Not only did Sanchez not hustle running to first base in the 9th inning, he also did not hustle going after the passed ball in the first inning, which allowed the Rays to score a run from 2nd base. If there is anything that warrants a benching, it's that.
I just knew the Rays were going to blow that game. LOL
Small sample, but Leon's offense has really struggled since he started catching the majority of games. Not that he was hitting that great to start with, but it seemed like he was on a better roll, until Vazquez got injured.
What I like about Vaz and Leon is how well they seem to complement each other as a tandem, with neither one really being a 'backup'.
For the remainder of this season? I can't see it. Cora and Dombrowski seem to be really high on the work that Vaz and Leon do behind the plate.
I could see that for next year, IF Swihart shows that he is better overall than one of the others.
If Vazquez returns before the rosters expand, the Sox will find a way to make it work. Maybe Phillips isn't called up before September? Maybe someone goes on the phantom DL?
Shaw was absolutely horrible the second half (longer, actually) of his last season with us. I was not sad to see him go. That said, it appears the Sox gave up on him too early, which does make the trade sting. I still hold out hope for Thornburg though.
My DVR has been set up for this since Saturday! But I am recording the rebroadcast from 3:00 - 4:00 a.m. so it doesn't interfere with my baseball games. And The Bachelorette
I have no doubt that Cashman will make a big trade before the deadline. The Yankees need for a starting pitcher is greater than any needs the Sox have.
Also, as a manager, Boone is no Cora.
If the Sox have indeed fixed a mechanical flaw with Thornburg, that could be a huge boost to our pen.
Either way, Dave needs to get us a solid, late inning reliever.
The OOBs are coming from BR.
Here's the link, by team first, then by individual players:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2018-baserunning-batting.shtml
I can see why you would consider those boneheaded. I think there's a fine line (and usually hard to distinguish) between stupid and overly aggressive.
It seems to me that while we have one of the more aggressive base running teams, we are not necessarily being smart with our aggressiveness.
Hanley being DFA'd has not hurt the team at all. Moreland has held his own and Pearce has been a good pickup.
I still do not disagree with the decision to DFA him so early in the season, but this is why Dombrowski is the GM and I am not.
The Sox have 45 OOBs, most in the majors. Those are broken down by outs at particular bases as follows:
1st base - 4 (league average)
2nd base - 15 (2nd most in the majors)
3rd base - 9 (5th most in the majors)
Home - 17 (2nd most in the majors)
By comparison, the Sox had 29 OOBs at home plate last year. There's not that much of a difference between last year and this.
Believe it or not, Hanley is only charged with one OOB according to BR.
Our team leader is Nunez with 7. Bogaerts and Devers each have 5. Beni, Betts, Bradley, and Vazquez each have 4. JD and Moreland have 3 each, and Sandy has 2.
It's hard for me to say because I can't remember all of the OOBs that were made this year. Just going off my general feeling/impression, I would put it at less than 10%. I could even make the argument that even the ones that seem clearly boneheaded could be attributed to over aggressiveness or trying too hard.