A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

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

 

Ya, but as much as I feel sorry for the pitchers, they're complicit, too. For example, Braiser should have been out of the inning when Schwarber booted a grounder. But was that one "last" pitch so damaging to his arm and psyche that he had nothing left in the physical nor mental tank, and then had to give up a single and then a home run? Is it Cora's fault for sticking with his pitcher every night and expecting him to pick up his teammates and pitch out of trouble?

[Nick]

1st in errors with 101

 

That's concerning when our shortstop has limited range....

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

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

 

It's quite humorous when one a-hole quotes another a-hole.

[moonslav59]

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.

 

For those who don't believe in defensive metrics and measuring data, the eye test should be enough, in itself.

 

We might be first in chances, because we've played 1-3 games more than many teams and we are just 21st in K%.

 

[moonslav59]

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

 

It's gotta be more demoralizing when you watch an easy groundball that should have been the last out go for an error. You have to regroup and reset your mind.

 

True, our pitchers could be better at picking up their teammates after such errors, but how about vice versa?

 

How about a defense that occasionally picks up a pitcher that is struggling?

 

Never happens!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

For those who don't believe in defensive metrics and measuring data, the eye test should be enough, in itself.

 

We might be first in chances, because we've played 1-3 games more than many teams and we are just 21st in K%.

 

 

Boston also leads the AL in batters faced, but the extra games can't account for all the differences between, say, Chicago, which has faced 362 less batters.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

It's quite humorous when one a-hole quotes another a-hole.

 

Speaking of a-holes, I wonder if he has any quotes from Wade Boggs?

[Maxbialystock]

Ya, but as much as I feel sorry for the pitchers, they're complicit, too. For example, Braiser should have been out of the inning when Schwarber booted a grounder. But was that one "last" pitch so damaging to his arm and psyche that he had nothing left in the physical nor mental tank, and then had to give up a single and then a home run? Is it Cora's fault for sticking with his pitcher every night and expecting him to pick up his teammates and pitch out of trouble?

 

Could not agree more. Yes, by the rules, all three of those Seattle runs in the 7th were unearned, but an error by Schwarber should not be a license for Brasier to give up a single followed by that dinger. That said, I'm not sure Cora has a lot of great options with his current bullpen.

[moonslav59]

Boston also leads the AL in batters faced, but the extra games can't account for all the differences between, say, Chicago, which has faced 362 less batters.

 

Of course. We walk our fair share. We are 21st in K%. Opps lead the league in BAbip. 8th worst OBP against doesn't help either..

[moonslav59]

Could not agree more. Yes, by the rules, all three of those Seattle runs in the 7th were unearned, but an error by Schwarber should not be a license for Brasier to give up a single followed by that dinger. That said, I'm not sure Cora has a lot of great options with his current bullpen.

 

Of course Brasier shares in the blame, but asking a guy like him to get 4 outs in an inning is pushing our luck.

[mvp 78]

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

 

That's because baseball is lol random.

[mvp 78]

That's concerning when our shortstop has limited range....

 

Well, Devers' good range makes up for it.

[harmony]

For those who don't believe in defensive metrics and measuring data, the eye test should be enough, in itself.

 

We might be first in chances, because we've played 1-3 games more than many teams and we are just 21st in K%.

The eye test was startling last night for a fan who watches few Red Sox games.

[moonslav59]

The eye test was startling last night for a fan who watches few Red Sox games.

 

Last night was, by far, not even close to our worst defensive 40 games.

[harmony]

Well, Devers' good range makes up for it.

Last year Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager joked that he helped shortstop J.P. Crawford and first baseman Evan White win Gold Gloves because his lack of range let balls get through to Crawford and his errant throws across the diamond permitted White to come up with some impressive scoops.

[dgalehouse]

The Sox just don't play like a championship caliber team. Too much sloppy , careless , error prone baseball. The wild card spots are up for grabs. Having six games left with the woeful Orioles could be what saves their post season hopes.

[moonslav59]

The Sox just don't play like a championship caliber team. Too much sloppy , careless , error prone baseball. The wild card spots are up for grabs. Having six games left with the woeful Orioles could be what saves their post season hopes.

 

Trends and momentum, whatever you call it, can change on a dime.

 

We've seen it happen, just recently with the Yanks and Jays.

 

Is it really not possible we might turn around on a dime, at any moment?

 

I'm not saying it's likely, but isn't there a significant chance we can or do?

[Bellhorn04]

Trends and momentum, whatever you call it, can change on a dime.

 

We've seen it happen, just recently with the Yanks and Jays.

 

Is it really not possible we might turn around on a dime, at any moment?

 

I'm not saying it's likely, but isn't there a significant chance we can or do?

 

Anything can happen, but when you look at run differential, the Jays are legit. They have a better differential than the Rays now.

 

The Yankees differential, OTOH, is lower than ours.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Trends and momentum, whatever you call it, can change on a dime.

 

We've seen it happen, just recently with the Yanks and Jays.

 

Is it really not possible we might turn around on a dime, at any moment?

 

I'm not saying it's likely, but isn't there a significant chance we can or do?

 

With the SOX starters and BP highly unlikely, but, hell, anything's possible. That the SOX are still in contention proves that.

[moonslav59]

Updated Standings

 

We are tied for the last WC slot but down 1 in the "L" column to them and 2 to the Jays (1down overall).

 

89-55 TBR

84-59 HOU

82-61 CWS

 

81-62 TOR +1 WC1

80-64 NYY -- TWC2

81-65 BOS -- TWC2

 

78-66 SEA -2.0 WC2

77-66 OAK -2.5 WC2

 

Here's an interesting way to look at our last month. We keep hearing how we haven't won a series vs a winning team or swept a series vs a losing team since BAL in mid AUG, but we have only lost 2 of our last 7 series, and both were by 2-1 margins with 3 of those 4 losses being by just one run.

 

We are not far from winning these types of games, again. Our last 3 losses have been by 1 run.

 

I still have faith, but it's getting harder to stay positive. No doubt.

[mvp 78]

@mlbtraderumors

Guardians Designate Ryan Lavarnway For Assignment

 

Bloom should nab "the Real Deal" for the stretch run.

[maglines]

They just haven't looked right since the trade deadline, when we really didn't upgrade.

Sloppy and lethargic.

[Tedballgame]

They just haven't looked right since the trade deadline, when we really didn't upgrade.

Sloppy and lethargic.

They got Schwarber and Sale after the deadline. Robles has been so so. That should have been enough but between Covid and careless and uninspired baseball by the other players, they are where they are now.

[moonslav59]

They got Schwarber and Sale after the deadline. Robles has been so so. That should have been enough but between Covid and careless and uninspired baseball by the other players, they are where they are now.

 

We also had hopes that Houck could give us more innings than before the deadline, and he has, plus maybe better health from Arroyo.

 

Our defense has been a major reason we have been losing. I don't recall many posters saying we should trade to upgrade our D.

[Bellhorn04]

Our defense has been a major reason we have been losing. I don't recall many posters saying we should trade to upgrade our D.

 

Nobody ever accused us of knowing how to put together a baseball team, though.

[moonslav59]

Nobody ever accused us of knowing how to put together a baseball team, though.

 

No, but some sure sound like they know better than Bloom & Co.

 

Like, he was supposed to know Dalbec would become the best hitter in MLB and begin to defend well, and that our pen- a strength up to that point was going to implode from top to bottom.

[maglines]

Even Renfoe, who has been a defensive stud all year is playing sloppy

[maglines]

Just uninspired baseball right now

[moonslav59]

Even Renfoe, who has been a defensive stud all year is playing sloppy

 

Who?

[maglines]

Hunter