The 2018 Bullpen Season Thread

[OH FOY]

Consistent and non-productive outs at the bottom of the order, stop the other 6 productive hitters getting extra at bats in a game. Could be difference in a close game. Outs matter in the game of Baseball. Cant afford to give any up easily.

That's why with bottom of the Order not producing you need Mookie at the Top to make sure he gets as many bats in a game. Batting 3 or 4 might have him miss an extra at bat in a game.

[notin]

if he doesn't heat back up soon I can definitely see his AB's getting squeezed sooner than later just because of the contract.....

Last 12 games: 0 HR / 4 RBI / .690 OPS.

Im actually surprised they haven't sat him already.

 

And in his last 16 games, Eduardo Nunez has a .468 OPS with 1 HR and 3 RBI. Is Hanley really the foremost guy the Sox need to be benching?

[mvp 78]

And in his last 16 games, Eduardo Nunez has a .468 OPS with 1 HR and 3 RBI. Is Hanley really the foremost guy the Sox need to be benching?

 

I'm not a huge Pedey fan at this stage of his career, but we're seeing the reason why Nunez has never been a full time starter.

[Spudboy]

I'm not a huge Pedey fan at this stage of his career, but we're seeing the reason why Nunez has never been a full time starter.

 

Yes.

 

I just wonder if his knee is a culprit or if last year's version of him was Fools Gold.

[Station 13]

if he doesn't heat back up soon I can definitely see his AB's getting squeezed sooner than later just because of the contract.....

Last 12 games: 0 HR / 4 RBI / .690 OPS.

Im actually surprised they haven't sat him already.

 

It wouldn't be so jarring if Hanley weren't hitting in the 3-hole. Hanley is a non factor in our wins this year.

[OH FOY]

I work 2nd shift, so I get to look at replays, and occasional Weekend games, but in the last week Nunez has hit 3 or 4 Ropes right at Outfielders, that if gone a couple of feet either way, different outcome.

Is he hitting it on the button, and getting Bad Breaks, or hitting lazy flies, and weak grounders?

Edited May 8, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Bellhorn04]

I would never argue that our outfield lineup defensively falls off a bit with JD out there.

 

Sox stat maven Alex Speier reports that JD's defense has been a bit better than expected. Neither positive nor negative but dead average so far.

[Bellhorn04]

It wouldn't be so jarring if Hanley weren't hitting in the 3-hole. Hanley is a non factor in our wins this year.

 

That's not true. He was a major contributor in the 17-2 start. Some big hits in there.

[mvp 78]

Yes.

 

I just wonder if his knee is a culprit or if last year's version of him was Fools Gold.

 

A little bit of Column A and a little bit of Column B. He's better than what he is right now, but he definitely looks hurt.

[Slasher9]

And in his last 16 games, Eduardo Nunez has a .468 OPS with 1 HR and 3 RBI. Is Hanley really the foremost guy the Sox need to be benching?

 

no. but MM doesn't play 2nd base. he plays first base.

but you knew that.

[notin]

no. but MM doesn't play 2nd base. he plays first base.

but you knew that.

 

It makes me think I'm about to say six words I never thought I'd say.

 

"The Sox need Brock Holt back."

[cp176]

Sox stat maven Alex Speier reports that JD's defense has been a bit better than expected. Neither positive nor negative but dead average so far.

 

Really ? Are you sure that Speier really said this? Come on Bell, it can't be possible that after all the metrics that have been presented that he could actually be any good at all is it? Seriously, when you hit like this man hits, average (which is what he is) isn't too bad at all.

[Slasher9]

Really ? Are you sure that Speier really said this? Come on Bell, it can't be possible that after all the metrics that have been presented that he could actually be any good at all is it? Seriously, when you hit like this man hits, average (which is what he is) isn't too bad at all.

 

Cp. I don’t get it. He’s in the lineup whether he is in RF or not.

[cp176]

Cp. I don’t get it. He’s in the lineup whether he is in RF or not.

 

ok Slasher here you go. Basically I am just pissed off because anyone who has suggested that maybe jD isn't as bad out there as the past metrics say he is has been talked down to by the people who spend their time studying all things quantifiable. Now we hear from one of their heroes that maybe he could actually be average out there and what do we hear - 0. if Alex Speier says it, i guess it must be right. Anybody who has watched him this year should have been able to figure that one out. I'm not suggesting that he is a good fielder or that he should be out there any more than he has been but the suggestions that he is as bad as there is are ridiculous.

I think that there is a huge difference between being a player in the field and one who sits on his ass or rides a bike in the dugout between at bats. That job isn't for everyone. It takes a special kind of mental approach and if JD says that he is a better player by getting the opportunity to play in the field roughly half the time then I think that is what needs to be done. He is too good a hitter (and we sure need him) to disrupt his mental approach to the game.

[Slasher9]

fair response. his splits so far this year do indicate he hits better when playing LF vs DH.

personally I am happy with JDM DHing most games and outfield of the B's. but I am also on record stating JBj is my starting CFer getting 1 single every 10 AB's.......

[jacksonianmarch]

You’re talking about him being average for 20 games in the OF? So that shouts down two years of data? Are you kidding me?

[SoxnCycles]

You’re talking about him being average for 20 games in the OF? So that shouts down two years of data? Are you kidding me?

 

You have no right to offend him with your stats!

It's 2018 for cryin' out loud!

 

#himtoo.

[Bellhorn04]

You’re talking about him being average for 20 games in the OF? So that shouts down two years of data? Are you kidding me?

 

Eh, maybe he's been working hard at it and got over his wall shyness. Stranger things have happened.

[S5Dewey]

My eyes tell me that JDM is playing better defense now than he did in ST and earlier in the season. That's not to say that having him in LF and moving Beni to CF improves our defense...it doesn't. It weakens the defense in two positions.

 

Let's face it. This team's infield defense isn't good. Devers defense is horrid - he may get better with time but how well he plays in 2020 does us no good in 2018. Bogaerts is what he is - mediocre for a SS. Nunez isn't anyone's answer for a full time 2B. The only infielder who's good at his position is Moreland when he's at 1B, which is about half the time.

 

Given all of that I find it imperative that we keep an outstanding outfield even when it hurts run production. Just as I've said that there are two ways to win a game - by scoring a lot of runs or by holding the other team to very few runs - there are two ways to lose a game too, by giving up a lot of runs or by not scoring many runs.

 

Personally I like the strategy of trying to hold the other team to as few runs as possible and trying to scratch out whatever runs we can but your results may differ.

[SoxnCycles]

Eh, maybe he's been working hard at it and got over his wall shyness. Stranger things have happened.

 

Cora probably made it clear to him that if he wanted to play in the outfield on a regular basis, he'd best deal with his wall shyness.

[kenmeister]

My eyes tell me that JDM is playing better defense now than he did in ST and earlier in the season. That's not to say that having him in LF and moving Beni to CF improves our defense...it doesn't. It weakens the defense in two positions.

 

Let's face it. This team's infield defense isn't good. Devers defense is horrid - he may get better with time but how well he plays in 2020 does us no good in 2018. Bogaerts is what he is - mediocre for a SS. Nunez isn't anyone's answer for a full time 2B. The only infielder who's good at his position is Moreland when he's at 1B, which is about half the time.

 

Given all of that I find it imperative that we keep an outstanding outfield even when it hurts run production. Just as I've said that there are two ways to win a game - by scoring a lot of runs or by holding the other team to very few runs - there are two ways to lose a game too, by giving up a lot of runs or by not scoring many runs.

 

Personally I like the strategy of trying to hold the other team to as few runs as possible and trying to scratch out whatever runs we can but your results may differ.

 

Pedroia's return should help. I prefer Moreland at 1B, Hanley at DH, and JDM in LF than sending no-hit JBJ up to the plate. That said, Benitendi isn't exactly lighting the world on fire either. It's easy to overlook his struggles because they are normal, whereas JBJ's are catastrophic.

 

Back to the bullpen - Heath Hembree is my new goat. I did not like what I saw from him last night at all. Hopefully our man Thornburg comes back soon!!!

[OH FOY]

Holding few Runs as possible starts with Pitching, Defense only compliments this. You better have very good Pitching, for the year when you are relying on less Offense.

[S5Dewey]

Pedroia's return should help. I prefer Moreland at 1B, Hanley at DH, and JDM in LF than sending no-hit JBJ up to the plate. That said, Benitendi isn't exactly lighting the world on fire either. It's easy to overlook his struggles because they are normal, whereas JBJ's are catastrophic.

 

Back to the bullpen - Heath Hembree is my new goat. I did not like what I saw from him last night at all. Hopefully our man Thornburg comes back soon!!!

 

Here's what I don't understand about JBJ's struggles at the plate:

 

This guy isn't always a lousy hitter. He's had spells when he looked like Ted Williams reincarnated, so we have video of him being successful. With all the data that's available I can't understand why he and the coaching staff aren't looking at that data, seeing what he does when he's struggling, seeing what he did when he was hitting, and getting him to replicate what he was doing when he was successful.

[Slasher9]

You have no right to offend him with your stats!

It's 2018 for cryin' out loud!

 

#himtoo.

 

himtoo made me spit coffee on my keyboard.

[Slasher9]

My eyes tell me that JDM is playing better defense now than he did in ST and earlier in the season. That's not to say that having him in LF and moving Beni to CF improves our defense...it doesn't. It weakens the defense in two positions.

 

Let's face it. This team's infield defense isn't good. Devers defense is horrid - he may get better with time but how well he plays in 2020 does us no good in 2018. Bogaerts is what he is - mediocre for a SS. Nunez isn't anyone's answer for a full time 2B. The only infielder who's good at his position is Moreland when he's at 1B, which is about half the time.

 

Given all of that I find it imperative that we keep an outstanding outfield even when it hurts run production. Just as I've said that there are two ways to win a game - by scoring a lot of runs or by holding the other team to very few runs - there are two ways to lose a game too, by giving up a lot of runs or by not scoring many runs.

 

Personally I like the strategy of trying to hold the other team to as few runs as possible and trying to scratch out whatever runs we can but your results may differ.

 

I am all in on this post.

[illinoisredsox]

Here's what I don't understand about JBJ's struggles at the plate:

 

This guy isn't always a lousy hitter. He's had spells when he looked like Ted Williams reincarnated, so we have video of him being successful. With all the data that's available I can't understand why he and the coaching staff aren't looking at that data, seeing what he does when he's struggling, seeing what he did when he was hitting, and getting him to replicate what he was doing when he was successful.

 

Since this has gone on through Colbrunn, Davis and Hyers, you have to start looking at the player. Is he just stubborn? Uncoachable? Or is he just not good?

 

 

He seems at his best when he's driving the ball to left center. Then something changes, he gets pull happy and just tanks. I have no stats to back that up, just limited observations.

[OH FOY]

You cant sustain, a 162 Season with a 6 man Line-up. You need the bottom of the Order to at least produce, Productive Outs. Your shortening up the game for the Opposition.

Basically instead of a 9 inning game, your making it a 7 inning game, Offensively, by giving away Outs.

[moonslav59]

You cant sustain, a 162 Season with a 6 man Line-up. You need the bottom of the Order to at least produce, Productive Outs. Your shortening up the game for the Opposition.

Basically instead of a 9 inning game, your making it a 7 inning game, Offensively, by giving away Outs.

 

I would guess most teams have 2-3 guys who struggle in any given month.

 

Last year, our line-up was pretty consistent from top to bottom, mediocre, that is, but still....

 

I don't expect the bottom to be bad all year, but they sure looked putrid for the first 5-6 weeks of the season.

[notin]

You cant sustain, a 162 Season with a 6 man Line-up. You need the bottom of the Order to at least produce, Productive Outs. Your shortening up the game for the Opposition.

Basically instead of a 9 inning game, your making it a 7 inning game, Offensively, by giving away Outs.

 

And yet the Sox have won over 70% of their games with that exact scenario...

[SoxnCycles]

himtoo made me spit coffee on my keyboard.

 

You're welcome.