A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[vegasbob]

Wink gets 3 innings, allowing a run a couple ground ball singles, but 9 outs on 34 pitches.

[vegasbob]

If Casas can hit towards left center, especially at Fenway, like that double with any regularity, he will cement himself as the Sox 1Bman of the next 5 years.

[Dipre]

Casas smoked all three of his hits last night with exit velos of 110, 102 and 98 MPH, one of them a barrell.

 

Patience grasshoppers.

[mvp 78]

Barrel % 84th percentile

Av Exit Velo 73rd percentile

Max Exit Velo 73red percentile

 

His xWOBA the past 100 PA's has been pretty good. His bad April is dragging down his overall numbers.

 

797 May OPS

 

May OPS now at 864.

 

His was bad in April, that’s why his overall numbers look like s***. As we’ve said, he’s doing the right things in the box.

[Bellhorn04]

May OPS now at 864.

 

His was bad in April, that’s why his overall numbers look like s***. As we’ve said, he’s doing the right things in the box.

 

And right after me pointing out his slim total of 4 doubles, and Dipre telling me they were on the way, he increased his total by 50% in one game.

 

His season OPS is an even 700 now. I guess you could say he's a 700hitter.

[Nick]

And right after me pointing out his slim total of 4 doubles, and Dipre telling me they were on the way, he increased his total by 50% in one game.

 

His season OPS is an even 700 now. I guess you could say he's a 700hitter.

 

He's s keeper. I'm sure he will have his ups and downs but I got to think his ceiling is high.

 

He will always be a better hitter than Duran. And I like Duran

Edited May 27, 2023 by Nick

[Nick]

I'm not sure if the Padres can afford Soto with other contracts.

 

He's the type I would throw money at. Turner will be gone after 2024 when Soto becomes FA.

 

Yoshida appears destined for DH role.

 

Position players are not as high risk.

[Old Red]

Casas smoked all three of his hits last night with exit velos of 110, 102 and 98 MPH, one of them a barrell.

 

Patience grasshoppers.

 

Let’s not get to carried away from last night for Casas, or the rest of the team. That was a batting practice pitcher Arizona threw out there. Stats, and eye test confirm that. He even makes Kluber not look so bad.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Old Red

[Bellhorn04]

Let’s not get to carried away from last night for Casas, or the rest of the team. That was a batting practice pitcher Arizona threw out there. Stats, and eye test confirm that. He even makes Kluber not look so bad.

 

May OPS now at 864, someone said.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not sure if the Padres can afford Soto with other contracts.

 

He's the type I would throw money at. Turner will be gone after 2024 when Soto becomes FA.

 

Yoshida appears destined for DH role.

 

Position players are not as high risk.

 

Padres ownership is batshit crazy though, as they confirmed with the Bogey contract.

[mvp 78]

And right after me pointing out his slim total of 4 doubles, and Dipre telling me they were on the way, he increased his total by 50% in one game.

 

His season OPS is an even 700 now. I guess you could say he's a 700hitter.

 

He was just not producing in April at all. Will take him a long time to pull his way out of the hole if you’re only looking at season numbers.

 

My eye test was telling me that he was hitting the ball pretty damn hard and taking a lot of walks. Seems like a good foundation to me!

[mvp 78]

Padres ownership is batshit crazy though, as they confirmed with the Bogey contract.

 

Especially if they get real close to a WS, but just miss out.

[notin]

Let’s not get to carried away from last night for Casas, or the rest of the team. That was a batting practice pitcher Arizona threw out there. Stats, and eye test confirm that. He even makes Kluber not look so bad.

 

Did the eye test notice Casas has an OPS of .900 since May 3?

[mvp 78]

Did the eye test notice Casas has an OPS of .900 since May 3?

 

Some eye tests are biased towards the April games I guess?

[notin]

Some eye tests are biased towards the April games I guess?

 

Maybe he went blind in May?

[Old Red]

He was just not producing in April at all. Will take him a long time to pull his way out of the hole if you’re only looking at season numbers.

 

My eye test was telling me that he was hitting the ball pretty damn hard and taking a lot of walks. Seems like a good foundation to me!

 

Was that not a good pitcher the Red Sox faced last night? Have the Red Sox faced any good pitching on this trip. Wacha may be the best. Snell used to be good, and Anderson was good last year, and that’s about it. I’m just saying I’m just not getting all giddy over last night against a real Bad pitcher. If others want to fine. I have to see more.

[Randy Red Sox]

Sox are benefitting by the new balanced schedule for sure. Overall they are about a .525 team but if they were playing under the old schedule format they would not have the same record likely. They are not a bad team but certainly not a true WS contender.

[Bellhorn04]

Was that not a good pitcher the Red Sox faced last night? Have the Red Sox faced any good pitching on this trip. Wacha may be the best. Snell used to be good, and Anderson was good last year, and that’s about it. I’m just saying I’m just not getting all giddy over last night against a real Bad pitcher. If others want to fine. I have to see more.

 

That stuff all evens out. An .864 OPS for May is pretty encouraging.

[Old Red]

That stuff all evens out. An .864 OPS for May is pretty encouraging.

 

One thing I’ve been saying is that Casas has to swing the bat first, and take a walk second, because he has taken to many called third strikes. I did like that he hit a 3-0 pitch last night.

[Hugh2]

Would just like to toot my own horn in that I was behind Casas the whole time. Even in the beginning of the year he was among the league leaders in P/PA, that type of approach for such a young hitter with power was bound to pay off eventually. Don't change a thing with this kid....he's only starting to come into his own.

[moonslav59]

That stuff all evens out. An .864 OPS for May is pretty encouraging.

 

Glass half empty and glass half full meets glass filled to the middle.

[Maxbialystock]

Was that not a good pitcher the Red Sox faced last night? Have the Red Sox faced any good pitching on this trip. Wacha may be the best. Snell used to be good, and Anderson was good last year, and that’s about it. I’m just saying I’m just not getting all giddy over last night against a real Bad pitcher. If others want to fine. I have to see more.

 

Typical of you to focus on one little tree and ignore the forest. Yes, the Sox lineup--without Duran and Devers--beat up a weak starter, Pfaadt. Yes, the Sox have been in a hitting slump on this west coast trip.

 

But, even with the slump, the Sox are 4th in MLB in runs scored and 6th in team OPS. That's with Duvall playing just 8 games and Story none. Instead, and with the notable exception of Devers, the Sox are going with a "no name" offense that has delivered more often than not.

 

There are absolutely zero "giddy" talksoxers right now.

 

Nevertheless--and I know this will disappoint you--the Sox are 3 games above .500 and definitely in the wild card hunt. The rotation--now Sale, Paxton, Bello, Houck, and Whitlock--looks almost decent, and the bullpen is definitely decent. The defense ain't so hot. But Duvall is on rehab assignment--as is Chang--and Story should be back by the end of this decade if not sooner ("July").

[Maxbialystock]

Would just like to toot my own horn in that I was behind Casas the whole time. Even in the beginning of the year he was among the league leaders in P/PA, that type of approach for such a young hitter with power was bound to pay off eventually. Don't change a thing with this kid....he's only starting to come into his own.

 

If you were behind Casas all the time, you were stark, raving lucky. Actually, I think Cora and Bloom probably agreed with you.

[Nick]

We have veterans in Devers, Yoshida, Turner, Duvall (I know he's hurt), Story, Verdugo, Kike and Story (also hurt). It's a veteran group.

 

We have a young catcher who appears to be ready defensively in the majors. Anything he gives us offensively is a big plus. His back up possess some offense.

 

We have enough offense to carry Casas. Or should I say we should what with all the veterans we have on our roster.

 

What would be an alternative? Send him back down to AAA? To do what? Isn't it better at this stage for Casas to be surrounded by plethora of baseball people to work on his hitting, mechanically and approach wise?

 

We have the ability to shield him somewhat by playing Turner against lefties and move Yoshida as DH. We have Refsnyder and Tapia to fill in when needed. Plus Duvall is set to come back. Maybe he spends his first week just as a DH.

 

Further down the road, Story will come back. This will allow Kike to play some outfield.

 

Again, we can protect Casas if need be......

 

He's our future. We base our decisions here on board by the last series or last twenty at bats.

 

I'm perfectly happy to have Casas on our roster of 26.

 

We have control of his baseball life for five plus years. He has more upside than anyone other than Devers, positionally.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Nick

[Maxbialystock]

That stuff all evens out. An .864 OPS for May is pretty encouraging.

 

.864!!!???? I had no idea.

[mvp 78]

This team is better this year because they are not swing first take walk second. Their approach is way better than last year.

[Nick]

My top 10 players who have not met their ceiling.

 

1 Devers

2 Bello

3 Casas

4 Houck

5 Whitlock

6 Duran

7 Wong

8 Valdez

9 Verdugo

10 Yoshida

[dgalehouse]

Casas smoked all three of his hits last night with exit velos of 110, 102 and 98 MPH, one of them a barrell.

 

Patience grasshoppers.

 

Casas has a little Mark Fidrych in him. What they used to call a " free spirit " . He can add a little fun to the game. If he keeps hitting, he could become a breakout star and a fan favorite.

[Old Red]

Casas has a little Mark Fidrych in him. What they used to call a " free spirit " . He can add a little fun to the game. If he keeps hitting, he could become a breakout star and a fan favorite.

 

I think the cold weather early in the season took away his pregame sun bathing that sapped his hitting powers.

[Old Red]

If, and when Story does come back this season it will be at SS according to Cora.