Diamondbacks (Nelson) vs Red Sox (Bello): 8/23/24, 7:10pm

[Bellhorn04]

I bet you can find some sabermetrician who disagrees. After, if you’ve found a good hitter’s weakness, aren’t you going to exploit it regardless of who’s up next?

 

But haven't we agreed that in some situations it's preferable to walk them?

 

The OPS generated by a walk is 1.000.

 

The OPS generated by a homer is 5.000.

 

And that doesn't factor in the impact of men on base.

 

Sure, you can attack a guy's weakness, but if your pitch misses its target just a little and "catches too much plate", you're in big trouble.

[Maxbialystock]

So, Devers has all these high stats with a sore shoulder. Interesting, although I wouldn't consider 77 RBI that high considering his number of opportunities.

And I'll get off his back when I feel like it.

 

Of course you will. That's what talksox is all about--venting when the Sox lose a game.

 

You are attacking one of the positive forces on this team. Granted, he doesn't meet your expectations, but he's doing a whale of a lot better than the pitching staff.

 

This morning, August 24, 127 games into the season, the Sox are ranked 5th in runs scored, which really should be 4th because they are just 7 runs behind the Dodgers who have played 2 more games (and the Sox average 5 runs per game). And their team OPS is .767, ranked 3d. Oh, and out of 13 x 30 = 390 MLB lineup players, Devers OPS, .947, is ranked 6th. And his total bases, 252, are tied for 10th.

 

The Sox team ERA, meanwhile, is ranked 21st in MLB, which means they are just too awful to discuss. Going after Devers is so much more fun.

 

Nevertheless, I do credit you for starting a good discussion on RISP hitting, the lineup, etc.--and the reminder that, unlike Mookie and some of the Sox greats in the past, Devers has no similar bat to afford him some protection.