A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

Not complaining but..

 

Can someone with pitching background explain to me how the Sox is stretching out Whitlock? He pitched 2 innings on May 7th. He's pitching into 3rd inning tonight.

 

Do you get stretched out throwing in the pen? Two innings every 6 days does not seem to be 'stretching' in my opinion.

 

How do you stretch out a guy?

 

Or is everything about Whitlock being on the team simply because of Rule 5 and the team is just babying him due to his recent injury?

 

I just think he's being under utilized.

 

He threw 52 pitches last night, his second highest total of the year.

 

I understand your questions, and I can't really tell you what the plan is.

 

I'm just thrilled that he continues to pitch well, and to contribute to the overall success of the staff, and I'm comfortable that they know what they're doing.

 

But I'm somewhat of a Pollyanna about Bloom and Cora, perhaps.

[moonslav59]

He threw 52 pitches last night, his second highest total of the year.

 

I understand your questions, and I can't really tell you what the plan is.

 

I'm just thrilled that he continues to pitch well, and to contribute to the overall success of the staff, and I'm comfortable that they know what they're doing.

 

But I'm somewhat of a Pollyanna about Bloom and Cora, perhaps.

 

They could also be giving him longer throwing sessions in practice and maybe moving towards the throwing routine of SP'ers.

 

They are going slow, as they should. The last thing we want to do is jerk this kid around and put him in situations where he may not be successful.

 

His innings will surely be limited, this season, so I'm not sure why quickly boosting his IP, right now, is the right idea?

 

Do we want him to reach his limit by August or September 1st of by season's end?

 

Another issue is this: say we get him to the point where he is ready to start a game, but our 5 starters are still pitching well. Do we start a piggy-backing rotation slot? Do we send a starter to the pen?

[Bellhorn04]

If we play this 14 game stretch at .500, it's hard to imagine doing that through June & July.

 

One game, one day at a time, that's my philosophy.

[Bellhorn04]

They could also be giving him longer throwing sessions in practice and maybe moving towards the throwing routine of SP'ers.

 

They are going slow, as they should. The last thing we want to do is jerk this kid around and put him in situations where he may not be successful.

 

His innings will surely be limited, this season, so I'm not sure why quickly boosting his IP, right now, is the right idea?

 

Do we want him to reach his limit by August or September 1st of by season's end?

 

Another issue is this: say we get him to the point where he is ready to start a game, but our 5 starters are still pitching well. Do we start a piggy-backing rotation slot? Do we send a starter to the pen?

 

I honestly think they have all that figured out, as much as it's possible to do so.

[Bellhorn04]

Whitlock has given up only 3 walks in his first 20.1 major league innings. That is phenomenal.

[moonslav59]

I honestly think they have all that figured out, as much as it's possible to do so.

 

I agree. Even if they end up using Whitlock as a 4-5 IP RP'er every 5-7 days, I'm fine with that.

 

It would fill a big need and give our whole pen a day off here and there,assuming he's rolling along. It will also get him the 120 IP or so, they likely want him to get.

 

I trust Bloom & Cora know what they are doing long term.

[moonslav59]

One game, one day at a time, that's my philosophy.

 

That's the player philosophy, and if we win one day at a time, all will be well.

[Bellhorn04]

I like the way the team is handling Dalbec too. He's had to sit some games, but they're not burying him. He's getting his chances.

 

I kind of salivate at the thought of both Dalbec and Chavis in the lineup and both hitting. That sure would boost the offense.

[mvp 78]

Whitlock has given up only 3 walks in his first 20.1 major league innings. That is phenomenal.

 

6.43 ERA in May!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thunder]

I like the way the team is handling Dalbec too. He's had to sit some games, but they're not burying him. He's getting his chances.

 

I kind of salivate at the thought of both Dalbec and Chavis in the lineup and both hitting. That sure would boost the offense.

 

I would not be opposed to seeing them both in the lineup more regularly. In fact, send Arroyo down if you have to.

[mvp 78]

I would not be opposed to seeing them both in the lineup more regularly. In fact, send Arroyo down if you have to.

 

No, Arroyo is much better than Chavis. It's not really even close when you factor in D.

[Thunder]

No, Arroyo is much better than Chavis. It's not really even close when you factor in D.

 

Chavis is a human sparkplug. Case and point: the leadoff hustle double last night. He brought instant energy to the ballpark. He's worth having on the roster to me, and you can't really have both Arroyo and Chavis up here

[moonslav59]

I would not be opposed to seeing them both in the lineup more regularly. In fact, send Arroyo down if you have to.

 

Arroyo was doing well, and he allowed Kike to play the OF, which limited Cordero's PAs.

 

I think Chavis sharing time at 2B, 1B and DH could get him enough PAs.

 

Here's the interesting thing- both Chavis & Arroyo do not have big split differentials, so Chavis could play 1B vs some or many RHPs and 2B vs all LHPs. Dlabec sist vs tough righties. Arroyo sits vs all LH'd starters.

 

Career splits:

 

vs RHPs:

.729 Chavis

.676 Arroyo (.888 in 2020)

.622 Dalbec

 

vs LHPs

1.020 Dalbec

.736 Chavis

.629 Arroyo

 

Another benefit of this is being able to use Kike and Marwin almost exclusively in the OF. Demote Cordero, so he can play everyday at AAA.

 

I would not replace Arroyo with Santana, so if Chavis keeps doing well, and Arroyo and Kike come off the IL as planned, Santana may get squeezed out of his ML slot that seemed to be ready for him just days ago.

Edited May 14, 2021 by moonslav59

[Thunder]

Arroyo was doing well, and he allowed Kike to play the OF, which limited Cordero's PAs.

 

I think Chavis sharing time at 2B, 1B and DH could get him enough PAs.

 

Here's the interesting thing- both Chavis & Arroyo do not have big split differentials, so Chavis could play 1B vs some or many RHPs and 2B vs all LHPs. Dlabec sist vs tough righties. Arroyo sits vs all LH'd starters.

 

Career splits:

 

vs RHPs:

.729 Chavis

.676 Arroyo (.888 in 2020)

.622 Dalbec

 

vs LHPs

1.020 Dalbec

.736 Chavis

.629 Arroyo

 

Another benefit of this is being able to use Kike and Marwin almost exclusively in the OF. Demote Cordero, so he can play everyday at AAA.

 

I would not replace Arroyo with Santana, so if Chavis keeps doing well, and Arroyo and Kike come off the IL as planned, Santana may get squeezed out of his ML slot that seemed to be ready for him just days ago.

 

My ideal everyday lineup (by position - not by place in the batting order) would look like this:

 

Verdugo LF

Kike CF

Renfroe RF

Dalbec 1B

Chavis 2B

Xander SS

Devers 3B

Vazquez C

Martinez DH

 

 

Against a tough LHP:

Verdugo has been sitting against them so far, so put JD in LF

If Devers sits, put Marwin at 3B

 

Against a tough RHP:

Chavis at 1B for Dalbec

Arroyo at 2B

 

 

Cora can put Marwin in wherever he wants depending on who he wants to give a day off to.

 

In this hypothetical, Franchy has been demoted

[moonslav59]

My ideal everyday lineup (by position - not by place in the batting order) would look like this:

 

Verdugo LF

Kike CF

Renfroe RF

Dalbec 1B

Chavis 2B

Xander SS

Devers 3B

Vazquez C

Martinez DH

 

 

Against a tough LHP:

Verdugo has been sitting against them so far, so put JD in LF

If Devers sits, put Marwin at 3B

 

Against a tough RHP:

Chavis at 1B for Dalbec

Arroyo at 2B

 

 

Cora can put Marwin in wherever he wants depending on who he wants to give a day off to.

 

In this hypothetical, Franchy has been demoted

 

Arroyo is better vs RHPs than Dalbec. Marwin, too.

 

I'm not for straight platooning Dalbec, as he'd only start 20-25% of the games, but he's not one of our best 9 hitters vs RHPs.

[Thunder]

Arroyo is better vs RHPs than Dalbec. Marwin, too.

 

I'm not for straight platooning Dalbec, as he'd only start 20-25% of the games, but he's not one of our best 9 hitters vs RHPs.

 

I agree; that's not what I meant to imply. I just really want to see Chavis get more playing time. I can't watch games, but on the radio, they have been saying how hungry and determined Chavis looks this year.

[mvp 78]

Chavis is a human sparkplug. Case and point: the leadoff hustle double last night. He brought instant energy to the ballpark. He's worth having on the roster to me, and you can't really have both Arroyo and Chavis up here

 

Chavis can't field for s***. He's a mediocre 1B at best. He's a butcher at 2B and doesn't replace Arroyo.

 

Arroyo is just a damn good baseball player who can handle the bat and can go the other way to get a run in.

[moonslav59]

I agree; that's not what I meant to imply. I just really want to see Chavis get more playing time. I can't watch games, but on the radio, they have been saying how hungry and determined Chavis looks this year.

 

I'm not a big Chavis fan. I must have traded him 100 times on the BTV site, but I've said all along, he deserves at least one more long look at the big league level, and we should go out of our way to get him that chance in 2021.

 

I wanted him on the opening day roster (no 14 pitchers.) I wanted him called up numerous times.

 

I want him playing nearly everyday, now.

 

I'm with you on this.

[mvp 78]

@SoxNotes

AL leaders in extra-base hits:

 

1. Shohei Ohtani (LAA) – 21

T2. Xander Bogaerts (BOS) – 20

T2. Rafael Devers (BOS) – 20

T2. J.D. Martinez (BOS) – 20

 

This is only the third time the Sox have had 3 players record 20+ XBH in the team’s first 40 games (also 2000 & 2016).

[Bellhorn04]

@SoxNotes

AL leaders in extra-base hits:

 

1. Shohei Ohtani (LAA) – 21

T2. Xander Bogaerts (BOS) – 20

T2. Rafael Devers (BOS) – 20

T2. J.D. Martinez (BOS) – 20

 

This is only the third time the Sox have had 3 players record 20+ XBH in the team’s first 40 games (also 2000 & 2016).

 

Pretty good in a pitching-dominated 2021 season.

[Bellhorn04]

6.43 ERA in May!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

When we pick the sourest cherries LOL

[moonslav59]

No doubt, we have maybe the leagues best 4 combined hitters.

 

We need to find ways to improve the other 5, or spread out our 4 best hitters a little more.

 

The theory is the 3 slot is not as valuable as the other top 5 slots, so maybe we need to try someone else there (Renfroe v LHPs and Vaz or Chavis vs RHPs?). Then, we need to slot someone else in the top 6 slots. Where and who, I don't know.

 

Maybe....

 

Verdugo

Hernandez

Renfroe/Chavis

Bogey

JD

Devers

?

?

?

 

I'm not saying I want this to happen, but maybe it would "lengthen" our line-up.

[Bellhorn04]

No doubt, we have maybe the leagues best 4 combined hitters.

 

We need to find ways to improve the other 5, or spread out our 4 best hitters a little more.

 

The theory is the 3 slot is not as valuable as the other top 5 slots, so maybe we need to try someone else there (Renfroe v LHPs and Vaz or Chavis vs RHPs?). Then, we need to slot someone else in the top 6 slots. Where and who, I don't know.

 

I don't think Cora subscribes to that theory. He's got JDM penciled into that spot.

[moonslav59]

When we pick the sourest cherries LOL

 

Add 2 more games:

 

11.1 IP

3.18 ERA

14 H

3 BB (1 HBP)

10K

.878 OPS Against

[moonslav59]

I don't think Cora subscribes to that theory. He's got JDM penciled into that spot.

 

It looks that way, and for the longest time, I used to argue you start filling out your line-up card by putting your best overall hitter 3rd.

 

Then, your best power hitter 4th.

Your best OBP first.

Your next best power hitter 5th.

Your next best OBP guy 2nd.

[mvp 78]

When we pick the sourest cherries LOL

 

You can't deny the stats.............

[mvp 78]

Add 2 more games:

 

11.1 IP

3.18 ERA

14 H

3 BB (1 HBP)

10K

.878 OPS Against

 

878 OPS doesn't sound too good

[moonslav59]

878 OPS doesn't sound too good

 

One could cherry pick May 6 to 13:

 

5 IP

1.80 ERA

.802 OPS against

[mvp 78]

One could cherry pick May 6 to 13:

 

5 IP

1.80 ERA

.802 OPS against

 

ssssssssssssss

[moonslav59]

ssssssssssssss

 

Then choose the largest SS- the whole 2021 season:

 

20.1 IP

17 H

3 BB

21 K

1.77 ERA

0.612 OPS Against

0.984 WHIP