Maxbialystock

What form? He had a marginal fastball and an over-reliance on that big knuckle curve. There were times when I was sure he was so afraid to throw the ball that he was going to walk off the mound and out of the game. His 2017 was a dead ringer for Ellsbury's 2011--never to be repeated.

Completely agree except for "the rest of the team is good to go" because that is simply not true. The Sox team ERA is 20th in MLB, which more than overcomes the terrific hitting--the Sox lead MLB in runs scored by a margin of 19. I do not think a couple of relievers can fix that, but agree that's all DD should do because the Sox pitching as a whole is irredeemable. Right now Mr. Inconsistent, the very guy who has given us fits in the past, is our best and most consistent starter--ERod.

Back to a Realistic View of 2019, Part II. Right now I'd have to say the Sox are in trouble simple because their pitching is so awful. DD spent big bucks--$88M, not including Cashner-- for a good to great rotation, and they've been inconsistent at best. Especially Price and Sale and Porcello. He went cheap on the bullpen and is basically getting what he paid for. The Sox ERA is 20th in MLB. Only 8 teams have had more runs scored against them. One year ago the Sox had the 7th best ERA in MLB. It's semi-miraculous the Sox are playing winning baseball--and that's almost entirely because of the non-pitching part of the team--12 angry men, who currently lead MLB in runs scored by a margin of 19 runs. Those 12 angry men have to be wondering what it takes to get this team back on track. Last weekend the Sox took the first three from the Yankees by scoring 19, 10, and 9 runs. In game 4 they scored a very nice 6 runs, only to go down, 9-6. Last night they took out a very good Morton (ERA 2.78) in the 5th, and finished with 5 runs, only to lose 6-5 because Price ran out of gas at somewhere around 80 pitches, after which he gave up 2 solo dingers and the lead (which the Sox took back, but then the bullpen gave up that lead). Did I forget to mention that the Sox starter in game 4 vs. the Yankees was none other than Chris Sale? Our former ace went 5.1 innings and gave up 6 runs. In the 3d and 4th innings both, he walked the lead off batters and then served up gopher balls for two run dingers.

I'm pissed at Sale, but fundamentally agree with you because I have never seen a more professional, focused pitcher. His fast ball, cut fast ball, changeup, and slider are all pretty good, but I wish he had a big curve and that he was better working the lower part of the zone.

Sadly, I use DWAR but sure can't defend it because sometimes the numbers seem spurious. That said, we are talking about the oxymoronic notion that defense is important for Red Sox leftfielders. It is only if your name is Hanley Ramirez. Even Ted Williams--Jimmy Piersall's complaints notwithstanding--was adequate. So was Manny, even when being Manny. Overall, though, I grant you are not exactly attacking Beni at a time when others on talksox are. We agree that in general--there are always exceptions--he is a keeper. I just like to argue.

Be glad to. Heaven help any of us who don't value defense, but the Red Sox left field position is almost uniquely one that requires less defense than any other, with the possible exception of DH. As for no longer coming in on balls--remember, please, we are talking about the shortest left field in MLB, MILB, and maybe even Little League--why is his DWAR appreciably better than last year's? And you "don't mind keeping" Beni? Talk about damning with faint praise. His cumulative WAR with the Sox is 9.3, and his cumulative salary is $1.9M. He was a great bargain when he came up and still is. More to the point, the Sox do not have another outfielder--except for Mookie of course--with anywhere near his value.

We are talking about a Boston Red Sox leftfielder, aren't we? You know, the same job held by Ted Williams, Manny Ramirez, etc, etc. Sox leftfielders are paid to hit and hopefully play the green monster acceptably well. FWIW, last year Beni's DWAR was -.6. This year it's -.1. Thanks to his OPS of .827, his overall WAR is 2.3, 5th best in MLB. And the team control thing. Yeah, probably a keeper.

Williams Bendix. A lot of movies in addition to the Life of Riley. Not a lot of range as an actor, but what he could do was cherce.

If anyone doubts the considerable value of game threads for those who need to vent, just read this from jung. Me, I like stats and sometimes even use quality starts, but I share jung's frustration with our rotation, especially our two presumptive aces. I sort of share his frustration with the big shifts, but do remember that Lou Boudreau of the Guardians used the "Williams shift" in the 1940's when he was player-manager of the Guardians. Only 3b and LF stayed to the left--and not very far left--of the line thru 2b.

Absolutely true. Of course, early in the game with Price on the mound, Mookie was earning his pay dragging down those liners deep to RF. I usually like a close game, but last night was frustrating.

Yup. Heaps and heaps.

Sale and Price. That's impossible, of course, but both are underperforming. In general, I agree DD doesn't need to pick up another starter.

Back to back terrible games by our two high priced non aces. DD can’t be smiling.

It’s simple. Tampa,loves that cut fastball and the 4 sea,er just as much as Price does. He has actually been lucky tonight.

While we're at it, let's dump Devers and Bogaerts and see if we can't get a closer of the caliber of Kimbrel. I mean, Kimbrel got us the WS last year, didn't he? Who needs hitting? Relief pitching is what wins games.

Sure do.

Reassuring.

Oh, I love it. Sending sample size--moonslav59's favorite catchall--right back to him. He's got a point though. We have seen a good sample size on Chavis. He had an OPS of 1.061 in April, then .788 in May, .730 in June, and .729 in July. We've only seen 62 at bats with Marco this year, but they have been choice-OPS of .859. Plus he's a better fielder at 2b. As others have said, however, Hernandez is so much like Holt: both bat lefty and can play 2b or SS or 3b, and Holt has a huge sample size and some pretty good success to go with it.

Are you insane? To date, believe it or not, ERod has been our best starter. That's right. Better than Price or Sale. Sale has big time control problems to go with a slower fastball, which is why the Yankees feasted on him Sunday night. Price has pretty good control, but not much of a repertoire--fast ball, cut fast ball, and changeup. Diaz, meanwhile, does have those 23 saves, but his ERA this year has ballooned to 4.95 vs. 1.96 last year, and his WAR is -.1.

That was six days ago when Morton beat him despite the Sox giving Price a 2-0 lead. Wheels came off in the 5th when Pirce gave up a single, a wild pitch, a single to drive home a run, and a double to drive home the winning 3d run. Sox scored 2 in the 2d and never scored again after Devers drove in 2 with a single. Mortion went 7 and struck out 12.

No question JDM is getting some curves to the outside, but that ain't all. He also sees some fastballs and other pitches because those are what set up the curve/slider to the outside. His OPS vs. lefties is 1.302 and vs. righties is .773. A huge difference which underscores "trouble with the curve." Station13 is right. This should be a good game tonight, probably low scoring even though anything can happen at Fenway. Five Sox lefty bats: Devers, Beni, Moreland, Holt, and JBJ.

Bring him back. Send Travis down.

Im pretty close to the same position.

Me too. Marco Hernandez looked awfully good this year. If he can keep hitting, a better choice at 2b than Chavis.

The hitting is clearly back when their worst game vs. NYY still gets them 6 runs. Rotation wasn't too shabby either. Bullpen still a little scary, however.