Red Sox Sign Masataka Yoshida

[sk7326]

Maybe it was Bloom's or company policy... not to pay one dollar more for starting pitchers than the failed anal dept's market evals.

 

Instead, we were treated to Richards and Kluber -- and if any Wacha actually earned a raise, it was easy to point him to the Mass Pike (it's right behind the Monstah).

 

Given how short the terms on the deals were - I am going to guess there was some organizational pressure to not take on longer term.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes BUT, if the Sox threw more money in for Eovaldi or Efflin they'd still be sitting below the luxury tax this year. It's not like they were up against the cap. Yoshida didn't prevent them from throwing a few extra dollars at Efflin, or another year at Nate.

 

Cot's Contracts has us about $11 million below the cap, so Eovaldi or Eflin would have put them over.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The problem isn’t necessarily avoiding guys like Nola and Snell. It does seem like most of those major contracts don’t push teams over the top anyway. The problem was the inactivity. The Sox would have been better with simply adding Kyle Gibson, but they d do isn’t even go that far.

 

Kluber was an understandable chance. But he flopped and was essentially discarded. And then? Plan B seemed to be to simply let the calendar run out. Even with Mluber not contributing, Wacha and Eovaldi succeeding elsewhere, Eflin spurning the Sox for a division rival - even with all that, they were still in contention on August 1.

 

And for the second year in a row, they let contending die that day…

 

Merloni said the same thing last night, but then really blasted Baltimore -- (paraphrasing): "Flaherty? Flaherty would've helped the Sox more than the O's -- a 100-win team passed on top free agent pitchers last winter, which was a big disappointment... but this deadline they needed a Verlander -- best farm system in baseball, use it, trade up, their time is now. They need an ace with postseason experience."

[Bellhorn04]

Given how short the terms on the deals were - I am going to guess there was some organizational pressure to not take on longer term.

 

And if there was that pressure on Bloom, ownership did set him up to fail.

[mvp 78]

Cot's Contracts has us about $11 million below the cap, so Eovaldi or Eflin would have put them over.

 

I think the argument was Eflin instead of Kluber?

[Bellhorn04]

I think the argument was Eflin instead of Kluber?

 

I don't see that in Hugh's posts, though.

[mvp 78]

I don't see that in Hugh's posts, though.

 

Sorry, that's just what the psychic cat was telling me.

[Hugh2]

Cot's Contracts has us about $11 million below the cap, so Eovaldi or Eflin would have put them over.

 

No, because you're probably not signing Kluber then. Ahhhh, didn't think about that now did ya.

[Hugh2]

Sorry, that's just what the psychic cat was telling me.

 

Yeah, that is heavily implied in said scenario.

 

If you are adding a guy to a roster, someone is getting subtracted. Sox probably could have signed Efflin for 3/45

[mvp 78]

No, because you're probably not signing Kluber then. Ahhhh, didn't think about that now did ya.

 

The psychic cat sees all.

[moonslav59]

In the olden days, we'd be celebrating Yoshida finishing 5h in the AL in BA, although .288 is not usually a 5th best BA.

 

Turner is currently 9th at .277.

 

Devers is 17th at .271.

 

24. Casas .263

25. Dugo .263

 

OBP Leaders:

.412 Ohtani

.410 Diaz

7. Casas .367

13. Devers .350

16. Turner .347

20. Yoshida .338 (I didn't realize .338 was so highly ranked.)

 

SLG

.654 Ohtani

.628 Seager

7. Devers .501

10. Casas .490

21. Turner .458

24. Yoshida .446 (I would have never guessed he was top 25 in the AL in SLG.)

 

OPS

5. Casas .857

7. Devers .851

18. Turner .805

26. Yoshida .784

33. Dugo .746

(Note: Beni is 8th worst at .682)

[Jasonbay44]

In the olden days, we'd be celebrating Yoshida finishing 5h in the AL in BA, although .288 is not usually a 5th best BA.

 

Turner is currently 9th at .277.

 

Devers is 17th at .271.

 

24. Casas .263

25. Dugo .263

 

OBP Leaders:

.412 Ohtani

.410 Diaz

7. Casas .367

13. Devers .350

16. Turner .347

20. Yoshida .338 (I didn't realize .338 was so highly ranked.)

 

SLG

.654 Ohtani

.628 Seager

7. Devers .501

10. Casas .490

21. Turner .458

24. Yoshida .446 (I would have never guessed he was top 25 in the AL in SLG.)

 

OPS

5. Casas .857

7. Devers .851

18. Turner .805

26. Yoshida .784

33. Dugo .746

(Note: Beni is 8th worst at .682)

 

Those OBP numbers are actually kind of shocking. I didn’t realize the league leaders were that low

[moonslav59]

Those OBP numbers are actually kind of shocking. I didn’t realize the league leaders were that low

 

Granted, these are just players that qualify, so many have higher OBPs but not quite enough PAs, but still, yes, I was shocked, too.

 

It's also just the AL not MLB.

 

Still, top 25 in OBP and SLG surprised me.

[moonslav59]

Out of 96 players in the AL with 400+ PAs, Yoshi placed...

36th in OBP, before tonight

43rd in SLG

 

151 players have 300+ PAs

Yoshi is 44th in OBP and 60th in SLG

Maybe since the Sox have 5 in the top 44, we don't realize how his ranking isn't as bad as it seems. He's 5th best on the Sox, but averages about 3rd best on AL teams. (44 divided by 15 teams)

[Bellhorn04]

Out of 96 players in the AL with 400+ PAs, Yoshi placed...

36th in OBP, before tonight

43rd in SLG

 

151 players have 300+ PAs

Yoshi is 44th in OBP and 60th in SLG

Maybe since the Sox have 5 in the top 44, we don't realize how his ranking isn't as bad as it seems. He's 5th best on the Sox, but averages about 3rd best on AL teams. (44 divided by 15 teams)

 

The numbers are all inflated by the Fenway Factor, moon.

 

2023 Red Sox

Home 279/344/453 - 797 OPS

Road 238/303/399 - 702 OPS

 

Yoshida

Home 306/360/475 - 834 OPS

Road 266/313/412 - 725 OPS

[moonslav59]

The numbers are all inflated by the Fenway Factor, moon.

 

2023 Red Sox

Home 279/344/453 - 797 OPS

Road 238/303/399 - 702 OPS

 

Yoshida

Home 306/360/475 - 834 OPS

Road 266/313/412 - 725 OPS

 

He falls to the middle of the pack in Away OBP and SLG (78th and 79th out of 153 with 150+ PAs Away.) He's 26th and 40th at Home.

 

Home + Away

He is 69th in xwOBA and 61st in wRC+

 

He has a 110 OPS+

 

I'm not saying he's been great, but in some areas, he seems to be better than I thought, in terms of comps to the rest of the league.

 

He had a lot of adjusting to do. I think he deserves another season to determine more about him, but I do agree that this year was a disappointment.

Edited October 1, 2023 by moonslav59

[Dipre]

The numbers are all inflated by the Fenway Factor, moon.

 

2023 Red Sox

Home 279/344/453 - 797 OPS

Road 238/303/399 - 702 OPS

 

Yoshida

Home 306/360/475 - 834 OPS

Road 266/313/412 - 725 OPS

 

Yoshida hits LH. Fenway notoriously suppresses LH power.

[moonslav59]

Yoshida hits LH. Fenway notoriously suppresses LH power.

 

But many LHB's thrive in Fenway due to the huge RF and RF/CF areas that allow for more base hits, and when they go the other way, they get more 2Bs due to the wall.

 

We have a long history of LHBs doing very well in Fenway. Just not many with HRs, unless they go to LF, a lot or hit around the pesky pole.

[Bellhorn04]

But many LHB's thrive in Fenway due to the huge RF and RF/CF areas that allow for more base hits, and when they go the other way, they get more 2Bs due to the wall.

 

We have a long history of LHBs doing very well in Fenway. Just not many with HRs, unless they go to LF, a lot or hit around the pesky pole.

 

Yes, the wall doubles are a huge component of the Fenway Factor.

[moonslav59]

Yes, the wall doubles are a huge component of the Fenway Factor.

 

Indeed. I think Fenway helps lefties more than righties, except for "MAYBE" HRs.

 

Pitchers can pitch to RHBs with a certain strategy that does not work for LHBs.

[dgalehouse]

Without question, most of the Sox great hitters have been left handed.

[moonslav59]

Without question, most of the Sox great hitters have been left handed.

 

Indeed!

 

Our best wRC+ career in the last 100 years:

1500+ PAs

 

187 Ted

154 Manny

150 Foxx

146 Papi

142 Lynn

142 Boggs

137 Mo

135 Betts

134 Nomar

134 JD

130 Yaz

130 Youk

129 Dewey, Smith, Fisk

128 Rice

 

 

[Dipre]

Without question, most of the Sox great hitters have been left handed.

 

Not the same Fenway. Current Fenway improves doubles for both RH and LH hitters, improves HR's for RHH and greatly suppresses HR power for LHH.

[jad]

Not the same Fenway. Current Fenway improves doubles for both RH and LH hitters, improves HR's for RHH and greatly suppresses HR power for LHH.

 

Are the dimensions significantly different from what they were in Ted's day? All I remember is a minor reconfiguration of center field. Otherwise, parrk looks pretty much as it did when I first saw it. Reference sketches?

[moonslav59]

Not the same Fenway. Current Fenway improves doubles for both RH and LH hitters, improves HR's for RHH and greatly suppresses HR power for LHH.

 

They used to not have the bullpen until 1940. That made HRs easier by 20 feet, mostly LHBs, after it was installed.

[notin]

Are the dimensions significantly different from what they were in Ted's day? All I remember is a minor reconfiguration of center field. Otherwise, parrk looks pretty much as it did when I first saw it. Reference sketches?

 

The 600 Club/.406 Club/EMC Club altered the wind patterns. And in turn those new wind patters kept changing the name of the club.

[moonslav59]

The 600 Club/.406 Club/EMC Club altered the wind patterns. And in turn those new wind patters kept changing the name of the club.

 

It should be called the Tornado Club, next.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Indeed!

 

Our best wRC+ career in the last 100 years:

1500+ PAs

 

187 Ted

154 Manny

150 Foxx

146 Papi

142 Lynn

142 Boggs

137 Mo

135 Betts

134 Nomar

134 JD

130 Yaz

130 Youk

129 Dewey, Smith, Fisk

128 Rice

 

 

 

It's true that great lefty Fenway batters take advantage of the Monster. No one did it better than Boggs, and many said Lynn (himself, included) would be in Cooperstown if he played in Boston his entire career.

 

But the Red Sox aren't winning without top righthanded hitters -- from Manny on '04/'07 to Mookie/JD in '18... Youk in '07, and don't forget Pedroia in '07/'13.

 

Going back a ways, star righty swingers always led flag winners: Tony C/Rico/Boomer; Rice/Fisk; Evans/Burks... even Jody Reed and John Valentin, who each led the AL in doubles.

 

Who is the Sox' top righty hitter going forward? Team K leader Connor Wong, with his .673 OPS? How soon can Nick Yorke can here...

[notin]

It's true that great lefty Fenway batters take advantage of the Monster. No one did it better than Boggs, and many said Lynn (himself, included) would be in Cooperstown if he played in Boston his entire career.

 

But the Red Sox aren't winning without top righthanded hitters -- from Manny on '04/'07 to Mookie/JD in '18... Youk in '07, and don't forget Pedroia in '07/'13.

 

Going back a ways, star righty swingers always led flag winners: Tony C/Rico/Boomer; Rice/Fisk; Evans/Burks... even Jody Reed and John Valentin, who each led the AL in doubles.

 

Who is the Sox' top righty hitter going forward? Team K leader Connor Wong, with his .673 OPS? How soon can Nick Yorke can here...

 

Led by righty swingers? You might have left out the AL MVP somewhere…

[Bellhorn04]

Led by righty swingers? You might have left out the AL MVP somewhere…

 

Omitting Freddy there reeks of leftyphobia...