK

SFG

LAD

LAA

SDP

 

Schedule:

vs own DIV

16 gms x 5 team= 80

3 gms x 18 teams=54

4 gms x 7 teams= 28

 

 

[S5Dewey]

While agree that money is what it's all about, I think giving 2 teams a shot at the final berth is worthwhile, especially with unbalanced schedules and weak divisions.

 

If you do as Slasher suggests and go to a no division format, then you really reduce a lot of rivalry games (more money), and we end up taking 2 west coast trips every season.

 

14 teams x 10 games (5H & 5A)=140

22 games vs other league (maybe 3 gms x 6 teams + 2 gms x 2 teams)

 

or

 

14 teams x 8 games (4H + 4A)= 112

10 teams x 3 games=30

5 teams x 4 games=20

(Not very unbalanced)

 

 

 

 

You'd still end up with unbalance due to playing different NL/AL teams, but it's closer to parity.

 

If you do away with inter league play:

 

6 teams x 11 games= 66

8 teams x 12 games= 96

 

Still slightly unbalanced

 

I'm in favor of something more radical: a total realignment of MLB by doing away with the NL & AL and forming 5 divisions with 3 wild card teams (no play-in).

 

East

BOS

NYY

NYM

PHI

BAL

PIT

 

South

WSH

ATL

TBR

FLA

HOU

TEX

 

North

TOR

DET

CLE

CIN

CWS

Cubs

 

Central

MN

MIL

STL

KCR

COL

AZ

 

West

SEA

OAK

SFG

LAD

LAA

SDP

 

Schedule:

vs own DIV

16 gms x 5 team= 80

3 gms x 18 teams=54

4 gms x 7 teams= 28

 

 

 

I can get on board with that. Do we use the DH?

[moonslav59]

I can get on board with that. Do we use the DH?

 

I'd prefer yes, but either way, all teams should follow the same rules.

[Kimmi]

Perhaps the worst thing about ending up a Wild Card is that the SOX would have to use Sale in that one game, which, if the SOX advance,would mess up the rotation going forward. This one game WC is bad in so many ways. Let's just hope the Yankems have to deal with it.

 

While you'd like to have Sale pitch Game 1 of the ALDS, I have confidence in the rest of our rotation to get the job done.

 

The worrisome thing about the wildcard game is that anything can happen in one game. It's pretty much a 50-50 coin toss.

[moonslav59]

While you'd like to have Sale pitch Game 1 of the ALDS, I have confidence in the rest of our rotation to get the job done.

 

The worrisome thing about the wildcard game is that anything can happen in one game. It's pretty much a 50-50 coin toss.

 

While true, the odds makers will be looking closely at the SP'ers and home field when setting the odds.

[dgalehouse]

While true, the odds makers will be looking closely at the SP'ers and home field when setting the odds.

 

Never discount the " wise guys ". They know what they are doing.

[Kimmi]

While true, the odds makers will be looking closely at the SP'ers and home field when setting the odds.

 

No doubt. On paper, there will be a team that is favored over the other.

 

That means virtually nothing, though.

[moonslav59]

No doubt. On paper, there will be a team that is favored over the other.

 

That means virtually nothing, though.

 

I disagree. The oddsmakers are right much more than wrong.

[Bellhorn04]

I disagree. The oddsmakers are right much more than wrong.

 

The oddsmakers' primary goal is to set the odds so that equal money is bet on both sides.

[moonslav59]

The oddsmakers' primary goal is to set the odds so that equal money is bet on both sides.

 

Yes, and they are very accurate at what they do. The favorites win way more than the underdogs.

 

If the odds maker puts the line at -105 or -110, then yes, it's maybe a "crap shoot", but even then, the favorite wins more than the underdog.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, and they are very accurate at what they do. The favorites win way more than the underdogs.

 

If the odds maker puts the line at -105 or -110, then yes, it's maybe a "crap shoot", but even then, the favorite wins more than the underdog.

 

So if we're in the Wild Card game and we're -110, that would basically mean we 'only' have a 45% chance of being eliminated rather than a 50% chance.

[moonslav59]

So if we're in the Wild Card game and we're -110, that would basically mean we 'only' have a 45% chance of being eliminated rather than a 50% chance.

 

Most lines are far from -110, and we will likely have home field for a wild card game.

 

My point was that being a favorite usually means you win.

 

I'd hate for us to have to win a play-in to advance, for sure, but I value having a rested Sale as more valuable. It's a close call. having to win a play in or a tired Sale both would suck.

[Maxbialystock]

Most lines are far from -110, and we will likely have home field for a wild card game.

 

My point was that being a favorite usually means you win.

 

I'd hate for us to have to win a play-in to advance, for sure, but I value having a rested Sale as more valuable. It's a close call. having to win a play in or a tired Sale both would suck.

 

moonslav might have a point about oddsmakers.

 

Ken Pomeroy has his own website with tons of stats on NCAA Basketball teams. Numbers that understandable but also well presented and accessible. Costs $20/year to get. His website predicts the score for every NCAA Div I game all season long and is surprisingly accurate, so much so that very often Vegas odds begin with his and that change as betting goes on.

 

However, Pomeroy himself has written nothing is better at predicting than knowledgeable, experienced, collective opinion, by which he means oddsmakers.

 

Thank goodness, however, Kimmi is more right than wrong. Sports outcomes are often very unpredictable. I mean, who the heck wants to watch a sporting event with a preordained outcome?