moonslav59

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?

vs a RHP makes me think he's hurt.

Me, too, but I'd still like to see better D for the SS position. His offense more than makes up for his defense, which isn't really all that bad, unless you are a DRS fan.

He could be added to the second list, but he could also be part of a quick turn-around rebuild.

I knew I was forgetting someone! In the early to mid 80's we saw... Clemens Hurst Tudor Ojeda Boyd Nipper Now, we can't even develop an Al Nipper!

Yesd, but you said "always been..." and you referenced the old slugging days, so I thought you meant way back.

That scared the hell out of me last October.

There wasx a time we did fine drafting and developing pitchers: Clemens, Hurst, Ojeda among others.

Well, Sale had his best stretch of his career with the Sox. Porcello had his best season, by far, with the Sox. Price has had to reinvent himself as a pitcher not a thrower, snd he did it well...with the Sox. I totally agree with the farm aspect of our pitcher development. I've never understood why we haven't gone out and gotten the best in the game to run that area of our farm system.