A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[mvp 78]

Is this true?

 

I've heard several different beat writers suggest it over the years.

[Bellhorn04]

MLB de-juiced the baseballs this year so it's a moot point anyway.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

MLB de-juiced the baseballs this year so it's a moot point anyway.

 

Is there any doubt that someday during Devers career that balls, bats or players will be juiced once again?

[moonslav59]

Bringing back an old can of worms...

 

Is this the difference maker?

 

2021 Spring Training IP

20.0 Perez

15.0 Eovaldi

13.2 Richards

13.2 ERod

13.0 Pivetta

10.2 Houck

 

2019

15.0 ERod

12.0 Porcello

10.2 Johnson

9.0 Sale

7.0 Eovaldi

6.2 Price

[Hitch]

Bringing back an old can of worms...

 

Is this the difference maker?

 

2021 Spring Training IP

20.0 Perez

15.0 Eovaldi

13.2 Richards

13.2 ERod

13.0 Pivetta

10.2 Houck

 

2019

15.0 ERod

12.0 Porcello

10.2 Johnson

9.0 Sale

7.0 Eovaldi

6.2 Price

 

Impossible to say with any certainty, but the '19 rotation did feel under-prepared.

[kenmeister]

Whatever happened to Johnson?

[mvp 78]

Whatever happened to Johnson?

 

Waived on 8/10/20. Nobody picked him up after. He's currently a FA.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

A slight disappointment it's not Eduardo, though.

 

When has their real names ever stopped us?

[notin]

I did not intend to make this political, but here in Houston, the city and county have been trying to decide what to do with the Astrodome for a long time.

 

The voters actually voted to tear it down, long ago, but they were ignored due to the enormous cost of demolition.

 

Is is strong enough to serve as a hurricane shelter?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

tidbits

 

I didn't realize double headers are 7 inning games....and we still get one extra player......

 

And he's Eduard Bazardo...love that we're getting to watch some youngsters....what a great name.

 

The Japanese reliever touched 97 today. I had heard rumors that he threw hard but I saw it on telecast. (for life of me I can't spell his name)

 

Great to see Dalbec go opposite way for two doubles. He must be watching JD.

 

Barnes only threw 14 pitches to get out of 9th. Over the years I've ragged on him for throwing 25-30 pitches.

 

Our #1 and #2 hitters have not been stellar...I guess it really doesn't matter where anyone hits in the order.

 

When did Twinkies take the top off their ballpark?

 

7 inning double headers are so minor league.

[moonslav59]

Is is strong enough to serve as a hurricane shelter?

 

I wouldn't trust it.

 

https://abc13.com/houston-astrodome-conservancy-public-feedback-campaign-beth-wiedower-jackson/10458907/

[notin]

A slight disappointment it's not Eduardo, though.

 

Yes, Eduardo Bazardo would be an all time classic name, even better than Cardinals' OF prospect Blake Drake...

[Maxbialystock]

Bringing back an old can of worms...

 

Is this the difference maker?

 

2021 Spring Training IP

20.0 Perez

15.0 Eovaldi

13.2 Richards

13.2 ERod

13.0 Pivetta

10.2 Houck

 

2019

15.0 ERod

12.0 Porcello

10.2 Johnson

9.0 Sale

7.0 Eovaldi

6.2 Price

 

I disagree. For one thing, the two rotations and the two situations are completely different.

 

The concern in 2019 was how badly Sale tailed off in 2018. He was a workhorse April thru July, but did not pitch more than 5 innings in a game for the rest of the season and postseason. A year after his truncated 2019 spring training, he needed tommy john surgery, so my guess is that they were already concerned in late 2018 and early 2019.

 

ERod, on the other hand, had not pitched much in 2018, so he got a normal spring training, which worked. And Porcello only pitched 3 fewer innings than ERod in ST and simply stunk in 2019, which he was always fully capable of doing.

 

Price threw the fewest ST innings in 2019, 6.2. But he had an OK April--five starts, 30 IP, 12 ER, ERA 3.60. He only pitched 17.2 innings in May and 24.2 innings in June. In July he had 6 starts, 30.1 innings, 14 walks, and 17 earned runs--and an ERA of 5. And that was it in 2019 for David Price. He pitched 2.2 innings in August and 2 innings in September. Let's ignore 2020 and note that this year Price is in the Dodgers bullpen where so far he has pitched 5.2 innings and given up 5 earned runs. So my guess is that 2019 ST and especially the 2019 regular season only reflected that Price was about washed up. He was proof positive that DD was short for dodo bird.

 

Eovaldi also pitched few innings, 7, in 2019 ST. He was great the previous (2018) September and October with 20 and 22.1 innings respectively and ERA's of 1.35 and 1.61. But he stunk in 2019, so maybe he could have used the full 15 or so innings on the 2019 ST--which, as you point out, is what was done this year with so far excellent results.

 

All of the above is based on a simple premise: I trust Alex Cora, who was the manager for both seasons, 2018 and 2019. Rumor has it he is back managing in the bigs this year, and I still trust him.

[moonslav59]

I disagree. For one thing, the two rotations and the two situations are completely different.

 

The concern in 2019 was how badly Sale tailed off in 2018. He was a workhorse April thru July, but did not pitch more than 5 innings in a game for the rest of the season and postseason. A year after his truncated 2019 spring training, he needed tommy john surgery, so my guess is that they were already concerned in late 2018 and early 2019.

 

ERod, on the other hand, had not pitched much in 2018, so he got a normal spring training, which worked. And Porcello only pitched 3 fewer innings than ERod in ST and simply stunk in 2019, which he was always fully capable of doing.

 

Price threw the fewest ST innings in 2019, 6.2. But he had an OK April--five starts, 30 IP, 12 ER, ERA 3.60. He only pitched 17.2 innings in May and 24.2 innings in June. In July he had 6 starts, 30.1 innings, 14 walks, and 17 earned runs--and an ERA of 5. And that was it in 2019 for David Price. He pitched 2.2 innings in August and 2 innings in September. Let's ignore 2020 and note that this year Price is in the Dodgers bullpen where so far he has pitched 5.2 innings and given up 5 earned runs. So my guess is that 2019 ST and especially the 2019 regular season only reflected that Price was about washed up. He was proof positive that DD was short for dodo bird.

 

Eovaldi also pitched few innings, 7, in 2019 ST. He was great the previous (2018) September and October with 20 and 22.1 innings respectively and ERA's of 1.35 and 1.61. But he stunk in 2019, so maybe he could have used the full 15 or so innings on the 2019 ST--which, as you point out, is what was done this year with so far excellent results.

 

All of the above is based on a simple premise: I trust Alex Cora, who was the manager for both seasons, 2018 and 2019. Rumor has it he is back managing in the bigs this year, and I still trust him.

 

I never had an issue with "Restgate."

[moonslav59]

Warning: Small Sample Size (10 games)

 

Team OPS by batter slots:

 

1-2: .624

2-6: 1.017

7-9: .652

 

11 games

NYY

.779

.455

.971

 

TOR

.800

.696

.514

 

Edited April 14, 2021 by moonslav59

[Nick]

Just not impressed with Kike. (trying to use reverse psychology to spur him on). I get it that he's Cora's 'guy' but I see nothing special about his hitting. Edited April 14, 2021 by Nick

[moonslav59]

Just not impressed with Kike. (trying to use reverse psychology to spur him on). I get it that he's Cora's 'guy' but I see nothing special about his hitting.

 

I thought we paid more than I expected for him, but he seemed like a great get, to me.

 

Time will tell.

[Nick]

I thought we paid more than I expected for him, but he seemed like a great get, to me.

 

Time will tell.

 

I like the guy.....just not sure he should be leading off...

[moonslav59]

I like the guy.....just not sure he should be leading off...

 

Maybe, later on, if and when he heats up, but I'd move him down, at least for a while.

[cp176]

i'm not really a band wagon jumper onner since I have been a fan since 1958, but got to say I'm beginning to like this Verdugo kid.

[Nick]

i'm not really a band wagon jumper onner since I have been a fan since 1958, but got to say I'm beginning to like this Verdugo kid.

 

He's a keeper....he oozes toughness...that ball got out there fast...

Edited April 14, 2021 by Nick

[Nick]

Whitlock with easy 6th inning....sure doesn't look like a rookie....He's a pitcher, not a thrower.

[Bellhorn04]

Whitlock with easy 6th inning....sure doesn't look like a rookie....He's a pitcher, not a thrower.

 

Absolutely brilliant get by Bloom.

[moonslav59]

His under the radar acquisitions sure seem much better than last year's, so far.

 

Whitlock

 

Andriese

 

Sawamura

 

Cordero

 

Bazardo

 

Renfroe

 

Some of last year's pick-ups are showing signs of getting better, including Arroyo.

 

Others are in the minors and may yet contribute.

[notin]

Just not impressed with Kike. (trying to use reverse psychology to spur him on). I get it that he's Cora's 'guy' but I see nothing special about his hitting.

 

Not sure why he is Cora's guy, considering this is the first year they have ever been on the same team. One would think Cora would be more partial to Marwin Gonzalez. (And IMO, he has been.)

[oldtimer]

His under the radar acquisitions sure seem much better than last year's, so far.

 

Whitlock

 

Andriese

 

Sawamura

 

Cordero

 

Bazardo

 

Renfroe

 

Some of last year's pick-ups are showing signs of getting better, including Arroyo.

 

Others are in the minors and may yet contribute.

 

Very encouraging to date. They may feed off each other gaining confidence in what they can do collectively.

[Nick]

Not sure why he is Cora's guy, considering this is the first year they have ever been on the same team. One would think Cora would be more partial to Marwin Gonzalez. (And IMO, he has been.)

 

Another poster has pointed out Kike and Cora have known each other since Kike was a little boy.

 

My issue is Cora appears to be forcing a square peg into round hole. Kike's never leadoff in his major league career until this year.

 

Cora has mentioned Kike's issues with chasing balls outside of strike zone in the past. Kike is only player who has played in all twelve games. He has more at bats than anyone else. His runs scored total is dismal 5 runs from the leading spot. He's tied for 7th place on the team.

 

He came into the first game, bases loaded, one out. First swing pop out to second baseman. Second game right before Verdugo's two run clutch single, again Kike is at bat with bases loaded and one out. He chased third strike off the plate. That's just not good hitting.

 

Yeah the sample size is small.

 

This is what I would say to Cora. Verdugo is in essence our leadoff batter because Kike is never on base when Verdugo comes to plate. How's that being a poor fan when the team is 9-3?

[moonslav59]

One could have scratched their heads over leading off Arroyo. His history is much worse than Kike's, but no complaints, yet- cause it worked.

 

Let's give Kike a chance.

 

I don't see him as a lead off hitter, but I see Arroyo as one, even less.

 

Cora knows what he's doing. It shows.

[Nick]

One could have scratched their heads over leading off Arroyo. His history is much worse than Kike's, but no complaints, yet- cause it worked.

 

Let's give Kike a chance.

 

I don't see him as a lead off hitter, but I see Arroyo as one, even less.

 

Cora knows what he's doing. It shows.

 

I like it when I'm wrong...that means it's good for the Sox.

[Hitch]

i'm not really a band wagon jumper onner since I have been a fan since 1958, but got to say I'm beginning to like this Verdugo kid.

 

He's making the Mookie trade look better by the day. If one of Downs or Wong comes through and becomes a significant player for us, it will be a win. This kid has got all the tools and the desire to be one of the best.