A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

I get players needing the occasional off day, but Kike never seemed to get one. But everyone else did to give Kike a chance to play…

 

Now that's blatantly untrue.

 

Kike was traded after the Sox had played 100 games.

 

Kike started 79 of those games, so 21% of the time he did not start.

[moonslav59]

Pablo Reyes was largely ignored as a shortstop. Chang didn’t get his first start until 5 errors into Kike’s run. When both got hurt, Bloom took too long to call up Hamilton. But even once he did, Kike still played SS on occasion.

 

Cora did insist on occasionally injecting Kike at SS throughout the starting tenur of all 3 players, despite his poor play and the Sox poor (re:losing) record when Kike played SS. And it’s not like Kike was hitting.

 

I get players needing the occasional off day, but Kike never seemed to get one. But everyone else did to give Kike a chance to play…

 

That was a legit beef against Cora.

[Nick]

How would said fans know this, is the question. If there are any actual quotes from players, by all means let's have 'em, I say.

 

You really have become an apologist for Kike. Who the heck knows what half the things people say are true or not.

 

Despite having the WORST WAR in the majors, Kike was complaining about lack of consistent playing time.

 

A good team player would have said "I need to make most of the opportunity I do get and help this team".....is it time for you to color your hair and wear pink shoes?

[moonslav59]

You really have become an apologist for Kike. Who the heck knows what half the things people say are true or not.

 

Despite having the WORST WAR in the majors, Kike was complaining about lack of consistent playing time.

 

A good team player would have said "I need to make most of the opportunity I do get and help this team".....is it time for you to color your hair and wear pink shoes?

 

Huh?

[Nick]

Now that's blatantly untrue.

 

Kike was traded after the Sox had played 100 games.

 

Kike started 79 of those games, so 21% of the time he did not start.

 

Geez, when did most of his days off happened? I'm taking a guess. When he was batting .100?

[Nick]

Huh?

 

Maybe you should sit this one out, Moon. You and Bellhorn will fight for Kike till the end?

 

I'm with Notin on this.

 

Cora hurt our chances of getting into the playoffs because of him not acting quickly enough on resolving the issue of Kike playing short. Period. Am I wrong?

Edited July 30, 2023 by Nick

[Bellhorn04]

You really have become an apologist for Kike. Who the heck knows what half the things people say are true or not.

 

Despite having the WORST WAR in the majors, Kike was complaining about lack of consistent playing time.

 

A good team player would have said "I need to make most of the opportunity I do get and help this team".....is it time for you to color your hair and wear pink shoes?

 

I don't remember the complaints.

 

I'm happy we unloaded Kike. But I'm also a much bigger fan of documented truth than I am of unsourced rumors.

[moonslav59]

Maybe you should sit this one out, Moon. You and Bellhorn will fight for Kike till the end?

 

I'm with Notin on this.

 

Cora hurt our chances of getting into the playoffs because of his not acting quickly enough on Kike at short situation.

 

I was happy we traded Kike and wanted him

Moved off SS the same time as everyone.

 

I just agreed with notin that playing Kike too much at SS was a Cora mistake.

 

Every FT player wants to keep playing everyday. I would be more upset, if Kike was happy being benched.

 

Why not keep bitching about Paxton crying about being demoted to the pen?

[notin]

Geez, when did most of his days off happened? I'm taking a guess. When he was batting .100?

 

In the last month, I think. He started about 69 of the first 80 games, give it take…

[Bellhorn04]

In the last month, I think. He started about 69 of the first 80 games, give it take…

 

67 of the first 80. Seems about right for a guy Bloom signed for $10 million.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Maybe you should sit this one out, Moon. You and Bellhorn will fight for Kike till the end?

 

I'm with Notin on this.

 

Cora hurt our chances of getting into the playoffs because of him not acting quickly enough on resolving the issue of Kike playing short. Period. Am I wrong?

 

As fans, all we can do is speculate. Managers make out line-ups and pitching moves based on a lot of info kept quiet. Teams never want opponents to know which players have nagging injuries that might be exploited.

 

Example: batters jogging to first on grounders. Raffy may be favoring a hammy, Dugie may be benched, and no teammates questioned or commented on either scenario. But if Cora was ever playing favorites, it certainly wouldn't be tolerated in the clubhouse, and someone would leak it to the media.

[notin]

67 of the first 80. Seems about right for a guy Bloom signed for $10 million.

 

As I’ve said numerous times, the money didn’t bother me nearly as much as the years. When a guy has the season Kike was having, a one year $10mill deal seems more palatable than a 2 year $10 mill ($5mill AAV) deal.

 

What I will always wonder and never know is why out till a so long to promote Hamilton. That’s Bloom’s job, but Cora most definitely has input…

[notin]

Now that's blatantly untrue.

 

Kike was traded after the Sox had played 100 games.

 

Kike started 79 of those games, so 21% of the time he did not start.

 

What’s blatantly not true is that Cora had no other options.

 

Reyes was acquired on May 12. He started at SS on May 14, 15 and 16. And then once more for the rest of the month. Guess who started the rest of the games at SS…

[Bellhorn04]

What’s blatantly not true is that Cora had no other options.

 

Yeah, but I didn't say Cora had no other options. Nice goalpost move.

[notin]

Yeah, but I didn't say Cora had no other options. Nice goalpost move.

 

It’s been said, however.

 

So do you think Cora made the right move starting Hernandez, who was struggling both offensively and defensively, over Reyes for the bulk of the month of May?

[Maxbialystock]

It’s been said, however.

 

So do you think Cora made the right move starting Hernandez, who was struggling both offensively and defensively, over Reyes for the bulk of the month of May?

 

I said it, but later I corrected myself because Kike was the starting SS at the beginning of the season. I believe he got the job because, with Story on the IL and Bogey gone, he figured Kike was the best bet because of his hitting.

 

As for Reyes, I agree he's probably better than Kike--certainly his WAR is--but the Sox were 11-15 in games he played in May and June. Plus the injuries. Plus Chang is getting all the starts since Reyes returned.

 

You and others insist Kike is a loser, pure and simple. But the Sox won more games than they lost with him in the lineup--and also won more games than they lost when he didn't play. Plus, if he is loser, why did the Dodgers, who once again are leading the NL West, sign him?

[Old Red]

I said it, but later I corrected myself because Kike was the starting SS at the beginning of the season. I believe he got the job because, with Story on the IL and Bogey gone, he figured Kike was the best bet because of his hitting.

 

As for Reyes, I agree he's probably better than Kike--certainly his WAR is--but the Sox were 11-15 in games he played in May and June. Plus the injuries. Plus Chang is getting all the starts since Reyes returned.

 

You and others insist Kike is a loser, pure and simple. But the Sox won more games than they lost with him in the lineup--and also won more games than they lost when he didn't play. Plus, if he is loser, why did the Dodgers, who once again are leading the NL West, sign him?

 

Kike got the SS job, because of his hitting? Kike isn’t a loser he’s just nowhere near as good as some made him out on here, and hasn’t hit for two years now. Don’t forget that you called Kike an idiot on one of the game threads, so it’s not like you’ve been an ardent supporter all the way, because you have not. Bloom should have gotten an everyday SS who could field when Story went down, and Cora should not of stuck with Kike at SS as long as he did. Kike sucked there plain, and simple for there was plenty of blame to be passed around.

[moonslav59]

Another tough loss. We've had a few, recently.

 

Losses:

7/30 @SFG 4-3 in 11 innings (2 unearned runs)

7/29 @SFG 3-2 (SFG scored a run in bottom of 9th)

7/21 NYM 5-4 (Crawford let up 4.)

7/19 @OAK 6-5 (Bello's meltdown game- 3 HRs.)

7/18 @OAK 3-0 (Jacques was the opener- 3 runs in 2nd.)

7/15 @CHC 10-4 (Paxton's meltdown game.)

7/4 TEX 6-2 (Pen game)

 

Only 7 losses since June 29th.

[moonslav59]

We remain 2.5 from the WC slot.

 

AL Standings

64-41 BAL

64-44 TBR (WC1) -1.5 ALE

60-46 TEX

59-47 HOU (TWC2 and -1.0 ALW)

59-47 TOR (TWC2 and -5.5 ALE)

56-49 BOS -2.5 WC3 and -8.0 ALE

55-50 NYY -3.5 WC3

55-51 LAA -4.0 WC3 and -5.0 ALW

54-51 SEA -4.5 WC3 and -5.5 ALW

54-53 MIN Leader ALC (-5.5 WC3)

53-53 CLE -0.5 ALC (-6.0 WC3)

 

 

[moonslav59]

You never want players looking ahead at the schedules, but we can...

 

Starting Aug 18, we enter a ball-buster stretch (3@NYY, 4@HOU, 3 LAD, 3 HOU), but let's look at July 31 to Aug 17:

 

BOS: 3@SEA , off, 3 TOR, 3 KCR, 3 DET, 3@WSH

 

TOR: 4 BAL, 3@BOS, 4@CLE, 3CHC, off, 2PHI

 

HOU: 3CLE, 4@NYY, off, 3@BAL, 3 LAA, 3@MIA, off

 

[moonslav59]

Update on recently departed Sox players:

 

Bogey: .740 OPS and 36 RBI in 99 games.

 

JD: after missing some time earlier in the season with back issues, JD will be getting an MRI on his hammy. .872 OPS in 365 PAs

 

Nate: Placed on 15 day IL with forearm strain. Uh-oh! 2.69 ERA/1.011 WHIP

 

Wacha: On IL with shoulder inflammation. 2.84/1.074

 

Strahm: 63 IP w PHI/ 3.53/1.021

 

RHill: 4.82/1.474

 

Vaz: .609 OPS (o.1 bWAR)

[Bellhorn04]

Update on recently departed Sox players:

 

Bogey: .740 OPS and 36 RBI in 99 games.

 

JD: after missing some time earlier in the season with back issues, JD will be getting an MRI on his hammy. .872 OPS in 365 PAs

 

Nate: Placed on 15 day IL with forearm strain. Uh-oh! 2.69 ERA/1.011 WHIP

 

Wacha: On IL with shoulder inflammation. 2.84/1.074

 

Strahm: 63 IP w PHI/ 3.53/1.021

 

RHill: 4.82/1.474

 

Vaz: .609 OPS (o.1 bWAR)

 

Bogaerts does have a 2.5 fWAR, though. What's the Red Sox fWAR for the SS position this year?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Bogaerts does have a 2.5 fWAR, though. What's the Red Sox fWAR for the SS position this year?

 

Definitely an f...

 

... also for fPEACE (player eval at committing errors)

[mvp 78]

Bogaerts does have a 2.5 fWAR, though. What's the Red Sox fWAR for the SS position this year?

 

Would you be feeling good about that contract for the next decade though?

[Bellhorn04]

Would you be feeling good about that contract for the next decade though?

 

No. My comments were strictly in response to moon's post.

[mvp 78]

No. My comments were strictly in response to moon's post.

 

BOS: 29th in fWAR at SS (Kiké has -1.5 alone)

 

The only player that has been a better defender at SS than Bogey is Chang (1 DRS, 4 OAA in only 213 innings). Everyone else has been much worse.

 

Chang's 43 wRC+ is holding him back a little though... That whole grouping needs an enema this offseason.

[Old Red]

Would you be feeling good about that contract for the next decade though?

 

I don’t believe anyone else would have signed him for that long a contract, so I don’t believe anyone else would.

[Dipre]

Update on recently departed Sox players:

 

Bogey: .740 OPS and 36 RBI in 99 games.

 

JD: after missing some time earlier in the season with back issues, JD will be getting an MRI on his hammy. .872 OPS in 365 PAs

 

Nate: Placed on 15 day IL with forearm strain. Uh-oh! 2.69 ERA/1.011 WHIP

 

Wacha: On IL with shoulder inflammation. 2.84/1.074

 

Strahm: 63 IP w PHI/ 3.53/1.021

 

RHill: 4.82/1.474

 

Vaz: .609 OPS (o.1 bWAR)

 

Both Eovaldi and Wacha on the IL. Why who thought such a thing would be possible with those two paragons of health!

[moonslav59]

Bogaerts does have a 2.5 fWAR, though. What's the Red Sox fWAR for the SS position this year?

 

We'd be sitting in a WC slot, right now, had we somehow managed to keep Bogey and still add everyone, else (except Kluber & Mondesi.)

 

Those 36 RBI really jump out at me, and I'm not usually one to harp on that stat.

 

Since the start of 2021:

 

189 rbi in 1662 PAs (394 games)

78 per 162 games

about 75 per 650 PAs

 

[moonslav59]

Both Eovaldi and Wacha on the IL. Why who thought such a thing would be possible with those two paragons of health!

 

It might turn out Strahm was the "one that got away."