A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[Fan_since_Boggs]

The Red Sox have parts that don't fit together. We have two DH types (basically) and no true major league caliber starting 1b. To deal with that "weirdness" the Red Sox have decided to put JD Martinez in the OF, but that isn't going to work, the guy is a DH. The parts don't fit together and there is no solution. It is too late, they needed to get it fixed at the deadline and Bloom failed to do it.

 

Cashman, and I've been critical of Cashman in the past, addressed the Yankees' position player weakness by adding two left-handed bats, while also improving the defense. In contrast, Bloom failed to fix the Red Sox position player weakness. And by playing JD Martinez in the OF, the Red Sox have weakened the defense.

 

We have to give credit where credit is due. The Yankees season was on the brink and Cashman brought them back with some shrewd trades. Cashman has made mistakes in the past and specifically at trade deadlines, but this time he made excellent moves that saved the Yankees season and opened the door to the playoffs.

Edited August 19, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[jacksonianmarch]

Haven’t been willing to say the Sox are in a death spiral (to use a700’s lingo) until last night. Heaney was definitely better than before, but the Sox had chances at fat pitches and just didn’t capitalize. For a team that was fighting for its playoff lives, they rolled over. The soft schedule should keep them relevant, but once Bloom avoided reinforcements, it was clear this dog don’t hunt.

[moonslav59]

There is no sugar coating what is going on, but am very very far from giving up on this team.

[Bellhorn04]

The Red Sox have parts that don't fit together. We have two DH types (basically) and no true major league caliber starting 1b. To deal with that "weirdness" the Red Sox have decided to put JD Martinez in the OF, but that isn't going to work, the guy is a DH. The parts don't fit together and there is no solution. It is too late, they needed to get it fixed at the deadline and Bloom failed to do it.

 

Cashman, and I've been critical of Cashman in the past, addressed the Yankees' position player weakness by adding two left-handed bats, while also improving the defense. In contrast, Bloom failed to fix the Red Sox position player weakness. And by playing JD Martinez in the OF, the Red Sox have weakened the defense.

 

Can't argue, but it doesn't explain the brutal performance of the offense in this series.

[Nick]

The Red Sox have parts that don't fit together. We have two DH types (basically) and no true major league caliber starting 1b. To deal with that "weirdness" the Red Sox have decided to put JD Martinez in the OF, but that isn't going to work, the guy is a DH. The parts don't fit together and there is no solution. It is too late, they needed to get it fixed at the deadline and Bloom failed to do it.

 

Cashman, and I've been critical of Cashman in the past, addressed the Yankees' position player weakness by adding two left-handed bats, while also improving the defense. In contrast, Bloom failed to fix the Red Sox position player weakness. And by playing JD Martinez in the OF, the Red Sox have weakened the defense.

 

We have to give credit where credit is due. The Yankees season was on the brink and Cashman brought them back with some shrewd trades. Cashman has made mistakes in the past and specifically at trade deadlines, but this time he made excellent moves that saved the Yankees season and opened the door to the playoffs.

 

It still remains to be seen if this was worth it from losing what they did. Maybe they lost nothing.

 

But from the perspective of uplifting the entire Yankee fan base, it's definitely worth it.

 

Sox are exactly the opposite. Lets just hope staying 'pat' will pay off. Hopefully before 2030.

[notin]

Another play tonight that should have been made but wasn’t.

 

It opened the flood gates, but all runs were earned.

 

Our D sucks. Munoz is not an improvement on D.

 

Arroyo at 2B and Kike in CF helps some.

 

Not putting Renfroe in CF and JDM in RF just to get Plawecki’s bat in the lineup might help some.

 

Was JD in the parking lot on that Sanchez double? Where was he?

[notin]

The Red Sox have parts that don't fit together. We have two DH types (basically) and no true major league caliber starting 1b. To deal with that "weirdness" the Red Sox have decided to put JD Martinez in the OF, but that isn't going to work, the guy is a DH. The parts don't fit together and there is no solution. It is too late, they needed to get it fixed at the deadline and Bloom failed to do it.

 

Cashman, and I've been critical of Cashman in the past, addressed the Yankees' position player weakness by adding two left-handed bats, while also improving the defense. In contrast, Bloom failed to fix the Red Sox position player weakness. And by playing JD Martinez in the OF, the Red Sox have weakened the defense.

 

We have to give credit where credit is due. The Yankees season was on the brink and Cashman brought them back with some shrewd trades. Cashman has made mistakes in the past and specifically at trade deadlines, but this time he made excellent moves that saved the Yankees season and opened the door to the playoffs.

 

That was more do on Cora than Bloom. If the goal is to get the bat of the backup catcher in the lineup, why not at catcher? Instead of re-arranging the defense to squeeze him in.

 

And hopefully Cora learns a lesson and doesn’t make this “Renfroe in CF/Martinez in RF/Plawecki at DH” his new thing vs LHP. Just put Dalbec in the game. That should be enough…

[Bellhorn04]

We can talk about defensive configurations all day, but when your offense scores 5 runs in 3 games against the likes of Monty, Gil and Heaney, you suck.

[notin]

Can't argue, but it doesn't explain the brutal performance of the offense in this series.

 

After the third inning of the first game, the Sox would be limited to 3 solo home runs for the rest of the series….

[moonslav59]

Not putting Renfroe in CF and JDM in RF just to get Plawecki’s bat in the lineup might help some.

 

Was JD in the parking lot on that Sanchez double? Where was he?

 

I'd have also DH'd Schwarber over Plawecki or at least PH for him in the 9th.

[Hugh2]

Can't argue, but it doesn't explain the brutal performance of the offense in this series.

 

Yeah, 1st base is the least of my concern, at least....next to the offense overall. The team isn't scoring zero runs because of one position, the entire offense is slumping and slumping badly.

[moonslav59]

Can we celebrate Bobby Dee hitting into 3 hard outs?

 

Man o man, this sucks!

[notin]

We can talk about defensive configurations all day, but when your offense scores 5 runs in 3 games against the likes of Monty, Gil and Heaney, you suck.

 

Really the biggest issue is this team just likes to help out opposing pitchers. Montgomery couldn’t find the strike zone with a map and compass, but the Sox hitters were just too accommodating to him and swung at anything anywhere in the Bronx…

[Hugh2]

Bobby Dalbec is also due to turn back into a pumpkin, it's time to see what Schwarber can do at 1B.

[notin]

I'd have also DH'd Schwarber over Plawecki or at least PH for him in the 9th.

 

But then we’d have missed that painful reminder that ended the game about how important defense is.

 

Also, game 1 showed us the Sox baserunning failures as well…

[Bellhorn04]

Really the biggest issue is this team just likes to help out opposing pitchers. Montgomery couldn’t find the strike zone with a map and compass, but the Sox hitters were just too accommodating to him and swung at anything anywhere in the Bronx…

 

And earlier in the year we were mocking the Yanks for their all or nothing approach.

 

Maybe the guys were too jacked up after teeing off on the O's staff.

[Bellhorn04]

Bobby Dalbec is also due to turn back into a pumpkin, it's time to see what Schwarber can do at 1B.

 

But it's obvious they don't really want to put Schwarb at first, likely because of injury concerns.

 

Which does make Bloom's deadline work look a little suspect.

[Hugh2]

But it's obvious they don't really want to put Schwarb at first, likely because of injury concerns.

 

Which does make Bloom's deadline work look a little suspect.

 

Normally I would agree with you, and I still think you may be right, but I'm not 100% sold on that. Dalbec was in one of his (one week month) hot streaks the past 14 days, and Schwarber had just returned from an injury. Plus Duran isn't hitting either so it made sense to just stick him in left.

 

I still think we need to try him at 1st at some point. At this point, I'd rather give Duran some at bats for the next month and see if he can take a step forward rather than Dalbec.

[Bellhorn04]

It now seems that when they traded for Schwarb, they really had no f'king idea where he was going to play.

[Bellhorn04]

And when they went to Cora about it, he said "No worries, we'll get creative."!

[moonslav59]

Okay, we have a day off, and need a serious re-grouping or smacks up aside some heads.

 

As bad as things have looked, we are still tied for the last WC slot, with the A's having one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league.

 

I'm not a big believer in the playoffs are a crap shoot theory, but some of you are, so at least you guys should not count the Sox out. A crap shoot is a crapshoot, so anyone in has a shot, right?

 

We have the next 9 games, including another day off on Monday, to make a statement.

 

Home for 3 vs TEX and 3 vs MIN before going to CLE for 3.

 

That will be followed by 9 games that may make or break us:

3 vs TBR at home

3 @CWS

3 @ SEA

 

If we are still in it, even if a game or 2 behind on Sept 15th, we have a shot. We finish the season with...

8 at home:

3 v BAL

2 v NYM (still in it)

3 v NYY

then 6 on the road:

3 @ BAL

3 @ WSH

 

Here's how the next 9 games shape up:

TEX Sale (+1 day rest)

TEX ERod (+1)

TEX Eovaldi

off

MIN Houck (+2)

MIN Pivetta (+1)

MIN Sale (+1)

@CLE ERod (+1)

@CLE Eovaldi (+1)

@CLE Houck

 

The series in TB might line up with Pivetta, Sale & ERod.

 

There is still hope, but we need our offense to pick it up, especially by hitting our HRs with men on base, which of course, implies we need to get on base more often.

 

We need our defense to make plays, when we need them most. I can't expect them to learn how to play good D overnight, so we will just need to get lucky by having our mistakes made when they count least.

 

Our pen needs to rebound, and maybe Richards and Perez can provide the boost they need.

 

We need our starters to come through.

 

That's a lot of ifs, and maybe we don't need all at once to pull out enough games to, but we have to do better on a number of fronts to right the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mvp 78]

That was more do on Cora than Bloom. If the goal is to get the bat of the backup catcher in the lineup, why not at catcher? Instead of re-arranging the defense to squeeze him in.

 

And hopefully Cora learns a lesson and doesn’t make this “Renfroe in CF/Martinez in RF/Plawecki at DH” his new thing vs LHP. Just put Dalbec in the game. That should be enough…

 

Cora thought they could sneak JD in RF while in small RF Yankee land. Didn't work.

 

Why didn't Schwarber start?

[mvp 78]

And when they went to Cora about it, he said "No worries, we'll get creative."!

 

Not sure how getting Plawecki more AB's at DH helps get Schwarber in the lineup.

[Hugh2]

It now seems that when they traded for Schwarb, they really had no f'king idea where he was going to play.

 

I mean, the two biggest holes on the team were 1B/LF, you know he can play one.......and if they really want to they will just plug him at 1B. A lot can be said about that, but it happens, and it's more successful at 1B than anywhere else. Nothing is guaranteed in life but I think that was their mentality.

 

They also traded for a bat first. If you can ignore the 2 weeks on the DL, he was a very significant offense upgrade. Schwarber OPS >> Cruz/Rizzo at the deadline and the Sox literally got him for peanuts. Sale/Houck = a more significant upgrade than any of our competitors.

 

Honestly, I like what they did, staying under the cap and making sneakily significant upgrades.......it just hasn't worked out. The only thing I would have liked to have seen, and the criticism that I think may be well deserved is they could have put a little bit more effort into upgrading the pen. At this point, I'm not even sure they'd have ONE more win if they did so, but it will help them down the stretch.

[Hugh2]

Hey Schwarber can catch???? lol

[moonslav59]

It now seems that when they traded for Schwarb, they really had no f'king idea where he was going to play.

 

The groin injury set him back and limited his ability to practice more at 1B, but why are we DH'ing Plawecki with Schawrber on the bench? We had 2 days off around these 3 Yankee games plus this Monday off.

[mvp 78]

I mean, the two biggest holes on the team were 1B/LF, you know he can play one.......and if they really want to they will just plug him at 1B. A lot can be said about that, but it happens, and it's more successful at 1B than anywhere else. Nothing is guaranteed in life but I think that was their mentality.

 

They also traded for a bat first. If you can ignore the 2 weeks on the DL, he was a very significant offense upgrade. Schwarber OPS >> Cruz/Rizzo at the deadline and the Sox literally got him for peanuts. Sale/Houck = a more significant upgrade than any of our competitors.

 

Honestly, I like what they did, staying under the cap and making sneakily significant upgrades.......it just hasn't worked out. The only thing I would have liked to have seen, and the criticism that I think may be well deserved is they could have put a little bit more effort into upgrading the pen. At this point, I'm not even sure they'd have ONE more win if they did so, but it will help them down the stretch.

 

I think they were trying to be too sneaky. Hard for me to count Sale/Houck as deadline acquisitions.

[moonslav59]

I mean, the two biggest holes on the team were 1B/LF, you know he can play one.......and if they really want to they will just plug him at 1B. A lot can be said about that, but it happens, and it's more successful at 1B than anywhere else. Nothing is guaranteed in life but I think that was their mentality.

 

 

Plus, by playing JD in the OF, they opened up the perfect fit for Schwarber- DH!

 

But, they put Plawecki there, instead, then refused to PH SChwarber with the game on the line.

 

I'm the last guy to make game choice criticisms of our managers, but I'm in disbelief on this one.

[Hugh2]

I think they were trying to be too sneaky. Hard for me to count Sale/Houck as deadline acquisitions.

 

I mean, effectively they're exactly that. I get that they're not and we can have that semantics battle if you want to? I will just concede and say you're right but here me out on this. A deadline acquisition is to acquire a player who you previously did not have. Chris Sale has not pitched one inning for the Sox up until recently. In terms of value-added, wins added, semantics aside, it's an acquisition.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Did anyone note the bitter irony when Rizzo bounced that clutch "hit" off Dalbec's glove to put the game away, ensure a NY sweep, and possibly bury the '21 Sox?

 

I was watching with the mute button on, but thought: (if only Bloom had the prospect depth to deal at the deadline)... 1. Rizzo was supposed to be delivering those moments for Boston; and 2. Rizzo would've made that play.