A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[maglines]

Kinda miss JBJ in center. Streaky bat but nothing got by him!

[Bellhorn04]

Kinda miss JBJ in center. Streaky bat but nothing got by him!

 

We miss him in the field, but not at the plate.

[Bellhorn04]

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.

 

I don't really get your Dalbec argument. Even if Dalbec's bat stayed cold and he was replaced by Schwarber, the complaint is that Schwarber is not a first baseman, so he wasn't a defensive upgrade over Dalbec, no matter how bad Dalbec was doing at first.

 

So Chaim had a bad defensive team and made it worse.

 

Now whether he could have done anything differently is debatable. But the complaints about pieces not fitting and terrible defense are valid, I think.

[moonslav59]

Hunter

 

Did you want the games?

[moonslav59]

I don't really get your Dalbec argument. Even if Dalbec's bat stayed cold and he was replaced by Schwarber, the complaint is that Schwarber is not a first baseman, so he wasn't a defensive upgrade over Dalbec, no matter how bad Dalbec was doing at first.

 

So Chaim had a bad defensive team and made it worse.

 

Now whether he could have done anything differently is debatable. But the complaints about pieces not fitting and terrible defense are valid, I think.

 

Schwarber was not looking like a downgrade on defense at 1B, until after the trade and Dalbec suddenly looking like a GG 1Bman.

 

We also looked like we had a minus on offense at 1B at the time of the trade.

 

You really don't see the relevance?

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

We miss him in the field, but not at the plate.

 

With Kike in CF, I don't miss JBJ's defense.

[redsoxrules]

Kinda miss JBJ in center. Streaky bat but nothing got by him!

 

JBJ is a minus War player even with his defense

[moonslav59]

JBJ is a minus War player even with his defense

 

We have to start realizing keeping the 2018 team together was not a winning strategy.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We have to start realizing keeping the 2018 team together was not a winning strategy.

 

We realized it soon enough -- in hindsight -- but few complained going into 2019 -- and I'm saying that remembering that the majority of posters here and elsewhere approved of the contracts "rewarded" to Red Sox champions that winter. Eovaldi was one of the most sought-after free agent pitchers in the bigs, and though most of us worried that Sale wasn't 100%, we still trusted that the GM and front office knew more than the fans. Bogaerts was a star, and has been ever since. Pearce was a postseason hero, but his salary was a fraction of the batters who hit around him in the heart of the order. Mookie unsigned for the longterm was the big concern.

 

The most perplexing thing was the approach towards the bullpen. There was no uproar when the Sox let Kimbrel and Kelly walk, but maybe there should have been when they didn't replace either of them (Colten Brewer was never considered a viable substitute). Naturally, the rotation imploded, and what was left of the relief corps became seriously overworked. The rest is infamy.

 

Now the '21 Red Sox are in a playoff run for their lives, but there's no guarantee they'll even win more games than the 84-78 2019 Red Sox...

[notin]

We realized it soon enough -- in hindsight -- but few complained going into 2019 -- and I'm saying that remembering that the majority of posters here and elsewhere approved of the contracts "rewarded" to Red Sox champions that winter. Eovaldi was one of the most sought-after free agent pitchers in the bigs, and though most of us worried that Sale wasn't 100%, we still trusted that the GM and front office knew more than the fans. Bogaerts was a star, and has been ever since. Pearce was a postseason hero, but his salary was a fraction of the batters who hit around him in the heart of the order. Mookie unsigned for the longterm was the big concern.

 

The most perplexing thing was the approach towards the bullpen. There was no uproar when the Sox let Kimbrel and Kelly walk, but maybe there should have been when they didn't replace either of them (Colten Brewer was never considered a viable substitute). Naturally, the rotation imploded, and what was left of the relief corps became seriously overworked. The rest is infamy.

 

Now the '21 Red Sox are in a playoff run for their lives, but there's no guarantee they'll even win more games than the 84-78 2019 Red Sox...

 

Well, there was one who did not approve of the Eovaldi contract and did so vociferously...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Well, there was one who did not approve of the Eovaldi contract and did so vociferously...

 

I know you did, but now that he made it through an entire All-Star season, would you give a potential Wild Card start to anyone else (especially now that two-time Covid Sale may not be ready for a regular turn in the rotation again until maybe the World Series) ?

[moonslav59]

Wow, the Jays were just 3 hit shut out by the Rays.

[Bellhorn04]

Schwarber was not looking like a downgrade on defense at 1B, until after the trade and Dalbec suddenly looking like a GG 1Bman.

 

We also looked like we had a minus on offense at 1B at the time of the trade.

 

You really don't see the relevance?

 

 

Even assuming that the whole purpose of trading for Schwarber was to replace Dalbec, how could Schwarber be a guaranteed upgrade defensively? He was a complete unknown quantity at the position.

[notin]

JBJ is a minus War player even with his defense

 

His .507 OPS brings him overall value down. But I'd take JBJ back as a 4th outfielder.

 

would you trade Duran for Hader and Bradley? Would Milwaukee? (They might, solely for financial reasons.)

[notin]

Even assuming that the whole purpose of trading for Schwarber was to replace Dalbec, how could Schwarber be a guaranteed upgrade defensively? He was a complete unknown quantity at the position.

 

No one acquires Kyle Schwarber for his glove. No one...

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

JBJ is a minus War player even with his defense

 

Yeah no way JBJ made enough plays to offset his constant 0-4's.

[moonslav59]

Even assuming that the whole purpose of trading for Schwarber was to replace Dalbec, how could Schwarber be a guaranteed upgrade defensively? He was a complete unknown quantity at the position.

 

I'm saying the thought was he may not hurt our already putrid 1B defense, but suddenly Dalbec started fielding well.

 

I never said he was an upgrade on defense. He certainly isn't in LF over Verdugo.

 

I think the thought was it might be a sideways move at 1B D and a big gain on offense.

[moonslav59]

3-way tie for the 2 wild card slots, with SEA and OAK losing ground and time.

 

A look at the Sox OPS:

.887 Devers

.886 Schwarber

.879 Bogey

.867 JD

 

.812 Renfroe

.789 Verdugo

.786 Dalbec

.782 Kike

.777 Arroyo

 

.724 Plawecki

.662 Vaz

 

.564 Marwin

 

15-150 PAs

.977 Iggy

.960 Shaw

.896 Wong

 

.643 Arauz

.597 Santana

.578 Duran

 

.549 Chavis

.497 Cordero

[moonslav59]

Our IP Leaders (ERA+)

169 Eovaldi (135)

142 ERod (95)

140 Pivetta (106)

127 Richards (102)

107 Perez (97)

 

70 Whitlock (248)

57 Ottavino (126)

53 Houck (134)

50 Barnes (125)

47 Sawamura (156)

46 Taylor (135)

40 Valdez (82)

38 DHern (155)

37 Andriese (79)

 

25 Sale (190)

24 Rios (130)

20 Workman (93)

17 Robles (79)

15 Davis (65)

 

QS%

41 Eovaldi

32 ERod

(32 League Avg.)

30 Pivetta

18 Richards & Perez

0 Houck

 

IRS%

14 Sawamura

18 Robles (100 save % 2/2))

19 Ottavino (69%)

25 Whitlock (40%) & Taylor (50%)

26 DHern (25%)

33 Barnes (80%)

(35 League Avg.)

36 Valdez (100% 1/1)

38 Rios

45 Workman

100 Andriese (25%)

 

[Nick]

Sox 15 (8 home, 7 away)

Home

3 Yankees

3 Orioles

2 Mets

Away

3 Orioles

3 Nationals

 

Jays 17 (9 home 8 away)

Home

1 Rays

3 Twins

3 Yankes

3 Orioles

Away

3 Rays

4 Twins

 

Yankees 17 (9 home 8 away)

Home

3 Guardians

3 Rays

3 Rangers

Away

3 Jays

3 Sox

2 Orioles

 

Yankees probably need 2 more wins versus hapless Orioles to get ahead of Sox. They have the tougher schedule after that.

Yankees have 9 games versus Sox, Rays and Jays.

 

Jays have 4 games vs Rays and 3 games vs Yankees.

 

Sox have 3 games vs Yankees.

Edited September 15, 2021 by Nick

[moonslav59]

Today's games:

 

BOS (Houck) @ SEA (Gonzalez)

TBR (Wacha) @ TOR (Ray)

NYY (Cortes) @ BAL (Means)

A's (Manaea) @ KCR (Minor)

 

Thursday the Sox have off, and it's time for the Yanks to start catching up with our 2 games in hand.

 

A's (Blackburn) @ KCR (Hernandez)

NYY (Montgomery) @ BAL (Ellis)

 

Weekend series:

BAL @ BOS

CLE @ NYY

MIN @ TOR

DET @ TBR

SEA @ KCR

OAK @ LAA

DET (Ennis) @ TBR (TBD)

 

[moonslav59]

Sox 15 (8 home, 7 away)

Home

3 Yankees

3 Orioles

2 Mets

Away

3 Orioles

3 Nationals

1 Mariners

 

Jays 17 (9 home 8 away)

Home

1 Rays

3 Twins

3 Yankes

3 Orioles

Away

3 Rays

4 Twins

 

Yankees 17 (9 home 8 away)

Home

3 Guardians

3 Rays

3 Rangers

Away

3 Jays

3 Sox

2 Orioles

 

Yankees probably need 2 more wins versus hapless Orioles to get ahead of Sox. They have the tougher schedule after that.

Yankees have 9 games versus Sox, Rays and Jays.

 

Jays have 4 games vs Rays and 3 games vs Yankees.

 

Sox have 3 games vs Yankees.

 

Fixed it for you (add SEA game, today.)

[Bellhorn04]

I'm saying the thought was he may not hurt our already putrid 1B defense, but suddenly Dalbec started fielding well.

 

I never said he was an upgrade on defense. He certainly isn't in LF over Verdugo.

 

I think the thought was it might be a sideways move at 1B D and a big gain on offense.

 

And my point is that Bloom put together a bad defensive team to start the year, and did nothing, or maybe less than nothing, to address it at the deadline, so he has to own this terrible defense.

[mvp 78]

And my point is that Bloom put together a bad defensive team to start the year, and did nothing, or maybe less than nothing, to address it at the deadline, so he has to own this terrible defense.

 

And the original plan was to put Kiké at 2b. That Cordero LF, Verdugo CF and Renfroe RF alignment wasn't going to carry this team. Tomase had a good article yesterday about the defense. Let me see if I can find it again.

[mvp 78]

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/time-red-sox-consider-xander-bogaerts-future-shortstop

[notin]

And my point is that Bloom put together a bad defensive team to start the year, and did nothing, or maybe less than nothing, to address it at the deadline, so he has to own this terrible defense.

 

Well, the team he did put together was a bit better, as the Arroyo (2B), Hernandez (CF), Verdugo (LF) Renfroe (RF) arrangement actually worked out pretty well. And Marwin was certainly a capable defensive player whose bat was probably supposed to get him more time at 1B.

 

But health has also played a part is the poor defense. And if any sort of major mistake was made by Bloom, it was his bizarre desire to collect multipositional players as if teams need more than one of them. Maybe sticking with some players who have actual repeated MLB experience at one position might help. Kike was enough to fill the versatility needs. Adding Marwin was just flat out redundant. Bringing Danny Santana and Taylor Motter into the mix is evidence that maybe Bloom has some sort of addiction problem going on here...

[notin]

And the original plan was to put Kiké at 2b. That Cordero LF, Verdugo CF and Renfroe RF alignment wasn't going to carry this team. Tomase had a good article yesterday about the defense. Let me see if I can find it again.

 

Was that the actual plan? I thin we all suspected it was something like that, but that doesn't mean that's what it was...

[Nick]

Fixed it for you (add SEA game, today.)

 

Thanks...

 

We can't pussyfoot around with the Orioles. We need to go 6-0. They are getting pounded, home and away.

[moonslav59]

Thanks...

 

We can't pussyfoot around with the Orioles. We need to go 6-0. They are getting pounded, home and away.

 

They've also been one of the league's best offensive teams, the last month or two.

 

They are better than they look and Means is back.

[moonslav59]

And my point is that Bloom put together a bad defensive team to start the year, and did nothing, or maybe less than nothing, to address it at the deadline, so he has to own this terrible defense.

 

Agreed.

 

He planned on mawrin not sucking so bad at the plate, and did not replace him with a defensive utility player.

 

Duran, Santana & Schwarber are worse than the starters on D.