Is there anyone who thinks.......

[Bellhorn04]

The thing about stolen bases is you need a high success % to make it a plus. The Sox are definitely doing that this year.

[Spudboy]

One guess is that he comes back with healed knee and works his way back into 2B , intending to play maybe 120 games, requiring a competent back up like Holt, Nunez, Lin, etc. which the team needs anyway as a utility guy. Another guess is that he tries , pushes it, but just can't regain enough mobility or knee endurance to play regularly at which point he becomes a problem due to contract length and you still need a consistent 2Bman ( like this year, to no detriment to the winning record) . Third guess is that he becomes a nuisance because he can't play well enough but won't go away , not sure what you do then.

 

You forgot retiring.

 

I think he will retire in this off-season or he will make one last attempt and fail in ST and then retire.

 

His wheels are f***ing toast.

[S5Dewey]

 

I miss Earl Weaver.

 

Since I seem to be into anecdotes today here's one about Weaver that you may or may not know.

 

Earl Weaver memorized the entire rule book and could recite it chapter and verse, even knowing which rule number went to which situation. When asked why in God's name he'd do that he replied, "Being right isn't everything. Being able to prove it is."

[SoxHop]

It was interesting the other night when Cora came out to question the warning and he got tossed. The crowd went divia ( that is Newton, Ma speak for nuts ). I think he made and reinforced a lot of good will from fans. Of course later in the post-game interview he explained how his daughter called him about it and he apologized.

 

Lol.

 

I enjoy seeing managers confront umps on questionable stuff.

 

I miss Earl Weaver.

 

I think he was more pissed they were throwing at our superstars head in retaliation to a HBP that was in no way intentional. I did see Cora turn to the Yank bench or Severino at the end and say something. I almost wish he was more animated in calling out that bush league bullcrap.

[Kimmi]

I think it's that, and it's also this team's overall offensive success. In the past pitchers could throw a pitch fairly confident that they wouldn't 'pay the big price' for a mistake pitch. This year they know that every hitter can hit one out or find a hole if they make that mistake. That results in more nibbling which creates more pitches that are harder for the catcher to handle.

 

Tying in with 'that guy knowing his s***', I remember OB & Jerry saying that the Sox are picking up on a pitcher's tendencies. They may have done research to determine what pitch a pitcher will throw in certain situations and base their decisions as to when to run on those tendencies.

 

Or not. What do I know? :-)

 

Bench coach Ron Roenicke gets the credit for that. Apparently, he's the guy who really pays attention to the other team's tendencies.

[Kimmi]

The thing about stolen bases is you need a high success % to make it a plus. The Sox are definitely doing that this year.

 

Yup. This is why the stolen base is overrated. Not unimportant, but overrated.

[sk7326]

Is there anyone who thinks the Sox would have 78 w's and be up 8 1/2 games on the Yankees at this time if Farrell was still managing? Credit Dombrowski for not only the masterful job he has down in choreographing the roster but also in bringing on board Cora to serve as maestro. I'm impressed!

 

It is proving a counterfactual which is hard ... certainly Cora has not hurt, and I think it is at least possible the young guys have benefited from him.

 

I am more comfortable saying that once you add JD Martinez (and get a great season) to a team of young studs who all make leaps or mini-leaps ... you can improve a 93 win team.

[mvp 78]

"Impressed" is putting it mildly. We made a quantum leap in going from one of the worst managers ever, to the best ever.I am also on the verge of calling the team, "Best Ever".Every player on this team is pulling for every other player. Tip and advise are allover the place. Guys come on from nowhere and hit consecutive slams. A pitcher who was VG, at one time with the Rays, comes in and looks like Dizzy Dean.

 

Only major question: What happens to Pedroia? Any guesses out there?

 

Traded for a bullpen arm.

[OH FOY]

Yup. This is why the stolen base is overrated. Not unimportant, but overrated.

 

John Smoltz don't think so. Its not about stolen bases, its about pressure, on Pitcher, Catcher and Defense. That's what he said Saturday.

Edited August 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[sk7326]

John Smoltz don't think so. Its not about stolen bases, its about pressure, on Pitcher, Catcher and Defense.

 

there is value in all of that ... but it's a "nice to have" more than essential. What is essential is not making outs.

 

Now, that being said - I wonder if there is a market gap for a team that DOES try to bring back the 1980s Cardinals. That is a fair question. The same way that with all these teams swinging for the fences, the Royals of 2015 (or the Sox of this year) not striking out suddenly has an edge.

Edited August 6, 2018 by sk7326

[Bellhorn04]

John Smoltz don't think so. Its not about stolen bases, its about pressure, on Pitcher, Catcher and Defense.

 

But if the runner gets picked off or thrown out at second the defense wins. Creating distraction in itself doesn't mean much.

[OH FOY]

there is value in all of that ... but it's a "nice to have" more than essential. What is essential is not making outs.

 

Now, that being said - I wonder if there is a market gap for a team that DOES try to bring back the 1980s Cardinals. That is a fair question. The same way that with all these teams swinging for the fences, the Royals of 2015 (or the Sox of this year) not striking out suddenly has an edge.

 

That Park the Cards played in was made for speed not Power. Had to have a team that could run and contact. Jack Clark had a hard time to smack it out there. That Astro-Turf balls scooted through infield.

Edited August 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[OH FOY]

But if the runner gets picked off or thrown out at second the defense wins. Creating distraction in itself doesn't mean much.

 

Pitching to batter does. More fastballs. Especially in running situations. You can take the guessing out of a at bat.

Edited August 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[S5Dewey]

The thing about stolen bases is you need a high success % to make it a plus. The Sox are definitely doing that this year.

 

You don't get a high success rate by not running. You get a high success rate by running smart. But you also have to run in order to run smart.

[OH FOY]

You don't get a high success rate by not running. You get a high success rate by running smart. But you also have to run in order to run smart.

 

Agree, but taking speed, or the threat of a stolen base, makes you more predictable. More dimensions in the game to help you win, the better. Like Football if your a 1 dimensional team, much easier to Defend you.

[S5Dewey]

Agree, but taking speed, or the threat of a stolen base, makes you more predictable. More dimensions in the game to help you win, the better. Like Football if your a 1 dimensional team, much easier to Defend you.

 

Is that what you meant to say - that the threat of a stolen base makes a team more predictable? IMO the THREAT of a stolen base makes a team less predictable than not having that threat.

[sk7326]

That Park the Cards played in was made for speed not Power. Had to have a team that could run and contact. Jack Clark had a hard time to smack it out there. That Astro-Turf balls scooted through infield.

 

This is all true - it does make me wonder whether a team that DID try that could get some advantage - a team like San Diego who plays in a cavernous park or whatever.