A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[mvp 78]

Quite possible that Bailey took a liking to McGuire, too.

 

Sure can't argue with the results so far.

 

Last year, McGuire was a +1 in framing while Wong was a -4. He was also a +2 in blocking and Wong was a -7 in. Wong is much better at controlling the running game.

[mvp 78]

It's not a surprise that as the whole pitching development was reworked, Breslow brought in a ton of new Catchers. Catchers 3-6 on the depth chart were not in the system last season.

[moonslav59]

Quite possible that Bailey took a liking to McGuire, too.

 

Sure can't argue with the results so far.

 

Are you going to flip the script, this spring on Wong v McGuire?

 

LOL!

[moonslav59]

It's not a surprise that as the whole pitching development was reworked, Breslow brought in a ton of new Catchers. Catchers 3-6 on the depth chart were not in the system last season.

 

Good point.

 

SSS, of course, but look how HOU started the season, after switching from Maldi to a hitter catcher.

[moonslav59]

Look at these ST'ing plus MLB K:BB ratios of 2024:

 

Whitlock: 22:3 and 8:0 = 30:3

Pivetta: 22:4 and 10:0 = 32:4

Crawford: 18:2 and 7:1= 25:3

T. Houck: 16:3 and 10:0= 26:3

Bry. Bello: 18:8 and 2:0= 20:8

 

[cp176]

I haven't posted for awhile and I'm a little confused. Is this the same web-site that some posters were adamant that Houck should be used coming in out of the bullpen? lol

[dannycater]

Well one thing noticeable is clearly last year's pitching coach was a joke. Brasier remarking how the Dodgers fixed his problem almost immediately. Breslow is a pitcher's GM or a guy who obviously knows his stuff in that area as a former hurler so maybe this part of the Sox gets better with Bailey at PC. Plus young staff that can develop...these are good things for a low-budget organization like the Sox.

[Bellhorn04]

Are you going to flip the script, this spring on Wong v McGuire?

 

LOL!

 

Looks that way LOL

 

My numbers fetish led me to obsess over McGuire's crazy CERA.

[Bellhorn04]

I haven't posted for awhile and I'm a little confused. Is this the same web-site that some posters were adamant that Houck should be used coming in out of the bullpen? lol

 

Whitlock too. Breslow and Bailey had other ideas, and they just might be smarter than us.

 

Still early though. Have to see how these guys hold up.

[notin]

I haven't posted for awhile and I'm a little confused. Is this the same web-site that some posters were adamant that Houck should be used coming in out of the bullpen? lol

 

No, this is the website where Houck has established himself as a starting pitcher by shutting down a AAA lineup for six innings and therefore people need to ignore that he has never pitched more than 106 IP in MLB in a season in his career.

 

I still think Houck, like most pitchers, is better suited for the bullpen. But he is probably a better option for the rotation over any of the other pitchers the Sox have left...

[notin]

Last year, McGuire was a +1 in framing while Wong was a -4. He was also a +2 in blocking and Wong was a -7 in. Wong is much better at controlling the running game.

 

And the running game was a big factor early last season, when runners took advantage of the pitch clock and realized if it got down to 3 seconds and the pitcher still had the ball, they could just take off.

 

That slowed down when a lot of pitchers realized they could take this away by pitching quicker...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Last year, McGuire was a +1 in framing while Wong was a -4. He was also a +2 in blocking and Wong was a -7 in. Wong is much better at controlling the running game.

 

... which isn't a factor this year, since the staff doesn't walk anyone or give up many hits anymore... or even plunk batters (a Sox specialty the past four years, even when they were good in '21).

[Bellhorn04]

No, this is the website where Houck has established himself as a starting pitcher by shutting down a AAA lineup for six innings and therefore people need to ignore that he has never pitched more than 106 IP in MLB in a season in his career.

 

I still think Houck, like most pitchers, is better suited for the bullpen. But he is probably a better option for the rotation over any of the other pitchers the Sox have left...

 

Nicely done injecting the sobering note into an otherwise giddy chorus of celebration.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

No, this is the website where Houck has established himself as a starting pitcher by shutting down a AAA lineup for six innings and therefore people need to ignore that he has never pitched more than 106 IP in MLB in a season in his career.

 

I still think Houck, like most pitchers, is better suited for the bullpen. But he is probably a better option for the rotation over any of the other pitchers the Sox have left...

 

... and that includes in the entire system right now. Houck's 6'5, has hit 98 mph, and has always had a righty-Sale slider. He was even a first-round pick -- as a pitcher!!!

[notin]

This Oakland team might be the worst team I have ever seen.

 

Defensively they tied a record last night by committing 13 errors in the first 5 games of the season, something not done since 1906.

 

My first thought was - were teams even using webbed gloves in 1906? Error numbers from that timeframe are much, much bigger than they are today. Are the A's as bad defensively as teams that didn't even used webbed gloves?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm just glad nobody here called me sober.

[dannycater]

The fact that I came back, proves the 12-step program works...oh wait, I mean the 12 shot program.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

This Oakland team might be the worst team I have ever seen.

 

Defensively they tied a record last night by committing 13 errors in the first 5 games of the season, something not done since 1906.

 

My first thought was - were teams even using webbed gloves in 1906? Error numbers from that timeframe are much, much bigger than they are today. Are the A's as bad defensively as teams that didn't even used webbed gloves?

 

They used little leather finger gloves for stagecoach drivers, which a lot of guys did for jobs in the offseason on the Oregon Trail. Those gloves also came in handy for decking outlaws in black cowboy hats -- at least in John Wayne movies.

 

But those A's probably had an excuse for their Es, since players left gloves on the field at the end of innings before they went to bat -- and the other side spiked the gloves to put holes in them, every chance they got.

[moonslav59]

I'm just glad nobody here called me sober.

 

Who would dare?

[mvp 78]

Good point.

 

SSS, of course, but look how HOU started the season, after switching from Maldi to a hitter catcher.

 

Maldonado was -17 in framing runs last year, worst in MLB. He SUCKED.

[mvp 78]

I haven't posted for awhile and I'm a little confused. Is this the same web-site that some posters were adamant that Houck should be used coming in out of the bullpen? lol

 

If they had a better option for 5th starter, I'd still advocate for it. The A's lineup is really brutal.

[mvp 78]

Whitlock too. Breslow and Bailey had other ideas, and they just might be smarter than us.

 

Still early though. Have to see how these guys hold up.

 

I'll take whatever wins I can get after an offseason of nothingburger signings and getting kicked in the nuts by ownership.

[dannycater]

Our ownership has made it clear Sox are a low-budget franchise. It's today's world...until somebody actually wants to spend some cash other than all the money poured on to Sale, then Story.

[moonslav59]

Our ownership has made it clear Sox are a low-budget franchise. It's today's world...until somebody actually wants to spend some cash other than all the money poured on to Sale, then Story.

 

Was the Devers extension an illusion?

[sk7326]

Our ownership has made it clear Sox are a low-budget franchise. It's today's world...until somebody actually wants to spend some cash other than all the money poured on to Sale, then Story.

 

I have concerns on a bunch of fronts, but the Bello and Devers extensions happened.

 

Also, when you see the dirt cheap deals that Snell and Montgomery got ... there are a lot of cheap owners out there.

[mvp 78]

Our ownership has made it clear Sox are a low-budget franchise. It's today's world...until somebody actually wants to spend some cash other than all the money poured on to Sale, then Story.

 

It's not "low-budget" they are mid. They are Colorado Rockies East. They'll spend on a few players here and there, but cheapen out elsewhere. The days of the Sox being at the top of the payroll mountain are long gone.

[sk7326]

I haven't posted for awhile and I'm a little confused. Is this the same web-site that some posters were adamant that Houck should be used coming in out of the bullpen? lol

 

I am one of those people - just because he hadn't figured out a consistent way to get lefties out. And obviously, his delivery gives lefties a great look at him. If that gets fixed, he should stay in the rotation. The A's aren't proof of much of anything.

[dannycater]

It was necessary as he is the only star on the team--Devers..they have nothing left from 2018...it was a bone thrown for Sox season ticket holders to latch on to...as not much meat on that bone.

[dannycater]

Imagine had the Sox actually just spent the money on Betts...oh that's right, add up the other s***** signings since 2018 and it more than covers Betts contract.

[dannycater]

Look I'm just happy the starting pitching has promise...I'll take that.