moonslav59

I understand that. Plus, .720 is not bad even for many starters at 2b and 3B, including our own team. Sox 2B: .671 Sox 3B: .697 Look, I'm glad we have him. I'm glad we kept him. I admit I was wrong. My feeling last winter was that we no longer had a DH only DH, and the need for a super utility player who could play 7 positions was no longer that important anymore. I had also hoped Pedey would return after a couple months, Nunes would be healthy and Marco Hernandez or Lin could cover, if needed. I'm glad my trade suggestion was not followed.

Yes, that is true, but so is this.... He's a .720 hitter who is not really a plus defender anywhere.

I'm fine with obtaining a catcher that can do close to what Leon does with our staff but can also hit better. Name names... (I'm also willing to go through a learning curve with a new catcher as long as he has a history of handling pitchers well.) I'm not happy with Leon's .520 OPS or our sub .575 combined catcher OPS, but I still view our catchers as a net plus, as is.

If Devers, Nunez, Kinsler & Holt make it, Lin is out.

Good point.

Nobody has claimed the cliff arrives in 2019. Some think after 2019. I think we can be competitive in 2020, if a lot goes right, but we will see a big drop off, unless henry decides to go over the $40M for several years in a row. (Doubtful.)

110-52 sounds real nice. If it happens, it happens. rest everyone as needed and see what happens.

He's signed for another year ($4M). I guess we could try to trade him, but I think we won't.

His CERA- related numbers look favorable from year to year.

You're taking Lin over Devers?

I thought I noticed a fork sticking out of his ass out there on the mound today before he even threw one pitch.

The Yanks are up 8.5 on the Rays and have 13 games left... 6 vs BOS (3H & 3A) 3 vs BAL (their nemesis) 4 @ TB Let's say they go 2-4 vs BOS and 1-2 vs BAL, what if they lost all 4 to the Rays? They go 3-10, and the Rays would have to go 12-2 to tie. 2-1 @ TX 6-1 vs TOR 4-0 vs NYY Doubtful, but worth a dream.

ThaaaaaaaaaahhhhhHHHHHHHHH! Yankeeeeees SuuuuuuuuckkkkKKKKKKK!

Nice to see Wright do well in the ninth. He's a lock for the playoff roster (if he wasn't already). Holt is a lock, although he was already.

After today's game... If there was ever a doubt about Holt (not from me), he's in. Devers takes a small step forward. Vaz stays even Lin stays even with the error and dbl- a super long shot. Phillips a super long shot anyways Pitchers who pitched today (listed in my order of having the best shot before today): Wright- in my opinion is already in, but he stepped forward today. Workman- this step forward might just get him in. Hembree- step backwards Poyner Johnson Velazquez- step forward Thornburg Kelly- small step forward Pom is surely out of contention at this point.

My updated look... Locks: 13-14 Everyday players C: Leon 1B: Moreland & Pearce 2B: Kinsler & Holt 3B: Nunez SS: Bogey LF: Beni CF: JBJ RF: Betts DH: JD C2: Vaz or Swihart Bubble (if we go with 13 everyday players): Devers or Swihart/Vaz (If 14 everyday players) Devers, Swihart/Vaz or Lin or Phillips Pretty sure locked out: Lin, Phillips, Travis 11-12 Pitchers SP: Sale, Price, Porcello & ERod RP: Kimbrel & Brasier Lock, if healthy: Barnes Has to take steps back to not make it (3): Wright, Eovaldi & Workman Bubble (1-2 only): Hembree, Johnson & Poyner Need multiple steps forward to have a chance at passing 2 from the "bubble" list: Thornburg & Velazquez Pretty much locked out, unless they stage a miracle turn around in multiple appearances(2): Kelly & Pom Virtually no chance (2): Scott & Cuevas

1. Betts RF 2. Holt SS 3. Beni LF 4. Pearce DH 5. Moreland 1B 6. Kinsler 2B 7. Bradley CF 8. Devers 3B 9. Vazquez C

This then begs the questions, is Nunez (may be needed at 3B, too), Holt, Lin and Marco Hernandez (Quiroz) enough? Do we bring back Kinsler, Phillips or sign someone else?

I would plan on getting zero PAs from Pedey next year,

I think it is clear they value CERA related skills. Here's the proof: 2018 IP per catcher Porcello 184.1 w Leon Zero with others (2017: 163 w Leon/ 40 w Vaz) Sale 107 w Leon 40 with Vaz zero with Swihart (2017: 209 w Leon/5.1 with Vaz) Price 73.1 w Leon (1.84 ERA) 92.1 w Vaz (4.68 ERA) I'd be VERY hesitant to use anybody but Leon with our top 3 starters going forward.

How are these guys with creating a comfort level with our starters? Several of our best starters do demonstrably better with Leon than even Vaz, who has a good rep, too. I'm not sure I'd mess with success. I'm not sure how tradeable Vaz is, with that new contract, and i doubt we get much back in trade for Swihart. It would not surprise me, if the Sox just bite the offensive bullet with Leon and keep him around for another year. After all, he still starts more than Vaz & Swi.

Yes, that's been my thinking all along. basically, we keep Leon in the game, until the starter leaves (maybe Leon gets 2 PAs) or if a key batting moment arrives earlier in the game. We could PH Holt, Devers or Nunez and then bring in Vaz for 1-2 PAs. Swihart could just be a late inning catching option. Swihart can also PR or play the OF or 1B, if needed. The argument here on this site doesn't seem to be about having Swihart on the playoff roster. It's about Vaz vs a 12th pitcher or someone like Phillips or Lin. I keep asking, why do we need all these guys to play 2B/3B? They don't need to be PH for, as much as our catchers do, and most are not significantly better on offense or defense than the others, except Kinsler at 2B. I don't see us PH'ing for Kinsler or removing him for better defense (LOL), so we basically would be adding Lin or Phillips as a 4th string 3Bman. 3B: Devers/Nunez, Holt and _____. Are we going to PH 4 times at 3B? I could see wanting to bring Lin or Phillips in for defense, if devers happens to be on the field late in a game, but it should never come to having to us 3, let alone 4 3Bmen in a playoff game.

Why not dream of 110?

He also wanted as much Pedey insurance as he could have. I'm glad he didn't count on Marco Hernandez (again). Not only was I wrong about us not needing Holt, we had to go out and get Kinsler and Phillips to get where we are now.

The main problem with "clutch" stats is that they are always small and scattered sample sizes. While hitting well may be a repeatable skill, doing so in such a few selected moments spread out over a season and several seasons at the same rate or better is not something easily quantifiable. If a player hits 60 Hrs in a season, but hits none in 4 clutch PAs in the playoffs, do we call him a "choke?" (Some actually would.) If he goes oh for 4 in any given game in that season, do we say he sucks? Of course not.