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Maxbialystock

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Everything posted by Maxbialystock

  1. Maxbialystock
    Expensive win--needed too much from the bullpen.
  2. Maxbialystock
    I kind of like $8.5M, provided he keeps being great through September.
  3. Maxbialystock
    Fortunately, they do two different things. One is a closer and the other a long reliever. We would be nuts to trust Valdez, even though he's done yeoman work for the Sox this year, over Ottavino.
  4. Maxbialystock
    I like this point. I hate Kike not being in CF, but, if Arroyo isn't back or if he can't hit, I personally would move Kike back to 2B because those other choices are just awful at bat.
  5. Maxbialystock
    Nope. One more time. When Kike returns, Cora is very likely to keep Dalbec at 1b with his hot bat (rookie of the month in August). That leaves five good bats for the outfield and DH: Verdugo, Kike, Renfroe, Schwarber, and JDM. My assumption is that Schwarber and JDM will play every game at DH/LF and that the other three will play based on Cora's day to day assessment. Worse case, Cora has a very good pinch-hitter or late inning defensive replacement. If Dalbec's bat goes cold, Schwarber can always play 1b. If covid hits again, Cora has options. I see no problems when and if Kike returns.
  6. Maxbialystock
    A nice dilemma to be in. I frankly think Dalbec is going to stay at 1b, so Cora will have to figure out how to use Verdugo, Kike, Renfroe, and Schwarber/JDM in the outfield (plus Schwarber/JDM at DH). That's also 3 righty bats and 2 lefty bats, so maybe the opposing starter pitcher will determine who starts. Worst case, Cora has a pretty good pinch hitter and/or late inning replacement. Plus COVID might take away another of his options as it has already.
  7. Maxbialystock
    Always with the dollar signs, but I agree, especially on Richards. It is remotely possible that the disaster of no longer being able to rely on his doctored-up knuckle curve has actually made him a better pitcher. He has been freaking unreal in the bullpen and last night to me was the piece de resistance. If he does keep this up for the rest of the season, Bloom and Cora are going to have a heckuva discussion. $10M is a lot, plus I don't like the long hair.
  8. Maxbialystock
    The Sox outfield is far from perfect, but I'm fine with Verdugo (2.7 WAR) in LF, Kike (4.4 WAR) in CF, and Renfroe (1.4 WAR) in RF. Verdugo's OPS is .784, Rike's is .811, and Renfroe's is .813. The argument that Bloom needed to acquire a great defensive CF for the late innings is absurd.
  9. Maxbialystock
    Well, we all have our hobgoblins--or hobby horses as the case my be. Me, I think Ottavino is just what the doctor ordered to keep this badly injured bullpen functional. He's tied for the 4th best pitching WAR on the team, has 11 saves (in 15 opportunities) and 19 holds--and his ERA for August was 1.80. Bloom's acquiring him was genius.
  10. Maxbialystock
    Are you arguing that Kike Hernandez needs to be replaced in the late innings because he stinks defensively?
  11. Maxbialystock
    Luck is the residue of an infinite capacity for mastering details.
  12. Maxbialystock
    Note to splendidsplinter: way to go!!!! Two huge wins when they were badly needed.
  13. Maxbialystock
    The specific evidence--especially the 123 pitches thrown by Pedro Martinez--is damning enough. But let's not forget that Grady Little was fired after 2 seasons with the Sox and later after 2 seasons with the Dodgers. He was--what's that line from Home Alone?--one of "les incompetents." Indeed, that terrible decision by Grady Little was a contribution to the dud liberation movement and paved the way for John Henry to become the most successful owner in Sox history. A truly knowledgeable Sox fan should be grateful that Grady demonstrated his incompetence so thoroughly.
  14. Maxbialystock
    Baloney. Dalbec's turnaround was blind stupid luck.
  15. Maxbialystock
    New topic. Right now it sure looks as though Cora has three excellent long relievers: Whitlock, Richards, and Valdez. Thoughts? Am I right? If so, how should Cora use them?
  16. Maxbialystock
    Forget his defense. He can't hit either. Duran's real problem, at least in the near term, is that Cora is knee deep in good hitting outfielders, especially now that Dalbec, the August rookie of the month thanks to a 1.200 OPS, 7 dingers, and 21 rbi's, looks like a lock at 1b. Even with Kike out, Cora has much better choices than Duran: Verdugo, Renfroe, and JDM/Schwarber--or, heaven forbid, Santana. When Kike returns, Duran moves to pinchrunner/batboy because he can't hit and he can't field.
  17. Maxbialystock
    About the trade deadline, the topic of this thread. I still think Bloom made the right moves, which essentially were minimal even though Schwarber's performance has by no means been minimal. Too bad about not getting at least 3 great bullpen arms--because, thanks to covid, the demise or Barnes as closer, etc--that's probably what the Sox needed. One arm would not have sufficed. Meanwhile, however, Richards has blossomed, and by my count Cora right now has three excellent long relievers in Whitlock, Richards, and Valdez, with Richards being an absolutely astounding surprise. Last night he was once again dazzling--3 innings, no runs--against a very tough Rays lineup. So my question for all the boo birds--those who feel Bloom ain't doing his job--is who acquired those three superb long relievers? DD? No way. DD has never even visited a bargain basement.
  18. Maxbialystock
    And that's the rub, isn't it? Even with Kike out, the Sox are not desperate for outfielders--not since Duran locked up rookie of the month for August with an OPS over 1.200, 7 dingers and 21 rbi's. He's now a lock at 1b, and there is absolutely no way he cannot master that position defensively. Cora, meanwhile, must get both Schwarber and JDM into the lineup, which means one of them gets LF on any given night. Indeed, when Kike returns, Cora will have too many outfielders: Kike, Renfroe, Verdugo, and JDM/Schwarber. Duran will be moved to pinchrunner/batboy.
  19. Maxbialystock
    Yep.
  20. Maxbialystock
    Nice win tonight, 4-0 shutout of the best team in the AL. But enough of that. Feel free to discuss idle thoughts.
  21. Maxbialystock
    Sox just took two at Tampa, no mean feat, and are now 6.5 behind the Rays, 1.5 behind the Yankees, and 2 up on the A's. Sale, Whitlock, Ottavino, ERod, and Richards all pitched great. Hitting in the two wins wasn't great, but was definitely good enough even though the lineup is missing Kike, Arroyo, and now Bogaerts bats.
  22. Maxbialystock
    Amazing, incredible shutout by ERod, Richards, and of course Vazquez. Equally amazing split of the Tampa series. Great pitching in both games despite shortages in the bullpen--which we saw in the first two games. Credit also accrues to Cora, who is dealing very well with a daunting situation. Also splendidsplinter who started two fantastic threads and moonslav who usually finds something upbeat to say.
  23. Maxbialystock
    That's 4-0. If this keeps up, the Sox might have a real lead.
  24. Maxbialystock
    Looks like Devers is done too. Plus Schwarber struck out earlier, so stick a fork in him.
  25. Maxbialystock
    Wrong. JDM is done for the year, maybe forever. And just ignore that hard hit single for run #3. It was accidental.
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