A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[harmony]

That’s a pretty weak thing for the Mariners to complain about. They knew where Seattle was when they put the team there…

Again, it's not the travel as much as it's the rainout makeups.

[Nick]

Cream rises to the top....we'll see how we finish...pretenders or contenders.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Ever tried sprinting to the finish line at the end of a marathon? Maybe the RS started their kick a bit too soon.

 

The Red Sox are hopping one-legged, barefoot, with new blisters forming on every step...

[mvp 78]

The Red Sox are hopping one-legged, barefoot, with new blisters forming on every step...

 

Well, Uta Pippig did win the Boston Marathon (for the third consecutive time) when she s*** herself in 1996.

[sk7326]

Cream rises to the top....we'll see how we finish...pretenders or contenders.

 

A season crushing outbreak is a very 2021 way for the season to limp to the finish line.

[Larry Cook]

Benintendi wins player of the week.

 

Cordero wins nothing!

[moonslav59]

Benintendi wins player of the week.

 

Cordero wins nothing!

 

One good week!

 

Good for him!

 

I'll take Winckowski, the 3 other prospects, Cordero and the $3M saved over a marginal player.

[Larry Cook]

One good week!

 

Good for him!

 

I'll take Winckowski, the 3 other prospects, Cordero and the $3M saved over a marginal player.

 

You should have been a captain. You are willing to go down with the ship to the very end!

[moonslav59]

You should have been a captain. You are willing to go down with the ship to the very end!

 

I'm just not getting the fixation on Beni.

 

It was a marginal trade designed to cut some budget, boost the farm and gamble that Cordero might bust out.

 

As for being a captain going down with the ship- not hardly.

 

I was the first to jump ship in 2019. I gave up very early out of a strong sense that team had no grit or energy.

 

This team has shown moxy. I'm not sure what happens, but I'm not giving up on a team that never gives up.

 

Sure, they have some massive flaws. I've railed against our D as much as anybody and more than almost everyone.

 

We've fought back all year, so I think this team deserves our support to the very end.

[dgalehouse]

I'm just not getting the fixation on Beni.

 

It was a marginal trade designed to cut some budget, boost the farm and gamble that Cordero might bust out.

 

As for being a captain going down with the ship- not hardly.

 

I was the first to jump ship in 2019. I gave up very early out of a strong sense that team had no grit or energy.

 

This team has shown moxy. I'm not sure what happens, but I'm not giving up on a team that never gives up.

 

Sure, they have some massive flaws. I've railed against our D as much as anybody and more than almost everyone.

 

We've fought back all year, so I think this team deserves our support to the very end.

 

A little melodramatic.

[Hugh2]

Go down with the ship? You people do realize this team would have been worse with AB in lf this year?

[moonslav59]

A little melodramatic.

 

I don't see that, but if you want to give up over us losing 2 of 3 to a couple very good teams, fine.

 

The team has given reason to be skeptical, frustrated and even angry.

 

I'm not saying my hopes haven't been lowered, but I lie our chances at making the playoffs.

 

I'm not a "playoffs are a crapshoot" believer, so I don't expect us to go far, but I like the grit this team has shown, and having Sale. Schwarber and a healthy Houck might cause a surprise.

[moonslav59]

Go down with the ship? You people do realize this team would have been worse with AB in lf this year?

 

Next, we'll hear we'd be better with JBJ, Kimbrel and Rizzo.

 

Wait... we've been there-done that.

[Larry Cook]

I'm just not getting the fixation on Beni.

 

It was a marginal trade designed to cut some budget, boost the farm and gamble that Cordero might bust out.

 

As for being a captain going down with the ship- not hardly.

 

I was the first to jump ship in 2019. I gave up very early out of a strong sense that team had no grit or energy.

 

This team has shown moxy. I'm not sure what happens, but I'm not giving up on a team that never gives up.

 

Sure, they have some massive flaws. I've railed against our D as much as anybody and more than almost everyone.

 

We've fought back all year, so I think this team deserves our support to the very end.

 

By captain of the ship, I meant defending the terrible Benintendi trade to the end.

 

Ps: We all need to support the Sox to the end this season! What they have done thus far this year is amazing.

[Key2Delock]

Most pre-season predictions had the Red Sox finishing fourth in the American League East. After 146 games, there are the Red Sox in fourth place in the American League East. "Lately it occurs to me what a

it's been."

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Most pre-season predictions had the Red Sox finishing fourth in the American League East. After 146 games, there are the Red Sox in fourth place in the American League East. "Lately it occurs to me what a

it's been."

 

not Dead yet...

[Bellhorn04]

not Dead yet...

 

No, but it is starting to feel like the Bataan Death March...

[a700hitter]

Most pre-season predictions had the Red Sox finishing fourth in the American League East. After 146 games, there are the Red Sox in fourth place in the American League East. "Lately it occurs to me what a

it's been."

I am happy that they have played winning baseball. When they broke camp, I didn’t think they would be able to do that.

[Nick]

Quickly

 

C Vaz...keeper but upgrade is appreciated

1B Dalbec...keeper for now but platooning him maybe a better option

2B Arroy...still needs to see a full season out of him

SS Xander...we're paying $20M, not going anywhere unless he opts out in 2022

3B Devers...definite keeper

LF Verdugo...keeper but the shine is little off

CF Kike....keeper, see if he can continue his good hitting, defense is solid.

RF Renfroe...keeper, still needs to refine his non throwing defensive skills

DH JD...parting of ways is imminent, he either opts out or he'll be FA in 2023

 

I give this lineup 80% chance of remaining intact for 2022. Problem with this group is disparity in offense vs defense. That won't be an easy fix.

 

Pitching Department needs upgrading.....Need something like Scherzer, Sale, Eovaldi, E Rod and Pivetta starting rotation. Must improve the group of Barnes, Sawamura, Whitlock, Houck, Taylor and Darwinzon.

 

I like Whitlock throwing 6 innings and not work as a closer. He'll give up 2 or 3 runs in 6 innings. Not sure if he's a shut down closer.

Edited September 14, 2021 by Nick

[notin]

Quickly

 

C Vaz...keeper but upgrade is appreciated

1B Dalbec...keeper for now but platooning him maybe a better option

2B Arroy...still needs to see a full season out of him

SS Xander...we're paying $20M, not going anywhere unless he opts out in 2022

3B Devers...definite keeper

LF Durran...keeper but the shine is little off

CF Kike....keeper, see if he can continue his good hitting, defense is solid.

RF Renfroe...keeper, still needs to refine his non throwing defensive skills

DH JD...parting of ways is imminent, he either opts out or he'll be FA in 2023

 

Conceivably, I give this lineup 80% chance of remaining intact.

 

Upgrade must come in Pitching Department.....

 

Duran over Verdugo?

[Nick]

Duran over Verdugo?

 

I fixed it....brain fart...

[notin]

I fixed it....brain fart...

 

The guy is getting overlooked sometimes over the shiny new toy that is Duran, but I think a lot of people forget (or just never knew) that Verdugo is only 4 months older than Duran and is a much, much better player across the board...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

There is too much status whoa projecting next year's lineup. It's ok if Bloom isn't going for it again, and it's ok if a club's best hitters strike out a lot (according to modern baseball). But it's never ok to regularly field a piss-poor defense.

 

The easiest, cheapest way to improve a team -- and the first place to start a solid rebuild -- is to fill a roster with fundamentally sound ballplayers. The Red Sox surprise contending this year has fans expecting more in '22. If Bloom doesn't make positive changes, expect negative changes in the ratings. Fans will still go to Fenway, but not keep watching on NESN every night.

[MADSTORK]

1 3

 

Roger Clemens nailed it years ago, I quote " If I didn't play with all those sunday softball pitchers I would have won 500 games" End quote

 

How bout that beer leaguer Brasier! Priceless

[Bellhorn04]

Can we ban the troll please?

[Nick]

Can someone post the best/widely accepted team defensive metric for the AL teams? How bad are we? I think we lead the league in errors but there's more to defense than errors, right?

[mvp 78]

For AL teams:

 

UZR/150 6th

DRS 8th

[mvp 78]

1st in errors with 101

[notin]

1st in errors with 101

 

And it seems like about 95 of them started rallies after the first two batters went down…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1st in errors with 101

 

Last in Fielding %, last in Defensive Efficiency, last in Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Average, last in Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Average per 1,200 Innings.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2021.shtml

 

But first in Chances and first in Double Plays... which might mean more baserunners allowed, more extended innings, and more "extra outs" given to opponents.