23rd of July: Boston at Colorado

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Btw, coming into tonight's games, Bobby Witt, Jr is 12-15 since the all-star break. If I was starting a new team and I could pick any player in MLB to be on it, Witt, Jr would be my first pick. Edited July 24, 2024 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Yep, and that’s certainly true when drafting high schoolers. The only exception would be a lefty, and he’d be playing center as an amateur. As the best athletes on the field, virtually all of them pitched in high school at least some of the time.

 

College draftees are a little different, since most big time programs have a few players who will play at least in the low minors, so they get spread out the field.

 

 

Very good point. I believe the SOX probably, and I can't prove it, draft more high schoolers than anyone.

Edited July 24, 2024 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[illinoisredsox]

Btw, coming into tonight's games, Bobby Witt, Jr is 12-15 since the all-star break. If I was starting a new team and I could pick any player in MLB to be on it, it would Witt.

 

Well, if he isn’t at the top of the list, he’d certainly be in the top 3.

 

Witt did briefly tie Duran for the triples lead last night. Duran took care of that within an hour.

[illinoisredsox]

You can tell the Sox are winning. Very short game thread.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Btw, coming into tonight's games, Bobby Witt, Jr is 12-15 since the all-star break. If I was starting a new team and I could pick any player in MLB to be on it, Witt, Jr would be my first pick.

 

Who would be your 1st pick?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Well, if he isn’t at the top of the list, he’d certainly be in the top 3.

 

Witt did briefly tie Duran for the triples lead last night. Duran took care of that within an hour.

 

I love Duran, but Witt is only 24. What still amazes me is that Devers is only 27.

 

Devers is actually about 2 months younger than Duran.

Edited July 24, 2024 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Fantastic job by Criswell tonight. Btw, since June 20TH, the Rockies have hit more HR's (45) than any other team in MLB.

[illinoisredsox]

Who would be your 1st pick?

 

I assume you meant that for me. Honest answer, I don’t know. I just don’t follow everyone the way I used to; I only see them against the Sox.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I assume you meant that for me. Honest answer, I don’t know. I just don’t follow everyone the way I used to; I only see them against the Sox.

 

I chose Witt because he plays SS very well, he hits very well and he's young. That's a hard to beat trifecta.

Oh, I almost forgot, he's also a fast runner.

Edited July 24, 2024 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

One last thing; the SOX are 1-4 so far on this road trip and they've scored 5 or more runs in all 5 games.

[vegasbob]

It would be shocking, but actually very welcome for Criswell to throw a 9 inning, 80 pitch shutout, while the offense scores about a dozen.

 

Realistically, if Criswell could throw 6 innings of 2 run ball, and the offense score 5 or more, I'd be happy. Those pesky 7-8-9 innings, I'm thinking Dom Smith.

 

Not quite a perfect prediction or even wish, but Criswell got it done as did Bernardino and magically Weissert . All is forgiven fellows. Win the series tomnorrow

[vegasbob]

If someone had told you with certainty that BoSox would be 2 for 10 w/RISP and 11 LOB's , and O'Neill left 4 runners on base with 2 outs, what would you think the outcome was, 0-5 road trip ? If the same psychic told you that Criswell would throw a 7 inning shutout, would you bet on the Sox ?

 

See , you just never know

[moonslav59]

One last thing; the SOX are 1-4 so far on this road trip and they've scored 5 or more runs in all 5 games.

 

We lost 4-1 game 1 vs LAD.

[Old Red]

Good to see the O come to life.

 

Ref almost had 3 hits, so far.

 

O'Neill is a beast. I hope he has finally silenced his critics.

 

Good to see Devers show some life.

 

Criswell gets the top award, so far.

 

Hope he can go long and save the pen.

 

Why would you possibly think O’Neil has silenced any of his so called critics? He’s hit some HR on the current road trip, and may even hit some more, but then he’ll go back being K Man for long stretches of games. He’s just like YOshida who can go from GOshida to NOshida from game to game, and even pitch to pitch just as your Hero Raffy who can be Devers Forever one game, and Never Devers the next, so it’s GO’Neil, or NO’Neil depending on what streak he’s on, and will be judged accordingly, so No he hasn’t silenced anyone in the BIG scheme of game threads, but thanks for asking.

[Bellhorn04]

Why would you possibly think O’Neil has silenced any of his so called critics? He’s hit some HR on the current road trip, and may even hit some more, but then he’ll go back being K Man for long stretches of games. He’s just like YOshida who can go from GOshida to NOshida from game to game, and even pitch to pitch just as your Hero Raffy who can be Devers Forever one game, and Never Devers the next, so it’s GO’Neil, or NO’Neil depending on what streak he’s on, and will be judged accordingly, so No he hasn’t silenced anyone in the BIG scheme of game threads, but thanks for asking.

 

O'Neillll now has an OPS of .891, which is really really good.

 

But nothing silences anyone in this madhouse, that goes without saying.

[moonslav59]

O'Neillll now has an OPS of .891, which is really really good.

 

But nothing silences anyone in this madhouse, that goes without saying.

 

Indeed, and that is why I said I hope not I think. Two words with very different meanings.

 

Here is an interesting point about the last 5 games:

 

1-4 record

 

Outscored just 29 to 27.

[Old Red]

Indeed, and that is why I said I hope not I think. Two words with very different meanings.

 

Here is an interesting point about the last 5 games:

 

1-4 record

 

Outscored just 29 to 27.

No ONE is exempt from criticism on the game tread. EVERYONE should know that, and hoping, or thinking it is, or should be, and it bothers them so much should just not read them.Gloom, and Doom can start on 1 pitch. From Joe Castig. Can You Believe IT?

Edited July 24, 2024 by Old Red

[Old Red]

Indeed, and that is why I said I hope not I think. Two words with very different meanings.

 

Here is an interesting point about the last 5 games:

 

1-4 record

 

Outscored just 29 to 27.

 

What’s interesting about losing 4 games 29-21? Throw in a 6-0 win, and the combined score looks close. Shows me the pitching isn’t all that good, and no matter how you analyze it, or add it up it still adds up to a 1-4 record.

Edited July 24, 2024 by Old Red

[moonslav59]

O'Neillll now has an OPS of .891, which is really really good.

 

But nothing silences anyone in this madhouse, that goes without saying.

 

Being streaky always gets under many posters' skin. I get it.

 

To me, being streaky helps as much as it hurts, and it all evens out in the long run.

 

Here is one breakdown of Tyler's 2024 streakfest:

1.045 first 108 PAs

.515 next 64 PAs (right before IL stint)

1.215 in 38 PAs after IL stint

.847 last 102 PAs

 

or

1.045 first 108

.515 next 64

.947 since June 5th

 

He's really just had one really bad, somewhat long stretch.

 

Our GMs have done pretty well with their one and done power OF bat winter additions:

 

.891 O'Neill, so far in 2024 (312 PAs is 4th on the Sox)

.834 Duvall in 2023 (353 PAs- kinda hurt not being 550.)

(2022 was a disaster with JBJ .578/Kike.629)

.816 Renfroe in 2021 (572 PAs w 31 Hrs and 96 rbi)

.795 Pillar in 2020 (126 PAs before being traded)

 

[Maxbialystock]

Criswell to the rescue! Stopper, or not?

 

Absolutely not. Criswell is the opposite of a stopper, plus that name will never do.

 

All he did was pitch 7 shutout innings in a game which just may have demonstrated it's still too early to check for less change. Sox win, 6-0, in a stunningly good game all around.

[Maxbialystock]

Gonzales brain dead baserunning cost us a run

 

I beg to differ. He attempted to steal 2d base, and the ump called him safe but the guys back in NYC called him out. The Sox are ranked 5th in MLB in stolen bases, but are 94/123, 68%. Back in the day, the standard was around 80%, but with the new bases managers have looser rains on their horses.

[moonslav59]

Absolutely not. Criswell is the opposite of a stopper, plus that name will never do.

 

All he did was pitch 7 shutout innings in a game which just may have demonstrated it's still too early to check for less change. Sox win, 6-0, in a stunningly good game all around.

 

Criswell has the 79th best ERA in MLB among starters with 60+ IP.

 

That's pretty damn good for an 8th starter, but yes, not a "stopper."

[Maxbialystock]

The Rockies' booth was talking about Rafaela and how rare it is for an elite CF to also be a very good SS. The only other player they could think of was Robin Yount.

I believe, based on his athleticism, that the oft injured Story would have also been a very good CF'r.

I'm sure the same thing would hold true for Betts.

 

Agree. Someone else pointed out that SS is almost the inevitable destination of players with quickness, good hands, and a good arm. Mookie came up as a second baseman, but was shifted to RF, I think at Pawtucket, because of Pedey.

[Old Red]

Criswell has the 79th best ERA in MLB among starters with 60+ IP.

 

That's pretty damn good for an 8th starter, but yes, not a "stopper."

 

I was talking about being the stopper for just yesterday’s game, and nothing else, and I would say he plugged things very well. As usual way over analyzing things on here, and as usual getting things wrong. If nothing else he stopped the BP from to much more exposure that had helped the Red Sox watch 3 wins go down the drain in the late innings.🤭🙈

[Maxbialystock]

Stupendous game. Somewhere on another thread I wrote that the 4 straight losses were a sure sign this season is over. I even provided some supporting stats, mostly about the disintegration of the pitching staff.

 

Now, after just this 1 game, a relook of those supporting signs suggests I was--as has often been the case--over-reacting. Here's what the relook says:

 

Sox are absolutely, positively in the wild card hunt. They are 1 game back of KC and the Twins and 3.5 back of the Yankees. They are now 9th in runs scored, the highest they've been all season, so just maybe the offense ain't too shabby.

 

And the pitching, 10th in ERA before last night, is now 6th in ERA. There is in fact a huge cluster--7 freaking teams--with team ERA's ranging from 3.69 (Cleveland) to 3.76 (Milwaukee). The 4 best--Seattle, Phillies, Braves, and Yankees--range from 3.43 to 3.55.

[Maxbialystock]

Indeed, and that is why I said I hope not I think. Two words with very different meanings.

 

Here is an interesting point about the last 5 games:

 

1-4 record

 

Outscored just 29 to 27.

 

Excellent point, which I tried to make earlier (vs Dodgers) but nearly as well.

[Old Red]

Stupendous game. Somewhere on another thread I wrote that the 4 straight losses were a sure sign this season is over. I even provided some supporting stats, mostly about the disintegration of the pitching staff.

 

Now, after just this 1 game, a relook of those supporting signs suggests I was--as has often been the case--over-reacting. Here's what the relook says:

 

Sox are absolutely, positively in the wild card hunt. They are 1 game back of KC and the Twins and 3.5 back of the Yankees. They are now 9th in runs scored, the highest they've been all season, so just maybe the offense ain't too shabby.

 

And the pitching, 10th in ERA before last night, is now 6th in ERA. There is in fact a huge cluster--7 freaking teams--with team ERA's ranging from 3.69 (Cleveland) to 3.76 (Milwaukee). The 4 best--Seattle, Phillies, Braves, and Yankees--range from 3.43 to 3.55.

 

Wow! After one game you’ve come to the conclusion that the sky was falling after all. Must have put your finger up in the air to see, which way the wind was blowing. Welcome back Max, but not all of us had thrown in the towel after the four losses on July 23 with 60+ games left in the season, and only 4 games back of the Yankees in the loss column, and even closer than that to the two teams above them.

[moonslav59]

Stupendous game. Somewhere on another thread I wrote that the 4 straight losses were a sure sign this season is over. I even provided some supporting stats, mostly about the disintegration of the pitching staff.

 

Now, after just this 1 game, a relook of those supporting signs suggests I was--as has often been the case--over-reacting. Here's what the relook says:

 

Sox are absolutely, positively in the wild card hunt. They are 1 game back of KC and the Twins and 3.5 back of the Yankees. They are now 9th in runs scored, the highest they've been all season, so just maybe the offense ain't too shabby.

 

And the pitching, 10th in ERA before last night, is now 6th in ERA. There is in fact a huge cluster--7 freaking teams--with team ERA's ranging from 3.69 (Cleveland) to 3.76 (Milwaukee). The 4 best--Seattle, Phillies, Braves, and Yankees--range from 3.43 to 3.55.

 

Max, you often cite how things can change so quickly after 1-2 games, so heed your own words.

 

It's a 162 game season for a reason. We can split with the CWS and not suck, and we can get swept by the Dodgers and not suck.

 

We can also have nice winning stretches vs very good teams and not be great.

 

We are a top 10 offense (top 5 after May 15th)

We are a top 10 pitching team (bottom 10 after May 15th)

We are a bottom 10 defensive team (close to middle 10 since May 15th)

We have been a top 10 baserunning team, all year.

 

Together, we should be a playoff team, or a PO contender, at worst. If we can get some pitching help in the next week, we should be a make the playoff favorite.

[moonslav59]

Excellent point, which I tried to make earlier (vs Dodgers) but nearly as well.

 

We were up in game 1 vs LAD into the 8th and lost.

We were up in game 2 in the 9th and 10th, and lost.

We did not deserve to win game 3, despite being up 2-0 in the 1st w Crawford on the mound.

We were up 2 in the 10th and up 1 in the 12th vs COL, game 1, and lost.

 

No 4 game stretch like that should be definitive.

[mvp 78]

O'Neillll now has an OPS of .891, which is really really good.

 

But nothing silences anyone in this madhouse, that goes without saying.

 

Not good enough for some!