Maxbialystock
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Everything posted by Maxbialystock
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You seriously think Bregman isn't an improvement over Mayer at 3b on the very first day he's back? As for Dobbins, he's a pitcher and just had a good outing at AA Portland. Yoshida hadn't had a single AB this season and didn't look too bad yesterday.
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As I keep saying--much too often--tonight is the first of 13 games which are like a mini-season because the opponents all have winning records. The Rays are the weakest at 50-43, and the other three--Cubs, Phillies, and Dodgers--all lead their divisions. At the same time--as everyone has noticed--the Sox hitting seems to be better plus Yoshida is just back and Bregman is about to be back. See MVP 78's stats above. Right now you have to like at least 3 starters--Crochet, Bello, and Giolito. Buehler, up tonight, is the worst, but it's clear he's determined to right his foundering ship. We'll see. The bullpen seems to be the weak point and that's a big deal because the Sox have 8 relievers and Chapman seems to be the only reliable one. The other big weakness of course is the manager Alex Cora, who has utterly failed to school his players in the fundamentals. I mean, they're fundamental, right? Plus he is clueless about lineups, which relievers to use and when to use them, and how long to leave his starters in a game.
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Late August is almost too far away to imagine. But I looked it up and the Sox play the likes of Miami, Baltimore, Yankees, Baltimore again, and Pittsburgh. The next 13 games are tougher: Rays, @ Cubs, @ Phillies, and the Dodgers at Fenway.
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It has to be said again. In the 20 games since Devers left and Bregman has remained on the IL, the Sox have averaged over 6 runs a game. Losing Devers has been about as painless as it can be. When Bregman returns, the Sox will have a lineup that can hit like the dickens and play good defense. Plus a good rotation rotation seems to be shaping up. The bullpen, however, is still a problem Were I Breslow I would try to make a deal for one or more relievers unless a good one can be made for a starter. Even then, quality relievers would help. I would not displace Wong, Yes, his hitting stinks, but he only plays in 1/3 of the games, and his defense and familiarity with the pitching staff will be invaluable. All that said, I also think the next 12 games against the Rays, @ Cubs, @ Phillies, and back at Fenway vs the Dodgers will tell us a lot more about this team. So tune in tomorrow for the first of a dozen exciting games.
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Can't disagree.
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Meh. Let's go with what we got, a DH who right now is hotter than Devers. The thing about pitchers is they own the game when they are on the mound. Campbell just trotted out there and gave up 2 off a dinger. In a close game, I'm still fine with a lousy hitting but good defensive catcher. But in that same close game we absolutely need a better bullpen than we have.
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Well, that's the point isn't it? Wong is actually a good catcher who this season can't hit a lick. But he might have been useful last night catching Bello's 9 inning, 2 ER effort.
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Well said.
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Craig Breslow: CBO of the Red Sox
Maxbialystock replied to moonslav59's topic in Boston Red Sox Talk
I excoriated Breslow over the Sale deal, but at the same time believed JH did in fact want to go in a different direction by hiring Breslow despite his having no CBO experience. We still don't know exactly what JH intends or is willing to spend. But we have seen some loosening of the purse strings as well as some pretty good acquisitions. Plus the farm system is paying off. Consequently, I like this team. And that means I also don't mind losing Devers even though I thought he was perfect as the DH. However, the facts are that 33 days ago with Devers as the DH the Sox were hopeless, 30-35. Now, without Devers, the Sox are 48-45--despite a dreaded 9 game West Coast trip--and Bregman still isn't even back yet. Just ahead are some tough games--4 vs the Rays, 3 @ Cubs, 3 @ Phillies, and 3 vs Dodgers. And what's neat about that is we all get a chance to see what this team can really do. -
Plus a wonderful day off for the bullpen.
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Well said. I sure hope Breslow dumps him at the first opportunity.
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I completely agree the Sox have had to go after pitchers from other teams because their system for developing pitchers ain't so hot. This year the Sox are spending about the same amount on pitching as on hitting.
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Some, perhaps most on talksox, would argue that the Sox have gone after hitters first and pitchers second. Partly that's because Fenway is a hitters ballpark.
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Given all we've seen/watched, this is one of the most interesting lineups this season. Against a righty, Rafaela gets a night off, Duran goes to CF, and Anthony to LF. Yoshida DH. Three righty bats: Story, Narvaez, and Gonzalez.
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Maybe in RF.
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Three lefty bats in the outfield tonight: Anthony LF, Duran CF, Abreu RF. The three righty bats in the lineup are Story, Narvaez, and Gonzalez.
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10 K's and 1 BB. He was hitting corners and had good stuff. The dinger in the 9th was off a sweeper that was low and away--but still definitely in the strike zone--to Goodman, who has 17 dingers.
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Meh. I agree the Sox have tended to prefer hitters over fielding in CF, but I think it's a little early to condemn Rafaela in his 2d full season. I offer two thoughts on the lack of plate discipline. First and foremost, right now he is hitting up a storm while lacking it. Second, we can only assume it will improve. And who wouldn't want a terrific centerfielder whose cumulative DWAR after 1 1/2 seasons is 3.5. Jackie Bradley's over 9 seasons was 9.9.
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Buehler was never on my radar screen. But I remember Pivetta well and didn't mind his departure.
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Of course not. Those 98 games were won in a 154 game season. I'm just agreeing one pitcher can make a huge difference in the playoffs.
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My bad. Good point about the pitching program. Historically, the Sox have relied heavily on acquiring starters from other teams.
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So would we all. But were you saying that before Pivetta left and after Buehler was signed?
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I agree. But this fan will be delighted if these Sox make the postseason.
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Absolutely, positively in the playoffs. Just ask the Dodgers who finally beat the Yankees in the 1955 WS with Johnny Podres starting and winning 2 games. In the regular season Podres had been 9-10. He was 23. Later Sandy Koufax was big. So was Bob Gibson for the Cardinals.
