A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[notin]

I'm questioning all of my life decisions up to this point right now.

 

 

Even Florida?

[mvp 78]

Even Florida?

 

I got an ear full from my father in law yesterday and I'm sure to get another ear full when I drive him home tonight.

[Kimmi]

The Red Sox are 1-6 in games where they score first, with that one win coming in a 1-0 game in AZ. So therefore, the Sox are 0-6 in games where they score first and the other team scores at all...

 

There are very few innings where the Sox have held the lead in a game.

 

Our pitchers don't seem to have the ability to have a shut down inning.

 

Very frustrating, to say the least.

[Kimmi]

We're only like 3-4 games behind the wild card slot.

 

We need to relax.

 

Yes, we have played horribly, but we are not a bad or even average team.

 

 

The Sox will be fine.

 

Keep the faith people!

[Kimmi]

I'm not so sure the problem is all that "deep."

 

It could just be a slow start, perhaps due to a light ST'ing workload, and maybe we'll see a rounding into form very soon.

 

(Fingers crossed.)

 

The light ST workload seems to be the main culprit, with the long west coast trip with no off days and the starters getting accustomed to different catchers playing supporting roles.

 

If it's any consolation, Pythagoras says we should be 4-8.

[Kimmi]

On paper, no. And you’re lucky that the AL really has 6 teams vying for 5 spots. And I’m not all that convinced the A’s can do it again. The WS hangover is a real thing. The Yanks right now are probably your toughest competitor, yet they’re down 11 players and hovering around that .500 mark. You should be surging and creating a big lead

 

Just like last year, when we should have been been surging and creating a big lead before the ASB?

[Kimmi]

@redsoxstats

 

JBJ is 0-7 on balls he's hit further than 315 feet so far. Pretty brutal, the unluckiest among all players on deep drives like that. Aguilar is 0-6, Arenado 1-11.

 

Jackie has been very unlucky on some pretty well hit balls.

 

Also:

 

Boston Sports Info‏ @bostonsportsinf 4m4 minutes ago

 

JBJ is 1 of 2 players in MLB with ≥ 40 AB's and OPS ≤ .405

 

1. Brian Anderson - MIA - .384

 

2. Jackie Bradley Jr - BOS - .404

[harmony]

There are very few innings where the Sox have held the lead in a game.

 

Our pitchers don't seem to have the ability to have a shut down inning.

 

Very frustrating, to say the least.

Of the 108 innings the Red Sox have played this year, only 11 have ended with the Sox in the lead.

 

Of course on the road the Red Sox had a few more leads mid-inning but were unable to protect the lead in the bottom of the inning.

[d-money]

Rays continue to win. This team has to win games and pronto. They need a winning streak. Cora didn’t have his boys ready it seems.

[vegasbob]

Jackie has been very unlucky on some pretty well hit balls.

 

Also:

 

Boston Sports Info‏ @bostonsportsinf 4m4 minutes ago

 

JBJ is 1 of 2 players in MLB with ≥ 40 AB's and OPS ≤ .405

 

1. Brian Anderson - MIA - .384

 

2. Jackie Bradley Jr - BOS - .404

 

In the spirit of the Bad News Bears, Jackie should adopt the nickname, Bad Luck Bradley. Would be nice for him to break out.

[notin]

I got an ear full from my father in law yesterday and I'm sure to get another ear full when I drive him home tonight.

 

 

Tell him I said everything will be ok...

[harmony]

As of late Thursday evening (early Friday morning EDT), 538 gave the Red Sox a 48 percent chance of advancing to the 2019 postseason:

 

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-mlb-predictions/

[Maxbialystock]

I'm not positive, but believe so far the Sox have the 28th best ERA, the 20th best OPS and are in the top 10 in errors. But most of us believe the rotation is the big problem.

[Nick]

I'm not positive, but believe so far the Sox have the 28th best ERA, the 20th best OPS and are in the top 10 in errors. But most of us believe the rotation is the big problem.

 

Dead last in ERA for starters, 2 runs worse than #29 White Sox.

 

When it comes to our starting pitching.....

 

We're dominantly worst.

 

We have the worst locked up.

 

Not even close.

 

It's Secretariat in reverse at the Belmont Stakes.

 

They're the Washington Generals of starting rotation.

 

Not one, but two fat ladies are singing.

 

 

Edited April 11, 2019 by Nick

[oldtimer]

Jackie has been very unlucky on some pretty well hit balls.

 

Also:

 

Boston Sports Info‏ @bostonsportsinf 4m4 minutes ago

 

JBJ is 1 of 2 players in MLB with ≥ 40 AB's and OPS ≤ .405

 

1. Brian Anderson - MIA - .384

 

2. Jackie Bradley Jr - BOS - .404

 

He is startig out as he played for much of last year, hitting the ball hard but getting little to show for it. I haven't analyzed his swing and miss rate or whether he is staying in the zone for his swings, but there is hope he will come out of it.

 

In the case of others, Cora has indicated some are back to their approach of the past, taking pitches middle middle and getting themselves into a hole. One of the big improvement areas last year for guys like Bogaerts was to swing at the first good pitch at least a percentage of the time. Maybe that will wake some guys up.

 

I also see Beni as hitting the ball to left and losing some of his power too often. If anything, Beni has added weight and strength and should be able to hit the ball out at stadiums with short right field porches. Bad habits die slowly.

[Slasher9]

I'm not positive, but believe so far the Sox have the 28th best ERA, the 20th best OPS and are in the top 10 in errors. But most of us believe the rotation is the big problem.

 

what about the manager?

[Bellhorn04]

We need to start winning some games starting tonight.

[moonslav59]

We need to start winning some games starting tonight.

 

It would be nice, for sure, but we are no where near a must win point.

[mvp 78]

We need to start winning some games starting tonight.

 

I'm glad to be going on vacation tomorrow. A whole week of not being able to watch the Sox. I hope they turn things around and can become competent again.

[S5Dewey]

It would be nice, for sure, but we are no where near a must win point.

 

We may not be at a "must win" point but we're at the "I hope we don't lose another one tonight" point.

 

As the saying goes, "You can't win it in April but you sure can lose it."

[moonslav59]

Let's see if Eovaldi can be the "stopper."

[notin]

I'm not positive, but believe so far the Sox have the 28th best ERA, the 20th best OPS and are in the top 10 in errors. But most of us believe the rotation is the big problem.

 

 

Also, most road losses and fewest home wins...

[mvp 78]

Also, most road losses and fewest home wins...

 

Only one game at home so far.

[notin]

Only one game at home so far.

 

 

And 0 home wins. I am aware of this...

[Kimmi]

Of the 108 innings the Red Sox have played this year, only 11 have ended with the Sox in the lead.

 

Of course on the road the Red Sox had a few more leads mid-inning but were unable to protect the lead in the bottom of the inning.

 

Red Sox pitchers do not know the meaning of 'shut down inning'.

 

There's nothing more frustrating than getting a lead, only to have your pitcher give it right back the next half inning.

[Kimmi]

I'm not positive, but believe so far the Sox have the 28th best ERA, the 20th best OPS and are in the top 10 in errors. But most of us believe the rotation is the big problem.

 

I do think that the rotation has been our biggest problem. They are not the only problem, by any means, but the biggest one.

 

This team is playing poorly in all areas, except for the BP, ironically enough.

[Kimmi]

He is startig out as he played for much of last year, hitting the ball hard but getting little to show for it. I haven't analyzed his swing and miss rate or whether he is staying in the zone for his swings, but there is hope he will come out of it.

 

In the case of others, Cora has indicated some are back to their approach of the past, taking pitches middle middle and getting themselves into a hole. One of the big improvement areas last year for guys like Bogaerts was to swing at the first good pitch at least a percentage of the time. Maybe that will wake some guys up.

 

I also see Beni as hitting the ball to left and losing some of his power too often. If anything, Beni has added weight and strength and should be able to hit the ball out at stadiums with short right field porches. Bad habits die slowly.

 

Bradley has been the victim of some bad luck, like he was early last year. Nunez, OTOH, not so much.

 

The team is not being as aggressive as they were last season. They need to get back to pouncing on those middle middle pitches.

[Kimmi]

I loved Merloni's rant at the team.

 

Dude speaks the truth.

[Bellhorn04]

This team is playing poorly in all areas, except for the BP, ironically enough.

 

The BP and Mitch Moreland.

[Kimmi]

The BP and Mitch Moreland.

 

I stand corrected.