A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[Maxbialystock]

Not to change the subject--again--but, while I am not much of a Brasier fan, I thought he looked excellent last night and exactly what the Sox needed in the 5th inning with Mets runners on 2d and 3d and just one out.

 

I could be wrong, but I believe Cora these days is less patient with his starters--although he did leave ERod in in the 4th with 2 on and just 1 out and with 2 Mets runs already in--but apparently willing to give almost anyone a shot at relieving. Last night he used 5 relievers--including Brasier and Davis when the game was still close--to cover 4.2 innings.

[dgalehouse]

I think Cora is doing an excellent job of managing the bullpen. He is using them in spots where they can succeed . Mixing , matching and getting the most out of them. Seems to have both the starters and relievers on short leashes. And it's working.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Cora is doing an excellent job of managing the bullpen. He is using them in spots where they can succeed . Mixing , matching and getting the most out of them. Seems to have both the starters and relievers on short leashes. And it's working.

 

Absolutely. Cora has been a maestro with the pen this year. With the whole team in fact. He knows how to use everybody.

[vegasbob]

Ponder this one. With 10 games to go (11 for Jays, but give them that difference as a W), the Sox with a one game lead over them and 2 over the Yankees, even a 5-5 run to the finish, makes BJ's need a 7-3 record to pass us and Yankees need 8-2 . I'll take those odds on making the WC play-in game. Actually a significant achievement for this team in 2021 , competing in the AL East.

 

Subscribing to a chip and a chair philosophy that you are not out of it until you lose the last game of your season , can you picture the Sox actually making the WS ? It would mean beating Jays, Rays, Astros or White Sox in 3 big series. Oh well, dream on about another ring ?

Edited September 22, 2021 by vegasbob

[mvp 78]

ERod tonight. Sale tomorrow. Starting Sale tomorrow allows him 3 starts before the end of the year (if needed).

 

FRI: Pivetta

SAT: Eovaldi

SUN: ERod

 

TUE: Sale

WED: Pivetta

THUR: Eovaldi

FRI: ERod

SAT: Seabold

SUN: Sale

 

Eovaldi would be ready for WC game.

 

@PeteAbe

Pitching matchups for #Yankees - #RedSox:

Friday: Cole (15-8, 3.03) vs. Eovaldi (10-8, 3.58), 7:10 p.m., NESN, ESPN

Saturday: Cortes (2-2, 2.79) vs. Pivetta (9-7, 4.63), 4:10 p.m., NESN, YES, MLB Network.

Sunday: Montgomery (6-6, 3.55) vs. Rodriguez (11-8, 4.97), 7:08 p.m., ESPN

 

They are moving Eovaldi ahead a day.

[a700hitter]

Says the poster who is so easily and often triggered into spewing unsolicited rants and insults.

You prove my point every time. They never attack posters. They are harmless. You, on the other hand...

[moonslav59]

That’s a funny one!

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Iggy has been hurt. I saw him play enough with Baltimore when he is healthy and when his head is right he is better defensively then anyone on this team including Bogey.

 

Good call on Iglesias. You were right and I was wrong. He has really helped this team.

[Nick]

We make the team better by signing Schwarber and Iglesias.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

We make the team better by signing Schwarber and Iglesias.

 

Schwarber's patience at the plate is having a positive effect on the other players. The Red Sox hitters began demonstrating greater patience once Schwarber entered the lineup. The Red Sox must bring him back next year, and they probably will.

[harmony]

I think Cora is doing an excellent job of managing the bullpen. He is using them in spots where they can succeed . Mixing , matching and getting the most out of them. Seems to have both the starters and relievers on short leashes. And it's working.

In their four straight wins this week the Seattle Mariners have needed only nine combined innings from the bullpen as starters Logan Gilbert, Tyler Anderson, Marco Gonzales and Chris Flexen have all posted quality starts.

 

Managing a bullpen at this point in the season is easier if the relievers are not overworked.

 

The Mariners will likely miss the postseason for the 20st straight season.

[Elktonnick]

Good call on Iglesias. You were right and I was wrong. He has really helped this team.

Thank you! The rap on Iggy always was that he was moody. Even he admitted that he was not motivated as he should have been with the Angels which is why his defensive metrics dipped. It is too bad that he is not playoff eligible.

[moonslav59]

Thank you! The rap on Iggy always was that he was moody. Even he admitted that he was not motivated as he should have been with the Angels which is why his defensive metrics dipped. It is too bad that he is not playoff eligible.

 

His defensive metrics have been declining longer than 1 year. Some were contract years.

 

He’s not the Iggy we remember in terms of skills, and having a hard time getting motivated keeps the questions about his attitude on the burner.

 

That being said, I’d like him back as our utility IFer. I do worry that if Arroyo wins the FT 2B job, will Iggy pout on the bench?

 

That’s big assuming Arroyo stays healthy, I know.

[mvp 78]

Who would you start:

 

Arroyo 750 OPS plus average D.

 

Iglesias 700 OPS plus above average D.

 

It's close. Arroyo is first season ARB eligible. Iglesias will probably sign a short term cheap deal. I think having Iglesias as the super sub is a good backup for injury prone Arroyo. Also, Downs isn't knocking the door down at 2b. Arauz is barely an up and down guy so they don't even have a viable SS backup.

[moonslav59]

Who would you start:

 

Arroyo 750 OPS plus average D.

 

Iglesias 700 OPS plus above average D.

 

It's close. Arroyo is first season ARB eligible. Iglesias will probably sign a short term cheap deal. I think having Iglesias as the super sub is a good backup for injury prone Arroyo. Also, Downs isn't knocking the door down at 2b. Arauz is barely an up and down guy so they don't even have a viable SS backup.

 

I'd keep playing Iggy at 2B close to FT and maybe PH for him every now and then.

[mvp 78]

I actually mentioned maybe 250 PAs for Plawecki. That leaves 450 for Vaz.

 

I'm not saying bench Vaz, and just about everyone agrees, he needs more rest.

 

"I never said to play Plawecki more."

[mvp 78]

Despite Vaz's nice .801 OPS in 2021, here's an eye-opener:

 

OPS 2020-2021 combined:

.790 Plawecki (190 PAs)

.700 Vaz (554 PAs)

 

Why is Vaz on pace to reach his highest PA and inning numbers?

 

BTW, Vaz has a career .692 OPS. Not much better.

 

I didn't say give him 350, but 250, maybe.

 

BTW, Vaz has a career .692 OPS. Not much better.

 

But 90 points less since 2020, nonetheless, and then there is the whole CERA Pandora's Box to open.

 

"But I never said CERA was a reason to play Plawecki more."

[Elktonnick]

His defensive metrics have been declining longer than 1 year. Some were contract years.

 

He’s not the Iggy we remember in terms of skills, and having a hard time getting motivated keeps the questions about his attitude on the burner.

 

That being said, I’d like him back as our utility IFer. I do worry that if Arroyo wins the FT 2B job, will Iggy pout on the bench?

 

That’s big assuming Arroyo stays healthy, I know.

 

Right now Iggy is better defensively than Arroyo ever was. Moreover he is hitting the cover off the ball. I ride the hot hand at least until after the Yankee series. Defensive metrics are the most flawed of all the analytics especially in this case since Iggy will be playing more at second than short. Next year is next year right now the only focus should be making the playoffs. Iggy playing through the Yankee series is their best option.

[moonslav59]

"I never said to play Plawecki more."

 

I never said play Plawecki more. That's a fact.

 

Saying maybe Vaz needs more rest is different.

 

Plus Vaz is on pace for maybe 510-520 PAs- pretty close to 450.

 

One big difference about this year is that Vaz has not DH'd as much.

 

BTW, haven't a lot of people said Vaz has been overused and is tired?

[moonslav59]

Right now Iggy is better defensively than Arroyo ever was. Moreover he is hitting the cover off the ball. I ride the hot hand at least until after the Yankee series. Defensive metrics are the most flawed of all the analytics especially in this case since Iggy will be playing more at second than short. Next year is next year right now the only focus should be making the playoffs. Iggy playing through the Yankee series is their best option.

 

No doubt.

 

I'm just saying, Iggy is not the defender he was when we first knew him.

[mvp 78]

I never said play Plawecki more. That's a fact.

 

Saying maybe Vaz needs more rest is different.

 

Plus Vaz is on pace for maybe 510-520 PAs- pretty close to 450.

 

One big difference about this year is that Vaz has not DH'd as much.

 

BTW, haven't a lot of people said Vaz has been overused and is tired?

 

You said Plawecki needed 250 AB's. That's a fact. He's not getting to 250 AB's this year. That's a fact. You complained that he was "stiff" from sitting on the bench. That's a fact.

[mvp 78]

BTW, haven't a lot of people said Vaz has been overused and is tired?

 

So you think Vaz should play less and Plawecki should play ______.

[mvp 78]

Right now Iggy is better defensively than Arroyo ever was. Moreover he is hitting the cover off the ball. I ride the hot hand at least until after the Yankee series. Defensive metrics are the most flawed of all the analytics especially in this case since Iggy will be playing more at second than short. Next year is next year right now the only focus should be making the playoffs. Iggy playing through the Yankee series is their best option.

 

If the Sox sweep the Yanks, they can trot out the new version of Gino: Arroyo.

[moonslav59]

So you think Vaz should play less and Plawecki should play ______.

 

I thought Vaz needed more rest. I was not close to be alone.

 

It was not about only CERA, but that was one reason I thought he should be rested more than he has been- by about 50-70 PAs.

 

Vaz's offense in about 135 points lower than 2019-2020 combined. He is being stretched thin.

 

I'm not saying CERA is not a factor, but honestly, I said that because Vaz was headed to breaking his catcher innings career record by a lot.

[moonslav59]

You said Plawecki needed 250 AB's. That's a fact. He's not getting to 250 AB's this year. That's a fact. You complained that he was "stiff" from sitting on the bench. That's a fact.

 

I never said he "needed 250." I said "maybe 250," and it was right after I listed their offensive numbers.

 

This strawman stuff is getting annoying.

 

You are saying a said things I never said.

[mvp 78]

I thought Vaz needed more rest. I was not close to be alone.

 

It was not about only CERA, but that was one reason I thought he should be rested more than he has been- by about 50-70 PAs.

 

Vaz's offense in about 135 points lower than 2019-2020 combined. He is being stretched thin.

 

I'm not saying CERA is not a factor, but honestly, I said that because Vaz was headed to breaking his catcher innings career record by a lot.

 

So you are advocating that Plawecki should play more. And you saying that you've never advocated for that position is wrong.

[notin]

Right now Iggy is better defensively than Arroyo ever was. Moreover he is hitting the cover off the ball. I ride the hot hand at least until after the Yankee series. Defensive metrics are the most flawed of all the analytics especially in this case since Iggy will be playing more at second than short. Next year is next year right now the only focus should be making the playoffs. Iggy playing through the Yankee series is their best option.

 

 

If Cora benches Iglesias to play Arroyo, it raises serious questions about his ability to manage…

[mvp 78]

If Cora benches Iglesias to play Arroyo, it raises serious questions about his ability to manage…

 

The only issue is that Arroyo needs to be ready for the playoffs. If the Sox can clinch the WC spot soon, you trot out Arroyo. Arroyo needs to at least start every game that last series.

[notin]

Fun thought: this year, Red Sox outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Kyle Schwarber have combined for 59 home runs on the season. Both players were non-tendered last off-season… Edited September 23, 2021 by notin

[notin]

The only issue is that Arroyo needs to be ready for the playoffs. If the Sox can clinch the WC spot soon, you trot out Arroyo. Arroyo needs to at least start every game that last series.

 

That’s fine but first order of business is getting in, followed by clinching home field for the WC game. Getting players ready is last. Possibly even behind setting up the postseason rotation…