A Realistic View at 2019: Part II

[moonslav59]

I'll bet he's back on the Sox roster next year.

 

I think so, too, but the lack of options is a drag.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Winning a WS is so important for a franchise that if that team does overpay a player for a long-range contract (5 or more years) and said player is intricate in that team winning even one WS, I'm thinking that ownership wouldn't consider it an overpayment. Of course, in this case I'm referring to Price.

[a700hitter]

They have not been "lead your team to the playoffs" good.

 

You are right, none have been bad enough to ever say, "drop them fro the starting 5," but your point I responded to implied that the 4-5 slots and pen were the main reasons we dropped so far in the standings and with our record.

 

To me, all but ERod (and Workman in the pen) are responsible for what happened.

If the 4th and 5th rotation spots as well as the bullpen had performed just adequately, I don’t think that would have turned this years team into a 108 win juggernaut like the 2018 team, but I think we would be around a 95 win team and make the playoffs. Edited August 15, 2019 by a700hitter

[Bellhorn04]

I think so, too, but the lack of options is a drag.

 

True.

[Bellhorn04]

Winning a WS is so important for a franchise that if that team does overpay a player for a long-range contract (5 or more years) and said player is intricate in that team winning even one WS, I'm thinking that ownership wouldn't consider it an overpayment. Of course, in this case I'm referring to Price.

 

Yep. You can even say that about John Lackey.

[Bellhorn04]

If the 4th and 5th rotation spots as well as the bullpen had performed just adequately, I don’t think that would have turned this years team into a 108 win juggernaut like the 2018 team, but I think we would be around a 95 win team and make the playoffs.

 

The old school numbers for Sale, Price and Porcello are pretty damn awful, no?

 

Sale 6-11 4.40

Price 7-5 4.36 (and only 105.1 innings)

Porcello 10-9 5.67

 

If someone told you before the season those would be their numbers on August 15, you'd probably think we were screwed, right?

[Slasher9]

The old school numbers for Sale, Price and Porcello are pretty damn awful, no?

 

Sale 6-11 4.40

Price 7-5 4.36 (and only 105.1 innings)

Porcello 10-9 5.67

 

If someone told you before the season those would be their numbers on August 15, you'd probably think we were screwed, right?

 

the starters ERA this year is inexplicable and hugely disappointing.

[kenmeister]

the starters ERA this year is inexplicable and hugely disappointing.

 

I think the ball being manufactured differently theory has merit. I’m especially swayed by Pedro’s speech regarding it where he said his fingers reach farther than they used to when holding one of the newer balls.

Edited August 15, 2019 by kenmeister

[Bellhorn04]

I think the ball being manufactured differently theory has merit. I’m especially swayed by Pedro’s speech regarding it where he said his fingers reach farther than they used to when holding one of the newer balls.

 

We don't think the balls are different any more - we know they're different.

[jacksonianmarch]

We don't think the balls are different any more - we know they're different.

 

The commish has admitted it. The ball has less drag. Do you want to know how to create less drag on a ball? Lower the seams. Lower seams means more hanging breaking balls and less command of all pitches, ie creating better contact. The ball is getting hit harder and has less drag, so it is traveling further.

[kenmeister]

We don't think the balls are different any more - we know they're different.

 

I wasn’t aware of anything official on the matter. It gets me very upset to be honest.

[kenmeister]

The commish has admitted it. The ball has less drag. Do you want to know how to create less drag on a ball? Lower the seams. Lower seams means more hanging breaking balls and less command of all pitches, ie creating better contact. The ball is getting hit harder and has less drag, so it is traveling further.

 

Really? And no one is doing anything about it? This is awful.

[jacksonianmarch]

Really? And no one is doing anything about it? This is awful.

 

They have to play with the same ball all year. Otherwise they are interfering in season, which isn't okay. They'll tinker with it in the offseason. I guarantee you will see less drag and higher seams in 2020

[kenmeister]

They have to play with the same ball all year. Otherwise they are interfering in season, which isn't okay. They'll tinker with it in the offseason. I guarantee you will see less drag and higher seams in 2020

 

I hope so. I guess it depends whether this change was intentional or not. Might make sense to bring back Porcello if the ball gets back to being conducive to how he throws it.

[jacksonianmarch]

I hope so. I guess it depends whether this change was intentional or not. Might make sense to bring back Porcello if the ball gets back to being conducive to how he throws it.

 

Porcello is going to get a cheap deal in the offseason in the hopes of rehabbing his value. He's already made big money, so it isn't like he needs a big paycheck and it isn't like he's going to take a lowball offer just for the years. Boras has been his council and this is the Boras way. 1 yr deal, preferably in a pitchers park. My bet is he signs a 1 yr $3 mil or so deal in SD with innings or game started escalators

[S5Dewey]

The commish has admitted it. The ball has less drag. Do you want to know how to create less drag on a ball? Lower the seams. Lower seams means more hanging breaking balls and less command of all pitches, ie creating better contact. The ball is getting hit harder and has less drag, so it is traveling further.

 

Thank you. This is what I've been saying for over a month now.

 

You'll have to admit - and I'm not suggesting any collusion between the Y's and MLB - that this change played right into the hands of the Yankees with their power hitters and short porch.

[jacksonianmarch]

Thank you. This is what I've been saying for over a month now.

 

You'll have to admit - and I'm not suggesting any collusion between the Y's and MLB - that this change played right into the hands of the Yankees with their power hitters and short porch.

 

We have a team of righties. If we had a bunch of lefties, I might be inclined to agree. But nearly our entire starting lineup hits RH'd or switches.

[S5Dewey]

We have a team of righties. If we had a bunch of lefties, I might be inclined to agree. But nearly our entire starting lineup hits RH'd or switches.

 

...and has good opposite field power.

[Bellhorn04]

We have a team of righties. If we had a bunch of lefties, I might be inclined to agree. But nearly our entire starting lineup hits RH'd or switches.

 

Plus the Yanks have 109 homers in 57 road games and 109 homers in 64 home games, so they're actually hitting more of them on the road.

[jacksonianmarch]

Plus the Yanks have 109 homers in 57 road games and 109 homers in 64 home games, so they're actually hitting more of them on the road.

 

Most stadiums don't have a death valley in LCF. Hitting it out to LCF in YS is a poke

[oldtimer]

Plus the Yanks have 109 homers in 57 road games and 109 homers in 64 home games, so they're actually hitting more of them on the road.

 

Good point. The ball has resulted in generally more Home Runs by all teams. It flies out of the park and the pitchers are paying a price since it directly impacts their era.

[moonslav59]

If the 4th and 5th rotation spots as well as the bullpen had performed just adequately, I don’t think that would have turned this years team into a 108 win juggernaut like the 2018 team, but I think we would be around a 95 win team and make the playoffs.

 

Very true, but had the top 3 starters, who had just 9 starts with 4 or more runs allowed last year and 31 this year in way less games, had, instead, 20 of those bad starts, we'd still be in the division race and leading the WC race.

[moonslav59]

We don't think the balls are different any more - we know they're different.

 

Yes, and the question might be, why did the changed ball hurt our staff more than others?

 

We have a high K rate. I can understand Porcello, since he always let up a lot of HRs and fly balls, but why the whole staff?

 

The whole league has seen a higher ERA, but we've jumped way more than the norm.

 

There has to be other factors.

[kenmeister]

Very true, but had the top 3 starters, who had just 9 starts with 4 or more runs allowed last year and 31 this year in way less games, had, instead, 20 of those bad starts, we'd still be in the division race and leading the WC race.

 

Chris Sale in particular can be dominant in one start and shelled in the next. He reminds me of Clay Bucholz.

[moonslav59]

Chris Sale in particular can be dominant in one start and shelled in the next. He reminds me of Clay Bucholz.

 

Or dominant in a game, then one inning- poof! (Like last game.)

[Slasher9]

manfred 100% had the yankees in mind when he created this latest version of the Manfred Missile. he must have been going crazy with all the injuries early in the season. when the yankees are good - it is great for baseball. many yankees fans tuning in to watch and many many yankees haters tuning in to root against.

[notin]

Yep. You can even say that about John Lackey.

 

THe funny thing is, Lackey is remembered as a good signing by a lot of people despite his horrific first two seasons followed by a missed third season. He did bounce back, but it's not like his trade netted that much - Joe Kelly and what was left of Allen Craig. But his bounceback season netted a ring.

 

Consequently, JD Drew gave the Sox two good seasons on a five year deal, just like Lackey, but was never appreciated at all, despite playing for the same number of title teams. But Drew gt his ring in the first season and then nothing for the next 4.

 

I guess it's also in the timing.

 

Julio Lugo also won a ring here, but no one thinks he was a good signing...

[illinoisredsox]

Plus the Yanks have 109 homers in 57 road games and 109 homers in 64 home games, so they're actually hitting more of them on the road.

 

Road rate includes the 43 or whatever it was they hit at Camden Yards. They’re all done with Orioles, so the road home run rate figures to take a dive.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, and the question might be, why did the changed ball hurt our staff more than others?

 

We have a high K rate. I can understand Porcello, since he always let up a lot of HRs and fly balls, but why the whole staff?

 

The whole league has seen a higher ERA, but we've jumped way more than the norm.

 

There has to be other factors.

 

Yes, I would never suggest the woes of our big 3 can all be attributed to the baseball. It's a combo of numerous factors without a doubt.

[Bellhorn04]

Chris Sale in particular can be dominant in one start and shelled in the next. He reminds me of Clay Bucholz.

 

Maybe this year he does. But Chris Sale is vastly better than Clay.