A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[Maxbialystock]

It sure looks as thought the complaints about the brutal road trip out West were ill-founded.

 

So far at home the Sox are 3-3, which is an improvement, but against the dregs of the AL East, the Jay and the Orioles. The latter came to town with an 0-4 road record and split with the Sox.

 

Something happened over the winter or in spring training, which at this point I think is undeniable.

 

I happen to think the hitting can turn around any day and be pretty darn good as it was last year.

 

But the pitching more and more seems to be an intractable problem. Yesterday Price and bullpen pitched a shutout, but today's 8 run debacle will ensure the Sox will continue to have the 28th best ERA in MLB.

 

Today was actually a repeat of a game the Sox had a week or so ago when Velazquez started in Arizona and the Sox won 1-0 without using the rotation. Only today the all-bullpen juggernaut got trampled with those 8 runs. So now the bullpen is as suspect as the rotation and just maybe because of the rotation.

[SCM33]

It sure looks as thought the complaints about the brutal road trip out West were ill-founded.

 

So far at home the Sox are 3-3, which is an improvement, but against the dregs of the AL East, the Jay and the Orioles. The latter came to town with an 0-4 road record and split with the Sox.

 

Something happened over the winter or in spring training, which at this point I think is undeniable.

 

I happen to think the hitting can turn around any day and be pretty darn good as it was last year.

 

But the pitching more and more seems to be an intractable problem. Yesterday Price and bullpen pitched a shutout, but today's 8 run debacle will ensure the Sox will continue to have the 28th best ERA in MLB.

 

Today was actually a repeat of a game the Sox had a week or so ago when Velazquez started in Arizona and the Sox won 1-0 without using the rotation. Only today the all-bullpen juggernaut got trampled with those 8 runs. So now the bullpen is as suspect as the rotation and just maybe because of the rotation.

 

They were suspect before the rotation, not because of the rotation, just as they were at times last year. This years blame is solely on the SPs.

[jad]

[moonslav59]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]723[/ATTACH]

 

What is this?

[oldtimer]

It sure looks as thought the complaints about the brutal road trip out West were ill-founded.

 

So far at home the Sox are 3-3, which is an improvement, but against the dregs of the AL East, the Jay and the Orioles. The latter came to town with an 0-4 road record and split with the Sox.

 

Something happened over the winter or in spring training, which at this point I think is undeniable.

 

I happen to think the hitting can turn around any day and be pretty darn good as it was last year.

 

But the pitching more and more seems to be an intractable problem. Yesterday Price and bullpen pitched a shutout, but today's 8 run debacle will ensure the Sox will continue to have the 28th best ERA in MLB.

 

Today was actually a repeat of a game the Sox had a week or so ago when Velazquez started in Arizona and the Sox won 1-0 without using the rotation. Only today the all-bullpen juggernaut got trampled with those 8 runs. So now the bullpen is as suspect as the rotation and just maybe because of the rotation.

 

This has been a really poor start for the team , which has already played 10% of their games. As you indicate, starting pitching has been a major sore spot, with a bright spot here and there. Perhaps getting them ready was flubbed. One hates to think they have regressed that much. The hitting has been especially weak also, with Betts, JBJ, Pedroia and Vazquez off very slow. Devers error problem is still with him and in some of our games the defense wasn't focussed. Lots of problems to overcome.

 

An unkind thought is that the guys got caught up in reading their own press clippings instead of aggressively trying to win games. The next stretch could be brutal. Come on guys. Play hard and win some series.

[Maxbialystock]

What is this?

 

It's a cartoon, probably from the New Yorker, showing two Brits with tropical helmets, one of whom is saying, "Quicksand or not, Barclay, I've half a mind to struggle."

[moonslav59]

This has been a really poor start for the team , which has already played 10% of their games. As you indicate, starting pitching has been a major sore spot, with a bright spot here and there. Perhaps getting them ready was flubbed. One hates to think they have regressed that much. The hitting has been especially weak also, with Betts, JBJ, Pedroia and Vazquez off very slow. Devers error problem is still with him and in some of our games the defense wasn't focussed. Lots of problems to overcome.

 

An unkind thought is that the guys got caught up in reading their own press clippings instead of aggressively trying to win games. The next stretch could be brutal. Come on guys. Play hard and win some series.

 

I'm glad we're playing some top contenders, now. What better time is there to turn things around?

[Sox75]

I'll have to adopt your philosophy.

 

Pedroia is now hitting .105

Betts is now hitting .222

Pearce is now hitting .125

Swihart is now hitting .231

Vazquez is now hitting .195

Bradley is hitting .149

Nunez is hitting .184

 

I know it's early, but they are digging quite a hole, both in personal stats and team won-loss record.

 

 

No doubt, between this & the SR pitching, it seems that too many players have come back ill-prepared.

 

Tough to know for sure why, but it feels systemic, in which case the buck has to stop with Cora.

 

Pretty tough to knock him very hard, as last year was sheer magic. He automatically gets "a pass." At least for a while...

 

I'm wondering if the "hangover" thing is for real? After making it to opening day in Seattle, this is the first year in 20+ years I can't seem to get plugged back in?

 

Whatever the case.... too many of our guys just are not ready to go. This ain't gonna fly for too long, as fans will vote with their feet. What Have You Done For Me Lately is inevitably knocking at the door, & he will soon kick the door in and his friends Pissed & Disgusted are about to take out their wrath on THIS YEAR's Red Sox Team.

Edited April 16, 2019 by Sox75

[Slasher9]

IMO if the yankees had gotten off to a fast start there would be much more "pressure" on Cora and his decisions right now...

[jacksonianmarch]

I'm glad we're playing some top contenders, now. What better time is there to turn things around?

 

You’re not playing a contender today or tomorrow. You’re playing Aaron Judge featuring the Railriders

[moonslav59]

You’re not playing a contender today or tomorrow. You’re playing Aaron Judge featuring the Railriders

 

I guess I value the Yanks more than you and other Yankee fans do.

[Sox75]

Not to mention the fact that the NYY at least have an excuse for their pathetic start.

 

It's pretty tough to accept the FACT that the Red Sox simply did not come into the season ready to play.

It's even more maddening to have watched them baby our players, under the auspices of "resting" & not pushing guys.

It is axiomatic that guys get hurt when they are not ready to play, & it seems CLEAR that the SR was held back. I TOTALLY GET not wanting to push a pitcher beyond his limits, but the systemic under-preparation seems ridiculous at best, and grossly irresponsible & flat ass stupid at worst.

[Sox75]

I know I know.... Thank you captain obvious

 

Just needed to vent.

 

I'm much better now.

[Kimmi]

This has been a really poor start for the team , which has already played 10% of their games. As you indicate, starting pitching has been a major sore spot, with a bright spot here and there. Perhaps getting them ready was flubbed. One hates to think they have regressed that much. The hitting has been especially weak also, with Betts, JBJ, Pedroia and Vazquez off very slow. Devers error problem is still with him and in some of our games the defense wasn't focussed. Lots of problems to overcome.

 

An unkind thought is that the guys got caught up in reading their own press clippings instead of aggressively trying to win games. The next stretch could be brutal. Come on guys. Play hard and win some series.

 

I'm sure the team's extremely poor start is a combination of several things that have unfortunately come together to impact the team negatively. Lack of preparation in ST, playing with a sense of complacency, the brutal west coast schedule to start the season, and Leongate have already been mentioned many times.

 

Another factor is just plain, good old randomness or luck, as is suggested by the following stats, courtesy of my man RedSoxStats:

 

Compared to last April the Sox are striking out, walking and hitting home runs at an identical pace. Their barrel or solid contact was 15.1% and it's 15.5% now. Their doubles are WAY down. Their BABIP was .316, it's currently .272.

 

2018: 17 games, 5 HR allowed on mid-mid pitches

 

2019: 17 games, 16 HR allowed on mid-mid pitches

 

Last year, lady luck was on our side to open the season. This year, not so much.

[Kimmi]

Not to mention the fact that the NYY at least have an excuse for their pathetic start.

 

It's pretty tough to accept the FACT that the Red Sox simply did not come into the season ready to play.

It's even more maddening to have watched them baby our players, under the auspices of "resting" & not pushing guys.

It is axiomatic that guys get hurt when they are not ready to play, & it seems CLEAR that the SR was held back. I TOTALLY GET not wanting to push a pitcher beyond his limits, but the systemic under-preparation seems ridiculous at best, and grossly irresponsible & flat ass stupid at worst.

 

Cora was criticized quite a bit last season for the same things, resting or 'babying' our players. He stuck to his guns, and his philosophy paid off beautifully.

 

Things look bad right now, but it is too soon to know how things are going to turn out. As you said before, Cora has earned a pass based on what he did last year.

 

In Cora We Trust.

[moonslav59]

Cora was criticized quite a bit last season for the same things, resting or 'babying' our players. He stuck to his guns, and his philosophy paid off beautifully.

 

Things look bad right now, but it is too soon to know how things are going to turn out. As you said before, Cora has earned a pass based on what he did last year.

 

In Cora We Trust.

 

I agree, but he has done things differently this year, particularly the spring training innings reduction.

[jad]

What is this?

 

Sorry the cartoon was so lo-res. My bad. It's what I feel like when I hear things like 'small sample size', 'it's early', 'no worries', 'he'll find his stride' ... and all the other many variants we delude ourselves into believing when we forget that early losses count exactly the same as late ones!

[dgalehouse]

For starters , put Mookie back at leadoff . I know it seems like a small thing , but he wants to lead off , does well there and the team won it all that way . Stop letting analytics call the shots . Start playing good , aggressive, winning baseball . Don't be hesitant to run , stolen bases were a good part of the offense last year . As for Cora , it's okay to be a " player's manager " , but sometimes you have to get tough as well . These guys deserve a kick in the butt right now . Time to snap out of this daze .

[moonslav59]

For starters , put Mookie back at leadoff . I know it seems like a small thing , but he wants to lead off , does well there and the team won it all that way . Stop letting analytics call the shots . Start playing good , aggressive, winning baseball . Don't be hesitant to run , stolen bases were a good part of the offense last year . As for Cora , it's okay to be a " player's manager " , but sometimes you have to get tough as well . These guys deserve a kick in the butt right now . Time to snap out of this daze .

 

I like Betts up 2nd.

[Bellhorn04]

For whatever reason, Mookie's best numbers are when he's the leadoff hitter.

[dgalehouse]

Batting leadoff has a certain prestige to it . It always has . I am well aware that analytics says your best hitter should hit second . I don't care . Mookie likes to leadoff . And he has excelled in that role . Why mess with that ?

[moonslav59]

Has Mookie said he prefers leading off?

[Slasher9]

his numbers are about the same batting 1st as they are 4th. his numbers are way up when he is DH. perhaps we should coddle him and have him bat leadoff and DH. the analytics guy Snowflake McBabyplayer has stated this is the way to go....

[dgalehouse]

Has Mookie said he prefers leading off?

 

I do recall reading that he likes leading off . He is not the kind of guy to complain about it , but I am sure that prefers it .

[moonslav59]

Red Sox To Designate Blake Swihart

By Jeff Todd | April 16, 2019 at 11:34am CDT

 

The Red Sox are set to designate catcher Blake Swihart for assignment, according to Evan Drellich of WEEI.com (Twitter link). The team’s plans beyond that are not known, but the struggling defending champs have obviously decided upon a change behind the dish.

 

Swihart wasn’t off to an inspirational start at the plate, with a .231/.310/.385 slash, but it seems likely that the move was driven primarily by the club’s broader pitching issues. The Boston staff has been among the worst in all of baseball thus far. While that reflects quite a bit more than Swihart’s performance behind the dish, it seems that the organization feels it has something to gain by switching things up.

 

It stands to reason that Sandy Leon will be brought back onto the MLB roster, though that’s not yet clear. He was stashed down at Triple-A after clearing waivers late in camp. Leon lacks Swihart’s abilities on offense but is lauded for his glovework and game management skills. He had teamed with Christian Vazquez to form a defensive-oriented backstop combination in recent years, but the club opted to give Swihart a run at the position to open the season after utilizing him in a utility role last year.

[jad]

I do recall reading that he likes leading off . He is not the kind of guy to complain about it , but I am sure that prefers it .

 

But then, if asked "Do you like leading off?", what would any player say? "No"?

[MADSTORK]

Here's an interesting factoid.

 

The Rays are on their way to an 11 and 3 record.

 

Their catcher OPS was .417 before the game, and Zunio is currently 1 for 5 tonight.

 

 

 

Sandy to the rescue!

 

 

FYI - Old Friend Joe Kelly off to a blistering start 7IP 15H 10ER Thanks Dave!

Edited April 16, 2019 by MADSTORK

[notin]

But then, if asked "Do you like leading off?", what would any player say? "No"?

 

 

He might if he didn’t like leading off...

[Hitch]

Is Leon likely to start tonight? I'm heading to the game, would love to see some vintage Sale.

[moonslav59]

But then, if asked "Do you like leading off?", what would any player say? "No"?

 

A big hefty clean-up hitter.