Playoff Roster - 2018

[Spudboy]

fangraphs has us ranked below average in their team running metric.

 

So?

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

I think this might be the first time we lead the league in SBs since the 1930's, if we keep going like this...

 

Yeah as an old guy as my name suggests this is so strange to me, to watch a Red Sox team that runs this well.

[S5Dewey]

fangraphs has us ranked below average in their team running metric.

 

I feel like I shouldn't be commenting on things like this any more. Every time I do I piss people off.

 

[notin]

fangraphs has us ranked below average in their team running metric.

 

Typical Red Sox teams are ranked below Stephen Hawking when it comes to running. So this is improvement....

[OH FOY]

Sandy Leon has a 3.23 Catchers ERA, the lowest for a Qualifying Catcher since 1974. - Sean McAdam

Like he said, amazing for all the Great Pitchers that Varitek caught. Not worried about his hitting. In the Play-offs its all about Pitching.

Edited September 14, 2018 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

Yeah as an old guy as my name suggests this is so strange to me' date=' to watch a Red Sox team that runs this well.[/quote']

 

Even Vaz stole a base last night!

[moonslav59]

112 SB

30 CS

 

79%

 

I believe that is our highest SB% evaaah!

[OH FOY]

Looking at all the Play-off teams we might face, only Cleveland runs. Yanks, Oakland, Houston, don't run. Cleveland might be eliminated by Houston. So wouldn't worry about other Opponents stealing this Off-Season. at this point. Edited September 14, 2018 by OH FOY!

[S5Dewey]

112 SB

30 CS

 

79%

 

I believe that is our highest SB% evaaah!

 

Once they got rid of those lead-lined uniforms everything fell into place!

[moonslav59]

 

Offense: 1st in MLB in runs scored (by almost 50 runs)

 

Defense: 1st in the AL in UZR/150 (.5 better than CLE and almost double or better any other AL team)

 

Starting Pitchers: 3rd in MLB in ERA- (83 with CLE at 78 and Hou at 79 only one can face us.)

 

Relief Pitching: 3rd in AL in xFIP- (93 with Hou at 77 & NYY at 80)

 

SBs: 2nd in AL with 112 (CLE at 121 is 1st, Hou is 21st, NYY is 24th & OAK is 30th

 

 

Granted, I cherry-picked some stats. We are not good on DRS or some base running metrics, but we are a nicely balanced team.

[moonslav59]

Once they got rid of those lead-lined uniforms everything fell into place!

 

We don't have as many bone-headed plays as last year, either.

 

I blame Cora for that!

[Kimmi]

We won the hard way tonight.

 

E-Rod was okay but was hit quite a bit.

 

Vaz had a hit tonight

 

Nunez looked good at bat while Devers ran for him (was Nunez hurt?) and ran into one for a HR. Good for him as he doesn't make a lot of contact but when he does the ball goes.

 

Poyner was hit for a HR when he left a ball out over the plate but at least he threw strikes. Kelly came in and was totally without command. Cora was perhaps too patient.

 

Bogaerts helped us with a double, a steal and came in on a ball in pllay by Swihart for the win.

 

So Devers and Nunez at 3rd were a plus. Vaz got a hit, Swihart did what he had to do.

 

On the pitching side, E-Rod still looks like a 4th starter, Poyner made one mistake but otherwise looked pretty good while Kelly was awful. No command at all.

 

We got a win and Cora got valuable information.

 

Cora is in audition mode with his relievers, which is probably why he left Kelly in as long as he did. I appreciate all that Kelly has done for us this season, including the plunking of the Yankees punk, but he is too inconsistent to be on the postseason roster.

 

I read yesterday that Brasier and Poyner rank 2nd and 3rd out of 627 in getting batters to swing at pitches that are out of the middle of the zone, so the batters are not doing a lot of damage against them. Poyner is also getting a lot more playing time recently than any other lefty. I'd be surprised if those two are not on the postseason roster.

[Kimmi]

Not exactly the Cards of the mid sixties but they sure are the most fun to watch ( running ) Sox team I can remember.

 

When the aggressiveness works, like it did last night, it's very fun and exciting to watch. Personally, I love the philosophy.

 

We just have to keep in mind (not speaking to you particularly), that this aggressiveness will often lead to outs on the bases. You live by aggressive base running, you might also die by it.

[moonslav59]

Cora is in audition mode with his relievers, which is probably why he left Kelly in as long as he did. I appreciate all that Kelly has done for us this season, including the plunking of the Yankees punk, but he is too inconsistent to be on the postseason roster.

 

I read yesterday that Brasier and Poyner rank 2nd and 3rd out of 627 in getting batters to swing at pitches that are out of the middle of the zone, so the batters are not doing a lot of damage against them. Poyner is also getting a lot more playing time recently than any other lefty. I'd be surprised if those two are not on the postseason roster.

 

He failed last night's audition, but I get a sneaky feeling he will get more chances.

[Kimmi]

fangraphs has us ranked below average in their team running metric.

 

Broken down by categories:

 

UBR = -9.6

 

wGDP = -4.5

 

wSB = 6.9

 

We are very good at stealing bases. Advancing an extra base or avoiding a double play, not so much.

[mvp 78]

He failed last night's audition, but I get a sneaky feeling he will get more chances.

 

Well, he'll get more chances because THEY HAVE A 10.5 GAME LEAD IN THE DIVISION ON SEPT 14TH!!!

 

Cora is going to throw everyone in the bullpen out in high stress situations. He needs to find out who will sink or swim. They have a 10.5 game lead. If they blow a game or two because of Thornburg or Kelly it won't matter. He's right for putting Kelly in these positions over and over. 101 101 101 101 101 101

[Kimmi]

Sandy Leon has a 3.23 Catchers ERA, the lowest for a Qualifying Catcher since 1974. - Sean McAdam

Like he said, amazing for all the Great Pitchers that Varitek caught. Not worried about his hitting. In the Play-offs its all about Pitching.

 

Cora has recently said that he wants his starters to pitch to all 3 catchers in the remaining games. Not a bad idea, but also not something to be messing around with in the playoffs. Come playoff time, Leon needs to be behind the plate.

[Kimmi]

He failed last night's audition, but I get a sneaky feeling he will get more chances.

 

No doubt he will.

[Kimmi]

Well, he'll get more chances because THEY HAVE A 10.5 GAME LEAD IN THE DIVISION ON SEPT 14TH!!!

 

Cora is going to throw everyone in the bullpen out in high stress situations. He needs to find out who will sink or swim. They have a 10.5 game lead. If they blow a game or two because of Thornburg or Kelly it won't matter. He's right for putting Kelly in these positions over and over. 101 101 101 101 101 101

 

Yup.

 

So yes, it might look like Cora is blowing games or doesn't care about winning, but the bigger picture is more important right now than winning any particular game.

 

Back to back to back.

[Slasher9]

fangraphs has us ranked below average in their team running metric.

 

probably the same guy who inputs the WAR numbers.....

[Slasher9]

I feel like I shouldn't be commenting on things like this any more. Every time I do I piss people off.

 

 

got you covered bruh.

[sk7326]

Well, he'll get more chances because THEY HAVE A 10.5 GAME LEAD IN THE DIVISION ON SEPT 14TH!!!

 

Cora is going to throw everyone in the bullpen out in high stress situations. He needs to find out who will sink or swim. They have a 10.5 game lead. If they blow a game or two because of Thornburg or Kelly it won't matter. He's right for putting Kelly in these positions over and over. 101 101 101 101 101 101

 

Cora needs to find 5 or 6 pitchers he has faith in ... and it's all on the table. I mean besides a leftover starter and Kimbrel I don't think any of the positions are clearly set. (though some guys are pretty darn close)

[S5Dewey]

We don't have as many bone-headed plays as last year, either.

 

I blame Cora for that!

 

No friggin' kidding!

 

I posted elsewhere about good teams finding a way to win and bad teams finding a way to lose. Last year we were finding ways to lose. This year we're finding ways to win. That's one (but certainly not the only) reason why this team is so much better than last year's.

[Bellhorn04]

So yes, it might look like Cora is blowing games or doesn't care about winning, but the bigger picture is more important right now than winning any particular game.

 

Yes, except to the game thread guys...

[mvp 78]

Yes, except to the game thread guys...

 

Don't worry, more normal people will start posting on the game threads once the playoffs start.

 

For me, every other post on the game thread is by a user that is on my ignore list so it's not entirely unreadable. May need to add another poster to make reading less frustrating.

[notin]

Don't worry, more normal people will start posting on the game threads once the playoffs start.

 

For me, every other post on the game thread is by a user that is on my ignore list so it's not entirely unreadable. May need to add another poster to make reading less frustrating.

 

LOL Really?

 

I know it bugs some people when we bring up other boards, but at BDC we had a poster named bigfoot14b or something like that who would post about how badly Epstein had destroyed in game threads this team during the 2007 playoffs.

 

The malcontents will remain as such. And people who don't post on game threads are probably not likely to start.

[mvp 78]

LOL Really?

 

I know it bugs some people when we bring up other boards, but at BDC we had a poster named bigfoot14b or something like that who would post about how badly Epstein had destroyed in game threads this team during the 2007 playoffs.

 

The malcontents will remain as such. And people who don't post on game threads are probably not likely to start.

 

Every year, the playoff posts get far more traction and different posters show up. They won't be 6 page bitch fests. They may be 15 page bitch fests, but they won't be 6 page bitch fests between 3-4 posters.

[Spudboy]

When the aggressiveness works, like it did last night, it's very fun and exciting to watch. Personally, I love the philosophy.

 

We just have to keep in mind (not speaking to you particularly), that this aggressiveness will often lead to outs on the bases. You live by aggressive base running, you might also die by it.

 

And I am cool with that. As long as the bone head plays are kept at a minimum.

 

I love 1st-3rd or 1st-home. I like watching athletic plays on both sides of the ball.

[moonslav59]

No friggin' kidding!

 

I posted elsewhere about good teams finding a way to win and bad teams finding a way to lose. Last year we were finding ways to lose. This year we're finding ways to win. That's one (but certainly not the only) reason why this team is so much better than last year's.

 

...and better coaching helped us get from there to here.

[Kimmi]

Yes, except to the game thread guys...

 

Yes, this post was directed at them.