A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[moonslav59]

Tell me, who was lost for the year? I’m waiting…..

 

Brasier!

[Larry Cook]

Why do we keep trotting Barnes out there?

 

He is a mess!

[oldtimer]

The Sox put out a weak defensive slow team of thumpers on the field and scored 4 runs, all in one inning. At least they got the win but certainly looked marginal until the last out.

[MADSTORK]

The only chance you pink hats have at securing or winning a playoff is moving Evoldi to the Closer role

All these beer leaguers you boys are trotting out there late innings is ridiculous.

 

Big ? is, does Cora have the b@lls to make a move

[moonslav59]

Gotta give props to Ohtani.

 

As a pitcher, he is one of just 34 AL pitchers with 130+ IP. He places...

 

4th in ERA- (73)

5th in K% (29%) & K-BB% (21%)

6th in FIP (3.54)

8th in WHIP (1.09)

17th in fWAR (2.9)

 

As a hitter, he ranks 25th in most PAs in the AL (626). He ranks...

2nd wRC+ (153)

2nd in OPS .964

3rd in HRs (45)

8th in fWAR (5.1)

 

TOTAL fWAR

8.0 Ohtani (5.1 Offense/ 2.9 Pitching)

6.6 Semien

6.6 Guerrero

6.3 J Ramirez

5.6 Eovaldi

5.5 Mullins

5.5 Correa

5.3 Judge

5.2 Cole

5.1 Altuve

5.0 Bogaerts

5.0 Olson

4.9 B Lowe

4.9 Rodon

4.7 Devers

4.6 Bichette

4.5 Tucker

4.3 N Lopez

4.2 Moncada

4.2 Cease

4.1 Berrios

4.1 Montas

4.0 Polanco

4.0 Lynn

3.9 Kike

3.9 ERod (before tonight)

[notin]

The only chance you pink hats have at securing or winning a playoff is moving Evoldi to the Closer role

All these beer leaguers you boys are trotting out there late innings is ridiculous.

 

Big ? is, does Cora have the b@lls to make a move

 

No idea about his b@lls, and that’s an odd obsession of yours. But I firmly believe he has the brains to not make that incredibly stupid move…

[mvp 78]

The only chance you pink hats have at securing or winning a playoff is moving Evoldi to the Closer role

All these beer leaguers you boys are trotting out there late innings is ridiculous.

 

Big ? is, does Cora have the b@lls to make a move

Moving your best starter to closer is actually smart because you want your best pitcher to face less batters over the course of the playoffs!

[mvp 78]

No idea about his b@lls, and that’s an odd obsession of yours. But I firmly believe he has the brains to not make that incredibly stupid move…

 

Sale should be moved to middle relief ASAP! ERod can be setup man!

 

Devers? Bench bat!

[jad]

Sale should be moved to middle relief ASAP! ERod can be setup man!

 

Devers? Bench bat!

 

No no. Use him as a catcher. That will free up Vazquez to use as a pinch runner.

[notin]

No no. Use him as a catcher. That will free up Vazquez to use as a pinch runner.

 

Well, Vazquez does lead the team in stolen bases with 8…

[Bellhorn04]

No idea about his b@lls, and that’s an odd obsession of yours. But I firmly believe he has the brains to not make that incredibly stupid move…

 

The thing about STORK is, he's really stupid for a troll. And that stupidity is probably why he hasn't been banned yet, because his stupidity renders him kind of harmless.

[notin]

The thing about STORK is, he's really stupid for a troll. And that stupidity is probably why he hasn't been banned yet, because his stupidity renders him kind of harmless.

 

At least he FINALLY abandoned his pretense of being a Sox fan in his last post…

[Bellhorn04]

At least he FINALLY abandoned his pretense of being a Sox fan in his last post…

 

I never thought he was. I've asked him a few times who his team is, but he doesn't have the b@lls to answer.

[moonslav59]

I never thought he was. I've asked him a few times who his team is, but he doesn't have the b@lls to answer.

 

You crack me up!

[moonslav59]

 

Playoff Standings WC1/WC2

91-69 NYY +1/+2

90-70 BOS -1/+1

89-71 SEA -2/-1

89-71 TOR -2/-1

(OAK is eliminated)

 

1:05 TBR (S Baz RHP) @ NYY (Montgomery LHP)

3:07 BAL (Means LHP) @ TOR (Manoah RHP)

4:05 BOS (Houck RHP) @ WSH (Josiah Gray 5.85 RHP)

9:10 LAA (J Diaz LHP) @ SEA (Flexen RHP)

 

The Yankess game will be almost over by the time we are in the first or second inning. We may know about Toronto before our game ends, but we need to just focus on us: win (2) and we're in.

 

One at a time!

Edited October 2, 2021 by moonslav59

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

One of the strangest seasons I can recall. I had low expectations going in, after the sweep by the O's to start the season I had zero expectations. Then I saw a team with no production from the leadoff spot and absolute garbage in the last few spots in the lineup putting up runs and winning games at a high level. They gave me much more excitement than I ever expected in April.

 

Now here they are, 2 wins from the playoff and in game #161 they do not know who their closer is. Never seen a playoff team in that situation ever.

[moonslav59]

One of the strangest seasons I can recall. I had low expectations going in, after the sweep by the O's to start the season I had zero expectations. Then I saw a team with no production from the leadoff spot and absolute garbage in the last few spots in the lineup putting up runs and winning games at a high level. They gave me much more excitement than I ever expected in April.

 

Now here they are, 2 wins from the playoff and in game #161 they do not know who their closer is. Never seen a playoff team in that situation ever.

 

The ups and downs by the WC contenders over this season have been startling. It's almost like a pattern. As soon as one team starts looking like they are a cinch to make the PO's, they fall off a cliff.

As soon as we start to write a team off, they win 7 in a row or more.

 

We've seen long win streaks and winning stretches by all 4 of these teams.

We've seen long losing streaks and losing stretches by all 4, too.

 

We've seen mini win streaks followed by mini losing streaks.

 

We've seen beating great teams and losing to crappy teams and vice versa.

 

We've seen beating the best pitchers and losing to unknowns.

 

We've see our starters carry us, then flop, then come back to more than respectable.

We've seen our pen carry us for about 4 months, then have a major implosion- highlighted by a complete meltdown by Barnes. Now, they are hit and miss.

We've seen our offense go from the comeback kids and masters of teh 3 run job to meek and mild masters of the solo job.

 

With two games left, it's almost like we should expect one last flip, but I'm liking our position as of today. Our pitching might need some prayers, today, but we gotta stay positive.

 

One game at a time!

[Larry Cook]

Ottavino meltdown in progress!

 

Where has our offense gone?

[oldtimer]

Ottavino meltdown in progress!

 

Where has our offense gone?

 

Are we swinging for the fences?

[Nick]

“I love it here,” Robles told MassLive.com through mental skills coordinator Rey Fuentes who translated. “I’ve told them. I’ve made them aware that I really enjoy it. I want to stay here. I’d be the happiest player in the world if they told me, ‘Hey, stay here. We’ll give you a couple-year contract.’”

 

Not everyone wants out of Boston.

 

“Using him early in the game, late in games, throwing strikes, not walking people,” Cora said. “His stuff has played. He’s made some adjustments throughout the process mechanic-wise. Stuff-wise, he’s always been great with the Mets and LA. I think the way he’s throwing the ball now is kind of like the way he threw the ball in ‘19 with the Angels. So he’s been amazing.”

 

Robles served as Angels closer during 2019. He recorded 23 saved and posted a 2.48 ERA in 72 ⅔ innings. I did not know this.

[moonslav59]

After 161 games...

 

OPS Leaders

.956 Schwarber (131 ABs)

.892 Iggy (56)

.875 Devers

.867 Bogey

.867 JD M

.863 Shaw (41)

.823 Renfroe

.794 Dalbec

.789 Kike

.772 Verdugo

.765 Arroyo (164)

.737 Plawecki

.661 Vazquez

 

Pitching

Most IP / ERA

182 Eovaldi 3.75

157 ERod 4.77

154 Pivetta 4.56

136 Richards 4.71

113 Perez 4.78

40 Sale 2.90

 

72 Whitlock 1.99

69 Houck 3.52

62 Ottavino 4.21

55 Barnes 3.79

51 Sawamura 3.16

48 Taylor 3.40

40 DHern 3.38

40 Valdez 5.85

25 Robles 3.70

17 Davis 4.86

12 Brasier 1.50

 

 

[notin]

Ottavino meltdown in progress!

 

Where has our offense gone?

 

Yeah it was terrible how Ottavino let Renfroe completely misplay that flyball…

[jacksonianmarch]

Thought Sox would cave after the O’s series. Cora rallied them again. Dude is a miracle worker

[moonslav59]

Yeah it was terrible how Ottavino let Renfroe completely misplay that flyball…

 

I don't think some even watch the games.

 

The same with swinging bunt singles, broken bat bloop hits and misplayed balls not counted as errors, and the pitcher is a bum.

Edited October 3, 2021 by moonslav59

[Nick]

Thought Sox would cave after the O’s series. Cora rallied them again. Dude is a miracle worker

 

yes he is...

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

I don't think some even watch the games.

 

The same with swinging but singles, broken bat bloop hits and misplayed balls not counted as errors, and the pitcher is a bum.

 

The ball lost in the lights was a bad break. But then he proceeded to walk the next 2 batters to load the bases, then gave up the sac fly. This has been the issue all season, he never has a clean inning.

[Bellhorn04]

yes he is...

 

Not according to the game threaders. I just get angry reading some of their stupid s***.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The ball lost in the lights was a bad break. But then he proceeded to walk the next 2 batters to load the bases' date=' then gave up the sac fly. This has been the issue all season, he never has a clean inning.[/quote']

 

Yup. Losing a ball in the twilight can happen to any outfielder at any level... and so can a whiny pitcher walking the next two batters. But fans of mature veteran professionals aren't unreasonable in expecting the guy on the mound to overcome twists and tableaus that come with the gloaming.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Not according to the game threaders. I just get angry reading some of their stupid s***.

 

At the time I was livid and posted accordingly when the organization pulled Houck. But not because he had a perfect game (no one is going nine, especially a rookie on three days rest), but because he had been perfect, and we all knew the alternative was an imperfect bullpen.

 

Houck could've thrown one more frame and dispatched of the scheduled 7-8-9 batters. But then his pitch count might be up another 10 or 12, and limit his usage out in relief on Monday or Tuesday. I'm sure all possibilities were being considered, but as we're all aware, it's hard to look ahead to another game when we can't even look ahead to who can get batters out in the 7th, 8th or 9th.

[Bellhorn04]

At the time I was livid and posted accordingly when the organization pulled Houck. But not because he had a perfect game (no one is going nine, especially a rookie on three days rest), but because he had been perfect, and we all knew the alternative was an imperfect bullpen.

 

Houck could've thrown one more frame and dispatched of the scheduled 7-8-9 batters. But then his pitch count might be up another 10 or 12, and limit his usage out in relief on Monday or Tuesday. I'm sure all possibilities were being considered, but as we're all aware, it's hard to look ahead to another game when we can't even look ahead to who can get batters out in the 7th, 8th or 9th.

 

With regard to pulling Houck, I believe they had a predetermined pitch count for him.

 

They had taken him out of the rotation to be a long reliever/spot starter.

 

He threw 30+ pitches on the 25th and 40+ on the 28th. He was on a whole new schedule.

 

In my opinion, it took guts by Cora to pull him there and stick to his plan.