8/03. Astros vs Sox. 11:35AM EST

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And that's the same comeback you always use.  And who said we have no weaknesses?

I use that comeback over and over again because it’s still true. You’d prefer I lie to you guys?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Based on his year to date performance he’s not the #2 SP we needed. 

How many other teams picked up #2 starter at the deadline? Take your time.

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

I use that comeback over and over again because it’s still true. You’d prefer I lie to you guys?

Since it's all opinions, there aren't really any lies.  You just tend toward really negative opinions.

You predict losses when the team gets behind 1 or 2 runs early.  You predicted we'd go 2-7 in the stretch against division leaders.  It's just what you do.

[FredLynn]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

How many other teams picked up #2 starter at the deadline? Take your time.

I don’t care whether or not any other team picked up a #2 starter. It’s a need THIS team has that wasn’t met. As I wrote there are now half a dozen teams favored to win a pennant ahead of the Flops. Had Breslow done his job that would not be so. ESPN gave the team an “F” for their trade deadline effort. In contrast the Mariners got an A. 
Are you happy with the results at the deadline?

[FredLynn]

6 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Since it's all opinions, there aren't really any lies.  You just tend toward really negative opinions.

You predict losses when the team gets behind 1 or 2 runs early.  You predicted we'd go 2-7 in the stretch against division leaders.  It's just what you do.

I also predicted that in about two years we will be bona fide contenders for a ring. The future looks good….for a couple of years from now.

[FredLynn]

Meanwhile theeeee Yankmees lose and KC just scored five runs in the top of the 10th against the Jays to take a 7-2 lead.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I don’t care whether or not any other team picked up a #2 starter. It’s a need THIS team has that wasn’t met. As I wrote there are now half a dozen teams favored to win a pennant ahead of the Flops. Had Breslow done his job that would not be so. ESPN gave the team an “F” for their trade deadline effort. In contrast the Mariners got an A. 
Are you happy with the results at the deadline?

ESPN gave the team an F? Now I am worried, because when it comes to baseball, I only have the highest respect for ESPN.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

Meanwhile theeeee Yankmees lose and KC just scored five runs in the top of the 10th against the Jays to take a 7-2 lead.

But Fred, that doesn't matter because you know the Sox are going to implode.

[cp176]

2 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

Bello had his his only complete game ever with Wong behind the plate.  Now Giolito looks to go 8 while giving up 1 run.  Is it even remotely possible Breslow and Cora had good reasons for not signing another backup catcher?  

I;m hoping. that maybe they realized they don’t need one.  Wong can catch.  Anyone expecting more from a backup catcher just really wants it all.  Not necessary.

[notin]

4 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

ESPN gave the team an F? Now I am worried, because when it comes to baseball, I only have the highest respect for ESPN.

ESPN also says the Sox are the #1 AL wild card team with a 62-51 record and only 3.5 back from the division lead.  I will take that over a successful trade deadline…

[notin]

7 minutes ago, cp176 said:

I;m hoping. that maybe they realized they don’t need one.  Wong can catch.  Anyone expecting more from a backup catcher just really wants it all.  Not necessary.

Wong is having a season so bad offensively he likely ends up in the record books.  But as some have pointed out, he knows the staff and vice versa, and he has become Bello’s personal catcher during a successful run.  Seems good enough for now.

Now the Sox were linked to Dalton Rushing, but I had my doubts LA wanted to move him, especially considering how frequently they rest Smith. It really didn’t make any sense.  Of course, neither did trading Dustin May, but that’s another story…

[FredLynn]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

ESPN also says the Sox are the #1 AL wild card team with a 62-51 record and only 3.5 back from the division lead.  I will take that over a successful trade deadline…

No argument that recently the team has been playing well. However we are still behind half a dozen teams as favorites in the league for winning a pennant ahead. I would have preferred bettering our odds by addressing the obvious needs the team has. If you guys think this team is so good why not go all in and get a #2 SP, a thumper like Naylor, and a reasonable backup catcher? Why waste this opportunity?

[FredLynn]

15 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

But Fred, that doesn't matter because you know the Sox are going to implode.

I think there’s an excellent chance that they will implode. If you’ve been a Flops fan for as many years as I have you would know that implosions in the dog days of summer are in their blood. It wouldn’t surprise me for it to happen again.

[FredLynn]

17 minutes ago, notin said:

ESPN also says the Sox are the #1 AL wild card team with a 62-51 record and only 3.5 back from the division lead.  I will take that over a successful trade deadline…

I’d prefer both. 

[notin]

24 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I’d prefer both. 

Why? Trade deadline grades are as useless as power rankings.  It’s pseudo-journalistic fluff.  The sporting journalism equivalent of a Hallmark holiday.

They’re winning.  They were happy to keep the team together.  And that’s all that matters…

[moonslav59]

Max, just because we may be able to overcome a couple or three weak areas, does not mean we have none.

1. 1B: You keep clinging to the season numbers by Toro that were greatly inflated by a 9 game stretch nearly 2 months ago. Romy is great vs LHPs, but he may be needed at 2B, so 1B, especially vs RHPs is a big weakness. Campbell may be a fix, but no way do we know.

2. 2B: Mayer may need surgery. Even if not, he has an injury issue with his wrist. Campbell sucks at 2B D, so I doubt he is a solution. We may end up with DHam-Romy at 2B or go with Rafaela at 2B all season. That pretty much means Yoshida is the DH, all year.

3. DH: Yoshida- nuff said.

4. Buehler: May might be a fix, but right now our 4/5 slots are 2 weak areas, despite one nice start by Criswell, who is now at AAA.

That's at least 5 weak areas of varying degrees. (I'm not even counting Wong's bat as a weakness.)

We clearly have 3 weak areas and 2-3 minor ones.

It's my contention that every other AL team has 3 or more.

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Why? Trade deadline grades are as useless as power rankings.  It’s pseudo-journalistic fluff.  The sporting journalism equivalent of a Hallmark holiday.

They’re winning.  They were happy to keep the team together.  And that’s all that matters…

It’s not the grade that counts. It’s why we achieved the grade. And looking back the Sox got a C-, not an F. Regardless, the point is this: if the team is as good as some here think it is why not go all in? Why not address our obvious needs to improve our chances for at least a pennant? It’s been a long time.

[Jasonbay44]

4 hours ago, Hitch said:

The Athletic have an article on there today where a few of the players were saying how happy they were that nobody got moved off the big league roster and that it was a real boost that Duran wasn't moved. 

I mentioned someone (McAdam's I think) saying this may happen the other day, but wasn't ready to believe it. I believe it now.

I think Durans value goes way above what he does on the field. You can clearly tell he’s loved in the clubhouse and has taken a role as a leader. 

[FredLynn]

41 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

I think Durans value goes way above what he does on the field. You can clearly tell he’s loved in the clubhouse and has taken a role as a leader. 

Then maybe Breslow should have put together a package that included Abreu instead of Duran for Ryan. We would have an OF of Rafaela, Duran, Anthony, occasionally Yoshida or Ref with Password in the wings. 
Ryan is a stud with a sub 3 ERA. Breslow missed the boat.

[Jasonbay44]

28 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Then maybe Breslow should have put together a package that included Abreu instead of Duran for Ryan. We would have an OF of Rafaela, Duran, Anthony, occasionally Yoshida or Ref with Password in the wings. 
Ryan is a stud with a sub 3 ERA. Breslow missed the boat.

We don't even know what Breslow offered or didn't offer. I don't think Duran was the deal breaker for the Twins. 

[moonslav59]

5 hours ago, FredLynn said:

.710-.740. As the season wears on and he gets tired his plate discipline will get even worse, if that’s possible 

He has 75 Ks in 401 PAs. Last year, he had 151 in 571 (OVER 26% K Rate.) Yes, he had 45 in his last 169 PAs, when he may have tired, but if he does that again, he'll end up with 120 in 570, which is a big improvement.

I'm not saying we should expect further improvement, but I think we can safely think he may stay near his current K rate, which is under 19%. Last year, he was ranked 22nd out of 129 qualified batters in K rate- now it's 96th out of 158. He's actually in the lower half!

The K:BB went from 151-15 to 75:17. That was one of the worst ratios in MLB history (about 10 to 1) to 4.4 to 1.

The league BB/K is now 0.38. Rafaela is at 0.23, this year (17th worst) WITH ANOTHER 14 players within 0.05 from his mark. Last year he was dead last at 0.10 with only 2 players near him.

Why do you seem to discount the chance of a young player improving on his weakest area?

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And that's the same comeback you always use.  And who said we have no weaknesses?

Actually, Max did.

[cp176]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Max, just because we may be able to overcome a couple or three weak areas, does not mean we have none.

1. 1B: You keep clinging to the season numbers by Toro that were greatly inflated by a 9 game stretch nearly 2 months ago. Romy is great vs LHPs, but he may be needed at 2B, so 1B, especially vs RHPs is a big weakness. Campbell may be a fix, but no way do we know.

2. 2B: Mayer may need surgery. Even if not, he has an injury issue with his wrist. Campbell sucks at 2B D, so I doubt he is a solution. We may end up with DHam-Romy at 2B or go with Rafaela at 2B all season. That pretty much means Yoshida is the DH, all year.

3. DH: Yoshida- nuff said.

4. Buehler: May might be a fix, but right now our 4/5 slots are 2 weak areas, despite one nice start by Criswell, who is now at AAA.

That's at least 5 weak areas of varying degrees. (I'm not even counting Wong's bat as a weakness.)

We clearly have 3 weak areas and 2-3 minor ones.

It's my contention that every other AL team has 3 or more.

Hmm this is where I could shine by saying don’t forget that one of our pressing needs is a backup catcher!  lol just kidding .

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, cp176 said:

Hmm this is where I could shine by saying don’t forget that one of our pressing needs is a backup catcher!  lol just kidding .

Some view Wong as weak, and certainly his bat has been epic weak.

I don't think Wong's bat will be this bad, forever, now was it as good as it looked, last year. He's maybe a .650-.675 guy. Maybe we can do better, but we don't need a top catcher, if we do look for one.

[cp176]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Some view Wong as weak, and certainly his bat has been epic weak.

I don't think Wong's bat will be this bad, forever, now was it as good as it looked, last year. He's maybe a .650-.675 guy. Maybe we can do better, but we don't need a top catcher, if we do look for one.

We have a couple of people who have posted it as being a primary concern.  That is just fodder for the fire as far as I’m concerned.  It is a none issue.  the man can catch.  A hit now and then would just be great for sure.  I’ve been kicking around as a Sox fan since 55 and I have seen a whole bunch of backup catchers as well as starting catchers for them over the years.   Wong just isn’t that bad.  We have bigger issues. 

[moonslav59]

51 minutes ago, cp176 said:

We have a couple of people who have posted it as being a primary concern.  That is just fodder for the fire as far as I’m concerned.  It is a none issue.  the man can catch.  A hit now and then would just be great for sure.  I’ve been kicking around as a Sox fan since 55 and I have seen a whole bunch of backup catchers as well as starting catchers for them over the years.   Wong just isn’t that bad.  We have bigger issues. 

I totally agree.

The weird thing about Wong is that in past years, his defense was in question, but he's really stepped that up this year, and catcher defense is super important- maybe even more than SS defense, if you include how pitchers do better with certain catchers, which I have always valued.

The .423 OPS is worse than anything Sandy Leon or other defensive back-ups gave us, but I don't think he will remain that bad.

[dannycater]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

I totally agree.

The weird thing about Wong is that in past years, his defense was in question, but he's really stepped that up this year, and catcher defense is super important- maybe even more than SS defense, if you include how pitchers do better with certain catchers, which I have always valued.

The .423 OPS is worse than anything Sandy Leon or other defensive back-ups gave us, but I don't think he will remain that bad.

Catcher ERA...:-)

[tawest]

8 hours ago, FredLynn said:

I’ll believe it in 4-6 weeks 

I hope I live that long. 

[Hugh2]

6 hours ago, FredLynn said:

Based on his year to date performance he’s not the #2 SP we needed. 

No Giolito is

[Hugh2]

2 hours ago, Jasonbay44 said:

We don't even know what Breslow offered or didn't offer. I don't think Duran was the deal breaker for the Twins. 

I love how Breslow missed the boat but the guy wasn’t traded. Every team in baseball failed to trade for Ryan.  He wasn’t moving