A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[Kimmi]

We all have to remember that no matter how much we know about baseball, or think we know about baseball, none of us is in a better position to make decisions about the team than Cora (or the FO) is. That doesn't mean that Cora won't make mistakes. But it does mean that he has very valid reasons for making the decisions that he makes, sometimes reasons that we may have no clue about.

 

It also doesn't mean that we can question his decisions. We all do that, some more than others.

 

For me, Cora has earned the benefit of the doubt (although I'm still not on board with Kike leading off.) In Cora we trust.

[moonslav59]

I was just thinking the same thing about our 7-8-9 hitters. We can easily bury Dalbec in the #9 hole, but trying to cover 3 spots in a row is a different story. I like having Arroyo and Gonzalez hitting 7 and 8. I think it's pretty much a given that Santana will up and Franchy will be down as soon as Santana is ready.

 

The context has to include the fact that nearly every team has sub .700 and even sub .500 and .400 hitters in their 7-8-9 slots.

 

We are not really losing ground due to our 7-8-9's being much worse than others, but it is an area we can improve on.

[moonslav59]

By my count, all but 2 (maybe 3) of the games that we've lost have been winnable. As frustrating as losing those close games is, it's really a good sign for the team. It's much better than getting blown out in losses. As I've posted many times, all teams, even the best teams, will be roughly .500 in the close games. It's a team's record in blowout games that is the true measure of the team's talent. Okay, maybe not a 'true' measure, but a much better measure. We are 6-2 (.750) in blowout games. Small sample, of course.

 

There are probably 6-7 games we won that were very loseable, so it's hard for me to harp on the ones that got away.

[Kimmi]

The context has to include the fact that nearly every team has sub .700 and even sub .500 and .400 hitters in their 7-8-9 slots.

 

We are not really losing ground due to our 7-8-9's being much worse than others, but it is an area we can improve on.

 

Fair point.

 

It's frustrating having a good chance to put up a big crooked number and having Dalbec and Renfroe strike out. Vazquez at least made contact.

 

That said, the Sox still scored 6 runs in that game and had plenty of baserunners (which is a good sign, despite them not scoring). The offense was not the problem in last night's game. The pitching just couldn't get it done.

[Kimmi]

There are probably 6-7 games we won that were very loseable, so it's hard for me to harp on the ones that got away.

 

It's the beauty of baseball. Randomness. That's why teams will be roughly .500 in close games. They can go either way on one bounce of the ball.

 

As long as the team is not continually getting blown away, we are in good shape. By comparison, we were 8-13 (.381) in blowouts last year.

[moonslav59]

Fair point.

 

It's frustrating having a good chance to put up a big crooked number and having Dalbec and Renfroe strike out. Vazquez at least made contact.

 

That said, the Sox still scored 6 runs in that game and had plenty of baserunners (which is a good sign, despite them not scoring). The offense was not the problem in last night's game. The pitching just couldn't get it done.

 

Renfroe finally gave us something. Too bad it wasn't enough.

 

Better luck, today!

[moonslav59]

Some numbers from the best teams in MLB, as of now...

 

7-8-9 OPS

 

KCR

.721

.726

.689

.725 from 7-9 slots, but .642 from 5 slot and .469 from 6 slot!

 

MIL

.778

.426

.566

(.640 7-9)

Also, .665 from 4 slot and .614 from 5 slot!

 

A's

.510

.539

.507

(.528 7-9, also .624 from 2 slot and .686 fro 4 slot.)

 

SFG

.606

.582

.414

(.612 7-7)

 

LAD

.706

.559

.531

(.658 7-9)

 

SOX

.461

.653

.427

(.522 7-7 and .648 from 6 slot.)

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

he has very valid reasons for making the decisions that he makes, sometimes reasons that we may have no clue about.

 

It also doesn't mean that we can question his decisions. We all do that, some more than others.

 

 

Excellent point on having "no clue" that is often understandably overlooked by fans... ballclubs intentionally withhold certain info that may be used against them by opponents (especially injuries).

 

But I think because teams don't make all info available to the public, that we CAN question decisions... on the surface. Of course, they could care less what fans think (as long as we keep spending our entertainment dollars on them).

[Nick]

Right, because a kid who has thrown 0 innings above AA (and only 70 innings at that level) should be thrown to the wolves ASAP. And if he failed, you’d have been the first one with the pitchfork saying why did we take this schmuck.

 

Let’s see what happens when he hits a rough patch (he will) and how he reacts before we anoint him Pedro’s successor, okay?

 

YOU butted into my post.

 

YOU make up s*** that I'd be first to criticize if Whitlock situation went south. You're assuming what I do or won't. You made that s*** up.

 

I am resolute on my opinion on Whitlock.

 

Here's a idea for you, why don't you put me on ignore?

[illinoisredsox]

YOU butted into my post.

 

YOU make up s*** that I'd be first to criticize if Whitlock situation went south. You're assuming what I do or won't. You made that s*** up.

 

I am resolute on my opinion on Whitlock.

 

Here's a idea for you, why don't you put me on ignore?

 

Well, since you asked so nicely, NO.

 

Actually, I use ignore for posters who post complete drivel; you don’t do that.

 

You may, however, think about developing a thicker skin. Feel free to have the last word.

[oldtimer]

The context has to include the fact that nearly every team has sub .700 and even sub .500 and .400 hitters in their 7-8-9 slots.

 

We are not really losing ground due to our 7-8-9's being much worse than others, but it is an area we can improve on.

 

That is what I believe we should do. When a player is struggling as much as Codero has, it's time to look for alternatives. Is he 0 for 30 something with many strikeouts. Putting someone in that is 6 for 30, a pretty weak performance, might well give us an extra win. I don't believe the FO should sit on it's hands when there is an obvious problem. I do agree that I don't know all the behind the scenes issues involved, but when the problem is so obvious, why not act to correct it.

[Maxbialystock]

By my count, all but 2 (maybe 3) of the games that we've lost have been winnable. As frustrating as losing those close games is, it's really a good sign for the team. It's much better than getting blown out in losses. As I've posted many times, all teams, even the best teams, will be roughly .500 in the close games. It's a team's record in blowout games that is the true measure of the team's talent. Okay, maybe not a 'true' measure, but a much better measure. We are 6-2 (.750) in blowout games. Small sample, of course.

 

Good points.

[Swiharts Ghost]

That is what I believe we should do. When a player is struggling as much as Codero has, it's time to look for alternatives. Is he 0 for 30 something with many strikeouts. Putting someone in that is 6 for 30, a pretty weak performance, might well give us an extra win. I don't believe the FO should sit on it's hands when there is an obvious problem. I do agree that I don't know all the behind the scenes issues involved, but when the problem is so obvious, why not act to correct it.

 

This is very logical .I would DFA and not give a rip .

[Maxbialystock]

I read a lot and reports coming out on him have been excellent from get go. The way he has carried himself has impressed among others our esteem manager Cora. Everyone is high on his stuff and his ability to challenge hitters. Reports praise his command of strike zone. To me that's the big tell with young pitchers. Walks per nine innings.

 

Unlike you, I don't just make s*** up. He has succeeded in each of his outings. I've never compared him to Pedro.

 

I don't think you should hide talent. I just like to see more of Whitlock.

 

I'm confused by two things: your temper/language; your assumption that no one else has anything useful to say about Whitlock.

 

We would have to be blind not see how effective he has been this season. But, as someone else said, he's coming off Tommy John surgery (July 2019), which can be tricky. On top of that, Bloom gambled in December by making him a rule 5 draft pick, which means he must remain on the Boston Red Sox active roster this entire season. Given that, I think Cora has every reason to be cautious about how often and for how long he uses Whitlock.

 

Thus your argument that Whitlock's talent--which we have all seen clearly--shouldn't be hidden is specious.

[oldtimer]

This is very logical .I would DFA and not give a rip .

 

He is 1 for 22 since April 19th and has only been in the lineup when the situation was favorable to his left handed bat.

[notin]

I'm confused by two things: your temper/language; your assumption that no one else has anything useful to say about Whitlock.

 

We would have to be blind not see how effective he has been this season. But, as someone else said, he's coming off Tommy John surgery (July 2019), which can be tricky. On top of that, Bloom gambled in December by making him a rule 5 draft pick, which means he must remain on the Boston Red Sox active roster this entire season. Given that, I think Cora has every reason to be cautious about how often and for how long he uses Whitlock.

 

Thus your argument that Whitlock's talent--which we have all seen clearly--shouldn't be hidden is specious.

 

That is one solid point about Whitlock that cannot be said about Taylor or Valdez - Whitlock cannot be demoted to work things out. (And a time will come when he struggles and maybe needs to tinker. Don't kid yourself.). So yes, he is probably going to stay hidden a little more often than some might like...

[jacksonianmarch]

Whitlock is being used as if he will have a bigger role in future seasons. They’re sacrificing his roster spot for the future development of the player. That’s what Rule V is. Just so happens the guy has performed incredibly well. Long term, I think Whitlock ends up in your rotation but I think the Sox are terrified that they’ll f*** up a good thing. Whitlock has good stuff in the minors, but it’s ticked up tremendously out of the pen and post TJs

[moonslav59]

That is what I believe we should do. When a player is struggling as much as Codero has, it's time to look for alternatives. Is he 0 for 30 something with many strikeouts. Putting someone in that is 6 for 30, a pretty weak performance, might well give us an extra win. I don't believe the FO should sit on it's hands when there is an obvious problem. I do agree that I don't know all the behind the scenes issues involved, but when the problem is so obvious, why not act to correct it.

Someone has to go oh for 30 or whatever first. Then, a manager acts, but sometimes it’s not that simple.

 

It seems simple, now, with Cordero. I’d just play Marwin in the OF until Santana is ready.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Someone has to go oh for 30 or whatever first. Then, a manager acts, but sometimes it’s not that simple.

 

It seems simple, now, with Cordero. I’d just play Marwin in the OF until Santana is ready.

 

 

If Marwin plays left, then he can't catch Cordero's throw "home" that almost reached first base yesterday (what, did Cordero think he was supposed to throw it to Brock Holt's home in Fort Worth?).

[oldtimer]

Someone has to go oh for 30 or whatever first. Then, a manager acts, but sometimes it’s not that simple.

 

It seems simple, now, with Cordero. I’d just play Marwin in the OF until Santana is ready.

 

 

That is a creative solution. At least it is better than playing Codero.

[notin]

Someone has to go oh for 30 or whatever first. Then, a manager acts, but sometimes it’s not that simple.

 

It seems simple, now, with Cordero. I’d just play Marwin in the OF until Santana is ready.

 

 

Cordero has been given a longer leash than Benintendi got last year, and has managed to be less productive. Two big reasons might be 1) no minor league to demote him down to for April, and 2) a lack of alternatives on the 40 man roster. The only other outfielders are Marcus Wilson and Jeisson Rosario, and neither is likely to get called up.

 

They probably won't DFA Cordero after one month. But if they want to try another minor league outfielder like Duran or Gettys or Santana, someone does have to be removed from the 40 man roster to accomodate him. They can use Marwin Gonzalez or Kike Hernandez in the interim, but if someone else is coming up, someone first has to go.

 

And if it isn't Cordero, then who?

[mvp 78]

Cordero has been given a longer leash than Benintendi got last year, and has managed to be less productive. Two big reasons might be 1) no minor league to demote him down to for April, and 2) a lack of alternatives on the 40 man roster. The only other outfielders are Marcus Wilson and Jeisson Rosario, and neither is likely to get called up.

 

They probably won't DFA Cordero after one month. But if they want to try another minor league outfielder like Duran or Gettys or Santana, someone does have to be removed from the 40 man roster to accomodate him. They can use Marwin Gonzalez or Kike Hernandez in the interim, but if someone else is coming up, someone first has to go.

 

And if it isn't Cordero, then who?

 

They should have given Chavis LF reps in Spring Training. Not sure why they only stuck him in the IF.

[mvp 78]

This is very logical .I would DFA and not give a rip .

 

You can just option him to AAA, DFA Brice/Valdez/Taylor and call up Chavis/Puello.

[notin]

You can just option him to AAA, DFA Brice/Valdez/Taylor and call up Chavis/Puello.

 

Even though I’ve been critical of Valdez, I don’t think he’s a candidate to the same extent as Brice or Taylor. Colten Brewer might be DFA’d before Valdez...

[moonslav59]

Santana is going to be added to the 40 man and Cordero will be sent down. I’ve given up trying to predict who gets DFAd since I keep saying Brice over and over. I’m not sure it really matters who we cut loose. Our bottom 3-4 guys are all easily replaceable.

[notin]

They should have given Chavis LF reps in Spring Training. Not sure why they only stuck him in the IF.

 

Chavis seems to be in No Man’s Land.

 

Not given a chance at a wide open 2b. Not given a chance to be a more versatile utility player. And really not good enough of a past to be adequate trade bait.

 

Have they given up on him at age 25?

[jad]

What's happened to Valdez, who was pitching a lot better than those who have been run out there in the last few games?

[notin]

Santana is going to be added to the 40 man and Cordero will be sent down. I’ve given up trying to predict who gets DFAd since I keep saying Brice over and over. I’m not sure it really matters who we cut loose. Our bottom 3-4 guys are all easily replaceable.

 

 

I’ll make a prediction - Marcus Wilson.

 

Brewer is another candidate, but minimum wage pitchers with MLB experience are probably the least likely candidates to clear waivers. And as they are already on the active roster, one has to think Brice, Taylor and Valdez are ranked ahead of Brewer...

[Bellhorn04]

What's happened to Valdez, who was pitching a lot better than those who have been run out there in the last few games?

 

Good question that I can't answer. He hasn't pitched since April 24.

[moonslav59]

I’ll make a prediction - Marcus Wilson.

 

Brewer is another candidate, but minimum wage pitchers with MLB experience are probably the least likely candidates to clear waivers. And as they are already on the active roster, one has to think Brice, Taylor and Valdez are ranked ahead of Brewer...

 

The only argument against Wilson being that guy is our near total lack of OF depth.