5/20 Orioles at Fenway

[jung]

So JBJ has proven that if a RH pitcher gives him a pitch that is not breaking that is far enough out away from his body that he can view the pitch long enough and not lose sight of it way out in front of the plate, he might actually hit the thing. Anything and I do mean anything middle in, he is not likely to hit whether it is a straight FB or anything else. He will be the blind pig that occasionally finds a truffle if he does not actually fix this or at least try to go oppo as an effort to get back on track during the season.

[Maxbialystock]

So JBJ has proven that if a RH pitcher gives him a pitch that is not breaking that is far enough out away from his body that he can view the pitch long enough and not lose sight of it way out in front of the plate, he might actually hit the thing. Anything and I do mean anything middle in, he is not likely to hit whether it is a straight FB or anything else. He will be the blind pig that occasionally finds a truffle if he does not actually fix this or at least try to go oppo as an effort to get back on track during the season.

 

That's one interpretation. Look, we all know he sucks lately, but he as sucked before, like all of 2014 and most of 2015 until he started hitting. There ensued a good 2015 finish, a great 2016, and a so-so 2017. Now an awful 2018.

 

I'd say Cora was right to give him another start today despite the wretchedness of the last two games. Beyond that, it's hard to say.

 

One thing, however. Two games ago he could not hit a fastball in the dead center of the strike zone because he saw several of them in those two K's.

[OH FOY]

When your ahead you need Defense, when your behind you need Offense. Lets keep this simple. Edited May 20, 2018 by OH FOY!

[jung]

That's one interpretation. Look, we all know he sucks lately, but he as sucked before, like all of 2014 and most of 2015 until he started hitting. There ensued a good 2015 finish, a great 2016, and a so-so 2017. Now an awful 2018.

 

I'd say Cora was right to give him another start today despite the wretchedness of the last two games. Beyond that, it's hard to say.

 

One thing, however. Two games ago he could not hit a fastball in the dead center of the strike zone because he saw several of them in those two K's.

 

Just remember, it took an out and out intervention to get him out of the dregs of his 2014 and this swing problem is actually considerably worse than the one he had in 2014.

[Maxbialystock]

See that right there. That's what I'm talking about. JDM just struck out with men on 1st and 2d. I keep saying he doesn't hit as well when is the DH. If he was in LF today, he might have got a single there instead of that stupid K.

[Maxbialystock]

Just remember, it took an out and out intervention to get him out of the dregs of his 2014 and this swing problem is actually considerably worse than the one he had in 2014.

 

Sadly true.

[Maxbialystock]

Orioles have the same number of hits, 12, as the Sox today. But all of theirs are singles. Sox have 6 singles, 3 doubles, 3 dingers, and a 5-0 lead.

 

Good game by ERod--5.2, 9 singles, 7 K's, no walks, and no runs. Good call to bring in Hembree, made easier by Erod having thrown 110 pitches.

[Maxbialystock]

How much are they paying Johnson again to fall on his ass instead of covering 1B?

[Maxbialystock]

How much are they paying Johnson again to fall on his ass instead of covering 1B?

 

Yeah, but that curve worked well and got that popup and Johnson caught the overthrow from JBJ because he did back up Vazquez. Pom never does jack on defense.

[Maxbialystock]

Pretty neat. Johnson mixed in that slider that Trumbo thought was a curve and would go in the dirt. It didn't and was called strike three.

 

Terrific game by everyone. I have to say people complain about Devers' defense, but I think Nunez is worse at 2b anyway. He gets to stuff, but never to get outs.

[illinoisredsox]

Did I read the bos score correctly? A 13 hit shutout with no double plays?

[oldtimer]

Did I read the bos score correctly? A 13 hit shutout with no double plays?

 

Things are looking up

 

Betts is still incredible

Beni is coming on strongly

Moreland is a solid 1st baseman and can hit

JDM is a great hitter

Bogie is a very solid hitter and reliable if not great defensive shortstop

Nunez draws a lot of criticism but is a pro and can hit

Devers swings at too many pitches off the plate but still will hit his weight or more.

Holt may prove to be a decent utility man

Pedey is coming shortly

 

 

So wake up Hanley and JBJ or take some action,

 

Our pitching is what it is. Thornburg may help and Wright is a possibility, Price has possibilities.

 

Lots of room for optimism.

[Kimmi]

Did I read the bos score correctly? A 13 hit shutout with no double plays?

 

Ha, kind of hard to do, isn't it? The Os out hit the Sox, yet lost by 5 runs.

[mvp 78]

Did I read the bos score correctly? A 13 hit shutout with no double plays?

 

1st 13 hit SHO in ten years

[Kimmi]

It was good to see JBJ get a hit that started a 4 run rally today. A very well hit double, at that. Hopefully that gets him going.

 

Good win today, and good series all around.

[Larry Cook]

Good win today! Looks like Rodriguez is really starting to put it all together.

[TylerD]

Good win today! Looks like Rodriguez is really starting to put it all together.

 

Looked damn fine today! Confident and smooth! Good win

[Natick to NC]

Erod best game ever ....trade him now !!!! Realmutto

[Kimmi]

Good win today! Looks like Rodriguez is really starting to put it all together.

 

He pitched very well. It would still be nice to see him go a little deeper in games. Good job though.

[jad]

I would believe that were it not for:

- both hitting AND pitching being turned into power games for no particular reason that would make sense other than that is what MLB wants to do

- rules implementations clearly designed to favor big power hitters and power hitting over other aspects of the game. MLB has allowing the shift to flourish unabated for no particular reason and we have the rules around second base.

- Adopting stats that favor starters going fewer innings like the quality start which is a mutation if I ever heard of one. Just because Bill James likes something is not a reason for MLB to adopt it as meaningful.

- The juiced baseball is another example. We have hitters hitting HR's with broken bats now

 

I could go on but will resist the temptation.

 

Why would the rules about the shift favor power hitters? The shift should favor hitters who want to hit to the opposite field. No one wants to do that.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1st 13 hit SHO in ten years

 

That's why they're called the O's.

[moonslav59]

Bottom of the order on base 3 out of 8 PAs.

[Jasonbay44]

Pretty neat. Johnson mixed in that slider that Trumbo thought was a curve and would go in the dirt. It didn't and was called strike three.

 

Terrific game by everyone. I have to say people complain about Devers' defense, but I think Nunez is worse at 2b anyway. He gets to stuff, but never to get outs.

Nunez is without a doubt our worst defender. Devers may get more errors, but he is way better than Nunez at 2B.

[CliffKlowers]

His best game was the five innings against the Yankees a few weeks back.

 

What are the MLB rules about shifts? I thought that they were implemented by the team managers and their FO? Was the Lou Boudreau shift against Williams implemented by Lou Boudreau? The shifts really hurt Big Papi much more than Ted Williams since many teams employed it. Only a few teams did it against Ted. Many hitters today are hurt by the shift.

Edited May 21, 2018 by CliffKlowers

[jung]

Why would the rules about the shift favor power hitters? The shift should favor hitters who want to hit to the opposite field. No one wants to do that.

 

Because that was never going to happen. There was not ever going to be some wholesale change to trying to go oppos in this league. In the first place its hard to do consistently and in the second place it is entirely contrary to every PR and monetary influence there is on the players. There agents are telling them to hit HR's. We are telling them to hit HR's, the Dead Presidents are telling them to hit more HR's and those three influences trump anything a manager is going to say in this day and age. Then you lump on what the league is doing or not doing in rules changes and it should be obvious that the preponderance of influences and incentives to hit over and not around the shift. The accepted response is to hit over the shift and the juiced baseball surely helps that.

 

Plus curtailing the shift into something less pervasive would be easy. That they don't do it is tantamount to a admission that players are incentivized and influenced to hit over it and that is exactly how MLB wants it. Hence MLB won't curtail it regardless of how easy it would be. The total number of shifts during each championship season has grown exponentially since Joe Maddon reintroduced the thing in its current form several years ago. We are up to thousands and thousands of shifts per championship season now.

[mvp 78]

Nunez is without a doubt our worst defender. Devers may get more errors, but he is way better than Nunez at 2B.

 

Nunez just lets balls eat him up. He's a poor infielder. His glove is much better as a backup OF.

[Station 13]

That's why they're called the O's.

 

lmao

[a700hitter]

Nunez is without a doubt our worst defender. Devers may get more errors, but he is way better than Nunez at 2B.

It is a close call, but Nunez will hit the bench when Pedroia returns. Devers will continue to be a problem.

[a700hitter]

It was good to see JBJ get a hit that started a 4 run rally today. A very well hit double, at that. Hopefully that gets him going.

 

Good win today, and good series all around.

He is still swinging through mediocre fastballs. Everyone is rooting for the kid, but his presence in the lineup is becoming unsustainable.

[a700hitter]

Nunez cannot play anymore

Radio announcers were saying that Nunez needs a break.