Bellhorn04

I know that the 5 or less is an arbitrary number. I think that as the season goes on and the sample gets bigger these numbers will be more meaningful. And other people will probably come up with other ways to analyze things. I would point out though, that the Rays and Orioles each have 5 wins in games where they have scored 3 runs or less.

I haven't seen a thread for general discussion of the 2012 season but I thought it might be useful to have one to talk about the big picture - roster construction, overall performance, trends and developments etc. For starters, I did a quick analysis of some numbers that I think are pretty revealing about where our problems have been so far. I don't think of any of this is shocking news because anyone who's following the games has a sense of it. But when you see the hard cold numbers sometimes it really clarifies things. Red Sox W-L 11-12 Runs scored 130 5.65 per game Times scoring 10 or more runs 7 Record in games scoring 5 runs or less 2-10 Rays W-L 16-8 Runs scored 109 4.54 per game Times scoring 10 or more runs 1 Record in games scoring 5 runs or less 10-8 Orioles W-L 15-9 Runs scored 103 4.29 per game Times scoring 10 or more runs 2 Record in games scoring 5 runs or less 9-9 It's not even 1/6 of the schedule yet and obviously things could improve, but so far the trend is ominous. We're scoring a pile of runs, but many of the runs are coming in blowouts. We have a lot of trouble winning if we don't score more than 5 runs. The Rays and Orioles, meanwhile, are getting it done while putting considerably fewer total runs on the board.

According to Rob Bradford of WEEI, Cook is going to be called up. http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21196376/source-red-sox-promote-aaron-cook

Yes, and players with a lower OPS than Gonzo include Teixeira and Cano. Darnell's OPS went up 190 points last night. Early days and small sample sizes = some wacky-looking numbers.

Youk to the DL?

Hopefully Cook is, that is.

Dojji, you're fighting a losing battle on Eckersley. The man ended up with 390 saves and a .998 WHIP as a reliever. The A's converted him to a reliever in 1987 and in the next 6 years they went to 3 World Series and 4 ALCS.

Aviles hit over .300 for KC in two seasons of 100+ games. He's hitting well over .300 in about 60 games for the Sox. His stroke looks great. Maybe he's just a good hitter?

McDonald and Byrd, a lethal duo tonight. Gotta love this game.

He's got Valentine believin' in him just as much as he did Tito.

The 7-run rule is everywhere.

Yeah, I'm lost on that one too. I think most people would agree the A's conversion of Eckersley to a reliever paid off handsomely.

Matt Albers with the 2 clean innings and the 2.25 ERA.

Darnell smokes another one. That's why this guy is still around.

Cody Ross with 17 RBI in his first 18 games for the Sox.

I'm not certain at all. But I think he's earned a shot. They signed him and he's pitched much better than expected. If they don't bring him up he can walk May 1.

Yeah, they have to make a decision in a couple of days. My guess is still Buchholz goes on the DL to make room for Cook.

Winning solves a lot of s***.

Minnesota and Chicago have not been places that the Sox have had a lot of success in, so weak competition or not this is good stuff.

So why didn't the White Sox bring that guy in to face McDonald? Must have been the old 7 run rule.

Duquette did lay the foundation, no question. But there were a lot of pieces added in 2003 and 2004. Duquette gets a good share of the credit but to say Epstein did little to improve on what he had is crazy.