9/3 Red Sox at Royals 2:10 EDT

[vegasbob]

The Red Sox get to the 70 win threshhold behind their determined lineup and starting pitcher, complemented by stellar relief . At least it was runs early and 5 full innings from Houck.

 

Today's streak extending win will be featured by Chris F'ing Sale's dynamic sliders and the hitting of ????? . Sox hitters should jump on Taylor Clarke , a journeyman 30 year old RH'er with a 5.44 ERA and 1.61 Whip.

 

Let's start the climb to 80+ wins .

[jad]

Didn't they have a journeyman KC pitcher with an ERA of over 5 two nights ago?

[Old Red]

Didn't they have a journeyman KC pitcher with an ERA of over 5 two nights ago?

 

They will have faced three SP this weekend with a combined 5-26 record. Anything short of a sweep isn’t good enough, and that’s not going to happen.

[dgalehouse]

Sale vs Clarke . There are no sure things , but this is about as close to it as you can get. Can't possibly lose this one. ...Or can they ?

[Old Red]

Sale vs Clarke . There are no sure things , but this is about as close to it as you can get. Can't possibly lose this one. ...Or can they ?

 

It depends if it a Sale Day, or a For Sale Day.

[jad]

I really hope Devers works with a hitting instructor this winter so he stops missing 95 mph fast balls right in the middle of the zone like that.

[moonslav59]

I really hope Devers works with a hitting instructor this winter so he stops missing 95 mph fast balls right in the middle of the zone like that.

 

Stop!

[vegasbob]

Sale vs Clarke . There are no sure things , but this is about as close to it as you can get. Can't possibly lose this one. ...Or can they ?

 

The Sox are an amazing team capable of doing many alternative things at once.

[jad]

Stop!

 

I'd be happy to! ... (What did I do?)

[jung]

According to OB, Acuna played Mookie "off his feat" in the Dodger series.

 

Last I looked OB, Acuna is wearing a Brave's uni and Mookie a Dodger's uni. So who watching this game cares.

Edited September 3, 2023 by jung

[moonslav59]

I'd be happy to! ... (What did I do?)

 

Stop trying to fix Devers. Don't tinker with success.

 

His unique style helps the team and makes pitchers adjust to a non cookie cutter line-up.

[vegasbob]

Devers is one of the great foul ball hitters of all-time . However, when it comes to hitting it fair, he is only fair.

[moonslav59]

Do you guys ever listen to yourselves?

[vegasbob]

You encourage me to look fairly at actual performances by talented but underperforming players. The Red Sox needed many things post A-S break , mostly starting effective pitching, but also a big game changing bat. As the current holder of a "futures mega-contract" starting next year, Devers has been a serious disappointment in the second half

[jung]

Another fine outfielder...this time in a Royals uni. Looking at his cheat sheet. Looking for the note that says "catch the f-ing ball STUPID". Edited September 3, 2023 by jung

[jad]

Stop trying to fix Devers. Don't tinker with success.

 

His unique style helps the team and makes pitchers adjust to a non cookie cutter line-up.

 

Oh right. We had this discussion a month ago (or someone did). I was arguing the reverse of what I just posted, right? THus making it impossible to determine whether either of us is being ironic.

[mvp 78]

Devers GG catch. GOAT catch any Sox player has made in LF.

[vegasbob]

Jansen pitching in the 7-1 ninth inning gives up hits/runs, exceeds 20 pitches and renders himself useless for the Rays tomorrow. Sale going only 5 on 100 pitches led to another run on the BP. But a win is a win, and took the series too.

[moonslav59]

Oh right. We had this discussion a month ago (or someone did). I was arguing the reverse of what I just posted, right? THus making it impossible to determine whether either of us is being ironic.

 

My position hasn't changed.

 

I can't keep track of yours.

[Maxbialystock]

My position hasn't changed.

 

I can't keep track of yours.

 

Fixing Devers would be like fixing Yogi Berra, a notorious bad ball hitter.

 

Where you and I disagree is that you hate his defense, and I think it's OK. Same goes for Casas, who also has a negative DWAR. I think his defense his OK too. I'm pretty sure Duvall has a negative DWAR, and I'm fine with him in the outfield. How dumb is that?

 

So I have to ask this semi-related question. What do you think of the Dodgers shifting Mookie to SS and lately to 2b even though he is a terrific right fielder and barely adequate in the infield? Isn't that what the Sox did, of which you not only disagreed but believe Kike at SS was why the Sox couldn't win?

[moonslav59]

Fixing Devers would be like fixing Yogi Berra, a notorious bad ball hitter.

 

Where you and I disagree is that you hate his defense, and I think it's OK. Same goes for Casas, who also has a negative DWAR. I think his defense his OK too. I'm pretty sure Duvall has a negative DWAR, and I'm fine with him in the outfield. How dumb is that?

 

So I have to ask this semi-related question. What do you think of the Dodgers shifting Mookie to SS and lately to 2b even though he is a terrific right fielder and barely adequate in the infield? Isn't that what the Sox did, of which you not only disagreed but believe Kike at SS was why the Sox couldn't win?

 

I don't "hate" his D. It frustrates the hell out of me. He fields the position well enough, but he keeps throwing away too many balls. He seems to get better, then regress.

 

I think he'd be a fine 1Bman.

 

I don't think 3B is our worst defensive position, this year. SS, 2B, LF and 1B were worse, IMO, although DRS shows 3B worse than 1B.

 

I'm fine re-signing Duvall. We need a big RH'd bat, but IMO, his best position is LF, then RF- not CF. Duvall was not one of our main problems on D, either.

 

I don't think we need to try and "fix" every position on D. A healthy Story fixes SS. Full seasons from Urias and Reyes at 2B fixes that position. Yoshida to DH and Duran/Ref platooning LF improves that position without making it a plus. Maybe Casas improves at 1B. I like our defense at catcher. Dugo has a very good year inn RF, after being questionable, before. I'm fine with him for another year. CF could be greatly improved, if Rafaela can hit well enough to stick.

 

Improve the rotation, significantly, add a RH'd bat (Duvall?) and just have a healthy Story and Yoshida at DH is probably enough to make our D in 2024 acceptable. I'd like to move Devers to 1B, but it complicates things. No way Bloom & Cora do it, so no need to discuss it more.

 

C: Wong & McQuire

1B: Casas (Devers as back up and trial run)

2B: Urias & Reyes

3B: Devers (Urias)

SS: Stroy (Reyes)

LF: Duran/Refsnyder platoon

CF: Duvall & Rafaela

RF: Dugu (Duvall)

DH: Yoshida (Casas)

 

FA SP1

FA SP2

SP3 Bello

SP4 Houck

SP5 Pivetta/Crawford

SP6 Sale

 

Closer: Jansen

RP2: Martin

RP3: Whitlock

RP4: Schreiber

RP5: Winckowski

RP6: Crawford/Pivetta

RP7: Bernardino

RP8: Pivetta/Crawford (if Sale starts)

 

Minors:

P: Gambrell, Drohan, Murphy, Walter

C: Scott

1B: Dalbec

2B: EValdez

SS: DHam

3B: Meidroth

OF: Abreu, Rosier

DH: Kavadas

 

[jad]

When I saw Devers in AA, I was impressed most by his fielding (he 'looked' like a major-leaguer, which not all players in AA do). I didn't know he had a reputation as a hitter. So I'm fine with his fielding. [And btw, Moon, you know perffectly well that no one here gives a cr*p about what anyone else says, will say, or has said in the past. Why would they?]

[moonslav59]

And btw, Moon, you know perffectly well that no one here gives a cr*p about what anyone else says, will say, or has said in the past. Why would they?

 

Why ask me?

 

BTW, it's obvious people care by seeing all the personal attacks over statements made.

 

Don't ask me why.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Interesting comparison. Last season JT Martinez had 596 AB's with 16 HR's, 62 RBI and an OPS of .790. So far this season Duvall has 255 AB's with 19 HR's, 51 RBI and an OPS of .927.

 

Imho, it might be a good idea for the SOX FO to re-sign Duvall because he's a very productive RH hitter. And right now the status of Turner returning next season is very much up in the air.

[moonslav59]

Interesting comparison. Last season JT Martinez had 596 AB's with 16 HR's, 62 RBI and an OPS of .790. So far this season Duvall has 255 AB's with 19 HR's, 51 RBI and an OPS of .927.

 

Imho, it might be a good idea for the SOX FO to re-sign Duvall because he's a very productive RH hitter. And right now the status of Turner returning next season is very much up in the air.

 

Plus, with Yoshida almost certainly moving to DH and Duran/Ref in LF, Duvall's return makes sense.

 

Rafaela making the 26 should not make us shy away from Duvall.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Plus, with Yoshida almost certainly moving to DH and Duran/Ref in LF, Duvall's return makes sense.

 

Rafaela making the 26 should not make us shy away from Duvall.

 

Yup, I couldn't agree more. Hopefully, Bloom feels the same way.

[moonslav59]

Yup, I couldn't agree more. Hopefully, Bloom feels the same way.

 

I'm wondering, if Duvall would be better suited for RF, although Fenway's is the toughest in MLB.

 

LF: Duran/Ref platoon (Yoshida as back-up)

 

CF: Rafaela (Duran & Abreu as back-up)

 

RF: Duvall (Abreu as back-up)

 

Trade Dugo.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I'm wondering, if Duvall would be better suited for RF, although Fenway's is the toughest in MLB.

 

LF: Duran/Ref platoon (Yoshida as back-up)

 

CF: Rafaela (Duran & Abreu as back-up)

 

RF: Duvall (Abreu as back-up)

 

Trade Dugo.

 

Much as I like Dugo, I have to agree trading him makes the most sense. A lifetime 280+BA and one of the best defensive RF's in MLB should cause some interest from other GM's. A trade of Dugo plus a good prospect should be able to land the SOX a decent starting pitcher. It's just a matter of trusting Bloom to make the right deal. But trusting Bloom should be a major concern to all SOX fans.

Edited September 4, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[moonslav59]

Much as I like Dugo, I have to agree trading him makes the most sense. A lifetime 280+BA and one of the best defensive RF's in MLB should cause some interest from other GM's. A trade of Dugo plus a good prospect should be able to land the SOX a decent starting pitcher. It's just a matter of trusting Bloom to make the right deal. But trusting Bloom should be a concern to all SOX fans.

 

One could argue, why would a team hurting to improve its D, trade away one of the best defensive RF'ers in 2023?

 

One could also argue that one very good year on D in RF does not make him a top defender.

 

I don't think Dugo has great trade value. To get a decent SP for him and a prospect, the prospect will have to be a very good one. I'm not sure how much his "antics" will cause Bloom to shop Dugo, or how much those antics might scare some Gms away from wanting him, but in some ways, it makes sense to deal him and re-sign Duvall.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

There was another head scratcher in today's game. When Dugo got injured, why didn't Cora place REF in the OF immediately. Instead he put Abreu in RF and then promptly had REF pinch hit for him. Made no sense to me at all. Maybe I missed something.