28th of May Boston @ Arizona

[notin]

This site becomes unreadable whenever the Sox lose a ballgame. Y'all need to chill out.

 

For many, it is cathartic. And, hey, if posting here stops them from setting their small child’s Lego Fenway Park ablaze, I can support it.

 

Unless there’s a little Lego Butch Hobson in the dugout. Then burn that baby to the ground!!!

[Dipre]

I'll bet not even fans of OPS really want Raffy to walk more, just K less. The only thing good about Devers getting a free pass is that he didn't swing and miss at too many pitches off the plate.

 

But every time he walks means that the next eight hitters in the batting order have less chance to crank one out of the park -- and opposing clubs are just fine with that.

 

To me, Raffy will really break out of his slump when his batting average rises about 30 points. And of course that will increase both his O plus S, but especially the slugging... because when line drives find the gap, the extra-base hits add up. And those are even better than walks (even with the bases loaded).

 

 

That's kinda not how baseball innings economy works. Every non-out is productive, and the less he swings at balls, the more productive he (or any hitter) will be overall.

[moonslav59]

The pen in the AZ series allowed just 1 run in 12 IP. Looks like they are back in the groove.

 

We've identified but have not yet solidified our rotation.

 

The bats need to be a bit more consistent, but it's nice to see our bottom of the order do so much better than recent years. It's time for the top and middle to start meeting expectations.

 

I still like our chances, but the clock is ticking.

[redsoxrules]

Devers could easily hit over 300 if he changed his approach and still hit some bombs. He literally tries to hit 600 foot HRs on every swing. He needs to take his walks. Otherwise no pitcher will give in to him and keep throwing junk as he'll swing anyways.

The output of run that this offense is providing He can afford to take his walks and not try to be the hero on every single pitch

[Dipre]

Devers could easily hit over 300 if he changed his approach and still hit some bombs. He literally tries to hit 600 foot HRs on every swing. He needs to take his walks. Otherwise no pitcher will give in to him and keep throwing junk as he'll swing anyways.

The output of run that this offense is providing He can afford to take his walks and not try to be the hero on every single pitch

 

Common sense right here.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Common sense right here.

 

A few of us have been saying this for two months. A few more have been saying (in effect) Raffy shouldn't change anything... Keep swinging as hard as you can at every single pitch no matter where it is in the late innings with runners on base.

 

As long as the approach remains the same, what opposing professional pitcher, pitching coach or manager would ever condone a fastball down the middle to Devers in such conditions?

[mvp 78]

This site becomes unreadable whenever the Sox lose a ballgame. Y'all need to chill out.

 

May I introduce you to our resident stork?

[Dipre]

A few of us have been saying this for two months. A few more have been saying (in effect) Raffy shouldn't change anything... Keep swinging as hard as you can at every single pitch no matter where it is in the late innings with runners on base.

 

As long as the approach remains the same, what opposing professional pitcher, pitching coach or manager would ever condone a fastball down the middle to Devers in such conditions?

 

Not trying to be a quack here, but maybe he's pressing trying to live up to the contract? Who knows? He's a second half hitter anyway.

[moonslav59]

Devers has had very similar slumps, almost every year, and if .697 is as low as he gets for 26 games, I'm not going to get upset.

 

I would not ask Devers to do anything he doesn't usually do when slumping.

 

I don't think it is entirely true he swings for the fences on every swing. I think teams benefit from having differing approaches in their line-up.

 

I like his demeanor and calmness at the plate. He reminds me of Manny, who rarely got angry at himself or the umps. I like his approach, as is.

 

Would it work for every hitter? NO.

[Bellhorn04]

Not trying to be a quack here, but maybe he's pressing trying to live up to the contract? Who knows? He's a second half hitter anyway.

 

1st half 871

2nd half 829

[Bellhorn04]

Devers has had very similar slumps, almost every year, and if .697 is as low as he gets for 26 games, I'm not going to get upset.

 

I would not ask Devers to do anything he doesn't usually do when slumping.

 

I don't think it is entirely true he swings for the fences on every swing. I think teams benefit from having differing approaches in their line-up.

 

I like his demeanor and calmness at the plate. He reminds me of Manny, who rarely got angry at himself or the umps. I like his approach, as is.

 

Would it work for every hitter? NO.

 

I'm with you. He's a big boy and he knows what he's doing and I'm sure he's aware of his flaws. Slumps are going to happen. I expect him to break out of this one very soon, like maybe tonight.

[Dipre]

1st half 871

2nd half 829

 

Let me rephrase that: He's a "after the weather heats up" hitter. His .815 OPS in April is the worst of any month not named August, which is a month in which, for some reason, the Red Sox are almost always terrible.

[notin]

Let me rephrase that: He's a "after the weather heats up" hitter. His .815 OPS in April is the worst of any month not named August, which is a month in which, for some reason, the Red Sox are almost always terrible.

 

So he heats up when the weather heats up, but not when the weather heats up too much…

[Maxbialystock]

I'm with you. He's a big boy and he knows what he's doing and I'm sure he's aware of his flaws. Slumps are going to happen. I expect him to break out of this one very soon, like maybe tonight.

 

I'm with both of you. His stance and swing look unusual, but he definitely has remarkable hand-eye coordination. He does not swing hard on every pitch, just as you say. Big Papi is in the HOF on his swing and swing alone, and we all remember at least one long and painful slump he had.

 

Was I mad when Devers went 0 for 5 in the 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, especially the K with the bases loaded? You bet I was. I also don't like that giant wad he chews on. But Raffie can hit and works hard on his fielding. I hate those long term contracts, but think his was justified.

[jad]

I'm with both of you. His stance and swing look unusual, but he definitely has remarkable hand-eye coordination. He does not swing hard on every pitch, just as you say. Big Papi is in the HOF on his swing and swing alone, and we all remember at least one long and painful slump he had.

 

Was I mad when Devers went 0 for 5 in the 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, especially the K with the bases loaded? You bet I was. I also don't like that giant wad he chews on. But Raffie can hit and works hard on his fielding. I hate those long term contracts, but think his was justified.

 

That wad, I believe, is bubble gum and sunflower seeds. I doubt it affect his performance.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Let me rephrase that: He's a "after the weather heats up" hitter. His .815 OPS in April is the worst of any month not named August, which is a month in which, for some reason, the Red Sox are almost always terrible.

 

... maybe by August, after four months of swinging as hard as humanly possible, Devers is starting to develop some nagging injury or another that slows his production. I'm only thinking of the past two years now that he's slightly older: the hamstring that hamstrung him in '22, and the inflamed right arm in '21 that caused him to wear a protective sleeve down the stretch (that must've helped a little, since he was still clutch).

[moonslav59]

How Devers ended the last few seasons- admittedly cherry-picked...

 

2019: ended the season an .916

1.006 last 8 games

.971 last 91 games

.963 last 83

 

2020: finished at .793

.954 last 26 games

.830 last 49 games

 

2021: finished at .890

1.004 last 13 games

.922 last 19 games

.888 last 23 games

1.028 in 2021 Playoffs (51 PAs)

 

2022: finished at .879

1.083 last 4 games

.953 last 15

.909 last 21

 

[vegasbob]

I think it is fair to say that Rafael Devers OPS should be about .900+ over the course of the season. He is currently at .783, so reversion to his high level mean indicates he should start hitting, with power soon. I hope tonight.