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Maxbialystock

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Everything posted by Maxbialystock

  1. Maxbialystock
    By the "eye test" you of course mean something you saw on the boob tube and not in person, (where the eye test is suspect). I do agree that some things are best realized on replays via the internet or TV. The box score for last night, for example, only captures part of what happened. That said, just the primary stat, the score, pretty much captures what happened. The Astros won easily. And the box score does tell us Verlander went 6 IP while getting 9 K's and giving up 0 runs. In other words, we don't need your freaking "eye test" to know Verlander dominated the Sox and was the deciding factor in the game. The errors, the weak hitting by the Sox, the mental errors, etc, were infuriating but not the reason why the Sox lost.
  2. Maxbialystock
    Not sure how "for sale" applies given the lateness of this season. If you mean postseason, then I of course I agree there will be transactions, but I think the Sox will buy more and sell less.
  3. Maxbialystock
    What a crock. His DWAR is -0.3, which means that he will cost the Sox 1/3 of a one win more than the average MLB thirdbaseman. The Sox have always gone for bats first and gloves/arms a distant second, including at SS and CF. And that's why Devers took over at 3b for the Sox in 2018 despite a DWAR of -0.9. His overall WAR's have been 1.3 (2017, 58 games), 0.0 (2018), 5.3, 0.4 (2020), 3.5, 4.4, and 3.0. That means that overall he has been a net plus at 3b, more so than many of predecessors. Remember the 2013 WS champs Sox? Middlebrooks at 3d base had a WAR of -0.1. Youk, WAR of 4.3 in 2007, was the Sox last productive thirdbaseman (on a Sox WS team), and they moved him to 1B.
  4. Maxbialystock
    Agree. In fact, I think the Sox have always recruited and bought or traded for bats first, then arms (pitchers), and rarely for gloves and/or baserunning skills. I think that approach has dominated the farm system as well. Consider exhibits A and B, Casas and Duran, who this year have the enthusiastic support of talksoxers and other Sox fans. Why? Because both have OPS's over .800 (.829and .828). Who cares about their freaking defense and that Duran's DWAR is -0.4 (worse than Devers' -0.3) and Casas's -1.0?
  5. Maxbialystock
    I think moonslav does just fine speaking for himself. As for the WC discussion, why the heck not? 36 games to go, which should be enough games to get back into the hunt. His dilemma--and mine--is that the Astros are one of the Sox competitors for the wild card and in these first two games they have looked overwhelmingly better in every aspect of those two games--hitting, pitching, defense, and baserunning. I hasten to add, however, this should not be surprising because the Astros are one of the best teams in MLB year after year and in the past two seasons were in the WS, losing to Atlanta in 2021 and beating the Phillies last year. In 2019 they lost to the Nats in the WS and in 2018 they lost to the best Sox team ever in the ALCS.
  6. Maxbialystock
    Oh, stop it. Just stop it. You are bombarding us with sensible observations and I for one am getting sick and tired of it. I'm tired of it because I prefer to be an irrational over-reactor. I've liked Cora a ton for 5 years, but now I want him fired because, now that Story, Sale, Houck, and Whitlock are back, the Sox look worse than before, not better--especially against the Astros. I don't think Bloom has been all that good, but until now have defended him because I know JH put some restrictions on him. I think Henry expected Bloom to get the Sox doing things the "Rays way," which is to be really smart about acquiring and developing players, especially pitchers. And of course it should only take a year or two to achieve that.
  7. Maxbialystock
    Very good point. I was one of the 2/3's, which means the Sox exceeded my expectations, and here I am griping to beat the band. I'm mad at the weak hitting and weak pitching--especially against the Astros, who seem to be good at both--and irritated by the defense and baserunning. Plus Dugo last night going ape--from the dugout, yet--over the balls and strikes--and Duran foolishly climbing a wall at Yankee Stadium when the ball was clearly out of his reach. He's now on the 10 day IL.
  8. Maxbialystock
    Don't forget that on some days I'm definitely an over-reactor. I don't think the defense is the crux of why the Sox are where they are. I think hitting--actually, runs scored and rbi's--and pitching are the crux. I say that because the Astros appear to have both hitting and pitching, especially in the measly two games we just watched. I honestly felt that the return of Sale, Houck, and Whitlock would make a big difference in pitching, but it sure doesn't look that way in this series in Houston although Houck last night definitely pitched better than Paxton The Not So Great the night before.
  9. Maxbialystock
    Simple. As I've already explained, if you can't hit for the Sox, you can't play for them. If any on those 60 freaking SS's can hit at an OPS .877 clip in the majors, maybe he could replace Devers at 3b.
  10. Maxbialystock
    I think this is a silly discussion about finding a third baseman because historically, especially during the JH era, the Sox have always preferred hitters over fielders at just about every position. Devers is far from a disaster at 3b if DWAR (-0.3) means anything at all. Devers' DWAR in 2018 was -0.9, but he started every freaking game in the postseason because he could hit and because he is not a disaster at 3b. Same goes for Bogey, an adequate fielder, but an excellent hitter. Casas's DWAR right now is -0.9 but we all love him because his OPS is over .800. Story in just 8 games has a solid DWAR of +0.3, and some of us hate him because he hasn't starting hitting yet. His OPS is .518. He is not, repeat, not winning freaking games for the Sox with his defense.
  11. Maxbialystock
    Garza is just as bad and also on the roster.
  12. Maxbialystock
    This team looks so bad I do think it's possible both Cora and Bloom will be gone after the season ends.
  13. Maxbialystock
    Worst looking outfielder I can remember seeing for the Sox. First an error on the throw home--10 feet over Wong's glove--now two fumbles on a routine double into the corner.
  14. Maxbialystock
    The box score says Abreu came in for the bottom of the 4th as a defensive replacement. Did Verdugo get booted while Casas was at bat (and K'd)?
  15. Maxbialystock
    He swung at the first pitch, a hittable fastball not far from the center of the zone, but popped it up. Sox hitters have more hits than the Astros, but not the right kind and of course not with anyone in scoring position. They are obviously intimidated by 40 year old Verlander. What did Verdugo do that got him pulled from the game?
  16. Maxbialystock
    All this crap about defense ignores the fact that Paxton stunk tonight. And, except for that astounding 3 run dinger by Duvall, the Sox lineup also stinks tonight. They are 3 for 17 with RISP. For Paxton defenders, please note that Murray has given up 0 runs in 3 innings despite an error and that Paxton gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in the first 2 innings and 7 overall (6 earned) in 4 innings. I also think the Houston pitchers have done a good job of hitting corners on their pitches.
  17. Maxbialystock
    I'm not sure I see the value of having Story DH and Turner sit.
  18. Maxbialystock
    Story is such a fraud.
  19. Maxbialystock
    Verdugo RF Devers 3B Yoshida LF Casas 1B Duvall CF Story DH Reyes SS McGuire C Urias 2B Interesting lineup for game 1. 1-4 are all lefty bats, then 5-7 righty bats, then lefty bat McGuire and righty bat Urias. Big surprise is Story at DH and not Turner, with which I completely disagree--unless Turner is injured.
  20. Maxbialystock
    I like the movie, same title, with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo.
  21. Maxbialystock
    Agree with far stupider stuff by others, but the simple fact is that he made himself unavailable by going after an uncatchable dinger. The good news is that for now the Sox won't miss his .602 OPS in August. Besides that, his DWAR is -0.5, which is kind of lousy and worse than Devers' -0.3. Season to date, however, Duran's overall WAR is +2.1, which is pretty darn good.
  22. Maxbialystock
    Disagree. His DWAR is -0.3, which means his defense cost the Sox 1/3 of a win vs average MLB third baseman.
  23. Maxbialystock
    Love the dinosaurs reference.
  24. Maxbialystock
    Turner was a terrific acquisition and is a big asset this season. But comparing him to Devers is just silly because they both play for the Sox. Devers leads the Sox right now in rbi's, total bases, OPS, and WAR.
  25. Maxbialystock
    On the game thread I commented I thought he was overdoing the "I can get this" antics which he seems to do about once every game or two on obvious dingers. So this toe contusion was in fact self-inflicted, not a brave attempt to catch something catchable.
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