Red Sox sign Benintendi to two-year deal

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Sox best starter is Eovaldi and the bullpen is lead by TBD. I don’t think Verdugo’s batting slot is a “make or break” decision for the 2020 season...

 

Sssshhhhh... ignore the elephantiasis in the room. Has four months without baseball -- leaving us to argue about other life-or-death issues -- taught you nothin, notin?

[mvp 78]

The Sox best starter is Eovaldi and the bullpen is lead by TBD. I don’t think Verdugo’s batting slot is a “make or break” decision for the 2020 season...

 

Did I say it was?

 

May as well not talk about anything guys! The Sox may be bad this year and notin thinks we shouldn’t talk about it because it doesn’t matter!

[Thunder]

Did I say it was?

 

May as well not talk about anything guys! The Sox may be bad this year and notin thinks we shouldn’t talk about it because it doesn’t matter!

 

Well s***. I was ready to debate lineups for the next 3 years

[moonslav59]

I am not big on flipping line ups based on right/left match ups, but I'm good with JD and Devers in the 2nd and 4th spots in either order. I pretty much agree with your line up other than the flipping.

 

They both have some pretty wide splits.

[Kimmi]

We are going to slug our way to the World Series!

 

The only reason our pitching looks so bad is because they are pitching against our offense which is that good!

[Kimmi]

They both have some pretty wide splits.

 

Flipping 2 players 2 spots will have an almost negligible effect.

[Thunder]

The only reason our pitching looks so bad is because they are pitching against our offense which is that good!

 

So what happens when we play the Yankees? Even you must be able to admit that their lineup is better than ours, right?

[moonslav59]

Flipping 2 players 2 spots will have an almost negligible effect.

 

I disagree.

 

If batting your best player 2nd matters, and you seem to imply it does, then why wouldn't these numbers matter, even if just a little?

 

Career OPS vs RHP

.871 Devers (.996 in 2019)

.861 JD M (.793 in 2019)

Career OPS vs LHP

.995 JD M (1.381 in 2019)

.750 Devers (.744 in 2019)

 

The 2019 differentials are huge! The differential vs LHPs is monumental.

 

Numbers when a righty or lefty starts:

Career:

Devers: .871/.737

JDM: .873/.948

2019:

Devers: 1.004/.728

JD M .853/1.116

 

I understand those who feel players get "comfortable" batting in just one slot, but I've never agreed with that.

 

[moonslav59]

So what happens when we play the Yankees? Even you must be able to admit that their lineup is better than ours, right?

 

We lose 60-70% of the games is my guess.

[Kimmi]

So what happens when we play the Yankees? Even you must be able to admit that their lineup is better than ours, right?

 

I will admit no such thing. They'll have to prove it.

[Kimmi]

I disagree.

 

If batting your best player 2nd matters, and you seem to imply it does, then why wouldn't these numbers matter, even if just a little?

 

Career OPS vs RHP

.871 Devers (.996 in 2019)

.861 JD M (.793 in 2019)

Career OPS vs LHP

.995 JD M (1.381 in 2019)

.750 Devers (.744 in 2019)

 

The 2019 differentials are huge! The differential vs LHPs is monumental.

 

Numbers when a righty or lefty starts:

Career:

Devers: .871/.737

JDM: .873/.948

2019:

Devers: 1.004/.728

JD M .853/1.116

 

I understand those who feel players get "comfortable" batting in just one slot, but I've never agreed with that.

 

 

The #2 slot had traditionally been the most neglected spot, so yes, it's important to have one of your best hitters in that slot. JD and Devers both fill that criteria.

 

That said, batting orders on the whole are not that important. Flipping 2 guys around 2 spots doesn't make enough of a difference to value splits over consistency in the line up.

[Thunder]

I will admit no such thing. They'll have to prove it.

 

Hey, I'm all for optimism, and usually am as optimistic as you. But, there's a difference between thinking we can compete and play well, and acknowledging that there are other good teams out there.

[moonslav59]

The #2 slot had traditionally been the most neglected spot, so yes, it's important to have one of your best hitters in that slot. JD and Devers both fill that criteria.

 

That said, batting orders on the whole are not that important. Flipping 2 guys around 2 spots doesn't make enough of a difference to value splits over consistency in the line up.

 

Any data to support "consistency in the line-up?"

 

I get the whole "the line-up makes little difference" position, but if putting your best hitter second is shown to help a little, I can't see why figuring their splits into the equation wouldn't matter, also, especially with the massive split differentials between Devers and JD.

 

I've never seen any studies done on players in a consistent batting slot vs being moved around. Most players have been moved around their whole baseball lives- just less and less as they advance to the majors. Even once in the majors, all but the very best players get jacked all over the place, and even many of the best of the best move between 2-3 slots over a season.

 

Prove me wrong.

[mvp 78]

So what happens when we play the Yankees? Even you must be able to admit that their lineup is better than ours, right?

 

Only 4 teams had over 900 runs last year. The Sox were one of them. Maybe the Yanks are marginally better, but it remains to be seen what effect a short season has.

[mvp 78]

Clearly pitching is a bigger issue.

[Kimmi]

Any data to support "consistency in the line-up?"

 

I get the whole "the line-up makes little difference" position, but if putting your best hitter second is shown to help a little, I can't see why figuring their splits into the equation wouldn't matter, also, especially with the massive split differentials between Devers and JD.

 

I've never seen any studies done on players in a consistent batting slot vs being moved around. Most players have been moved around their whole baseball lives- just less and less as they advance to the majors. Even once in the majors, all but the very best players get jacked all over the place, and even many of the best of the best move between 2-3 slots over a season.

 

Prove me wrong.

 

The data that I have says that switching the #2 and #4 slots will result in, at most, about a difference of 2 runs over the course of an entire 162 game season. Consensus seems to be that making such small line up changes would likely do more harm than good.

 

The effects of line up changes are so small that consensus also seems to be that you're better off alternating your batters L-R-L-R to avoid the opposing team being able to use a LOOGY. I expect that will be even more true with the 3 batter minimum.

[Kimmi]

Only 4 teams had over 900 runs last year. The Sox were one of them. Maybe the Yanks are marginally better, but it remains to be seen what effect a short season has.

 

!!!

[mvp 78]

The data that I have says that switching the #2 and #4 slots will result in, at most, about a difference of 2 runs over the course of an entire 162 game season. Consensus seems to be that making such small line up changes would likely do more harm than good.

 

The effects of line up changes are so small that consensus also seems to be that you're better off alternating your batters L-R-L-R to avoid the opposing team being able to use a LOOGY. I expect that will be even more true with the 3 batter minimum.

 

So maybe less than 1 run difference over 60 games?

[Kimmi]

So maybe less than 1 run difference over 60 games?

 

Yes, and that less than 1 run gain would likely be offset, maybe even into a net loss, by changing the order at the top of the lineup.