A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

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

 

I can try, though.

[mvp 78]

Whitlock - 5 ER in May

Brice - 6 ER in May

 

Wonder which will get DFA'd to make room for Santana...

[moonslav59]

Whitlock - 5 ER in May

Brice - 6 ER in May

 

Wonder which will get DFA'd to make room for Santana...

 

They may just send Taylor or Cordero down- no DFA.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

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.

 

He is hustling all 9 innings like he wants to stay in the big leagues, and this may be his best way. Chavis is in better shape this year and now runs faster than half the guys in the starting lineup. For most fans of this form of entertainment, all-out effort is always more fun to watch than half-assed talent.

[moonslav59]

He is hustling all 9 innings like he wants to stay in the big leagues, and this may be his best way. Chavis is in better shape this year and now runs faster than half the guys in the starting lineup. For most fans of this form of entertainment, all-out effort is always more fun to watch than half-assed talent.

 

He does look less chunky.

 

He reminded me too much of Middy, but I always wanted to see him get a long enough look-see.

 

Keep hitting, and he will.

[mvp 78]

They may just send Taylor or Cordero down- no DFA.

 

Taylor over Brice? Yuck.

 

Taylor has gone 6 straight with no runs. He has a 2.79 ERA if you exclude his first 3 games.

[mvp 78]

He is hustling all 9 innings like he wants to stay in the big leagues, and this may be his best way. Chavis is in better shape this year and now runs faster than half the guys in the starting lineup. For most fans of this form of entertainment, all-out effort is always more fun to watch than half-assed talent.

 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/team/111?view=statcast&nav=running&season=2021

 

He must have been shot up with those drugs that doping horse took.

[dgalehouse]

I like seeing Chavis and Dalbec in the lineup. And as soon as possible, Duran. An infusion of youthful energy and enthusiasm makes things more interesting and exciting to watch. The home run power is there as well.

[moonslav59]

Taylor over Brice? Yuck.

 

Taylor has gone 6 straight with no runs. He has a 2.79 ERA if you exclude his first 3 games.

 

I didn't say I prefer that, but Brice has something Sox brass likes, and he's out of options: Taylor & Cordero are not.

 

I'd keep Taylor.

 

I'd even rather DFA Brice than demote Cordero, but that demotion is just a matter of time.

 

1. Arroyo returns.

2. Kike returns.

3. Santana should be ready, soon.

[notin]

Whitlock - 5 ER in May

Brice - 6 ER in May

 

Wonder which will get DFA'd to make room for Santana...

 

You think the Sox are going to DFA Whitlock - which they cannot do, they can only return him to the Yankees - because of 7 bad innings?

[mvp 78]

You think the Sox are going to DFA Whitlock - which they cannot do, they can only return him to the Yankees - because of 7 bad innings?

 

I guess you don't like obvious jokes.

[mvp 78]

I didn't say I prefer that, but Brice has something Sox brass likes, and he's out of options: Taylor & Cordero are not.

 

I'd keep Taylor.

 

I'd even rather DFA Brice than demote Cordero, but that demotion is just a matter of time.

 

1. Arroyo returns.

2. Kike returns.

3. Santana should be ready, soon.

 

I agree with you on all points.

[moonslav59]

We could face some interesting roster decisions when these guys return from the IL or are deemed ML ready and physically ready:

 

Arroyo & Kike (IL)

Santana (opt out ends, soon- not physically ready, yet?)

Bazardo

Brasier (IL)

Houck (IL)

Sale (60 day IL)

Duran (ML ready?)

Seabold (IL & ML ready?)

 

[notin]

They may just send Taylor or Cordero down- no DFA.

 

He means on the 40 man roster.

 

The Sox are much, much more likely to move Mata to the 60 day IL.

 

Also, they could demote Arauz from the 25 man......

[moonslav59]

You think the Sox are going to DFA Whitlock - which they cannot do, they can only return him to the Yankees - because of 7 bad innings?

 

Really, just 2 bad pitches.

[mvp 78]

We could face some interesting roster decisions when these guys return from the IL or are deemed ML ready and physically ready:

 

Arroyo & Kike (IL)

Santana (opt out ends, soon- not physically ready, yet?)

Bazardo

Brasier (IL)

Houck (IL)

Sale (60 day IL)

Duran (ML ready?)

Seabold (IL & ML ready?)

 

 

I heard that Santana is working with the Sox to extend the opt out until he's 100%.

 

Bazardo hasn't started off the year very hot. He may be a 2020 mirage.

 

Brasier should supplant one of the pigs in the pen for sure.

 

Houck will take over once Richards/Eovaldi get hurt.

 

I don't think Sale does much this year. Maybe pitches out of the pen?

 

Duran looks to be ready now. All they are doing now is just seasoning his defense. It couldn't be worse than Cordero's though.

 

Seabold will probably be up next year.

[mvp 78]

Really, just 2 bad pitches.

 

Hard to have 7 bad innings in only 2 pitches. That'd be quite the feat.

[notin]

I heard that Santana is working with the Sox to extend the opt out until he's 100%.

 

Bazardo hasn't started off the year very hot. He may be a 2020 mirage.

 

Brasier should supplant one of the pigs in the pen for sure.

 

Houck will take over once Richards/Eovaldi get hurt.

 

I don't think Sale does much this year. Maybe pitches out of the pen?

 

Duran looks to be ready now. All they are doing now is just seasoning his defense. It couldn't be worse than Cordero's though.

 

Seabold will probably be up next year.

 

Agree on most counts. I think Seabold might make an appearance this year in the event of injury...

[notin]

Hard to have 7 bad innings in only 2 pitches. That'd be quite the feat.

 

And yet hear we are...

[moonslav59]

There is very little chance we ever have a point where everyone is healthy at the same time, but for argument's sake, who would be the 26 you keep on the big club? (I'm assuming mid-summer, when Sale is back and maybe Duran is ready)

 

Who has options plays into the choices, of course, and these players do not:

Brice

Arroyo

Andriese

(Others don't either but they are fixtures.)

 

Here's my choice (not what I think Bloom & Cora might choose):

 

13 Pitchers:

Sale, Richards, ERod, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Perez

Barnes, Ottavino, Brasier, Whitlock, Sawamura, Andriese, DHern

(DFA Brice, AAA: Houck, Valdez, Taylor, Bazardo)

 

13 Everyday Players:

C: Vaz & Plawecki

1B: Dalbec

2B: Arroyo

3B: Devers

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Renfroe

CF: Kike

RF: Verdugo

DH: JD

Bench: Chavis, Marwin, Santana, Duran

(AAA: Cordero, Arauz, Munoz, Downs, Casas)

 

Bloom & Cora? (Assuming 14 pitchers)

Houck over Santana (maybe Duran or Chavis)

[Bellhorn04]

Hard to have 7 bad innings in only 2 pitches. That'd be quite the feat.

 

I'll play.

 

Not all of the 7 innings were bad.

[moonslav59]

Hard to have 7 bad innings in only 2 pitches. That'd be quite the feat.

 

He hasn't had 7 bad innings.

 

His overall numbers over the last 7 innings are not that great.

 

Big difference.

 

(I'm sure he's had more than 2 bad pitches: some where not hit or hit well and some were not one of his 2 HRs allowed.)

 

He's has 17.1 scoreless innings.

 

He's been scored upon in just 3 innings:

 

5/2 1 IP: HR, out, single, out, out

5/5 1 IP (10th): single, HR, out, single, CS, out

5/13 3 IP:

7th: out, HBP, out, 2B (runner out at home)

8th: single, out (runner advances), runner to 3B on defense indiff., GO scores, BB, out (I wouldn't really call this inning a bad one.)

On 5/7, he went 2 IP with no runs allowed. On 5/13, he had 2 scoreless innings.

 

He's allowed 1 BB in his last 7 IP and 11 hits (only 3 K, which is much less than the 18 he had in his previous 13.1 IP).

 

2 "bad innings" out of his last 7, and both of those innings were bad only because of 2 pitches.

[moonslav59]

Our rotation:

ERA+ Pitcher OPS Against

136 Pivetta .609

111 Richards .735

108 Perez .700

104 ERod .759

103 Eovaldi .631

 

Yanks:

292 Cole .457

131 Kluber .676

101 Montgomery .666

100 German .754

74 Taillon .777

 

Bluejays

141 Ryu .667

123 R Ray .730

86 Matz .751

71 Stripling .886

(Nobody else has more than 2 starts.)

 

112 pitchers have over 30 IP, so far this year. The Sox have 5.

 

ERA-

5. Cole 33

37. Pivetta 75

38. Kluber 75

55. Richards 91

59. Perez 94

61. Montgomery 97

62. ERod 97

64. German 99

65. Eovaldi 99

 

I'm not sure, if we are the only team in MLB with 5 starting pitchers under 100.

 

The Sox rotation places 5th in IP (205.1 IP). The Yanks place 10th at 196.1.

 

In all fairness, Overall Starter ERA-

71 CWS

74 SFG

76 NYM

78 MIL, SDP

79 LAD

84 NYY

89 TBR

90 MIA

91 CLE

92 DET

93 BOS

Edited May 14, 2021 by moonslav59

[Maxbialystock]

There is very little chance we ever have a point where everyone is healthy at the same time, but for argument's sake, who would be the 26 you keep on the big club? (I'm assuming mid-summer, when Sale is back and maybe Duran is ready)

 

Who has options plays into the choices, of course, and these players do not:

Brice

Arroyo

Andriese

(Others don't either but they are fixtures.)

 

Here's my choice (not what I think Bloom & Cora might choose):

 

13 Pitchers:

Sale, Richards, ERod, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Perez

Barnes, Ottavino, Brasier, Whitlock, Sawamura, Andriese, DHern

(DFA Brice, AAA: Houck, Valdez, Taylor, Bazardo)

 

13 Everyday Players:

C: Vaz & Plawecki

1B: Dalbec

2B: Arroyo

3B: Devers

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Renfroe

CF: Kike

RF: Verdugo

DH: JD

Bench: Chavis, Marwin, Santana, Duran

(AAA: Cordero, Arauz, Munoz, Downs, Casas)

 

Bloom & Cora? (Assuming 14 pitchers)

Houck over Santana (maybe Duran or Chavis)

 

My quarrel with 13 and 13 is that there doesn't seem to be much advantage in carrying 4 extra position players. You basically only need 3--a spare catcher and two infielders/outfielders. This is especially true in the AL where pitchers don't hit, so all good bats get into the lineup and don't ride the pine so they can pinch hit for the pitcher.

 

On the other hand, given the new standard for starting pitchers--just give us 5 innings, please--you can always use another reliever. Relievers, unlike spare infielders/outfielders, can win or lose the ball game in just that one inning (or three batters). I think most of us agree that our bullpen looked much better than expected for most of April, but seemed to be tired in May.

[mvp 78]

I'll play.

 

Not all of the 7 innings were bad.

 

It was only 2 pitches that went OOP. The rest of it was fine!

[mvp 78]

My quarrel with 13 and 13 is that there doesn't seem to be much advantage in carrying 4 extra position players. You basically only need 3--a spare catcher and two infielders/outfielders. This is especially true in the AL where pitchers don't hit, so all good bats get into the lineup and don't ride the pine so they can pinch hit for the pitcher.

 

On the other hand, given the new standard for starting pitchers--just give us 5 innings, please--you can always use another reliever. Relievers, unlike spare infielders/outfielders, can win or lose the ball game in just that one inning (or three batters). I think most of us agree that our bullpen looked much better than expected for most of April, but seemed to be tired in May.

 

13 batters is fine IF YOU NEVER HAVE ANY INJURIES.

[moonslav59]

My quarrel with 13 and 13 is that there doesn't seem to be much advantage in carrying 4 extra position players. You basically only need 3--a spare catcher and two infielders/outfielders. This is especially true in the AL where pitchers don't hit, so all good bats get into the lineup and don't ride the pine so they can pinch hit for the pitcher.

 

On the other hand, given the new standard for starting pitchers--just give us 5 innings, please--you can always use another reliever. Relievers, unlike spare infielders/outfielders, can win or lose the ball game in just that one inning (or three batters). I think most of us agree that our bullpen looked much better than expected for most of April, but seemed to be tired in May.

 

With one of the worst defensive teams in MLB, I'd think having a nice late inning defensive replacement is worth more than the 14th pitcher, especially since the Sox rotation is 5th in IP. having the 4th bench player also allows the manager to PH more freely, because he knows, he's got some flexibility. later on, especially in case of an injury.

 

I sure would have liked to have has Chavis as a PH'er or replacement for Cordero/Dalbec much earlier on.

 

It's hard to imagine Chavis hitting worse than those two.

 

[mvp 78]

@steve_hewitt

Alex Cora on Jarren Duran: "I know a lot of people are excited about what he’s doing. We are too, but obviously there’s an advantage of him getting at-bats and playing every day and going out there and playing defense. So far, he’s been great. We’re very happy with the progress."

[moonslav59]

@steve_hewitt

Alex Cora on Jarren Duran: "I know a lot of people are excited about what he’s doing. We are too, but obviously there’s an advantage of him getting at-bats and playing every day and going out there and playing defense. So far, he’s been great. We’re very happy with the progress."

 

How perfectly worded.

 

Note the "playing everyday...and playing defense."

 

This could mean he needs to play everyday for a while to get into a groove, or that if he was called up, he would not be playing everyday.

 

Mentioning the defense hints at them still thinking he needs to work on his defense at a non ML level, but maybe his bat is ML ready. (We don't need a DH, right now.)

[moonslav59]

Is it time to move Renfroe and Dalbec up in the line-up?