April 10 Baltimore at Boston

[moonslav59]

Sad to say, but I'm with moonslav on the pitching. Yes, absolutely, it's just 11 games.

 

But a year ago we didn't have a rotation. Bello led everyone with a paltry 157 IP. Our pros from Dover--Sale, Paxton, and Kluber--pitched 103, 96, and 55 innings. So Pivetta, Crawford and House--all of whom relieved last year as well as started--filled in with 143, 129, and 106 IP.

 

This year the rotation has been unbelievably good. The laggard is Bello, but yesterday he went 5.1 innings with just 1 ER. Yes, Pivetta dropped out, but it looks like for just 15 days and 3 starts. The other four still look good, as does the bullpen because the team ERA is still the lowest in MLB and the WHIP second lowest.

 

We should be shouting that from the rooftops, but instead we are predicting catastrophic failure.

 

Why do we know this rotation is going to fail miserably?

 

It's pretty much the same rotation as last year. It's not unusual to expect pitchers to no go from bad/ok to great, all at once.

 

2023 Games started:

28 Bello (team was 17-11 in his starts)

23 Crawford (9-14)

21 Houck (9-12)

20 Sale (12-8)

19 Paxton (8-11)

16 Pivetta (7-9)

10 Whitlock (6-4)

9 Kluber (3-6)

 

Our 5 starters had a team W-L record of 48-50 in their starts (49% win,) and in starts by others, many by Kluber and "openers," the team went 30-34 (47%.)

 

I'm trying to remain optimistic about this rotation. I have posted how all of them have had some rather long stretches of pitching very well as SP'ers, but none have ever put a full season together.

 

It should be viewed as long odds that 4 or 5 of them put it all together at the same exact time.

 

(I'm not trying to rain on their or your parade. They can do it. I'm just saying it's not illogical to expect things won't end up all that great for these 5 starters, combined.

 

[moonslav59]

Let's give Romy Gonzalez a chance to prove he can field and otherwise make plays at SS without costing the pitchers extra "outs". If after a week of games , he cannot show this board what he can do to secure a spot in the Nation annals , then I'm sure we will inform Breslow accordingly and changes will be made.then

 

It would also be a plus if he can hit .250 at the MLB level, or otherwise be an OBP star.

 

The thing about fielding is that it is pretty much known before a guy ever plays in the bigs.

 

Very few players proved themselves on D after leaving the minors.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Does anyone here believe the SOX FO will beat the bushes for a real SS or will they give HAMILTON a long run on Causeway?

[moonslav59]

Does anyone here believe the SOX FO will beat the bushes for a real SS or will they give HAMILTON a long run on Causeway?

 

If they did not, last year, while the sham was in bloom, (pun intended) why would they do it for an obvious punt season?

 

What I don't get is why can't we just get a min wage glove SS?

[Old Red]

If they did not, last year, while the sham was in bloom, (pun intended) why would they do it for an obvious punt season?

 

What I don't get is why can't we just get a min wage glove SS?

 

As MVP will tell you the Red Sox had a f***ton of holes to fill.

[moonslav59]

1. Duran

2. O'Neill

3. Devers

4. Casas

5. Romy

6. Reyes

7. Yoshida

8. Wong

9. Rafaela

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I believe Story will eventually play 150-155 games. Unfortunately, it will be the total games he plays for the SOX under his contract. Only kidding, I think.

[notin]

The thing about fielding is that it is pretty much known before a guy ever plays in the bigs.

 

Very few players proved themselves on D after leaving the minors.

 

Billy Hamilton…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

As MVP will tell you the Red Sox had a f***ton of holes to fill.

 

 

More holes than it takes to fill The Albert Hall.

[notin]

If they did not, last year, while the sham was in bloom, (pun intended) why would they do it for an obvious punt season?

 

What I don't get is why can't we just get a min wage glove SS?

 

Is a good field/no hit SS a step up, down or the same as Pablo Reyes?

[notin]

More holes than it takes to fill The Albert Hall.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hallal02.shtml

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1. Duran

2. O'Neill

3. Devers

4. Casas

5. Romy

6. Reyes

7. Yoshida

8. Wong

9. Rafaela

 

 

Btw, Moon, good job covering the sun on Monday.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hallal02.shtml

 

 

Well played.

[Old Red]

Is a good field/no hit SS a step up, down or the same as Pablo Reyes?

 

Depends if it’s a Mark Belanger type, or not.🙈🤭

[moonslav59]

Billy Hamilton…

 

Boggs.

 

It's rare.

[moonslav59]

Btw, Moon, good job covering the sun on Monday.

 

I thought you'd like that.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Boggs.

 

 

It's rare.

 

Graig Nettles

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

It really helps that neither Devers or Casas is hitting worth a shite.

[Oscars]

Overall it’s a pretty average lineup, especially when the top of the order is not scoring runs.

[vegasbob]

Devers and Casas open a new pub called the Rally Killers. As others have said, if Devers is off his game due to his shoulder limitations, then give him 10 days off now and hope it can be rehabbed. If it is not his shoulder then he is a sorry hitter right now. His arm wrenching ultimate swing speed is not helping him nor the team.

 

Casas is topping a lot of balls right now. His uppercut is missing the middle and lower half of the ball.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Tyler O'Neil's 6 HR's have all been solo shots. In the 2021 season Bryce Harper started the season with 10 solo HR's.

[redsoxrules]

Devers and Casas open a new pub called the Rally Killers. As others have said, if Devers is off his game due to his shoulder limitations, then give him 10 days off now and hope it can be rehabbed. If it is not his shoulder then he is a sorry hitter right now. His arm wrenching ultimate swing speed is not helping him nor the team.

 

Casas is topping a lot of balls right now. His uppercut is missing the middle and lower half of the ball.

 

Devers is fine. He's his old self and swinging at just about anything.

 

I've always said if he changed his approach and take walks he would become a beast. Pitchers know this and just throw him junk

[redsoxrules]

And there's Yoshida's specialty ground ball to second base

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

And there's Yoshida's specialty ground ball to second base

 

He's a worm killer.

[vegasbob]

And there's Yoshida's specialty ground ball to second base

 

If Yoshi doesn't find his left field slash stroke, like Duran has been doing, the Nation will turn sharply on the man from Japan and make his life miserable. He is not showing anything in the DH role. Tired of his tiny step running too.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Why do I have the feeling I'm gonna be dead before the SOX win another championship? OTOH, lots and lots of SOX fans died w/o ever seeing a championship. Ive lived long enough to have seen 4, so I'll stop my complaining right now.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If Yoshi doesn't find his left field slash stroke, like Duran has been doing, the Nation will turn sharply on the man from Japan and make his life miserable. He is not showing anything in the DH role. Tired of his tiny step running too.

 

But, as far as I know, his translator doesn't have a gambling problem. So there's that.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Why do I have the feeling I'm gonna be dead before the SOX win another championship? OTOH, lots and lots of SOX fans died w/o ever seeing a championship. Ive lived long enough to have seen 4, so I'll stop my complaining right now.

 

 

I should have seen 5. Sorry.

[vegasbob]

Crawford pitching his ass off and needs some support. Can the team score 2 runs this inning ?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Crawford pitching his ass off and needs some support. Can the team score 2 runs this inning ?

 

They're due for another 3 HR inning.