A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[Larry Cook]

The biggest thing I see so far this season is the starting pitchers are not finishing pitches. They are really rusty and don’t have any command yet.

 

Pitches are being left out over the plate with no movement. If this were late August, we would call it dead arm syndrome.

 

These guys are gong to need another trip or two through the rotation before they build up arm strength, velocity and command.

 

Unlike last year where we led from the front of the race to the end, this year we are going to have to come from the back to win the race.

 

Ps: please bring back sandy. He has a way with these guys and we need that badly. Swihart looks like he has a left and/or right oblique strain that will require 5 to 7 months of dL time to heal.

[fxkatt]

These opening games are the rotation's spring training. I don't know why they were held to so few innings during the spring...maybe nagging injuries, but I sure did question it when I read the box scores.

 

Add these opening losses to the losses that will come when a couple of these starters go down for a stretch, and we might drop from 107 wins to 91. I just don't trust this group of arms for a full season. Porcello is the proven dependable, and he is about due for an injury or an arm condition.

[dgalehouse]

Slasher and Bellhorn , Standing pat is generally not a good practice in baseball or in any business. After they put the duck boats away , the front office took a long winter's nap . Lollygagging your way through spring training is generally not a good idea . It smacks of complacency and overconfidence. The boys weren't exactly well prepared to start the season . It's not like I am second guessing. I said this all along . ( And I was shouted down.) Anyway , I am still pretty confident that they will stop sucking and get back on track before long . I do not foresee another 2014 .

[moonslav59]

Slasher and Bellhorn , Standing pat is generally not a good practice in baseball or in any business. After they put the duck boats away , the front office took a long winter's nap . Lollygagging your way through spring training is generally not a good idea . It smacks of complacency and overconfidence. The boys weren't exactly well prepared to start the season . It's not like I am second guessing. I said this all along . ( And I was shouted down.) Anyway , I am still pretty confident that they will stop sucking and get back on track before long . I do not foresee another 2014 .

 

The Astros & Guardians got worse, on paper, so standing pat actually gained on them.

 

The Yanks arguably got better, but with all their injuries, who knows.

[BillyWilliams]

The biggest thing I see so far this season is the starting pitchers are not finishing pitches. They are really rusty and don’t have any command yet.

 

Pitches are being left out over the plate with no movement. If this were late August, we would call it dead arm syndrome.

 

These guys are gong to need another trip or two through the rotation before they build up arm strength, velocity and command.

 

Unlike last year where we led from the front of the race to the end, this year we are going to have to come from the back to win the race.

 

Ps: please bring back sandy. He has a way with these guys and we need that badly. Swihart looks like he has a left and/or right oblique strain that will require 5 to 7 months of dL time to heal.

 

Cool story but the sawx did not lead wire to wire last year.

 

And any links regarding the swihart injury?

[Bellhorn04]

Slasher and Bellhorn , Standing pat is generally not a good practice in baseball or in any business. After they put the duck boats away , the front office took a long winter's nap .

 

I think it's an extremely unfair charge when the team has the highest payroll in baseball 2 years running and did the extensions with Sale and Bogaerts on top of that.

[dgalehouse]

The Astros & Guardians got worse, on paper, so standing pat actually gained on them.

 

The Yanks arguably got better, but with all their injuries, who knows.

 

No question it is better to stand pat than it is to get worse . That doesn't mean standing pat is a good thing however.

[Bellhorn04]

And any links regarding the swihart injury?

 

I think that might have been some tongue in cheek humor from Larry.

[BillyWilliams]

The Astros & Guardians got worse, on paper, so standing pat actually gained on them.

 

The Yanks arguably got better, but with all their injuries, who knows.

 

One could argue that the sawx did not "stand pat" and got worse on paper by losing kimbrel and to a lesser extent, kelly.

 

Although the bullpen has not been the biggest culprit so far during this season's abysmal start.

[BillyWilliams]

I think that might have been some tongue in cheek humor from Larry.

 

Sometimes it's hard to tell with his posts.......

[harmony]

Of the 45 innings so far this season, only four innings have ended with the Red Sox in the lead.

 

That's probably a reflection of the disappointing starting pitching.

 

The Red Sox were fortunate to have the lead after the ninth inning of Game 2 of the Seattle series.

[notin]

That the Sox starting pitching has underwhelmed is not a revelation....

[dgalehouse]

I think it's an extremely unfair charge when the team has the highest payroll in baseball 2 years running and did the extensions with Sale and Bogaerts on top of that.

 

Bell , Retaining guys who are already part of the championship team is still kind of standing pat . I have no complaints with ownership's willingness to spend . Henry has been good .A little more creativity on the part of D.D. would have helped. I am not singing the blues. But I do not like a stand pat approach . And I did think spring training was quite lackadaisical. I don't think it is unreasonable to question certain things . I do think this is a very good team . I am expecting improvement.

[vegasbob]

That the Sox starting pitching has underwhelmed is not a revelation....

 

A total of 21 innings by starters , out of 41 pitched, allowing 11 HR's. That is why we are generally playing from behind .

[vegasbob]

Last year this very similar team never lost more than 3 games consecutively. This current hot mess can keep that string going with a much needed win tonight . Still looking for 5-6 road trip. This opening schedule really was brutal after spending over 2 months in Ft. Myers to go west for 11 consecutive games . The guys haven't been in their own place for 3 months.

[BillyWilliams]

Last year this very similar team never lost more than 3 games consecutively. This current hot mess can keep that string going with a much needed win tonight . Still looking for 5-6 road trip. This opening schedule really was brutal after spending over 2 months in Ft. Myers to go west for 11 consecutive games . The guys haven't been in their own place for 3 months.

 

Yeah, gotta be tough for these guys to stay in first class establishments while on the road ...........

[Bellhorn04]

Bell , Retaining guys who are already part of the championship team is still kind of standing pat . I have no complaints with ownership's willingness to spend . Henry has been good .A little more creativity on the part of D.D. would have helped. I am not singing the blues. But I do not like a stand pat approach .

 

The one area that is open to criticism is the bullpen. Other than that, where was any upgrade possible?

[notin]

The one area that is open to criticism is the bullpen. Other than that, where was any upgrade possible?

 

 

First base?

 

Rotation?

 

Catcher?

[Slasher9]

No question it is better to stand pat than it is to get worse . That doesn't mean standing pat is a good thing however.

 

which Starting Pitcher from our current staff did you want to replace this past offseason?

and with whom?

or was it one of our fielders? devers? who did you want playing 3b?

[Larry Cook]

Joe Kelly meanwhile is having a wonderful time in la!

[dgalehouse]

which Starting Pitcher from our current staff did you want to replace this past offseason?

and with whom?

or was it one of our fielders? devers? who did you want playing 3b?

 

Never complained about Devers . The obvious areas where improvement was needed were the bullpen and the catching. While the rotation was strong, we maybe could have let one of them go to free up some money . Having a platoon at first base , three catchers and two utility infielders is something that might have been rethought . I just thought it was a very lazy offseason . It's fine if you disagree.

[dgalehouse]

Joe Kelly meanwhile is having a wonderful time in la!

 

Larry , if it makes you feel better to rip Kelly , go for it . But it doesn't change anything.

[Slasher9]

Never complained about Devers . The obvious areas where improvement was needed were the bullpen and the catching. While the rotation was strong, we maybe could have let one of them go to free up some money . Having a platoon at first base , three catchers and two utility infielders is something that might have been rethought . I just thought it was a very lazy offseason . It's fine if you disagree.

 

i know you didnt rip devers. i am just looking at the slow start and trying to see who you would blame. we lost due to SPing and throw in a few Devi errors. not because we stood pat on hitters and RPing. so i'm just trying to see what the hindsight is for the 1-4 start that is entirely on the starting pitching. what catcher did you want to get? i was hot for realmutto but we didnt have what it took to get him. was there another catcher you were advocating for? a FA that some of the SP $$$ could have been used for?

[Bellhorn04]

First base?

 

Rotation?

 

Catcher?

 

Not realistic considering the payroll situation. And they did upgrade first base and the rotation, hopefully.

[Bellhorn04]

Never complained about Devers . The obvious areas where improvement was needed were the bullpen and the catching. While the rotation was strong, we maybe could have let one of them go to free up some money . Having a platoon at first base , three catchers and two utility infielders is something that might have been rethought . I just thought it was a very lazy offseason .

 

You just don't seem to be giving any weight to the fact that the payroll is already through the roof, which obviously restricts what moves can be made. The farm is also depleted.

[dgalehouse]

Slasher , The slow start may be just one of those things . As John Sterling would say , " That's baseball , Suzyn ." I would say the most obvious thing was losing our closer plus another power arm from the pen . Nothing was done in that area . Kimbrel was likely too expensive , but there were at least a half dozen quality relievers available for an affordable price. Hopefully, Barnes can fill the closer's role . But he was already an important part of the bullpen. Somebody has to take his spot . The closer is the linchpin of the pen , but not the whole answer. You need four or five good arms out there . We will see how it goes as the season develops . The offense figures to be strong enough to carry a light hitting catcher , although that is not optimal. My feeling is that with a little creative thinking , enough money could have been freed up to patch the holes . Edited April 2, 2019 by dgalehouse

[dgalehouse]

You just don't seem to be giving any weight to the fact that the payroll is already through the roof, which obviously restricts what moves can be made. The farm is also depleted.

 

I understand that . I mentioned a few areas where money could have been freed up .

[notin]

which Starting Pitcher from our current staff did you want to replace this past offseason?

and with whom?

or was it one of our fielders? devers? who did you want playing 3b?

 

 

Whether Denny has specific ideas or not, does standing pat work? I suppose it can, but the Sox did stand patafter 2013 and the results could not have been worse.

 

Look at the Yankees from 1996 to 2000. How many players played the same position for all 4 WS titles? Four? Maybe five, if you want to consider Rivera a relief pitcher and not a closer.

 

They had lots of turnover, especially in the rotation, where only Pettitte was around for the entire run. The bullpen was actually more stable, despite the rude thinking that relievers are crapshoots...

[notin]

Not realistic considering the payroll situation. And they did upgrade first base and the rotation, hopefully.

 

Well, those upgrades were with the Sox last year. As of right now, the biggest name on the 2019 Red Sox who wasn’t on the 2018 Red Sox is Colten Brewer, a man the overwhelming majority of us never heard of 12 months ago...

[notin]

You just don't seem to be giving any weight to the fact that the payroll is already through the roof, which obviously restricts what moves can be made. The farm is also depleted.

 

 

I’m not so sure payroll is the limiting factor we thought it was three months ago, given the recent splurge on extensions. And moved could have been made to free up some money. This is now new territory for Dombrowski....