moonslav59

Even with Eovaldi and Hembree back and in the pen, I still think we need pen help more. Walden is a complete guess at this point. Barnes is in a horrible funk. Brasier has shown signs of life, but is still a huge question mark. Even recent successes like Workman and Brewer are showing signs of inconsistency. I don't really have total confidence in a single pen arm, right now. Not one. While it is true, our 5th starters have been taken from the pen and often go just 2-3 innings, we've gone with 8 relievers all year (rare), actually 9, if you count our 5th starter as a RP'er. With 8 or 9 RP'er, there's room for one more solid pen arm from outside the system, preferably a closer or top set up man: _____ or Eovadi (closer) Eovaldi or _____ (set-up/closer) Workman Barnes Hembree Brewer Brasier Wright Velazquez (5th starter) AAA: Walden/Johnson(IL and out of options)/Taylor

I totally agree, but if you believe as I do, and you just said you did, that emotion plays a part in the game, can't one assume some players react to emotional situations (such as super clutch moments) in a differing yet somewhat consistent manner?

Perhaps one of the most famous congratulations shown by a team towards a losing pitcher was with Eovaldi in that epic loss in extra innings. One could easily point to that "clubhouse moment" as the point that solidified team unity. Other starters went to Cora afterwards and all but begged to be used on short rest. (I also think that moment was a major factor in us re-signing Eovaldi.)

Excellent post. +100

...and I believe we are 10-8 in their starts. If only Sale (and others) could get their run support.

Yes, and we have to just hope and pray our starters get their act together. We can't afford to try and fix the rotation by throwing more money at it at the trade deadline. Our pen can use some outside help, and with a limited budget and limited trading chips, all in for the pen is my position. BTW, Updated Starter vs Pen Numbers: By Wins and Losses Responsibility Game by Game: Starters 17-23 (-6) Relievers 28-16 (+12) Alternative Scoring System (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2 given for each game) SP +20 RP +42

...and flatter seams makes for less break on breaking ball pitches.

I've always been super high on Devers, mostly his offense, but to see such a giant step up on both D and O in the same season by a 22 year old is an amazing and joyful thing to watch!

Out of 60 samples (30 teams x 2018 + 2019), here's how we ranked in team OPS at 1B & 2B: 1B: 28th 2018 .774 (fell steadily after Moreland's hot start) 35th 2019 .750 (on the rise, thanks to Chavis) 2B: 29th 2019 .717 (on the rise) 36th 2018 .692 (declined over the season)

I was waiting for someone to point that out. I shoulda guessed it'd be you!

IMO, by the deadline, 15-18 teams will be clear sellers, even if they are just 5-6 games back. Hell, there are examples of teams selling while right in the midst of a playoff run. I still see aa buyer's market this summer. (I could easily be wrong.)

He did have one great stretch, this year, that could give us hope he can again. 6.30 first 5 games (32Ks- 10 BBs) 2.09 next 9 games (98 Ks- 11 BBs, 5 in 1 game- 88/6 in other 8 gms) 7.02 last 3 games (23 Ks- 5 BBs) His 9 game stretch actually outnumbers his 2 bad stretches combined 9-8. He's certainly "not himself" right now, and despite the numbers with an extra day's rest, I think Cora's plan has merit.

On the farm... The other Hernandez went 4 for 5 with an HR and 4 rbi. Owings, Brentz, Witte, Sturgeon and Tobias all had 2 hits (Witte with an HR) Weber 5.0 IP 2 ER & Thornbooger 1 IP 2 ER AA: Netzer 3 for 4, Tendler 2 of 4 with 3 rbi and Duran 1 for 5. Dalbec with his 19th dinger (1-3 BB) A: Bello 5.0 IP 2 ER (3H & 5 BB) Lozada 3-4 4 rbi (2nd HR) Casas 1-3 2BB (.880 OPS now)

Who would have guessed Chavis and Marco could be the sparks that turn this crap show around! By the way, it's not Marco, it's... Marco Freakin' Hernandez! (Note: I upgraded him to the size 7 font previously reserved only for Freakin' Chris Sale.)

Marco & Chavis are carrying this team. We need pitching. If we can't find a pitcher, we should look for pitching. My third choice would be pitching. 1B and 2B are better than last year, and we won 118 games with Moreland & Kinsler.

Our pen has won more games for us than they have lost. They have won more games for us than the starters, and I'm not talking actual win-losses or win due to blown saves and offensive comebacks. They have lost less games for us than the starters have. This is not meant to say our pen does not need help: it does, but let's not just concentrate on the blown saves. It's not the major reason we are behind several teams and way behind the Yanks.

...or, Marco Freakin' Hernandez!

It's a blown save, yes, but let's not forget that our starter went 2.1 IP allowing 3 ERs, and our pen went 7.2 IP allowing 4 runs. We had to go to Brewer in the 3rd inning. After Brewer, our RP'ers went 5 IP allowing 1 run, but that one run was the blown save. I just don't see that as the focal point of the game, but it always seems to feel like it, right?

It's been that kind of season.

We can look back and wish we signed Ottavino or Britton instead of Eovaldi. Maybe we could have afforded a cheaper RP'er had we not signed Pearce. There were a lot of names discussed on this thread. I was very high on Ottavino as one of the cheaper top tier options, but I was also high on Cody Allen as a low cost option. We could have signed several RP'ers that have turned out to be complete busts or have been on the IL. Here's a look at the RP'ers who signed for the most money last winter: Contract Pitcher ERA/ IP/WHIP $13M x 3 Britton 2.50/ 36/ 1.28 $10M x 3 Familia 7.53/29/ 1.78 $9M x 3 Ottavino 1.91/38/ 1.33 $8.3 x 3 Joe Kelly 5.76/30/ 1.65 $12.5 x 2 A Miller 3.95/27/ 1.28 $11.5 x 2 Robertson (IL) 5.40/7/ 2.10 $9M x 2 Herrera 7.89/29/ 1.75 $7.5 x 2 J Soria 4.76/40/ 1.08 (the only decent WHIP) $5M x 2 J Wilson 4.50/10/ 1.30 $8.5M x 1 Cody Allen 6.25/23/ 1.91 There's only 2 good choices on this list, in hindsight. Had we not signed Pearce ($6.25M) we'd have had just enough budget space for about $9-10M, so we could have signed Eovaldi + anyone, except Britton. Some would have left us with nothing left for summer acquisitions that added salary.

Moreland, Pearce & Nunez get us nothing in trade. We'd be lucky to trade any for a bag of balls, even if we pay 80% of their remaining contracts. ERod just turned 26 and is entering peak prime. He's the last starter I'd trade. He's cheap, and we have budget issue, especially with paying our other starting pitchers half the budget.

Fat legs may be more like it.

I'm not so sure we need to boost 1B or 2B more than our pen or rotation. Last 28 days: Holt: .821 (with some clutch hits) Chavis: .812 (with 2 big HRs vs NY that were wasted) Marco: .792 Last 14 days: Chavis .842 Marco .849 Holt .668 Nunez .605

...and Tony Armas Jr.

...over a 2 game slump?