A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

We just need JD and Xander to do JD and Xander things. I do not believe they are tired, Cora has managed the work load. They are just not performing as we know they can perform, we had the same crap starters all year and up until recently they could overcome.

 

Now I see Schwaber inserted into that lineup which will result in production in a spot that was a black hole. I firmly believe Sale will be a difference maker, if nothing else as I said even with managed expectations he will give them more than Richards or Perez.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

this sox team is a sham.

 

Before the season, only one person on this board insisted the Sox were a playoff team. The rest either at best thought/hoped they would improve to a level of contention -- for a Wild Card spot -- or be a few games over or under .500. Unless Boston totally tanks, and the All-Star hitters don't revive -- like they always do when the pressure is off in an also-ran final month vs. tired arms or September call-ups -- there will be few shamans to point at here.

 

The real sham team is the preseason one in the Bronx that all the "experts" predicted would run away with the AL pennant, win over 100 games, and battle for a ring vs. the NL West. The revamped Yankee team may still do those things, but not thanks to most of their sham players who made them heavy favorites.

[moonslav59]

Forever the optimist.

 

Not really.

 

I was among the very first to jump ship in 2019, and totally wrote off 2020 from December to September.

 

I also thought we had very little chance in 2013, but pretty quickly jumped on the bandwagon after Papi's speech.

[moonslav59]

Why can you guys not call a spade a spade…. This team is a dumpster fire right now! Imagine the chemistry in the Locker room… there seems to be no leadership and they’ve got to be questioning leadership with seeing what other contenders did to better their teams! Bloom has made what maybe 2 good moves so far? And those saying we couldn’t sell off the farm for now to kill the future! News flash… tomorrow and next season is not a given. Our farm system doesn’t have an all star in the farm for a while and it will take longer than 2022 with the pieces we have. The Jays aren’t getting worse this off season and the Yanks sure as hell will add the needed pieces. Mark my words and this post.. the O’s are coming for us by 2023… more talent in Bowie than our entire farm system… Bloom is standing in quicksand!!

 

Although I'm an optimist, it does not mean I can't see this team is a "dumpster fire" right now.

 

The key words are "right now."

 

Why do people always assume a team or player will continue to play just as they have for the prior 2-3 weeks, even after repeatedly seeing baseball doesn't work that way? Trends change on a dime, all the time.

 

I know the next question will be, "What do you see in this team that gives you any hope they'll turn this around?"

 

Well, I heard that after we were swept by the O's in the season's first series. I've heard in many many times, this year and over the years, only to watch the team catch fire and surprise all those who give up so early.

 

How many times do people need to be surprised and shocked before thinking, maybe I'll leave some room for hope, even when things look as bad as they possibly can be?

 

We do have Sale & Houck joining the rotation- our biggest need area.

 

We do have Schwarber (.910 OPS) & Arroyo (one of our hottest hitters post April) joining the line-up, at some point.

 

We do have a great manager.

 

We have a very good pen.

 

It's not like there is nothing to be positive about.

[moonslav59]

This team had a lot of great come-from-behind victories. The fact that we had to come from behind so often was not a good sign, of course.

 

Our run differential is down to a paltry +34.

 

Sometimes a season mirrors the manners of many games played that year. If you keep getting snake-bitten all year, you end up missing the playoffs by a hair or losing it on a bad call or unforced error. If the season seems magical, it seems like everything falls into place- like 2013.

 

Right now, it seems like all the magic is gone. We start wondering, if it was all smoke and mirrors, to begin with, and the comeback wins were flukes that gave us an inflated idea of how good we are.

 

Maybe this team was never really good enough to be thought of as the best, even when we had the best record, but IMO, we are no where near this bad, either.

 

Maybe a big game from Houck or Sale will spark us to a winning streak. Too bad we put off bringing up Sale, even on an innings limit and skipped a start by Houck. (See, I can and have criticized management, despite still thinking these guys are great.)

 

We came back so many times in games, so why can't we comeback after a long stretch of putrid baseball?

[moonslav59]

This goes back to what Moon and I think is needed.

 

You build the staff from top down. Find someone at #1 and the entire staff benefits by dropping down one spot.

 

Now it's still possible and hopefully that role will be filled by Chris Sale at some point. If not 2021, then in 2022 when he's been 'out' for almost two years.

 

Give Yankees credit, they have that pitcher in G Cole. They also have two additional starters that will eventually come off the IL.

 

Sox needs to give Whitlock and Houck every opportunity to become a starter in 2022.

 

With our current financial situation, we probably need to retain E Rod and go with this starting rotation. Yes, we need 6.

 

Sale

Eovaldi

E Rod

Pivetta

Houck

Whitlock

 

I'm pretty sure someone will be hurt from time to time.

 

AND HOPE THAT WHITLOCK WILL OUTPERFORM EXPECTATIONS.

 

E Rod will be another year away from 2020, Whitlock, Houck and Pivetta all should be improving.

 

I don't think we bring back ERod.

 

I doubt we take the option on Perez. I'd say 0%, but for some reason, Sox management likes Martin.

 

Richards will not see his option picked up.

 

I think we'll sign an older pitcher to a 2 year deal (maybe with a 3rd year option and buy-out).

 

2022 may look like this:

 

S1 Sale

S2 Scherzer, Verlander, Greinke, Kershaw, Morton (?)

---Hopefully not Cueto, Miley, Duffy, Rich Hill. Maybe Syndergaard -30 y/o

S3 Eovaldi

S4 Pivetta

S5 Houck/Whitlock

(Add some starter depth, unless we like what Seabold shows here on out)

 

Sign a top set-up man.

 

Add a short term slugging 1Bman and a nice utility player, and I'll love our chances in 2022.

 

 

[moonslav59]

Before the season, only one person on this board insisted the Sox were a playoff team. The rest either at best thought/hoped they would improve to a level of contention -- for a Wild Card spot -- or be a few games over or under .500. Unless Boston totally tanks, and the All-Star hitters don't revive -- like they always do when the pressure is off in an also-ran final month vs. tired arms or September call-ups -- there will be few shamans to point at here.

 

The real sham team is the preseason one in the Bronx that all the "experts" predicted would run away with the AL pennant, win over 100 games, and battle for a ring vs. the NL West. The revamped Yankee team may still do those things, but not thanks to most of their sham players who made them heavy favorites.

 

I can't believe how many fans think only what you have done the last 2 weeks matters.

 

Sure, they may end up being right.

 

I hope not, but baseball is full of twists and turns, often on a dime.

[dgalehouse]

Our entire lead over the Yankees is now due to our record in the head to head games. Other than that , we have not outperformed them. And they are certainly playing better than we are at the moment. This needs to change ASAP!!!

[notin]

One thing about the whole goo ban is it seems like it's kiilling the Soxmore than other teams. Certainly other pitchers were using the stuff.

 

Some, like Tyler Glasnow, at least had the decency to injure himself and not become a problem for the Rays. But Perez and Richards continue to stay healthy.

 

(I'm actually not totally convinced Perez was using anything. He's been awful since the ban, but his career is loaded with stretches like this. They are probably the reason he only gets the cheap one year deals.)

[notin]

Before the season, only one person on this board insisted the Sox were a playoff team. The rest either at best thought/hoped they would improve to a level of contention -- for a Wild Card spot -- or be a few games over or under .500. Unless Boston totally tanks, and the All-Star hitters don't revive -- like they always do when the pressure is off in an also-ran final month vs. tired arms or September call-ups -- there will be few shamans to point at here.

 

The real sham team is the preseason one in the Bronx that all the "experts" predicted would run away with the AL pennant, win over 100 games, and battle for a ring vs. the NL West. The revamped Yankee team may still do those things, but not thanks to most of their sham players who made them heavy favorites.

 

It also took a significant rebuild in July to get hem on the right track. Not one of those talking heads predicting another ring took Rizzo and Gallo into account...

[a700hitter]

One thing about the whole goo ban is it seems like it's kiilling the Soxmore than other teams. Certainly other pitchers were using the stuff.

 

Some, like Tyler Glasnow, at least had the decency to injure himself and not become a problem for the Rays. But Perez and Richards continue to stay healthy.

 

(I'm actually not totally convinced Perez was using anything. He's been awful since the ban, but his career is loaded with stretches like this. They are probably the reason he only gets the cheap one year deals.)

Reportedly, the Sox pitchers had a big increase in spin rate this season before the ban.

[moonslav59]

Interesting spin.

[dgalehouse]

I'm not sure how much the crackdown on stickum has improved the offense . But the pace of games is still terrible and the hitters are still striking out like crazy.

[oldtimer]

Our offense was the problem in the first game. Two hits will not be winning baseball, even with Sale pitching a gem. The Sox seem reluctant to make any moves at this point. JDM is out so they bring up a light hitting catcher. What gives?

[notin]

Our offense was the problem in the first game. Two hits will not be winning baseball, even with Sale pitching a gem. The Sox seem reluctant to make any moves at this point. JDM is out so they bring up a light hitting catcher. What gives?

 

Who were they supposed to bring up?

[dgalehouse]

One thing to look out for , whether with Matt Barnes or anyone for that matter , is the fatigue factor and little injuries cropping up. This is a long season following last year's abbreviated one.

[oldtimer]

Who were they supposed to bring up?

 

How about Munoz with his 28 game hitting streak. He has ML BB experience.

[Nick]

One thing to look out for , whether with Matt Barnes or anyone for that matter , is the fatigue factor and little injuries cropping up. This is a long season following last year's abbreviated one.

 

Matt Barnes will revert back to what he used to be....he has not been dominant ever since the stickygate...

[notin]

Matt Barnes will revert back to what he used to be....he has not been dominant ever since the stickygate...

 

 

Jump on that bandwagon!!

 

Manfred banned foreign substances on June 23.

 

His OPSA before Stickygate was .474. His OPSA since the ban has ballooned to .484. (prior to today’s game)…

[Nick]

Jump on that bandwagon!!

 

Manfred banned foreign substances on June 23.

 

His OPSA before Stickygate was .474. His OPSA since the ban has ballooned to .484. (prior to today’s game)…

 

I'll trust my own eyes.......he was nasty early. It may not have anything to do with foreign substance.

[notin]

How about Munoz with his 28 game hitting streak. He has ML BB experience.

 

Sure. I can see the argument.

 

However the Sox lost their starting DH. Is a utility infielder any better off a call up?

 

 

If the Sox want someone not on the 40 man, Joey Meneses might have made more sense. Or Johan Mieses.

 

Of course I can see why neither was called up, as they have a combined 11 PA above Portland this year…

[notin]

I'll trust my own eyes.......he was nasty early. It may not have anything to do with foreign substance.

 

His ERA before today was also nearly two runs lower than before the ban.

 

Barnes has gotten better since Manfred banned Spider Tack, etc…

[Larry Cook]

His ERA before today was also nearly two runs lower than before the ban.

 

Barnes has gotten better since Manfred banned Spider Tack, etc…

 

The clock struck midnight and Barnes has turned back into a pumpkin!

 

Somewhere kimbrel is laughing!

[mvp 78]

Munoz has a 29 game hit streak.

[mvp 78]

Don’t DFA Cordero tho!

[mvp 78]

Wild stat: Today is only Chris Sale's 17th career minor league game.

 

* 11 before he was called up as a rookie in 2010

 

* 1 rehab game in 2014.

 

* 5 this year.

[mvp 78]

Wasting bullets.

[Bellhorn04]

Munoz has a 29 game hit streak.

 

He can be the next Singing Frog!

[dgalehouse]

The clock struck midnight and Barnes has turned back into a pumpkin!

 

Somewhere kimbrel is laughing!

 

Actually , Barnes and Kimbrel are pals . Very supportive of each other.

[moonslav59]

If calling up a .763 utility player from AAA, who passed through waivers once already, is the answer to our troubles, then this will, indeed, be a "magical" season.

 

(Seriously, though, I don't see why we can try it.)

 

I just wanna see Richards and Perez assigned to mop up duty, phantom IL's or DFA'd- the sooner the better.

 

That, alone, will be a huge addition by subtraction.