5/13 Rays @ SOX 7:10PM ET

[Maxbialystock]

They've been using big shifts since at least Ted Williams heyday 75 years ago--because shifts work. They put limits on the shifts because they were working too well.

 

However, smart hitters adjust and try to hit to the holes. There aren't many smart hitters on the Sox. I should note that Ted Williams was not only a great natural hitter, but also a very smart one. He generally avoided "going the other way" because he believed a hard hit ball still had the best chance of being a hit.

[moonslav59]

Duran's DWAR is highest on the Sox, +1.1. O'Neill's is 2d lowest, -0.3. Case closed.

 

But, but, but O'Neill has a better UZR/150.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

So far DEVERS' contract is looking pretty, pretty good.

[moonslav59]

So far DEVERS' contract is looking pretty, pretty good.

 

Agreed.

[vegasbob]

Another potential winnable game going down by the stern. Refsnyder doesn't hit the lefty , Wong does, but why, oh why, in key situations does Devers take strike 3 ?? I do not know.

[vegasbob]

Smith is a sack of crap. I'd rather watch Bobby D K

[vegasbob]

Grissom screwed on a bad call by a Chump with an early dinner reservation. It's ok though, Vaughn can't hit anyway, so far

[Maxbialystock]

Another potential winnable game going down by the stern. Refsnyder doesn't hit the lefty , Wong does, but why, oh why, in key situations does Devers take strike 3 ?? I do not know.

 

Even worse, he did it on a 1-2 count.

 

These crummy first base replacements make he wish for Dalbec to return. He was at least a better fielder.

[vegasbob]

Horseshit umpires deciding games. Reminds me of some NHL officials

[Maxbialystock]

Grissom screwed on a bad call by a Chump with an early dinner reservation. It's ok though, Vaughn can't hit anyway, so far

 

It wasn't a bad call as much as it was an inevitable out. Grissom is so far from a MLB hitter it's painful. He looks to me like a guy whose future was at AAA--and will remain there.

[vegasbob]

So far DEVERS' contract is looking pretty, pretty good.

 

The question on Devers contract is, will it be the last one in the Henry era that will go 10 years at $30+ million? If so, get ready for a lot of .500 seasons which is where you are living right now.

[Maxbialystock]

Horseshit umpires deciding games. Reminds me of some NHL officials

 

Absolutely not on the umps. Sox can't hit, period. The first inning dinger by O'Neill was semi-miraculous. For the next 8 innings the Sox looked like the same miserable bunch we've come to expect.

[vegasbob]

Just can't keep digging the hole early and trying to come back every night. Why they don't hit at Fenway is beyond me. All factors in their favor except a competent opponent. The real answer lies in analyzing the lineup and realizing you are playing with about 5 or 6 of 9 legitimate MLB starters .

[Maxbialystock]

Attendance 28,663. The Fenway faithful ain't any more.

[Maxbialystock]

The question on Devers contract is, will it be the last one in the Henry era that will go 10 years at $30+ million? If so, get ready for a lot of .500 seasons which is where you are living right now.

 

A very interesting point. Are you unaware that none of the four WS winning Sox teams in the John Henry era had any 10 year X $30M players?

[jad]

A very interesting point. Are you unaware that none of the four WS winning Sox teams in the John Henry era had any 10 year X $30M players?

 

You mean 30 million back in the day when you could buy something with that? (I hate the prices of hot dogs at Fenway! They've gone WAY up. Why back when I was a kid, they were a dime! What's wrong with the world?)

[vegasbob]

A very interesting point. Are you unaware that none of the four WS winning Sox teams in the John Henry era had any 10 year X $30M players?

 

In truth, I did not check that stat but not sure how relevant especially since the 1st title since 1918 was now 20 years ago, and the last 6 years ago, while inflation since 2020 on a national basis has increased 20% . So I will say that salaries for ballplayers since 2018 have increased significantly without regard to ability, talent, work ethic or baseball production levels.

 

What I do know is that this team is a middle -middle doomed to mediocrity bunch of nice guys. I think several of us saw that coming out of ST. Some didn't come out of ST, particularly Vaughn Grissom.

[Duran Is The Man]

Even worse, he did it on a 1-2 count.

 

These crummy first base replacements make he wish for Dalbec to return. He was at least a better fielder.

 

they need to dump Smith and call up Kavadas. he can't be any worse. they've still got Cooper and Dalbec if he can't cut it.

[moonslav59]

they need to dump Smith and call up Kavadas. he can't be any worse. they've still got Cooper and Dalbec if he can't cut it.

 

It would be very hard for him to be any worse.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Minor League Stats

..............BA ..OPS ..G

Grissom .320 .883 338

Mookie.. .316 .880 299

Duran.........299 .834 338

Devers...... .297 .838 406

Rafaela...... .280 .806 424

O’Neill....... .272 .871 579

Casas........ .269 .858 284

Abreu........ .259 .811 431

Dalbec.........261 .879 521

Teel.. ......... .307 .868 51

Yorke.......... .276 .795 315

Anthony...... .268 .824 156

Mayer......... .265 .818 224

Kavadas...... .258 .930 284

Edited May 14, 2024 by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

[Maxbialystock]

In truth, I did not check that stat but not sure how relevant especially since the 1st title since 1918 was now 20 years ago, and the last 6 years ago, while inflation since 2020 on a national basis has increased 20% . So I will say that salaries for ballplayers since 2018 have increased significantly without regard to ability, talent, work ethic or baseball production levels.

 

What I do know is that this team is a middle -middle doomed to mediocrity bunch of nice guys. I think several of us saw that coming out of ST. Some didn't come out of ST, particularly Vaughn Grissom.

 

Agree on the mediocrity, but hasten to add the payroll is $182M, 11th highest out of 30 payrolls. Highest is the Mets, $308M, whose record, 19-21, is even worse than the Sox. 2d highest is Yankees, $306M, and they are tied with the Orioles, whose payrolls is $101M. 3d highest is Houston, $250M, who are 16-25. 4th highest are the Phillies, $245M, who are 29-13 (excellent). 5th, Texas, $233M, 22-21, same as the Sox. 6th, Atlanta, $231M, 25-13, also excellent. Same for the Dodgers, 7th, $229M, 28-15. But not Toronto, 8th, $226M, 19-22.

 

Cleveland payroll, $100M, is 27th and their record is 26-16. Tampa's is $100M, and their record is 21-21. Milwaukee's is 22d, $107M, and they are 24-17.

 

So, inflation or not, it's how you spend your bucks, not how many you spend.

[notin]

Agree on the mediocrity, but hasten to add the payroll is $182M, 11th highest out of 30 payrolls. Highest is the Mets, $308M, whose record, 19-21, is even worse than the Sox. 2d highest is Yankees, $306M, and they are tied with the Orioles, whose payrolls is $101M. 3d highest is Houston, $250M, who are 16-25. 4th highest are the Phillies, $245M, who are 29-13 (excellent). 5th, Texas, $233M, 22-21, same as the Sox. 6th, Atlanta, $231M, 25-13, also excellent. Same for the Dodgers, 7th, $229M, 28-15. But not Toronto, 8th, $226M, 19-22.

 

Cleveland payroll, $100M, is 27th and their record is 26-16. Tampa's is $100M, and their record is 21-21. Milwaukee's is 22d, $107M, and they are 24-17.

 

So, inflation or not, it's how you spend your bucks, not how many you spend.

 

Also how much money you defer. The Dodgers' payroll of $229mill certainly doesn't account for all of the $100mill in AAV spent on two Japanese players...

[mvp 78]

The question on Devers contract is, will it be the last one in the Henry era that will go 10 years at $30+ million? If so, get ready for a lot of .500 seasons which is where you are living right now.

 

It better not be since contracts are only going to get larger from here on out.

[mvp 78]

they need to dump Smith and call up Kavadas. he can't be any worse. they've still got Cooper and Dalbec if he can't cut it.

 

If he can't cut it, he takes up another slot on the 40 man.

[Duran Is The Man]

If he can't cut it, he takes up another slot on the 40 man.

 

like Dalbec and Smith? we could dump them and never miss 'em at all.

[mvp 78]

like Dalbec and Smith? we could dump them and never miss 'em at all.

 

You just run the risk of having a lefty 1B sitting on your 40 man who is behind both Casas and Masa. I agree that there could be a path to playing time, but he's forever on a 40 man once he's added.