Red Sox (Sandoval) vs Rangers (TBD): 09/15/26, 8:05 PM

[vegasbob]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Sandoval vs deGrom was a surefire loss TBH. 

True but the way the game played out it did not have to be a loss.     Sandoval lost his way in the 2nd, but the combo of Story primarily and Anthony secondarily allowed 2 of the 4 runs on what should have been an out.

Twice Boston had bases loaded with less than 2 outs and did not score

27 batters struck out 15 times, an astounding 56% K rate, rounded up from 55.55555555%

The game was winnable by a capable playoff team.

[Maxbialystock]

3 hours ago, NHNative said:

Yup--that was a miss that should not happen--ever.

My wife and I were like--"what the heck was that".

Funny thing, but I know exactly the play you're referring and completely agree.  It cost 2 runs and the Sox lost 4-2.  The Rangers went scoreless in innings 3-8.  

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I did say it was just a dream: "It's easy to look at those stats and dream of a young Lindor type star" ... quouth myself

(it's just a way to cope in case of a nightmare)

I would say less power and steals as he won't be a 30/30 guy like peak Lindor. Maybe like 20/10 at some point?

A better comp could be Orlando Cabrera. A guy who is contact heavy, slightly below average offense, but will be fine towards the bottom of the order. His carrying tool is going to be his glove and it should keep him in the game for a long time. 

[NHNative]

8 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Funny thing, but I know exactly the play you're referring and completely agree.  It cost 2 runs and the Sox lost 4-2.  The Rangers went scoreless in innings 3-8.  

Eggactly

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

I absolutely agree with your data but not with your grandpa.  Winning isn't every thing--it's the only thing--and 2018 was the best Boston Red Sox team ever.  Their postseason record was 11-3.  

Since he was in his late 80's at the time, he was allowed to say whatever he wanted about "those bums" IMO. He was perpetually annoyed by Casas, but loved Verdugo. He was a man of contrasts. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Don't get too excited about Arias's HR% in AA as it's a little inflated. His HR rate has gone back down a little since going to AAA. In AA and lower, they are most likely using a new ball and it has caused HRs to skyrocket across every league. Many teams are putting up a record amount of HRs and playing like it's the steroid era, except it's 19 year old kids. Brannon has some of the most legit power in the system, but he's comparable to Bobby Dalbec AND less likely to draw a walk. 

5 HRs and 16 XBHs in under 150 ABs still shows decent power, but I agree.

I think POR nearly doubled their HRs from the previous season.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

5 HRs and 16 XBHs in under 150 ABs still shows decent power, but I agree.

I think POR nearly doubled their HRs from the previous season.

That's why I think he's more like a 20 HR guy peak rather than the 30 HR guy that he was showing in AA. It's still much more power than he has shown in the past and has been great for his development. 

There was big power projection on Xander. "It just sounds different coming off his bat!" He only went over 25 HR once in his career and more often than not has under 15 HR. 

Until Arias actually does it at the MLB level, it's hard to really count on it. I'll stick with my OCab comp for now. 

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That's why I think he's more like a 20 HR guy peak rather than the 30 HR guy that he was showing in AA. It's still much more power than he has shown in the past and has been great for his development. 

There was big power projection on Xander. "It just sounds different coming off his bat!" He only went over 25 HR once in his career and more often than not has under 15 HR. 

Until Arias actually does it at the MLB level, it's hard to really count on it. I'll stick with my OCab comp for now. 

I think 17-21 year 1 and 2 might be about right, but I could see him getting to 25 by prime. I doubt he ever hits 30 in MLB, but maybe as he ages he might.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Trevor Story to me is like Cedanne to Fred Lynn,.  I can't stand that guy and can't wait for him to play for someone else.  

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

17 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

When I was a kid my punishment was being exiled to my room. Nowadays, punishing a kid would be to send him outside.

I hate to sound like an old guy but this really is sad to me.  And it continued as they got older.  I used to play a lot of softball, in my time there were 500-600 teams.  Now someone told me there was 269 this last season.  So sad, young people don't want to go out and play and it continued into their 20's and 30's and for the rest of their life I assume.  

[JimEd]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

5 HRs and 16 XBHs in under 150 ABs still shows decent power, but I agree.

I think POR nearly doubled their HRs from the previous season.

the Arkansas Travelers (AA affiliate of the Mariners and where i have season tix) hit more home runs this year than any other in their 125 year history. not surprisingly, 4-5 other teams in the Texas League broke their single-season HR mark.

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, JimEd said:

the Arkansas Travelers (AA affiliate of the Mariners and where i have season tix) hit more home runs this year than any other in their 125 year history. not surprisingly, 4-5 other teams in the Texas League broke their single-season HR mark.

No doubt, the power numbers are all in doubt.

I'm not really all tat concerned about Arias having power. 

He's a better defender than Story and anybody under control into 2027 and ML ready.

He should have a higher BA and OBP than Story and just about any other ML ready SS on the Sox.

He may or may not hit more XBHs than Story or a Monasterio/Story mix, but the rest outweighs this.

[moonslav59]

One more thing, if the ball is juiced, as it certainly must be, how about these AA pitching numbers? Should we view them as being better than they look?

OPS Against / AA Pitcher/ ERA

.597 Mullins 3.98

.678 Wehunt 3.52

.681 Paez 4.41

.690 Holobetz 4.33

.639 Halligan 4.29

Can we shave off 0.50 to 1.00 from their ERA's?

 

 

[illinoisredsox]

3 hours ago, Behindenemylines said:

The walks kill him because you know he is going to give up hits and that just means that there is a lot of traffic on the basepaths. I do not want see him again until the Sox clinch a playoff spot. He didn't even make it through the lineup once. 

Unfortunately, he is due to make 2 more starts unless they go with Bello or an opener + Bello.  Right now, he'd go Sunday against the Rays and then again a week from Saturday against the Cubs.  Hopefully, next week they will be aligning things for their playoff rotation so that Saturday start could change.  After the 27th, you will not see him again. I might have a better shot at the playoff roster than Sandoval, and I haven't played competitive baseball since American Legion ball over 50 years ago (where I was strictly a bench warmer, albeit on a very good team).

He had to have gone through the lineup at least once; he went 2 2/3 (8 outs) plus he gave up 4 runs, so a minimum of 12 hitters.  I think a couple guys were left on in the 2nd and maybe again in the 3rd, so I'm guessing he saw 14-15 hitters.