Spitball
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Everything posted by Spitball
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Maybe but that wouldn't explain such a drastic drop in k-rate and rise in walk-rate. Neftali Feliz is making a similar transition. His k-rates from last year to this year are exactly the same. C.J. Wilson's dropped only about one per nine when he made the same transition a few years ago.
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For me, taking a very good reliever and turning him into an average number 5 starter is your basic Peter Principle. The principle basically follows that, "employees tend to rise to their level of incompetence." Bard should be employed in the role that he is most suited. You don't take Kate Upton and have her model ski parkas. You use people in the roles that they can excel.
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But Morrow was striking out about 10.5 per 9 and walking about 2.82 per 9 in those first two seasons. Those are pretty good indicators. Bard is 5.5/9 and 5.3/9 which are not good. For me, it isn't how Bard compares to Morrow or other number five starters. It is how Bard the starter compares to Bard the reliever.
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Is it Pedroia? I seem to remember he did it at one time.
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When should the Bard experiment end?
Spitball replied to jacksonianmarch's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
His strikeouts to walks are trending very poorly at this point as a starter. I would move him back to the pen to see if he can correct the problem. He is a strikeout pitcher who is not missing bats. He recently had start in which there were only four swings and misses. Pitching to soft contact still requires strikeouts also to be successful. Most effective pitchers are not much lower than 6.0/9. -
Unless the pitcher is a reliever like Mariano Rivera, the cutter should be a secondary pitch only.
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Especially with Longoria and Jennings out of their line-up.
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Middlebrooks has never played the outfield in the minor leagues...but Pujols and Cabrera each had very limited experience there in the minor leagues. I believe they both played about three games each. However, with their clubs rushing to get their bats to the big leagues, neither turned into accomplished third basemen. Ideally, I'd like to see them give Middlebrooks a shot in left but continue to work on his footwork on throws from third. I think Cincinnati might be interested in Youkilis since Rolen is possibly finished. Perhaps when Ellsbury and/or Crawford return(s), there can be a deal swung. Cincinnati appears to have a deep bullpen, but forget about Chapman. Sox will not get Chapman for Youkilis.
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Well, I'm fresh off the optimism thread, so I'm feeling a bit positive. I see Middlebrooks going down and refining his skills. Youkilis comes back and gets hot knowing his replacement is waiting, gets hurt again, or gets traded to Cincinnati. We will see the Youkilis of old or Middlebrooks back. If Middlebrooks stays in Boston when Youkilis returns, there is a chance that he loses his momentum while splitting time or learning to play left field. It is not like WMB is being traded or sent away forever. He will be back.
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Optmism: Beckett pitches his best game in at least 9 months.
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I'm not saying Bard is a problem, just the way he is being used. It is a huge warning sign when a pitcher stops striking out batters, especially one who had averaged more than a K per inning for his career. As I type, Bard is on a stretch of 18.1 innings with 4 strikeouts and 10 walks. Something is not looking good to me about that line. And 12.1 of those innings were against weak line ups in KC and Oakland.
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Bard's slider had made him dominant. He needs to rediscover it no matter what role he pitches.
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Are you kidding? I have seen that Bard's slider has become very hittable which leaves his fastball vulnerable. His change up is not major league ready at this point. If he is to be successful as a starter, he will need more than one pitch. Even as a reliever, he will need that slider to get batters to swing and miss.
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I doubt the Sox will clean house right now, but they will probably be sellers at the trade deadline on July 31. Even if it means eating some money/a lot of money, they will be better off getting rid of many of Epstein's mistakes. The big question mark will be if Beckett, Youkilis, Saltamalacchia, Gonzalez, and/or Lester will be producing well enough to bring back any return. This is sad, and I am so glad Theo is gone.
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Why is Middlebrooks out of the game? Any word?
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Papelbon gave up a game losing three-run pinch homer to the Mets' Jordany Valdepin. Who???
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When I saw Nick Punto in the lead off spot today, I thought Valentine might have lost his mind. The guy has a .294 OBP. Line up oders might be over-rated but there is validity to playing percentages and looking at player's roles and abilities. I think I'd put Bill James in a uniform and let him advise Valentine.
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If Iggy is Alex Gonzalez, I hope the Sox do pass on the guy. I love defensively gifted players, but I feel Gonzalez's defense didn't make up for his totally clueless approach at the plate. He is a .629 career OPSer whose numbers are boasted by a couple of good offensive years. There is a reason a (decent but not truly elite) defensive shortstop has bounced around to seven teams for the last seven years.
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Beltre is OPSing at .889 rate.
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Papelbon is leading the NL with 9 saves. He has a 0.82 ERA and a 0.818 WHIP. He has given up one run so far.
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Middlebrooks and Patriots' quarterback Ryan Mallett are best friends. They are both from the Texarkansas area.
