Maxbialystock
-
Posts
21,066 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
6
Content Type
Profiles
Boston Red Sox Videos
2026 Boston Red Sox Top Prospects Ranking
Boston Red Sox Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits
Guides & Resources
2025 Boston Red Sox Draft Pick Tracker
News
2026 Boston Red Sox Draft Pick Tracker
Forums
Blogs
Events
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Everything posted by Maxbialystock
-
Sox are now 11-10 after taking 2 of 3 vs the Twins, who lead the AL Central, and last night beating the Brewers, who lead the NL Central with a 14-6 record. When you look at the Sox lineup these days, there is cause for concern. Like Dalbec at SS. But they are scoring runs and not screwing up the defense too often. Dugo is hitting, but so is Duran of all people. Yoshida might be getting ready to. Devers is still Devers. In fact, the Sox are now tied for 2d in MLB in runs scored with 116 (helped by having played 21 games). How about them apples? And, true to moonslav's prediction, not only is the rotation starting to come around (excluding Kluber plus jury still out on Bello), but the bullpen already looks pretty decent.
-
Since this thread is about the rotation, I hereby declare Wong and McGuire together to be adequate to the task of catching our starters--and that I continue to believe Kluber should be the odd man out. I think I read that right now the Sox are going with a six man rotation and that that could/should change by the end of the month. So I'm guessing Kluber has one more shot at proving he isn't the odd man out. Of course, Cora and Bloom never consult me, so Kluber could get the go ahead to start a bunch more games if only because he's being paid $10M, plus he's won two Cy Young awards. And, who knows, maybe he's kind to strangers too.
-
You're right. But I like the sound of Padres better.
-
It's just 21 games, but it's also the only sample we have. This is a blog site, not the last judgment. Opinions based on scant evidence are the currency of the day.
-
I'm probably guilty as charged because those stats are new to me. All I know is what I've seen. McGuire's defense, especially mistakes that lead to runs by the other team, pisses me off. On the other hand, I would be nuts not to be happy that the Sox right now have two catchers with positive WAR's. And you are dead right: if McGuire is the backup, he ain't half bad.
-
I'm sure you're right about that. All the more amazing that really good catchers like Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra were also good hitters.
-
Yes, he was still a plus defender, statistically, in 2018. However, I thought Sandy Leon was better handling the pitchers. And yes, his bat now makes him a plus catcher. But I'm still happy with the two we've got. Both have positive WAR's: +0.3 for Wong and +0.2 for McGuire. Vazquez's is +0.5.
-
A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
Maxbialystock replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
Muddling indeed. They also have the second best attendance in MLB with that losing record. Apparently, overpaid players still put butts in seats, and winning doesn't mean much. -
I only know what I see on the field of play, and I couldn't be happier that Vaz is gone. In the Sox best season ever, 2018, Vaz's WAR was -0.8. Before and after that season he loved to run into outs on the base paths, and I do not think he was effective behind the plate. Right now Wong is clearly a better defensive catcher than Vaz and McGuire is a better hitter. Together, with Wong starting most of the games, they are competent and a freaking bargain.
-
OK, I sort of misunderstood you. But not completely. I vehemently disagree with your assertion that McGuire is not a bad catcher because he has demonstrated he is lousy behind the plate (but so far a pretty good hitter). Last night McGuire did his level best to let the Brewers back into the game. That's why Cora pinch hit for him in the 6th inning.
-
Completely agree with both points. Let McGuire be the backup catcher with Wong starting 3 or 4 out of every 5 games. McGuire starts the other game(s) and and pinch-hits for Wong in late and close games.
-
A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
Maxbialystock replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
Fair enough. I'm not a GM or fantasy-player. I just don't like guys getting paid more than they are worth. And it's entirely possible I'm wrong and you're right. Maybe those big salaries bring fans to the games. -
Ahem. Cough, cough. I think your use of zero sum is really dim sum. Wong is clearly the better catcher and should start most of the games. McGuire has repeatedly demonstrated his unfitness for duties behind the plate. McGuire should be the backup and available for pinch-hitting for Wong in the later innings. Right now McGuire seems to be the better hitter and in fact has the 3d highest OPS, .900, on the team. Rather than have him start most of the games because of his bat, it would make sense to let him DH (with Turner replacing Casas at 1b) or even play 1b.
-
I'm kind of obsessed too, and I like to back that up with specific mistakes McGuire makes in games. Like the bad throw to 2b last night when a good one would have nailed the runner, who promptly came home on a single. And the bad positioning on the excellent throw home by Verdugo. Good positioning would have nailed the runner because the throw beat the runner and was just up the 3d base line where it should have been.
-
Yep. With almost anyone else these Sox could easily be labeled "unmanageable." That said, it's still the players who score/drive in the runs and get opposing players out. All three Sox pitchers looked pretty good last night. Pivetta was not helped by McGuire's weak throw to 2b on the SB that led to a run for Milwaukee. Same goes for McGuire's incorrect positioning on that throw home by Verdugo and another run for Milwaukee.
-
A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
Maxbialystock replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
Stop whining, watch the games, and maybe learn something. -
A Realistic View of 2023: Part II
Maxbialystock replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
Sox beat Brewers tonight. Pass the word because not many were watching. McGuire got pulled in the 6th, thank goodness. Now Cora needs to pull Kluber sooner--or not even start him. -
Now that Cora has demonstrated unequivocally he knows how weak a catcher McGuire is, he needs to do the same for Kluber, hands down the biggest loser on this Sox team. Pure poison.
-
Pretty big win--in spite of the execrable catching by McGuire. But it's clear Cora has his number and will do what he can to mitigate the damage by a subpar catcher. Big dinger by Dugo plus rbi's by Duran, Refsnyder, and everybody's favorite whipping boy, Yoshida. Cora once again brilliant in his lineup and substitutions although, honestly Winckowski and Jansen were inevitable once the Sox took the lead. The key move was pinch-hitting for McGuire, which brought in Refsnyder for the hit and rbi and Wong to settle the pitching down.
-
This ump doesn't like to give the corners to the pitchers. The Sox have gotten more calls than the Brewers
-
I wouldn't say great, but am more than fine with reliable. Just don't let Wright catch them.
-
Do we need any further evidence that Cora also thinks McGuire stinks at catching? 6th inning and he pinch hits for McGuire so he can get Wong in to stop the bleeding. Plus of course righty bat Refsnyder pinch hits and gets a key single.
-
Sox are 4-7 in games in which McGuire has caught. In the games in which Wong has caught the Sox are 8-5.
-
I'm being unfair to McGuire I guess. I mean he only has two weaknesses--throwing and catching.
-
McGuire was in a terrible position to catch that throw from Dugo. If he was on the 3d base line, he would have caught it in the air and been in perfect position for the tag. McGuire is not a good defensive catcher, period. Plus tonight he's hitless in 2 at bats.