A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[mvp 78]

From someone you think of as dumb, Devers has 8 errors in April, which is very high for any position. Perhaps he would do better next season on first with the relatively short Chavis getting to make his mark at 3rd. Chavis is on the short side to play 1st.

 

Chavis is worse than Devers at 3b.

[moonslav59]

Are you not missing E Rod as a second year arbitration player next year? I would also elevate Walden to the 'varsity' team.

 

Yes, eagle eye, I did.

 

I will adjust it later.

[oldtimer]

OPS over the last 14 days... (32+ PAs)

 

1.326 Betts

 

 

 

1.061 Chavis

 

.928 Devers

 

.754 Bogey

.714 Vaz

.702 Moreland

 

.677 Beni

.644 JD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.451 JBJ

 

 

Those stats are of interest to me since players seem to go into and out of slumping periods. How long before we identify a player as being in a slump and what causes a player to suddenly go into a weak hitting period? Certainly not hitting in a game or two is not a long enough period. A player can have a bad day at home or at the park, feel ill of just be up against really tough pitching. Maybe a player having bad day(s) hitting when many on the team are hitting well might be a better evidence of a slump. It also probably applies to a player who normally shows a solid OPS suddenly has an extended period of dropping OPS. I can't see where the term would apply to someone who generally doesn't hit well as that player is doing the expected.Leon and JBJ come to mind as those sorts of players.

 

Looking at Beni, who is experienced now and has typical hit for a solid OPS but not with a lot of power. He hit for a batting average of .179 and an OPS of .258 over the last 7 days, while the team including Devers who is hitting well in that same period. Moreland had also gone into a swoon for a while but recently hit for power.

 

I wonder what approaches hitting coaches use to pull guys out of their slumps. Clearly something different is happening differently and that is the hitting coaches job to bring the slumpng players back to be more productive.

[Kimmi]

ERA over last 14 days...

 

2.29 Porcello

3.00 Sale

3.27 Price

4.50 ERod

 

Brasier, Workman & Walden have gone 16 IP without allowing an earned run of their own to score.

 

Last 28 days.... (13+ IP)

 

2.03 Walden

3.00 Price

3.46 Velazquez

4.76 Porcello

5.47 ERod

5.57 Sale

 

 

 

Red Sox Notes‏ @SoxNotes 9m9 minutes ago

 

 

Lowest starting pitcher ERA in the AL since Apr. 12:

 

1. Red Sox – 3.29

 

2. Yankees – 3.56

 

3. Rays – 3.76

 

4. Astros – 3.86

[Kimmi]

With Xander out today, I see that our young ones' are batting fourth and fifth. Someone thinks they are READY.

 

Offensively, yes.

 

That was never the issue.

[Kimmi]

From someone you think of as dumb, Devers has 8 errors in April, which is very high for any position. Perhaps he would do better next season on first with the relatively short Chavis getting to make his mark at 3rd. Chavis is on the short side to play 1st.

 

I would never think of you as dumb, Oldtimer. FTR, I just copied that tweet from another site.

 

I can understand why people want to move him to 1B. He will likely eventually end up there. Personally, I think it's too early to give up on him at 3B though.

[Nick]

I would never think of you as dumb, Oldtimer. FTR, I just copied that tweet from another site.

 

I can understand why people want to move him to 1B. He will likely eventually end up there. Personally, I think it's too early to give up on him at 3B though.

 

It would be nice to place 8 position players at their best positions.

 

But as a coach, I want my 'best' eight on the field.

 

"Best" meaning the group that gives us the best chance to win. I have no problems moving Devers under that scenario.

 

Chavis' offensive prowess thus far has overshadowed any perceived defensive shortcomings he exhibits.

 

I'm a happy camper. First thing first, climb back up to .500 ball.

 

I'm always glad to see youngsters move up. I threw my kids in the water.....swim or sink is my philosophy. No worries, all my kids are alive by the way.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Nick

[Kimmi]

It would be nice to place 8 position players at their best positions.

 

But as a coach, I want my 'best' eight on the field.

 

"Best" meaning the group that gives us the best chance to win. I have no problems moving Devers under that scenario.

 

Chavis' offensive prowess thus far has overshadowed any perceived defensive shortcomings he exhibits.

 

I'm a happy camper. First thing first, climb back up to .500 ball.

 

I'm always glad to see youngsters move up. I threw my kids in the water.....swim or sink is my philosophy. No worries, all my kids are alive by the way.

 

I have no problem with Devers at 3B or with Chavis at 2B (outside of the PEDs thing).

 

To date, Chavis has played a respectable 2B, and his offense might have provided a spark to the rest of the team.

 

For those that are keeping track, that doesn't mean that making him our everyday 2B wasn't a panic move, despite the possibility that it could work out very well.

 

FTR, I get more enjoyment out of watching our home grown players than I do watching our expensive free agents.

[Nick]

FTR, I get more enjoyment out of watching our home grown players than I do watching our expensive free agents

 

[oldtimer]

I have no problem with Devers at 3B or with Chavis at 2B (outside of the PEDs thing).

 

To date, Chavis has played a respectable 2B, and his offense might have provided a spark to the rest of the team.

 

For those that are keeping track, that doesn't mean that making him our everyday 2B wasn't a panic move, despite the possibility that it could work out very well.

 

FTR, I get more enjoyment out of watching our home grown players than I do watching our expensive free agents.

 

I can forgive a young kid makiing a stupid mistake as long as it isn't repeated. Haven't we all done something regretable in our lives? Right now Chavis is helping the team with his bat and is the only sound 2nd baseman available. In future, his lack of stature and his stockiness might preclude 1st of 2nd whereas he miight work out at 3rd. Too early to tell. and I don't expect consideration of that move this year unless Devers is injured. Next year might be a different story where optimization of the lineup may mean Chavis to 3rd and Devers to 1st.

[jad]

FTR, I get more enjoyment out of watching our home grown players than I do watching our expensive free agents

 

 

Well, there have been a few RS worth watching who were not 'home-grown': guys like Pedro, Manny, Ortiz, JD, Chris Sale, Price, Schilling, etc. That said, I tend to agree with you!

[Bellhorn04]

Well, there have been a few RS worth watching who were not 'home-grown': guys like Pedro, Manny, Ortiz, JD, Chris Sale, Price, Schilling, etc. That said, I tend to agree with you!

 

Good luck with our home-grown starting pitchers!

[dgalehouse]

Why is it more fun watching home grown players ? I don't understand that .

[moonslav59]

Why is it more fun watching home grown players ? I don't understand that .

 

I can understand the sentiment, but some of my favorite Sox players I have watched are...

 

Tommy Harper

 

Luis Tiant

 

Pedro Martinez

 

David Ortiz

 

Manny Ramirez

 

Adrian Beltran

 

JD Martinez

 

and of course....

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

[Slasher9]

only 1 of my top 3 is homegrown

oilcan

manny

pedro

[S5Dewey]

only 1 of my top 3 is homegrown

oilcan

manny

pedro

 

What? How can you list Oil Can and not have a soft spot in your heart for Julian Tavarez??

[moonslav59]

If I had to list my top 3, it would be Tiant, Pedro & Manny.

 

My homegrown top 3:

 

Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans and Roger Clemens (until I hated him)...maybe Bill Lee, if I disqualified Clemens - the cheater & child molester.

 

[Maxbialystock]

I can understand the sentiment, but some of my favorite Sox players I have watched are...

 

Tommy Harper

 

Luis Tiant

 

Pedro Martinez

 

David Ortiz

 

Manny Ramirez

 

Adrian Beltran

 

JD Martinez

 

and of course....

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

 

Chris freakin' Sale, huh? The guy is a disaster so far this year. On the other hand, I think he is the most professional pitcher I've seen on the Sox in a long time because he takes his job seriously and stays focused. He fields his position well and never forgets to cover 1b on a grounder to the right side. He doesn't shake off pitches because he wants to stay focused on execution, not on analyzing the batter or the catcher's signals or whatever.

[dgalehouse]

How much fun was it to watch Alfredo Aceves ? The most interesting man in the world .

[Slasher9]

What? How can you list Oil Can and not have a soft spot in your heart for Julian Tavarez??

 

Oh I do! He just can’t crack my top 3

[moonslav59]

Chris freakin' Sale, huh? The guy is a disaster so far this year. On the other hand, I think he is the most professional pitcher I've seen on the Sox in a long time because he takes his job seriously and stays focused. He fields his position well and never forgets to cover 1b on a grounder to the right side. He doesn't shake off pitches because he wants to stay focused on execution, not on analyzing the batter or the catcher's signals or whatever.

 

I never let one month change my opinion on any player.

 

Sale has been a tremendous pitcher. I expect him to return to form at some point. If he never does, so be it, but it was fun watching for a while, anyways.

 

[a700hitter]

I can understand the sentiment, but some of my favorite Sox players I have watched are...

 

Tommy Harper

 

Luis Tiant

 

Pedro Martinez

 

David Ortiz

 

Manny Ramirez

 

Adrian Beltran

 

JD Martinez

 

and of course....

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

I have to go with:

 

Yaz

Conig

Hawk

Rico

Tiant

Lynn

Rice

Fisk

Nomar

Clemens

Rogelio Moret

Big Papi

Manny

Pedro

Schill

Beckett

Damon

Betts

JD

Sale

Price

Paps

Koji

 

and on and on and on

[cp176]

If I had to list my top 3, it would be Tiant, Pedro & Manny.

 

My homegrown top 3:

 

Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans and Roger Clemens (until I hated him)...maybe Bill Lee, if I disqualified Clemens - the cheater & child molester.

 

 

No Fisk in that top three of homegrowners?

[cp176]

I have to go with:

 

Yaz

Conig

Hawk

Rico

Tiant

Lynn

Rice

Fisk

Nomar

Clemens

Rogelio Moret

Big Papi

Manny

Pedro

Schill

Beckett

Damon

Betts

JD

Sale

Price

Paps

Koji

 

and on and on and on

 

 

I'm throwing the "Rooster" in there for you. lol - maybe even the "Boomer".

[Beaneater]

I've got to go with Rich Garces.

[devildavid]

I never let one month change my opinion on any player.

 

Sale has been a tremendous pitcher. I expect him to return to form at some point. If he never does, so be it, but it was fun watching for a while, anyways.

 

 

No question that Sale is a great pitcher. The only weakness ever observed with him are his late season swoons. That still remains an open question. Can he be counted on come playoff time?

[Kimmi]

No question that Sale is a great pitcher. The only weakness ever observed with him are his late season swoons. That still remains an open question. Can he be counted on come playoff time?

 

That's what Cora's whole "bring him along slowly" approach is all about.

 

We shall see how effective Sale is come October.

 

He looked really good last night.

[devildavid]

That's what Cora's whole "bring him along slowly" approach is all about.

 

We shall see how effective Sale is come October.

 

He looked really good last night.

 

I am totally on board with Cora's approach toward giving all his players time off. If a player has an iron man approach he might butt heads with Cora.

[S5Dewey]

I am totally on board with Cora's approach toward giving all his players time off. If a player has an iron man approach he might butt heads with Cora.

 

JBJ's offense not withstanding, I found it odd that Cora moved Beni to CF and put Pearce in LF last night when Lin went down. I expected JBJ to be put in CF. That demonstrates how committed Cora is to days off for players.

[moonslav59]

That's what Cora's whole "bring him along slowly" approach is all about.

 

We shall see how effective Sale is come October.

 

He looked really good last night.

 

I was thinking the same thing last year, too.

 

Having a peak Sale in October should be the number one priority on Sale.

 

I'd rather be a wild card team with a peaking Sale than a division winner with a burnt out Sale- not that we can't win the division AND keep Sale fresh.