A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[moonslav59]

As I said in the last game thread this Cora's kike-whim nonsense at leadoff has to stop. Put Arroyo there for once and for all.

 

Also Kike shouldn't play everyday. He is not an everyday player. He has never been.

 

Arroyo’s nice OBP numbers are a small sample size. That’s the only reason I can see for not putting him there. It’s not a bad reason, really, but it were up to me, Arroyo would have been leading off since his return from the IL.

 

BTW, Arroyo’s OBP is .261 over the last 7 days and .318 the last 14.

 

Renfroe has had a very high OBP, lately.

 

Maybe this is best:

 

Vertigo

Renfroe

JD

Bogey

Devers

??? Dalbec???

[moonslav59]

Had we signed Betts to 10 YR $400M deal, we would not be having this discussion about the leadoff hitter.

 

Or any future significant signings. We’d still only have 4 good hitters, too. I’m

[Nick]

Crawford’s return from Tommy John

 

Kutter Crawford, a 25-year-old righty, has a 3.54 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and .200 batting average against in five start for Double-A Portland as he returns this season from Tommy John surgery.

 

He has allowed either 0 runs or 1 run in four of his five starts. He has four walks and 25 strikeouts in 20 ⅓ innings (1.8 walks per nine innings, 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings).

 

Red Sox pitching prospect Josh Winckowski said he’s impressed with how Crawford approaches the game and his calmness on the mound.

 

 

“His mechanics, I love watching him pitch, specifically his lower half. That’s kind of something I’ve been taking note of,” Winckowski said. “He controls the game really well and he mixes his pitches really good. I’ve heard after Tommy John he’s kind of like transformed his body and gotten into way better shape. So it’s been really exciting to see him do well this year. I think he’s got really good stuff and he knows how to use it.”

 

The righty throws a fastball, changeup, curveball and cutter. Like Chris Sale, he is a Florida Gulf Coast University alum. He was a 16th-round pick in 2017 — but he’s not pitching like the 491st overall pick. He has a 3.38 ERA in 52 minor league starts.

 

Per MassLive.....Great name for a pitcher....

 

“The hitters, it feels like they generally don’t have a shot,” Winckowski said. “Generally, it feels like a few things have to go wrong for Kutter to give up some runs.

[Nick]

Boston Red Sox prospect Brayan Bello’s fastball has reached triple-digits and his changeup plays with ‘really good arm speed,’ late fade

 

It's subscriber based so I won't post it.

 

A 22 year old Dominican Republic native.

 

He began the season as #24 prospect, now up to #9.

 

Throws plus changeup and also a slider.

 

Signed as 5-10, 150 lbs, now up to 6-1 and 170 lbs.

 

Promoted to Double A from High A during 2021.

[Bellhorn04]

Also Kike shouldn't play everyday. He is not an everyday player. He has never been.

 

Have to disagree with the last part.

 

2018 - 6th in PA on Dodgers

2019 - 6th in PA

2020 - 8th in PA

[Nick]

Have to disagree with the last part.

 

2018 - 6th in PA on Dodgers

2019 - 6th in PA

2020 - 8th in PA

 

I don't have any issues with Kike playing. Just leading off but that's not his fault. It's not like he went to Cora and said I only want to bat leadoff.

[Nick]

It'll be interesting to see if Chavis will get some at bats. Dalbec had two hits last night so that was good.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't have any issues with Kike playing. Just leading off but that's not his fault. It's not like he went to Cora and said I only want to bat leadoff.

 

He didn't say only leadoff but he did say he liked leadoff.

[moonslav59]

Have to disagree with the last part.

 

2018 - 6th in PA on Dodgers

2019 - 6th in PA

2020 - 8th in PA

 

You don’t play that much for a team like the Dodgers unless you earned it.

 

Just because he was never FT at one position does not mean he’s not or cannot be a FT player.

 

He’s had a rough start, this year. Maybe it’s the start of a decline, but maybe not.

[iortiz]

I’m more old school when it comes to line-ups and was very surprised to find out the 3rd slot was the 5th most important line up slot.

 

My 3rd bat has to have great power AND good-to-great discipline (i.e. 340+ OBP). Devers is a natural 3rd bat in my book. Also his speed is good. He can even steal bases at times if needed.

 

Renfore is a great fit at the 5th slot in my lineup. Lot of PWR with competitive BA but not great discipline.

 

Verdugo is a natural leadoff bat. He has speed, has a good jump to steal bases, and has great BA and OBP with a plus; he has pop as well. He could become a super star and close to what a five-tool-player is in the near future —Mookie-type of player.

 

Xander is a perfect fit at the 2nd slot in my book. I want someone at my 2nd slot with the best BA, period. I want someone who hits and hits a lot. Xander is very good at that. Also, the second slot needs good speed, not great but good enough to run 2 bases without major problems. Xander can do that.

 

JD is a natural 4th bat. Elite PWR, with good-to-great BA and discipline. Thing is JD has it all regarding the bat and he is not that slow.

Edited June 16, 2021 by iortiz

[Bellhorn04]

That's the thing about leading off. I think a hitter has to actually want that role.

 

Even my daughter has told me she hates leading off, because she would rather be in the on deck circle to see what the opposing pitching is actually throwing during games. I have to imagine MLB hitters - far more attentive to detail than an 8th grader - also like to have a chance to watch the opposing pitcher against an actual hitter to get timing down, see what the pitches are, etc...

 

Now here is some useful background info.

[iortiz]

My 3rd bat has to have great power AND good-to-great discipline (i.e. 340+ OBP). Devers is a natural 3rd bat in my book. Also his speed is good. He can even steal bases at times if needed.

 

Renfore is a great fit at the 5th slot in my lineup. Lot of PWR with competitive BA but not great discipline.

 

Verdugo is a natural leadoff bat. He has speed, has a good jump to steal bases, and has great BA and OBP with a plus; he has pop as well. He could become a super star and close to what a five-tool-player is in the near future —Mookie-type of player.

 

Xander is a perfect fit at the 2nd slot in my book. I want someone at my 2nd slot with the best BA, period. I want someone who hits and hits a lot. Xander is very good at that. Also, the second slot needs good speed, not great but good enough to run 2 bases without major problems. Xander can do that.

 

JD is natural 4th bat. Elite PWR, with good-to-great BA and discipline. Thing is JD has it all regarding the bat and he is not that slow.

 

Said that I would go

 

Verdugo

Xander

Devers

JD

Renfroe

[Bellhorn04]

Another tidbit on leadoff hitters.

 

The pesky Rays have climbed to 7th in runs scored in MLB.

 

Their manager Cash is probably one of the stat-nerdiest of all managers.

 

In recent games his leadoff hitter has been Margot, who has an OBP of .283.

[iortiz]

Have to disagree with the last part.

 

2018 - 6th in PA on Dodgers

2019 - 6th in PA

2020 - 8th in PA

 

 

The Dodgers suffered a lot of injuries and Kike is a good utility piece; he can play a lot of positions at very decent level. IMO he can do a terrific job coming from the bench like he did in the Dodgers, but I still believe he is not an everyday player.

[Bellhorn04]

The Dodgers suffered a lot of injuries and Kike is a good utility piece; he can play a lot of positions at very decent level. IMO he can do a terrific job coming from the bench like he did in the Dodgers, but I still believe he is not an everyday player.

 

This is the way Bloom constructed the 2021 team, though.

[Nick]

Random Stats

 

Average on base per game (H, BB, IBB, HBP) 12 per game

 

Record with 12 or more on base 28-3

Record with less than 12 on base 13-24

 

I have no idea what the hell this means.....Maybe it just says our pitching has been pretty good.

[Nick]

Now here is some useful background info.

 

I bet the leadoff hitter for Sox has more information on opposing starter than notin's daughter.

[iortiz]

This is the way Bloom constructed the 2021 team, though.

 

Yeah, I have no problem with that but would you rather to have in the line up Arroyo or Kike, regardless the leadoff thing?

 

Give Arroyo a chance to play everyday, at least a month. IMO he has better stuff all-in-all (Bat, glove, speed) than Kike.

Edited June 16, 2021 by iortiz

[Bellhorn04]

I bet the leadoff hitter for Sox has more information on opposing starter than notin's daughter.

 

Information is one thing. Seeing live pitches is another. I think it's a credible reason that some guys don't like hitting leadoff.

[Bellhorn04]

Another tidbit on leadoff hitters.

 

The pesky Rays have climbed to 7th in runs scored in MLB.

 

Their manager Cash is probably one of the stat-nerdiest of all managers.

 

In recent games his leadoff hitter has been Margot, who has an OBP of .283.

 

Any response to this one, Nick?

[moonslav59]

Any response to this one, Nick?

 

That's still better than Kike, and he's been around .300 the last week to month ago.

 

Kike is getting worse.

 

.328 in May

 

.241 in June

 

.255 last 28 days

[Nick]

Any response to this one, Nick?

 

I like to think we're deeper in terms of offensive arsenal than the Rays.

 

I just don't see any difference moving our 2-5 to 1-4 spots. None whatsoever.

 

Perhaps Verduo, Xander, JD and Devers have all approached Cora and said no f***ing way.

[moonslav59]

I think everyone would rather have Verdugo leading off than Arroyo/Kike, but that choice affects another slot, too.

 

Devers is way better than Renfroe in the 5 slot, and Renfroe is way better than _____ in the 6 slot, and so on.

 

The analytics show the 5 slot is way more important than the 1 slot, and the our 3 slot is really the slot to make an adjustment before addressing the 1 slot.

 

For arguments sake, how would posters slot our 4 best hitters if these were the only slots open?

 

1. _____

2. _____

 

4. _____

5. ____

 

I'd go...

 

1. Verdugo

2. Bogey

 

4. JD

5. Devers

 

Swapping Devers and JD makes sense, too.

Batting Devers 2nd vs RHPs might be best.

 

The modern method would slot Renfroe 3rd, but I'm not really all that okay with that. It would keep the line-up lengthened and actually might work better than having the 4 in a row 2-3-4-5 or 1-2-3-4.

 

Renfroe's OBP has been super-duper good, of late.

.440 last 7 days

.396 last 14

.407 last 28

.317 in 2021/ .293 career

 

If we want best recent OBP up first, this could work:

1. Renfroe

2. Verdugo

3. Bogey

4. JD

5. Devers

(or flip JD and Bogey)

 

 

[notin]

I’m more old school when it comes to line-ups and was very surprised to find out the 3rd slot was the 5th most important line up slot.

 

 

Most likely hitter in the lineup to come up with 2 outs and no one on base…

[Nick]

Most likely hitter in the lineup to come up with 2 outs and no one on base…

 

Really good point....

[a700hitter]

Another tidbit on leadoff hitters.

 

The pesky Rays have climbed to 7th in runs scored in MLB.

 

Their manager Cash is probably one of the stat-nerdiest of all managers.

 

In recent games his leadoff hitter has been Margot, who has an OBP of .283.

He’s also the guy who took out Snell in the World Series when he was cruising with a low pitch count based on the third time through the order mumbo jumbo. That worked didn’t work out too well.

[Nick]

Rodriguez lasted just four innings, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of manager Alex Cora.

 

“We had a five-run lead and you saw what happened,” Cora said. “He had the bottom of the lineup and he didn’t do the job. I think, early on, he established his fastball and he did a good job. But then, he wasn’t able to execute.”

 

Remarkably, Rodriguez now owns a 7.63 ERA (37 earned runs in 43 ⅔ innings) in nine starts dating back to May 1 and been lifted before the fifth inning in four of his last five outings.

 

Cora has always been tough on E Rod. He doesn't baby him.

[notin]

I bet the leadoff hitter for Sox has more information on opposing starter than notin's daughter.

 

I bet the Sox hitters have more need for it as well.

 

The point is the leadoff hitter has the least opportunity to watch the opposing pitcher throw. A lot of hitters might not like that.

 

Kike, apparently, doesn’t care…

[mvp 78]

@ChrisCotillo

The Ryan Weber era is over. Brewers have claimed him off waivers.

[moonslav59]

@ChrisCotillo

The Ryan Weber era is over. Brewers have claimed him off waivers.

 

Great News!