Playoff Roster - 2018

[OH FOY]

My playoff roster

 

STARTERS:

C: Leon

1B: Moreland

2B: Kinsler

3B: Devers

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Benintendi

CF: Bradley

RF: Betts

DH: Martinez

 

BENCH:

 

Swihart, Holt, Nunez, Pearce, Phillips - a really interesting, versatile bench. Now I wish we had a pure outfielder - but absent that another "veteran bat" like Phillips works nicely. It is possible the Sox will carry 12 pitchers, but 11 is my strong preference.

 

 

PITCHERS

 

STARTERS: Sale, Price, Eovaldi, Porcello

PEN: Rodriguez, Kelly, Barnes, Brasier, Hembree, Workman, Kimbrel

 

I am working on the assumption we will play the Yankees in the ALDS. If we play Oakland, we swap Eovaldi and Rodriguez. The Yankees have been the league's best offense against lefties - so it makes sense to have a 2nd righty in there. (and, obviously tiny sample size, but Porcello and Eovaldi did nicely against NYY last time out) Wright swapping out somebody is not a terrible idea.

 

AL Play-offs like this. WS things change. National League Rules might change this. Plus performance in AL Play-offs. One last thing to consider, E-Rod owns the Yankees, has some of his best games against them. Maybe not own them, but has some good games against the Yanks.

Edited September 6, 2018 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

AL Play-offs like this. WS things change. National League Rules might change this. Plus performance in AL Play-offs. One last thing to consider, E-Rod owns the Yankees, has some of his best games against them. Maybe not own them, but has some good games against the Yanks.

 

ERod is starting not Eovaldi.

 

I'm not even sure Eovaldi makes the 25 man roster. He should, but he's near the bubble. Pom's performance yesterday might have totally knocked him out of contention.

[sk7326]

ERod is starting not Eovaldi.

 

I'm not even sure Eovaldi makes the 25 man roster. He should, but he's near the bubble. Pom's performance yesterday might have totally knocked him out of contention.

 

I think it's possible. I assume we are facing the Yankees who have obliterated LHP all season - and having a less left-handed rotation for that matchup

[OH FOY]

I think it's possible. I assume we are facing the Yankees who have obliterated LHP all season - and having a less left-handed rotation for that matchup

 

Good point. They have a very good record against Lefties this year.

[Kimmi]

So was Phillips' homerun the 2018 Boston Red Sox Bat-Flip of the year? I have not seen a better one.

 

He gets my vote!

[Kimmi]

It makes sense to raise the subject. Phillips has multiple gold gloves I believe. Having Kinsler and Phillips would improve the defense. Phillips is a professional hitter as is Nunez. Clearly Phillips is better defensively than Devers and is a smart player who runs the bases well. I think the FO will need to watch the performance of these three, especially if there is a possibility of including Phillips on the PO roster.

 

One game is not something to base a postseason roster off of. I would certainly give Phillips the playing time, and see how things look in 3-4 weeks.

 

This is a good example of why you sign these types of players for depth. There really is no risk involved, and they just might win you a game (or several). As one of the writers pointed out, there was zero expectation of Phillips, so no matter what happens for the remainder of the season, this signing is a plus.

[Kimmi]

I think it's possible. I assume we are facing the Yankees who have obliterated LHP all season - and having a less left-handed rotation for that matchup

 

I think that was a large part of the reason why we signed Eovaldi to begin with. It makes sense for him to start over ERod if we're facing the Yankees.

[moonslav59]

ERod does well vs the Yanks. (3.16 ERA)

 

He's way better than Eovaldi.

 

ERod is my 3rd starter ahead of Porcello, unless something major happens.

[a700hitter]

ERod does well vs the Yanks. (3.16 ERA)

 

He's way better than Eovaldi.

 

ERod is my 3rd starter ahead of Porcello, unless something major happens.

I would be flexible on the 3/4 spots depending on matchups and how they have been throwing the ball at the end of the regular season.

[moonslav59]

I would be flexible on the 3/4 spots depending on matchups and how they have been throwing the ball at the end of the regular season.

 

I'd be a lot more flexible on that than on whether to start ERod or Eovaldi game 4.

[a700hitter]

I'd be a lot more flexible on that than on whether to start ERod or Eovaldi game 4.

That should be ERod unless his knee or ankle is acting up.

[moonslav59]

That should be ERod unless his knee or ankle is acting up.

 

I think his knee has not bothered him all year.

[notin]

I think his knee has not bothered him all year.

 

 

Let’s not jinx it

[moonslav59]

I don't believe in jinxes....knock on wood!

[Slasher9]

Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass

[mvp 78]

Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass

 

Sexy

[oldtimer]

Last night against the Astro's we got a preview of hoow we might play third base going into the playoffs. The FO played Nunez against a tough right handed starter and a predominately right hand BP. Devers was brought in to pinch hit in hopes of running into a pitch late in the game. No Phillips at all.

 

Nunez is not the most mobile of 3rd basemen and on a couple of plays he couldn't make at third we suffered. Clearly Devers is not trusted defensively or he might have started. Small wonder as Devers has had a tough year with his throwing and would be better trimmed down to 217 instead of 237. I understand why he was pinch hitting, but his plate discipline was not so good earlier on but maybe has improved in the interim. Phillips didn't play and frankly we don't know how well he might hit given more AB's. He may well be superior to either Nunez or Devers in the field based on his long history of excellence in the past. Third base is among the few positions not yet settled for the PO's so these competitive games are important looks for the FO to make those decisions.

[moonslav59]

Last night against the Astro's we got a preview of hoow we might play third base going into the playoffs. The FO played Nunez against a tough right handed starter and a predominately right hand BP. Devers was brought in to pinch hit in hopes of running into a pitch late in the game. No Phillips at all.

 

Nunez is not the most mobile of 3rd basemen and on a couple of plays he couldn't make at third we suffered. Clearly Devers is not trusted defensively or he might have started. Small wonder as Devers has had a tough year with his throwing and would be better trimmed down to 217 instead of 237. I understand why he was pinch hitting, but his plate discipline was not so good earlier on but maybe has improved in the interim. Phillips didn't play and frankly we don't know how well he might hit given more AB's. He may well be superior to either Nunez or Devers in the field based on his long history of excellence in the past. Third base is among the few positions not yet settled for the PO's so these competitive games are important looks for the FO to make those decisions.

 

I'm not sure anything is "clear" about 3B.

 

Did anyone notice we PH for 2 catchers last night? Maybe that was the true "preview" of what is to come.

[oldtimer]

I'm not sure anything is "clear" about 3B.

 

Did anyone notice we PH for 2 catchers last night? Maybe that was the true "preview" of what is to come.

 

I noticed this time we pinch hit for Vaz with Swihart and he came through. Must give Cora something to chew on as catcher and 3rd base are our two most unsettled positions going into the PO's.

[moonslav59]

We've now PH for our catchers 3 times in 2 games.

[Spudboy]

Devers is a no-go for the playoff roster in my opinion.

 

You can not throw the ball into the outfield in a playoff game.

[moonslav59]

Devers is a no-go for the playoff roster in my opinion.

 

You can not throw the ball into the outfield in a playoff game.

 

At the start of the year, I mentioned that being one of my biggest worries.

 

I'm not thrilled with Nunez or Holt on defense at 3B either, so I'm not sure it's much of an upgrade.

 

[oldtimer]

At the start of the year, I mentioned that being one of my biggest worries.

 

I'm not thrilled with Nunez or Holt on defense at 3B either, so I'm not sure it's much of an upgrade.

 

 

Is Phillips a hopeless addition. i do think he is a superior fielder and may just be as good a hitter as either? Unless he can play in the post season, there is no reason for him to play oter than to rest one of our others.

[notin]

Unless he can play in the post season, there is no reason for him to play oter than to rest one of our others.

 

That may be the plan...

[moonslav59]

Is Phillips a hopeless addition. i do think he is a superior fielder and may just be as good a hitter as either? Unless he can play in the post season, there is no reason for him to play oter than to rest one of our others.

 

How does Phillips solve the poor 3B defense problem?

[oldtimer]

How does Phillips solve the poor 3B defense problem?

 

He's a 4 time gold glove guy at 2nd who can play third. Thats better than Nunez and also better than Devers

[moonslav59]

He's a 4 time gold glove guy at 2nd who can play third. Thats better than Nunez and also better than Devers

 

He's played almost 16,000 innings at 2B and 220 at 3B over his career.

 

While is likely an upgrade on defense, I'd not sure I'd want him as our starting 3Bman FT.

 

We'd have played him at 3B in AAA, if that was even a consideration.

[oldtimer]

He's played almost 16,000 innings at 2B and 220 at 3B over his career.

 

While is likely an upgrade on defense, I'd not sure I'd want him as our starting 3Bman FT.

 

We'd have played him at 3B in AAA, if that was even a consideration.

 

It might be a matter of choosing the best man for the job. You have to admit, neither of the others is particularly good defensively at 3rd.

 

As an aside, has anyone mentioned that Barnes is sidelined indefinitely with a hip inflamation? Don't know how long he will need to recover at this point.

[oldtimer]

Last night we were in a situation where it was a particularly important game to win while of course Cora is still trying to get a look at which personnel he will need to take forward into the playoffs. We were fortunate, as Porcello looked good except for one lapse in concentration early and we got good hitting to have a nice 5 to 1 lead. Sitting pretty early, especially since the Houston BP is very good. Another lapse by Porcello and then the signs were pointing to him losing effectiveness in the 6th. Two out two on with a 5 to 2 lead and Cora rightly made the decision to go to the BP. Several had pitched and weren't available and arnes is out with hip inflamation. I think it called for our best reliever not used as a closer. Instead, Cora chose Hembree who can get strikes on a batter and then throw the ball off the plate putting you into a 3-2 count, letting the baserunners be off and have to come in with the pitch. Two across the plate later and a double with two in and Cora then chooses Johnson with his difficultly throwing strikes and not great stuff, to walk a batter and then give up a hit. Walla, tie game and Cora has to bring in Brasier anyway, which if he wanted to win, he should have done in the first place. Too predictable and winning the game should have trumped looking at players for the post season. We did see that Cora doesn't believe in bunting later on in a clear bunt situation.

 

As far as a better understanding of the pitching for the PO's and the lineup, my takeaways were as follows:

 

1. We are much better defensively with our normal outfield and with JDM at DH. JDM is okay in a pinch but not a guy you want covering right field if there is an alternative.

 

2. Porcello looked pretty good last night and may be a better 3rd starter than E-Rod. He gives us a right handed starter against the lineups which hit lefties well.

 

3. Johnson is not a solid choice for left handed relief. Neither is Pom. Need to keep looking at Poyner.

 

4. Hembree is a power arm but I rate him below several others since he doesn't seem to be able to come in under pressure and get outs consistently.

 

5. Our catchers for the PO's still are unclear. Leon is a guy that doesn't hit period. The starters like him and he is good defensively so that is in his favor. Vaz doesn't hit well either and his is a decent defender while Swihart can hit, especially from the left hand side but may rate third defensively. How does Cora amove forward with this situation? Take all three?

 

6. Another look at 3rd base. Phillips this time. He had one bunt situation which he fielded well and had to make a good throw to get Altuve. He made a one bouncer that got past Pearse. Would Moreland have picked it? No matter, still came out as a throwing error against Phillips. He didn't hit well in two plate appearances. Nunez hit better as DH. Clearly Devers was not the guy against a lefty starter. Really, 3rd base remains wide open. We may just have a situation where there is no top notch answer.

[Bellhorn04]

I believe Hembree has the best numbers of any of the relievers for not allowing inherited runners to score, and that's why Cora has been using him in that role.