moonslav59

Keeping fans happy is important, but winning does that. Nobody seems to care about Betts, this year, but when we sucked, last year, they did. It really depends on what we could get for Bogey and his 1 year of control. It also might depend on how he might handle a position change at some point during his extension.

I'd keep playing Iggy at 2B close to FT and maybe PH for him every now and then.

Yes, I did determine that, and that was one reason I never gave up on Vaz. I think VTek was like 29-30 when it clicked. Posada sucked from start to finish. Again, I have never been for benching or limiting Vaz's innings based on CERA/ COPS against. I have only been saying that when figuring a catcher's overall value, this area should be included in the factors. I'm not even sure, myself, how much it should count, but it's more than "Zero" as MVP thinks.

Screaming it's about comfort level and some pitchers are more comfortable with vaz and others (more) with anyone not named vaz.

Yes, they are. Way, way better. You do know, however, small samples sizes are not something you make lasting decisions over, but I'd be fine leaving those two with Vaz, unless or until something might change. Why do you feel like these 2 outweigh the mega disparities with pitchers who have over 100 IP with 2 or more Sox pitchers?

You still don't get it, and BTW, our best pitchers is Sale (all with Vaz). Yes, Plawecki catches Eovaldi more, maybe because Eovaldi does much better with him. For one thing, Plawecki has a better overall OPS Against than Vaz, and I've never said it was all about ERA (CERA), in fact I don't like non adjusted ERA as a stat. Here are the numbers: Percent of total PAs caught: Blue- less than 1% with other catcher Red- leader in OPS Against Plawecki 27.6 Eovaldi .651 11.7 Pivetta .660 8.6 Houck .679 6.4 Richards .674 5.5 Perez 1.163 5.3 Taylor .640 5.2 Ottavino .765 3.9 DHern .478 3.8 Valdez .596 3.1 Whitlock .909 2.8 Barnes .828 2.2 Weber 1.500 2.0 Robles .893 & Andriese .675 1.7 Brice .492 & Davis 1.069 1.3 Sawamura .620 & Rios .902 1.0 Schreiber .885 & Crawford 1.538 0.0 ERod Vaz 14.6 ERod .777 11.7 Richards .849 10.6 Pivetta .777 9.7 Perez .784 6.1 Eovaldi .732 5.8 Whitlock .590 4.5 Sawamura .774 4.2 Ottavino .620 3.9 Barnes .594 3.4 Sale .750 3.2 Andriese 1.002 3.1 Taylor .674 3.0 Houck .607 2.8 DHern .742 2.7 Valdez .632 1.8 Workman .828 & Rios .599 1.4 Robles .705 1.1 Davis .520 1.0 Brice 1.056 Looking at the wide disparities in % of PAs caught with each pitcher, one can see why using overall OPS against or CERA is a joke. One can argue Plawecki caught better pitchers, but I would not agree, and how each pitcher did with each catcher one by one, shows more. Although the edge is only 9-8 in Plawecki's favor, the ones Vaz leads in are bunched more towards the lower PAs than the upper ones, like Plawecki's is. Among pitchers with 3.5% or more- Plawecki leads 6-4, but they are not the same 10 pitchers. Look at the pitchers in blue and the PAs with them vs none or almost none with the other catcher: Vaz: ERod (Workman a little) Plawecki: Weber (Schreiber & Crawford a little)

Exactly. If we have learned anything from this season, it should be that no team or player can be projected to do such and such based on their most recent sample size- small or big. Almost every team and player have had several ups and downs all year long. We look like the hottest team, now, but 10 days it was the jays and 20 days before that, it was the yanks.

I have never come close to saying this is not true. The Sox obviously like what Vaz brings to the game more than Plawecki- enough to get him the most innings as a catcher in his career. Why do you keep implying I want Vaz's innings reduced over CERA? I don't, at least as long as Plawecki is the other choice.

Wow! You found 2, and one has a 9.2 IP sample size. Sure, that offsets all the pitchers with over a 100 IP. BTW, yes, I want Vaz catching starters he does better with. That's a no brainer. If Houck and or Whitlock start, next year, I'd like to see how it goes over a larger sample size, but if they keep doing well, I'd 100% make sure Vaz is their catcher- assuming Plawecki is back..

I’d rather face the Jays than Cole. The best part would be the fact that the Yanks missed the playoffs.

It’s more about the $7M than CERA. Plus other factors take some of the pie, too.

His defensive metrics have been declining longer than 1 year. Some were contract years. He’s not the Iggy we remember in terms of skills, and having a hard time getting motivated keeps the questions about his attitude on the burner. That being said, I’d like him back as our utility IFer. I do worry that if Arroyo wins the FT 2B job, will Iggy pout on the bench? That’s big assuming Arroyo stays healthy, I know.

Yes. I may do it even thinking it’s 50-50. Of course, I’m not handing him away. If we were TB, Bloom would trade him. We are not, so who knows.

I’m glad for home field. A sweep by either team would be radical and likely season-ending for the team swept, especially if the Yanks get swept. The Rays May be resting players for that last series, so that might be an advantage. The Jays and Yanks series is a godsend to the Sox. Knowing someone loses 2 games minimum gives us the opportunity to control our own destiny, assuming we don’t get swept by NY. I’m going to say it again... One game at a time, boys!

I seriously doubt we trade JD, but I would prefer Schwarber. I really don’t see any major changes to the offense, except not re-signing Schwarber. That’s not today something surprising won’t occur. An interesting question might be who is the most likely regular player to be replaced. Arroyo at 2B? (Kike to 2B and find an OFer?) Vazquez at C? (Who do we get?) Perhaps the biggest debate might be who would be listed next? I’d say JD, but some might say Bogey with his opt out looming.

Finally, an inning where we don’t score.

Yes! Also, look at the 84 win 2019 roster and compare. Bloom & Cora are geniuses!

My gut says they find a defensive catcher like the Rays always did, but they may wait until Vaz’s contract expires.

its easy to speculate on why Barnes imploded. It’s hard to know for sure. I just hope he can return to being the decent set up man he was for several years before 2021. I’m sure glad others have stepped into new roles rather nicely, although the learning curve gir ruff there for a few weeks.

We have to replace ERod and Ottavino, too. Yes, we can make it work with JD and Schwarber, but it would be very complicated and defense-weakening. I’m thinking we’d trade JD, if Schwarber is re-signed. We may also sell high on Renfroe, and move Verdugo back to RF. Trading Verdugo could be another option. Here’s a possible rotation with everyone back: 10 game plan JD 9 at DH- 1 off Dalbec 9 at 1B - 1 off Verdugo 3 in LF - 4 in CF-1 RF- 1 off Kike 6 in CF- 3 at 2B- 1 off Arroyo 7 at 2B- 3 off Renfroe 9 in RF- 1 off Schwarber 7 in LF- 1 DH- 1 1B- 1 off Verdugo plays 8/ Arroyo 7, everyone else 9/10

Okay, I got a few more things right, but many wrong, too... like thinking Verdugo in RF and Renfroe-Cordero platooning in LF.

Maybe even over the JBJ of years ago!

That could be part of it, and he’s been up and down on offense before. He is on pace for 100 more innings behind the plate than any other season, but does that change what we can expect next year? That $7M scares me, and I’m not sure we can find someone better.

Damn straight! One of the few things I got right this spring.

He’s been mid 90’s. Did you expect more or less?