6/16 Yankees at Red Sox

[moonslav59]

This may have been the best week of Boston baseball since 2018. To take both series against previously strong pitching is amazing but to see the youngsters in the lineup maturing is a great sign.

 

It will become sustainable if the team can take the Jays' series

 

Just don't ever admit this is enjoyable or fun.

[moonslav59]

When Duran got thrown out trying to score form 2b, that was a heckuva throw by the Yankees leftfielder.

 

Agreed, and it was a good gamble to take.

[Duran Is The Man]

Nine stolen bases. In one game. For the Red Sox.

 

For some perspective here, I think it was the 1983 Red Sox that had a total of 10 stolen bases - AT THE ALL STAR BREAK!

 

wow! i like that the stolen base is cool again.

[sk7326]

On national TV Casas says Duran's the SOX best hitter. I wonder how Devers will feel about that?

 

wiping his tears with $100 bills

[moonslav59]

Ripple & Weeds Believe It or Not...

 

1. The Sox are 5th in MLB in SBs with 69.

2. The Sox are 6th in MLB in OBP AND SLG%.

3. The Sox are 6th in Total Bases but 11th in Runs scored.

4. The Sox lead MLB in 2B+3B with 151.

5. The Sox are 6th in team ERA and WHIP.

6. The Sox are ranked 3rd in MLB in pitching fWAR.

7. The Sox pen is ranked higher than their rotation in fWAR.

8. The Sox pen and rotation have nearly identical xFIPs.

9. The Sox are ranked 24th on D with OAA, 12th with DRS and 17th with UZR/150.

10. The Sox are 2nd in MLB with a 3.55 SIERA (just 0.10 from PHI)

11. The Sox have allowed 44 Unearned runs to score.

 

 

[Old Red]

Just don't ever admit this is enjoyable or fun.

 

Ah MOOn playing the part of Cyndi Lauper a girl just wanting to have fun.

[notin]

wow! i like that the stolen base is cool again.

 

I loved that they did it.

 

But part of me thinks any team stealing nine bases in one game shouldn’t happen at any level of baseball above Little League…

[cukes]

Just don't ever admit this is enjoyable or fun.

 

These were good games and a pleasure to watch hustling fundamental baseball which we have been lacking in, don't know how far it's going to take us but enjoy and it is a confidence builder

[dgalehouse]

It wasn't long ago that the analytics folks were saying that stolen bases were overrated and not worth the risk. I guess they will admit they were wrong .

[Maxbialystock]

It wasn't long ago that the analytics folks were saying that stolen bases were overrated and not worth the risk. I guess they will admit they were wrong .

 

Baseball changed the dimensions of the bases to encourage basestealing. I kind of like basestealing, but am less sure than you it's been the key to the Sox offense. Far from it, in fact. The Sox right now are ranked 5th in base stealing and 5th in team OPS, but they are just 11th (actually 10th because 10th San Diego has 1 more run and 3 more games than the Sox) in runs scored.

[Maxbialystock]

These were good games and a pleasure to watch hustling fundamental baseball which we have been lacking in, don't know how far it's going to take us but enjoy and it is a confidence builder

 

The real fundamentals of MLB are hitting and pitching, and this year the Sox pitching has been way better than anyone expected. None of the Sox pitchers has stolen a base. The hitting is coming around thanks in large part to those younger guys, but at the same time the Sox defense, which some regard as a fundamental baseball skill, leads MLB in errors with 53, 5 more than the next most by Miami.

[Dipre]

It wasn't long ago that the analytics folks were saying that stolen bases were overrated and not worth the risk. I guess they will admit they were wrong .

 

They were right. That's why MLB made larger bases. Nice try though.

[Dipre]

Baseball changed the dimensions of the bases to encourage basestealing. I kind of like basestealing, but am less sure than you it's been the key to the Sox offense. Far from it, in fact. The Sox right now are ranked 5th in base stealing and 5th in team OPS, but they are just 11th (actually 10th because 10th San Diego has 1 more run and 3 more games than the Sox) in runs scored.

 

This

[mvp 78]

It wasn't long ago that the analytics folks were saying that stolen bases were overrated and not worth the risk. I guess they will admit they were wrong .

 

It's worth it depending upon success rate, personnel and matchups. The increase in base size helps somewhat, but I think the pitch clock and limitations on pitchers throwing to 1b had a bigger impact.

[Dipre]

It's worth it depending upon success rate, personnel and matchups. The increase in base size helps somewhat, but I think the pitch clock and limitations on pitchers throwing to 1b had a bigger impact.

 

Limits on pickoff throws too

[notin]

It wasn't long ago that the analytics folks were saying that stolen bases were overrated and not worth the risk. I guess they will admit they were wrong .

 

Incorrect. They never said that about stolen bases. Analytics discussed what success rates impact runs scoring. Now they did at one point recommend minimizing stealing bases if you are maximizing launch angle/exit velocity, because the increase in home runs should decrease the need for stolen bases. But that’s not the same thing.

 

Anyway, from 2018, there is this:

 

https://batflipsandnerds.com/2018/11/03/analytics-and-its-effects-on-the-mlb-the-stolen-base/

[notin]

Baseball changed the dimensions of the bases to encourage basestealing. I kind of like basestealing, but am less sure than you it's been the key to the Sox offense. Far from it, in fact. The Sox right now are ranked 5th in base stealing and 5th in team OPS, but they are just 11th (actually 10th because 10th San Diego has 1 more run and 3 more games than the Sox) in runs scored.

 

I thought they increased the base size to make it safer for middle infielders to turn double plays in the absence of the Neighborhood Play…

[notin]

It's worth it depending upon success rate, personnel and matchups. The increase in base size helps somewhat, but I think the pitch clock and limitations on pitchers throwing to 1b had a bigger impact.

 

 

Pitch clock and pick off limits are huge.

 

Ian Hamilton made two quick pick off attempts at David Hamilton last night. After the second I was thinking “David Hamilton can take 45 foot lead right now and there’s nothing Ian Hamilton can do.”

 

I really didn’t use their full names, but it looked confusing when I just used Hamilton for both…

[TylerD]

Felt good to get series win!

 

Let’s do the same against Toronto.

 

Jays have won 5 of their last 6 series. Should be a tough series for us

[Bellhorn04]

Pitch clock and pick off limits are huge.

 

Ian Hamilton made two quick pick off attempts at David Hamilton last night. After the second I was thinking “David Hamilton can take 45 foot lead right now and there’s nothing Ian Hamilton can do.”

 

Does running at the baserunner with the ball count as a pickoff attempt?

[illinoisredsox]

Does running at the baserunner with the ball count as a pickoff attempt?

 

Yes.

[Duran Is The Man]

Pitch clock and pick off limits are huge.

 

Ian Hamilton made two quick pick off attempts at David Hamilton last night. After the second I was thinking “David Hamilton can take 45 foot lead right now and there’s nothing Ian Hamilton can do.”

 

I really didn’t use their full names, but it looked confusing when I just used Hamilton for both…

 

i know you know this but he can make a 3rd pickoff attempt. he just has to get the runner out or it's considered a balk. i actually saw this happen a couple weeks ago in a AA MiLB game. dude took a huge lead and was nailed on the 3rd pick off attempt.

[Beaneater]

Two moments I especially liked in last night's game:

 

1) Zack Kelly of course did an amazing job. But that 3-2 pitch to Torres for the first out was bonkers. Torres has got to be looking fastball all the way, and Kelly/Wong dial up a sweeper way the heck out of the zone to punch his ticket. That took some balls.

 

2) Wong has played a bit like 2004 postseason Johnny Damon this year: no smiles until the game is won, and probably not then either. Stoic. So to see him fired up after his big triple was really exciting. Loved that moment.

[Tedballgame]

Agreed, and it was a good gamble to take.

 

Not a good gamble with no outs or one out. Good gamble with 2 outs.