A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[illinoisredsox]

If calling up a .763 utility player from AAA, who passed through waivers once already, is the answer to our troubles, then this will, indeed, be a "magical" season.

 

(Seriously, though, I don't see why we can try it.)

 

I just wanna see Richards and Perez assigned to mop up duty, phantom IL's or DFA'd- the sooner the better.

 

That, alone, will be a huge addition by subtraction.

 

I think Perez could gone when Sale comes back.

[Nick]

I think it's time to bang the drums at Fenway.....

[Larry Cook]

I think Perez could gone when Sale comes back.

 

Perez started out pitching fairly well at the beginning the year, but clearly ran out of gas!

[oldtimer]

If calling up a .763 utility player from AAA, who passed through waivers once already, is the answer to our troubles, then this will, indeed, be a "magical" season.

 

(Seriously, though, I don't see why we can try it.)

 

I just wanna see Richards and Perez assigned to mop up duty, phantom IL's or DFA'd- the sooner the better.

 

That, alone, will be a huge addition by subtraction.

 

The alternatives are not so hot either. Gonzalez, Dalbec?

[Nick]

We have dumb players and they suffer no consequences for their carelessness.

 

Gonzalez led off the seventh with a walk, then Vázquez singled. But Gonzalez got picked off second base by catcher Reese McGuire. Vázquez, who took second base when Gonzalez got stuck in a rundown, then was thrown out trying to steal third base.

 

Marwin is Cora guy, he does no wrong.

[moonslav59]

I think Perez could gone when Sale comes back.

 

I'd axe Richards before Perez.

 

At least Perez had a nice 11-13 start stretch earlier in the year. There is hope he might find that groove again.

 

I've totally lost all hope for Garrett.

 

That being said, if Perez goes first, I won't complain.

[moonslav59]

Perez started out pitching fairly well at the beginning the year, but clearly ran out of gas!

 

He had a 3.09 ERA after 11 starts. That was team-leading. (He's over 7.00 after.)

[moonslav59]

Good to see 15 IP with just 2 runs allowed.

 

That should have been enough for a sweep, but with the troubles this offense has been having, maybe we should be glad we got a split.

 

Houck and Pivetta could hold the key to a sustained rebound, but Sale is now our best hope.

[cp176]

I'll admit that I haven't followed this team as much as I should have but - I am a pitching kind of guy and I love the young arms of Pivetta, Houck, and Whitlock. When they pitch, I tend to watch. Also, when Sale returns, I will watch every pitch that he throws.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

We have dumb players and they suffer no consequences for their carelessness.

 

Gonzalez led off the seventh with a walk, then Vázquez singled. But Gonzalez got picked off second base by catcher Reese McGuire. Vázquez, who took second base when Gonzalez got stuck in a rundown, then was thrown out trying to steal third base.

 

Marwin is Cora guy, he does no wrong.

 

I said a few weeks in my first post back that if I never seen Marvin Gonzales take another at bat in a Red Sox uniform that would be fine with me. Last night was the final straw. I get that they have had injuries, and I guess he's the best defensive 2nd baseman on the roster. But he sure does not make enough plays defensively that the others would not to justify his bat in the lineup.

[oldtimer]

I said a few weeks in my first post back that if I never seen Marvin Gonzales take another at bat in a Red Sox uniform that would be fine with me. Last night was the final straw. I get that they have had injuries' date=' and I guess he's the best defensive 2nd baseman on the roster. But he sure does not make enough plays defensively that the others would not to justify his bat in the lineup.[/quote']

 

My view is that when you have a guy in the active roster who isn't getting it done at an acceptable rate and hasn't done so with a significant number of chances, you replace him. We have 3 of those to choose from in Gonzalez, Dalbec and Cordero. By the same token, if you have a guy playing well and getting it done at AAA for a significant period of time, he should be brought up to replace a weak player on the roster. We have Munoz who has hit over 300 in AAA with a 28 game hitting streak and who also has some ML experience. I don't see how management can sit on their hands and stay with the status quo under these circumstances when it is clear that the team needs to improve it's OBP. Otherwise, why would minor leaguers strive to perform if there was no upward mobility?

[Bellhorn04]

My view is that when you have a guy in the active roster who isn't getting it done at an acceptable rate and hasn't done so with a significant number of chances, you replace him. We have 3 of those to choose from in Gonzalez, Dalbec and Cordero. By the same token, if you have a guy playing well and getting it done at AAA for a significant period of time, he should be brought up to replace a weak player on the roster. We have Munoz who has hit over 300 in AAA with a 28 game hitting streak and who also has some ML experience. I don't see how management can sit on their hands and stay with the status quo under these circumstances when it is clear that the team needs to improve it's OBP. Otherwise, why would minor leaguers strive to perform if there was no upward mobility?

 

Gee whiz.

 

For months management was accused of sitting on their hands with Duran.

 

Jarren Duran 2021:

 

Worcester 270/365/561 = 926 OPS

Boston 176/204/353 = 557 OPS

 

Isn't a little obvious that excellent AAA numbers often translate to lousy MLB numbers because the pitching is exponentially tougher?

 

Other Worcester numbers:

 

Santana 1.191 OPS

Cordero .955

Chavis .801

 

We've called up Duran and now Arauz.

 

Management knows what they're doing.

[oldtimer]

There have been no update on the injury status of players for a period of 2 to 5 days for several key players. I would like to know more:

 

1. When is Schwaber projected to join the team?

2. Does JDM have Covid? When will test results be known"

3. Same for Duran

4. When is Arroyo's projected to join the team?

5. When will Sale join the team? Clearly he will need at least 5 days rest after throwing 89 pitches yesterday.

[Maxbialystock]

Gee whiz.

 

For months management was accused of sitting on their hands with Duran.

 

Jarren Duran 2021:

 

Worcester 270/365/561 = 926 OPS

Boston 176/204/353 = 557 OPS

 

Isn't a little obvious that excellent AAA numbers often translate to lousy MLB numbers because the pitching is exponentially tougher?

 

Other Worcester numbers:

 

Santana 1.191 OPS

Cordero .955

Chavis .801

 

We've called up Duran and now Arauz.

 

Management knows what they're doing.

 

Exactly my reaction, but your has a lot more substance/teeth.

[Bellhorn04]

2 more potatoes (scoreless innings) for Whitlock yesterday, to lower his ERA to 1.17.

[Bellhorn04]

Pivetta's ERA down to 4.34.

 

Gives him 66 points of breathing room under 700hitter's 5.00 bar.

[Maxbialystock]

There have been no update on the injury status of players for a period of 2 to 5 days for several key players. I would like to know more:

 

1. When is Schwaber projected to join the team?

2. Does JDM have Covid? When will test results be known"

3. Same for Duran

4. When is Arroyo's projected to join the team?

5. When will Sale join the team? Clearly he will need at least 5 days rest after throwing 89 pitches yesterday.

 

Schwaber will join the team when he is ready, and with a hammie that can be day to day. Obviously, he is needed, but Bloom got him cheap precisely because he wasn't available right away. Arroyo's injury is different, but also hard to predict when he can return.

 

JDM and Duran both added to COVID IL, but test results not back yet.

 

Sale doesn't need more than 5 days and is pretty sure to start Thursday. He said he could have started yesterday.

[moonslav59]

Gee whiz.

 

For months management was accused of sitting on their hands with Duran.

 

Jarren Duran 2021:

 

Worcester 270/365/561 = 926 OPS

Boston 176/204/353 = 557 OPS

 

Isn't a little obvious that excellent AAA numbers often translate to lousy MLB numbers because the pitching is exponentially tougher?

 

Other Worcester numbers:

 

Santana 1.191 OPS

Cordero .955

Chavis .801

 

We've called up Duran and now Arauz.

 

Management knows what they're doing.

 

It's the "Throw s*** Against the Wall and Hope Something Sticks" philosophy they want Bloom and Cora to adopt.

 

It's fed by the belief that what a player has done over the last week, month or 3 months is the number one predictor of what they will continue to do for the next week, month or 3 months. Hell, we had posters saying we should demote or trade Devers & Renfroe in April.

 

That being said, there is a case for bringing up Munoz, but why stop there? Bring up Ockimey to play 1B platoon. Bring up Ort, Winckowski, Espinal, and there is this Danny Santana guy who had an OPS over 1.000 in AAA- why not bring him up, too?

 

Demote or DFA everyone! Ghost would love it.

 

Another thing that cracks me up, is some of the guys saying this team sucks and is toast were the same guys who blasted Bloom for not getting Scherzer & Rizzo, since this team was so good, but just a Scherzer & Rizzo away from a ring. Really, I'm literally lmao.

[notin]

It's the "Throw s*** Against the Wall and Hope Something Sticks" philosophy they want Bloom and Cora to adopt.

.

 

Often highlighted by the e justification “[Player X] can’t be any worse!!”

 

Sure he can. It’s very possible.

 

The thing is, when somethings not working, it’s natural to want to see it fixed. I’m MLB, the only way to fix a broken player is to replace someone.

 

But the reality is, that player is often a top the depth chart for a reason, and that reason is he’s the best player for that role today…

[Nick]

And then there are posters here that are full of themselves. The I'm smarter than you bunch.

 

You had the bring up Duran bunch, which included myself.

 

And then there are the God's of all knowing baseball group, insisting trust Bloom and Cora. THEY WILL KNOW WHEN TO CALL HIM UP.

 

Well the first group HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH DURAN BEING CALLED UP.

 

Bloom and Cora did. Now the so called experts on this Board is laughing at us?

 

Let's take a bit further. If Duran sucks, why are we holding onto those so called TOP PROSPECTS like they are worth something?

 

You can't have it both ways.

 

I'm glad Duran is on our roster. I love watching him play.

 

I do not have Bloom's cell phone number. He promoted Duran. Make sure you don't hurt yourself patting yourself on the back.

Edited August 8, 2021 by Nick

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

For those who think any baseball player can just shift over and play first base because all they have to do is catch throws from infielders, have you seen Cordero try to catch pop-ups over his head? One fell in for a hit, the other dropped as a foul ball that gave the batter another chance and drove up the pitcher's pitch count.

 

The first basemen is also the cutoff man with runners in scoring position on hits to centerfield and rightfield (Sox' outfielders have pretty good guns, but there may be more than one reason they usually throw through)... Imagine the game on the line and a guy like Cordero having to cut a throw and spin to make a relay to prevent the winning run from scoring... or to nail someone going to third?

 

Fans that appreciate the value of defense in a pennant race know that the little things can add up (or negatively speaking, detract).

[moonslav59]

Earlier in the season, I pointed out a very rough 26 game stretch of our schedule (May 31- June 27), where we played some very tough teams and some decent teams on the road. How we did in that stretch might define this team, I added.

 

After losing the first 3 at Houston, we won 5 in a row and ended up going 15-11. To me, that was more than decent and showed this team had grit and some magical qualities that might lead us places few of us dreamed were possible at the start of a year widely viewed as a rebuild or bridge year. The Yankee sweep at the end of that stretch was especially sweet. We followed that Yankee sweep with 5 more wins, and after that 8 game streak, we looked like the team to beat. Almost every poster was flying high and praising the team.

 

Then, we lost a tough 10 inning game at OAK (3-2) and soon lost some other close games mixed in with some blow-outs. We did win 4 in a row in mid July vs TOR & NY, but that was just a brief bright spot in a lousy stretch.

 

From July 3 to August 6, sandwiched around the trade deadline, we went 13-16. That really sucks, but it's really only 2 wins away from being above .500.

 

The worst stretch started before the trade deadline, and from July 29 to the first game of yesterday's doubleheader, we went 1-8! It's really only those 9 games that have brought about this board malaise. 9 freaking games!

 

Yes, this 9 game team is who we are.

 

The other 104 game team is somebody else. That team went 64-40, but it appears we can never get that team back, according to some here. We can add Houck, Sale, Schwarber and Arroyo and ditch our worst 4 players, but we are doomed over these 9 games.

 

I get the frustration and how that can turn to anger and lashing out. I'm as frustrated as anyone.

 

I get the feeling of urgency and looking for quick fixes. Hell, I've even been critical about not bringing Sale up more quickly and losing a start from Houck, when we needed it badly. It's natural to reach for possible solutions.

 

I guess what bothers me is the overwhelming negativity that verges on outright hatred towards players, the manager & GM, when this team has overachieved for 104 games and sucked for just 9. We may not ever return to being that 104 game team, but we are NOT this 9 game team.

 

I think there is a better chance we can be better than that 104 game team, once everyone is back healthy than to be a losing team the rest of the way. Call me an optimist, but this team still has grit and talent. It doesn't just go away in 10 days.

[notin]

For those who think any baseball player can just shift over and play first base because all they have to do is catch throws from infielders, have you seen Cordero try to catch pop-ups over his head? One fell in for a hit, the other dropped as a foul ball that gave the batter another chance and drove up the pitcher's pitch count.

 

The first basemen is also the cutoff man with runners in scoring position on hits to centerfield and rightfield (Sox' outfielders have pretty good guns, but there may be more than one reason they usually throw through)... Imagine the game on the line and a guy like Cordero having to cut a throw and spin to make a relay to prevent the winning run from scoring... or to nail someone going to third?

 

Fans that appreciate the value of defense in a pennant race know that the little things can add up (or negatively speaking, detract).

 

But if you’re going to have a player shift over to any position for the first time, first base is easily the best place…

[moonslav59]

Often highlighted by the e justification “[Player X] can’t be any worse!!”

 

Sure he can. It’s very possible.

 

The thing is, when somethings not working, it’s natural to want to see it fixed. I’m MLB, the only way to fix a broken player is to replace someone.

 

But the reality is, that player is often a top the depth chart for a reason, and that reason is he’s the best player for that role today…

 

Like no player or team in MLB history has ever come out of a slump.

[moonslav59]

For those who think any baseball player can just shift over and play first base because all they have to do is catch throws from infielders, have you seen Cordero try to catch pop-ups over his head? One fell in for a hit, the other dropped as a foul ball that gave the batter another chance and drove up the pitcher's pitch count.

 

The first basemen is also the cutoff man with runners in scoring position on hits to centerfield and rightfield (Sox' outfielders have pretty good guns, but there may be more than one reason they usually throw through)... Imagine the game on the line and a guy like Cordero having to cut a throw and spin to make a relay to prevent the winning run from scoring... or to nail someone going to third?

 

Fans that appreciate the value of defense in a pennant race know that the little things can add up (or negatively speaking, detract).

 

True, but Schwarber will be replacing our 1Bman that posters have been roasting alive, not just for his putrid offense, but his unexpectedly horrific defense, too.

[notin]

True, but Schwarber will be replacing our 1Bman that posters have been roasting alive, not just for his putrid offense, but his unexpectedly horrific defense, too.

 

At what point do we acknowledge that Dalbec is also not a seasoned first baseman?

 

I don’t think anyone expects Schwarber to step into the position and look like Kevin Youkilis over there, but at the very least I expect he can top Dalbec’s lackluster offense and come close to replacing his mediocre defense for an overall net gain against RHP. (Dalbec will probably still start vs LHP and, if Schwarber is particularly horrific at 1b, come in as a defensive replacement late in close games.)

Edited August 8, 2021 by notin

[Hugh2]

In Bloom/Cora we trust!!!!!!!

[Hugh2]

2 game winning streak let’s go!

[moonslav59]

Let's chunk the rest of the Sox schedule into these bunches:

 

After today's Toronto game, we'll see this:

 

3 TBR, 3 BAL & 3 @NYY (5-4 would be great, esp if not 3-0 v BAL)

 

3 TEX, 3 MN & 3 @ CLE (We may need 7-2 or 6-3, here.)

 

4 @ TBR, 3 CLE & 3 TBR (This could be it. 5-5 may be enough.)

 

3 @ CWS & 3 @ SEA (Not easy to go 3-3.)

 

Then, a possible bright spot to end the season, so even if we are looking bad by September 16th, don't count us out:

 

3 BAL, 2 NYM, 3 NYY (8 home games- 6-2?)

 

3 @ BAL & 3 @ WSH (6 road games vs bad teams- 4-2 or 5-1?)

 

Of course, I don't expect all these possible outcomes to all come true, but there is reason for some hope, especially how we end September.

 

Tampa Bay's last 6 games?

3 @ HOU

3 @NYY

 

Yankees last 9 games?

3 @BOS

3 @TOR

3 v TBR

 

Don't count the Sox out, if we are 2 down with 6-9 games to go.

 

Edited August 8, 2021 by moonslav59

[notin]

And then there are posters here that are full of themselves. The I'm smarter than you bunch.

 

You had the bring up Duran bunch, which included myself.

 

And then there are the God's of all knowing baseball group, insisting trust Bloom and Cora. THEY WILL KNOW WHEN TO CALL HIM UP.

 

Well the first group HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH DURAN BEING CALLED UP.

 

Bloom and Cora did. Now the so called experts on this Board is laughing at us?

 

Let's take a bit further. If Duran sucks, why are we holding onto those so called TOP PROSPECTS like they are worth something?

 

You can't have it both ways.

 

I'm glad Duran is on our roster. I love watching him play.

 

I do not have Bloom's cell phone number. He promoted Duran. Make sure you don't hurt yourself patting yourself on the back.

 

No one said Duran wasn’t going to come up this year. Just not in May or so when some were clamoring for him. Likewise I think while a free have passed for Casas to come up, it’s not likely any time soon. I’d bet against him coming up at all this year, but I suppose September is still possible.

 

The thing about our top prospects, which I’ve repeatedly said were simply not good enough to get the big names compared to what other teams gave up, is they have value beyond whether or not they become Star players. I’ve never been very high on Duran. I’m still not. But that doesn’t make him expendable or mean he needs to go back to Worcester. That he (or any prospect) can work his way into the starting lineup is in itself valuable, because it prevents the Sox from having to spend money to fill a position and frees up more budget to retain star players, or sometimes just decent players. There is also value in that. Not necessarily enough to hold a player at the deadline, but minimum wage players are important especially on the larger budget teams…