A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[moonslav59]

Right after Kimmi.

 

...and Kimmi says put your best hitter second.

[Bellhorn04]

Right after Kimmi.

 

...and Kimmi says put your best hitter second.

 

But Kimmi also says a) it doesn't make that much difference and putting the hitters where they are most comfortable may be even more important. And I'm sure she would agree Cora is the best judge of that.

 

Checkmate, fellas.

[moonslav59]

But Kimmi also says a) it doesn't make that much difference and putting the hitters where they are most comfortable may be even more important. And I'm sure she would agree Cora is the best judge of that.

 

Checkmate, fellas.

 

Comfy Shumfy.

[Nick]

But Kimmi also says a) it doesn't make that much difference and putting the hitters where they are most comfortable may be even more important. And I'm sure she would agree Cora is the best judge of that.

 

Checkmate, fellas.

 

I've never seen Kimmi and Cora together.....

[notin]

I've never seen Kimmi and Cora together.....

 

 

That’s because they’re not a couple...

[Kimmi]

Maybe Kimmi and Cora are one and the same.

[Kimmi]

...and Kimmi says put your best hitter second.

 

I am actually good with Mookie hitting leadoff.

 

I would not be upset if he's moved to the 2nd spot.

 

I would be upset if he's moved to the 3rd spot.

 

Not that it makes that big of a difference. It's the principle.

[Bellhorn04]

Comfy Shumfy.

 

Cora Shmora?

[Nick]

Maybe Kimmi and Cora are one and the same.

 

Your IQ is higher than most.

[cp176]

Your IQ is higher than most.

 

I would love to see Betts hitting third. Just because! but alas I'm pretty comfortable with Cora's decisions. There are numerous people who seem to think that your best hitter should hit in a specific spot in the lineup. The question that I have not seen answered definitively is what constitutes your best hitter?

[moonslav59]

I would love to see Betts hitting third. Just because! but alas I'm pretty comfortable with Cora's decisions. There are numerous people who seem to think that your best hitter should hit in a specific spot in the lineup. The question that I have not seen answered definitively is what constitutes your best hitter?

 

Google image of best hitter. The foto is Betts.

[fxkatt]

It seems to me that we have no ideal lead-off hitter and no ideal 5th hitter. We have twos and threes, one fourth, and lots of 6-9 types. This missing ideal 1 and 5 has been an almost ongoing problem for a couple decades it seems--or longer. But, of course, since other teams have worse problems, it matters not.

 

Last season we hit .268 (unimpressive for a sox team) but the MLB average hitter hit .248 and the Yanks hit .249. so, this problem is more in theory than anything. Also, I think that my idea of a lead-off hitter is now outdated unfortunately in an age when almost all hitters refuse to moderate their swing and approach to fit the need. (I guess some would argue for Pedroia, but he's more like a 2 or 7 hitter to me)

[jacksonianmarch]

Cora has a good point. He told Mookie that leading off guaranteed him 162AB’s with nobody on base. With Beni in the leadoff role, that drops down to 102 based on Beni’s OBP.

 

Now I’m really extrapolating here, but if you use the % of times Betts gets an EBH and multiply that by the AB’s where Beni would be on base, you see Betts driving in 10 more runs based on first inning placement alone

[moonslav59]

It seems to me that we have no ideal lead-off hitter and no ideal 5th hitter. We have twos and threes, one fourth, and lots of 6-9 types. This missing ideal 1 and 5 has been an almost ongoing problem for a couple decades it seems--or longer. But, of course, since other teams have worse problems, it matters not.

 

Last season we hit .268 (unimpressive for a sox team) but the MLB average hitter hit .248 and the Yanks hit .249. so, this problem is more in theory than anything. Also, I think that my idea of a lead-off hitter is now outdated unfortunately in an age when almost all hitters refuse to moderate their swing and approach to fit the need. (I guess some would argue for Pedroia, but he's more like a 2 or 7 hitter to me)

 

Berrs is ideal at any slot.

 

Beni and Bogey are close.

 

JD is ideal for any slot but #1.

 

I'm happy with Devers, Pearce and Moreland sharing the 5 slot.

 

I think Devers busts out this year- in a big way.

[moonslav59]

Cora has a good point. He told Mookie that leading off guaranteed him 162AB’s with nobody on base. With Beni in the leadoff role, that drops down to 102 based on Beni’s OBP.

 

Now I’m really extrapolating here, but if you use the % of times Betts gets an EBH and multiply that by the AB’s where Beni would be on base, you see Betts driving in 10 more runs based on first inning placement alone

 

True, but then subtract the RBI's Beni loses, and as Kimmi points out, the differences are minimal.

 

I like Betts 2nd. It's where studies show the best hitter should bat.

 

Beni has improved his base running, so I'm okay with him up 1st. I'd probably have Bogey lead off vs LHPs, but I'm fine with keeping it simple.

[Larry Cook]

Can benintendi get on base enough, to make this switch work?

 

Too early to tell, but it would be nice to see benintendi have a break out year.

[cp176]

Google image of best hitter. The foto is Betts.

 

Why does he look like JD Martinez?

[Bellhorn04]

Google image of best hitter. The foto is Betts.

 

Why does he look like JD Martinez?

 

2018

Betts 346/438/640

JDM 330/402/629

[moonslav59]

2018

Betts 346/438/640

JDM 330/402/629

 

Thanks. I'm surprised I was asked to explain.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR reports...

 

The Red Sox re-signed infielder Tony Renda to a new minor league deal, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports. After playing in 32 games for the Reds as a rookie in 2016, Renda didn’t make it back to the majors until this season, when he appeared in a single game for Boston. The lone appearance was a notable one, as Renda entered the game as a pinch-runner in the 10th inning and scored the winning run in a 5-4 win over the Yankees on August 5. (Renda even received a World Series ring for his modest contribution to Boston’s championship season.) After hitting a combined .318/.373/.453 over 292 PA at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2018, Renda will return to the organization after being outrighted after the season.

[moonslav59]

I used to think the best overall hitter (BA, OBP & SLG) should go 3rd, the best power guy 4th and the highest OBP first, but I have changed my views. I think this would be the best line-up for 2019:

 

vs RHPs

 

1. Beni LF

2. Betts RF

3. Bogey SS

4. JD DH

5. Devers 3B

6. Moreland 1B

7. Bradley CF

8. Pedey/Holt/Nunez 2B

9. Vaz/Leon C

 

vs LHPs

1. Bogey SS

2. Betts RF

3. Pearce 1B

4. JD DH

5. Beni LF

6. Devers 3B

7. Pedey/Holt/Nunez 2B

8. Bradley CF

9. Vaz/Leon C

7.

 

[Bellhorn04]

MLBTR reports...

 

The Red Sox re-signed infielder Tony Renda to a new minor league deal, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports. After playing in 32 games for the Reds as a rookie in 2016, Renda didn’t make it back to the majors until this season, when he appeared in a single game for Boston. The lone appearance was a notable one, as Renda entered the game as a pinch-runner in the 10th inning and scored the winning run in a 5-4 win over the Yankees on August 5. (Renda even received a World Series ring for his modest contribution to Boston’s championship season.) After hitting a combined .318/.373/.453 over 292 PA at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2018, Renda will return to the organization after being outrighted after the season.

 

Pretty cool that the guy got a ring.

[fxkatt]

I think Devers could soon become the ideal 5th slot hitter, and believe he will. The only question is: will he improve his defense to the make him a solid choice at third base over the next 10 years. I want this to happen because starters to me should have a stable position--one they own and hold onto, as in all-star third baseman.

[moonslav59]

I think Devers could soon become the ideal 5th slot hitter, and believe he will. The only question is: will he improve his defense to the make him a solid choice at third base over the next 10 years. I want this to happen because starters to me should have a stable position--one they own and hold onto, as in all-star third baseman.

 

Agreed, but the good thing is, we have an opening at 1B next year, if Devers's defense does not improve.

 

He did show signs of getting better in the second half of 2018, but the sample size was small.

[Emp9]

Ah! So Beni moves to lead-off and Betts to #2. One word comes to mind: Finally.

 

I had to stop posting this opinion after a while before ppl started getting too pissed.

[Bellhorn04]

I'll never understand why fans get so worked up about the lineup. The manager can handle it.

[kenmeister]

I used to think the best overall hitter (BA, OBP & SLG) should go 3rd, the best power guy 4th and the highest OBP first, but I have changed my views. I think this would be the best line-up for 2019:

 

vs RHPs

 

1. Beni LF

2. Betts RF

3. Bogey SS

4. JD DH

5. Devers 3B

6. Moreland 1B

7. Bradley CF

8. Pedey/Holt/Nunez 2B

9. Vaz/Leon C

 

vs LHPs

1. Bogey SS

2. Betts RF

3. Pearce 1B

4. JD DH

5. Beni LF

6. Devers 3B

7. Pedey/Holt/Nunez 2B

8. Bradley CF

9. Vaz/Leon C

7.

 

 

This is SO interesting. Why the radical change against a lefty? Why not just put Pearce where Moreland was?

[Emp9]

I'll never understand why fans get so worked up about the lineup. The manager can handle it.

 

The more good hitters a team has in their lineup, the less it matters imho. For some of us it’s a pet peeve. It’s baseball equivalent to feng shui. Something feels off & I don’t like it. It may not be that important, but still.

Edited December 13, 2018 by Emp9
I spelled feng shui wrong.

[moonslav59]

This is SO interesting. Why the radical change against a lefty? Why not just put Pearce where Moreland was?

 

I don't think it is so radical.

 

I like Pearce vs LHPs much more than Beni.

 

I'd be okay with Beni 3rd and Pearce 5th vs lefties.

[Kimmi]

Cora has a good point. He told Mookie that leading off guaranteed him 162AB’s with nobody on base. With Beni in the leadoff role, that drops down to 102 based on Beni’s OBP.

 

Now I’m really extrapolating here, but if you use the % of times Betts gets an EBH and multiply that by the AB’s where Beni would be on base, you see Betts driving in 10 more runs based on first inning placement alone

 

It all balances out though. So, Betts might get a few more RBIs, but he will also get fewer plate appearances and score fewer runs.