A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

We can be bad against bad teams so opposition record matters not.

 

I don't know how we ended up last year but we seem to play the Yankees pretty well.

 

Last year they were 6-13 against the Yanks with a -33 run differential.

[Bellhorn04]

If Yoshida is a bust it could be the final nail in the coffin for Chaim.

[Nick]

If Yoshida is a bust it could be the final nail in the coffin for Chaim.

 

I'm not seeing 'loud' contacts.

 

Maybe it's the weather but no pop in his bat right now.

 

We didn't pay him to just walk.

[Bellhorn04]

Well, you can't overlook that the majority of scouts panned the signing. So when you do something like that, you really have to be right. I'm a little surprised JH even agreed to it, after his experiences with Dice-K and Castillo.

[moonslav59]

I'm not seeing 'loud' contacts.

 

Maybe it's the weather but no pop in his bat right now.

 

We didn't pay him to just walk.

 

True, but maybe leading him off would take advantage of that.

 

With Duvall out, he has the 4th best OBP (.340) among starters.

 

The guy is brand new to the country and culture, missed some of ST'ing and had less than 45 PAs to his name in MLB.

 

[Nick]

True, but maybe leading him off would take advantage of that.

 

With Duvall out, he has the 4th best OBP (.340) among starters.

 

The guy is brand new to the country and culture, missed some of ST'ing and had less than 45 PAs to his name in MLB.

 

 

I had him leading off also. It may take some pressure off.

[notin]

Well, you can't overlook that the majority of scouts panned the signing. So when you do something like that, you really have to be right. I'm a little surprised JH even agreed to it, after his experiences with Dice-K and Castillo.

 

 

But while the early returns on Yoshida (.662OPS) look weak, he isn’t paid much more than Benintendi (.650).

 

We may have reached the point where the 5 year $15-18mill contracts just don’t but what they used to…

[notin]

I had him leading off also. It may take some pressure off.

 

I don’t get why he isn’t leading off…

[a700hitter]

If Yoshida is a bust it could be the final nail in the coffin for Chaim.

It’s not looking good.

[Nick]

True, but maybe leading him off would take advantage of that.

 

With Duvall out, he has the 4th best OBP (.340) among starters.

 

The guy is brand new to the country and culture, missed some of ST'ing and had less than 45 PAs to his name in MLB.

 

 

I had him leading off also. It may take some pressure off.

[moonslav59]

We should try this v RHPs:

 

1. L Yoshida LF

2. L Devers 3B

3. R Turner DH

4. L Verdugo RF

5. R Kike SS

6. L Casas 1B

7. L McGuire C

8. L Tapia CF

9. R Arroyo 2B

 

vs LHP

1. L Yoshida LF

2. R Kike SS

3. R Turner DH

4. L Devers 3B

5. R Refsnyder CF

6. L Verdugo RF

7. R Arroyo 2B

8. L Casas 1B (Dalbec?)

9. R Wong C

 

 

[redsoxrules]

But while the early returns on Yoshida (.662OPS) look weak, he isn’t paid much more than Benintendi (.650).

 

We may have reached the point where the 5 year $15-18mill contracts just don’t but what they used to…

 

This is a poor comparison. Benintendi has a career ops of 779. Yoshida had ZERO experience I'm MLB. It's always a gamble when you sign a Japanese player as you don't know how they will pan out in the MLB.

[moonslav59]

Some Cherry-picked Pitching Numbers:

ERA

0.00 Jansen 5 gms (5 IP)

1.13 Schreiber 8 gms (8 IP) 0.00 ERA/1.32 FIP last 5 gms (5 IP)

1.29 Whitlock last start

1.50 Winckowski 6 gms (12.0 IP)

1.88 Crawford last 3 games (14.1 IP)

2.16 (2.48 FIP) Brasier last 8 gms (8.1 IP) 0.00/1.48 last 4 gms (4.1 IP)

4.00 (3.10 FIP) Houck last 2 starts

4.50 Pivetta 3 starts

4.66 (4.77 FIP) Kluber last 2 starts (too bad all those IR allowed by pen)

8.00 (4.99 FIP) Sale last 2 starts

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yoshida's approach in ST and the WBC seemed to include more of a line-drive all-fields swing, depending on count and pitch location. He's pressing right now and needs to revert to the hitter he can be.

 

Masa didn't win batting titles spinning around in the box trying to launch anything close to the zone... especially in situations where just a single can turn a game around.

[Hugh2]

Yoshida has definitely been a disappointment to date but his high BB% has me hopeful. His advance approach is what you want to see if a guy is going to figure it out. He doesn’t have to hit home runs but he needs to drive the ball more. Too many ground balls

[Bellhorn04]

Does this team really have the luxury of Masa taking a while to (hopefully) figure it out?

 

This is the guy we thought could replace Bogey's offense.

 

Ah well, this year doesn't matter much anyway. Henry and Bloom have seen to that.

[mvp 78]

We should try this v RHPs:

 

1. L Yoshida LF

2. L Devers 3B

3. R Turner DH

4. L Verdugo RF

5. R Kike SS

6. L Casas 1B

7. L McGuire C

8. L Tapia CF

9. R Arroyo 2B

 

vs LHP

1. L Yoshida LF

2. R Kike SS

3. R Turner DH

4. L Devers 3B

5. R Refsnyder CF

6. L Verdugo RF

7. R Arroyo 2B

8. L Casas 1B (Dalbec?)

9. R Wong C

 

 

 

Until Masa starts hitting, he shouldn't be at the top of the lineup.

[mvp 78]

Does this team really have the luxury of Masa taking a while to (hopefully) figure it out?

 

This is the guy we thought could replace Bogey's offense.

 

Ah well, this year doesn't matter much anyway. Henry and Bloom have seen to that.

 

There's always an adjustment period for young players and for guys transitioning into the league. That's why this is a bridge year. There's going to be ups and downs until they figure it out. Maybe they make a run in the second half, may be not.

[Hugh2]

Until Masa starts hitting, he shouldn't be at the top of the lineup.

 

He's 3rd on the team in OBP. Maybe he should hit lead off.

[mvp 78]

He's 3rd on the team in OBP. Maybe he should hit lead off.

 

Verdugo has been killing it there, I wouldn't move him.

 

He's also expressed a desire to NOT hit first.

[Hugh2]

Verdugo has been killing it there, I wouldn't move him.

 

He's also expressed a desire to NOT hit first.

 

Yeah I wasn’t being that serious. But on a serious note, I always found it annoying that a guy could get paid millions and millions of dollars and not be expected to be able to change position in a batting order.

 

I mean shiiiit, I barely make 1/10th of a million and I can’t change where my desk is at. If the wanted to pay me $15 million I’ll move my desk to the can if they asked me too.

[Hugh2]

But Verdugo has been killing it. I was hoping he would have a break out year this year.

 

Some guys seem to check out when they get paid and others take off. Verdugo seems like the kind of guy who would reward you for paying him. I hope the Sox explore an extension with him this year.

[moonslav59]

Does this team really have the luxury of Masa taking a while to (hopefully) figure it out?

 

This is the guy we thought could replace Bogey's offense.

 

Ah well, this year doesn't matter much anyway. Henry and Bloom have seen to that.

 

It might have nothing to do with "figuring it out," and is just a 14 game slump, where he still managed a .340 OBP.

 

To answer your question, yes, I think the team can handle one or two guys going through 14 game rough stretches, but likely not 5-6 at a time.

 

The spotlight is on Yoshida, due to the contract, but to me, we have bigger worries than him.

[moonslav59]

Until Masa starts hitting, he shouldn't be at the top of the lineup.

 

Hardly anyone is hitting, and those that are would be better utilized batting behind a .340 OBP.

 

I know, .340 is not great, but there isn't much better to choose from.

 

If you put Dugo up first, then you are asking the guy who only walks to knock him in.

[mvp 78]

Yeah I wasn’t being that serious. But on a serious note, I always found it annoying that a guy could get paid millions and millions of dollars and not be expected to be able to change position in a batting order.

 

I mean shiiiit, I barely make 1/10th of a million and I can’t change where my desk is at. If the wanted to pay me $15 million I’ll move my desk to the can if they asked me too.

 

This is just the bad "they are playing a kids game" argument.

[mvp 78]

But Verdugo has been killing it. I was hoping he would have a break out year this year.

 

Some guys seem to check out when they get paid and others take off. Verdugo seems like the kind of guy who would reward you for paying him. I hope the Sox explore an extension with him this year.

 

xBA top 4%

K% top 4%

Whiff% top 3%

OAA top 5%

Highest BB% of his career

 

I just hope he recognizes that this is the best fit for him as a player.

[mvp 78]

Hardly anyone is hitting, and those that are would be better utilized batting behind a .340 OBP.

 

I know, .340 is not great, but there isn't much better to choose from.

 

If you put Dugo up first, then you are asking the guy who only walks to knock him in.

 

Until Masa actually starts putting good wood on the ball, he can be lower in the lineup. It's just ugly right now. He's just pressing too much and not going the other way. Having him hit leadoff would make it worse.

[mvp 78]

It might have nothing to do with "figuring it out," and is just a 14 game slump, where he still managed a .340 OBP.

 

To answer your question, yes, I think the team can handle one or two guys going through 14 game rough stretches, but likely not 5-6 at a time.

 

The spotlight is on Yoshida, due to the contract, but to me, we have bigger worries than him.

 

Yeah, but we're free to talk about all things Red Sox on here.

 

Feel free to talk about Brennan Bernardino if you'd like!

[Hugh2]

This is just the bad "they are playing a kids game" argument.

 

I completely disagree, kids don't get paid millions of millions of dollars to play games.

 

There are situations where guys are hit out of position strictly to stroke their ego. You should have the mental competency to be able to handle hitting 2nd one day and hitting 5th next and still be a professional.

 

For the record, this happens. There's just some guys who fight it. They should fight it with their performance otherwise do what's best for the team. If I was paying someone good money, I'd expect them to be a good employee.

[Hugh2]

Until Masa actually starts putting good wood on the ball, he can be lower in the lineup. It's just ugly right now. He's just pressing too much and not going the other way. Having him hit leadoff would make it worse.

 

How would leading off make it worse?

 

The absolute best thing you can do as a lead off hitter is get on base. That's what you want there, an on base machine. Yoshida is 3rd on the team in OBP right now.

 

I'm not advocating for him in the leadoff spot, I don't want him there. I just don't think it's a horrible ideal right now when you consider what the results are and what they have.