The 2019 Red Sox

[YastrzemskI]

Who is the leader of this team? Do they have one? Two? A few chairs need to be thrown and a team meeting needs to be had. An honest one with some perspective because obviously whatever they are doing isn’t working. I honestly do not know if this team has what it takes to turn things around with this roster.

 

Yet with this payroll, there is no reason to be looking up in the standings to not one, but two teams. It’s an embarrassment to Red Sox Nation.

 

I need a brandy.

[YastrzemskI]

Part of me wants the April Sox to be the 2019 Sox so we can get a good pick.

 

We were a few outs away from being five games over and it’s been a debacle ever since. DD do you read?

[jacksonianmarch]

The 2019 Red Sox are in a pickle. Right now, two teams in the division are better, yet the sox are coming off a title and are near the end of their window. With how many bad teams there are in the AL right now, it behooves DD to try and make a run. The sox can probably suck against the Yanks and Rays and still make a WC spot thanks to 38 games vs the awful O's and Jays. The big question coming up is will the sox rebuild and deal off some assets to make the downslope less steep, or will they fight tooth and nail to stay relevant and make the downslope incredibly painful. If DD is their GM through the end of the season, the answer is rhetorical.

 

This sox team needs to address 3 main weaknesses. Their rotation suddenly lacks depth. Eovaldi should return in the next 2 weeks, but he is no iron horse. Sale has finished the last 2 seasons a wounded warrior and Price has a finicky elbow that can cost him a couple weeks at a moments notice. Add in ERod's struggles and the only guy without real question marks on expectations or durability is Porcello. Adding a swing guy/5th starter isn't a bad idea here. Someone capable of piggybacking a bad start to try and hold an early deficit until the offense comes back or slots in when one of the starters invariably gets hurt would be ideal. There are only so many Shea Weber games the sox can tolerate before you completely destroy your season. You don't need someone dominant, but a veteran like Tanner Roark would do. His ERA is awesome, but the peripherals point towards a more average starter. Add in that he is on the Reds and in the final year of his deal, and he is the kind of low cost (prospect wise) acquisition that could add to your depth

 

Weakness number two is the bottom of the lineup. I know the sox offense isn't bad, but they are top heavy. Last year, it didn't matter because the top half was so unreal. Now with Beni becoming more above average and Betts and JDM going from MVP level to all star level, the dropoff is noticeable. When healthy, the sox run out there a lineup of Betts RF, Beni LF, JDM DH, Devers 3B, Moreland 1B, Bogey SS, Chavis 2B, Vazquez C, Bradley CF. Chavis has added a spark and Vaz has added to his ability as well, but Bradley is a graveyard offensively and Chavis is awful defensively. The sox could use a utility player to slot in when there are injuries or when someone needs a day off. Having Sale pitch helps, but using Nunez, Leon and Bradley at the bottom essentially gives away an inning. I am not advocating the sox go get an all star, but they need to get a player better than Nunez and Holt to slot into the lineup. Jose Iglesias is that guy. He has been hitting the ball, but more importantly he offers the sox an upgrade when inserted into the lineup. He would probably take over 2b and Chavis would move back to 1b with Moreland and end up being an offensive minded super utility player, which would lengthen the lineup.

 

The final weakness hasn't manifested entirely, but a closer would be nice for the sox. The easy call here is Colome, but with him having another year of control and being absolutely lights out to this point, I think the sox would have to part with something significant. But if you slot him into the closers role, push Barnes into the 8th inning role then use the other guys interchangeably, you can have a pretty solid back end that would serve you well.

 

These three additions wouldn't come cheap, and in getting them, it will put you over the final line. But having them available will significantly increase your depth and make your team formidable through injury or rest

[moonslav59]

The 2019 Red Sox are in a pickle. Right now, two teams in the division are better, yet the sox are coming off a title and are near the end of their window. With how many bad teams there are in the AL right now, it behooves DD to try and make a run. The sox can probably suck against the Yanks and Rays and still make a WC spot thanks to 38 games vs the awful O's and Jays. The big question coming up is will the sox rebuild and deal off some assets to make the downslope less steep, or will they fight tooth and nail to stay relevant and make the downslope incredibly painful. If DD is their GM through the end of the season, the answer is rhetorical.

 

This sox team needs to address 3 main weaknesses. Their rotation suddenly lacks depth. Eovaldi should return in the next 2 weeks, but he is no iron horse. Sale has finished the last 2 seasons a wounded warrior and Price has a finicky elbow that can cost him a couple weeks at a moments notice. Add in ERod's struggles and the only guy without real question marks on expectations or durability is Porcello. Adding a swing guy/5th starter isn't a bad idea here. Someone capable of piggybacking a bad start to try and hold an early deficit until the offense comes back or slots in when one of the starters invariably gets hurt would be ideal. There are only so many Shea Weber games the sox can tolerate before you completely destroy your season. You don't need someone dominant, but a veteran like Tanner Roark would do. His ERA is awesome, but the peripherals point towards a more average starter. Add in that he is on the Reds and in the final year of his deal, and he is the kind of low cost (prospect wise) acquisition that could add to your depth

 

Weakness number two is the bottom of the lineup. I know the sox offense isn't bad, but they are top heavy. Last year, it didn't matter because the top half was so unreal. Now with Beni becoming more above average and Betts and JDM going from MVP level to all star level, the dropoff is noticeable. When healthy, the sox run out there a lineup of Betts RF, Beni LF, JDM DH, Devers 3B, Moreland 1B, Bogey SS, Chavis 2B, Vazquez C, Bradley CF. Chavis has added a spark and Vaz has added to his ability as well, but Bradley is a graveyard offensively and Chavis is awful defensively. The sox could use a utility player to slot in when there are injuries or when someone needs a day off. Having Sale pitch helps, but using Nunez, Leon and Bradley at the bottom essentially gives away an inning. I am not advocating the sox go get an all star, but they need to get a player better than Nunez and Holt to slot into the lineup. Jose Iglesias is that guy. He has been hitting the ball, but more importantly he offers the sox an upgrade when inserted into the lineup. He would probably take over 2b and Chavis would move back to 1b with Moreland and end up being an offensive minded super utility player, which would lengthen the lineup.

 

The final weakness hasn't manifested entirely, but a closer would be nice for the sox. The easy call here is Colome, but with him having another year of control and being absolutely lights out to this point, I think the sox would have to part with something significant. But if you slot him into the closers role, push Barnes into the 8th inning role then use the other guys interchangeably, you can have a pretty solid back end that would serve you well.

 

These three additions wouldn't come cheap, and in getting them, it will put you over the final line. But having them available will significantly increase your depth and make your team formidable through injury or rest

 

We have to hope Eovaldi solves number 1. We don't have the resources to solve #3 and #1. #3 is more vital.

 

Our bottom of the order is hitting very well, now. JBJ and Vaz are 2 of our hottest hitters.

 

Not having a closer and maybe another solid set-up guy are our biggest needs.

[moonslav59]

Our bottom 3 guys got 3 of our 5 hits tonight and we have these numbers over the last ___ days:

 

Last 30

9 guys over .796 and 8 over .810, including JBJ at .825 and Vaz at .970.

 

Last 14

8 guys over .725, including JBJ at 1.019 (before tonight's 2-3 game) and Vaz at .725.

 

At this point in the season, line-up depth is about the last of our worries. Even Leon is at .737 the last 4 weeks.

 

Only our back-up 2Bman are struggling at the plate, right now.

 

May numbers, not counting tonight:

 

Beni .796

Betts .842

Devers 1.012

JDM .923

Bogey .970

Moreland .928/Pearce .676 (but .974 last 14 days)

Chavis .810

Vaz .970

JBJ .825

Edited June 1, 2019 by moonslav59

[Jason33]

One thing Cora needs to do is pick a closer. This closer by committee ain’t working. A closer needs to get used to the pressure of pitching in the ninth inning. All the moves that worked for Cora last year are not this year. Like the other day after the collapse in the ninth with Braiser Cora stays with Weber when he’s giving it up from the first pitch. Like we have games to spare. Mookie has been average so far and JD isn’t driving runs in like he was last year. Our BP is just atrocious. That’s our achilles heal. So all we can do is hope somehow someway we turn it around because we can’t go get anyone with our highest payroll in the MLB.

[bkzwhitestrican]

The 2019 Red Sox are in a pickle. Right now, two teams in the division are better, yet the sox are coming off a title and are near the end of their window. With how many bad teams there are in the AL right now, it behooves DD to try and make a run. The sox can probably suck against the Yanks and Rays and still make a WC spot thanks to 38 games vs the awful O's and Jays. The big question coming up is will the sox rebuild and deal off some assets to make the downslope less steep, or will they fight tooth and nail to stay relevant and make the downslope incredibly painful. If DD is their GM through the end of the season, the answer is rhetorical.

 

This sox team needs to address 3 main weaknesses. Their rotation suddenly lacks depth. Eovaldi should return in the next 2 weeks, but he is no iron horse. Sale has finished the last 2 seasons a wounded warrior and Price has a finicky elbow that can cost him a couple weeks at a moments notice. Add in ERod's struggles and the only guy without real question marks on expectations or durability is Porcello. Adding a swing guy/5th starter isn't a bad idea here. Someone capable of piggybacking a bad start to try and hold an early deficit until the offense comes back or slots in when one of the starters invariably gets hurt would be ideal. There are only so many Shea Weber games the sox can tolerate before you completely destroy your season. You don't need someone dominant, but a veteran like Tanner Roark would do. His ERA is awesome, but the peripherals point towards a more average starter. Add in that he is on the Reds and in the final year of his deal, and he is the kind of low cost (prospect wise) acquisition that could add to your depth

 

Weakness number two is the bottom of the lineup. I know the sox offense isn't bad, but they are top heavy. Last year, it didn't matter because the top half was so unreal. Now with Beni becoming more above average and Betts and JDM going from MVP level to all star level, the dropoff is noticeable. When healthy, the sox run out there a lineup of Betts RF, Beni LF, JDM DH, Devers 3B, Moreland 1B, Bogey SS, Chavis 2B, Vazquez C, Bradley CF. Chavis has added a spark and Vaz has added to his ability as well, but Bradley is a graveyard offensively and Chavis is awful defensively. The sox could use a utility player to slot in when there are injuries or when someone needs a day off. Having Sale pitch helps, but using Nunez, Leon and Bradley at the bottom essentially gives away an inning. I am not advocating the sox go get an all star, but they need to get a player better than Nunez and Holt to slot into the lineup. Jose Iglesias is that guy. He has been hitting the ball, but more importantly he offers the sox an upgrade when inserted into the lineup. He would probably take over 2b and Chavis would move back to 1b with Moreland and end up being an offensive minded super utility player, which would lengthen the lineup.

 

The final weakness hasn't manifested entirely, but a closer would be nice for the sox. The easy call here is Colome, but with him having another year of control and being absolutely lights out to this point, I think the sox would have to part with something significant. But if you slot him into the closers role, push Barnes into the 8th inning role then use the other guys interchangeably, you can have a pretty solid back end that would serve you well.

 

These three additions wouldn't come cheap, and in getting them, it will put you over the final line. But having them available will significantly increase your depth and make your team formidable through injury or rest

 

Damn how long did it take you to write this essay

[oldtimer]

Our bottom 3 guys got 3 of our 5 hits tonight and we have these numbers over the last ___ days:

 

Last 30

9 guys over .796 and 8 over .810, including JBJ at .825 and Vaz at .970.

 

Last 14

8 guys over .725, including JBJ at 1.019 (before tonight's 2-3 game) and Vaz at .725.

 

At this point in the season, line-up depth is about the last of our worries. Even Leon is at .737 the last 4 weeks.

 

Only our back-up 2Bman are struggling at the plate, right now.

 

May numbers, not counting tonight:

 

Beni .796

Betts .842

Devers 1.012

JDM .923

Bogey .970

Moreland .928/Pearce .676 (but .974 last 14 days)

Chavis .810

Vaz .970

JBJ .825

 

Our hitting is fairly solid with Chavis going through the first year of needing to make adjustments and JDM with a sore back. When our team faces top notch pitching, like the Yankee bullpen, they all have trouble and we are no different in that respect.

 

Our pitching has been strained due to injuries to starters and the need to find a BP or Minors starter every 5th day out. Eovaldi will be back and should help with that. Our weakest area is our BP and that has been heavily used.

 

We traded away a lot to get last years national championship and we are carrying Panda's and Pedey's contracts which limit our financial capability to maybe one BP acquisition. The decision to do more than that would mean further consequences to the team and might not even get us a wild card. I'm for just limiting to a BP acquisition and accepting whatever that can bring us. If we don't get to the wild card level then so be it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Damn how long did it take you to write this essay

 

I’m a fast typer and a very fast writer. Think about it. I write three page narratives on 25 patients a day!

[Bellhorn04]

This team seems to be psychologically messed up. I do attribute a lot of it to the World Series hangover. The hunger just isn't there. It's not an excuse, it's just the best way I can explain what I'm seeing.

[OH FOY]

9 in the loss column behind the Yanks, were getting near that critical time, of 10+ in the loss column. Even this early. Sox have to respond, and start playing like champions. Good teams do this in EVERY sport.

[Bellhorn04]

9 in the loss column behind the Yanks, were getting near that critical time, of 10+ in the loss column. Even this early. Sox have to respond, and start playing like champions. Good teams do this in EVERY sport.

 

Nobody repeats in baseball any more though.

[OH FOY]

Nobody repeats in baseball any more though.

 

Yeah, that's funny. But the Sox repeated as Division Champions. What 3 years in a row. You would think the money doled out, we should do it again. Good thing Tampa lost last night otherwise we would have 2 teams in front of us with 9 less losses. That's going to be the problem jumping over 2 teams to win it this year. Go to hope 2 teams start having a slump and the Sox get hot.

Edited June 1, 2019 by OH FOY!

[Tedballgame]

There are many players who should not be on a championship team roster: Brewer, Thornburg, Johnson, Weber, Nunez, Velasquez, Poiner. This team does not have a closer. They aren't playing with any type of desire. They play sloppy, stupid baseball. A compete 180 from last year. I am so glad that I did not purchase MLB Extra Innings for the first time in 15 years. This team isn't worth watching. It reminds me of this years Celtics. A lot of talent. No heart. No desire. No leaders.

[OH FOY]

Sox need to send a message to these clowns in the next 2 games, that were still here. 2 Beatdowns would be nice, but I'll take a 9th inning come back just as good. We need the next 2 games, bad. Good smart baseball, every at bat and pitch counts.

Start getting the mindset, every game is a Wildcard. Play-off baseball mentality.

[Nick]

Playoffs?

 

Edited June 1, 2019 by Nick

[jung]

Our bottom 3 guys got 3 of our 5 hits tonight and we have these numbers over the last ___ days:

 

Last 30

9 guys over .796 and 8 over .810, including JBJ at .825 and Vaz at .970.

 

Last 14

8 guys over .725, including JBJ at 1.019 (before tonight's 2-3 game) and Vaz at .725.

 

At this point in the season, line-up depth is about the last of our worries. Even Leon is at .737 the last 4 weeks.

 

Only our back-up 2Bman are struggling at the plate, right now.

 

May numbers, not counting tonight:

 

Beni .796

Betts .842

Devers 1.012

JDM .923

Bogey .970

Moreland .928/Pearce .676 (but .974 last 14 days)

Chavis .810

Vaz .970

JBJ .825

 

The stats are impressive. But the fact is we don't bunch hits and we won't win on solo HR's. You have to hit buckets of them to win games on solo HR's. IMO, Cora is going to have to work harder at stacking his Lineups to bunch hits. If that means some odd configurations at the top and some guys moving down that will not please the vaunted Sox PR department....TOO BAD for the Sox PR Dept.

 

This issue is probably exacerbated by JD needing a break. He is obviously hurting (back at least....maybe more). They likely need to get him to a short IL stint and when he comes back KEEP HIM OUT OF THE OF ALEX!

 

We have a depth problem across this team. Chavis has to play which is an indictment in itself. When a guy that was not anticipated to come up at all in a given year comes up and you can't even get him out of the lineup, that is a problem. Past Holt, the rest of the bench IMO is a joke. Look at what the Astros can run out there when they have injuries. Look at what the Yankmees are doing.

Edited June 1, 2019 by jung

[Kimmi]

Who is the leader of this team? Do they have one? Two? A few chairs need to be thrown and a team meeting needs to be had. An honest one with some perspective because obviously whatever they are doing isn’t working. I honestly do not know if this team has what it takes to turn things around with this roster.

 

Yet with this payroll, there is no reason to be looking up in the standings to not one, but two teams. It’s an embarrassment to Red Sox Nation.

 

I need a brandy.

 

The team has been extremely frustrating to watch. They went on a tear for about 3 weeks, when they played like we know they are capable of playing. But the remainder of the season, they have been underperforming, along with often not appearing to have their heads in the game.

 

The strange thing is that this is almost exactly the same team as last year's. Did they have a leader last year? Did they have the fire last year?

 

It's hard to explain what is so different from last year to this.

[Bellhorn04]

The team has been extremely frustrating to watch. They went on a tear for about 3 weeks, when they played like we know they are capable of playing. But the remainder of the season, they have been underperforming, along with often not appearing to have their heads in the game.

 

The strange thing is that this is almost exactly the same team as last year's. Did they have a leader last year? Did they have the fire last year?

 

It's hard to explain what is so different from last year to this.

 

Last year we had a brand new manager and coaching staff. We had a new, more aggressive hitting approach. We had two guys in Mookie and JD playing out of their minds, having career seasons.

 

Everything went right for last year's team.

 

It's a tough act to follow.

 

Not dissimilar to what happened with the 2014 team.

[Kimmi]

Our hitting is fairly solid with Chavis going through the first year of needing to make adjustments and JDM with a sore back. When our team faces top notch pitching, like the Yankee bullpen, they all have trouble and we are no different in that respect.

 

Our pitching has been strained due to injuries to starters and the need to find a BP or Minors starter every 5th day out. Eovaldi will be back and should help with that. Our weakest area is our BP and that has been heavily used.

 

We traded away a lot to get last years national championship and we are carrying Panda's and Pedey's contracts which limit our financial capability to maybe one BP acquisition. The decision to do more than that would mean further consequences to the team and might not even get us a wild card. I'm for just limiting to a BP acquisition and accepting whatever that can bring us. If we don't get to the wild card level then so be it.

 

Solid post Oldtimer.

 

IMO, the team doesn't really have any needs, outside of some BP reinforcement. The talent is there, both on the offensive side and the pitching side. We just need to stay healthy and perform to levels of expectation.

[Kimmi]

This team seems to be psychologically messed up. I do attribute a lot of it to the World Series hangover. The hunger just isn't there. It's not an excuse, it's just the best way I can explain what I'm seeing.

 

I get the feeling that the team had a sense of complacency during and coming out of spring training. It was too easy for them last year. With so little competition in the AL, I get the sense that they felt like they could somewhat coast to the playoffs this year.

 

I don't think Dombrowski was complacent with his offseason moves. IMO, there wasn't much that needed to be done, and he was somewhat handcuffed by finances.

 

But I think Cora kind of set a sense of complacency with his ST approach. I'm not saying that his approach was necessarily wrong. Either way, it is on Cora to re-light the fire under these guys.

[Kimmi]

Last year we had a brand new manager and coaching staff. We had a new, more aggressive hitting approach. We had two guys in Mookie and JD playing out of their minds, having career seasons.

 

Everything went right for last year's team.

 

It's a tough act to follow.

 

Not dissimilar to what happened with the 2014 team.

 

I wasn't expecting them to play at the same level as last year, but I expect them to play better than 1 game over .500.

 

That they're not is kind of inexplicable.

[notin]

There are many players who should not be on a championship team roster: Brewer, Thornburg, Johnson, Weber, Nunez, Velasquez, Poiner.

 

So championship teams aren’t allowed to have injuries? Because most of those names weren’t even on the opening day roster...

[Maxbialystock]

The 2019 Red Sox are in a pickle. Right now, two teams in the division are better, yet the sox are coming off a title and are near the end of their window. With how many bad teams there are in the AL right now, it behooves DD to try and make a run. The sox can probably suck against the Yanks and Rays and still make a WC spot thanks to 38 games vs the awful O's and Jays. The big question coming up is will the sox rebuild and deal off some assets to make the downslope less steep, or will they fight tooth and nail to stay relevant and make the downslope incredibly painful. If DD is their GM through the end of the season, the answer is rhetorical.

 

This sox team needs to address 3 main weaknesses. Their rotation suddenly lacks depth. Eovaldi should return in the next 2 weeks, but he is no iron horse. Sale has finished the last 2 seasons a wounded warrior and Price has a finicky elbow that can cost him a couple weeks at a moments notice. Add in ERod's struggles and the only guy without real question marks on expectations or durability is Porcello. Adding a swing guy/5th starter isn't a bad idea here. Someone capable of piggybacking a bad start to try and hold an early deficit until the offense comes back or slots in when one of the starters invariably gets hurt would be ideal. There are only so many Shea Weber games the sox can tolerate before you completely destroy your season. You don't need someone dominant, but a veteran like Tanner Roark would do. His ERA is awesome, but the peripherals point towards a more average starter. Add in that he is on the Reds and in the final year of his deal, and he is the kind of low cost (prospect wise) acquisition that could add to your depth

 

Weakness number two is the bottom of the lineup. I know the sox offense isn't bad, but they are top heavy. Last year, it didn't matter because the top half was so unreal. Now with Beni becoming more above average and Betts and JDM going from MVP level to all star level, the dropoff is noticeable. When healthy, the sox run out there a lineup of Betts RF, Beni LF, JDM DH, Devers 3B, Moreland 1B, Bogey SS, Chavis 2B, Vazquez C, Bradley CF. Chavis has added a spark and Vaz has added to his ability as well, but Bradley is a graveyard offensively and Chavis is awful defensively. The sox could use a utility player to slot in when there are injuries or when someone needs a day off. Having Sale pitch helps, but using Nunez, Leon and Bradley at the bottom essentially gives away an inning. I am not advocating the sox go get an all star, but they need to get a player better than Nunez and Holt to slot into the lineup. Jose Iglesias is that guy. He has been hitting the ball, but more importantly he offers the sox an upgrade when inserted into the lineup. He would probably take over 2b and Chavis would move back to 1b with Moreland and end up being an offensive minded super utility player, which would lengthen the lineup.

 

The final weakness hasn't manifested entirely, but a closer would be nice for the sox. The easy call here is Colome, but with him having another year of control and being absolutely lights out to this point, I think the sox would have to part with something significant. But if you slot him into the closers role, push Barnes into the 8th inning role then use the other guys interchangeably, you can have a pretty solid back end that would serve you well.

 

These three additions wouldn't come cheap, and in getting them, it will put you over the final line. But having them available will significantly increase your depth and make your team formidable through injury or rest

 

Meh. Bottom of the order was an endless complaint last year, and the Sox led MLB in runs and OPS. It's less good right now because Betts, JDM, Beni, etc are well below their 2018 numbers. But they are scoring as much as the Yankees.

 

Rotation is not solid, that's for sure, but it has delivered more quality starts than the Yankees. But the Yankees team ERA is lower and their pitching is more reliable because they have a much better bullpen.

 

And there's something else, I think. Last year the AL East was highly competitive--Sox, Yankees, and Rays were all well over .500--despite the fast start by the Sox. I think that carried over to this season for the Yankees and Rays, who could only be encouraged--as the Sox were discouraged--by the Sox bad start. There is an undeniable psychological dimension to winning games. If nothing else, it builds confidence, which right now the Yankees have oodles of and so do the Rays.

 

Looking at the games won and lost to date, I saw something just down right scary. On May 12 the Sox took their 3d straight from the Mariners--a great revenge series--after taking 2 straight from the Orioles. A 5 game winning streak, exactly what the head doctor would have ordered. Since then, however, the Sox are 7 and 9. They took 3 of 4 from the Jays, but lost 4 of 6 to the Astros, split 2 with the Rockies, lost 2 of 3 to the Guardians, and now could lose 2 or 3 of 3 to the Yankees. This season could be over awfully soon.

Edited June 1, 2019 by Maxbialystock

[Bellhorn04]

I get the feeling that the team had a sense of complacency during and coming out of spring training. It was too easy for them last year. With so little competition in the AL, I get the sense that they felt like they could somewhat coast to the playoffs this year.

 

I don't think Dombrowski was complacent with his offseason moves. IMO, there wasn't much that needed to be done, and he was somewhat handcuffed by finances.

 

But I think Cora kind of set a sense of complacency with his ST approach. I'm not saying that his approach was necessarily wrong. Either way, it is on Cora to re-light the fire under these guys.

 

Personally I didn't think that Restgate was a result of complacency and/or arrogance.

 

I think they looked at all the extra innings pitched by the starters last postseason, and the analytics people probably dug up some data on how that has impacted starters the following season, and they came up with this rest scheme.

 

It appears to have backfired a bit. But I think the intentions were good.

[jung]

We will run over the weaker teams in the AL and there are STILL plenty of those. Maybe not as many as last year....but still plenty. Don't think we will beat many good teams until:

- We have the 5 rotation arms back

- Cora starts to configure lineups to bunch hits

- JD and Cora confine JD to DH duties (that is after he comes back from what should be an IL stint)

- Cora does a better job of sifting through the Pen for guys he can plug into slots

[OH FOY]

Can a weak BP beat the weaker teams? Cant have Starters pitch good for 6 or 7 innings, then lose it later on in the game, especially just leading by 1 or 2 Runs. Those are must win games. Edited June 1, 2019 by OH FOY!

[Bellhorn04]

Can a weak BP beat the weaker teams?

 

Of course. A weak BP will cost you a few games here and there, in random fashion, regardless of opponent.

[Elktonnick]

Personally I didn't think that Restgate was a result of complacency and/or arrogance.

 

I think they looked at all the extra innings pitched by the starters last postseason, and the analytics people probably dug up some data on how that has impacted starters the following season, and they came up with this rest scheme.

 

It appears to have backfired a bit. But I think the intentions were good.

 

You know of course about the road to hell and good intentions. It didn't backfire a bit. It backfired a lot.

[OH FOY]

Of course. A weak BP will cost you a few games here and there, in random fashion, regardless of opponent.

 

Hope your right.