Rafael Devers struggles/triumphs and the future

[Kimmi]

Well we could make the case that Devers will come into his own in 2019 though I think that is one year optimistic. Beni should be prime in 2019. They are both a bit too young to be carrying as much of the burden as they have for a team with post season expectations. Here they are tonight still in diapers, batting from the 2 and 4 holes against a LH pitcher.

 

Getting to the post season...not a problem for this team. Not sure we can expect much from them in the post season unless DD pulls a rabbit out of a hat at the deadline. Not sure he has the ammo to do that this year.

 

And what about the Yankees with all of their young players who are still in diapers? Are they ready to win in the post season?

[jung]

Not really. But they have a bit more flexibility in the roster, a better pen and more importantly they have a hole card. They have that stupid little shoebox of a stadium and both their LH and RH hitters know how to use it to its full advantage. In fact, their RH hitters are more annoying in that park than their LH hitters!

 

I don't know of another team in the AL with more of a park advantage and more of a team suited to it than the MFY. The Astros are close. The M's are behind the Astros. But nobody gets close to the Yankees for having built and instructed a team designed for their home park. If they get to have home field through the post season they will be a difficult team to beat. The Astros probably have enough juice to take them down and the Astros are still the favorites IMO. I don't know that anybody else in the AL has enough horses to take that Yankee team down in a short series if it has home field.

[moonslav59]

Not really. But they have a bit more flexibility in the roster, a better pen and more importantly they have a hole card. They have that stupid little shoebox of a stadium and both their LH and RH hitters know how to use it to its full advantage. In fact, their RH hitters are more annoying in that park than their LH hitters!

 

I don't know of another team in the AL with more of a park advantage and more of a team suited to it than the MFY. The Astros are close. The M's are behind the Astros. But nobody gets close to the Yankees for having built and instructed a team designed for their home park. If they get to have home field through the post season they will be a difficult team to beat. The Astros probably have enough juice to take them down and the Astros are still the favorites IMO. I don't know that anybody else in the AL has enough horses to take that Yankee team down in a short series if it has home field.

 

Well, the way the Yanks and Astros are playing right now, it sure looks that way, but the season is long.

 

Things change.

[jacksonianmarch]

Not really. But they have a bit more flexibility in the roster, a better pen and more importantly they have a hole card. They have that stupid little shoebox of a stadium and both their LH and RH hitters know how to use it to its full advantage. In fact, their RH hitters are more annoying in that park than their LH hitters!

 

I don't know of another team in the AL with more of a park advantage and more of a team suited to it than the MFY. The Astros are close. The M's are behind the Astros. But nobody gets close to the Yankees for having built and instructed a team designed for their home park. If they get to have home field through the post season they will be a difficult team to beat. The Astros probably have enough juice to take them down and the Astros are still the favorites IMO. I don't know that anybody else in the AL has enough horses to take that Yankee team down in a short series if it has home field.

 

We have been an amazing team wherever we play this year, but last postseason was a reminder of how important home field is for us. We were 1-6 on the road in the postseason and 7-0 at home. And it is t like we’re some lefty loaded lineup that excels at popping the ball just over the short RF porch. We’re a team filled with RH power hitter capable

of using the RF short porch to our advantage. But it’s not just the hitters. Last year, we had a 0.40 ERA different home vs away. That’s strange for a team that plays their home games in a HR prone place. This year, we have a minuscule difference in the direction of being better at home. Either way, we need to get that 1 seed. If we do, I don’t think anyone can beat us.

[moonslav59]

My guess is whoever gets the home field advantage will be viewed as the "favorite."

[jacksonianmarch]

Imagine being a 105 win wild card team and not having home field when playing an 88 win Cleveland club. That’s BS

[FredLynn]

We have been an amazing team wherever we play this year, but last postseason was a reminder of how important home field is for us. We were 1-6 on the road in the postseason and 7-0 at home. And it is t like we’re some lefty loaded lineup that excels at popping the ball just over the short RF porch. We’re a team filled with RH power hitter capable

of using the RF short porch to our advantage. But it’s not just the hitters. Last year, we had a 0.40 ERA different home vs away. That’s strange for a team that plays their home games in a HR prone place. This year, we have a minuscule difference in the direction of being better at home. Either way, we need to get that 1 seed. If we do, I don’t think anyone can beat us.

 

Right now I think that neither the Yankees OR the Red Sox should be the favorite to win the AL championship: the Astros are the best team statistically and they have a league leading team ERA that is half a run better than their nearest competitor, the Red Sox. Oh-and they also lead in runs scored.

[jacksonianmarch]

Cole doesn’t scare me. We took the Stros to game 7 in the ALCS and they couldn’t come close to us at home. We’ve also whipped them thus far this season. If we get home field vs them, we should beat them.

[Station 13]

Cole doesn’t scare me. We took the Stros to game 7 in the ALCS and they couldn’t come close to us at home. We’ve also whipped them thus far this season. If we get home field vs them, we should beat them.

 

Anything can happen. You lost 3 of 4 to Buck.

[mvp 78]

Cole doesn’t scare me. We took the Stros to game 7 in the ALCS and they couldn’t come close to us at home. We’ve also whipped them thus far this season. If we get home field vs them, we should beat them.

 

Only if October baseball played out exactly like the regular season!

[jacksonianmarch]

Only if October baseball played out exactly like the regular season!

 

Or like last post season. We’d have played in the WS against the Dodgers last year if we had home field.

[jacksonianmarch]

Anything can happen. You lost 3 of 4 to Buck.

 

In April, in arctic temps

[Station 13]

I think no NL team is beating the AL top 3 club.

[Station 13]

In April, in arctic temps

 

It's colder in October.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's colder in October.

 

Not this year. The games at the beginning of the year were played in 35-40 degree weather. By the postseason, our nights should be mid 40s-50s

[Kimmi]

Imagine being a 105 win wild card team and not having home field when playing an 88 win Cleveland club. That’s BS

 

That's really going to suck for you guys.

[Kimmi]

Right now I think that neither the Yankees OR the Red Sox should be the favorite to win the AL championship: the Astros are the best team statistically and they have a league leading team ERA that is half a run better than their nearest competitor, the Red Sox. Oh-and they also lead in runs scored.

 

The Astros remain the team to beat.

 

That said, neither they nor the Yankees scare me. The Sox can hang with either one of them IMO. Bring it!

[mvp 78]

Let’s talk bout Devers struggles tho......

[mvp 78]

DFA?

 

Yes?

 

No?

[kenmeister]

He seems to be coming alive offensively. I'm happy at this point to grind out the season with him.

 

I'd still like to pick up Lowrie to play 2B.

[SoxHop]

Slash said it best. We knew what we were getting into with Devers and signed the agreement to just let him learn this year. Stick to the plan.

[jacksonianmarch]

That's really going to suck for you guys.

 

It’s possible, that being said, you’re really getting bold there Kimmi.

[kenmeister]

Slash said it best. We knew what we were getting into with Devers and signed the agreement to just let him learn this year. Stick to the plan.

 

As I recall Xander's first full year had similar struggles.

[Kimmi]

It’s possible, that being said, you’re really getting bold there Kimmi.

 

Just returning the favor in kind.

 

I don't know what makes you think your team has so much greater likelihood of winning the division than the Sox do. You are confident in your team. I am equally as confident in my team. It will be a tough race for the Sox, as it will be for the Yankees. Don't underestimate the Good Guys.

[Slasher9]

Cole doesn’t scare me. We took the Stros to game 7 in the ALCS and they couldn’t come close to us at home. We’ve also whipped them thus far this season. If we get home field vs them, we should beat them.

 

this would be an awesome post on a f***ing YANKEES forum.

here? it's that T word that the "true" TalkSox posters are scairt to call you out on.....

[Slasher9]

Or like last post season. We’d have played in the WS against the Dodgers last year if we had home field.

 

if the Red Sox won every game they played the last 115 years they would be 115x World Series Champs!

[sk7326]

Or like last post season. We’d have played in the WS against the Dodgers last year if we had home field.

 

Or scored more than 1 run in 2 days

[Kimmi]

Or scored more than 1 run in 2 days

 

LOL sk

[mvp 78]

Devers has a 917 OPS the last two weeks.

[jacksonianmarch]

Just returning the favor in kind.

 

I don't know what makes you think your team has so much greater likelihood of winning the division than the Sox do. You are confident in your team. I am equally as confident in my team. It will be a tough race for the Sox, as it will be for the Yankees. Don't underestimate the Good Guys.

 

What makes me more confident is knowing that our offense has come nowhere near what it is capable of. And I know the bottom of your order hasn't exactly killed it, but I am talking about all star level offensive contributors who aren't hitting yet who are capable of carrying a team for a month. They will get going. When they do, we will not have to rely on our pitching to win games, like it is now