sk7326
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Everything posted by sk7326
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It was a weird trade at the time too - the investment in the closer was understandable but probably could have been sourced a lot cheaper.
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Long season - 159-3 is still a good record. Sale was outstanding. But again, the 3rd and 4th time through the order penalties are legitimate - once they came up the 4th time, you knew it could be dicey.
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4th time through the order - need to have a quick trigger finger\
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Sure - and postseason data is very small anyway (against good teams, which is important) But the bottom line to me is that clutch moments are almost always decided post hoc (and really more for us fans). The players are not robots - but by and large, the guys you want up with the game on the line are the guys you'd like to have up in general. David Ortiz is the greatest clutch hitter in Sox history. But then, he also has had far, far, far more chances to deliver in big spots than any other player in Red Sox history.
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Why not? I saw how much Ortiz stunk in the 2008 ALCS, or the 2009 ALDS or (let's face it except for the grand slam) the 2013 ALCS. Nobody brings those up either - it is why the clutch discussion is a bit weird. I am content with knowing Ortiz was good - and the team was good enough to get him to the plate with a lot on the line.
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Control is simply throwing strikes. Command I think has to do more with movement - do your pitches do what they are supposed to do. If you want the curve to go in the dirt, will it? Can't really have command without control, but you can have the reverse.
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I think the thread asks the wrong question (I have been away - so yes I am late here). The question is "is there a definition of clutch hitting that is meaningfully separate from good hitting". And empirically, the answer is no. The answer is not perfect - because life is messy - but from a general rule of thumb perspective, that is the essence. So much of what is called a clutch situation is applied post-hoc. My favorite example is Big Papi - who has so many big hits. But he has also been on tons of good teams - of course he had the chance. I think it was Parcells who talked about luck being preparation meeting opportunity - and ultimately, there has not been a definition of clutch that is much better than that.
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I think it is smart to bet on the track record - so the Red Sox should have the eject button ready for Leon. But - he was really good last season, and clearly DESERVES the chance to prove that his transformation last year will hold.
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Caught stealing % is a bit like RBIs - it is a team accomplishment. Remember for a lot of Epstein's time here - the Red Sox were the worst stolen base team in the league. But they also were vigilant in not wanting their pitchers to worry about different mechanics, slide steps etc. Get the batter out, the rest solves itself. Also - it's not 1983 anymore. The times to run are chosen so carefully - and (generally, though better than in recent years) so much less frequent that there is just not going to be much variation among catchers in this area. I mean certainly some catchers have better arms than others - but I am not sure it comes out in the results that differently.
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Inside the park HR Straight Steal of Home Anytime an outfielder brings a homerun back For the sort of rarer things, the 17+ strikeout game (which has happened about as often as perfect games)
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He is also 28 years old (in a later blooming position granted) - there are more reasons to believe fluke than real. But - given the situation, he deserves the chance to prove me wrong.
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It's not the last 4 weeks - it is the REST OF HIS CAREER. 177 ABs of a 5 year career as a fringe major leaguer. Now I think he deserves to start the year as #1.
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As Ueck says, catching a knuckleball is easy. Just wait for it to stop rolling.
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Leon had 6 good weeks and was the Sandy Leon flavored pumpkin the rest of the time. Now he deserves the right to prove me wrong. The team would be best off if Swihart did what it took to win the gig.
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Exactly. And also - this is the tricky part of clutch - these players are all awesome. Yes, Ortiz is better than most hitters in high leverage spots conceptually ... but he also better than most hitters, period. His clutch lore - deserved - is also built by being on (generally) a really good team which created those spots for him a lot. I mean even notorious choker ARod was a monster in the 2009 postseason.
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No, although that 15 K one hitter at Seattle gets swept under the rug in the annals of great playoff performances
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Options are a powerful thing. Swihart is their highest ceiling option back there - but no problem with slow playing it. Leon deserves the right (I think) to prove that his season was not just a 6 week fluke. (I think it is - but fair to find out for sure)
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whatever 39 means - per Chris Rock, the only time I have left to be called young is if I suddenly die. But I do have a 4.5 year old and a 20 month old ... so I will cop to being addled
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massive debt crisis, with some handcuffs the mainland has put on them ... but that is another thread
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2017 Spring Training Thread - Everything Sox ST
sk7326 replied to southpaw777's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
I think it is a reasonable expectation. But the shape of his production over the season (very high variability) leaves him destined to be very frustrating at times at the plate. -
Given this is national pride, and there is national narratives - how the US has let PR's economy go to seed might resonate more than baseball's investment in baseball players.
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(plaque tactfully avoids 2009-2010)
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2017 Spring Training Thread - Everything Sox ST
sk7326 replied to southpaw777's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
Like Napoli in 2013 - can Bradley get on base enough during the meh periods to allow the rest of his game to show? I think that's possible. (he won't walk as much - but as a good CF, he offers more to the party outside of offense than Naps ever could) -
i don't have a ton of conviction with the 3 through 5 spots ... My larger conviction is Benintendi by midway in the season being this team's best "pure hitter" from the approach persepctive - like an Allen Craig before his body fell to pieces
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2017 Spring Training Thread - Everything Sox ST
sk7326 replied to southpaw777's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
With all of this evidence - it is safe to say for me that Bradley is just going to be one of those Mike Napoli sort of three outcome (well, not that sort of power, but the general vibe) hitters. There will be about 2 months where he'll be an MVP, and long dry spells where he walks enough to not kill you. The total package will be worth it - but consistency ain't happening.