4/21 @ Buccos

[Maxbialystock]

Given the unavailability of a whole bunch of Sox, including a starter in game 3, this was one heckuva sweep of the Pirates.

 

Thanks to the pitching, these 2024 Sox are better than they seem. The cautionary note is that they are nevertheless 0-3 against AL East opponents and have 49 AL East games still to play.

 

Here are five OPS's from today's Sox lineup: Rafaela .494, Dalbec .188, Reyes .441, Heineman .500, and Valdez .489.

[moonslav59]

Even our pen games are getting the job done.

 

I'm not sure how much longer we can keep this up, but our much-maligned bench has been carrying us quite a bit.

[moonslav59]

Given the unavailability of a whole bunch of Sox, including a starter in game 3, this was one heckuva sweep of the Pirates.

 

Thanks to the pitching, these 2024 Sox are better than they seem. The cautionary note is that they are nevertheless 0-3 against AL East opponents and have 49 AL East games still to play.

 

Here are five OPS's from today's Sox lineup: Rafaela .494, Dalbec .188, Reyes .441, Heineman .500, and Valdez .489.

 

No Devers

No Casas

No O'Neill

No Story

No Grissom

No Gio

No Pivetta

No Whitlock

 

Jansen & Martin not pitching nearly as well as 2023, and not needed, today.

Yoshida out of the line-up. McGuire, with our 6th best OPS before the game started on the bench.

 

This team is defying all the odds- bad Pirates team or not. The west coast trip was not against all bad teams.

 

True, we have to beat the ALE teams, too, but this is really quite a start to 2024.

[Thunder]

We need to know if you wearing Pittsburgh or Boston colors?

 

I wore Red Sox apparel all 3 days. Kept the Bryan Reynolds jersey in the closet this weekend

[Thunder]

No Devers

No Casas

No O'Neill

No Story

No Grissom

No Gio

No Pivetta

No Whitlock

 

Jansen & Martin not pitching nearly as well as 2023, and not needed, today.

Yoshida out of the line-up. McGuire, with our 6th best OPS before the game started on the bench.

 

This team is defying all the odds- bad Pirates team or not. The west coast trip was not against all bad teams.

 

True, we have to beat the ALE teams, too, but this is really quite a start to 2024.

 

Agreed. Speaks to the leadership in the clubhouse and the managing ability of Cora. We could easily be in White Sox territory right now. Granted, we need the pitching to hold up

[moonslav59]

I wore Red Sox apparel all 3 days. Kept the Bryan Reynolds jersey in the closet this weekend

 

I expected nothing less.

[dgalehouse]

The Pirates are a real poverty franchise. Perennial doormats. Not one bit surprised that the Sox swept.

[Thunder]

If I didn’t have this week off work, I’m not sure how I would get through the week. I’m wiped, but it was worth it to see the streak extend to 13

[mvp 78]

The Pirates are a real poverty franchise. Perennial doormats. Not one bit surprised that the Sox swept.

 

Sox won only 2 more games than them last year. The franchises are in the same spot right now.

[moonslav59]

Sox won only 2 more games than them last year. The franchises are in the same spot right now.

 

...and the Bucs swept them in '23.

[mvp 78]

...and the Bucs swept them in '23.

 

I’m happy with ANY sweep. Sox lost 2 of 3 at the A’s last year when they were trying to keep a playoff spot. Beat all the teams. All wins count.

[notin]

We need to know if you wearing Pittsburgh or Boston colors?

 

Probably in full UConn Husky gear…

[moonslav59]

I’m happy with ANY sweep. Sox lost 2 of 3 at the A’s last year when they were trying to keep a playoff spot. Beat all the teams. All wins count.

 

Indeed

[Thunder]

Probably in full UConn Husky gear…

 

Fun fact: I watched neither of the last two title games

[Thunder]

When everyone comes back healthy, I still want Rafaela playing SS. He gives us our best shot. Good defense can carry a poor lineup. It did today and yesterday.

 

Also, Kutter for Cy Young

[Maxbialystock]

Agreed. Speaks to the leadership in the clubhouse and the managing ability of Cora. We could easily be in White Sox territory right now. Granted, we need the pitching to hold up

 

I cannot resist using the line attributed to Tonto when the Lone Ranger observed they were surrounded by hostile Guardians: "what's this "we" stuff, paleface?

 

Of course you're entitled to self-identify as a Pirates, Red Sox, or any other kind of fan you want to be. You love baseball enough to go to the ballpark (s) to watch the games.

[Thunder]

I cannot resist using the line attributed to Tonto when the Lone Ranger observed they were surrounded by hostile Guardians: "what's this "we" stuff, paleface?

 

Of course you're entitled to self-identify as a Pirates, Red Sox, or any other kind of fan you want to be. You love baseball enough to go to the ballpark (s) to watch the games.

 

While I appreciate the sentiment, what exactly is your point?

[Maxbialystock]

Sox won only 2 more games than them last year. The franchises are in the same spot right now.

 

Pirates payroll, $83M, is 2d lowest in MLB. Sox payroll, $182M, is 11th. However, the Sox have at least $100M of their payroll on the IL, "resting" but not quite on the IL, pitching or playing for other MLB teams, or simply underperforming.

 

Most everyone on Talksox believes the current 13-10 record is simply blind, stupid luck and that total disintegration is just a game or series away.

 

I do not think the Sox pitching is blind stupid luck. Given that the defense so far is the absolute worst in MLB, with the errors and other mistakes to confirm it's lowliness, the Sox pitching is actually better than their current lowest ERA in MLB.

 

The Sox are 13-10. Of those 10 losses, 3 (of 3 played) were to the Orioles, but 2 of the 3 were definitely contested. Same goes for losing 3 of 4 to the Guardians--2 of the 3 losses were close and affected by Sox errors. Of the 2 losses to Seattle, both were highly contested. Same goes for 1 of 2 losses to the Angels. I believe that adds up to 7 of the 10 losses were contested.

 

What does, however, stretch credulity is that the Sox are sort of, kind of, maybe even hitting the freaking ball pretty much without a lineup. How bad is it? Devers, O'Neill, Casas, Yoshida, and Story are on the IL or resting or just not hitting. And guess who's playing every freaking day? Dalbec, with his OPS--OPS, not OBP--of .188. Reyes played 1b today. Cats and dogs are living together. If the

Ghostbusters show up--now my favorite line--the Sox are dead, dead, dead.

Edited April 22, 2024 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

When everyone comes back healthy, I still want Rafaela playing SS. He gives us our best shot. Good defense can carry a poor lineup. It did today and yesterday.

 

Also, Kutter for Cy Young

 

Rafaela is our best defensive SS, and SS is the most important defensive position, except maybe catcher.

 

We have 4 good OF'ers when O'Neill returns, so yes.

[notin]

Rafaela is our best defensive SS, and SS is the most important defensive position, except maybe catcher.

 

We have 4 good OF'ers when O'Neill returns, so yes.

 

If the Sox ever get healthy, it looks like:

 

C: McGuire/Wong

1b: Casas

2b: Grissom

3b: Devers

SS: Rafaela

LF: O’Neill

CF: Duran

RF: Abreu/Refsnyder

DH: Yoshida

 

Biggest issue with even getting there appears to be Casas, who might be out for a while…

[Thunder]

If the Sox ever get healthy, it looks like:

 

C: McGuire/Wong

1b: Casas

2b: Grissom

3b: Devers

SS: Rafaela

LF: O’Neill

CF: Duran

RF: Abreu/Refsnyder

DH: Yoshida

 

Biggest issue with even getting there appears to be Casas, who might be out for a while…

 

We don’t need Casas! Dalbec is leading the league in batting average. We’ll be fine!

[moonslav59]

If the Sox ever get healthy, it looks like:

 

C: McGuire/Wong

1b: Casas

2b: Grissom

3b: Devers

SS: Rafaela

LF: O’Neill

CF: Duran

RF: Abreu/Refsnyder

DH: Yoshida

 

Biggest issue with even getting there appears to be Casas, who might be out for a while…

 

I'd have O'Neill in RF over Refsnyder and it's about even with Abreu.

 

vs RHPs, I might go:

LF: Duran

CF: Abreu

RF: O'Neill

 

"Might."

[mvp 78]

I'd have O'Neill in RF over Refsnyder and it's about even with Abreu.

 

vs RHPs, I might go:

LF: Duran

CF: Abreu

RF: O'Neill

 

"Might."

 

Refsnyder is not a good defender. To play O'Neilll in LF and Refsnyder in RF is definitely a choice.

[Maxbialystock]

While I appreciate the sentiment, what exactly is your point?

 

Divided loyalties. You're a lifelong Sox fan who moved to Pittsburgh, where you have season tickets to Pirates games.

 

I've been in the same boat because of moving around a lot. While I never rooted for the Yankees, I did root for the Knicks when I was on the USMA faculty. When at Carlisle Barracks, I rooted for the Phillies when they won the WS. In Kansas I went to Royals games because I could and because Bo Jackson played. Since grad school at UNC, I've been a Heels fan. In Oklahoma I became a Cowboys fan--also an Astros fan. Since age 9, a Sox fan and an Army fan.

[Maxbialystock]

Refsnyder is not a good defender. To play O'Neilll in LF and Refsnyder in RF is definitely a choice.

 

Refsnyder's righty bat comes in handy, just like McGuire's lefty bat (DH yesterday against the Pirates).

[mvp 78]

Refsnyder's righty bat comes in handy, just like McGuire's lefty bat (DH yesterday against the Pirates).

 

Sure, just not in RF.

[mvp 78]

Divided loyalties. You're a lifelong Sox fan who moved to Pittsburgh, where you have season tickets to Pirates games.

 

I've been in the same boat because of moving around a lot. While I never rooted for the Yankees, I did root for the Knicks when I was on the USMA faculty. When at Carlisle Barracks, I rooted for the Phillies when they won the WS. In Kansas I went to Royals games because I could and because Bo Jackson played. Since grad school at UNC, I've been a Heels fan. In Oklahoma I became a Cowboys fan--also an Astros fan. Since age 9, a Sox fan and an Army fan.

 

When I lived in LA, I listened to Vin Scully on the radio all the time and went to a few games. I followed the team and new the prospects that were coming along. I even participated on a Dodgers fan forum, which is how I found out about this place (there were a shared "admiration" of SeaBeachFred). I even ended up buying an LAD hat after moving back to MA. However, at no point was I really rooting for the Dodgers and it really didn't impact my life in any way if they won or lost. The Sox were the team I still paid the most attention too and still felt frustration over after losses. If it wasn't for Vin Scully, I probably would have barely followed the Dodgers at all.

[Maxbialystock]

When I lived in LA, I listened to Vin Scully on the radio all the time and went to a few games. I followed the team and new the prospects that were coming along. I even participated on a Dodgers fan forum, which is how I found out about this place (there were a shared "admiration" of SeaBeachFred). I even ended up buying an LAD hat after moving back to MA. However, at no point was I really rooting for the Dodgers and it really didn't impact my life in any way if they won or lost. The Sox were the team I still paid the most attention too and still felt frustration over after losses. If it wasn't for Vin Scully, I probably would have barely followed the Dodgers at all.

 

I have always loved the name, "Dodgers," maybe the best MLB name there is. Trolley-Dodgers, not quite as much. Dodgers are an old, old franchise that deserves respect, and their move to the West Coast does too.

 

Agree completely on Vin Scully--of course.

 

Your story reminds me of Doris Kearns Goodwin, who started as a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan and switched to the Sox only after moving to Boston to get her PhD. I thought she was pretty good on Ken Burns' Baseball series.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

We don’t need Casas! Dalbec is leading the league in batting average. We’ll be fine!

 

 

I predict that Bobby D will end up the SOX everyday 1st baseman and will go on to play 2,131 consecutive games at 1st.

Edited April 23, 2024 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[wyo-sox]

I predict that Bobby D will end up the SOX everyday 1st baseman and will go on to play 2,131 consecutive games at 1st.

 

so 0/6000 ab's ?