A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[mvp 78]

Not at all. Look up the meaning of the word.

 

I admit I was somewhat harsh on DD, at the time, but I never said he emptied the farm or tore it down.

 

 

I'm sure if I looked through 80k posts I could find one.

[mvp 78]

More like a double or single, unless he robs a HR or makes a game saving catch, like last night.

 

How is saving a run the same as hitting a single?

[Bellhorn04]

How is saving a run the same as hitting a single?

 

All else being equal, preventing a double would be about the same as hitting a double, wouldn't it?

 

The run-saving part is situational. It was a crucial play, obviously - are there adjustments to defensive play values for leverage?

[moonslav59]

I'm sure if I looked through 80k posts I could find one.

 

Nope. It was never my position.

[Bellhorn04]

Nope. It was never my position.

 

I'll back you up on that. You've always been even-handed about DD.

[dgalehouse]

It should be noted that whatever Dombrowski did or didn't do with the farm , he did while winning the A.L. East three consecutive years, something that has not been done before or since. A combination of winning now while also adding some nice prospects with the available draft picks.

[moonslav59]

I'll back you up on that. You've always been even-handed about DD.

 

By and large, I defend our GMs and managers. Hell, I was the last one to say Valentine needed to go.

 

I criticized DD and our other Gms, too, but not as harshly and with such broad strokes as others.

 

The term "emptied the farm," when Devers was not traded, is by itself inaccurate.

 

I often posted about the fact that DD traded away over 20 prospects that at one point were top 20 in he system, but that is not claiming it was emptied.

 

Plus, he could have traded Devers, Houck and others, but if he replaced them with others, it's still not "emptying." You might then have been able to say, "He emptied the farm of DD prospects" but not the whole farm.

 

Edited April 3, 2024 by moonslav59

[Bellhorn04]

It should be noted that whatever Dombrowski did or didn't do with the farm , he did while winning the A.L. East three consecutive years, something that has not been done before or since. A combination of winning now while also adding some nice prospects with the available draft picks.

 

He did mostly good things for the franchise, that's for sure.

[gojohn99]

Whitlock has a better repertoire, no question. But to me Houck is a battler. So I couldn't be happier that both are starting and that all 5 have done well in their first starts.

 

As I keep reminding everyone--ad nauseum--the 2019 Sox, fresh off the best season in Sox history, also started the season on the West Coast and went 3-8--and basically never recovered, at least not enough to even make the postseason.

 

 

I like this start much better!

[moonslav59]

It should be noted that whatever Dombrowski did or didn't do with the farm , he did while winning the A.L. East three consecutive years, something that has not been done before or since. A combination of winning now while also adding some nice prospects with the available draft picks.

 

Considering how low his picks were, due to winning, he did very well with them. He also had one IFA signing period cut off due to penalties carried over from the Ben era. He was also not able to milk the comp pick train like previous GMs were able to do by exploiting loopholes in the system.

[notin]

Almost?!?!?!? That's not the same thing! Embarrassing!

 

Not my fault the Padres chose to ignore the holes in their outfield…

[notin]

All else being equal, preventing a double would be about the same as hitting a double, wouldn't it?

 

The run-saving part is situational. It was a crucial play, obviously - are there adjustments to defensive play values for leverage?

 

 

I believe DRS takes some plays into account…

[mvp 78]

Not my fault the Padres chose to ignore the holes in their outfield…

 

Tied for 5th in fWAR for OF.

[mvp 78]

I'll back you up on that. You've always been even-handed about DD.

 

Bell with the reach around. Very thoughtful.

[mvp 78]

Hell, I was the last one to say Valentine needed to go.

 

 

Then we should ignore you because of your poor judgement?

[moonslav59]

Then we should ignore you because of your poor judgement?

 

Do as you wish. It would save me from pointing out your mistakes.

[moonslav59]

We have no players below 0 on DRS, so far. My guess is Kike was -2 by this time, last year.

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

Last year, Trevor Story was 0-for-7 against 98+ mph pitches and couldn’t catch up to elite fastballs. For that reason, Tuesday - when he had hits off 98 and 101 mph heaters - represented a potentially significant sign for the Red Sox.

[notin]

Tied for 5th in fWAR for OF.

 

Possibly aided by playing 33% more games than everyone else? (Except the Dodgers)

[mvp 78]

Possibly aided by playing 33% more games than everyone else? (Except the Dodgers)

 

Dodgers are ranked like 25th, so I don't think it's that big of a factor.

 

The bigger factor:

 

Tatis 164 wRC+

Profar 120 wRC+

Merrill 98 wRC+

 

Tatis is performing really well and the other two starters aren't underperforming all that much. It's an overall solid grouping. Even if they were discounted by 2 games, they'd be in the top 10.

 

For example, Soto leads the Yanks with 0.5 fWAR, but gets dragged down by -0.4 fWAR from Verdugo and Judge.

[Elktonnick]

Great start by Red Sox. The As may be hapless but they are a major league club. Let us enjoy it while it lasts!

[Hitch]

Take 2 from the Angels and it's been a great start.

 

Very early days, but there's clearly a good feel in the clubhouse ('vibes' I believe the kids call it) and the pitching...my oh my is the pitching good.

 

Nice to be excited by the Sox for a change.

[Hugh2]

Great start by Red Sox. The As may be hapless but they are a major league club. Let us enjoy it while it lasts!

 

Even a team that loses 110 games is winning almost 1 out of every 3 games.

 

A sweep is good even against a bad team, it’s also encouraging to see the Sox beat up on a bad team. Yes, you should beat up on bad teams but oddly enough bad teams were the Sox Achilles heel last year

[mvp 78]

Great start by Red Sox. The As may be hapless but they are a major league club. Let us enjoy it while it lasts!

 

Yes!

[moonslav59]

Great start by Red Sox. The As may be hapless but they are a major league club. Let us enjoy it while it lasts!

 

Even if it lasts through November!

[vegasbob]

The Orioles series in Boston to open Fenway will be the real test, although the Angels won't be as weak as the A's were. After the 9-0 opener, the Sox scored 5 runs total , but won them all. Pitching through 4.32% of the season has been great .

 

Then we get the Angels at Fenway followed by the Guardians (5-2) for 4, then 3 in Pittsburg ending April 21. Red Sox should be still over .500 at that point

Edited April 4, 2024 by vegasbob

[Maxbialystock]

Sox team ERA is the lowest in MLB. That hasn't happened very often, even if for just 6 games. Team OPS was 19th before today's game. Probably still is.

[dannycater]

Andrew Bailey for Mayor?

[moonslav59]

Sox are 5-2 and 20th in MLB OPS at .667. (15th in OBP at .318/ 21st in SLG)

(PHI .668, TBR ..682, NYY .693)

 

14th in runs at 29.

 

6th in SBs at 8.

 

1st in ERA at 1.54 (1/2 the 7th place Astros at 3.16)

1st in K:BB at 5.92

 

2nd in K/9 (10.8) and 4th best in BBs allowed at 14. (Lowest BB/9)

10.77 K:BB is 2nd to PHI

 

3rd best record in the AL (6th in MLB.)

 

Note: these stats are current, and games are still going on, when I looked.

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

Andrew Bailey for Mayor?

 

Maybe Governor!